Make optimal use of the new futures trading technologies Direct access, the democratizing force that transformed stock trading in the 1990s, has come to the futures industry in a big way. With the advent of a new electronic futures trading infrastructure, everyone-from the former pit boss, to the hedge fund manager, to the individual investor working from home-has equal and instantaneous access to futures markets in six continents. To survive and thrive in the futures markets, experienced and novice futures traders alike need to educate themselves with the ins and outs of the electronic trading environment. Silverman, former board member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange who has successfully made the transition from trading on the floor to trading electronically, acquaints readers with his proven strategies for playing both the long and short sides of the futures market and profiting in all market conditions.

Direct access trading means a whole new world of trade execution. Gone are the tradition-bound days of calling a broker, who called a broker, who called the floor of the exchange, where the order was written by hand and delivered by a runner to the floor broker. This was a time-consuming, tedious task that almost certainly guaranteed poor fills. Now, direct access traders can place an order with the click of a mouse button and be filled within seconds, eliminating the middleman and lowering commissions and reducing the infamous spread.

More than any other, the direct access trader depends on a keen knowledge of technical analysis—charts, oscillators, price, and volume—to determine optimal entry and exit points. Technical Analysis introduces basic charts, screens, and analysis, and covers popular analytic systems including price, volume, and volatility; support and resistance; and relative strength and trends. It also explains how to combine technical and fundamental analysis for taking advantage of the best aspects of each.

The same electronic trading forces that are changing the face of stock trading, are moving into the futures and options market, where traders can trade the entire stock market rather than just one stock at a time. Some of the richest opportunities to trade the stock market can be found at the futures and options exchanges. This work aims to teach the novice trader everything necessary to get started in electronically day trading the equity index markets.