Making it happen
It was not so long ago that if you wanted to buy stocks, you had to either call or make an appointment with your stockbroker. Commission fees were fairly expensive and the whole process usually took some time to make a trade, not to mention that you actually received stock certificates in the mail showing you as the proud owner. The only information that was available was what appeared in the print media, where you could also check the previous day’s closing price. The place for checking historical information was at your local library.
Fast forward to the 20th century and with a computer and an internet connection, you can have all of the latest and historical information at your finger tips. Trades can be made at the press of the enter key, or click of a mouse. Orders placed over the internet are executed almost immediately.
Commission fees were the bread and butter for trading houses for a long time. The market has since been deregulated and the competition for customers is fierce. The reduction in commission fees is great for day traders, as the profits required to cover the costs has been reduced dramatically.
The increased speed and votality in the market also helps day traders. Day traders can only make quickly if there are fast changes in the market.
