Play the IBM chart challenge
IBM (IBM), Technology. This challenge is 200 sessions, from March 10, 2009 to December 21, 2009, plus 60 earlier sessions of context. You picked the company on this page. On the chart the name and the dates are hidden, and the price is rescaled so the close before session 1 equals 100.
Play this chartThe shape of this chart
IBM from March 10, 2009 to December 21, 2009 gains +47.4%, which is what a defensive name did in a year when other charts doubled. The low is session 1, the deepest give-back is −8.4%, and the worst day (October 16, 2009) is −5.0%. Almost all of the gain is in the first half (+35.2%); the second half is +9.1%. American Express and Caterpillar use these same dates. The gap between those charts and this one is the lesson.
What you trade
Buy and hold makes +47.4% and the deepest drop from a high is −8.4%. 105 of 199 closes are higher. The first 100 sessions are +35.2% and the last 100 are +9.1%. On a path this steady, extra trades are the usual way to fall behind the benchmark.
This page names IBM because this challenge is that company. The daily puzzle and a random practice game keep the company hidden. Inside this round the chart still hides the name and the dates until you finish.
Other chart challenges
A lesson that fits this chart
Moving averages (SMA and EMA) — The trend, smoothed