Modern online trading platforms provide professional-grade charts, real-time data, a wide range of assets (stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, and more), automation tools, and mobile access. Evaluate execution quality, security (2FA, SIPC/FDIC arrangements), and fees beyond headline commission rates.
A refreshed take on a beginner's guide to online trading: plain-language basics on portfolio building, valuation, risk control and how to pair those lessons with today's apps and tools.
A company's stock-split history shows share-price progress and management signaling but does not change intrinsic value. Use it as one input, not a sole indicator.
From 18th-century trading floors to modern apps, stock investing evolved into an electronic, global activity. Online brokerages now offer real-time tools, commission-free trades for many U.S. stocks and ETFs, fractional shares, and automated portfolios, while investor protections and risks remain important considerations.