One way for investors to protect themselves from a rapid change in the price of a stock is to use a limit order rather than a market order.
Arthur Levitt JrPersonally I don't think day traders are speculating, because traditional speculation requires some market knowledge. They are, instead, gambling, which doesn't.
Arthur Levitt JrInvestors should start with a view of skepticism. They should become intellectual investors rather than emotional investors. They should be careful, and they should be skeptical.
Arthur Levitt JrAnother misconception is that an order is canceled when you hit 'cancel' on your computer. But, the fact is it's canceled only when the market gets the cancellation.
Arthur Levitt Jr