Good advice there, esp about the percetage sign. Here are some basic rules-of-thumb.
* 90% of beginners WILL ignore this. . .
* Swing trade for starters. Intraday will wipe you out.
* If you're trading shares, don't put more than 25% of your portfolio into any one trade.
* If you're trading derivatives, make sure that your exposure does not exceed your portfolio.
* Never risk more than about 2.5% of your portfolio on any one trade. i.e. if portfolio = 100k, then pull the plug if you lose more than 2.5k on close of day. DO IT! This will allow you a buffer of around 30 losing trades in a row before you wipe out and will teach you discipline if nothing else.
* And the most difficult rule of all: Make a profit target and TAKE PROFIT. Don't wait for the price to turn around - because it will kill you. So what if the price rises further. You've got your money in the bank. Be happy.