By
Cory Mitchell
The thinkorswim platform is rich with features, providing price alerts (when set), streaming CNBC TV, stock and option screeners and a spread trading tool. There are also live, streaming and customizable charts. Charts contain up to 20 years of data, and can be viewed on an
intraday basis right up to monthly data.
The charts can be analyzed with hundreds of
indicators including the common
moving average convergence divergence (MACD),
moving averages and
oscillators. All indicators can be customized to suit the needs of the trader. Drawings can be placed on the chart, such as showing cycles,
Fibonacci retracement levels and
trendlines.
Traders can also screen for fundamental data and see news on the chart they are viewing, such as earning announcements,
conferences calls or
stock splits.
Traders can also isolate stock patterns such as
head and shoulders patterns,
triangles,
wedges and others on their charts.
Candlestick patterns can also be isolated, such as
dojis and engulfing patterns.
The features and analysis tools make it possible to find trading instruments which are moving the way the trader wants. Those instruments can then be further scrutinized using an almost endless array of indicators and chart overlays. Figure 6 shows a summary of the main indicator categories and tools available in the thinkorswim platform (partial list).
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| Figure 6: Analysis Tools Categories |
Additional Info
Within the thinkorswim platform, there are live tutorials for using the platform along with frequent trading seminars. Chat rooms are also available within the platform so traders can discuss the market with other traders throughout the day.
Traders can launch the news feeds which provides up to the second news flashes of events affecting individuals stocks, companies, the broader market or the business world.
Watch lists can also be created to keep an eye on certain stocks, ETFs, sectors or an array of trading instruments.
Traders can even link their accounts up to a list of trading newsletters. When a trade signal is released by a newsletter the trader is subscribed to, the signal will be "automatically traded" in their account.
