BIOS: Technology Means Business

Unfortunately that world of trading is not one that offers a great deal for free. However, ADVFN offers a full news service to live streaming charts, so there is something for everyone.

European traders are very well catered for, with real-time LSE quotes and charts, all for free. However, U.S. traders can take advantage of the real-time indices. Nasdaq and NYSE are also present, although the data is delayed due to exchange restrictions. An upgrade to the basic level of service takes care of that though.

ADVFN, or Advanced Financial Network, is the formal name of a commercial company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:AFN). The company is a financial information services provider to ordinary members of the general public carrying a vast array of real time stock market information.

The company was founded in April 2000, although it had a former life as a shell company. Initially, it focused on UK stock market information (including that of live level 2 share data) and an Internet forum designed to allow private investors to exchange share specific information and so-called ‘tips’, as well as some useful share charts (TA Theory) where potential investors believe they can predict the future price of a share or instrument by its previous price action.

Today it is one of the busiest financial information Web sites in Europe and the array of market information it carries includes most of the major stock markets of the world, as well as commodity, forex, and futures and options information. Better still - it shows charts and quotes for free.

The quotes themselves are presented in your browser window using Java technology. The layout isn’t exactly pretty, but it easy to read. If you upgrade your account you can click on a symbol for Level 2 information. Personally we’re not great fans of Level 2 - we don’t see the need to make things over complicated - and prefer a more relaxed but equally profitable style of trading!

The only limitation of the free quote screen is that it times out after a period of use, but simply clicking the Back button on the browser brings it back to life - not a big deal for a zero-cost service. The charts come in the usual line / bar / candle flavours, with timescales running from 1 minute to 60 minutes for intraday charts, and daily to yearly for longer timescales. Those who like their indicators are well catered for, with more than 80 to choose from any five of which can be put onto the chart at once. Up to five symbols can be overlayed on each chart as well, an excellent feature which we really wish more charting vendors would implement.

ADVFN provides an excellent set of tools which will appeal to traders at many different levels. Those new to trading will find the free tools more than adequate for learning about this business. For those with more experience, the updgraded accounts offer value for money, and even the free account has value - for the 30 seconds it takes to sign up, it makes an excellent backup data service.