Online trading has grown in popularity ever since the internet emerged. Widespread internet access and increasingly powerful personal computers have allowed a growing number of retail traders and investors to participate on a level playing field with professional traders. Whether you are a long-term investor, or a short-term day trader, online trading platforms can give you access to global markets, some of which trade around the clock. There is a wide variety of assets, instruments and trading styles that traders can use to create a niche for themselves in the market.