Best stock broker for beginners in India

The financial capital of India and the city of dreams, Mumbai, is a vast metro that appeals to people from all over the country. Hailing from a smaller city and looking for growth opportunities, Mohan came to Mumbai to pursue his MBA in Operations Management. Here, he came in contact with Akshay, a stock broker and part-time lecturer who introduced him to the concept of equities and stock trading. Mohan was awe-stuck by the tales of the market and found himself allured by the potential inherent in equity investing. Once considered the playground of aggressive investors and high-risk traders, the stock market is no longer a mythical entity but a tangible reality for many Indians. With stocks worth billions being traded on a daily basis, the equity market is one of the most liquid and attractive markets in the country.

What is the market all about? It is a simple enough concept – the stocks of companies are listed on the stock exchange and traded on a daily basis. Stock market traders and investors buy and sell the stocks of these companies in the expectation that they will make money from the movement in the prices of stocks. Let us consider a simple example. In a practice session with his mentor, Mohan noticed that the price of company X, which manufactured cars, had dropped 30% due to poor earnings. He did some further research and gathered that the drop in earnings was due to a temporary shut-down in one of its key markets. The situation in that market was already improving and Mohan expected that it would be back to normal soon. So, he purchased 50 stocks at Rs. 150 each and waited for the tide to turn. 15 days later, a news article said that the company was being acquired by company Y, an international car manufacturer. This news bolstered the stocks which began rising rapidly. At the end of the day, the stock of the company was trading at Rs. 285 apiece and, upon selling, Mohan made a profit of Rs. 6,750. From then on, there was no looking back for Mohan, He was hooked. The enormous potential in equities can be seen in the rise of the Nifty index between 1996 and 2021. During its 25-year journey, the index rode from 1,107 points to 15K, offering investors 11.1% CAGR[1]. Add to it the fact that India is a growing economy with new companies being listed regularly, and the opportunity in the equity market is nothing short of tremendous.

Participating in the market
Traditionally, people have been wary of investing in the market because of a lack of knowledge and experience, a low risk appetite, and the fear of losing their savings. However, this is changing slowly and surely as a number of individuals are now participating in equities directly. While some of these investors may have a strong understanding of the market, many are dipping their toes in with the guidance of stock brokers. Stock brokers are experienced and professional traders who facilitate the buying and selling of stocks, on behalf of their investors, in return for a commission or fee. Stockbrokers like Akshay help you assess your investor personality and empower you to begin your trading journey in a guided manner, thus limiting risk and increasing the scope of potential returns. In addition to routine guidance on where to invest, they also offer you a platform and portal, allowing you to directly access the market and earn high returns.
Best stock broker for beginners in India
With the recent interest in trading and direct participation, India has seen an influx of stock brokers, both offline and online. However, when considering who is the best stock broker for beginners in India, the answer lies in your personal requirements. For Mohan, Akshay is the best stock broker for beginners in India as he has offered him guidance, advice, a trading platform, and thorough mentorship, in addition to providing access to regular research and data. You can choose from a variety of service providers and arrive at your definition of the best stock broker for beginners in India by considering the following aspects:
  • Do you want a stockbroker who provides you with daily research and statistics updates, along with a proposed buy/sell list?
  • Are you looking for a stockbroker who charges minimal fees while keeping you updated about relevant news?
  • Or, do you want a stockbroker who acts as your personal mentor and handholds you throughout the process while offering you a curated portfolio and blanket fees for all your trades?
There are many stockbrokers who have the tag of being the best stock broker for beginners in India and they all offer varying levels of services and stockbroking options. It is up to you to pick and choose the one you are most comfortable with. While this may take some trial and error on your part, remember that your requirements will dictate who ends up being your nominee for the title of best stock broker for beginners in India. Once you find a stockbroker who meets all your unique requirements, understands your investor profile, and makes you feel comfortable with the nitty gritty of the market, stick with them and you may end up laughing all the way to the bank, like Mohan did!
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Beginners Guide to Candlesticks and Candlestick Patterns

When you invest in the stock market, you need to look out for the best stocks to make the maximum gains on your investments. Stock trading requires knowledge of analyzing stocks and their profit-generating potential. One such method of analysis is a technical analysis that helps assess the stock’s future price movements based on historical patterns. Here’s a brief look into the concept of technical analysis: What is technical analysis? Technical analysis is the statistical analysis of the performance of a stock. The analysis is done using the historical performance of the stock based on the movements in price and trading volumes. Technical analysis is different from fundamental analysis as it uses historical and statistical data to predict stock price movements. Technical analysis can be done using different types of charts and patterns. One such common tool of technical analysis is candlesticks and candlestick patterns. Let’s understand these tools in details: What are candlesticks?  Designed by a Japanese rice trader named Homma, candlesticks were drawn in the 1700s to represent the price movement of rice on a particular trading day. Later on, these candlesticks were adapted to depict the price movement of stocks. Candlesticks consist of two parts, the wick and the main body. Each part of the candlestick represents a particular type of data. The anatomy of a candlestick is explained below: Beginner Guide 2022 Candlesticks Patterns
  • The wick
Also called candlestick shadows, the wicks are thin lines emanating from the candlestick’s body. They represent the highest and the lowest price of a stock in a given period. The length of the wick shows the range of movement of the stock price. Beginner Guide 2021 Candlesticks Patterns
  • The main body
The candlestick’s main body depicts the range between the opening price and the closing price of the stock. One end of the body shows the opening price, and the other shows the closing price. The length depicts the range of movement between these two prices. Beginner Guide 2021 Candlesticks Patterns Here’s how candlesticks usually look: (Source: https://www.kotaksecurities.com/blog/d-street/a-dummies-guide-to-candlestick-charts.html) Bullish and bearish candlesticks  Different candlesticks are drawn for different kinds of market movements. Bullish candlesticks represent increasing prices of stock, while bearish candlesticks show decreasing or reducing prices of the stock. Bullish candlesticks are usually green or white. Bearish candlesticks, on the other hand, are either red or black. Have a look: (Source: https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-read-candlestick-charts/) Candlestick patterns: A beginner’s guide  What is Technical Analysis Beginner Bullish Bearish Patterns The price movement of stocks creates specific patterns which, when represented on candlesticks, become candlestick patterns. These patterns help to assess whether the stock price is expected to increase or decrease. By studying candlestick patterns, you can make trading decisions. Candlestick patterns are of two types—bullish patterns and bearish patterns. Bullish patterns indicate a rise in prices, while bearish patterns indicate the opposite, i.e., a drop in the stock price. While there are hundreds of candlestick patterns, some of the most popular and commonly used ones include the following: Bullish patterns  Hammer The bullish hammer has a short body and a long wick at the bottom, which looks like a hammer. This pattern is usually found at the bottom of a downward market trend, and it shows that though the stock had a selling pressure, there was a strong buying pressure that drove the price up. Here’s how the hammer looks: (Source: https://www.dailyfx.com/education/candlestick-patterns/bullish-hammer.html) Bullish engulfing This pattern consists of two candlesticks. The first one is a short red or bearish candlestick, which is engulfed by the second, longer, bullish candlestick. The pattern shows that though the stock was bearish initially, a strong buying pressure has driven the price up considerably. Here’s a depiction of the bullish engulfing pattern: (Source: https://www.dailyfx.com/education/candlestick-patterns/top-10.html) Morning star There are three candlesticks in this pattern, and it is observed when a bearish trend is about to be reversed. The first candlestick is a long, bearish candlestick, and the second one is a small bullish one. The third one is a bullish candlestick that is bigger than the second but smaller than the first. Moreover, the third candle should cover at least half of the body of the first one. Thus, the pattern shows that the downward trend is about to end, and a bullish run is expected. (Source: https://www.dailyfx.com/education/candlestick-patterns/top-10.html) Bearish patterns  Hanging man Like the hammer pattern, this candlestick has a red or black color indicating that it is a bearish candlestick. It usually appears at the end of a bullish run showing that there was a high selling pressure. This suggests that bulls might be losing control of the market, and the stock might start losing value. (Source: https://www.ig.com/en/trading-strategies/16-candlestick-patterns-every-trader-should-know-180615) Bearish harami ‘Harami’ is Japanese for ‘pregnant,’ and this pattern consists of two candlesticks. The first is a large bullish candlestick followed by a small-bodied bearish one. The bearish candlestick is enclosed within the body of the first one. This pattern is found at the peak of an uptrend, indicating a reversal in the stock price trend. (Source: https://www.dailyfx.com/education/candlestick-patterns/top-10.html) Bearish evening star This is a three candlestick pattern that signals a reversal from the bullish trend to a bearish one. In this pattern, a short bullish candlestick is seen between the first long bullish candlestick and the third long bearish candlestick. It shows that the bull run is slowing down, and a bear run is setting in. (Source: https://www.ig.com/en/trading-strategies/16-candlestick-patterns-every-trader-should-know-180615) Interpreting the candlestick patterns If you want to invest your money in the stock market, try to look out for these candlestick patterns to understand expected market movements. Stocks are not safe investments. They are volatile. To successfully invest in stocks you need to study the volatility, and such a study can be done through price patterns indicated in candlestick charts. So, understand the basics of the stock market before you invest in it. To learn where to invest money for diversification, you can also use StoxboxStoxbox gives you a combination of different investment options in India, including stocks that are picked using technical and fundamental analysis. You can, therefore, expose your portfolio to different types of investments and maximize returns. Be careful when trading in stocks. Know the rules of trading in the stock market, use the candlestick patterns to identify trading opportunities, and then invest for maximum gains.
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The only term you need to know is ‘long-term’

The only term you need to know is ‘long-term’

We live in an era of YOLO and FOMO. We are a click happy generation that only appreciates instant gratification. With such a mindset, if somebody tells you that the best way to benefit from equity investing is to stay invested for the long-term, what would your first reaction be?

 

You would most likely dismiss it. After all, who wants to wait for 7 to 10 years to make money when you can do the same in just 1 year? The thing about making money or growing your wealth is that it is extremely challenging to achieve success in the short-term. On the other hand, the chances of losing money in the short-term are very high. If you are still not convinced, then here are a few compelling reasons for you to invest for the long-term.

Reason #1: Market volatility can erode your capital in the short-term

Traditional economic theory assumes that all investors are rational and that they always make rational investment decisions. However, that is far from reality. In the short-term, there are a host of factors that impact stock prices. Company specific developments that only have near term impact, market sentiments, investor greed and fear, and transitory events. Due to these, stock prices tend to be more volatile in the short-term. Now, as a human being you can’t always be rational. There will be times when these transitory factors will impact you and influence you to make investment decisions that might not be optimal. Class example is of selling in fear when the markets are falling and not exiting an investment when an opportunity presents itself. However, what happens in the long-term is that the true value of the investment eventually emerges. Further, all these short-term movements also get smoothened out. So, when you become a long-term investor, you tend to ignore short-term movements and stay focused on realising the true value of your investment. As the legendary Warren Buffet put it, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” All you need to do is sow the seeds of investment and then wait patiently for the tree to grow.

Reason #2: Compounding can exponentially grow your wealth

Compounding is a beautiful mathematical concept that can make your money work for you in such a way that over a period of time, you witness exponential growth. The compounding process ensures that when you invest money, both the principal invested and the returns generated, earn interest. Over a period of time, as the interest earned keeps increasing so do the returns generated.

Let’s explain this better with an example.

Assume you invest Rs. 1000 at 10% per annum.

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