Free Software and Resources Open Flood Gates for Online Trading

September 1 2006

Online trading is taking the financial markets by storm as private investors gain access to tools and information previously only available to institutional investors and banks. No longer do home traders need to rely on their broker for recommendations. Now, with only a computer and internet connection, investors can find their own trades independently and without fear of bias.

According to Andrew Fleming of FreeOnlineTradingTools.com, "People just like you and I can now trade with a level of sophistication that was unheard of, even in the 90 s!" This has effectively 'levelled the playing field and allowed individuals to make highly informed trading decisions.

It wasn t so long ago that many of these resources, which are now freely available on the Internet, cost thousands and thousands of Dollars. The problem has been that without some kind of guide, a trader could literally spend days trawling through financial websites and still not find what they were looking for.

In the case of software programs, many often end up spending their 'trading money on proprietary systems because these are the most aggressively marketed and easily found. And yet, had they known where to look, they could have enjoyed similar functionality for free.

Now with the use of such systems, a home-based trader can download free historical price data and then let a computer program filter and disseminate it. Most software will then display the results in a graphical format, allowing users to spot identifiable trends and patterns that can be used to make profitable trades.

Of course, without the knowledge to interpret these charts, they re practically worthless. But expensive trading seminars and courses are another area where would-be investors are often spending money that could be used for placing trades. Many of those new to the world of online trading are taken in by slick sales copy promising the 'Holy Grail of trading systems, whereas in reality it simply doesn t exist.

Any experienced trader will say that much of trading success is in finding or developing a simple set of rules and having the mental mettle to stick to them. Fleming says he has uncovered a virtual 'online university of trading information, offering many tried and tested methods from which to hone and adapt a personal system.

And even if the idea of finding their own trades is a little daunting, traders can now choose from several free 'stock pick sites and forums -- many with surprisingly good track records. It seems then, that the world of financial trading is no longer the mysterious and exclusive playground of stockbrokers and finance houses.

In his new book, "Free Online Trading Tools", Andrew has gathered a collection of nearly 200 individual links to free software, price data, training materials, charting sites and more. Visit:

http://www.freeonlinetradingtools.com