Shown is a screen shot for the app midway through a current game with stocks having been purchased, and the account set up to track performance. Let's go over each part and I'll explain it.
Instructions
At the start of a game within the app a dialog box is shown on the screen that asks the user for two inputs.
1) how far to go back in time (130 to 1401 trading days) to begin.
2) Initial Amount allows the user to set amount for trading.
Refresh the Page exits the game and the app starts all over (current sessions variables are reset).
Once submit has been selected the chart will be displayed in a new window. To proceed to the next day simply push 'Go' and the next days market results will appear. The user may place a trade on any day they wish. At anytime the user can compare their trading with the actual results of the market (Dow Jones Industrial Average) by hitting the 'Game Results' button at the bottom of the screen. The game results pop up box will be displayed which has four fields as follows:
| • | Total Profit line displays the profit amount in dollars. |
| • | Total Account Change displays the overall percentage change from all trading activities. |
| • | Djia % Growth Since The Beginning displays the overall percentage change of the market starting from the first day the chart appeared until the present. |
| • | Number of days passed displays how many days have gone by. |
Results can be shown at any time by clicking Game Results.
The Parts Next We'll go over each section of the app. The app contains output in the form of a chart which displays the closing values of each trading day in candlestick format. There is also a 50 and 200 day moving average. This is useful in interpreting market direction and changes. There is also a volume bar chart shown at the bottom.
In the top of the app there is a row with the following boxes:
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Display Resistance/Support Box
displays computer generated Resistance and Support lines on the graphic chart.
The support line is found by determining the lowest price in a certain amount of time after the stock has rebounded
off the bottom. The resistance line is found by determining the highest price in a certain amount of time after the
stock has pulled back from the top. There can be displayed multiple support or resistance lines. The strength and
reliability of the line is determined by how many times the stock hits the line but then retreats. When stocks break through these lines on volume they tend to continue in that direction for some time forming new highs or new lows until they form new support or resistance lines. The breakthrough points are valued by institutional investors as a good time to buy or sell. |
| • | Chart Display this is a drop down menu that toggles the chart graphics to a specific stock chart when the chart change button is selected. |
Moving Averages Within the chart graphics there is displayed two lines. The 50 day moving average which is useful in determining the direction of the movement a stock. If a stock crosses above the 50 day moving average on volume it may indicate positive momentum (a bull movement). Conversely if it crosses below the 50 day moving average on volume it may indicate negative momentum (a bear movement). Often times the stock may retreat to an average line and if there is little to no volume in the movement the stock will reverse directions and resume it's previous trends. Crossing Moving Averages Ideally in a bull market investors are looking the moving averages to be pointing upwards. When the 50 day moving average approaches a crossing point above the 200 day moving average this can be a sign of a long term postive momentum upwards. Likewise if the 50 day moving average is falling and falls below the 200 day moving average this can imply a long term bear market.
The Actions
The second line of input fields of the game shown in the upper left section of the screen contain three boxes that are described as follows:
| • |
Symbol for Action displays the different stocks the user can choose to buy or sell from.
Currently there is available:
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| • | Action Drop Down List displays the types of actions the user can take when playing the game. Options include: hold, buy, or sell. | ||||||
| • | Quantity Input Box takes the number of shares the user desires to trade. |
Next there are three boxes that describe the portfolio of the user, how they are doing, and the overall results.
• Account Positions displays six summary fields: 1. Sym shows the symbol of the stock currently in the portfolio 2. Price shows the current price the stock is trading at 3. Qty shows the number of shares of stock owned 4. Cost shows the cost of the stock bought 5. Mkt val shows the cost multiplied by the number of shares bought 6. Profit shows the dollar gain or loss of that stock from trading • Account Results displays six summary fields: 1. Cash ballance is the dollar amount left for trading 2. Stock value is the dollar amount from the portfolio currently invested 3. Total equity is the sum of the cash ballance and the stock value 4. Total profit is the sum from all trades, the gains or losses 5. Account % change is the percent difference of the account compared with the initial amount invested • Profit Results displays the performance of the user in four fields: 1. Sym shows the symbol name of the stock currently in the portfolio 2. Qty shows the number of shares of the stock in the portfolio 3. Target price is the price at which a prompt suggests to sell. 4. Profit is the percent growth the stock has gained so far
Target Price
Once the user places a trade a popup box will appear at the bottom in red asking for a target sell price
or target percent price. When an investor places a trade it is recommended to periodically check how a
stock is doing and take a profit at when the goal is reached. Many growth investors take their profits
at 20% growth. The user is also free to skip the target if desired.
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For further information about how the market works I encourage you to read the:
The app is now available for only $13.88