Online trading is no longer a matter reserved for professionals. The online investment platforms have multiplied in recent years and have become an effective and simple means available to anyone interested in trading and investing their savings, from the comfort of their office or, why not, even from the couch.
Thanks to these softwares, anyone who wants to can decide to invest in the stock market having a personal account and full freedom of action. There will be no intermediaries to interface or confront and you will be able to manage your capital as you like. In short, a solution suitable for traders who have a minimum of experience and are aware of the risks involved when deciding to invest in the stock market. At the same time, however, trading platforms are increasingly simple and intuitive to use, allowing anyone to “test themselves” and trade the stock market wherever they are.
What are online trading platforms
As the name implies, trading platforms are software that allow you to “interface” with investment markets and manage a large and varied portfolio. Trading software allows you to trade the world’s markets in real time directly from your home or office, without the need for financial intermediaries. You are therefore free to choose how and how much to invest in the various operations, how to compose your portfolio and how and when to modify it. In short, you will have full management of your capital and your “destiny”.
The best online trading platforms: MetaTrader
One of these platforms is MetaTrader, one of the safest and most widely used software for both professional traders and beginners, worldwide.
MetaTrader 5 is a software created by MetaQuotes and an improved version of MetaTrader 4, its big sister. This new edition has made several improvements, especially in programming trading instruments such as robots that are used in scalping or high frequency trading. Its programming language is simpler and more manageable.
This platform can support even more financial instruments, all types of markets, trades and trading configurations, with almost no limits to flexibility or scalability.
MetaTrader Compatible Devices
MetaTrader is available on iPhone, Android, Linux and Windows. The MetaTrader mobile application can be useful especially for monitoring open positions and managing some unexpected events when we can’t sit in front of our PCs, but for everyday trading it has some limitations; that’s why for a constant, complete and careful operation we always recommend the full version, i.e. the software for Windows or Mac.
How to use MetaTrader?
To use MetaTrader 5 the first thing you need is to have an approved trading account with a trusted broker. Once you have passed this step you can download the platform from the broker’s website and proceed to install it. Once you have obtained the login credentials to connect to the MetaTrader platform, and the platform has completed the installation process on your device, you can run the program. Once the trading platform is installed, all you have to do is log in with your username and password and start trading the financial markets.
For the past few years, a web version of MetaTrader has also been available, so users can trade from any device without having to download and install software on their device. In fact, with WebTrader all you need is an Internet connection. An exclusive plugin has also been launched, with improved functions and several additional tools, including expert advisors and specialized indicators: MetaTrader Supreme Edition.
What markets are available in MetaTrader?
The markets available on the trading platform depend on the choice of the broker you have chosen to open your trading account: the offer of financial assets varies from broker to broker, as well as the conditions and costs. In most cases, however, you can find stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and forex currency pairs.
One of the advantages of the new version of MetaTrader is to have some tools for those who do not have much time to study the markets, so you can leave it programmed according to some parameters and the platform will continue to work on its own throughout the day. However, it will be necessary to establish some guidelines for buying and selling so that the platform knows how to act when it detects a trading opportunity.
Learn how to use MetaTrader: tips
To learn how to use MetaTrader platforms one of the best ways is to use a trading simulator, or more commonly called a demo account. With virtual money and real market conditions you can experiment with trading without risk, testing and training your skills and learning more about the functionality of your platform. Becoming an expert in this field is another story.
When you want to deposit real money and start investing in the stock market through MetaTrader, there are several factors to consider.
First, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the platform. Secondly, it is advisable to have developed and tested in advance a good trading plan, i.e. a guide to be followed to the letter to decide how to act to invest or react in cases when the market moves against us. It is also necessary to have a simple and effective strategy and it is essential to apply good risk management. In this sense, we need to know how much money we are willing to invest without putting all our capital at risk. In order to manage all these details with ease, continuous training is necessary. Most brokers offer this service to their clients for free.