How to Read Crypto Charts: 2021 Complete Guide

How to Read Crypto Charts: 2022 Complete Guide

Reading crypto charts is an important skill for anyone who wants to trade digital assets. Understanding crypto charts will allow you to perform the technical analysis necessary to make investing decisions.

Here’s what to know:

How to Read Cryptocurrency Charts

There are many potential methods for reading crypto charts.

Some factors aside from the chart itself can be worth considering too, as important events or changes in overall market sentiment can have a heavy-handed impact on charts.

For best results, traders can implement multiple methods of reading crypto charts at the same time. When several different indicators lead to similar conclusions, market observers have more confidence in their predictions. Relying on a single indicator is likely to create an incomplete picture and could be misleading.

Recommended: 6 Things to Know Before Investing in Crypto

1. Support & Resistance Levels

Support and resistance are among the most basic technical analysis concepts used when reading charts. Support refers to a potential bottom in prices, while resistance refers to a potential top. Prices tend to reverse at these points, and if they don’t, it can mean that a new trend has emerged.

When prices breakout beneath support, further declines could be possible. Likewise, when prices breakout above resistance, further increases could be possible.

Pivot points, predictive indicators that average the high, low, and closing price from the previous trading session, provide a more precise way to calculate specific support and resistance levels. Traders who are serious about reading crypto charts could begin by researching topics like pivot points more thoroughly.

2. Moving Averages (MA)

Moving averages plot a line on a chart that indicates the trend of price averages over a certain period. Investors can use MAs for just about any time frame, but many believe that long-term averages carry more weight as they include more data. The same can be said of most technical indicators.

Investors also often use multiple moving averages in conjunction with each other. For example, investors consider a “golden cross” a bullish signal, while a “death cross” is a bearish signal.

A golden cross happens when a short-term moving average rises above a long-term moving average. Often this involves the 50-day MA moving above the 200-day MA. A death cross happens when this trend reverses and the short-term moving average falls beneath the long-term moving average.

3. Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP)

The Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) appears on a single line on a chart. Similar to a moving average, VWAP includes one crucial variable – volume. Including volume into the average price calculation may create a more accurate picture of previous price behavior. A trend based on low volume could be weak and reverse quickly, while a trend based on high volume is thought to be more robust.

Recommended: What Is Volume in Cryptocurrency?

4. Relative Strength Index (RSI)

The Relative Strength Index, RSI, is another often-used and easy-to-read indicator. It appears as a single line beneath the price chart itself, with a value between 0 and 100, with 50 being neutral. A low RSI reading may signal oversold conditions, meaning prices could rise soon, while a high RSI reading could signal overbought conditions, meaning prices could fall soon.

The closer the RSI is to its extremes of 0 or 100, the more reliable investors consider it. In some cases, the RSI can remain elevated or suppressed for long periods before the foretold price reversal materializes. For this reason, it can be helpful to use other price indicators alongside ones like the RSI.

5. Crypto Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index provides an approximation of overall market emotions. Using a variety of data, the index shows a value between 0 and 100, with 100 being maximum greed and 0 being maximum fear.

This is a contrarian indicator, meaning investors might use it to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. When the index reads below 20, that signals extreme fear, and could mean buying opportunities. When the index reads above 80, that signals extreme greed, and could mean it’s time to take some profits.

Recommended: How to Use the Fear and Greed Index to Your Advantage

6. Trends Tend to Continue

Figuring out exactly when a trend is about to reverse can be difficult if not impossible much of the time. Many believe it’s better to just identify existing trends and try to ride on that momentum.

But how do you know exactly when a trend has changed? It’s difficult to say, and traders might disagree. In general, it’s when a pattern breaks down or prices close above resistance or below support, for example, the trend may have changed course.

7. Candlestick Charts

Candlesticks are price charts that show the high, low, opening, and closing prices of cryptocurrency during a specific time period. When you set up a candlestick chart, you’ll choose the time period that you want it to cover.

8. Bitcoin Dominance

One last factor worth taking note of when reading crypto charts is Bitcoin dominance . This number, expressed as a percentage, refers to the amount of the crypto market captured by Bitcoin. For many investors, the higher this value rises, the more bullish they are on Bitcoin, while being bearish for many altcoins.

The opposite is also thought to be true. Investors may perceive a decline in Bitcoin dominance as a bearish signal for Bitcoin and bullish for altcoins.

On April 22nd, 2021, Bitcoin dominance fell below 50% for the first time since 2018. Some market observers believe this means that Bitcoin could either fall or trade sideways for a time while many altcoins rally.

Bitcoin forks can also potentially impact Bitcoin dominance, as a new altcoin is created when this happens.

Recommended: How to Invest in Bitcoin

The Takeaway

This has only been an introduction to how to read crypto charts and tips for investing in Bitcoin and crypto. Using one or more of the above listed methods can help traders make informed decisions, but they may also want to do additional research.

Photo credit: iStock/SARINYAPINNGAM


SoFi Invest®
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SOIN0421177

Read more
Guide to Setting Up an Ethereum Wallet in 2021

Guide to Setting Up an Ethereum Wallet in 2022

Anyone with basic computer knowledge can learn how to set up an Ethereum wallet. Doing so will be necessary to interact with the Ethereum ecosystem or send/receive ETH transactions.

There are many different types of Ethereum wallets, and different developers or manufacturers for each type. Setting up an Ethereum wallet is one small part of the answer to the question “what is Ethereum and how it works.”

What Is an Ethereum Wallet?

An Ethereum wallet is a collection of addresses that can be used to send and receive Ether (ETH), the native token of the Ethereum network.

Ethereum wallets, like all crypto wallets, fall into two broad categories: hot wallets and cold wallets. The term “hot” refers to the fact that the private keys to a wallet are held online at all times, making them potentially vulnerable. The term “cold” means that keys are held offline where they are safe from hackers or thieves — in either hardware wallets and paper wallets.

From a user perspective, the main difference between a hot and cold wallet is that hot wallets are more readily available for sending transactions.

What Is an Ethereum Account?

An Ethereum account holds a balance of ETH and can broadcast transactions over the Ethereum network. These accounts can be user-controlled (like wallets) or function as automated smart contracts.

There are two types of Ethereum accounts:

1.    Those that are externally owned and controlled by whoever holds the private keys

2.    Smart contract accounts that are deployed to the network and controlled by code

Both accounts can send and receive ETH and interact with smart contracts.

Recommended: How to Buy Ethereum

What Is an Ethereum Address?

There are two types of Ethereum addresses: externally-owned addresses and contract addresses.

An externally-owned address is an account consisting of a public and private key pair that holds user funds.

An Ethereum address is a 42 character hexadecimal string derived from the last 20 bytes of the public key of the account. 0x is appended in front of this string of characters.

For example:

0x8ba1f109551bd432803012645ac136ddd64dba72

Types of Ethereum Wallets

There are many different kinds of Ethereum wallets, each of which falls under the category of software wallet or hardware wallet.

This chart outlines the pros and cons of different types of Ethereum wallets. Below, we’ll dive into the details of each.

Web wallets

Desktop wallets

Mobile wallets

Hardware wallets

Paper wallets

Pros Easy to set up and use Easy to use Convenient for transacting on mobile devices High degree of security, relatively easy to use High degree of security
Cons Very insecure More secure than web wallets but still vulnerable Not suitable for storing large amounts of crypto Can be expensive, typically around $100 Vulnerable to fire or water damage, user error could result in total loss of funds

Software ETH Wallet

Hot wallets are by definition software wallets. There are several different types of software wallets.

Web Wallet

Web-based wallets might be the least secure of all wallets. The keys to these crypto wallets are either held in your browser itself (in the case of non-hosted wallets) or on the servers of a crypto exchange (in the case of hosted wallets).

Some popular non-hosted Ethereum web wallets include MetaMask and MyEtherWallet. Some popular hosted wallets include those provided by crypto exchanges like Binance or Kraken.

Desktop Wallet

Desktop wallets involve simple desktop programs that allow users to send and receive transactions.

Desktop wallets are a type of hot wallet hosted on a desktop or laptop computer. A desktop wallet comes with a simple user interface that enables the sending, receiving, and storing of ETH.

Mobile Wallet

Mobile wallets are stored on mobile devices like smartphones. They can be among the easiest crypto wallets to use.

A useful feature of some mobile wallets is that they allow you to import a private key balance by scanning a QR code. If you have funds stored on a paper wallet, for example, you might be able to “sweep” the balance into a mobile wallet by scanning the QR code associated with the private key of the paper wallet.

Hardware ETH Wallet

Of all the different types of ETH wallets, many crypto wallet users find that hardware wallets provide the best mix of security and usability.

A hardware wallet can store private keys offline in cold storage and quickly be brought back online to make transactions. Most popular hardware wallets support Ethereum as well as multiple ERC-20 tokens that run atop the Ethereum network.

Paper ETH Wallet

Paper wallets are a somewhat outmoded method of wallet creation. Before hardware wallets were created, allowing users to take possession of their private keys in a secure fashion, paper wallets were one of the only ways to put crypto into cold storage.

A paper wallet simply involves printing out the private and public keys to a new wallet on a piece of paper. Users can still use paper wallets, but doing so exposes them to greater risk of user error than most other methods of crypto storage.

5 Steps to Create an Ethereum Wallet

How to set up an Ethereum wallet will differ depending on the type of wallet and the manufacturer or software developer who designed the wallet.

Here we’ll cover the steps to creating an online Ethereum wallet with MetaMask. MetaMask is a popular web-based wallet and can be convenient for some online applications that require ETH transactions, like games, DeFi, or NFTs. This kind of wallet can be great for transactions but is not well-suited to holding large amounts of crypto or long-term storage.

MetaMask can be used on both desktop and mobile devices. Here we’ll cover how to install Metamask on a desktop browser.

1.    Install MetaMask. It’s widely recommended to do so on Google Chrome, as problems are less likely to result than with other browsers. In Chrome, visit the URL metamask.io. Click the “Install MetaMask for Chrome” button and add the extension to your browser.

2.    Create a wallet. Once the extension has been installed, an image of a fox should appear above a button that says “get started.” Click the button. It will ask if you’re new to MetaMask. Select “create a wallet.”

   After creating a wallet, MetaMask will ask you to share your information to improve the service. You can choose to either agree or not. Either way, you can still use the wallet.

3.    Create a password. The next step the software will take you to is password creation. Passwords should be long, unique, and contain a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Create a password, agree to the terms of use, and select Create.

4.    Write down your seed phrase. Now MetaMask will reveal your 12-word backup seed phrase, or the Secret Backup Phrase, as they call it. This will serve as a backup to your keys in case you forget your password. Write this phrase on paper and keep it somewhere safe.

5.    Add Ether to your wallet. ETH can be bought on exchanges like those offered by Kraken or Coinbase, then transferred to your own wallet.

Tips for Keeping Your Ethereum Wallet Safe

Keeping your wallet safe depends on the type of wallet you have. Here are a few quick tips for different types of wallets.

•   Web and desktop wallets: Make sure to back up your wallet regularly. If something were to happen to your browser or hard drive, the private keys could be lost, resulting in total loss of funds.

•   Mobile wallets: Backups are also important. Don’t use a mobile wallet on a wireless network you don’t know and trust. There have been cases of people having their wallet hacked while on public Wi-Fi networks like those found in coffee shops and airports.

•   Hardware wallets: Your funds will already be secure — it’s more a matter of keeping the physical wallet and backup seed phrase in a secure location. Don’t store the seed phrase on any computer and don’t share it with anyone.

•   Paper wallets: The wallet needs to be in a secure location and protected from water or fire damage. Consider laminating the wallet and keeping it inside a fire-proof lockbox.

The Takeaway

When setting up an Ethereum wallet, the correct wallet type will depend on what you intend to use your ETH for. There are different types of hot and cold wallets, each of which offers different benefits and drawbacks.

Photo credit: iStock/tsingha25


SoFi Invest®
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOIN0921391

Read more
Your 2021 Guide to Student Loan Forgiveness

Your 2022 Guide to Student Loan Forgiveness

Editor’s Note: Since the writing of this article, the Biden administration has extended the pause on federal student loan repayment through December 31, 2022.

Student loan forgiveness was a hot topic on the campaign trail—but is one that is largely plodding along.

While President Joe Biden has endorsed $10,000 of federal student loan cancellation, few Republicans support blanket student loan forgiveness.

In June, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer again urged Biden to cancel $50,000 in federal student loan debt for every borrower. Biden has asked the Justice Department and the Department of Education to assess whether or not he has the authority to unilaterally cancel student loan debt.

If the answer is “yes,” how much might he cancel? He has maintained that $50,000 is too much, especially given the relatively high incomes of graduates of high-tuition colleges.

Here are types of debt that have been canceled under Biden student loan forgiveness acts, and debt that may be forgiven in the future:

Loan Discharge for the Defrauded and Disabled

One major move Biden and his Education Department made in his first few months in office was discharging loans from for-profit institutions that defrauded students.

In March 2021, a decision was made to discharge nearly $1 billion worth of debt for 72,000 students. This was a continuation of a Trump-era policy, which had provided partial debt relief to those students.

The borrower defense to repayment program had been expanded under President Obama and trimmed under President Trump. This particular ruling applied to students who had had claims approved but had only received partial relief.

In June, the Biden administration discharged more than $500 million in debt for 18,000 former students of ITT Technical Institute, a for-profit school that closed in 2016. The administration is still working through a backlog of claims from the Trump administration.

The Biden administration also moved to forgive more than $1.3 billion worth of debt for 41,000 loan holders with permanent disabilities.

Advocacy groups say the move did not go far enough, and that the administration should forgive the $8 billion in debt held by over 500,000 borrowers who are considered totally and permanently disabled.

So what do these Education Department actions mean for those who do not fit under any borrower defense that has been invoked? The answer is still unclear, but the recent moves indicate that student loan reform is likely to be a key pillar of the administration.

The Latest on the Loan Payment Pause

The CARES Act in 2020 suspended payments and interest accrual on most federal student loans. The administrative forbearance was extended twice under Trump and again under Biden. The payment pause is slated to expire on Jan. 31, 2022.

Advocates see the next few months as an opportunity for the Biden administration to act quickly in terms of reform. Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have led the charge to urge Biden to continue the payment pause through at least March 2022.

But as of now, payments are on track to resume in February. This may be a good time for borrowers to plan how they will resume payments, look into forbearance or deferral programs if they are not in a position to do so, or consider refinancing with a private lender if they can get a better rate.

What Might the Education Department Cover Next?

On the campaign trail, Biden promised multiple student loan reforms. Some will likely have to be approved by Congress. They include:

Free community college. In April, Biden promised to make good on that promise with the American Families Plan, which also would increase the maximum Pell Grant by $1,400.

Overhauling the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Candidate Biden said he would streamline the program to make it easier for borrowers to qualify. He suggested $10,000 of forgiven undergraduate or graduate debt for every year of working in a nonprofit or public sector job, for up to five years.

People who have had qualifying public service roles would qualify for the program. The Department of Education is looking into PSLF claims, and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has called the current rejection rate “unacceptable.”

Streamlining Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE) programs. On the campaign trail, Biden promised to simplify and streamline these programs, at one point suggesting repayments of 5% of discretionary income for people making over $25,000, with any remaining debt discharged after 20 years. As of this month, the Biden administration is reviewing these programs.

Permitting student loan debt discharged in bankruptcy. Cases are circulating in the lower courts related to student loans and bankruptcy, challenging the status quo that student loans are rarely forgiven in a bankruptcy filing. But this month, the Supreme Court declined to review a case in which student loan discharge was denied.

Recommended: PAYE vs REPAYE: What’s the Difference?

Loan Forgiveness Plans Right Now

Federal student loan holders have forgiveness options if they meet certain criteria. The Education Department is likely to move forward on some reform fronts, but it may be challenging for certain acts to gain congressional approval.
In the meantime, here are some current programs:

Income-based plans. Income-driven repayment plans, which include PAYE and REPAYE, are meant to forgive any remaining student loan balance after 20 or 25 years of monthly payments that are tied to income and family size.

PSLF. Direct Loan borrowers working for a federal, state, local, or tribal government or nonprofit organization are to have any loan balance forgiven after making 120 qualifying payments. But debt discharge from PSLF has been notoriously challenging.

Disability discharge. Total and permanent disability relieves you from having to repay a Direct Loan, a Federal Family Education Loan, and/or a Federal Perkins Loan, or to complete a teacher grant service obligation.

“Undue hardship” alongside bankruptcy. While bankruptcy alone won’t keep a borrower from having to pay back federal or private student loans, a rare few may be able to prove that continuing to repay student loans imposes an “undue hardship” on them and their family.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. Those who teach at a low-income school or educational service agency for five years and meet other criteria may be eligible for up to $17,500 in federal student loan forgiveness.

Closed-school discharge. If your school closes while you’re enrolled or closed shortly thereafter, you may be able to get your federal loans discharged.

Discharge due to death. If the borrower dies, or the person taking out the loan dies, loans may be discharged. This also applies to Parent PLUS Loans if the parent dies or becomes disabled.

Borrower defense to repayment. This is the umbrella under which many borrowers received forgiveness under the Biden Department of Education for loans from for-profit institutions. Direct Loan borrowers may receive forgiveness if a school did something or failed to do something related to your loan or the educational services that your loan was intended to pay for.

An attorney who specializes in student loans can be helpful in ensuring that a borrower meets the requirements of certain forgiveness scenarios and can help ensure that any paperwork is in order.

Can Private Student Loans Be Forgiven?

When it comes to private student loans, cancellation happens rarely, if ever.

Some private lenders do offer certain protections, such as unemployment protection, in case you were unable to make payments.

If a borrower cannot pay a private loan, they may speak to their lender to determine what programs and paths may be available.

Right now, it is unclear whether broad student loan forgiveness, by the presidential or congressional act, could include private loans.

Recommended: What Is the Student Loan Forgiveness Act?

The Takeaway

Biden student loan forgiveness has totaled more than $2 billion for particular borrowers, but some advocates want to see much more. Will the student loan forgiveness 2022 story be one of sweeping or incremental change? Time will tell.

And as of now, the pause on federal student loan payments ends in January. Knowing your options to repay your student loans, which may include refinancing with a private lender—resulting in one new loan, with an eye toward a lower rate—will be helpful in creating a path forward.

If you refinance your federal student loans with SoFi, you can lock in your rate now, and make no payments until February 2022.

It’s easy to check your rate on a refi with SoFi.

Photo credit: iStock/simarik


SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.


Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

In our efforts to bring you the latest updates on things that might impact your financial life, we may occasionally enter the political fray, covering candidates, bills, laws and more. Please note: SoFi does not endorse or take official positions on any candidates and the bills they may be sponsoring or proposing. We may occasionally support legislation that we believe would be beneficial to our members, and will make sure to call it out when we do. Our reporting otherwise is for informational purposes only, and shouldn’t be construed as an endorsement.

SOSL0621022

Read more

Top 5 Tips for Refinancing Student Loans

It’s a new year—and the perfect time to take a fresh look at your student loans. With recent changes in the financial landscape, now is a great time to consider a change if you are one of the 40MM+ individuals with student debt. Refinancing and consolidating student loans can be a financial game changer: You can pay your debt in a single monthly payment and potentially lower your rates—meaning less interest and more peace of mind.

Here are our top five tips to help you navigate and understand student loan refinancing.

1. Know Your Loans

Make sure to take inventory of the current loans you have. Which lenders are they with? Are they private or federal loans? What’s the balance owed and the interest rate for each loan? It’s important to know where you are today to better evaluate your best options for student loan refinancing.

For example, the Federal Direct Loan consolidation program won’t let you combine your private and federal student loans to a single payment or interest rate. You should also understand what deferment and forgiveness benefits are, and if they’re applicable to your loan and circumstances.

2. Do the Math

In order to better understand how much you’ll benefit from refinancing, it’s best to know your numbers: Specifically, the overall balance owed and average interest rates across both your federal and private loans. Once you have that info, you can use an online Student Loan Calculator to see how refinancing will impact your current situation and the monthly and lifetime savings you can expect (if applicable).

3. Understand Fixed vs. Variable Rates

This is important, as most lenders will offer both fixed and variable interest rate options when refinancing student loans. Which one should you choose?It depends: Do you want your rate to stay constant long-term or start out low and adjust incrementally? Head over to our fixed vs. variable rates page for a helpful overview of fixed and variable rates to see what best suits your needs.

4. Choose a Lender

When it comes to choosing a lender for student loan refinancing, you’ve got options. There are many helpful articles and online resources to find the right lender for you, but ultimately you’ll want to find a refinancing partner that offers a competitive rate. Additional benefits can also be helpful—like payment deferral (in case of job loss) or discounts on other financial products that can save you money.

Here are a few sites that may be helpful in finding the best match for your student loan refinancing: Student Loan Hero , Magnify Money , and Lendedu .

5. Lock In Your Rate

The sooner you refinance your student loans, the quicker you can start meeting your financial goals with a simpler monthly bill or a lower interest rate. So don’t wait—make 2022 the year for action. Check your rate in 2 minutes.

Learn how you could lower your monthly payments and save on total interest when you refinance student loans with SoFi.

Want event more tips on student loan refinancing? Explore SoFi’s student loan help center for guides, resources, and advice on all thins student loans!


The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
SLR17154

Read more
What Is the Put/Call Ratio?

What Is the Put/Call Ratio?

The put to call ratio (PCR) is a mathematical indicator that investors use to determine market sentiment. The ratio reflects the volume of put options and call options placed on a particular market index. Analysts interpret this information into either a bullish (positive) or bearish (negative) near-term market outlook.

The idea is simple: the ratio of how many people are betting against the market versus how many people are betting in favor of the market, should provide a gauge of the general mood investors are in.

A high put-call ratio is thought to be bearish (because more investors are taking short positions) while a low put-call ratio is thought to be bullish (because more investors are taking long positions). Investor Martin Zweig invented the put-call ratio and used it to forecast the 1987 stock market crash.

What are Puts and Calls?

Puts and calls are the most basic types of options contracts. Options contracts give holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific number of shares of a given security by a certain date (the expiration date) at an agreed upon price (the strike price). For both puts and calls, one options contract is usually for 100 shares of the underlying security.

The seller of an option is also sometimes called the writer. Options writers receive a fee, called a premium, in exchange for the risk of having to buy or sell shares when the holder of the option chooses to exercise their contract.

There are many factors that influence an option’s premium, and many ways to calculate the value and the risk of options, including the Black-Sholes, trinomial, and Monte Carlo simulations.

Those interested in trading calls and puts and other options strategies may want to research the details further with our options trading guide.

For now, we’re concerned with the basics of call vs. put options so we can better understand the put-call ratio and what it means.

Puts

A put option (or “put”) gives its owner the right to sell a certain number of shares at a predetermined price by a certain date. Investors may also refer to puts as “short positions” because they represent bearish bets on a security’s future.

An investor who buys a put has the option to sell the stock at some point leading up to the expiration date of the contract. Investors may use puts in a variety of ways within the portfolio. For example, a protective put allows an investor who already owns the underlying asset to benefit even if the price of that stock asset goes down.

Calls

A call gives its owner the right to buy a certain number of shares at a predetermined price by a certain date. Calls are also referred to as long positions because they represent bullish bets on a security’s future.

An investor who buys a call has the option to buy the stock at some point leading up to the expiration date.

Recommended: Popular Options Trading Terminology to Know

What Is Put Call Ratio?

The put-call ratio is a measurement of the number of puts versus the number of calls traded on a given security over a certain timeframe. The ratio is expressed as a simple numerical value.

The higher the number, the more puts there are on a security, which shows that investors are betting in favor of future price declines. The lower the number, the more calls there are on a security, indicating that investors are betting in favor of future price increases.

Analysts most often apply this metric to broad market indexes to get a feel for overall market sentiment in conjunction with other data point. For example, the Chicago Board Options Exchange put-to-call ratio is one of seven factors used to calculate the Fear & Greed Index by CNN Business.

The put-call ratio can also be applied to individual stocks by looking at the volume of puts and calls on a stock over a certain period.

Recommended: Buying Options vs Stocks: Trading Differences to Know

How to Calculate the Put-Call Ratio

The put-call ratio equals the total volume of puts for a given time period on a certain market index or security divided by the total volume of calls for the same time period on that same index or security. The CBOE put call ratio is this calculation for all options traded on that exchange.

There can also be variations of this. For example, total put open interest could be divided by total call open interest. This would provide a ratio for the number of outstanding puts versus the number of outstanding calls. Another variation is a weighted put-call ratio, which calculates the dollar value of puts versus calls, rather than the number.

Looking at a put call ratio chart can show you how that ratio has changed over time.

Put-Call Ratio Example

Suppose an investor is trying to assess the overall sentiment for a stock. The stock showed the following volume of puts and calls on a recent trading day:

Number of puts = 1,400

Number of calls = 1,800

The put call ratio for this stock would be 1,400 / 1,800 = 0.77.

How to Interpret the Put-Call Ratio

A specific PCR value can broadly be defined as follows:

•   A PCR of less than 1 implies that investors are expecting upward price movement, as they’re buying more call options than put options.

•   A PCR of more than 1 implies that investors are expecting downward price movement, as they’re buying more put options than call options.

•   A PCR equal to 1 indicates investors expect a neutral trend, as purchases of both types of options are at the same level.

However, while PCR has a specific, mathematical root, it is still open to interpretation, depending on your options trading strategy. Different investors might take the same value to have different meanings.

Contrarian investors, for example, typically believe that the majority is wrong. The best move is to act contrary to what others are doing, in this view. If everyone else is buying something, contrarians believe it might be a good time to sell, or vice-versa. A contrarian investor might therefore perceive a high put/call ratio to be bullish because it suggests that most people believe prices will be heading downward soon.

Momentum investors believe in trying to capitalize on prevailing market trends. “The trend is your friend,” they might say. If the price of something is going up, it could be best to capitalize on that momentum by buying, in this view. A momentum investor could believe the opposite, and that a high PCR should be seen as bearish because prices could be trending downward soon.

To take things a step further, a momentum investor might short a security with a high put-call ratio, hoping that since most investors appear to already be short, this will be the right move. On the other hand, a contrarian investor could do the opposite and establish a long position, based on the idea that what most people expect to happen is the opposite of what’s actually coming.

The Takeaway

The put-call ratio is a simple metric used to gauge market sentiment. While often used on broad market indexes, investors may also apply the PCR to specific securities. Calculating it only involves dividing the volume of puts by the volume of calls on the market for a security.

The put-call ratio is one factor you might consider as you start trading options. A platform like SoFi’s allows you to get started with options trading, thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly design. Investors can also reference a library of educational resources about options.

Trade options with low fees through SoFi.


Photo credit: iStock/PeopleImages

SoFi Invest®
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes.
SOIN1021427

Read more
TLS 1.2 Encrypted
Equal Housing Lender