2. Online brokers are offering better features today, even as
fierce competition leads them to charge less than ever
before. More sophisticated software-based trading tools
are emerging as an alternative to traditional Web site
transactions.
3. Recently there has been a dramatic increase in the tools
made available to average traders. Without the latest
technology, brokers with browser-based platforms may
not be the preferred choice anymore.
4. Advanced trading methods warrant the use of powerful
trading software. For example, investors may want to
implement "trailing stop" orders, which allow them to set
limits on the maximum possible loss without setting a
limit on the maximum possible gain. This removes the
need for an investor to monitor the investment on an
ongoing basis.
5. Software has clear advantages over browser-based
trading. RushTrade's Direct Plus software-based trading
platform, for example, provides real-time market data and
many features that allow strategic control of a portfolio.
6. Perhaps one of the most intriguing features of the
software is the ability to create and automate "trade
strategies." Using RushTrade's software, you could create
a long strategy specifying the price you want to receive
and the market conditions that must be met before your
order is placed. You can also specify market conditions
that will cause the strategy to be automatically cancelled.
Trade Strategies is one of the most efficient ways to
strategically control your trades and manage your risk.
7. Another benefit of software like Direct Plus is that most of
the information can be displayed on one page and is fully
customizable to suit the monitor size. Unlike a browser-
based platform, it is not necessary to repeatedly refresh
your screen to update the data or switch back and forth
between pages. Software-based trading platforms allow
you to see all of the information at once. Direct Plus
actually supports more than one monitor for an expanded
layout.
8. Software-based trading platforms, such as DirectPlus, are
easy to use, load quickly and can display multiple windows
of information at one time. This kind of software allows an
investor to monitor quotes, charts, order execution, news,
alerts and more, all at the same time.
9. Trading software is the next step for online investors. The
Internet brought many casual investors to the stock
market. Now, software applications like RushTrade's Direct
Plus usher in a new era for online investing.