The Elements Of A Good ETF Trading System PDF Print E-mail
Written by Patrick Deaton   
Friday, 18 December 2009 15:38
Understanding what makes up an ETF trading system will be necessary for those who are considering participating in trading through an exchange traded fund. These funds can be a great way to invest in the markets and, if one has some smarts, some patience and even a bit of daring make a good income. Remember, though, this is just like any other investment in the markets and that it could be lost.
by PatrickDeaton


Understanding what makes up an ETF trading system will be necessary for those who are considering participating in trading through an exchange traded fund. These funds can be a great way to invest in the markets and, if one has some smarts, some patience and even a bit of daring make a good income. Remember, though, this is just like any other investment in the markets and that it could be lost.

ETFs are similar to mutual funds in the way that they are constituted. Additionally, it can help to think of ETF's somewhat as corporate stocks are in the way they are bought and sold. Investing through an ETF is a great way to keep a handle on investment costs because those costs are generally very reasonable in an ETF. As well, tracking of taxes is relatively easy.

Generally speaking, most ETF's are pretty much impossible for the small, non-institutional investor to get involved in. Most ETF's allow only authorized participants -- meaning institutional investors, usually -- to buy and sell in the ETF directly to and from the ETF's manager. However, there is a way for the small investor to get involved in ETF and that's through a trading system.

These trading systems -- and there are numerous versions of them on the Internet -- have been set up as a way to allow small investors with a small amount of what the trading systems call "starting capital" (this is usually around several thousand dollars) to get involved in the daily trading activities (called a "trading day") of the ETF and the trading system.

Most exchange traded funds track one of the major indexes that allow investors to get a gauge on the market or markets that these investors are interested in participating in. For example, many ETF's track the Standard & Poor's 500, which is one of the major indexes that investors watch on a daily -- or even minute by minute -- basis.

There are a number of rules that exchange traded fund trading systems use to regulate the activities of those investing for the day in the system. Usually, most trading systems share some similarity with each other, especially in the way they regulate the activities of the investors participating in the trading system that day and in how they track the markets. A common method is through trend following.

By following trends, investors in the trading systems can time their market movements in such a way that they can get into and out of funds very quickly. Money is usually made on the margin or on the micro movements taking place within those trends and markets. As a way of regulating investors in the trading system, ETF trading systems usually require all costs be settled or profits be taken by end of day.

For a small investor who has a limited amount of starting capital and who wants to get in on the possibility of making real and defined income by trading in exchange traded funds, and ETF trading system is probably the single best way of doing so. Costs are attractively low, as are the efficiencies and tracking of taxes that may result. Additionally, there's plenty of training available for those thinking of participating.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.