Think Tank: Trading When You're on the Go

Gloom or glory, you want to know what the markets are doing. And with your mobile device, you can access just about everything you need without being tied to your trading desk. Here are some tools that could keep you even more engaged with the markets.

A New Trading Platform from TD Ameritrade

Keep your eyes peeled this summer for a new web-based trading platform from TD Ameritrade. Why’s it a big deal? There’s no need to download an app or use a specific device. We are launching a web-based leg of the TD Ameritrade trading tripod, a complement to the capabilities of the thinkorswim® desktop platform from TD Ameritrade and Mobile Trader.

So, because it operates as a web page, does that mean it lacks certain capabilities? Not necessarily. You still get the full trading product package. And that means you can trade, analyze your risks, and manage your positions all in one place.

This new web-based trading application is simple, but offers a powerful tool set that’s focused on portfolio management for our sophisticated trading clients. And it incorporates all of the latest trading technology from TD Ameritrade.

TD Ameritrade will be rolling out access to the new site over the course of the summer in small waves. If you’re one of our early adopters, please share your experience with us using the feedback link on the site.

Beta Weighting on Mobile

Your portfolio probably includes different asset types—stocks, options, futures,and so on. You may know how each of those positions is performing, but what about your entire portfolio? There may be times, such as year-end or during a market correction, that prompt you to look at your portfolio as a whole. But simply looking at how each asset type is performing might not give you an accurate picture. Each component of your portfolio is measured differently, so comparing their performance against each other may not be the best approach. However, if you were to beta weight your portfolio components against a benchmark such as the S&P 500 or Nasdaq-100, you’ll likely get a more normalized view.

You can beta weight your portfolio on Mobile Trader, which means you can do it from anywhere (see Figure 1).

1. Select Positions on the side menu.
2. Select the gear icon, and from the Columns Editor, scroll down and select one of the beta weighting suggestions (you can beta weight on the NDX, RUT, SPX, or customize).
3. Your portfolio will be displayed based on your choice. The P&L will be standardized, and your positions will be weighted by beta, position size, and delta.

Trading in the Era of Social Media

Some social media posts can catch enough buzz to move prices in the stock market. Wouldn’t it be great to know which ones are making waves before the news goes viral? The Social Sentiment feature on the thinkorswim platform from TD Ameritrade gives you an idea of social media mentions of different companies so you can analyze the relationship between social media discussion around a company and its stock price. The Social Sentiment indicator displays how many positive, negative, and neutral mentions there are for the specific company (Figure 2).

From the Charts tab:

1. Click the gear icon above the chart.
2. Click the Equities tab at the top.
3. Check the Show Social Sentiment box.
4. Social Sentiment will be displayed on a lower subgraph.