The trading world has been revolutionized and dramatically shaped by technology ever since the launch of the World Wide Web in 1990. From rudimentary computerized trading terminals with very limited access to information, that took hours to execute a trade – the modern and tech-based trading world now allows investors to execute trades in a matter of seconds, access real-time pricing and market news, as well as enjoy other advanced services provided by their brokers – whenever and wherever they want. Read more about it below!
Trading the financial markets – Then and Now
To amplify the outstanding effect technology had on trading, let’s go back in time and discuss how things have been done throughout the centuries. In the early 1960s, the main and only trading terminals were Ultronics and Scantlin Electronics, two computerized stock quote delivery systems that showed most recent price, bid/ask, trending up (‘uptick’) or down (‘downtick’). Both of them had similar systems and were based in New York City.
For years, all trading activities were executed in institutions like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); until 1971, when NASDAQ launched the first electronic stock market that enabled traders to post bids and offers digitally. Later on, in 1984, the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ launched SuperDot and Small Order Execution System, which allowed investors to execute low-volume trades through electronic channels.
By the late 1980s, brokers started to develop online platforms to link individual investors with current price information and act as mediators to direct buying and selling. The emergence of the information space World Wide Web (WWW) in 1990 was the starting point of a new trading world era. What back then represented an intangible luxury today is a standard of professionalism for online brokers. Access to live price action, customizable and advanced charts, indicators, educational materials and professional support are some of the common features every broker should have nowadays, thanks to the technology development.
Trading on the go – trade the financial markets anywhere, anytime
While the abundance of online brokers with modern and advanced services was a game changer for investors around the world, another ground-breaking change took the trading experience to a whole new level. The invention of smartphones freed investing from the physical constraints of an office or home. Nowadays, investors have access to all the financial markets, trading terminals and tools on any gadget they want, making it possible to trade anywhere and at their preferred time. TradeFW.com is a European online broker registered and authorized to operate by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). The company offers a wide array of the industry’s most popular and advanced trading platforms (MetaTrader 4 and WebTrader), that are available on Desktop, as well as on iOS and Android devices. Some of the features of the iOS and Android apps, as mentioned on the broker’s site are:
- Real-time quotes, 100s of financial instruments.
- Full set of trade orders, including pending.
- Supports all types of trading execution modes.
- Full trading history with search.
- Trade directly on chart in tablet version (Android), or iPad version (iOS).
This premium feature of the broker comes accompanied by a robust educational center that encompasses a plethora of materials, including webinars, tutorials, interactive videos and a blog with informative posts. These two services alone can significantly improve the chances of a trader to place successful trades, no matter the level of experience.
In many cases, trading on the go can make the difference. The fast-paced evolution of technology created competitive financial markets where participants need to be informed and vigilant to seize the opportunities when they appear. This can be a bit challenging if trading isn’t your career and your 9-5 job keeps you busy all day long, when all the exciting things happen. With a portable trading terminal provided by your broker, along with all the tools and educational materials you need in just one place – you will be able to monitor the markets and execute trades whether you’re at the office, stuck in traffic or out and about.
The bottom line
Once upon a time, all the trading activity took place on the polished floor of the major stock exchanges, where transactions were made through huge, rudimentary machines. Now, in the blink of an eye, investors from all around the world can trade the financial markets on gadgets they can hold in a palm, wherever they are and whenever they want. Technology has changed the way financial markets operate and consequently, made it more challenging for investors to succeed. However, the many upgrades technology brought turned trading into an enjoyable, lucrative and flexible experience.
