Trading Basics
Stocks, Forex, Crypto, and Futures Compared
Each market has different mechanics, volatility, and hours — know them before choosing where to trade.
Key rules
- Stocks: company exposure, exchange hours, lower volatility
- Forex: 24-hour, high liquidity, currency pairs
- Crypto: 24/7, high volatility, thin liquidity in alt-coins
- Futures: leveraged, expiry dates, high liquidity in major contracts
- Master one market before diversifying
Stock markets trade during exchange hours (NYSE: 9:30–4pm ET). Forex trades 24 hours on weekdays. Crypto trades 24/7 with higher volatility. Futures offer leveraged access to indices, commodities, and currencies with defined expiry dates.
Beginners often start with stocks or major forex pairs for their transparency and liquidity. Master one market before diversifying.