Trading

Take your trading to the next level.

What's new

Futures

Trading Micro Crude Futures

Micro WTI Crude Oil futures offer smaller-sized contracts, allowing traders to access the oil market but with a reduced initial financial commitment than standard crude oil contracts.

April 17, 2025

Technical Analysis

What Are Bollinger Bands?

Bollinger Bands® help you identify sharp, short-term price movements and potential entry and exit points.

April 15, 2025

Commodities

How to Invest in Gold

Are you wondering how to buy gold or add gold investments to your portfolio? Learn about different alternatives and their pros and cons.

April 15, 2025

Forex

Understanding Forex Margin

Learn how to use leverage to speculate on currency prices or exchange rates. Understand the potential risks before deciding to trade forex on margin.

April 11, 2025

Market updates

Mixed Tidings as Chips Rebound

Alex Coffey
April 17, 2025

Today's Options Market Update

Rob Fleming
April 17, 2025

Weekly Trader's Outlook

Nathan Peterson
April 17, 2025

Looking to the Futures

Ryan Hinsen
April 17, 2025
View more

thinkorswim basics

Trading Tools

Intro to thinkorswim® Desktop

Welcome to thinkorswim®. In this video we'll provide a high-level tour of the most commonly used features of the thinkorswim trading platform.

August 28, 2023

Trading Tools

Set Up thinkorswim® for Stocks

In this tutorial, we'll demonstrate ways to set up the thinkorswim® desktop platform for stock trading.

August 28, 2023

Trading Tools

Set Up thinkorswim® for Options

How to customize the thinkorswim® desktop platform especially for options—streamlining the option chain based on your trading style, setting up custom options screeners, and more.

August 28, 2023

Trading Tools

thinkorswim® Web Overview

In this tutorial, we'll take a tour of the thinkorswim® web platform and show you how to get started.

August 28, 2023

Trading Tools

thinkorswim® iOS

Learn how to navigate and place trades on the thinkorswim® mobile app for iPhone.

October 10, 2023

Trading Tools

thinkorswim® Android

Learn how to navigate and place trades on the thinkorswim® mobile app for Android.

October 11, 2023

View more

Options trading for beginners

Trading

Three Ways to Short the Market

Investors seeking to profit from a market downturn or looking for portfolio protection have several short-selling alternatives they might consider. Here are three.

April 07, 2025 • Michael Zarembski

Options

Managing Cash-Secured Puts

Cash-secured puts may generate short-term income or enable purchase of desired stocks at a favorable price. Know what to do if the cash-secured put doesn't work out as planned.

December 05, 2024

Portfolio Management

How to Hedge a Correction

How to use S&P 500 put options for temporary downside portfolio protection when concerns over an event-driven sell-off are elevated.

July 16, 2024

Options

The Covered Call

Selling covered calls is a strategy that can help traders potentially make money if the stock price doesn't move. Learn how this strategy works.

April 04, 2024

Options

Investing Basics: Options

Options are an alternative way to speculate on the performance of a security, such as a stock or ETF. Learn how options work and the risks associated with trading options.

January 18, 2024

A guide to futures and forex

Futures

Trading Micro Crude Futures

Micro WTI Crude Oil futures offer smaller-sized contracts, allowing traders to access the oil market but with a reduced initial financial commitment than standard crude oil contracts.

April 17, 2025

Forex

Understanding Forex Margin

Learn how to use leverage to speculate on currency prices or exchange rates. Understand the potential risks before deciding to trade forex on margin.

April 11, 2025

Futures

Trading Futures vs. Stocks

Stocks and futures both trade on exchanges, but that's where the similarities end. Futures contracts expire on a set date and can be traded using much more leverage.

April 11, 2025

Futures

Hedging with Futures

Learn how futures contracts can help experienced traders and investors manage portfolio risk, including the use of a beta-weighted hedging strategy.

April 10, 2025

Trading with technical analysis

Technical Analysis

What Are Bollinger Bands?

Bollinger Bands® help you identify sharp, short-term price movements and potential entry and exit points.

April 15, 2025

Stocks

Fundamentals vs. Technicals

Find out how you can use these two stock-picking strategies together.

March 12, 2025

Technical Analysis

RSI for Long-Term Holdings

Relative strength index is often used by traders to determine when to buy or sell a stock. Here's how long-term investors can put it to work in their own portfolios.

March 07, 2025

What's new in stock trading

Stocks

How To Evaluate Dividend Stocks

Dividend stocks can provide income and boost portfolio growth. But don't be blinded by the yield they offer. We'll show you other metrics you might use to evaluate income stocks.

April 15, 2025

Futures

Trading Futures vs. Stocks

Stocks and futures both trade on exchanges, but that's where the similarities end. Futures contracts expire on a set date and can be traded using much more leverage.

April 11, 2025

Markets and Economy

Perspective: Tariff Hard Turn

Markets swung widely after the White House announced—and then paused—sweeping global tariffs. But the U.S. and China remain in an escalating tariff battle and volatility is likely to continue.

April 11, 2025

Sectors

Stock Sector Outlook

Our outlook on the 11 S&P 500 equity sectors.

April 10, 2025

Markets and Economy

Stock Market Circuit Breakers

Stock market circuit breakers are temporary trading halts that kick in during periods of severe price decline to ensure that information is disseminated, and liquidity managed.

April 08, 2025

Markets and Economy

Volatility in Retirement

Don’t have a cash reserve? Here are some ways to adjust your spending and withdrawals to help ease the burden on your portfolio.

April 07, 2025

Expand your options trading

Order Types

Walk Limit Orders for Options

Schwab's proprietary Walk Limit orders for options automate the process of placing limit orders, increasing or decreasing the price for traders along the bid/ask spread.

April 03, 2025

Cryptocurrency

Options on Spot Bitcoin ETFs

The launch of options on spot bitcoin ETFs may enable traders to hedge and speculate on the underlying ETF, as well as on the movements of the cryptocurrency itself.

January 24, 2025

Trading Tools

Analyzing Vertical Spreads

Learn how to set up and analyze an options spread using the Risk Profile tool on the thinkorswim platform for more complex trades like vertical spreads.

December 10, 2024

Options

Managing Cash-Secured Puts

Cash-secured puts may generate short-term income or enable purchase of desired stocks at a favorable price. Know what to do if the cash-secured put doesn't work out as planned.

December 05, 2024

Newest trading videos

Stocks

Ask a Trader

Schwab's Joe Mazzola answers questions related to stocks and trading submitted by our audience on YouTube and other social media platforms.

March 27, 2025

Stocks

Extended-Hours Trading Tutorial

Trading doesn't have to end at the closing bell. Learn how extended-hours trading works on Schwab.com and what you should know about it.

March 06, 2025

Technical Analysis

Trading the Stochastic Indicator

The stochastic indicator is a technical analysis tool that helps traders see when a stock might change direction and can provide entry and exit signals.

February 26, 2025

Explore more topics

Trading Forex Futures Options Technical Analysis Trading Tools Investments Stocks Markets and Economy Fundamental Analysis

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Options carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain requirements must be met to trade options through Schwab. Please read the Options Disclosure Document titled "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options" before considering any option transaction. Call Schwab at 1‐800‐435‐4000 for a current copy. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Investing involves risks, including loss of principal. Hedging and protective strategies generally involve additional costs and do not assure a profit or guarantee against loss. With long options, investors may lose 100% of funds invested. Spread trading must be done in a margin account. Multiple leg options strategies will involve multiple per-contract charges. Covered calls provide downside protection only to the extent of the premium received and limit upside potential to the strike price plus premium received.

Futures and futures options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Risk Disclosure Statement for Futures and Options prior to trading futures products. Futures and forex accounts are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Futures, futures options, and forex trading services provided by Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC. Trading privileges subject to review and approval. Not all clients will qualify.

Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC (NFA Member) and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Member FINRA/SIPC) are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation.

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