Day Trading Terms

4 min read

What Is Alpha in Trading? [Updated September 2026]

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : September 14, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • Alpha measures the excess return a trader, strategy, or portfolio earns above (or below) a benchmark such as the S&P 500. (As of June...
Day Trading Basics Day Trading Terms
What Is Alpha in Trading? [Updated September 2026]

8 min read

What Does Capitulate Mean in Trading? [Updated August 2026]

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : August 15, 2026

The word capitulate means to give up or stop trying. It’s easy to see how this would apply to trading, especially during the kind of volatility that...

Day Trading Basics Day Trading Terms
What Does Capitulate Mean in Trading? [Updated August 2026]

5 min read

The Plunge Protection Team Explained [Updated August 2026]

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : August 4, 2026
Last Updated: August 5, 2026

What is the Plunge Protection Team?

The Plunge Protection Team (PPT) is an informal term for the Working Group on Financial Markets. The working...

Basics of Stock Trading Day Trading Terms
The Plunge Protection Team Explained [Updated August 2026]

4 min read

What Is the Financial Stability Oversight Council?

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : July 14, 2026

Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) Guide [Updated July 2026]

What is the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC)?

The Financial...

Basics of Stock Trading Day Trading Terms
What Is the Financial Stability Oversight Council?

4 min read

What Is a Block Trade? [Updated July 2026]

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : July 12, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • A block trade is an order of more than 10,000 shares or more than $200,000 in value, by NYSE and NASDAQ definitions.
  • Block trades...
Day Trading Basics Basics of Stock Trading Day Trading Terms
What Is a Block Trade? [Updated July 2026]

8 min read

Stock Halts and Circuit Breaker Halts Explained [Updated July 2026]

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : July 12, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • A stock halt is a temporary suspension of trading in a stock, used by exchanges to curb extreme volatility and stabilize the market.
  • ...
Day Trading Basics Day Trading Day Trading Terms
Stock Halts and Circuit Breaker Halts Explained [Updated July 2026]

5 min read

What Is A Stock Market Flash Crash? [Updated May 2026]

Picture of John McDowell John McDowell : May 23, 2026

A flash crash is a rapid and sudden downfall in the prices of electronically-traded securities in a stock market due to an overwhelming number of...

Day Trading Basics Day Trading Terms
What Is A Stock Market Flash Crash? [Updated May 2026]
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