Got the question narrowed down to this one query for now.

Can anyone suggest a book, link etc? Thanks

So we know you are an experienced C# programmer.
Then, how well read are you on

1. "fundamental analysis," and
2. "technical analysis"

relating to stock trading?

Thanks for the reply.
I am taking CFAs, passed level 1 exam this year. And that is all the knowledge I have on fundamental and technical analysis. While studying for level 2 exam I hope to increase my understanding of these.

Btw, I am finding programming trading strategies in Wealth-Lab 5 very interesting. Hope to start posting C# codes for existing trading strategies in near future.

Not being familiar w/ the CFA, I went to its website, read over various documents, and looked over various posted summaries of its curriculum and Sample Exam Q&A's, Level 1, 2, and 3.

The CFA should be able to give you a broad basis for analyzing financial statements and fundamental analysis as to companies and thereby help in evaluating their stocks, "for investment purposes."

I may have missed something, but I did not see any particular coverage of "Technical Analysis" of stocks, which is critical to making actual trading decisions, if you wish to be a "stock trader."

If you are not well versed on "Technical Analysis," I recommend getting and reading:

1. "Technical Analysis of Stock Trends," by Edwards, Magee & Bassetti;
2. "The Complete Trading for a Living, with Study Guide" by Dr. Alexander Elder;
3. "High Profit Candlestick Patterns," by Stephen Bigelow;
4. "Mechanical Trading Systems," by Richard L. Weissman.

Cheers and good luck,

That will be very helpful, cheers

You are right, CFA are not big on technical analysis which is part of their Quantitative Analysis section.

I will start with Technical Analysis of Stock Trends and take it from there. Really appreciate your help.

One last query though. How to actually trade online? Things like which stock exchange to trade in, where to create an account, how etc. Any pointers will be of great help. Thanks!

You are physically in GB are you not?

Before engaging in cross border transactions you need to develop a sensitivity to and knowledge of GB and various other countries' bilateral tax treaties, withholding tax requirements if any, tax reporting issues, tax creditability, currency translation issues, and their affect on various types of transactions.

Probably best to start with / get your feet wet with an online broker in your home country or that has a branch in your home country.

Possibly someone else from GB on this forum might be able to provide some personal insights and experiences.

Cheers.

You know I was watching Shutter Island before reading this reply and I am scared now :p

I think this is a very important point and dangerously easy to miss for a novice like me. So good that you pointed out.

Btw, I have ordered Technical Analysis of Stock Trends.

Thanks again and really appreciate your help!

By the way,

"Technical Analysis of Stock Trends," now in 9th edition, is often referred to as the "Bible" of chart reading and technical analysis. It appears to be timelessly relevant for anyone who wants to be a stock trader. It will provide you with the underlying basis (and more) for critical chart reading, interpretation and relatively sound action choices. There are many many online brokers and websites that offer great chart views for stocks.

However, Wealth Lab, and other mechanical trading systems and design tools, rely primarily on statistical analysis of stocks' price trends, by use of "technical indicators," which are time series of pricing data, so you need to understand an additional set of learning to be able to make good use of them. Probably, "The Complete Trading for a Living, with Study Guide" by Dr. Alexander Elder is the best book for you on this, because it not only explains the mathmatical workings of a large number of commonly used technical indicators, but it also ties in the psychology of individual stock traders and the psychology of the market herd which drive such indicators, giving greater meaning to such indicators and their use.

Cheers and good luck.

That's very helpful for the start. Looks like I need to set aside a couple of months of reading before diving into live trading.

Your advice has been of massive help, specially at this early stage.