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Different Market Fee Differences: Why Do the Same Stock Purchases Cost So Much Differently?
Stock trading is not just about a single fee; investors need to bear a complete set of trading costs. Buying and selling stocks in the Taiwan stock market and the US stock market can involve fees that differ by several times, which is an aspect many investors tend to overlook.
Stock trading commissions are primarily charged by brokerage firms to execute and process trade orders. Depending on the trading market, the fee structure can vary significantly. Generally, commissions include "transaction fees" and "other costs" (such as transaction taxes, clearing fees, system service charges, etc.). Investors should carefully understand these cost details before trading.
Taiwan Stock Market Trading Cost Breakdown
Specific Composition of Taiwan Stock Market Commissions
As a local investor in Taiwan investing in Taiwan stocks, the most common method is to trade through a dedicated securities account. The fees mainly include

What is Major Non-Farm Payrolls? How to distinguish between Major and Minor Non-Farm Payrolls?
When it comes to the US labor market, the investment community often mentions the concepts of "Major Non-Farm Payrolls" and "Minor Non-Farm Payrolls." To understand their differences, first recognize the significance behind these data.
The official identity of Major Non-Farm Payrolls is the "Employment Situation Report" released monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, commonly known as NFP (Non-Farm Payroll Data). This report covers three core figures: non-farm employment, employment rate, and unemployment rate, providing a comprehensive reflection of employment conditions among the non-agricultural population in the U.S. It is noteworthy that the Major NFP includes employment data from both the private sector and government sector, making it highly representative.
In contrast, Minor Non-Farm Payrolls follow a private-sector approach. It is published by the ADP Research Institute and is called the "ADP National Employment Report." This data comes from approximately 500,000 anonymous U.S. companies, covering about 35

What is Margin? Understanding the Core Concept
In forex trading, margin refers to the funds that traders need to deposit to open and maintain positions. Unlike other financial instruments, forex margin is not a loan from the broker but a collateral or deposit used to ensure that both parties can fulfill their contractual obligations.
For example: If you want to buy a USD/JPY contract worth $100,000, you don't need to pay the full amount upfront. Instead, you only need to deposit a portion based on the margin requirement set by the broker. If the margin requirement is 2%, then you only need $2,000 to open this position.
What is the Margin Requirement? How Does It Affect Trading?
The margin requirement is the ratio of the required margin to the actual trade size when opening a forex position. This ratio is set by the broker and may vary depending on the country, regulatory body, or trading instrument.
Common margin

What is T+0 Day Trading in Stocks?
In the Taiwan stock market, buying and selling stocks on the same day (T+0 trading) is called "Day Trading" or "Day Trading." Simply put, it involves completing the buy and sell actions within the same trading day without waiting for the T+2 settlement system's next-day settlement.
Many investors choose day trading because the traditional T+2 system requires holding stocks overnight, which makes them vulnerable to overnight black swan events. Day trading allows traders to exit immediately when they realize a mistake, quickly cut losses, and avoid overnight risks.
Since Taiwan's stock market opened up to spot day trading in 2014, the popularity of this trading method has continued to rise. According to exchange statistics, day trading accounts for nearly 40% of Taiwan stock trading volume, with the number of participating investors increasing year by year.
What are the differences between the two types of day trading?
Spot Day Trading: Using own funds for same-day trading
Spot

In global asset allocation, commodities are listed alongside stocks, bonds, and foreign exchange as core investment targets. Their importance stems from their strong liquidity and close correlation with economic cycles—price fluctuations often accurately reflect the true state of the global economy. To profit from the commodities market, one must first understand its nature and investment logic.
Core Characteristics of Commodity Investment
Commodities refer to large quantities of physical goods that enter circulation but are not sold at retail. They possess commodity attributes and are widely used in industrial production and consumption. Compared to ordinary goods, their core feature is "large volume": massive supply, demand, circulation, and inventory, often occupying upstream positions in the industry chain.
Based on the nature of the commodities, they are mainly divided into six categories. The energy category (crude oil, gasoline, fuel oil, natural gas, electricity, etc.) is among the most active.

The Bank of Japan is about to raise interest rates to 0.5%, with market expectations reaching 80%. Experts analyze that after the rate hike, there will be a long-term pause, and the pace of future rate increases will slow down, with another hike expected in 2025. Despite ongoing inflation pressures, policy uncertainties and the international economic situation still require attention.

Friday Market Close: A Multi-Factor Driven Rebound Sweeps Global Markets.
The Bank of Japan announced a 25 basis point rate hike, sparking concerns over yen depreciation, yet market risk sentiment surprisingly warmed, with the VIX fear index dropping over 11%, leading to broad gains in stocks, bonds, and commodities.
Commodity Market Highlights: Silver Surges Past $67
The precious metals sector performed remarkably. Driven by increased global investment demand and tightening supply, silver prices soared to a record high, successfully breaking through the $67 mark. Meanwhile, gold continued its cross-star pattern for the second consecutive trading day, quoting at $4,338.6 per ounce, up 0.14%. The oil market also showed strength, with WTI crude rising 1.14% to $56.5 per barrel. Overall, commodities experienced a broad rally.
Forex Volatility Intensifies: USD/JPY Approaching 158 Level
The foreign exchange market became a focal point of volatility. The USD

The uneven strength of US economic data continues to provide a steady support for the US dollar. On Friday during North American trading hours, EUR/USD broke below the 1.1500 level, touching a two-week low of 1.1491, down 0.20%, and ultimately traded around 1.1504. Behind this decline are expectations of rate cuts driven by dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials, as well as the attractiveness of the dollar due to the resilience of the US economy.
The US economy is experiencing "ice and fire" conditions, with manufacturing PMI soft but employment data impressive
The latest released data presents a contradictory picture. The S&P Global Manufacturing PMI in November fell from 52.5 to 51.9, below the expected 52, indicating a slowdown in manufacturing activity. Conversely, the Services PMI slightly rose from 54.8 to 55, surpassing expectations, showing continued resilience in the service sector.
More notably, non-farm employment data is worth paying attention to. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced in September

The NT dollar to Japanese Yen exchange rate has risen to 4.85 (December 10, 2025), reigniting interest in travel to Japan and Yen investments. But the key question is: do you know how to exchange Yen to save the most money? The cost differences across various channels can cost you thousands of dollars more. We compare four mainstream currency exchange methods in the market to help you find the most cost-effective way.
Yen is not just for travel; it’s also an investment tool
When it comes to exchanging foreign currency, many people first think of Yen, but the reason isn’t just because they like traveling to Japan. From daily life to financial markets, the Yen has multi-layered practical value.
Daily consumption: Japan’s business environment still relies heavily on cash (credit card penetration is only 60%). Whether shopping in Tokyo, skiing in Hokkaido, or vacationing in Okinawa, you need to prepare Yen cash. Consumers purchasing Japanese cosmetics, clothing, and gaming peripherals, as well as those planning to study or work in Japan, also need to exchange Yen in advance.

Hong Kong Stock Market Trading Hours Quick Overview
To profit from the Hong Kong stock market, you first need to understand the trading schedule. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX, ticker symbol 0388.HK), as one of Asia's most active capital markets, has specific time rules for each trading day. Below is the core trading schedule for Hong Kong stocks in 2025:
| Trading Session | Time | Description |
|-----------------|-------|--------------|
| Pre-market Auction | 9:00~9:30 | Price discovery mechanism before market open |
| Morning Trading | 9:30~12:00 | Main trading session in the morning |
| Lunch Break | 12:00~13:00 | Midday rest period |
| Afternoon Trading | 13:00~16:00 | Main trading session in the afternoon |
| Post-market Auction |

As international gold prices surpass $4,300 per ounce, more and more young investors are paying attention to gold. In an era of high economic uncertainty and increased volatility of traditional assets, buying gold has become a preferred asset allocation choice for many. But for those new to gold investment, how should they get started? This article provides a quick overview of the core knowledge of gold investing.
Why should you put your money in gold?
A powerful tool against inflation
Prices are rising, but salary increases are not keeping up. Keeping cash in the bank means purchasing power will decline year by year. The advantage of gold is that it can maintain stable value over the long term.
Looking back at data from the past five years reveals the trend. After the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, global central banks flooded the economy with liquidity, fueling inflation expectations. At that time, gold prices were around $1,500, and by 2025, they had surged above $4,000, an increase of over 100%. During the same period, many currencies were affected by policy

Cost considerations before trading: Sub-Brokerage vs Overseas Brokers
If you want to trade US stocks in Taiwan, there are two key questions: which route to take, and how much will it cost? This is not a small matter—buying $1,000 worth of US stocks through the wrong method could double your costs.
Investors typically have two options: through domestic sub-brokerage or directly with overseas brokers. But these two routes have completely different fee structures, and hidden costs can vary greatly. This article uses real numbers to clearly explain the true differences between sub-brokerage fees and overseas brokers, so you can quickly understand the actual costs.
What is sub-brokerage? Why are the fees higher?
Sub-brokerage (Sub-Brokerage) officially called "Agency Trading of Foreign Securities Business," simply means you authorize a domestic broker to buy US stocks for you. Since the order must go through a domestic broker before reaching the US market, it involves an extra step, hence called "sub" brokerage.
The advantages of this method are very clear.

Have you ever wondered why an investment can go from worthless to huge profit? Or why it can collapse instantly at the peak? The life of Japan's stock market legend, Kawa Ginzo, is like an investment textbook—detailing how human nature dances in front of wealth and how it sinks into desire.
The starting point of a poverty-stricken youth: what can 70 yen do?
Kawa Ginzo is synonymous with an ordinary investor, not a genius. His early years were full of twists and turns—he experienced the baptism of World War I, traveled between China and London, worked as an accountant, managed a currency melting business, and even once became wealthy. However, a failed investment brought him back to square one.
This blow became a turning point in his life. At 31, Kawa decided to reshape his destiny with knowledge. He buried himself in study at the Osaka Library, spending three full years researching economics books, trying to distill a set of investment principles from them. In 1931, with 70 yen borrowed from his wife, he officially entered the stock market—this initial investment...

One Look Understanding: Meaning of Limit Up and Limit Down
In Taiwan stock investment, the meaning of limit up is simple— the stock price has risen to the maximum limit for the day and cannot go higher. Taking Taiwan's stock market as an example, the daily increase limit for listed and OTC stocks is no more than 10% of the previous day's closing price. If TSMC closed at 600 NT dollars yesterday, the limit-up price today would be 660 NT dollars.
Conversely, the meaning of limit down is the opposite phenomenon, where the stock price has fallen to the lowest limit for the day and cannot drop further. Using TSMC as an example again, the limit-down price would be 540 NT dollars. In short, limit down indicates extreme market pessimism, with a one-sided sell-off.
How to quickly identify limit up and limit down?
When opening the trading screen, if a stock's price chart becomes a straight line and the stock price remains stuck at the same level without moving, it can almost be confirmed that the stock has hit the limit up or limit down. On Taiwan stock trading software, limit-up stocks are marked with a red background, while limit-down stocks are marked with a green background, making it easy to distinguish at a glance.

In stock trading, the most easily overlooked yet most practical technical tool for beginners is the KDJ line. As a classic indicator in technical analysis, it helps traders quickly identify trend reversal points and optimal entry opportunities. Many retail investors have successfully avoided multiple market traps by mastering the core usage of the KDJ line. So, what exactly is the magic of this indicator, and how can we flexibly apply it in real trading?
The essence of the KDJ line: the market logic behind the three lines
The core function of the KDJ line (Stochastic Indicator) is to tell you the current market condition using data language.
On the indicator chart, you will see three lines: the K line (fast line), D line (slow line), and J line (sensitive line). The K and D lines are used to determine whether the market is overbought or oversold, while the J line reflects the degree of divergence between the K and D lines. When these three lines intertwine, it often signals that a new trading opportunity is about to emerge.

Why Did the Nikkei 225 Reach a 33-Year High?
By the end of June 2025, the Nikkei 225 index rose to 40,487 points, hitting a new high not seen in 33 years. What investment opportunities are hidden behind this surge?
The core logic of this rally can be summarized in two aspects. First is valuation recovery — in April, global tariff fears triggered a stock market crash, and Japan’s price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) fell to 12 times, well below international market levels. As pessimistic expectations gradually dissipated, institutional investors began to reassess the intrinsic value of Japanese companies, and the P/E ratio slowly rose to around 13 times, becoming the main driver of this rebound.
Secondly, asset allocation shifted. Against the backdrop of “reducing holdings of US stocks” becoming a market consensus, overseas funds are seeking undervalued markets. The Japanese stock market, being relatively cheap, has become an important target, attracting a large influx of international capital. More importantly, the corporate governance reforms promoted by the Tokyo Stock Exchange are beginning to take effect — more and more

What is forced liquidation? A quick guide in 1 minute
Forced liquidation (also known as Stop Out Level) refers to the action taken by a broker to automatically close some or all open positions when a trader's margin level falls to a certain critical point. Simply put, when your losses reach a certain level, the broker will automatically close your positions to prevent further losses.
This mechanism is designed to protect investors, but its execution can often be harsh — usually closing the most severely losing positions first, leaving profitable ones intact. If all positions are in loss, then everything is liquidated.
Key concept: How is the margin level calculated?
The margin level determines how close you are to forced liquidation. The calculation formula is as follows:
Margin Level = (Account Equity ÷ Used Margin) × 100%
Specific example:
- Account balance: $1,000
- Buy 1 mini