Buying and Selling stocks?

Question:

Greetings I have been trading stocks successfully on a Simulated trainer for a few months now. I have had some pretty good returns with stocks and decided to open an account to trade. However when I set my buying limits to the desired price the orders seem to never carry through even when the last trade is at the desired price. My question is "In the real market does you buying limit need to match the bid/ask prices? If this is so then this would mean the trainer is crap and I have wated my time trying to learn something new. If not, What enviromental factors would cause something so obvious not trigger? Thanks in advance

Answer:
Paper trading is not real trading. It has its value... but it can not simulate the "real world".

You need to buy a couple of good books on trading & go with a broker that will be there to help you.

As far as bid/ask is concerned. The stock market is simply the best example of "supply and demand" in action. If you offer to buy something at "X" price. there may (or may not) be any sellers. Small cap or penny stocks can be the hardest to secure with a limit price (thinly traded).

I would suggest you to check the website http://money-review-site.com/shares.html...
to learn more on shares and stock trading and how to select the best stocks.
Hope it helps

http://money-review-site.com/shares.html...

Something doesn't seem right. With any broker (on line or over the phone) I have ever used, if I place a limit order like:

"Buy 100 shares of XYZ at $20."

If XYZ ever goes down to 20 or below, the trade executes.

I suppose the only way it might not execute is if you are working with a very thinly traded stock. In the example above, there could be a number of orders wanting to buy XYZ at $20 or less. If they were place ahead of you in time, they will execute first. If there were only a few shares available at $20 or less, for example only one seller had 200 shares he wanted to sell, his shares would go to the first in line wanting to buy. If that order was for only 100 shares, the rest would go to the next in line and so fourth until all 200 are sold. You might be farther down on the list and, if there are no more sellers wanting to sell at $20 or less, your offer just sits there until canceled by you.

Stuff like this only happens with thinly trades stocks like I said.

Buying and Selling stocks?

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