There are several trading types available in the stock market. Traders can choose a trading strategy based on their financial goals, the time they want to stay invested, risk tolerance and other factors. Generally speaking, there are two trading types – short-term and long-term. But when you categorise trading depending on investment strategies, there are fundamental and technical trading. Moreover, classification based on duration divides trading into intraday, swing, and positional trading. Each trading style shares some standard features, meaning they overlap. For instance, technical and day trading are the same, whereas fundamental trading is the same as positional trading. If you are a new stock trader, this article will help you understand the types of stock trading and their merits.
What is trading?
Trading is the cog that turns the wheel of the economy. Trading means exchanging goods and services between two or multiple entities against another product or money. Where trading takes place is called a market. There are organised and unorganised marketplaces. The organised market follows a set of rules and regulations to which every entity needs to adhere, and there are regulatory bodies supervising and maintaining market integrity. An unorganised market doesn’t have rules and governing bodies. In the stock market, trading refers to buying and selling of equities of listed companies on the stock exchange. These shares trade in the primary and secondary markets.
Types of stock trading
There are eight primary types of trading.
Day trading
It involves buying and selling stocks in a single day. If the trader buys shares for intraday trading, they should also sell those at the end of the trading session. Day trading is famous for capitalising on small movements of the stock’s NAV value. Intraday trading is relatively low risk since the trader holds the position for a short time. But the risk can increase if the trade uses too much margin money.
Scalping
It is also called micro-trading because of the time involved in the trade. The trader will make several short-duration trades to reap small profits. The number of scalp trading can go from a few dozen to a hundred daily. Similar to day trading, scalp trading requires an understanding of technical analysis, market knowledge, proficiency, and awareness of price trends.
Read More About Scalping Trading
Swing trading
Swing traders capitalise on short-term market trends and patterns. In swing trading, a trade can last for a few days – from one day to seven days. It involves analysing the short-term trends to gauge market patterns to execute the transaction.
Momentum trading
In the case of momentum trading, traders capitalise on the stock’s momentum; select scrips that are either breaking out or will break out. Traders will base their trading decisions on the direction of the trend. For example, the trader will sell for a higher profit if the ongoing momentum is upward. Conversely, when the movement is downward, the trading strategy is to buy stocks at a lower price.
Delivery trading
It is the most prevalent trading style in the stock market and one of the most secure ways of investing. Delivery trading is a form of long-term trading where the investors buy stocks intending to hold onto them for some time. Delivery trading doesn’t allow the usage of margin. This type of trading requires investors to pay the total amount to acquire the stocks. Particular types of stock trading
Positional trading
Positional trading is a form of delivery trading called the buy and hold strategy. It requires traders to maintain their position for an extended period and ignore the slightest market movements. Positional trading yields profit when the trade waits for a significant period before selling off.
Fundamental trading
Traders use fundamental analysis of the company to find stocks. They pay special attention to events related to the company and its financial details. Fundamental traders hold their positions sufficiently long to allow the stock price to move significantly. The trading style is quite close to stock investment.
Technical trading
Unlike fundamental traders, technical trading focuses on price trend analysis. They use charts and data to time the market. The risk involved in technical trading is higher than positional or fundamental trading. Traders should have market knowledge and abilities to study charts and graphs for insights.
How online trading has transformed stock trading
Online trading platforms have made a significant contribution to popularising stock trading. It has made data and analysis more readily available to all participants on their mobile phones and laptops. The availability of different trading styles means traders can select the best-suited ones according to their profit target, risk tolerance, and investment objective. Open your free trading account with Angel One in under five minutes and trade using our online trading tool from anywhere quickly and effortlessly.
FAQs
The main types of stock markets are primary share markets and secondary share markets. Companies first register themselves in the primary stock market by issuing shares for the first time. While the following trading happens in the secondary market when the company is listed and the stocks are already issued. NSE (National Stock Exchange), BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) Ltd. and Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd are the major stock markets in India. These stock markets help investors trade stocks, bonds, and ETPs (Exchange Traded Products). In addition to these, there are several other stock exchanges in India. The 4 types of trading are day trading, position trading, swing trading, and scalping. Traders can implement one of these trading strategies; however, they should also calculate the risks and costs associated with each of these strategies to ensure safe trading. Before investing in the stock market, an investor must identify their investment requirements, determine their investment strategy, execute the trade after thorough research, and consistently monitor their portfolio. Investors will need a PAN card, a Demat account, and a trading account to trade in the stock market.What are the main types of the stock market?
What are the 3 major stock markets?
What are the 4 types of trades?
How to invest in the stock market?