Book Description
An accessible guide to understanding and using technical chart patterns
Chart pattern analysis is not only one of the most important investing tools, but also one of the most popular. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice,
Getting Started in Chart Patterns is designed to help both new and seasoned traders profit by tracking and identifying specific chart patterns. Expert Thomas Bulkowski opens with a basic discussion of chart pattern formation and how bad habits can hurt trading. He then moves on to introduce over 40 key chart formations as well as numerous trading tactics that can be used in conjunction with them. Readers will benefit from the specifics (actual trades with dollar amounts) outlined throughout the book and the frank discussions of how trading behavior can affect the bottom line. Anecdotes from Bulkowski's own trading experiences are also included to shed light on how one of the best in the business goes about trading with chart patterns.
Order your copy today.
Download Description
An accessible guide to understanding and using technical chart patterns Chart pattern analysis is not only one of the most important investing tools, but also one of the most popular. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Getting Started in Chart Patterns is designed to help both new and seasoned traders profit by tracking and identifying specific chart patterns. Expert Thomas Bulkowski opens with a basic discussion of chart pattern formation and how bad habits can hurt trading. He then moves on to introduce over 40 key chart formations as well as numerous trading tactics that can be used in conjunction with them. Readers will benefit from the specifics (actual trades with dollar amounts) outlined throughout the book and the frank discussions of how trading behavior can affect the bottom line. Anecdotes from Bulkowski's own trading experiences are also included to shed light on how one of the best in the business goes about trading with chart patterns Order your copy today.
Customer Reviews:
this book will help you make money.......2007-01-10
This book explains the essential technical patterns that every trader should know. One must read this book very carefully as there are many subtle clues that can be missed.
This book will help you make money. Let me say that there are a lot traders looking for an easy to make money. There is no easy way. There will be times when the patterns in this book don't work. Does that make the book/pattern invalid? No. There is no pattern that will work everytime. You are trading these patterns based on probablities. If these patterns work for you half of the time, you should be in good shape. The rest is money management. That is one area of the book where there isn't enough focus. I would also suggest reading Edwards and Magee along with Murphy.
Technical Analysis as Birdwatching.......2007-01-07
Edwards and Magee wrote the first book on technical analysis over seventy years ago, and since that time Bulkowski appears to be the only person who has ever sat down and tried to systematize and test the hypotheses of technical analysis, and that's to his credit. The problem is that he spends an inordinate amount of time testing and identifying perfectly useless technical formtions that nobody in their right mind would try to trade. Take a look at the chart on page 60, which is a stock in a "broadening top." He lists a buy point at around $10.25 and a sell point about two months later at around $12, after the stock had peaked at $14. That's not a bad return, but take a look at the chart and ask yourself if there's any identifiable reason to buy at $10.25 or sell at $12. The fact that the stock forms a "broadening top" may be interesting in retrospect, but you can't trade stocks in retrospect. Or consider the "diamond" formation, which is treated beginning on page 138. Here is my question: how or why would you trade a diamond pattern? Because the "diamond" is often so large, the resulting "breakout" will often just bump right into the old resistance or support. The fact that it's a "diamond" pattern may be interesting, but identifying the formation alone is not enough. Identifying a pattern and successfully trading it are not the same thing. To be fair to the author, this is not a how-to trading book but a digest of a larger reference work on trading patterns. Even so, it would make sense to focus on tradable patterns instead of providing an exhaustive catalog of every pattern under the sun. The style is also jokey and informal, which just makes it easier for Bulkowksi to avoid the most important question, so what? What good is this information? Is it tradable, and how?
Not the best place to start.......2006-08-06
I don't think this is a good starting book to learn chart patterns. There is a a lot of good information in the book no doubt, but I found it difficult to read, filled with endless stats about how certain patterns perform, etc. I'm giving it one star because the title doesn't deliver. This is not a good book for getting STARTED in chart patterns. For the BEGINNER, I recommend Stikky Stock Charts--it will get you up and running quickly on the basics and then you can move on to this book perhaps.
Something for Everyone.......2006-07-12
"Getting Started in Chart Patterns" is an excellent reference guide and one of the few books on the market which reports the performance of individual chart patterns (based on Tom's extensive testing). Certainly it is a good leader to Tom's mothership book, "Encyclopedia of Chart patterns" and is a bargain at $20 (even more so at the $13 Amazon is offering the book).
One of my pet peeves when I first got interested in Technical Analysis was the cost of many of the books and it was hard to find cheap books which provide a feeler as to what Technical Analysis is all about. Other than the "Encyclopedia" there is no other book out there of its type and is worth having on this merit alone.
The book is not without its faults. First and foremost was the irritating use of "Jake" as the protagonist of the real-world trades offered as examples throughout. The conversational style employed to describe the trades didn't fit with the cold facts offered by the rest of the book and came across as too high school, if the author had stuck to the style of his chapter on "More Trades - Putting it all Together" then this would have been more appropriate. It's a small gripe and others may disagree with me - but the real world trades nicely support the cold statistics on offer for each pattern.
The book has a handy chapter on The Top 10 Performing Bottoms, ranking them from 1-10 including flags, pipe bottoms, rounding bottoms, triangles, wedges, eve-eve double bottoms and the ever popular head-and-shoulder pattern. It would have been good to see the same treatment given to tops (there is a section on tops, but it is more haphazard in its composition), something for the next edition perhaps?
I did like the section on Busted Patterns as well as a cheat sheet index of chart patterns and a table showing a list of chart pattern performance and ranking which can be photocopied and stuck on a wall.
The book is best used as an accompaniment to a more introduction style book on Technical Analysis - it provides the performance data necessary to help develop your own scans for selecting stocks eg. For my own research, when is it important to include volume as a component of a scan.
Again, for the price you can't go wrong.
Thorough and helpful.......2006-03-20
I have been interested in stock market trading for a long time. Mr. Bulkowski is the first author I have encountered who is extremely realistic about the risks involved in trading. He is frank about the reality that you will most likely lose money in trading. I appreciate that honesty. That said, he gives one tools about how to maximize profits and minimize losses, so that one can come out ahead overall.
This is an extremely readable book, artfully crafted with his fictional character to keep the reader engaged while learning important points about trading. This is a very helpful book to one who is beginning, yet is a book for advanced traders to keep close for constant reference. I have read it cover to cover, and still refer to it frequently.
I have found very useful information on Mr. Bulkowski's website, to which another reviewer refers. That review spoke volumes about his website, so there is no need to expound further on it here.
Amazon.com
Anyone mystified by stock options or who simply dismisses them as too speculative will find Getting Started in Options an excellent first read on the subject. Beginning with the premise that it's not the complexity of the investment but that of its language that makes options difficult for new investors to understand, author Michael C. Thomsett has created a guided tour through the lexicon. The result is a nontechnical introduction to these specialized markets.
The book carefully and completely defines the terminology, explains options investing step by step, and presents strategies so that it is easy to understand at each level of risk involved. Choosing the right stock, buying and selling options, and combining techniques are all covered in increasing complexity, but this is a book for beginners, and those with basic knowledge of the subject will want to seek out more advanced reading.
The biggest drawback of this book is that, for some reason, the text is printed in green ink, making it somewhat more difficult to read and probably impossible for those who are green-colorblind. Publisher, take note! --Scott Harrison
Book Description
In easy-to-follow terms, Getting Started in Options, Sixth Edition thoroughly demystifies the options markets, distinguishes the imagined risks from the real ones, and arms readers with the facts they need to make informed investment decisions. The accessible, step-by-step format of this guide includes the latest examples, charts, and additions to reflect the changing markets. It also includes new and updated discussions on other options issues, such as Long-Term Equity Anticipation Securities (LEAPS) and the intricacies of options taxation, as well as understandable instructions about how to master options terminology and concepts, read the market, utilize new online resources, and more. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, this straightforward resource shows readers how options work as well as where they can fit into anyone’s personal investment plan.
Download Description
A completely revised and updated edition of the popular guide to understanding and utilizing options
In nontechnical, easy-to-follow terms, Getting Started in Options, Fifth Edition thoroughly demystifies the options markets, distinguishes the imagined risks from the real ones, and arms investors with the facts they need to make informed decisions. This bestselling guide to understanding options includes such new material as references to online sites relevant to options investors; information on how to pick brokerage firms; detailed explanations of risk; bailout points; how to pick stocks for options investing; and how put options can enhance portfolio returns. This Fifth Edition also contains new examples, updated charts, and timely additions to reflect important changes in the market.
Michael C. Thomsett (Port Townsend, WA) is a financial writer with many books and hundreds of articles to his credit, including the four previous editions of Getting Started in Options. He has been a management consultant in the securities industries and is an active options trader.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect for anyone interested in getting into the options world.......2007-08-29
I bought this book with no knowledge of how options worked. I had read "When Genius Failed" about LTCM, the worlds biggest hedge fund which failed in the 90's. The book had discussed options a lot and had sparked an interest in me.
I had wanted to get into trading options for a while and had tried reading about them on investopedia and various other sites. Finally I decided to settle for this book. Options is an awesome book for beginners like myself. Thomsett smoothes out Options and really makes you understand everything from the basics to more advanced options strategies. The book is filled with scenarios to support each new topic and is not dry or heavy reading.
I actually was reading it the other night on the train on the way home from a concert. The man across from me commented that it wasn't exactly light reading for a late train ride. I hadn't even thought about it that way. Options can be intimidating and textbook style books can be boring, however this iis not true for this book. I strongly reccomened it for the prospective options trader with little knowledge on the subject.
Dont let Ignorance hold you back.......2007-07-27
Buy this book if want to know more or anything about options. Great beginners book taught me the basics quick. Plenty of examples and graphs. When you read this book you will be surprised by the amount of risk that can be removed or added on. Options are less risky than you think.
Step 1.......2007-07-15
This book is exactly what it says it is, a 'how to' for getting started. It is a very very basic look at Options trading.
Getting Started in Options .......2007-06-01
There is a significant and misleading error re: last trading day. Page 66 states last trading day is Friday before third Saturday of the month. Not true when first Saturday is first day of month.
Last trading day is third Friday of the month.
Getting Started in Options.......2007-03-17
I like to listen while I drive and it is very helpful
Book Description
Revered by many, reviled by some, technical analysis is the art and science of deciphering price activity to better understand market behavior and identify trading opportunities. In this accessible guide, Jack Schwager-perhaps the most recognized and respected name in the field-demystifies technical analysis for beginning investors, clearly explaining such basics as trends, trading ranges, chart patterns, stops, entry, and exit and pyramiding approaches. The book's numerous examples and clear, simple explanations provide a solid framework for using technical analysis to make better, more informed investment decisions and as the basis for mechanical trading systems. Along with Schwager's invaluable trading rules and market observations culled from years of real-world trading experience, Getting Started in Technical Analysis offers in-depth coverage of:
* Types of charts-bar, close-only, point-and-figure, candlestick.
* Chart patterns-one-day, continuation, top and bottom formations, the importance of failed signals.
* Trading systems-trend-following, counter-trend, pattern recognition.
* Charting and analysis software-price data issues, time frame/trading style considerations, software research.
* he planned trading approach-trading philosophy, choosing markets, risk control strategies, establishing a trading routine.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book. A keeper........2007-05-30
I am still using the glossary to analyze current market situations even after reading the whole thing. I love schwager's books. The people who are disappointed with using TA are looking for the "holy grail system" of trading and are refusing to become better traders. I believe there is no such thing as a holy grail system, and if there is, its being used by institutions that you can't beat. You just need to learn everything. I would definitely recommend using the techniques in this book when checking out stocks and setting price targets planning entries / exits. The book helps you figure out possible risk/reward ratios when entering a trade and where to put your stops. Jack Schwager's books have done nothing but make me money so far and helped me become a better trader. I do realize you can't rely on TA alone to make your trades, but the amount of knowlege he wrote into this in the back of the book/glossary makes it a quick resource. His section on flags and banners is must read. I feel confident I can handle any stock situation, and thats the point of the book. My goal is to beat the market every month. So far I am up 15% this week after reading the book!
Ease of Use.......2007-01-15
The book provides excellent technical analysis information for the selection and monitoring of equities and commodities. It is clear and separates the basics from the more detailed expansion of the analysis concept.
Excellent reading for a newcomer.......2006-04-25
As an experianced trader, I found this book very interesting and gave me a good overview of what technical analysis is. As the title suggests it is for beginners and gave me a good understanding with numerous examples to get the reader to understand the concept on his own. It would have been helpful to have the charts being discussed on the same page. Those expecting a detailed "recipie" on how to trade with technical analysis should not buy this book. As for technical analysis as a tool for trading I have always been a skeptic. This book has not changed my opinon on TA, but the book is an excellent reading.
Good Bargain.......2006-03-19
This book is a skimmed version of the author's more expensive and extensive book "Schwager on Futures, Technical Analysis". Even more, this book is updated? to stock markets. Really a good bargain and should be read even by traders at intermediate level.
Does not get you started in tehnical analysis.......2006-02-13
First of all, the name of this book is misleading - only the first part or about 1/3 of the book is actully about technical analysis. The other 2/3 are about different trading techniques, systems, tips, etc. Second, none of the topics discussed is covered in depth, I always have a feeling after reading a chapter to read a dedicated book on this topic. So I suggest to skip this book altogether and buy a "Bible" by Murthy or Pring which really explains all fine points of TA.
Average customer rating:
- The best book for beginers that I've ever read
- A great read for beginners
- Thorough and Understandable
- Very good beginning investment book
- An excellent book for the beginner investor.
|
Getting Started in Stocks (Getting Started In.....)
Alvin D. Hall
Manufacturer: Wiley
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Book Description
Now completely revised and expanded!
THE bestselling guide to Getting Started in Stocks
Thinking of getting your feet wet in the stock market, but don't know where to begin? Perhaps you've already taken the plunge but would like to know more about the stock and mutual fund investments you've made? Tens of thousands of investors already know the place to start is this best-selling guide by Alvin D. Hall, whose dynamic style of teaching investment professionals has earned him the moniker, the "Professor of Wall Street." Packed with new material on mutual funds, dozens of new real-life examples, and up-to-the-minute information, this thoroughly updated edition will help you:
- Set clear financial goals
- Determine the level of risk you can afford to take
- Evaluate stocks and securities for risks and rewards
- Track market trends for solid, informed choices
- Use mutual funds to diversify and cut risk
- Determine the right proportion of stocks for your portfolio
- Fully exploit international market opportunities
Customer Reviews:
The best book for beginers that I've ever read.......2006-09-14
A MUST READ for any beginner. If you're looking for your first book on Stocks, look no more, just buy this one.
A great read for beginners.......2006-08-23
This book is highly reccomended for all beginners. This book will give you the basis for everyting you want to know about the stock market. Period!
Thorough and Understandable.......2006-08-12
I loved this book. It talked about every facet of the stock market, but didn't go overboard with jargon. I knew absolutely nothing about stocks and after reading this book I am ready to learn more. It was well written, interesting, and, unlike some investing books, the author was not trying to sell anything. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to invest but has no knowledge of the subject. I really enjoyed this book.
Very good beginning investment book.......2002-02-05
This book was an easy read to learn the basic terminology. And it's a nice reference book with a good "stock" glossary at the back of the book. After this, you'll be ready to read something a little for philosophical like Peter Lynch's masterpiece "One Up On Wall Street".
An excellent book for the beginner investor........2001-03-30
This well written book gives the beginner investor the information needed to understand investing in stocks.
The book goes through setting your goals, assesing your risks and rewards. It teaches you about common and preferred stocks and the basics of buying and selling stocks.
There is a chapter on different investment strategies and then the book takes you into fundamental and technical analysis of a stock.
Finally the book touches on mutual funds, rights, warrants, and options.
All in all this is an excellent book and is one that any beginner investor will learn a lot from.
Book Description
If you've picked up this book, you probably recognize the value of fundamental analysis, but aren't sure you can master it. With
Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis as your guide, you'll quickly become familiar with the key concepts and learn how to put them into action in the real world.
You'll gain important insights that can help you manage risk and make more informed investment decisions and learn from relevant illustrations, examples, and definitions. Written in a non-technical format that's easy to follow,
Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis provides valuable coverage of:
- the audited statement.
- finding financial information online.
- the process of confirmation.
- balance sheet and income statement ratios.
- the P/E ratio and how to use it.
- how the combination of fundamental analysis with technical methods creates a powerful strategy.
More than an introduction to fundamental analysis, this book will help you use analytical tools in identifying risk levels, making valid and reliable comparisons, and picking stocks for your portfolio so you develop a successful and profitable investment program.
Book Description
EXPERT ADVICE FOR EVERYDAY SUCCESS!
The coauthor of the bestselling Getting Started in Online Investing now brings her winning expertise to the increasingly popular day trading arena-along with the methods of today's most consistently successful trading practitioners. From a solid overview of the functional basics to a frank assessment of the pros and cons of day trading, Getting Started in Online Day Trading provides you with the know-how to begin, the information to speculate on the future of the medium-and the knowledge to decide if day trading is right for you. In this indispensable book, Bentley:
* Approaches day trading by examining the basics from the perspective of the novice trader
* Shares her years of experience and industry connections in online finance, and introduces you to some of today's top traders
* Offers an in-depth analysis of the challenges and realistic rewards of online day trading
Get the solid, accessible, and practical guidance you've come to expect from the Getting Started In series with this outstanding and timely resource for today's hottest investment vehicle.
Customer Reviews:
Here's the entire book in 5 sentences........2007-03-09
1) If you have no money, don't invest.
2) Don't invest money you can't afford to lose.
3) You have to spend money to make money
4) If you're poor don't even think of investing
5) Thanks for buying my book now I'm richer.
Thanks for the info Bentley.
Exactly what I needed!.......2007-01-26
Regardless whether you're daytrading or not, it's full of layman's terminology in order to understand the complex nuts and bolts of trading in general. Yes, there can be information overload as one reviewer stated ... which is why I found this book invaluable. It's technical, without being stodgy and complicated. The sidebar definitions are fabulous for quick access to terms. I found it to be logically and succinctly organized ... and allows the reader to learn as little or as much as they need. Ms. Bentley states up front that daytrading may not be for the lighthearted, but even daytraders needed to start somewhere. With many individuals trading from their desktop computers, it's important to learn as quickly as possible with as much correct information as possible. Take one trade at a time, utilize the directions ... do the "faux" tutorials on other sites where you don't have to lose money. Then if you find daytrading IS for you, "Online Day Trading" can be your bible. Thanks greatly, Ms. Bentley ... it helped me considerably!
Read it, but You will need more specific strategies.......2005-08-04
This book is ok for a trader that needs to start from scratch. But you will be needing more specific trading strategies.
Keep in mind that the stock market doesn't really care if you are beginner. The rules and the trading opportunities are the same for every one. When you trade you compete against more seasoned traders, therefore you MUST go beyond the basics and employ a clear strategy to make your buy and sell decisions.
There are many "fantastic" strategies outhere, but you need to test them in order to discover which ones help you the most. That's part of your homework as a stocktrader. Test, test and test again.
Complicated systems that rely on a "boat load" of technical indicators can make you slow, and being slow in this game can be as dangerous as not knowing what to do in the first place.
I think the worst thing that can happen to a beginner trader is to get information overload. It's better to go step by step, and test a simple strategy that can show you how to focus on concrete ways to make money.
Fortunatly there are some good sites on the web today that can show you how to trade in a practical and effective way. One of those sites is Stress Free Traders ( StressFreeTraders com)
In the end, day trading is all about buying and selling according to your knowledge FILTER. Once you master and follow your proven filter parameters like a clock, you can expect to start making serious amounts of cash on a consistent basis.
Not worth it.......2004-11-26
This book was a waste of money. It's meant for beginners that aren't familiar with the terms and concepts of stock trading in general. If you don't already know these terms or the basic concepts you shouldn't attempt to day trade. If you do know these terms and concepts, then this book is a waste. The day traders survival guide is a much better intro book and I highly recommend it over this one. Other recommended trading books to start you off are High Probability Trading by Marcel Link and Trading for a Living by Alexander Elder.
Good book for explaning the nuts and bolts of day trading.......2003-11-29
I wanted a book that would take me step by step through all the technical day trader jargon and explain what all of it meant. Getting Started in Online Day Trading by Kassandra Bentley was just what the doctor, or in this case, the beginning day trader ordered. She takes a very solid approach to explaining what the stock market is all about, what day trading is all about, the procedures of doing day trading and the pitfalls of day trading. She is not shy in pointing out other books in order to gather good day trading information. This shows that she is very open to learning herself. Her book does a good job of not assuming that the reader already knows all about day traderese. There are plenty of sidebar notes that refer to terms and phrases within each chapter. This is a very good way of reinforcing what your have just read. One specific area that was very clear in explaination are the terms bid and ask. While other books use these terms almost interchangably and do not explain correctly who is the buyer and who is the seller, she does an excellent job of clarification on this subject. This point is probably obvious to old pros, but her insight that a beginner is not savy to these nuiances is good thinking on her part. She also goes into some detail on charting and day trading methodology, but not too much in depth. If anything, this was the only negative about this book. However, after reading other books on day trading, I believe that this book is the most straight forward and understandable of all of them. The book is well thought out and very concise.
Book Description
HOW TO PUT THE GOLD INTO YOUR GOLDEN YEARS
If you are among the 56 percent of Americans lagging behind in their financial goals for retirement——or a retiree with plenty of years ahead in which your money can grow-an investment club may be the perfect vehicle for you. There are more than 37,000 investment clubs across the United States today, and this number has been steadily increasing over the past decade. This comprehensive guide will show you, step-by-step, how to take control of your financial future by utilizing the benefits, both financial and social, that investment club membership has to offer. Here you will find:
- Proven strategies for setting up an investment club that will survive changes in membership
- Advice on how to conduct your club's meetings, monitor its performance, and maintain members' active interest
- Numerous tips and tricks to help investment club members build and monitor their investment portfolios
- Methods for finding, researching, and presenting stock recommendations to other club members
. . . and much more to help you help your money grow.
Book Description
An accessible introduction to A PROVEN TRADING STRATEGY
GETTING STARTED IN SWING TRADING
Swing trading is not a new idea. But, only recently-with the Internet opening up markets to virtually everyone-has this short-term technical trading strategy become a viable option for individual investors.
There are many ways to profit from the swing trading method, and with Getting Started in Swing Trading, author Michael C. Thomsett will show you how to use this approach to quickly take advantage of short-term price movements found in today's dynamic markets.
Written in a straightforward and accessible style, Getting Started in Swing Trading:
- Explores many of today's most popular charting signals and explains how to recognize them
- Provides suggestions for picking stocks appropriate for your swing trading strategy
- Illustrates how options can be used within your swing trading program to mitigate risk and improve performance
- Analyzes the effectiveness of short selling within a swing trading strategy
- Outlines some restrictions on swing trading, including brokerage rules and requirements, and regulations about high-activity trading
- And much more
Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Getting Started in Swing Trading will enhance your understanding of this proven trading method as well as improve the overall profitability of your portfolio.
Customer Reviews:
Don't trip over pennies getting to dollars.......2007-08-11
After attending a workshop with "The Market Guys" in June, I was on the hunt for good info to help me start my expedition of options trading. I was finishing up on "Technical Analysis - Plain and Simple" by Michael Kahn when I came across the "Swing Trading" book. It is a great compliment: easy to read, but hits many key points like "trading against the box" (that I applied in a recent Starbucks' trade in combination with Put options).
The book worked really well for me because it starts off with Support and Resistance, and how to establish trend setup points. I especially like how it emphasizes that traditional investors are missing out on 50% of trading opportunities because they only play up hill.
Surprisingly, the book gives a good intro to Technical Analysis. Like most "Getting Started ..." books, there's a certain amount of general stuff but I found this book to be very useful and has lead to several conversations with my broker.
If you're a beginner like me and are considering options, I'm currently reading "Options Strategies" 6th Printing by Guy Cohen. If you decide to read this book ...
1) Don't try to make sense of the strategy icon system (very confusing)
2) It has a number of typos and missed edits that will throw you off a little
3) Descriptions often don't make sense until you've SEEN the example so
a) review the example first
b) then go back and read the description
PS: Always, do paper trades for at least a week before trading with real money.
Best wishes
Too elementary even for beginners. Not swing trading specific at all.......2007-08-10
If it were not for the very meaningful front cover, I might have just rated this a one star. As a professional trader I can tell the book is too shallow (and in lack of passion, insight and substance from the author) to be of any help at all. Some may argue that I am too demanding to require a book of less than 200 content page to be compleat but I assure you "the market" is a killing field arguably with a casualty rate of over 70% that forgives no mistake nor ignorance. Of course, if you think a lukewarm mix of Candlestick, patterns, FA and options is good enough, please simply neglect this review. Otherwise,..............
p.s. If I had read the backcover which said, "the author has written more than sixty books on investing, real estate, business and management", I would certainly have given this book a pass.
Book Description
Everything you need to know about the futures market
Getting Started in Futures, Fourth Edition, covers everything investors need to know about the futures market, including how margins are set, how an order is handled in the trading pit, and the steps a producer or user must take to effectively hedge a cash commodity. Featuring new examples, charts, and timely additions to reflect important changes in the markets, the Fourth Edition also includes a new chapter on trading futures online.
Todd Lofton (Great Falls, VA) is a past member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange and a popular speaker and writer on the subject of futures.
Customer Reviews:
Really basic stuff so do not expect much.......2002-01-29
The book is really basic in nature and tries to cover what the title conveys. I am disappointed that the math involved in most futures and options is not even touched upon (it could have been even without calculus). There are plenty of other books out there that do a much better job in introducing futures with math.
A must read for futures beginners.......2000-11-25
I've read many futures trading books and I think this is "the" best book for beginners. The language is easy to understand and the author explained things step by step in a very organized matter. If you ever consider learning about futures, this is the book you have to read. I still use it as reference and it's one of my favorite books.
Good Stuff.......2000-02-02
Thank you Todd Lofton. I cannot tell you how relieved I was when I read your book. Having to learn an awful lot about futures trading for a new job fairly quickly, this book was a godsend. I first learned about it from a "strong buy" recommendation at tradingmarkets.com. Between the two, I have made my boss a very happy camper.
Thanks.......1999-02-19
I am a laid back reader and I prefer to read a book like a novel. Especially when I do nto know anything about a subject.
This is a book for me . I would like to thank the author for his helpful samples with the bottomline (clearly visible) --- it really helps .
Great Job. I will watch out for other books coming from Mr. Todd now.
:)
Great book for beginners........1999-01-23
Todd Lofton is affilliated with Futures Magazine and has written an excellent book for beginning traders. I picked this book up at a Chapters location in Canada, and, if you can find it, get it for your library for future reference on futures trading.
Book Description
AN ACCESSIBLE INTRODUCTION TO ETFs
GETTING STARTED IN
Exchange Traded Funds
"Todd Lofton delivers what he promises with an approach and advice that has the footprint of an experienced trader. Instead of addressing dummies,' he's written a book for the intelligent investor who is inexperienced using ETFs. It progresses through every area, from passive positions to options, in a way that makes you comfortable trading. You can see that the way he gives experienced advice at the end puts this book on a higher plane."
-- Perry Kaufman, author of New Trading Systems and Methods, Fourth Edition
"Todd Lofton has helped many investors get started in futures and options trading by turning complex subjects into clearly written magazine articles and books over the last 35 years. He has done it again with this book on ETFs, one of the hottest new investment areas. Anyone who is contemplating investing in stocks or mutual funds should check out his easy-to-understand explanation of ETFs, how to use them, and how they can play a valuable role in an investment portfolio."
-- Darrell Jobman, Editor in Chief, TradingEducation.com, former editor of Futures magazine
"The ETF market is exploding! With so many under-performing mutual funds, investing in ETFs is truly the intelligent way to invest. This is a great primer for anyone interested in understanding this market better."
-- Chris Osborne, CFP, Senior Vice President- Wealth Management, Smith Barney
First Launched in 1193, exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue to attract the interest of investors around the world. ETFs low costs, tax efficiencies, and liquidity make them ideal investment vehicles.
If you're interested in ETFs but don't know where to begin, Getting Started in Exchange Traded Funds is the book for you. Written in a straightforward and easy-to-read manner, this practical guide clearly explains the ins-and-outs of ETFs.
With only a sprinkling of math and no complicated jargon, Getting Started in Exchange Traded Funds will help you:
* Look for an ETF that best matches a particular investment objective
* Evaluate a particular ETFs performance
* Forecast ETF prices with basic technical and fundamental analysis
* Use ETFs for hedging
* Employ options and futures on ETFs in a variety of trading strategies
* Use ETFs for both long-term positions and day trading
* And much more
Filled with practical advice and illustrative examples, Getting Started in Exchange Traded Funds shows you how ETFs can make it easier for you to achieve your personal financial goals.
Customer Reviews:
Look for some other book on ETF's.......2007-07-27
Do not fall for the other review like me. Generally I avoid books which have less than 10 reviews. But decided to try this as there are not many books available on ETF's.
This book is very badly written and poorly edited. It is neither for beginners nor for professionals. I am very disappointed that Wiley could publish such a book and some kind of experts (three of them) endorsing it on the back flap.
I want to give less than one star, but Amazon does not let me do that. If not for following reasons I would have given this book at least two stars.
1)About 100 pages (from page 165 to 268) dedicated to listing various ETF's available in market. These pages cover information like inception date, asset size, expense ratio, past returns for each of the ETF's. All this information is available fro free on many web sites and I do not understand why anyone would waste 100 pages in a book.
2) Short chapters with a story in each. At the end these meaningless stories the primary character decides to invest in ETF.
3)Same information is repeated in the text and side notes. Too many redundant side notes.
Getting Started in Exchange Traded Funds.......2007-03-27
Excellent book on ETFs. The book also provided a good background for researching ETFs.
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