What is Simple moving average: How to calculate SMA

As the name indicates Simple moving average (SMA) is the simplest form of all the moving averages. It is the unweighted mean of the previous 'n' data points.
 In stock market SMA is simply calculated by taking the mean (average) of a security over a specified number of days. One can calculate moving averages from open, high, low or close prices. But in most cases, close prices are used to calculate SMA.
 If you want to calculate a seven day simple moving average of a security, add the previous seven day closing prices and divide it by seven (mean or average of last seven days). You can't calculate simple moving average if you don't have last seven days closing price.
 An example of a seven day moving average is given below
 

Day	Close	7 Day SMA
1	58
2	64
3	62
4	60
5	63
6	65
7	65	62.43
8	67	63.71
9	68	64.29
10	67	65.00
11	66	65.86
12	64	66.00
13	65	66.00
14	67	66.29
15	69	66.57
16	70	66.86
17	67	66.86
18	65	66.71
19	62	66.43
20	63	66.14
21	66	66.00
22	68	65.86
23	71	66.00
24	69	66.29
25	70	67.00

 You can also calculate simple moving average of 'n' days using the following formula.

 Suppose  previous 'n' day closing prices are 

 Then Simple moving average



In order to calculate simple moving average in a row (for successive values) use the following formula

  

For short term trading most people use 5, 10, 20 and 50 SMA. For long term 100, 200 SMA's are considered as important.

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Book value per equity and book value per share; its importance

 In accountancy 'book value' is the value of an asset as per balance sheet. It is also called carrying value or net asset value, which is equal to the original cost of the asset less any accumulated depreciation, amortization or impairment costs made against the asset.
 In share market traders use book value to determine the safety level of shares after the payment of all debts.
 Total Book value of an equity is the value that the equity worth after the repayment of all debts and liquidation of all assets.
 Total Book value of equity is calculated by the following formula,
 Total Book value of an equity= Book value of assets- Book value of liabilities

 Book value of all Common shares is calculated as
 Book Value of Equity- Book Value of Preferred Stocks

Book value per share is defined as the value, that share worth after repaying all debts and liquidating all its assets.
  Book value per Common share is calculated by using the following formula
 Book Value per Common Share = (Total stock holder's equity- Preferred Equity)/(Total Number of outstanding Shares)

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Stock market trading; How to be a successful trader

If you are a stock market trader, it is advisable that you must follow some basic principles. By doing these you can achieve success in day and delivery trading.

1. Virtual stock market trading

It is important that before entering and investing money to stock market, spend some time  on virtual stock market trading or paper trading or on stock market trading games. By doing this you will get some trading experience before entering in market. Many brokerages offer virtual stock trading.    

2. Put small amount of money first time

If you are trading for the first time or you are not an experienced trader put small amount of money in to market. Then increase the amount very slowly.

3. Make a trading plan
If you want to become a successful trader you must keep a trading plan. You have to do some home work before trading. This include study of chart patterns.

4. Identify the trend of market
It is very important that you identify the right trend of  the market before trading or investing. Also try to understand strong and weak sectors.

5. Pick right trading or investing stock for you
Before trading a security, try to pick the right stock for you. It depends upon your trade (intraday or short term)

6. Research about the stock before investing

Now a days it is found that investors are going behind brokerage research and calls. Before following brokerage calls it is strictly advised to do your own research.

7. Keep an eye on important trading levels
Before trading it is important to keep an eye on technical levels like pivot points, camarilla levels, fibonacci retracement levels, wave and Gann levels.

8. Book profits or loss in right time
Keep targets and stop loss for every trade. Book partial profit on all targets. If your trade hits stop loss avoid repeated trade in that direction.

9. Never try to buy a security on a new low
If a security make a new low don't try to buy that security. There may be reasons behind the new decline. Try to buy the stock only on a clear indication of reversal (Rising in  price to a specific level).

10. Never try to sell a security on a new high
If a security make a new high don't try to sell that security. There may be reasons behind the new price increase. Try to sell the stock only on a clear indication of reversal(Falling in  price to a specific level).

11. Avoid over trading

If you want to be a successful trader you must avoid over trading. It is the best solution to avoid huge losses.

12. Avoid impulsive trading

Traders must avoid impulsive trading. It will result in the loss of large amount of money. If you believe that you made a bad trade you must exit from the trade or keep a strict stop loss to keep the losses small.

13. Alertness is required for day trading
Day trading requires alertness. So  is advisable to watch movement of market and scrip from terminal or visual media.

14. Keep a positive attitude

A trader must look on getting profits. But if a particular plan not works for you you must reduce or close positions and watch what is happening. If a trade fails on a day, there is no need to become mood out. Participate in other activities to keep your right mood.

 By applying these principles one can easily trade on stock market.

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Market order and Limit order in stock markets

In stock markets, trades occurs when orders are placed. When one trader places buy order and another trader places sell order at the same price trade occurs.
 One can place buy order or sell order in order to enter or exit the trade in stock markets. If some body enters to trade by placing a buy order he can exit from that trade by placing a sell order. If some one enters to a trade by placing a sell order he can exit from that trade by placing a buy order.

Market order

Market order is an order placed with a brokerage to buy or sell shares in the current market place. In market order trader tells the number of shares he or she want to buy or sell. Market order will be executed immediately. If you place a market order to get some shares of a company you will get the shares at a price somewhere between the ask and bid price. In high volume markets, market orders are comparatively safe. Market order guarantee the execution subjected to the liquidity of that scrip, but does not guarantee the price.
 For example a security is trading at 500 RS and you place an order for 100 shares, 100 shares of that security would be bought for you at the price of 500 RS per share.

Limit Order

Limit order is a conditional order, which can be defined as the order placed to buy when the market price of the stock comes to the limit price you set. Limit orders are some times classified as buy limit orders and sell limit orders. Limit order guarantee the price, but does not guarantee the execution.

For example if you place an order for 100 shares of a security at 500 RS, which is trading at 550 RS, your order would be executed when the price come down to 500 RS.

Buy Limit Order

If you think that the price of a security will decrease in short term and then rebound to a higher price you can place an order to buy the security at lower levels.
For example A security is trading at 100 RS. If you think the price of that security will decline to 80 RS, you can place a buy order at RS 80. Only if the price come down to 80 RS, your trade will be executed.

Sell Limit Order

If you own a security, and think the price will go higher in short term. Then you can place a sell order at a higher price. If the price reaches that higher level your limit order will be executed.
For example A security is trading at 100 RS. If you think the price of that security will increase to 120 RS, you can place a sell order at RS 120. Only if the price go higher to 120 RS, your trade will be executed.

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What is Initial Public Offering (IPO); Definition and importance

The term Initial public offering (IPO) refers to the first issue (sale) of the shares of a private company to general public on a securities exchange. It is the stock market launch of the company. IPO's are issued by the companies to expand their capital, equity base, prestige and public image. Along with smaller, younger companies large private companies also issues IPO's. By this process a private company transforms to a public company.
 The company which sell shares not require to repay the capital to public investors. When the shares trade in open market, money passes through public investors.
The company which sells shares, only can make primary offering or Initial public offering.The conductors of IPO's are usually investment banks.
 According to the Securities act of 1933, the process of IPO starts when the company files a registration statement with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Then after proper investigation Securities and Exchange Commission approves the disclosure. After getting approval from Securities and Exchange Commission, price and date of IPO are fixing.
 Investment in an Initial public offering is risky. It is mainly because the prediction of initial day's trade is very difficult.  As it is speculative, only Speculators with risk tolerance are advised to buy IPO's.

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