MindsetExpander

XRP's recent price dynamics show a slight decline to $1.85, but bullish technical indicators suggest potential upward movement. Traders should focus on key support and resistance levels, employing cautious strategies while monitoring market sentiment.

The FCA has allowed retail traders in the UK to access cryptocurrency through ETN products, but maintains a ban on crypto derivatives for individual clients, prioritizing consumer protection and risk mitigation.

Why does the foreign exchange market attract retail investors?
The global foreign exchange market has a daily trading volume of over $6 trillion, far surpassing the combined total of futures and stock markets, with unmatched liquidity. Once only accessible to financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals, technological advancements now enable ordinary investors to trade forex online. Currently, about 30% of forex trading is conducted by retail traders, leading to exponential growth in retail brokers.
However, data shows that 70%-80% or even 90% of individual investors experience losses in forex trading. This reflects the double-edged sword effect of high leverage—amplifying gains while ruthlessly magnifying risks.
Comparison of risk and return among three forex investment methods
Low-risk options: Currency exchange and fixed deposits
Currency exchange is the most basic form of forex participation. Using Taiwanese dollars to exchange for Japanese yen when traveling abroad is a simple practical example of forex trading. This method yields minimal returns, with almost no leverage, suitable for

When investing in stocks, looking at fundamentals alone is not enough—you also need a pair of eyes that can identify market rhythm. Weekly, monthly, and quarterly technical indicators are like magnifying glasses for market sentiment, helping you find the best timing to buy and sell. This article will help you understand these indicators thoroughly, making your investment decisions more confident.
What exactly are the monthly, quarterly, and half-year lines measuring?
Simply put, these different cycle lines are calculating the average purchase cost of investors. You can think of them as:
- Weekly line: the average closing price over the past 5 trading days
- Monthly line: the average closing price over the past 20 trading days
- Quarterly line: the average closing price over the past 60 trading days
- Half-year line: the average closing price over the past 120 trading days
Taking NVIDIA (NVDA) as an example, suppose the closing prices over the last 5 days are 903.72, 914.35, 942.89, 950.02, and 925.

Understanding the Basic Framework of Fractional Share Trading
For small investors with limited funds, fractional share investing offers a more flexible way to enter the stock market. Fractional shares refer to stock holdings of less than 1000 shares (a full lot). You can start purchasing from as few as 1 share. These fractional shares are usually generated when an investor's order is not fully executed, or during stock distribution by listed companies.
Compared to traditional full-lot trading, the rules for buying and selling fractional shares are more inclusive — each order cannot exceed 999 shares, allowing investors to flexibly allocate according to their own financial situation.
Complete Guide to Fractional Share Order Timing
To successfully conduct fractional share trading, you first need to understand the rules for order timing. Since October 26, 2020, fractional share trading has expanded from being only available after hours to include intraday trading.
| Trading Session | Order Placement Time | Order Method | Matching Method | Transaction Priority

Many people who are new to the stock market often find themselves confused by the concepts of "Listed," "OTC," and "Emerging." This article will clarify the fundamental differences among these three markets from an investor's perspective and how to choose the right one based on your risk tolerance and investment goals.
Comparison of the Three Major Markets: A Table to Understand the Core Differences
| Key Dimension | Listed (TWSE/NYSE/NASDAQ) | OTC (TPEx/OTC) | Emerging (Emerging) |
|--------|------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Company Characteristics | Mature, stable, large scale | High growth potential, mid-sized companies | Startups, early-stage, thematic stocks |
| Regulatory Strictness | ★★★★★

Over-the-counter (OTC) trading offers flexible investment opportunities, allowing investors to trade stocks and financial products that are not listed or do not meet listing standards. Its trading method is primarily based on negotiated quotes, but it also carries risks such as insufficient regulation, low liquidity, and market volatility. Investors should carefully select brokers and understand market rules to reduce risks and maximize potential returns.

If you want to invest in US stocks in Taiwan, the first question you face is "Which method should I choose?" Many investors are confused by the two options: entrusted foreign brokers and overseas brokerages, not to mention understanding their fee structures. This article will help clarify the cost differences between these two methods, so you can make your money work more efficiently.
Two Ways to Invest in US Stocks in Taiwan
What is an entrusted foreign broker? In simple terms, it means you authorize a domestic broker to purchase US stocks on your behalf. The process is as follows: You → Domestic Broker → Overseas Broker → US Stock Market. Because there is an additional layer of agency, it is called "entrusted foreign broker." The advantage of this method is that you can deposit in TWD, and the domestic broker automatically handles currency exchange and settlement, making the entire process very friendly for Taiwanese investors. The downside is that the broker earns an extra layer of commission, with fees usually ranging from 0.15% to 1%.
Trading through overseas brokerages is different. You open an account directly with an overseas broker and handle currency exchange yourself.

The Taiwanese dollar faces an appreciation dilemma, with continued pressure on asset depreciation. On December 10, 2025, the Taiwanese dollar against the Japanese yen fell to 4.85, and its trend against the US dollar is also under pressure. In the context of diverging global central bank policies and rising geopolitical risks, holding only New Taiwan Dollars is no longer sufficient to cope with exchange rate fluctuations. Knowing how to flexibly allocate among strong currencies like the Japanese yen and US dollar has become an essential skill for smart investors.
Why exchange foreign currencies? Asset protection in the era of NT$ depreciation
Global reshuffling of safe-haven assets
The US dollar remains the top choice, but the Japanese yen, as one of the world's three major safe-haven currencies (alongside the US dollar and Swiss franc), demonstrates outstanding hedging properties during market turbulence. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the yen appreciated by 8% in one week, while the stock market declined by 10% in the same period, exemplifying the value of safe-haven assets.
For Taiwanese investors, the logic of exchanging yen and US dollars differs. The US dollar is mainly used for overseas investments and cross-border business; the yen also serves as a...

What exactly is futures?
Futures are essentially contracts where both parties agree to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price at a future date. The contract specifies the underlying asset (which could be a stock index, commodity, foreign exchange, bonds, etc.), trading quantity, minimum price fluctuation unit, trading hours, and expiration date.
In simple terms: futures trading is like two people placing orders on an exchange, one buying and one selling, with the system matching and executing the trade. The difference is that futures contracts have a clear expiration date, and they will be forcibly closed and settled upon expiry.
The biggest difference between futures and spot trading
Leverage feature — this is the core attraction and also the core risk of futures. Traders only need to pay a margin (a small part of the initial capital) to control a contract value far exceeding the margin amount. For example: if the initial margin for Taiwan index futures is 75,000 TWD, you can control a contract worth about 3 million TWD.
Two-way trading

By December 2025, the Taiwanese dollar has fallen to around 4.85 against the Japanese yen, and the demand for yen is heating up. Whether you're preparing to travel abroad or want to hedge your investments, the key is not whether to exchange money, but how to do it most economically.
We tested four of the most common currency exchange channels in Taiwan and will tell you how much cost you lose per 1,000 TWD and which method is best for you.
Why is it worth exchanging for yen?
In Taiwan's foreign currency world, the yen is always the main character. This is not only because everyone loves to travel to Japan, but also because the yen has a dual identity.
Travel and daily use
The usage rate of cash in Japan still exceeds 60% (credit card penetration is relatively low), and travel expenses often require cash payments. At the same time, those who buy on behalf of others, shop on Japanese websites, study abroad, or work part-time in Japan all need to use yen to complete transactions. If the exchange rate is not favorable, a trip could cost an extra 2,000-3,000 TWD.

A Hidden War: Why Do Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading Exist?
The US stock market appears to operate only from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, but the true capital battles are far from over. During the time when the exchanges are closed, a vigorous trading activity continues—this is the pre-market and after-hours trading sessions.
These two periods are not trivial. When major overseas news breaks, companies suddenly disclose key information, or governments release economic data, investors waiting for the next day's opening are often already behind. The emergence of pre-market and after-hours trading allows market participants to respond to sudden events immediately, enabling a more efficient price discovery mechanism.
Simply put, pre-market trading lets you place bets before others wake up, and after-hours trading gives you the chance to adjust after the market has cooled down.
Time is money: The trading windows of US stock pre-market and after-hours trading
Understanding the precise trading hours is crucial for participants. The main exchanges in the US stock market's pre-market

How much does it really cost Taiwanese investors to buy US stocks?
For those wanting to trade US stocks in Taiwan, most face a choice: place orders through a domestic securities firm's sub-brokerage account or open an overseas brokerage account directly? This decision affects your wallet significantly because the cost structures of these two methods differ greatly.
According to the latest data in 2025, transaction fees for sub-brokerage are generally between 0.25% and 1%, but hidden costs like currency exchange and remittance fees are often overlooked by investors. Although overseas brokers claim zero commissions, currency exchange and international wire transfer fees can eat into your profits. This article breaks down the complete cost structures of these two methods to help you determine which is truly more cost-effective.
Two paths to US stock investment: Sub-Brokerage vs Overseas Broker
Sub-Brokerage: Convenience with Hidden Costs
The operation logic of sub-brokerage (Sub-Brokerage) is simple — you entrust a domestic securities firm, which then acts on your behalf.

What are Index Futures
Index futures are financial derivatives based on an index. Since the index itself is non-deliverable, it cannot be purchased directly, leading to the emergence of the futures market. Unlike stock trading, where payment and delivery occur simultaneously, index futures involve buying and selling contracts that are settled at a predetermined price at a specific future date.
These instruments were originally designed to meet the hedging needs of institutional investors. When holding inventory is difficult to quickly offload and a downturn is expected, shorting the corresponding index futures can effectively hedge risk. As the market evolved, retail investors also began participating, and the trading purpose expanded beyond risk management to include speculation.
The characteristic of index futures lies in the margin system, where only a certain percentage of the contract value needs to be paid as margin to control the entire contract. This allows investors to participate in market fluctuations with relatively small amounts of capital. However, the daily settlement mechanism means that the price

What does the Relative Strength Index (RSI) actually do?
If you've already started exploring technical analysis, RSI (Relative Strength Index) is definitely familiar to you. It is one of the most widely used indicators in the market, relied upon by countless traders to determine entry and exit points. Simply put, RSI is a tool used to measure the strength comparison between buyers and sellers in the market—by comparing the magnitude of gains and losses of stocks or cryptocurrencies over a certain period, it reflects the market's bullish or bearish shifts.
Why is RSI so popular? Because its calculation logic is straightforward and doesn't require complex mathematical knowledge. It can quickly tell you: Is the market currently dominated by buyers or sellers? This is especially useful for capturing short-term turning points.
RSI's core logic explained in one minute
The calculation of RSI is actually simple, with three core steps:
Step 1: Select the observation period (usually 14 days), and calculate the average of all upward movements within this period, as well as all downward movements.

On December 10, 2025, the Taiwan dollar against the Japanese yen reached 4.85. What does this position mean? Compared to 4.46 at the beginning of the year, the yen has appreciated by approximately 8.7%. For Taiwanese investors preparing to travel to Japan or allocate hedging assets, the economic benefits of exchanging yen are quite evident. But the key question is: how much can you save by choosing the right channels?
Is now a good time to exchange yen?
The Japanese yen is listed as one of the world's three major safe-haven currencies, alongside the US dollar and Swiss franc. This attribute becomes especially prominent during market turbulence—during the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the yen appreciated by 8% in one week, effectively hedging against a 10% decline in the stock market. For Taiwanese investors, amid ongoing pressure from the depreciation of the Taiwan dollar, allocating some yen is not only for travel preparations but also a defensive measure for asset allocation.
Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo's recent hawkish comments have pushed market expectations to 80%, with a rate hike to 0.7% at the December 19 meeting.

For Taiwanese investors, Hong Kong stocks are not only a gateway to the Asian market but also a crucial window to China's economy and global capital. This article will start from the fundamentals of Hong Kong stocks, providing a detailed introduction to their trading mechanisms, differences from other markets, and highlighting several high-quality stocks worth paying attention to. Finally, practical operational methods for Taiwanese investors will be shared.
Why are Hong Kong stocks worth paying attention to?
Market Maturity and Transparency Leading Asia
The Hong Kong securities market has a development history of over 150 years. Since the establishment of the first exchange in 1891, it has built a world-class regulatory system and trading rules. Compared to other Asian markets, Hong Kong stocks are known for their clear legal framework, strict information disclosure requirements, and independent market regulation mechanisms. This is why many international investment institutions regard Hong Kong stocks as the preferred entry point into Asia.
Geographical and Language Advantages
Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China are located in East Asia, with similar trading hours, no

In the long history of the capital markets, bull and bear markets occur cyclically like tides. Many investors are enthusiastic about the prosperity of bull markets but panic when bear markets arrive. In fact, true investment experts are those who cultivate their mindset and discover opportunities during bear markets.
What exactly is a bear market?
A bear market (Bear Market) refers to a prolonged downward phase where asset prices decline by more than 20% from their highs. This downturn can last for months or even years. For example, in 2022, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped from a high of 36,952.65 in January to 29,260.81 at the end of September, officially entering a bear market.
In contrast is the bull market (Bull Market), which is when prices rise more than 20% from their lows. It is important to note that the concepts of bull and bear markets are not limited to stocks; they apply to all assets including bonds, real estate, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
Characteristics of a bear market: How to identify