Trading Software and Books Reviews

The Bourse Review

Trader One

The Bourse is user friendly. The installation process is simple and the beginner’s tutorial is comprehensive and concise.

The standard screen arrangement contains the stock list, and the other two screens contain the market depth and the chart relating to the selected stock, option, warrant or futures contract. The software has a sizeable choice of technical analysis tools. I found them very simple to apply to the charts. I was able to perform all the usual tasks, such as saving my drawings and altering the indicator parameters to my preference.

Creating my own ‘chart styles’ or mix of indicators and then applying them to all charts was very simple. Adjusting the layout was also simple and flicking between full screens was the only task that posed more of a challenge (a second look at the tutorial solved this).

The user can choose between live, snapshot or delayed data depending on needs and budget (rates are available on the web site). Some news reports are free with a 20-minute delay, or available from other commercial providers at a cost per item. Although I lean heavily toward charting as my method of analysis, the information for fundamental analysis appears more comprehensive than I have encountered on other software. There is a handy search function that allows the user to search by symbol or name. I also enjoyed the Google-like search function that can search for keywords in both the text body and in headlines of news reports.

The best features of The Bourse software are its simplicity and practicality. The fact that the program was so user friendly meant that I could immediately start focusing on what the stock was doing instead of working out how to master and tweak the program.

Trader Two

The ‘Getting Started Tutorial’ was an excellent introduction to The Bourse – concise, clear and comprehensive. By running the tutorial on my laptop while following the instructions on my PC I was able to gain, in one run through, a good understanding of the program’s capabilities.

The Bourse offers a pane layout, and users have the choice of fixed panes or multiple document interface. I found each had advantages, and one might use several different layouts for different purposes. My initial task was to set up a customised layout with a watch list and chart, and then populate a watch list; all of which was achieved with minimum confusion. The panes are synchronised so that the data simultaneously change in all of them as you flick through the watch list. The screen is clear and uncluttered.

There is an impressive array of indicators and drawing tools to satisfy even the most avid technical analyst, and I had a lot of fun playing with the different chart options. Defaults are determined by the user. It is then a simple matter to select different styles from the built-in list, or to create and save your own, using combinations of favourite indicators. One thing I did find disconcerting was the need to elect to save all lines drawn on the chart. I would rather have to elect to remove them.

Easy customisation is found throughout the program.

Information needed by options and warrants traders is available, plus a wealth of detail on company profiles, past dividend and trading history; useful internet links, and an excellent search feature.

A user-friendly platform, ease of access and customisation are the buzz words here, and given that it is not at the top end of the trading software price range, this bundle of features makes The Bourse a very appealing package.

Trader Three

The Bourse is a software solution for traders at all levels. It is a highly customisable, very smooth system to co-ordinate information viewing, charting, and reception of trading alerts.

The Bourse has all the features an experienced trader requires, but is also very friendly to newcomers – an extensive and comprehensive integrated manual is supplied, augmented by a very fluid and helpful video tutorial or even a short face-to-face instruction course if desired.

The Bourse’s greatest strength is its ‘customisability’. Virtually every element in the program is adjustable; furthermore, there is the option of synchronising a number of information windows (for example, market depth, a chart, and perhaps a news breakdown) with a selected symbol – changing symbols in a particular window changes them all.

The integrated charting system is comprehensive, allowing good flexibility in the application of a wide variety of standard charting tools. Charts can be saved and exported, and it is possible to save favoured chart templates and apply them to any chart as desired.

The Bourse offers streaming news and easy access to news related to specific symbols and their associated company or companies, currency, or commodity. The Bourse Data also offers access to its Bourse Research service, which gives easy access to every relevant piece of information about a company – it is also possible to search this database by criteria, allowing a user to quickly find stocks that fit a trading strategy.

The Bourse also offers an ‘e-lert’ service, sending you alert SMS messages based on a condition you set and ensuring you’re never isolated from their service.

In my view the Bourse is a user-friendly and comprehensive software platform for information management and data analysis, which will undoubtedly prove useful to many traders of all levels. If you’re in the market for a software package to enhance your trading, be sure to give The Bourse a whirl.

Bourse Data Response

Many people claim that their software will (almost) do the trading for you. However, we know that great traders are not successful because of the software they use. They have rules to guide their trading, and they seek out software that is comprehensive, flexible and easy to use to support those rules.

Our ongoing goal for The Bourse is to support you in making trading decisions confidently and effectively.

To that end, we understand that you need more than just pricing data or scanning tools. You need to know when a stock is going ex-dividend, or when a sensitive report has been released. Thus, the Bourse combines your choice of delayed or live ASX and SFE market data with:

• easy to use and comprehensive charts

• access to SMS alert services

• a portfolio system

• full financial information for every company traded on the ASX

• access to market scanning technology

• international pricing data (including currencies)

• access to a multi-broker trading platform

• customisable screens and layouts

• live AAP/RWE news and company announcements.

Our service includes full telephone support – so you never need to be caught out trying to remember how to use a feature of the program. We enjoy talking with our customers, and many of our best ideas have originated from customer suggestions.

Bourse Data also offers comprehensive trader education. This is focussed on setting up rules so that you can have consistent results without the fear of losing control.

Finally, we understand the importance of saving money. Our intra-day subscription data plans are more comprehensive and better value than most end-of-day data plans. Our education courses have been rated as superb value by nearly all attendees.

This article was originally published in the Sep/Oct 07 issue of YourTradingEdge magazine (www.YTEmagazine.com). All rights reserved. © Copyright 2009, MarketSource International Pty Ltd.

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