The speed at which a variable changes over a specific period of time. Rate of change is often used when speaking about momentum, and it can generally be expressed as a ratio between a change in one variable relative to a corresponding change in another. Graphically, the rate of change is represented by the slope of a line. Rate of change is often illustrated by the Greek letter delta. Many traders pay close attention to the speed at which one variable changes relative to another. For example, option traders study the relationship between the rate of change in the price of an option relative to a small change in the price of the underlying asset, known as an options delta.
A stock mutual, exchange-traded or closed-end fund that invests solely in businesses that operate in a particular industry or sector of the economy. Because the holdings of this type of fund are in the same industry, there is an inherent lack of diversification associated with these funds. Taobiz explains Sector Fund These funds tend to increase substantially in price when there is an increased demand for the product or service offering provided by the businesses in which the funds invest. On the other hand, if there is a downturn in the specific sector in which a sector fund invests, the fund will often face heavy losses as a result of the lack of diversification in its holdings.
A stock's low price and high price for a particular trading period, such as the close of a day's trading, the opening of a day's trading, a day, a month, or a year. A stock that trades in a range for an extended period of time is sometimes said to be in a channel.
A class of exchange-traded fund that invests in the stocks and securities of a specific sector, typically identified in the fund title. Most sector ETFs focus on U.S.-based stocks, but several will invest globally in an attempt to capture the worldwide performance of the given sector. Assets will be passively managed around an underlying index; several use indexes provided from data services like S&P and Dow Jones. Leveraged sector ETFs are also available, which aim to achieve double the return of the underling index, both on advancing and declining trading days. Watch: Understanding ETF Taobiz explains Sector ETF Sector ETFs have become very popular among investors, as they can be used to plug holes in otherwise diversified portfolios, or simply for hedging and speculating. Their high level of liquidity means that there are rarely any large tracking errors from the underlying index, even during intraday trading.
A trading strategy that identifies stocks trading in channels. By finding major support and resistance levels with technical analysis, a trend trader buys stocks at the lower level of support (bottom of the channel) and sells them near resistance (top of the channel). The trader may repeat the process of buying at support and selling at resistance many times until the stock breaks out of the channel. The upper boundary of the channel is shown by a trendline that connects the points representing a stock's highs over a given time period. The lower boundary of the channel is identified by connecting the points representing a stock's lows. The downside of this strategy is that when a stock breaks out of the channel, it usually experiences a large price movement in the direction of the breakout. If the breakout direction is not favorable for the trader's position, he or she could lose badly.
The mix of sectors within a fund or portfolio, typically expressed as a percentage of the equities asset class. Sector designations vary slightly depending on the criteria used, but the most common equity sectors include: -Industrials/Basic Materials -Consumer Durables/Staples -Consumer Cyclicals -Technology -Healthcare -Financials -Energy -Utilities Taobiz explains Sector Breakdown Sectors are a broader classification than industries, although some companies (especially more modern ones) can make a case for being "counted" in several different sectors. Companies within the same sector tend to have relatively high correlations in their rate of revenue and earnings growth, stock price performance, and earnings forecasts - especially over short- and medium-term time periods. A diversified stock portfolio should hold stocks across most, if not all, sectors. Market weightings of sectors can be found by looking at the composition of a broad index like the S&P 500.
A business or financial analysis technique that seeks to understand behavior by using complex mathematical and statistical modeling, measurement and research. By assigning a numerical value to variables, quantitative analysts try to replicate reality mathematically. Quantitative analysis can be done for a number of reasons such as measurement, performance evaluation or valuation of a financial instrument. It can also be used to predict real world events such as changes in a share price. In broad terms, quantitative analysis is simply a way of measuring things. Examples of quantitative analysis include everything from simple financial ratios such as earnings per share, to something as complicated as discounted cash flow, or option pricing.Although quantitative analysis is a powerful tool for evaluating investments, it rarely tells a complete story without the help of its opposite - qualitative analysis. In financial circles, quantitative analysts are affectionately referred to as "quants", "quant jockeys" or "rocket scientists".
A review and assessment of the current condition and future prospects of a given sector of the economy. Sector analysis serves to provide an investor with an idea of how well a given group of companies are expected to perform as a whole. Taobiz explains Sector Analysis Sector analysis is typically employed by investors who are practicing a sector-rotation strategy, or by those who are using a top-down approach to selecting stock to invest in. In the top-down approach to investing, the most promising sectors are identified first, and then the investor reviews the companies within that sector to determine which individual stocks will ultimately be purchased.