RetailTherapist

I recently started researching what IPC really is, because honestly everyone talks about it but nobody explains clearly how it works. It turns out that the Consumer Price Index is basically a monthly snapshot of how the prices of the things we normally buy go up or down. In Spain, the INE is the entity responsible for measuring it, analyzing a basket of 500 products and services to identify the trend.
Many people confuse the IPC with inflation, and I understand why. Inflation is the widespread increase in prices across the entire economy, while the IPC is more specific: it measures how the pri

Recently, I started reviewing how most investors evaluate their decisions, and I realize that many ignore a indicator that should be basic: ROI, or what we know as economic profitability. It’s curious because this ratio is probably one of the simplest to understand, but at the same time one of the most misinterpreted in the market.
Economic profitability is quite straightforward: it measures how much money you earn (or lose) relative to what you invested. If you put in 1,000 euros and take out 1,200, your ROI is 20%. Sounds easy, right? The issue is that most people only look at the number wit

I just realized that many novice traders unnecessarily complicate themselves with Japanese candlesticks when there is a much cleaner tool: Heikin Ashi. Let me explain why this graphical representation changed my way of analyzing the market.
Heikin Ashi, which literally means 'average bar' in Japanese, is basically an evolution of traditional candles. The key difference is that it is calculated based on the average between the current and previous candle, which eliminates much of the noise you see on normal charts. It's like someone cleaned the screen of all that confusing information that only

Recently, I realized something that probably many overlook: interest rates are literally the heart of everything happening in financial markets. It's no exaggeration. When the central bank makes decisions about rates, it propagates through all types of markets, from stocks to cryptocurrencies, and ends up affecting your wallet in ways you can't even imagine.
Basically, an interest rate is the price you pay to borrow money, or what you earn if you lend it. Simple as that. But here’s the interesting part: there isn’t just one interest rate. There are several levels. The central bank (ECB, FED, e

I've been reviewing how the 2026 dividends for the Ibex 35 are shaping up, and honestly, there are some interesting movements. The first payments we've seen in recent months have been quite positive compared to previous years, with increases exceeding 10% in several cases.
Let's take Aena as an example. This year, it went from €0.976 to €1.09 in April, so that's a significant increase. Inditex is also showing very good figures, and special mention goes to Indra, which forecasts an increase of up to 20% by July. Rovi, the pharmaceutical company, also surprises with a 7.8% rise compared to last

I’ve been thinking about an economic concept that many investors overlook: understanding what a deflator means and how it truly affects our financial decisions. It’s not just fiscal theory—it directly impacts our purchasing power and how we can profit from our investments.
Look, the meaning of a deflator is quite straightforward at its core. It’s a tool that economists use to compare economic data over time by removing the “noise” of inflation. When inflation distorts the numbers, the deflator is what lets us see the reality: whether an economy really grew or if it only seems to because of ris

I've been into trading for a while and let me tell you, reading trading charts well is what separates winners from losers. It's not magic, but it's not as complicated as it seems at first.
Basically, there are three ways to view the price: line, bars, and Japanese candlesticks. Each tells a different story. The line is the simplest, only showing the closing price connected over time. Useful if you want to see the overall trend without noise, but you miss the daily details. Bars give you more information: open, high, low, and close. That’s important if you do swing trading or work with volatili

Recently, I was reviewing the fundamental differences between common and preferred shareholders, and the truth is that many investors are not clear on this distinction. It’s basic but crucial if you want to build a meaningful portfolio.
Here’s how it works: when you invest in a company, not all shareholders have the same rights. A company can issue two main types of shares, each with very different characteristics. Common and preferred shareholders operate under completely different rules, and that directly impacts your returns and the control you have over the company.
Let’s start with common

Recently, I started reviewing Bitcoin's history and was surprised to realize how much it was worth just a decade ago. We're talking about going from $600 in 2014 to the $75k that it hovers around today. That trajectory is simply incredible when you think about it.
It all began in 2009 when Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin as a response to the 2008 financial crisis. The idea was revolutionary: eliminate intermediaries in transactions using cryptography. At first, it didn't even have real value, but as the network grew, the price started to rise. By 2011, we were talking about $2.51 per BTC, a

I have been observing the natural gas market over the past few years, and honestly, there's a lot to learn from how everything evolved. Recently, I started reviewing what happened with the prices and why so many people regret not trading at key moments.
It all began with the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which shot gas prices to historic levels. But what’s interesting is what happened afterward. During 2023, prices plummeted nearly 73% from their highs, which was a brutal shift in the market. That opened opportunities for those who understood that investing in natural gas isn’t just about betti

I just did a lot of research on reliable trading applications because I wanted to start with a small capital, and honestly there are much better options than I thought.
The first thing that surprised me is that you no longer need thousands to get started. I found platforms where you can open an account with $5 or $20. Most of the reliable trading apps I reviewed are officially regulated, so at least that provides peace of mind.
MyTrade caught my attention because it’s super simple. The interface is clean, without unnecessary clutter. You can trade stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies, all from a si

I just discovered that you don't need a huge capital to start trading. Recently, I was looking for accessible trading apps and was surprised by the number of options available today. I found everything from very basic platforms with deposits of just $20, to more complex ones for experienced traders. Most of these trading apps have quite intuitive interfaces and no hidden fees, which makes things much easier if you're just starting out. There are options focused on beginners with automatic copy tools, others that offer high leverage for advanced traders, and some with thousands of assets availa

Recently, I was looking into how people try to make money with oil, and honestly, it makes sense when I think about it. The price moves a lot, sometimes due to Middle Eastern news or OPEC decisions, and it can go up or down 10% in a day. For someone trading CFDs, that opens up short-term opportunities.
The interesting thing is that investing in oil isn't just betting on fuel. It's more like a way to hedge against inflation because oil is in almost everything we consume—from gasoline to plastics and fertilizers. When oil prices go up, everything becomes more expensive. That's why many large inv

I've been looking for platforms to start trading without investing a lot of money, and honestly, there are quite a few options now. It's not like before when you needed a huge capital to get started. I tried several, and the one I liked the most was MiTrade; the interface is clean, and the minimum deposit of $20 is accessible. It has integrated TradingView charts, and you can trade stocks, forex, crypto—all from one account. If you already have experience, AvaTrade is great for MetaTrader 4 and 5, and it offers more leverage with the professional account. Plus500 has an incredible catalog of a

I've been looking for the best app to invest with little money for a while, and honestly, there are more options than I thought. Most people believe you need thousands to start, but that's completely false now.
I tried MiTrade first because friends said it was super easy. The truth is, the interface is clean, without a lot of unnecessary clutter. You can deposit from $20 and you're in. What I liked is that it integrates TradingView charts directly, so you get decent technical analysis without switching to another app. Perfect if you're just starting out.
Then I explored AvaTrade. It's more for

Recently, I started researching how to buy oil practically, without unnecessary complications. And honestly, I found that there is much more to this market than most think. The volatility of crude oil is brutal—conflicts in the Middle East or a decision by OPEC+ can move prices more than 10% in a day. That opens interesting doors if you know where to operate.
So, why bother buying oil? First, it’s a strategic asset. It’s not just a bet on fuel—oil is a fundamental component of almost everything: plastics, fertilizers, transportation. When crude oil rises, the prices of everything go up. So inv

Recently, I have been reviewing the European markets, and the truth is that interesting things are happening that many are not seeing. European central banks continue to hold firm with their interest rates (ECB at 4.50% and BOE at 5.25%), but the market is already betting on cuts that would probably happen in 2025. Meanwhile, the main indices have shown quite solid recoveries since the end of 2023.
What catches my attention the most is valuation. European stocks are trading at a significant discount compared to their U.S. counterparts. The P/E ratio of the European market is around 15, while i

I’ve been noticing for a while how many people who want to get into the stock market dive in without any safety net. The truth is, there’s an option that almost nobody fully takes advantage of: practice accounts and simulators. They’re not the same thing, so let me explain the difference.
Stock simulators are basically educational tools that let you invest with fake money. They’re designed mainly for learning, with no real other purpose than to let you feel what it’s like to open and close positions. Demo accounts, on the other hand, come from real brokers and replicate exactly what would happ

I've been in the markets for a while, and one thing I see that many beginners don't understand well is how the different types of stocks actually work. Most think that all stocks are the same, but the truth is there are differences between common and preferred stocks that can completely change your investment strategy.
Let me explain this clearly. Companies can issue two main types of stocks, and each has very different characteristics. If you understand these differences between common and preferred stocks well, you'll be able to choose much better based on what you're looking for.
Common sto

I just read about how to invest in oil, and honestly, I’m surprised by how many opportunities there are if you know where to look. It’s not just betting on the barrel price; there are much more interesting reasons. Oil moves due to geopolitics, conflicts in the Middle East, OPEC decisions, hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. A single event can move the price more than 10% in a day. For those who want to trade short-term with CFDs, that’s pure gold.
What caught my attention is that there are two main types: Brent (which dominates in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East) and WTI (the one from the U