There are many many advantages over the various other
ways of investing. First of all it is a 24 hr market, except for
weekends of course. You have the US market then the european and then
the Asian. One of the great times to trade is during the over lapping
periods. The USA and european overlap between 5am & 9am eastern
and the Euro & Asian between 11pm & 1am eastern.
Usually the busiest time and best to trade.