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FIG 01 — COURSE · BEGINNER
Markets 101: How Trading Actually Works
Start here. Twelve short lessons that take you from 'what is a market' to placing your first risk-managed trade — no jargon, no hype.
12 lessons · ~55 min · free, no signup
- 01What Is a Market, Really?4 minMarkets are just places where buyers and sellers agree on a price. Everything else is detail.
- 02Who's on the Other Side of Your Trade5 minEvery trade has a counterparty. Knowing who they are — and what they want — changes how you read the market.
- 03How Prices Actually Move4 minPrices move when the balance between eager buyers and eager sellers tips. Supply, demand, and urgency.
- 04Reading a Quote: Bid, Ask, Spread4 minEvery instrument has two prices, not one. The gap between them is your first cost of trading.
- 05Order Types That Matter5 minMarket, limit, stop. Three orders cover almost everything you'll do — and control what price you actually get.
- 06The Trading Sessions and Why Timing Matters4 minThe same market behaves differently at 3am and 3pm. When you trade shapes what you'll see.
- 07Leverage and Margin (Without Blowing Up)5 minLeverage lets you control a large position with a small deposit. It magnifies wins and losses equally.
- 08Going Long, Going Short4 minYou can profit whether prices rise or fall. Understanding short selling doubles your opportunities.
- 09What Actually Moves Markets5 minEconomic data, central banks and headlines. The catalysts that give traders a reason to act.
- 10Reading a Chart: The Absolute Basics5 minA candlestick chart shows the story of price over time. Learn to read one and the market starts talking.
- 11Your First Risk Rules5 minThe one lesson that keeps you in the game: decide what you'll lose before you think about what you'll make.
- 12Putting It Together: A Trader's Routine5 minKnowledge becomes skill through routine. Here's how a disciplined trader turns these lessons into a repeatable process.