: Intra-day trading software and services? I'm new to trading but I wanted to give it a try. I would like to find a software/tool that allows me to trade stocks, even on an hour-to-hour basis. What are the best options?

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Before you decide on moving into trading, whether you have experience or not, you need to sort out a couple of questions.

How much do you really understand about the markets ?
How much money you have and what would be the maximum loss you may be able to take ?
What supporting Eco-system you have to help you in terms of trading i.e. hardware, software, research, connections who can provide you with solid information and sorts of it ?
Are you really prepared to take on institutions who have billions to spend and take losses i.e. amounts which might break you will be peanuts for them ?

I am assuming you are in US, so this website may help you a bit, trading websites where you can open an account.

Even if you reply in affirmative to the above questions, you should still be wary about making money by trading. It is a field where even the best people have been smacked in the face without any mercy. And above all don't expect any person will take mercy on your hard earned cash. They will take you to the cleaners if they have to.

There are some websites which allow you to participate in trading, not involving real money. Try that out and see where you get to ? That should give you some pointers on where you are headed.

And realize that it is human nature to assume, when you hear news that such and such trader make loads of money in such and such trades, trading is easy, unless you do it for yourself. The truth is such traders would be on their desk for 18-20 hours at a stretch, 6-7 days a week, without a life to make such money. And they have loads of support staff i.e. analysts, IT guys who makes it easier for them. Do you have such help ? If no, then look the other side.

But giving up without trying at all will be cowardly, but do it in limits which you can bear and not to get carried away when things are good.