Listed options trading 101: An Introduction

Options trading in Singapore has become increasingly popular because of its potential for significant returns and low risk. Options trading is the buying and selling contracts that give the right to trade an asset at a pre-determined price on or before a specific date. It can speculate on the market direction or hedge against risk.

Put and call options

Options are divided into two types; calls and puts. A call option allows you to buy an underlying asset at a pre-determined strike price by a specific expiration date. If the share price rises above this strike price before expiration, then the option will be “in the money”, and you can exercise your option to buy shares of stock at a discount.

On the other hand, a put option gives you the right to sell an underlying asset at a pre-determined strike price by a specific expiration date. If the share price falls below this strike price before expiration, the option will be “in the money”, and you can exercise your option to sell shares of stock at a premium.

Understand the risks

Options trading is unsuitable for all investors due to its high-risk nature. Before investing in options, it is essential to understand implied volatility, time decay and delta. Implied volatility measures how much movement is expected in an underlying asset’s price over time.

Time decay measures how quickly an option’s value can erode or increase over time as expiration approaches. Delta measures how much the option’s price will move relative to a single point in the underlying asset’s price.

Options strategies

As with any investment, various strategies can be used when trading options. These include buying and writing calls or puts, covered calls, protective puts, married puts and collar trades. Buying and writing calls or puts is the most basic form of options trading, which involves buying or selling call/put contracts to speculate on market direction.

Covered calls involve holding a long position in an underlying asset while writing (selling) call contracts against it. A protective put involves simultaneously holding a long position in an underlying asset and buying put contracts against it to protect against losses as prices fall.

Married puts involve simultaneously holding a long position in an underlying asset and buying put contracts against it to increase leverage. Finally, collar trades involve holding a long position in an underlying asset, writing call contracts against it and buying put contracts to protect against losses.

Use a reputable broker before investing in listed options

Using a reputable broker before investing in listed options can incredibly benefit investors. A good broker will provide valuable advice and guidance to help you make informed investment and trading decisions. They can also provide access to sophisticated tools that can give you an edge when trading options, such as charting software, real-time quotes and market news.

A Saxo Capital Markets Singapore broker will also offer competitive fees and commissions on trades, allowing you to maximise your profits with minimal costs. Additionally, brokers have access to research reports from various sources, which could give you insight into the performance of certain stocks or indices that may not be readily available elsewhere.

Finally, using a reputable broker means having someone knowledgeable about the markets and knowing how to manage risk to protect your capital while maximising returns. Brokers are trained professionals who understand what it takes to succeed in this highly volatile environment. They’ll work closely with you so that together, you can develop sound strategies explicitly tailored to your unique needs as an investor.

Using a reputable broker before investing in listed options provides numerous advantages, including expert advice on investment decisions; access to sophisticated tools; competitive fees; comprehensive research reports; and professional management of risks associated with this highly volatile type of investment. Ultimately, these advantages can improve your chances of success and maximise your profits when trading listed options.

Conclusion

Options trading can be a powerful tool for investors looking to profit from market movements. However, it is essential to understand the risks and strategies associated with options before investing. You can become a successful options trader by understanding implied volatility, time decay and delta and utilising various strategies such as buying/selling calls or puts, covered calls, protective puts, married puts, and collar trades.

The Secret of Successful CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

The secret of successful customer experience lies in understanding the needs, expectations, and preferences of your customers and providing them with exceptional service and personalized solutions. It involves creating a seamless and positive journey for the customer, from the first interaction to the outcome, that exceeds their expectations and creates a lasting impression of your brand. In this way, you can build customer loyalty, increase retention, and drive growth for your business.

There are several secrets to a successful customer experience that businesses should keep in mind. Here are 7 of them:

  1. Know your customers: To provide an exceptional customer experience, you must first understand your customers’ needs and preferences. Use customer data and feedback to gain insights into their behavior and expectations.
  2. Personalization: Tailor your communication, product recommendations, and promotions to each customer’s individual needs and preferences.
  3. Make it easy: Ensure your customer experience is seamless and effortless by simplifying processes, providing intuitive interfaces, and offering a variety of customer service channels.
  4. Consistency: Customers expect a consistent experience across all touchpoints, whether it’s online, in-store, or via customer support.
  5. Empathy: Train your staff to be empathetic and understanding of customers’ needs, emotions, and frustrations.
  6. Responsiveness: Respond to customer inquiries and concerns promptly and proactively, demonstrating that you value their time and opinions.
  7. Continuous improvement: Continuously gather customer feedback and data to identify areas for improvement and adapt to changing customer needs and preferences.

By implementing these secrets, businesses can create a customer experience that exceeds expectations, builds loyalty, and drives revenue growth.

How customer service differs from customer experience

  1. Focus: Customer service is focused on addressing specific customer needs or concerns, while customer experience is focused on creating an overall positive and memorable experience for the customer.
  2. Scope: Customer service typically deals with one-off interactions between a customer and a business, while customer experience encompasses the entire customer journey from start to finish.
  3. Approach: Customer service is reactive, meaning it responds to customer needs as they arise. Customer experience is proactive, meaning it anticipates and seeks to prevent customer issues before they occur.
  4. Metrics: Customer service is often measured by metrics such as response time, resolution rate, and customer satisfaction. Customer experience is measured by metrics such as Net Promoter Score (NPS), customer loyalty, and customer lifetime value.
  5. Ownership: Customer service is typically owned by a specific department within a business, such as a customer support team. Customer experience is owned by the entire organization and requires cross-functional collaboration to ensure a seamless and consistent experience across all touchpoints.

Best stock trading apps to use?

In this digital age, trading is moving towards mobile platforms. Be it a traditional stockbroker or a new age apps-based platform that is finding its foothold in the world of stocks and shares online (you can check here to find one that works). With many applications available on the Google PlayStore and iOS AppStore, choosing which ones to use can be confusing at times.

So if you’re looking for some of the best stock trading apps to use, read on. Here is a compiled list below:

SaxoTraderGo

SaxoTraderGo is a feature-packed app that has been around since the inception of the iPhone. It’s perfect for all those serious about trading because it provides real-time quotes, live streaming newsfeed and daily news updates to keep you in the know.

Free accounts are available even with minimum deposit requirements, but their premium service can get pretty expensive.

Robinhood

The Robinhood app has been one of the most popular free trades apps for quite some time now, with over 2 million downloads from their Android version alone. A simple interface sends your friends exciting notifications whenever you buy or sell a share. Also, it gives you the flexibility of using your phone as a remote for their web version so you can place trades from any device.

The app is free and doesn’t charge anything extra on top of the cost of buying and selling stocks, unlike most other brokers. Robinhood also has no account minimum, and if that wasn’t enough, they offer up to $1000 for referrals. However, remember that not all states are eligible to use the service.

GoPro (GPRO)

The GoPro stock price isn’t doing too well now, but there’s always hope for recovery ahead. The best thing about this app is its real-time quotes which give you second by second updates on how the market is moving. Also, over 15technical indicators are available to help you analyze your portfolio.

Although GoPro isn’t as popular as Robinhood, the app is free to download and glimpse how stock apps can revolutionize the trading world in one simple click.

Zacks

Zacks has been one of the top finance apps for quite some time now, with a 4.5 rating on Google PlayStore. The fact that it’s completely free, full-fledged and offers no limitations or distractions makes Zacks an obvious choice for investors looking for a little more from their stocks & shares application. The web version of their services provides real-time quotes with detailed charting capabilities. To add icing to the cake, you don’t even need to log in every day because their cloud service takes care of everything for you.

TD Ameritrade

Td Ameritrade happens to be another one of the best stock trading apps available because it offers a fully functional mobile version that’s compatible with all devices. The app is free and provides nearly every feature you need from a regular brokerage. Also, they have no account minimum, which means smaller investors can also participate in the frenzy.

The only downside to TD Ameritrade is that there are pop up ads, but these can be removed by paying $9.99 per month. Overall it’s still an excellent application if real-time quotes & charting capabilities are what you’re looking for.

If you need more than just information on how the market moves, you’re looking for a more advanced stock application with real-time quotes and charts; then these applications are the best. They all offer great features at no cost and might even earn you that extra buck by referring friends or family members. However, if simple information and tracking capabilities are all you need from your investment app, there are plenty of those as well, which have been listed down below.

Bottom line

In the end, it’s essential to keep in mind what exactly your requirements are so you can find an application that suits them perfectly. The above apps simplify choosing, but ultimately, it is up to you how much you wish to grow or invest. So happy trading, everyone.

A Quick Guide to Selecting a First Response Training Provider

You will come across a horde of first response training providers when you start looking for one to train your workforce. Of course, this is not something you can neglect because you want your staff to be well-prepared to deal with any kind of problems. The problem is that it can be challenging to know which provider to select, but the good thing about variety is that you can find one that doesn’t just meet but actually exceeds your expectations. How to select one? Let’s find out:

  • Check the courses

The first place to begin when you are looking for a first response training provider is to check their workplace training courses. There are different types of courses that can be found, such as those that primarily focus on first aid and others that also include food hygiene, fire safety as well as social care. You need to consider the courses available and shortlist first response training providers accordingly.

  • Look at their staff

It is a must to know who will be providing training to your employees. When you want to equip your workforce with some essential skills, you do not want to handover the responsibility to someone who cannot handle it. Make sure you choose a provider who has the properly qualified and experienced trainers who can provide not just adequate, but quality training to your employees.

  • Check their reputation and reviews

You also need to do your homework where the first response training provider is concerned, which means checking their reputation and the reviews they have received. This will further confirm if they are really capable of providing the services they claim.

Along with these factors, you can also consider the charges and any certification the provider may offer to your employees for first response training.

How To Differentiate Between a Good and A Bad SEO Company?

SEO forms the foundation of digital marketing. Since the evolution of marketing, internet marketing has come up as the best option to advertise your products online with little or no hassle and high productivity. There has been a Skyfall increase in the number of brands that incorporate digital marketing in their marketing strategy today.

This increases the importance of SEO. SEO stands for search engine optimisation and it is the algorithm of the search engines which determines the rank of the webpage on the search engine result page. A little or no web users venture to visit the second page of the search engine results, this increases the need of staying on the first page.

Moreover, the better the rank on the first page, the more traffic your page will attract and more revenue will be generated. Thus, your SEO game must be impeccable. If you are new to SEO, then you must take the assistance of some SEO experts who will walk you through the strategies or perhaps execute them too.

If your business is based in Sydney and you are looking for some SEO agency in Sydneythen the best option available to you is Australian Internet Advertising. They are the best SEO experts when it comes to Australia. They are the certified marketing partners of Google and Facebook. They have been in the marketing business for a long time, their experience will help you achieve a lot which you can alone.

They prepare such pieces of content for their customers which attract huge traffic. They believe in results and not mere statistics thus, they do not rest on getting a high rank on the SERP, their goal is to generate real monetary benefits for you. They conduct various tests like error tests, page speed, internal linking, etc. which allows them to deliver the finest results to you.

Signs of a good SEO agency

1- They focus on your site content- an expert understands that the strategy of spamming the content with keywords is a thing of the past. Google is getting smarter by the day and it values content quality over anything. A good content manager would add content specific webpages to the website.

2- They would also modify the site structure to improve the visibility of certain search terms. They do not hesitate in optimizing all the site structure if that is what’s required to be done. An expert understands that changing the site structure can improve the conversion rate.

3- They are helping and cooperative- An expert who knows his job well has nothing to hide from his clients and works in a very transparent manner. An expert would regularly update you with work reports for you to understand the progress of the work that is been executed on the website. Besides that, they are happy to advise you at all times.

Conclusion

SEO is not a child’s play, if done in a shoddy manner, you can lose more than you gain. Thus, you must hire an expert in the field to execute the job. It is a small investment towards the job.

Bid Results / Sgt. Joe Friday

From 1951 to 1959 Dragnet was a defining police series that featured Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday. Joe was famous for an interrogation line he often used: “Just the facts, ma’am!”

Bonding companies need to gather facts too, when a bid bond has been issued. It is an important process with implications for both the surety and the contractor.

So here are the facts, ma’am!

Bid results are the various proposal amounts submitted by contractors pursuing a particular project. The bids are submitted at a designated time and place. The list of low bidder, second, third, etc., including the company name and $ amount, are the bid results.

The first party to know this info may be the contractor. They often attend the bid opening and write down the results. Remember, they have a vested interest in the outcome. They’re hoping to acquire a new project.

It is important for them to report the results promptly to the bonding company. Here’s why:

Timely Issuance of Performance Bond

If the contractor is low bidder (offering the most favorable price to do the work), an award can be expected. The performance and payment bond will be needed by a set date to avoid loss of the project. Reporting the bid results is the first step in this process.

Excessive Bid Spreads

A “bid spread” occurs when there is a significant (>10%) difference between the low and the second bidder. This is a red flag for the surety and contractor. All the bidders wanted the work. They spent time and money developing their proposal. An excessive bid spread means the low bidder has a unique advantage (better expertise, prior experience, special equipment, lower material prices, etc.) over the other bidders OR they made a bid mis-calculation and are underpriced. (*Why is this a concern?)

If the contractor has a special advantage, they must share this info with the bonding company in order to obtain the P&P bond when required. The surety must be confident that the project will be completed properly.

If they made an error, they must notify the obligee / project owner that they wish to withdraw their bid. If done promptly, they may avoid having a bid bond claim (for failing to move forward.)

Restore Capacity

When a bid bond is issued, underwriters consider a portion of the contractors surety line to be in use – under the expectation that they may win the project and need a P&P bond. If the contractor / bidder is not the low bidder, the capacity is restored to their surety line to support another project – as soon as the surety is notified.

For all these reasons, the prompt reporting of bid results is necessary. A tight bid is a win for the contractor and surety. The bidder acquires additional sales volume and the surety books a premium. It’s how we all make money.

* Why is an excessive bid spread a concern?

If the contractor proceeds with a project that is underpriced, they may end up losing money on the work.

It’s an issue for the surety too, because they are the guarantor of the project. They must complete the work if the contractor defaults, and they rely on the fact that the contract amount is adequate to accomplish this. If it is not, the surety could face a net loss.

Excessive bid spreads are bad for everyone, even the obligee. If they award an underpriced project, they may end up with poor workmanship, missed deadlines and possibly a defaulted contract, ma’am!

What Are the Things That Office Removalists Include in Their Work Checklist?

To make the relocation smoother, office removalists include several things in their checklist and here we will take a look at some of them in detail. If you are in Sydney and are seeking office relocation, make sure that the removal company follows their checklist comprehensively.

  1. The Relocation Plan

Planning the relocation is always included in the first point of the checklist. The removalists focus on the tasks that they need to complete. By developing the plan they save many hours of prep time. This helps the clients as well since their relocation work can be completed within a shorter duration than expected.

The plan also includes the budget that is required for the move and this point is included as a sub-heading. Apart from these two, the plan comprises the actual tasks that have to be completed such as assessing the space for the placement of the items in the new office, reviewing the lease terms of your existing office, etc.

The list includes the furniture that has to be moved since they need to be handled with care. For this reason, this point is considered very important even in cheap furniture removals in Sydney.

Thirdly, in the relocation plan, the tasks of every removalist are included so that the entire relocation plan can be carried out smoothly. The work is divided according to their skills.

  1. Things to Consider in the Office Space

In the second part of the checklist, everything will be about office space. After the removal is completed the removalists need to ensure that they place everything in an orderly manner in the new office. They will sometimes also include blueprints that will help them to understand the area and where each item will go so that it looks attractive.

The office removalists in Sydney will also plan out the things such as transportation, packing, items that need to be discarded, and so on that make the entire relocation process easier for them as well as their clients.

  1. Legalities

The legalities are included in the last part of the checklist. Since the removal deals with high valued items, it is necessary to consider the legal aspects in this area. The legalities deal with the permission, and the rules laid by the landlord and the local competent authorities.

The reason that these legalities are considered as a high-priority point is that there are several risks associated with them. At times the removal companies discuss everything with lawyers to ensure that there will be no troubles later.

If there are any on-going legal issues, the movers will discuss it with their clients and then plan everything.

  1. Miscellaneous

In the last part, there come the miscellaneous things that need to be managed such as the number of containers that will be included, the local deliveries, storage items, types of packing, important documents, personal belongings, special packaging for the fragile items, etc.

So, these are some of the things that are included by the office removalists for cheap furniture removals in Sydney and to make the process of relocation easy.

What Is a Micro Switch, and What Are Its Advantages?

A microswitch is a temporary contact switch used as a sensor in automotive (vehicles) and industrial machines. It is called micro because of the company name that first started its commercial manufacturing. It is said to be the most popular component to include in electrical appliances. When a microswitch is included in a device, it ensures the device’s optimum performance. Many companies make use of microswitches to gain customers’ trust. Also, the microswitches’ designs and configurations are not complicated.

The quick response of microswitches to the amount of force they bring makes them the most typically used switches in today’s world. An actuator of microswitches generally has a pivoted cycle just above the button. They are mainly utilized in system applications like door interlocks, vending machines, etc. Including various applications, microswitches are applicable in numerous switch compositions, actuator styles, etc.

What are the advantages of microswitches?

There are many advantages of microswitches. Here are the best ones:

Reliable Switching

Microswitches are incredibly reliable. Reliable switching takes place at repeatable and unique positions. Since it is used in many safety mechanism applications, its reliability is critical. The motion and acceleration of contacts do not rely on the action and the acceleration of the actuator. So the microswitch can predict the contacts transforming state until the end of its working life.

Precise performance

In other switches generally, the contacts shift with the actuator’s action, but that’s not the case with microswitches. In a microswitch, the contact will not alter its state until the actuator attains a reset point with the extent of motion. A microswitch can be operated repeatedly without any risk of failure. Moreover, a microswitch is entirely flexible and popular in safety mechanisms.

Fast switching speeds can reduce arcing damage.

The speed of the contacts while electrical switches can determine opening and closing. Arcs can be extinguished faster with the help of high switching speeds. It also reduces the damage caused by arcing to contact surfaces.

Durability

The realistic outcome of the design is durability. Microswitches have one great advantage, which is durability. The cheap switches can even work for millions of cycles. Microswitches that are expensive can work for almost 10 million cycles. Microswitches are a perfect choice for the people who care about durability.

Cost-effectiveness

Microswitches are usually very cheap to buy, especially if you purchase them in bulk. If it is incorporated with durability and provides optimal performance, this can be one of the market’s best choices. That’s why microswitches are extremely popular electronic components.

What Are the Uses and Benefits of a Micro Switch?

Microswitches work by reacting instantly to a pressure change or a physical change. This action is termed as the snap action. It is most commonly used in the electronics, medical, and automotive industries. These switches are designed and modeled in various ways, depending on their role. It comes with different actuator styles and switching configurations. Microswitches are made of various materials. They can be made of phenolic plastic or polyester.

The microswitch has an actuator which, when pushed, triggers the snap action inside the microswitch. When the pressure is removed, the actuator lets the switch to return to its original position. It is further supported by a spring that applies a push from the inside of the switch. The microswitch has a spring framework with a roller that triggers it. The snap activity is set off when there is a little physical weight, which is intensified. When the snap activity happens inside the microswitch, you can hear the snap sound. The essential plan of a microswitch isn’t exceptionally confounded. It takes a shot at the premise of prompt activity because of a physical change or weight. These capacities are essential to work impeccably with no mistake.

Uses of Micro Switches:

As mentioned earlier, micro switches are used in varied forms and varied places. These are used in heavy industrial technologies and can be found in our everyday life too. These are some of the common uses:

  1. Used in safety apparatus
  2. Used in microwaves and their door interlocks
  3. Also used in printers to detect any paper jam
  4. It detects jam in vending machines and also to sense the coin when it enters the machine.
  5. Used in control panels and appliances like solenoids, lamps, small motors, and more.
  6. Also used in various kinds of door mechanisms to sense the opening and closing.
  7. Used as control switches, limit switches and also used as time mechanisms

Advantages:

Microswitches are the most reliable switches in the market. They work accurately and repeatedly without causing any failure. They also come in various forms that fit the various demands of the switches. It comes in a variety of materials and switching positions. These switches are the most trusted and the most durable switches, and hence these are the most wanted when it comes to safety-related products. These switches are inexpensive and can be bought in bulk very easily. Even the low-cost switches function for a long time without fail.

All the benefits make these switches so important and wanted in the market. These come at very affordable prices even when bought in bulk. Our company provides the best deals and the best quality micro switches. These switches are reliable, durable, and low cost, making them the most attractive option.

Microswitches and Their Applications in Everyday Life

Microswitches are commonly known as small snap-action switches. These switches are actuated by employing a tipping level device that needs a limited manual force. It is a type of standard switch that is widely used in many fields as a sensor. Microswitches also exhibit hysteresis.

Microswitches can be used in many places, some in industries, and some in familiar places. Here are some mentioned aspects where microswitches are used for security purposes, automation appliances, and home applications.

Security, automation appliances, and building applications

Push-button used for alarms.

Microswitches are employed as buttons inside fire alarms and emergency halt controls. These appliances are manufactured to be adopted in a tragic situation to activate the alarm automatically.

Triggers to avoid the device from damage

Devices like infrared identification alarms, token readers, and entry control boards will include a microswitch. A beep sound from the alarm will be triggered out if the device is destroyed or damaged.

Turning tools for a surveillance camera

Microswitches are employed in turning tools. A microswitch gets activated if the turning tool attains its distant point of movement. This assures that the camera is changing its positions.

HVAC applications

To detect the difference in air pressure and in levers on control boards, air pressure microswitches are operated.

Elevator applications

Microswitches are operated in manual gate switches. It is used in control board switches for floor choice in an elevator.

Entry Control

Microswitches are wielded in all electrical door locks to observe the movement and locking and unlocking. It helps to examine the rolling up of a roller door. It can be taken on circuit breakers and control boards to detect the on and off states. Furthermore, it enables the detection of motion of the camera and bolts and nuts on the door locks.

Timer Controls

Microswitches are also wielded in timer controls. It warns with a sound when the timer breaks out.

Washing Machines

Microswitches are employed in washing machines to switch the machine to the on/off condition at the power reserve. It distinguishes the switching power and determines the angle of the filter and drums. It is wielded on the control board buttons of the machine and identifies the water level.

Refrigerators

Microswitches are also present on ice and water dispenser in refrigerators. It helps in identifying the correct location of the ice maker.

Air Conditioning Units

Microswitches are capable of analyzing the closed-door instrument panels present on air conditioning units. A microswitch is utilized as a resetting button on appliances and identifies the angle of the levers.

Microwave ovens and rice cookers

In microwave ovens, a small microswitch plays the role of protection short switch, and in rice cookers, it observes the open/close significance of the cover. In the mentioned appliances, microswitches are utilized for control board switches.

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