Trader (finance) In the world of finance, a trader buys and sells financial instruments. In finance, traders are individuals who buy and sell financial instruments. Any monetary contract between two parties that we can create, trade, or modify is a financial instrument. These traders operate in various markets, such as stock, derivatives, and commodity markets, by trading on exchanges like stock exchanges, derivatives exchanges, and commodities exchanges A forex trader buys and sells ... Stay ahead with MT4, MT5, Web Trader , and our mobile apps for Android and iOS Awarded "Best Client Fund Safety" from Global Forex Awards 2025 Every retail trader knows the frustration: you draw support and resistance lines, you spot patterns, you follow market gurus on social media—and still, when the next bear market hits, your portfolio bleeds red. The word " trader " conjures up the stereotypical image of people standing in a stock exchange, waving paper and shouting loudly at each other. It is a profession that is perhaps sometimes misunderstood and which has evolved greatly since the advent of the internet. So what is a trader ? Who are they ...