A day trader entrepreneur quickly buys and sells financial securities to make profits. They do this by mitigating the risk of losing money from any daily market shocks. In their day-to-day role, which includes a blend of short and long trades, they need specific day trading tools to make their work easier and effective.
Anyone can become a day trader. All you need are the tools and skills to use these tools to buy and hold a stock for seconds or a few hours before selling it before the end of each trading day.
What are day trading tools?
Day trading tools are software programs, websites, or accessories designed to make your work as a day trader easier.
These invaluable resources comprise software applications, electronic devices, calculators, and cutting-edge technologies that facilitate complex calculations, data tracking, and analysis.
To understand these tools, we need to look at each role you play as a day trader to establish which accessories come in handy under what circumstances.
Your specific duties can vary depending on whether you are a self-employed or professional day trader. But our focus here is on you, the self-employed traders. You conduct security trading and facilitate sales and trades for the good of your finances. As such, your most common responsibilities include:
- Monitoring and analysing security market trends
- Buying securities
- Identifying market gaps and conducting fast-paced trades to capitalise on the gaps.
- Tracking economic fluctuations.
- Financing your trades
- Selling securities
As a day trader entrepreneur, you harness the power of day-trading tools to optimise your decision-making processes, stay ahead of market trends, and enhance your overall trading efficiency. They give you an advantage and opportunities, such as detailed insights into the stock market,
These trading tools are handy for beginners who don’t have the grit and wit needed to forecast trends.
Top 6 Day-Trading Tools
As a day trader, you have several responsibilities, six of which are key to your success. They include:
- Determining the profit margins.
- Deciding on the securities to trade.
- Facilitating stock trades
- Storing securities
- Conducting market and economic research
- Carrying out cross-platform transactions
The six responsibilities are an integral part of the daily activities of any day trader, and the corresponding six specific tools you can use as a day-trader entrepreneur in carrying these duties are what we are looking at now.
1. Stock Scanning Software – The Opportunity Identifying Tool
Security Scanning Software, sometimes referred to as a stock screener app, helps you identify the securities to buy or sell.
Imagine trading in the London Stock Exchange (LSE), one of the world’s oldest and most diverse stock markets, with over 1000 companies from over 100 countries making up 40 different sectors. And each issuing firm issues its shares of stock. The same goes for the NYSE, NASDAQ, and any other international trading stock markets. It’s challenging to pick which stocks to buy, sell, or even identify opportunities. That’s where stock scanners come in – they help you identify stocks that match your set criteria.
As a trader, you set the criteria and specifications for the stocks you seek, and the software identifies them. These scanners enable you to filter stocks by industry, price, daily shares traded, and much more. For example, search for the biggest gainers or losers, volume spikes, or identify bull flags.
Stock Scanners are helpful for those starting their day-trading journey, as you usually are not sure which assets to buy and sell. They are indispensable tools for day traders and investors, making identifying potential trading opportunities easier and making informed decisions.
2. Online brokers – Trading Platforms
As a day trader, you rely on the services of an online broker to carry out your trades and effectively fulfil your role.
There are various online brokering tools, but you’ll pick one that aligns best with your specific stock trading requirements.
While many financial institutions also provide online brokering tools and software options for day traders, they charge higher commissions and limited customisation. The best trading platforms are smaller regulated ones that offer near zero-commission trading.
The best trading platforms are Not all brokerages offer the same quality of service, so conducting thorough inquiries before making a decision is central to your decision.
3. Stock Market Dashboard
To enhance your chances of success in day trading, you need a comprehensive view of the stock market at all times. This is why many day traders rely on stock market dashboard tools that consolidate daily stock and market data into a single, easily accessible platform.
A stock market dashboard is a visual interface that provides real-time information and data on various aspects of the stock market. It’s where you get the key information, such as stock prices, indices, market trends, and news.
The best dashboard presents the key details in a user-friendly format, primarily utilising charts, graphs, and tables. It’s this data that investors and traders use to monitor market movements, track specific stocks or portfolios, and make informed decisions based on the available data.
Additionally, it offers features like watchlists, portfolio tracking, and integration of financial news and announcements. A dashboard is a comprehensive tool for staying informed, analysing trends, and making data-driven decisions in the dynamic world of stock trading.
Ultimately, stock market dashboards streamline the process of staying informed and enable day traders to respond quickly and effectively to fluctuations in the market.
4. Digital calculators
Both simple and advanced scientific calculators are essential for performing day trading calculations. Professionals in this role often have digital calculators easily accessible to perform quick calculations and determine how much money they may generate or lose when trading stocks. Typically, day traders have these tools on their PCs, tablets or smartphones for instant access.
Whether simple or advanced, a digital calculator is valuable for quick and accurate calculations. You base your decisions on the results from these calculations, and it’s prudent that you do the maths quickly, as you may have to make the trading decisions at the snap of your fingers.
Calculators assist in risk management by calculating position sizes and determining risk levels based on variables like stop-loss and account size.
Additionally, it helps in analysing trades, evaluating potential outcomes, and setting profit targets. For traders utilising margin and leverage, a calculator aids in calculating margin requirements and understanding the impact of leverage on positions.
Moreover, it supports performance tracking by calculating key metrics to assess trading strategies.
5. Day Trading App
Day trading app, software or website is a specialised system that provides active traders with real-time market data, technical analysis tools, efficient order execution capabilities, risk management features, and performance tracking options.
Based on its features like indicators, you are to execute trades quickly, manage risk effectively, and monitor your trading performance.
With the ability to backtest strategies and automate trading, day trading software streamlines the trading process, enhances efficiency, and empowers traders to navigate the fast-paced world of day trading with greater ease and confidence.
6. News Dashboards
A news dashboard specifically tailored for day traders is a digital tool that aggregates relevant news and information to assist in making informed trading decisions.
These dashboards provide real-time updates on market news, financial announcements, company updates, and other factors impacting stock prices and market trends. The news dashboard for day traders may include features such as customisable watchlists, live news feeds, charts, and analysis tools.
The news dashboard helps day traders stay updated on market-moving news, identify potential trading opportunities, and manage risks more effectively. Quick access to relevant information and insights allows day traders to make timely and informed decisions responding to market events.