Futures

 Futures are derivative products, that derive their value from the price movement of an underlying instrument such as Gold, Coffee, a Currency pair, a Stock Index or a Government Bond. They are essentially contracts with an obligation to buy or to sell an instrument (in a certain quantity) at or before a fixed time for an agreed price. Futures are traded at large exchanges that formulate the contract terms.

Indices

Stock Indices use a portfolio of representative companies (usually spanning major industries) to reflect the status of the whole stock market. There are basically three kinds: global, regional and national. Global indices include companies regardless of where they are traded. Regional indices include companies from a certain region and national indices include companies from a specific nation. Stock Indices are used to get an indication of the market's overall direction. Some analysts use them as a barometer of the underlying economy.

Stocks

Stocks, also known as equities, are shares of ownership that entitle the holder to a part of a company's assets and earnings. The stock market is where these shares are bought and sold. There are 60 major stock exchanges around the world and 16 of them each have a market capitalization of over $1 trillion. Both large players like banks or hedge funds and small investors participate in this market. The stock market operates on a system of supply and demand and has opportunities for long term investors and for day traders..

Currencies

Currencies are traded on the Foreign Exchange market, also known as Forex. This is a decentralized market that spans the globe and is considered the largest by trading volume and the most liquid worldwide. Exchange rates fluctuate continuously due to the ever changing market forces of supply and demand. Forex traders buy a currency pair if they think the exchange rate will rise and sell it if they think the opposite will happen. The Forex market remains open around the world for 24 hours a day with the exception of weekends..

Why technical analysis : the lack of fundamental analysis

Technical analysis has a quite different approach to the estimation of buying and selling levels compared with fundamental analysis.

Indeed, fundamental analysis, as used by bank analysts (leading to recommendations), mainly relies on financial ratios linked with the company’s fundamentals.