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The latest posts from SparxTrading – in depth views on the world of online investing.

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – July 8, 2016

Published July 8, 2016
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Bulls will be bulls. On a day when grim news captured the headlines, the S&P 500 managed to put it all in the rear-view mirror and touch a new record high intraday. Despite what naysayers are nay-saying, the numbers on the tape tell a different story. For Canadian discount brokerages, the news cycle is relatively […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – July 1, 2016

Published July 1, 2016
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Happy Canada Day! The recent visit of US President Barack Obama to Canada underscored the importance of the two countries’ working relationship. Interestingly, at least one US online brokerage has managed to maintain its presence in Canada as part of its international expansion plan and the writing on the wall suggests that it won’t be […]

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Discount Brokerage Deals & Promotions – July 1, 2016

Published July 1, 2016
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Update July 13 It looks like the ‘brexit’ wasn’t the only big exit to happen this week. Closer to home, the Canadian online brokerage deals and promotions space also saw a number of promotional offers take off, perhaps for the summer, perhaps longer. The trend towards promotional offers continues to be a volatile one, which […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – June 24, 2016

Published June 24, 2016
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Despite what the pundits and talking heads are passionately and energetically discussing on business news networks the world over, global markets are not in turmoil. While the calculus of a market repricing may seem messy (and it sometimes is), the reality is that markets are doing what they do best: putting a present day price […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – June 17, 2016

Published June 17, 2016
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If there’s one thing markets are fueled by, it’s hype. Heading into this weekend, there’s plenty of hype to go around, from the upcoming Brexit vote, to the NBA finals game 7 or even the epic battle to be fought in game of thrones, all of these are building expectations and anticipation. For their part, […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – June 10, 2016

Published June 10, 2016
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In an era of robots and algos, and in a business that stresses keeping things unemotional, there are often times for every trader when emotions and humanity creep back into the picture. This was one of those weeks. From the news of Muhammad Ali’s passing last week to the outpouring of beautiful tributes that came […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – June 3, 2016

Published June 3, 2016
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In case you didn’t get the memo, it’s National Donut Day – oh and apparently there’s a bull market in commodities to mark the occasion. As we head into a new month, the headline of a ‘bull market’ in commodities is great news for Canadian traders, regardless of whether or not the rally sustains itself. […]

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Discount Brokerage Deals & Promotions – June 1, 2016

Published June 1, 2016
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Summer is close at hand and now that May is behind us, those who have sold in May and gone away might still find a reason to come back to the markets – at least that’s what some brokerages are banking on. As we launch into a new month the discount brokerage deals and promotions […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – May 20, 2016

Published May 20, 2016
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Even the best investors can be caught off guard by sudden moves in the market. It’s a humbling lesson and usually the tuition for poor risk management isn’t cheap. For Canadian discount brokerages, there are definitely signs in the US brokerage market that the risks for certain brokerages are rising. In this week’s roundup, we […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – May 13, 2016

Published May 13, 2016
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Even in a world of robo-advisors and trading algorithms, human traders and investors are still prone to believing in the power of luck. Of course, it being Friday the 13th, the more superstitious folks probably are focused on avoiding the bad luck. For Canadian discount brokerages, however, it seems like they’re betting on the power […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – May 6, 2016

Published May 6, 2016
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Crisis and opportunity. For traders it’s often two sides of the same coin. The human toll of the tragic events in Fort McMurray are impossible to quantify however for those seasoned veterans of markets who can only watch in disbelief at this surreal disaster, the scale and impact of these wildfires are what need to […]

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Discount Brokerage Deals & Promotions – May 1, 2016

Published May 1, 2016
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Update May 9 Sell in May and go away. It’s a phrase many traders are familiar with and now that May has arrived it looks like there will be sales – just not a whole lot more from certain discount brokerages. As we head into a new month, it looks like there’s a definite pull […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – April 15, 2016

Published April 15, 2016
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While one basketball legend is retiring another one is seeing his star rise. Whether it’s professional basketball or the world of DIY investing, performance is what counts. For the race that is the Canadian discount brokerages landscape, however, coasting along is not an option. In this week’s roundup, we take a look at continued signs […]

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Discount Brokerage Deals & Promotions – April 1, 2016

Published April 1, 2016
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People often look at springtime as a chance to clean house. And, for many of Canada’s discount brokerages, that is exactly what they did with the deals and promotions heading into April. At the outset of this month, there are almost half as few deals being offered as there were throughout March which is a […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – March 25, 2016

Published March 25, 2016
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For those who can’t wait to see Old Man Winter actually leave, this weekend couldn’t come fast enough. But, rest assured, signs of spring abound and as #BirdieSanders showed, that offers something to smile about. Canadian discount brokerages also seem to be taking their cues from Mother Nature by doing a little spring cleaning of […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – March 18, 2016

Published March 18, 2016
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If you were like most folks this week, getting adjusted to the one hour less made things feel a little bit foggy. Of course, if you’re following what’s happening with the US elections, candidates are taking all kinds of swings at one another as the contest for presidency heats up. Here in Canada, discount brokerages, […]

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What are Friends For? A Review of Online Brokerage Refer-a-Friend Promotions

Published March 11, 2016
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One of the interesting paradoxes of DIY investing is that for many investors, the journey to doing it yourself actually starts by consulting a lot of other people. Knowing this, several online brokerages have created incentive programs aimed at giving existing clients a ‘win/win’ approach to refer their friends and family. Unfortunately for many investors, […]

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Discount Brokerage Weekly Roundup – March 4, 2016

Published March 4, 2016
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While much of Canada (save for the Wet Coast) has been digging out from under piles of snow, it seems like Canadian stock markets have also managed to dig themselves out from underneath the recent avalanche of bad news. For Canadian discount brokerages, the turn in the markets has been a welcome relief, and they’re […]

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