TradeKing Survey: While Bearishness Rises, Active Investors Still See Q3 Opportunities...

TradeKing Survey: While Bearishness Rises, Active Investors Still See Q3 Opportunities in Energy, Healthcare/Biotech and Finance Sectors

Online Broker's Client Survey Ranks Oil Prices As #1 Market
Trigger - By Far; Respondents Share Successful Strategies in Today's
Volatile Market
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(Business Wire)--
Despite an overall increase in bearish sentiment since April,
active investors still believe there are opportunities to profit from
investments in selected sectors, according to a late July survey of
more than 220 equities and options traders conducted by online broker
TradeKing (www.tradeking.com). The sectors identified as having the
greatest potential for success in the third quarter for long positions
were Energy (44 percent of total responses), Healthcare/Biotech (41
percent), and Finance (40 percent). From a short position, Energy and
Commodities garnered the most votes with 15 percent each, while
Transportation, Finance and Gold/Precious Metals also received
recognition as promising short plays.

The survey also showed that "oil prices" appeared stronger than
ever as the top market trigger investors are watching. Eighty-eight
percent of options traders (OT) and 84 percent of equities traders
(ET) listed oil as their number one "potential trade trigger" to be
watched "intently," more than double the response seen in TradeKing's
April client survey. In April, 37.6 percent of OT and 40.7 percent of
ET listed oil as their chief concern, just narrowly inching out
interest rates.

The in-house survey was conducted July 21-24, 2008, via email to
3,000 TradeKing clients. The survey results were segmented into two
client groups: those who trade "options only" with TradeKing and those
who trade "equities only".(1)

(1) The content of this press release is provided for educational
and informational purposes only, does not constitute a recommendation
to enter in any of the securities transactions or to engage in any of
the investment strategies presented herein, and does not represent the
opinions of TradeKing or its employees. TradeKing provides
self-directed investors with discount brokerage services, and does not
make recommendations or offer investment advice. The investor alone is
responsible for evaluating the merits and risks associated with the
use of TradeKing's systems, services or products. All investments
involve risk, losses may exceed the principal invested, and the past
performance of a security, industry, sector, market, or financial
product does not guarantee future results or returns.

"From the comments and performance we see in our TradeKing
Community along with these results, it's clear that investors are
still finding opportunities to profit in these volatile markets," said
Don Montanaro, CEO of TradeKing. "Whether it be playing
sector-specific fluctuations or implementing hedge strategies through
buying 'puts' and 'calls', our clients are finding ways to invest
successfully even while recognizing the overall economic picture is
troubling."

Other Key Survey Findings

Active investors reported more bearishness than in April but still
less than in January of this year

-- Thirty-nine percent of options respondents (OT) and 31 percent
of equities traders (ET) described themselves as either
"bearish" or "very bearish" in July, up from 26.3 percent (OT)
and 20.9 percent (ET) in April. In January, 49.4 percent of OT
and 45.3 percent of ET considered themselves as bearish.

-- However, in the July survey, a significant number of
respondents still described themselves as "neutral/not sure"
(33 percent OT; 43 percent ET).

Respondents Revealed Most Successful Investment Strategies in Q2

-- Both groups reported having profited from "buying more stock"
or "buying and selling sector-specific ETFs or mutual funds."
Forty-nine percent of OT reported "profiting from these
strategies," while 79 percent of ET reported the same.

-- Options traders highlighted buying and selling "puts" and
"covered calls" as their most successful strategies in the
last three months. Nearly 83 percent of OT listed these
strategies as their most profitable.

About TradeKing

TradeKing was rated number one in customer service by SmartMoney
Magazine, ahead of E*Trade, Scottrade, Fidelity, Charles Schwab and TD
Ameritrade. (2008 Broker Survey)(2).

TradeKing, at http://www.tradeking.com is a nationally licensed
online broker dealer offering simple, low flat fees.

(Please see
www.tradeking.com/PrivateView/services/Services/commissions.tmpl for
more details on trade commissions for low priced stock, bonds, mutual
funds and other securities).

The TradeKing Web- based platform features powerful online equity,
options and fixed-income trading tools including real-time portfolio
information, advanced order entry, customized charting and alerts,
free research and integrated news, stock, option and mutual fund
screeners, volatility charts, a pricing probability calculator,
enhanced option chains and interactive educational information.
TradeKing also features innovative community networking capabilities
to help connect like-minded traders for enhanced strategy development
and information sharing. Go to http://community.tradeking.com/ for
details. TradeKing provides self-directed investors with discount
brokerage services, and does not make recommendations or offer
investment, financial, legal or tax advice. Online trading system
response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system
performance, and other factors. Non-U.S. residents may be subject to
country-specific restrictions. Options involve risk and are not
suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of
Standardized Options available at
http://content.tradeking.com/wiki/display/tkservice/Characteristics
+and+Risks. Member FINRA/SIPC.

(Due to the length of the above URL, it may be necessary to copy
and paste it into your Internet browser's URL address field. You may
also need to remove an extra space in the URL if one exists.)

(2) SmartMoney is a joint publishing venture of Dow Jones &
Company, Inc. and Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Worldwide.

Tier One Partners
Sue Parente, 781-642-7788
sparente@tieronepr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008