# Academy
> Learn trading, investing, technical analysis, options, and risk management through structured educational content built for traders and investors.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).

## Pages
- [About the Academy](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/about.md) - SharperTrades Academy is an educational resource built to help traders and investors understand how markets work — clearly, practically, and without unnecessary complexity. The Academy focuses on foundational concepts, not predictions or recommendations. Our goal is to explain the mechanics behind…
- [Fixed Income](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/fixed-income.md) - Guide to Fixed Income Investments: Types and Strategies Understanding Bonds: A Comprehensive Guide Understanding Bond Yields: A Practical Guide 10 Things to Know About Bonds How to Invest in Bonds: A Practical Guide How to Invest in Corporate Bonds: A Practical Guide Introduction to Treasury Securi…
- [Glossary](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary.md) - # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Acquisition Advance/decline ratio (ADR) Appreciation Ask Asset class See complete list of A terms B Bar charts Benchmark index Bid Blockchain Book value Bond See complete list of B terms C Call option Candlestick chart Capitalization Certifica…
- [Investing](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/investing.md) - What investing is and how it works Asset Classes Explained The Stock Market Explained: Structure, Functions, and Purpose Market Systems Explained: Primary, Secondary, OTC, and Institutional Markets Stock Exchange Types Explained: Traditional, Electronic, Global, and Crypto Markets Global Stock Exch…
- [Market Structure](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/market-structure.md)
- [Options](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/options.md) - Options Trading Explained: Mastering Stock Options Strategies Understanding Options Contracts: Calls, Puts, and How They Work Covered Calls Explained: How the Strategy Works, Profits, Risks, and Examples What Is an Iron Condor? Understanding a Market-Neutral Options Strategy Volume and Open Interes…
- [Risk Management](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/risk-management.md)
- [Technical Analysis](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/technical-analysis.md)
- [Topics](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/topics.md) - Investing Trading Options Fixed Income Commodities Technical Analysis Market Structure Risk Management Trading Psychology
- [Trading Psychology](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/trading-psychology.md)
- [Trading](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/trading.md) - Trading Explained: Definition, Styles, Risks, and Practical Examples Understanding Stock Trading Order Types Navigating Risk in Trading: Understanding Position Sizing Placing an Order to Buy or Sell Shares Maximizing Trading Profits by Understanding Commissions and Fees Exploring Common Reasons for…

## Posts
- [Gold, the U.S. Dollar, and Interest Rates](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/gold-the-u-s-dollar-and-interest-rates.md) - Gold, the U.S. dollar, and interest rates are closely connected within the global financial system. Understanding these relationships can help explain why gold prices sometimes move in unexpected ways.
- [Gold Mining Stocks vs Gold ETFs](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/gold-mining-stocks-vs-gold-etfs.md) - Gold mining stocks and gold ETFs both provide exposure to the gold market, but they do so through very different structures. Understanding the differences between business risk and commodity exposure can help explain why their performance may diverge over time.
- [What Are Gold Mining Stocks](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/what-are-gold-mining-stocks.md) - Gold mining stocks provide exposure to companies involved in the exploration, development, and production of gold. Unlike physical gold, mining stocks are businesses whose performance depends on both gold prices and company-specific factors
- [Physical Gold vs Gold ETFs](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/physical-gold-vs-gold-etfs.md) - Physical gold and gold ETFs both provide exposure to the gold market, but they do so in different ways. Understanding how ownership, liquidity, convenience, and tracking differ between the two can help clarify their roles within financial markets.
- [Gold vs Stocks: Understanding the Difference](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/gold-vs-stocks-understanding-the-difference.md) - Gold and stocks are both widely followed financial assets, but they serve different roles within financial markets. Understanding how they differ can provide important context for evaluating market behavior and asset performance.
- [Why Gold Doesn't Always Rise During Crises](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/why-gold-doesnt-always-rise-during-crises.md) - Gold is often viewed as a safe-haven asset, leading many investors to assume that gold prices automatically rise during periods of uncertainty. In reality, gold's response to crises can vary depending on market conditions and investor behavior.
- [Is Gold an Inflation Hedge](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/is-gold-an-inflation-hedge.md) - Gold is often described as an inflation hedge, but its relationship with inflation is more complex than many assume. Understanding how gold responds to inflation over different time periods can provide important context for interpreting market behavior.
- [Gold and Real Interest Rates](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/gold-and-real-interest-rates.md) - Real interest rates are one of the most closely watched factors in the gold market. Understanding what real rates measure and how they relate to gold can help explain why gold prices sometimes rise or fall even when inflation remains elevated.
- [What Drives Gold Prices](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/what-drives-gold-prices.md) - Gold prices are influenced by multiple factors, including interest rates, inflation expectations, currency purchasing power, investor sentiment, and geopolitical events. Understanding these relationships can help explain why gold does not always move as expected.
- [What Is Gold and Why Does It Matter in Financial Markets](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/what-is-gold-and-why-does-it-matter-in-financial-markets.md) - Gold is one of the world's most widely recognized financial assets. Understanding how gold differs from stocks, bonds, and currencies can help explain its role within modern financial markets.
- [Understanding the Risks Involved in Bond Investment](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-the-risks-involved-in-bond-investment.md) - Bond investments are often associated with stability and income, but they carry distinct risks that can affect returns. This article explains the primary risks involved in bond investing, including interest rate, reinvestment, call, default, and inflation risks.
- [Exploring Municipal Bonds: What Investors Need to Know](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/exploring-municipal-bonds-what-investors-need-to-know.md) - Municipal bonds are debt securities issued by government entities that provide income, capital preservation, and potential tax advantages. This guide explains how municipal bonds work, their types, risks, and how investors use them within diversified portfolios.
- [Introduction to Treasury Securities](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/introduction-to-treasury-securities.md) - Treasury securities are U.S. government-backed debt instruments designed to provide stability, predictable returns, and tax efficiency. This article explains how Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds work, how they are purchased, and the risks involved.
- [How to Invest in Corporate Bonds: A Practical Guide](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/how-to-invest-in-corporate-bonds-a-practical-guide.md) - Corporate bonds allow investors to lend money to companies in exchange for interest payments and principal repayment. This guide explains how corporate bonds work, how they are purchased, and the key characteristics investors should understand.
- [How to Invest in Bonds: A Practical Guide](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/how-to-invest-in-bonds-a-practical-guide.md) - Investing in bonds provides investors with structured income and portfolio stability. This guide explains what bonds are, how to buy them, available investment methods, cost considerations, and how bonds fit into a diversified investment approach.
- [10 Things to Know About Bonds](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/10-things-to-know-about-bonds.md) - Bonds are core building blocks of diversified portfolios, offering predictable income and capital preservation. This guide explains how bonds work, the types available, key risks, and how investors evaluate yields, maturity, and credit quality.
- [Understanding Bond Yields: A Practical Guide](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-bond-yields-a-practical-guide.md) - Bond yields measure the return investors earn from bonds. This guide explains how bond yields work, the different yield types, their relationship with bond prices, and why yield calculations matter in fixed-income analysis.
- [Understanding Bonds: A Comprehensive Guide](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-bonds-a-comprehensive-guide.md) - Bonds are fixed-income instruments that provide regular interest payments and principal repayment at maturity. This article explains how bonds work, who issues them, their key characteristics, major types, risks, and how investors interpret bond pricing and yields.
- [Guide to Fixed Income Investments: Types and Strategies](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/guide-to-fixed-income-investments-types-and-strategies.md) - Fixed income investments provide predictable interest payments and return of principal at maturity. This article explains how fixed income works, outlines common product types, and examines strategies, benefits, and risks associated with these securities.
- [Navigating Options and Futures: Understanding the Differences](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/navigating-options-and-futures-understanding-the-differences.md) - Options and futures are financial derivatives with distinct structures, obligations, and risk profiles. Understanding how these instruments differ helps investors interpret market behavior and manage exposure across various financial markets.
- [Volume and Open Interest in Options Trading Explained](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/volume-and-open-interest-in-options-trading-explained.md) - Volume and open interest are two essential metrics in options trading that help explain market activity, liquidity, and trader participation. Understanding how they interact provides deeper insight into price behavior and market sentiment.
- [What Is an Iron Condor? Understanding a Market-Neutral Options Strategy](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/what-is-an-iron-condor-understanding-a-market-neutral-options-strategy.md) - An iron condor is an options strategy built with four contracts: a call spread and a put spread on the same underlying and expiration. It aims to profit when price stays within a defined range while keeping risk capped.
- [Covered Calls Explained: How the Strategy Works, Profits, Risks, and Examples](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/covered-calls-explained-how-the-strategy-works-profits-risks-and-examples.md) - A covered call is an options strategy where an investor sells call options on shares they already own to collect premium income. This guide explains how covered calls work, when they may fit, and what the trade-offs look like using clear examples.
- [Understanding Options Contracts: Calls, Puts, and How They Work](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-options-contracts-calls-puts-and-how-they-work.md) - Options contracts are agreements tied to an underlying asset that give buyers the right to buy or sell at a predetermined strike price within a set timeframe. This article explains calls, puts, and how a standard options contract works in practice.
- [Options Trading Explained: Mastering Stock Options Strategies](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/options-trading-explained-mastering-stock-options-strategies.md) - Stock options are contracts that can express bullish, bearish, defensive, or volatility views with defined risk. This guide explains calls, puts, and five foundational strategies—using clear mechanics, realistic examples, and risk boundaries
- [Technical Analysis: Understanding and Applying Market Insights](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/technical-analysis-understanding-and-applying-market-insights.md) - Technical analysis examines price and volume data to interpret market behavior, identify trends, and manage risk. This article explains its principles, tools, history, applications, and limitations in a clear, structured way.
- [Understanding the Difference Between Investing and Trading](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-the-difference-between-investing-and-trading.md) - Investing and trading are two distinct approaches to participating in financial markets, differing in time horizon, risk exposure, and decision-making style. Understanding these differences helps align market activity with financial goals and personal discipline.
- [Choosing the Right Brokerage Account](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/choosing-the-right-brokerage-account.md) - Brokerage accounts provide access to financial markets, but not all accounts serve the same purpose. This guide explains the main types of brokerage accounts, how they evolved, and the key factors investors consider when selecting the right one.
- [Exploring Common Reasons for Selling Stocks](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/exploring-common-reasons-for-selling-stocks.md) - Knowing when to sell a stock is as important as knowing when to buy. This article explains common financial, market, and portfolio-related reasons investors choose to sell shares and how these decisions fit into broader market behavior.
- [Maximizing Trading Profits by Understanding Commissions and Fees](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/maximizing-trading-profits-by-understanding-commissions-and-fees.md) - Commissions and fees are an unavoidable part of trading and investing. This article explains common investment expenses, how trading costs differ across brokers and products, and how cost awareness supports stronger long-term outcomes.
- [Placing an Order to Buy or Sell Shares](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/placing-an-order-to-buy-or-sell-shares.md) - Placing a stock order involves working with a broker, understanding bid and ask prices, and choosing the right order type. This article explains how buy and sell orders work, how trades are executed, and how market mechanics influence outcomes.
- [Navigating Risk in Trading: Understanding Position Sizing](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/navigating-risk-in-trading-understanding-position-sizing.md) - Position sizing determines how much capital is allocated to a single trade. This article explains why position sizing is central to risk management, how traders assess risk tolerance, and how structured sizing decisions support long-term trading consistency.
- [Understanding Stock Trading Order Types](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-stock-trading-order-types.md) - Stock trading order types define how and when trades are executed. This article explains market orders, limit orders, and specialized order types, highlighting how execution speed, price control, and order conditions shape trading outcomes.
- [Trading Explained: Definition, Styles, Risks, and Practical Examples](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/trading-explained-definition-styles-risks-and-practical-examples.md) - Trading involves buying and selling financial instruments over shorter time horizons to capture price movements. This article explains how trading works, common styles and instruments, associated risks, and practical examples that show how trades unfold.
- [Seven Essentials to Understand Before Buying Stocks](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/seven-essentials-to-understand-before-buying-stocks.md) - Before buying stocks, investors benefit from understanding company operations, valuation metrics, risk measures, dividends, charts, financial health, and market trends. These elements explain how stocks are evaluated and why prices move.
- [Understanding Corporate Actions and Their Impact on Shareholders](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-corporate-actions-and-their-impact-on-shareholders.md) - Corporate actions are events initiated by companies that change share structure, ownership, or financial distribution. These actions—such as stock splits, dividends, mergers, and spinoffs—help explain how companies evolve and how shareholders are affected.
- [Understanding the Significance of Dividends for Investors](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-the-significance-of-dividends-for-investors.md) - Dividends represent cash returns paid to shareholders and serve as signals of financial health, earnings stability, and capital discipline. This article explains how dividends, yields, and coverage ratios are used to understand company performance.
- [Understanding a Company’s Financial Health Through Financial Analysis](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-a-companys-financial-health-through-financial-analysis.md) - Financial analysis examines a company’s balance sheet, assets, liabilities, and key ratios to assess financial health, liquidity, and valuation. This process helps explain how financial position and market value are evaluated.
- [Stock Fundamentals Explained: Understanding the Core of Company Value](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/stock-fundamentals-explained-understanding-the-core-of-company-value.md) - Stock fundamentals describe the financial measures used to understand a company’s health and performance. These metrics help explain how analysts assess intrinsic value and compare companies beyond price movements.
- [Mastering Portfolio Investment Returns](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/mastering-portfolio-investment-returns.md) - Understanding portfolio investment returns involves measuring how assets grow over time, accounting for cash flows, dividends, fees, and timing. Clear return calculations help investors evaluate performance, risk, and long-term effectiveness.
- [Understanding Sectors and Their Role in Investing](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-sectors-and-their-role-in-investing.md) - Sector analysis explains how investments are distributed across industries, helping investors understand portfolio exposure, diversification, and risk concentration using standardized classifications like GICS.
- [Exploring the Significance of Diversification in Investment](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/exploring-the-significance-of-diversification-in-investment.md) - Diversification is a foundational investment principle that reduces portfolio risk by spreading exposure across assets, sectors, regions, and time horizons. It helps stabilize returns and manage uncertainty without eliminating market risk.
- [Why Choose Mutual Funds Over Individual Stocks?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/why-choose-mutual-funds-over-individual-stocks.md) - Mutual funds offer a structured way to invest in markets through diversification and professional management. This article explains how mutual funds work, their advantages and limitations, and why some investors prefer them over selecting individual stocks.
- [ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Understanding the Differences](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/etfs-vs-mutual-funds-understanding-the-differences.md) - ETFs and mutual funds both provide diversified exposure to stocks, bonds, and other assets. This article explains how each structure works, how they differ in cost, liquidity, and taxes, and how they fit into portfolio construction.
- [Stock vs. ETF: Understanding the Differences](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/stock-vs-etf-understanding-the-differences.md) - Stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer different ways to gain exposure to industries and markets. This article explains how stocks and ETFs work, compares their strengths and limitations, and clarifies when each approach may be more suitable.
- [Understanding Income, Value, and Growth Stocks](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/understanding-income-value-and-growth-stocks.md) - Income, value, and growth stocks represent three common ways companies deliver returns to investors. This article explains how each category works, their defining characteristics, and how they fit into portfolio construction.
- [Demystifying Stock Ownership: Rights, Limits, and Common Misconceptions](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/demystifying-stock-ownership-rights-limits-and-common-misconceptions.md) - Stock ownership represents participation in a company’s earnings and long-term performance, not direct control or guaranteed returns. This article explains what shareholders truly own, clarifies common misconceptions, and outlines realistic expectations
- [Investing in Stocks: 7 Steps to Get Started](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/investing-in-stocks-7-steps-to-get-started.md) - Investing in stocks involves setting clear goals, understanding risk, selecting accounts and brokers, and choosing securities that align with long-term objectives. This article explains the full process of stock investing in a clear, step-by-step framework.
- [Buying and Selling Stocks](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/buying-and-selling-stocks.md) - Buying and selling stocks involves trading ownership shares of companies through regulated markets. This article explains how stock trading works, the role of brokers and exchanges, and the key mechanics investors encounter when trading stocks.
- [Primary vs. Secondary Capital Markets Explained](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/primary-vs-secondary-capital-markets-explained.md) - Primary and secondary capital markets serve distinct roles in the financial system. This article explains how new securities are created in the primary market and how existing securities are traded in the secondary market.
- [Global Stock Exchange Trading Hours Explained](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/global-stock-exchange-trading-hours-explained.md) - Global stock exchanges operate on different schedules based on regional time zones. This article explains trading hours across major markets worldwide and why understanding these schedules matters for market participation and trade execution.
- [Stock Exchange Types Explained: Traditional, Electronic, Global, and Crypto Markets](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/stock-exchange-types-explained-traditional-electronic-global-and-crypto-markets.md) - Financial markets operate through multiple systems that serve different purposes. This article explains how primary, secondary, OTC, third, and fourth markets function and how they work together within the broader market structure.
- [Market Systems Explained: Primary, Secondary, OTC, and Institutional Markets](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/market-systems-explained-primary-secondary-otc-and-institutional-markets.md) - Financial markets operate through multiple systems that serve different purposes. This article explains how primary, secondary, OTC, third, and fourth markets function and how they work together within the broader market structure.
- [The Stock Market Explained: Structure, Functions, and Purpose](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/the-stock-market-explained-structure-functions-and-purpose.md) - The stock market is a central part of the global financial system, enabling companies to raise capital and investors to trade ownership in businesses. This article explains how stock markets work, their structure, functions, and regulatory framework.
- [Asset Classes Explained](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/asset-classes-explained.md) - Asset classes are broad categories of investments that share similar characteristics, risk profiles, and expected returns. Understanding how different asset classes behave is a foundational step for investors building diversified portfolios across varying market conditions. Each asset class plays a…
- [What Is Investing and How It Works](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/what-is-investing-and-how-it-works.md) - Investing is the process of allocating capital into assets such as stocks, bonds, options, funds, or real estate with the goal of generating returns over time. This article explains what investing is, how it works, and the main types and styles of investing.
- [Fundamental Analysis (FA)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/fundamental-analysis.md) - Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating a security’s intrinsic value by examining economic conditions, industry performance, and company financial data to determine whether an asset may be overvalued or undervalued.
- [Free Cash Flow (FCF)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/free-cash-flow-fcf.md) - Free cash flow (FCF) measures the money a company has remaining after paying operational costs and maintaining capital assets. It reflects profitability while accounting for working capital changes and non-cash expenses.
- [Float](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/float.md) - Float refers to the temporary duplication of funds within the banking system caused by processing delays and also describes the shares of a company available for public trading in the stock market.
- [Fibonacci Retracement](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/fibonacci-retracement.md) - Definition Fibonacci retracement is a technical analysis indicator based on the Fibonacci sequence, a series of continuously growing numbers where each number equals the sum of the two preceding numbers. The indicator uses horizontal lines to identify potential support and resistance levels. These…
- [Federal Funds Rate](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/federal-funds-rate.md) - The federal funds rate is the interest rate banks charge each other for overnight loans of excess reserves. Because it is determined daily by market activity, it is considered a sensitive indicator of interest rate direction.
- [Exponential Moving Average (EMA)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-exponential-moving-average.md) - An exponential moving average (EMA) is a price-based technical indicator that emphasizes recent data to track price movement over time.
- [Expense Ratio (ER)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-expense-ratio.md) - Expense ratio (ER) measures the percentage of a fund’s assets used to cover management fees and operating costs, directly reducing the fund’s returns to investors.
- [Ex-Dividend](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-ex-dividend.md) - Ex-dividend describes a stock that no longer includes the right to receive the upcoming declared dividend, meaning new buyers are not entitled to that payment.
- [Equities](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-equities.md) - Equities represent ownership interests in a corporation, typically in the form of common stock, giving shareholders a claim on the company’s assets and earnings.
- [Earnings per Share (EPS)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-earnings-per-share-eps.md) - Earnings per Share (EPS) measures how much of a company’s profit is allocated to each outstanding share of common stock, providing a standardized way to assess profitability on a per-share basis.
- [Earnings](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-earnings.md) - Earnings refer to a company’s net income after taxes, representing its bottom-line profit over a specific reporting period.
- [Double Witching](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-double-witching.md) - Double witching refers to a market event when two different classes of stock options or futures contracts expire at the same time.
- [Divergence](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-divergence.md) - Divergence occurs when an asset’s price moves in the opposite direction of a technical indicator or related data, suggesting that the current price trend may be weakening.
- [Demand](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-demand.md) - Demand is the economic principle describing a consumer’s willingness and ability to purchase a good or service at a given price over a specific period of time.
- [Debt/EBITDA](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-debt-ebitda.md) - Debt/EBITDA is a financial ratio that measures a company’s total debt relative to its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating its ability to service debt.
- [Dark Pool](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-dark-pool.md) - A dark pool is a private trading venue where securities are bought and sold without public disclosure until after execution, allowing large investors to trade with reduced market impact.
- [Common Stock](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-common-stock.md) - Common stock is a security that represents ownership in a corporation and provides shareholders with voting rights and a residual claim on company profits and assets after other obligations are met.
- [Options Contracts (and Futures Contracts)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-contracts-options-and-futures.md) - Options and futures contracts are financial agreements that derive their value from an underlying asset and are used to gain exposure to price movements without owning the asset directly.
- [Certificate of Deposit (CD)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-certificate-of-deposit.md) - A Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a savings product that earns interest on a fixed sum of money for a set period, requiring funds to remain deposited until maturity to avoid penalties.
- [Capitalization](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-capitalization.md) - Capitalization refers to the overall market value of a firm based on its outstanding shares and share price, and also to an accounting method where costs are added to an asset’s value and expensed over its useful life.
- [Candlestick Chart](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-candlestick-chart.md) - A candlestick chart is a type of price chart used in technical analysis that displays an asset’s open, high, low, and closing prices over a specific time period.
- [Call Option](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-call-option.md) - A call option is a financial contract that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy an underlying asset at a specified price on or before a set expiration date.
- [Bond](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-bond.md) - A bond is a fixed-income investment in which an investor lends money to a government or corporation in exchange for regular interest payments and repayment of principal at maturity.
- [Book Value](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-book-value.md) - Book value is a company’s net asset value shown on its balance sheet, calculated as total assets minus total liabilities. It reflects an accounting-based estimate of the company’s net worth.
- [Blockchain](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-blockchain.md) - Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed digital ledger that records data across multiple computers in a secure, transparent, and immutable way.
- [Bid](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-bid.md) - A bid is an offer made by a buyer to purchase an asset at a specified price and quantity. It represents the highest price a buyer is willing to pay at a given time.
- [Benchmark Index](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-benchmark-index.md) - A benchmark index is a standardized group of securities used to compare and evaluate the performance of a portfolio, fund, or investment strategy.
- [Bar Chart](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-bar-charts.md) - A bar chart is a price chart that displays the open, high, low, and close of an asset for a specific time period using individual price bars.
- [Asset Class](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-asset-class.md) - An asset class is a group of investments with similar characteristics, risk profiles, and regulatory treatment that tend to behave similarly under market conditions.
- [Ask](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-ask.md) - The ask, also called the offer price, is the price at which a seller is willing to sell a security, along with the quantity available at that price.
- [Appreciation](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-appreciation.md) - Appreciation is the increase in an asset’s value over time due to factors such as demand, supply changes, inflation, or interest rates. It is the opposite of depreciation.
- [What Is an Angel Investor?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-angel-investor.md) - An angel investor is a high-net-worth individual who provides capital to early-stage businesses in exchange for equity, often supporting startups during their earliest phases of development.
- [What Is an Alternative Trading System (ATS)?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-alternative-trading-system.md) - An Alternative Trading System (ATS) is an electronic trading venue that matches buyers and sellers of securities outside traditional stock exchanges.
- [What Is the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-alternative-minimum-tax.md) - The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a parallel U.S. tax system that requires certain taxpayers to calculate taxes under alternative rules and pay the higher amount to ensure a minimum level of taxation.
- [What Is Alpha?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-alpha.md) - Alpha is a measure of an investment’s return relative to a benchmark, representing the portion of performance not explained by overall market movements.
- [Advance-Decline Ratio (ADR)](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-advance-decline-ratio.md) - The advance-decline ratio (ADR) is a market breadth indicator that compares the number of securities that closed higher to those that closed lower over a given period.
- [What Is an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-adjustable-rate-mortgage.md) - An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is a home loan with an interest rate that changes periodically based on a reference index, causing payments to rise or fall over time after an initial fixed period.
- [Acquisition](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-acquisition.md) - An acquisition occurs when one company purchases a majority or all of another company’s shares to gain control of its business and assets, allowing the acquiring company to make decisions without approval from other shareholders.
- [What Is an Account Balance?](https://academy.sharpertrades.com/glossary-account-balance.md) - An account balance is the net amount of money in a financial account at a specific time, reflecting all credits and debits. It can represent funds available, amounts owed, or net debt if negative.

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