ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the minimum the moderately advanced investor needs to know about advances in theory and practice. It shows the reader to further resources if he desires to continue more advanced study. The chapter describes to put computer and information technology into proper context and perspective for chart-oriented technical analysts. The computer is not the only technological development of interest to the technical investor. A number of information revolution technologies need to be put in perspective. These are, in broad categories, the internet and all its facilities, developments in electronic markets, and advances in finance and investment theory and practice. The practice of squaring up accounts at the end of every day's trading is called "marking-to-market." The main two differences between the cash and the futures transactions are as follows: in cash, the value of the portfolio must be paid up front or financed in a stock margin account and the owner of the cash portfolio receives cash dividends.
