Why do listed companies pay dividends? Where do shareholder returns come from?
When a listed company turns a profit from its operations, it uses part of the remaining profit to repay debts, cover losses, and reward investors. This practice is called dividend distribution (or profit sharing). It is one of the main ways shareholders participate in the company's success. Depending on the proportion of shares held or the company's articles of incorporation, each shareholder receives a different amount of dividends. There are two main methods of dividend distribution: one is issuing additional shares, and the other is paying cash.
Stock dividends and cash dividends: the fundamental difference between the two payout methods
Stock dividends, also known as "bonus shares," are free additional shares issued by the listed company to shareholders. These shares are directly credited to the investor's share account, increasing the total number of shares held. In contrast, cash dividends (also called payout dividends) involve the company depositing cash directly into the investor's funds account.
The company's choice of dividend payout method depends on its financial situation. Dividend distribution

What is T+0 Trading and Day Trading
In the Taiwan stock market, investors are traditionally restricted by the T+2 trading system—stocks bought today can only be sold the day after tomorrow. However, through specific methods, you can achieve same-day buying and selling (Day Trading), which market terminology refers to as Day Trading or T+0 trading.
This concept seems to break the trading rules, but in reality, it is achieved through the margin trading and securities lending mechanisms provided by brokers. Simply put, Day Trading means completing the "buy" and "sell" actions within the same trading day to profit from price fluctuations. Many investors are attracted to Day Trading because:
- They want to avoid overnight holding risks
- They hope to quickly cut losses or take profits
- They want to leverage intraday volatility to seize short-term opportunities
Cash-based Day Trading vs Margin-based Day Trading: Two Implementation Methods
Cash-based Day Trading: Using personal funds for same-day trading
Operational logic: Using your own cash to buy within the same trading day

The moving average method is a commonly used technical analysis tool for investors. It calculates the average of closing prices over the past N days to help determine market trends. It is classified into three types: simple, weighted, and exponential smoothing, and can be used for short-term, medium-term, and long-term trading depending on the cycle. Although it can filter out price noise, it has a lagging nature and should be combined with other indicators to improve prediction accuracy.

In the world of investment, there is a scam that keeps recurring—under the guise of getting rich quickly, it attracts ordinary people with illusory high returns, only to leave victims with nothing. This is the notorious Ponzi scheme.
From the stamp business a hundred years ago to today's crypto traps
The name Ponzi scheme comes from an Italian-American named Charles Ponzi. This guy immigrated to the United States in 1903, working as a painter, mover, and doing various hard labor jobs, and even served time in Canada for forgery. Until one day, he discovered that the financial market was a quick way to make money.
In 1919, just after World War I ended, the global economy was in chaos. Ponzi took advantage of the turmoil to claim he had a brilliant money-making plan: buy European postal notes and resell them in the U.S. for a big profit. He designed a seemingly professional and complex investment plan to sell to the people of Boston. In just over a year, about 40,000 people fell for it, most of whom were impoverished individuals hoping to turn their fortunes around.

Australia dollar against the US dollar (AUD/USD) has increased by 7% cumulatively in 2025. Will there be more gains in 2026? It all depends on three key hurdles.
Central bank policies are diverging, which is positive for the Australian dollar.
The monetary policy directions of the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Federal Reserve will directly impact the AUD exchange rate. As Australian inflation heats up, the rate-cut cycle has ended, and market expectations for rate hikes in 2026 are beginning to emerge.
Currently, institutional views are mixed: Westpac Bank believes the RBA will hold steady; Commonwealth Bank expects one rate hike; National Australia Bank and Citibank are more hawkish, predicting two hikes in February and May.
On the Fed side, the mainstream market expects two more rate cuts in 2026, but JPMorgan is more conservative, only expecting one cut.
Overall, the RBA is leaning towards a hawkish stance while the Fed is more dovish. This policy divergence provides support for the AUD exchange rate.
Can the economic fundamentals still hold up?

Mid-December US employment report is about to be released, and market expectations for this data are particularly high. According to public forecasts, this report will include the October non-farm payroll data and the full employment figures for November, with November's performance being especially critical—traders generally expect an increase of 130,000 jobs, while October may see a decline of 10,000.
But there is an interesting tension behind the numbers. Citigroup economists point out that this month-over-month rebound may not reflect a genuine improvement in the labor market, but is more likely due to seasonal adjustments and technical factors. In other words, the market should be cautious of the trap where the data looks good but the reality remains mediocre.
When will the Federal Reserve restart rate cuts? The market provides an answer
The latest Federal Reserve dot plot signals that only one rate cut is planned for 2026. However, traders have a very different view—they are betting that the Federal Reserve will cut rates twice next year. The

Want to invest in Taiwan stocks but don't know which one to choose? There are dozens of brokerage firms in the market, and just the discount rates on commissions can be overwhelming. But honestly, commission fees are just one part of opening an account. How easy it is to use the trading platform, whether customer service is reliable, and if there are suitable ETF account opening promotions—these are often the key factors that determine your long-term investment experience.
How should Taiwanese brokers be chosen? Three main points to consider
Commission transparency is important, but don’t be fooled by low discount rates
Taiwanese brokerages have a variety of fee structures, some use fixed discounts, others tiered pricing. The larger the trading amount, the bigger the discount—this is standard in the industry. There are also additional perks for odd-lot trading and regular fixed investments, which can save small investors a lot of money. But don’t forget hidden costs: taxes, platform fees, and other seemingly minor expenses that can add up over time and eat into your profits.
Whether the app is easy to use determines if you’re willing to trade frequently
Even the lowest commission fees are useless if...

Preface
For young investors, choosing the right market monitoring software is the first step to successful trading. As the saying goes, "A craftsman must first sharpen his tools," to stand firm in the stock market, you must first find a good market monitoring tool. Currently, there are many stock apps on the market with different features; some focus on real-time quotes for US stocks, while others specialize in Taiwanese stock analysis. This article has compiled 9 practical market monitoring software options, so whether you're trading US stocks or Taiwanese stocks, you can find the most suitable tools.
I. Recommended Real-Time US Stock Quote Apps
1. TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade was founded in 1975 and is one of the oldest online brokerages in the world. After merging with Charles Schwab at the end of 2020, its total assets reached $5 trillion, with resources from 25 million customers worldwide, making it a top choice for US stock traders.

In stock and crypto asset trading, the KD indicator is the preferred tool for many investors. It can help determine entry and exit points, capture price reversals, and even warn of overbought and oversold risks. However, if used incorrectly, it can also lead you to make repeated mistakes. Today, we will take a deep dive into the Stochastic Oscillator (KD indicator) and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Core Concept of the KD Indicator
The KD indicator, officially known as the "Stochastic Oscillator," was developed by American analyst George Lane in the 1950s to capture market momentum changes and price turning points.
The indicator consists of two lines:
- K line (%K): Known as the fast line, representing the current closing price's relative position within a specific period (e.g., the past 14 days). It is sensitive and reacts quickly to price changes.
- D line (%D): Known as the slow line, which is a 3-period simple moving average of the K line.

Australia's latest economic data shows that inflationary pressures are far from easing, which has a profound impact on the outlook for the Australian dollar exchange rate. Francesco Pesole, an analyst at ING, pointed out that the Australian dollar is expected to become the strongest performer among G-10 currencies in 2026, mainly due to a potential shift in the Reserve Bank of Australia's monetary policy.
Deep-rooted reasons for the recent rise in the Australian dollar exchange rate
On November 26, the AUD/USD closed at 0.6505, marking the fourth consecutive day of gains with a daily increase of 0.6%. Two factors have jointly driven this upward momentum: on one hand, Australia's October Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.8% year-on-year, well above the market expectation of 3.6%; on the other hand, strong US economic data supported the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates in December, putting pressure on the US dollar.
The market's view that the Reserve Bank of Australia has already ended its rate-cutting cycle

From 2022 to 2023, the US technology sector experienced a sharp correction, with many high-quality companies seeing stock declines of over 50%. As market sentiment gradually becomes more rational, the recovery of the fundamentals of tech stocks starting in 2024 has become a trend. Investors' concerns are no longer "Will tech stocks fall further?" but rather "Which tech stocks have the potential for valuation recovery?"
Once hot concepts like cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the metaverse faced cold reception in 2022—NFT markets dropped 90%, crypto capital entered a winter, and the metaverse story lost its heat. This round of adjustment has precisely filtered out tech companies with solid fundamentals. This article highlights 8 tech stocks that not only survived the winter but also found new growth engines amid industry transformation.
8 Tech Stocks Most Expected for Valuation Recovery
Apple (AAPL): Ecosystem Stickiness Moat
Market Cap: $2.36 trillion | Dividend Yield: 0.6

In stock trading, many investors stare at trading software but can't understand the meaning behind the data. Besides stock prices and price changes, there are three key indicators often discussed: "internal volume," "external volume," and the "internal-external volume ratio." But what do these actually represent? How can changes in external volume help infer short-term capital flow? This article guides you to a deep understanding of these order book signals.
The Logic Behind Buy and Sell Transactions: Who Takes the Initiative to Push Prices?
To understand external and internal volume, first recognize the difference between "active buying" and "active selling." There are two types of trading methods in the market:【Pending Orders】and【Real-time Transactions】. The core difference between internal and external volume lies in: who actively matches the other party's order.
In the stock market, sellers aim to raise the asking price (ask price), while buyers aim to lower the purchase price (bid price). When a transaction occurs at the bid price, it indicates that the seller is willing to actively lower the price to match, and this transaction volume is recorded as "internal volume"; when a transaction occurs at the ask price, it indicates that the buyer is willing to

The Wave of Recovery in the Aviation Industry: Why Invest in Airline Stocks Now?
After experiencing a loss of 140 billion USD during the pandemic, the global aviation industry officially turned around in 2023, entering a profit recovery cycle. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast, by 2025, the number of global air travelers will surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time. By 2040, air travel demand is expected to double, rising from 4 billion to 8 billion passengers, with an average annual growth rate of 3.4%.
This has not only attracted traditional investors' attention but even cautious figures like Warren Buffett have changed their stance. Berkshire Hathaway has recently increased its holdings in the three major US airlines (Delta, United, and American Airlines). Mainstream Wall Street institutions are also bullish, with Morgan Stanley upgrading American Airlines from "Neutral" to "Overweight," expecting stock price increases of over 35%.
Why is the outlook for airline stocks so optimistic? Three core drivers:
1. Economic recovery drives

Who says passive income is the patent of the wealthy?
When it comes to "money making money," many people think it's a game only the rich can play. In fact, whether you're a white-collar worker, a small investor, or a student, as long as you find the right method, you have the chance to build your own income system. However, before taking action, you need to understand one thing: passive income is not about earning money by doing nothing; it requires initial investment, mid-term maintenance, and only then can you reap the later rewards.
The essence of passive income: the exchange of time and money
Simply put, passive income is money that continues to flow in without daily effort. Its key advantage is that even if you change jobs or resign, this income will still keep flowing into your pocket. But don't be fooled by the word "passive"—it requires time to plan, capital investment, or professional knowledge upfront, and only then can you enjoy the returns.
Many people misunderstand passive income as a "capital-preserving investment." In reality,

Don't rush to chase highs or sell lows! First, understand what the daily limit up and limit down mean.
Many beginners get panicked when they see a stock hit the limit up or limit down, unsure whether to buy in or hold back. The key is to understand the significance behind these phenomena so you can make the right decisions.
Let's start with the most basic concepts. A stock hitting the limit up means the price has risen to the maximum allowed for the day and cannot go higher; limit down is the opposite, meaning the price has fallen to the daily minimum and cannot drop further. For example, in the Taiwan stock market, the daily price change limit for listed and OTC stocks is no more than 10% of the previous trading day's closing price. If TSMC closed at NT$600 yesterday, the limit up price today would be NT$660, and the limit down price would be NT$540.
How can I identify limit up or limit down on the trading screen?
When you see a stock's price chart become a straight line with almost no fluctuation, it indicates

AI Concept Stocks: Reality and Market Positioning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has permeated from the cutting edge of technology into everyday life, with applications ranging from voice assistants and financial forecasting to medical diagnostics and autonomous driving. When we talk about AI concept stocks, we are essentially investing in the entire ecosystem behind this technological revolution—including chip manufacturers, server providers, cloud platforms, and AI software service providers.
In simple terms, AI stocks are those listed companies whose business is closely intertwined with artificial intelligence technology. They may not necessarily develop AI algorithms directly but provide the hardware infrastructure, computing platforms, or implementation solutions for AI applications. The logic of investing in AI concept stocks is fundamentally a bet on whether this wave of computing power revolution can continue to unleash commercial value.
AI Industry Chain Restructuring: From Hardware to Application
To understand investment opportunities in AI stocks, it is first essential to grasp the vertical structure of the industry chain. Upstream involves chips and computing hardware, such as ,

Why Is the Japanese Stock Market Rising All the Way? Is There Still Opportunity in the Future?
Entering mid-2025, the Japanese stock market experienced a brief pullback in April, followed by a strong rebound in May and June. By the end of June, the Nikkei 225 index surged to 40,487 points, just one step away from the one-year high. What is the driving force behind this rally? Is there still room for continuation? Let’s analyze in depth.
Market Revaluation Logic and Structural Advantages
The core of this upward movement in the Japanese stock market lies in two main supports: 'Reevaluation of corporate value' and 'Fermentation of long-term competitive advantages.'
In April this year, when U.S. tariff policies suddenly changed, global risk assets fell sharply. The P/E ratio of the Nikkei index once dropped to 12 times, appearing extremely undervalued compared to mainstream international markets. As market participants gradually adjusted their overly pessimistic expectations, the P/E ratio gradually recovered to around 13 times, making value discovery the main driving force behind this rebound.