Stock Market info & fun

[js5020]

I think it's a good idea to post these "disclaimers" on every page of this thread. I don't know about the claims of the stock market, but the figures in forex are 95% of traders are NOT profitable, and end up losing most or all of their cash! It's just a figure that is constantly tossed around,, don't know who keeps track so the claim can be made, but none the less that is what is claimed. It takes alot of knowledge, experience,, and a bunch of other stuff for someone to even have a chance to profit from the markets,, but that doesn't mean an average guy couldn't do it,,, it just means the probablities of being successful are not in your favor, so to speak. NEVER never put at risk cash that if you were to lose it would effect your daily life or sanity! I'm not trying to put anyone off from trying it by any means,, just sayin it isn't as easy as the TV infomercials make it look! As Brokermike wrote; the markets can remain irrational alot longer than you can remain solvent!!!!! There are no "true" sure things in the markets. Keep your day job!!!!!!

 

[SPIKER]

Welcome to our post mike! good to see someone else joining in we have a lot of readers with not as many posters on here. good to get someone new...

I welcome you're input as I'm "SOMEWHAT NEW" to investing myself the 2 companies I mentioned will be around a long time and are set for longer term investing. while loosing you @$$ can/could happen just as long as you don't panic things will work out eventually maybe not great but like you stated every thing in the markets can & do change some good some bad... Like most I'm betting that we don't have a 1929 like crash... I think that if we do it is more likely that most everyone will end up hurting not just those people who have $ in the markets... If you have $ in banks especially over 100G federal insurance level then you need to diversify more... all you're eggs in 1 basket type warning is all...

mark

For those that have been keeping an eye on this topic please be advised that there is a difference between trading and investing. Financial advice is my livelyhood and without being to anecdotal I can say that "things are cheap for a reason" when you look at companies like GM. In addition though things look "cheap" right now an old expression fits very well into the current market "markets can be irrational for alot longer than you have money"

 

[Brokermike]

Spiker,

Glad to know you're interested in the market but before you bet that GM will be around "in its current form" for a long time you might want to check out the credit default spreads on GM debt. The market seems to be placing a high probability on GM going belly-up, and if that happens common stockholders are last in-line. Now don't get me wrong GM will probably continue to exist, but they (much like K-mart a couple of years ago) would need to seek B-ruptcy protection to help them negotiate out of their massive liabilities. Once freed from those liabilities they might have a fighting chance to compete with Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, etc..

Mike

 

[js5020]

I think that's a possibility with GM,,, personally I think they are doomed long term unless they can pull a rabbit out of their hat or the govt bails them out? They have enourmous liabilities some that exist from the good ole days and now that things have turned down are hard to meet and remain profitable,,, but hey I don't do stocks so that's a very, very uninformed opinion! But hey as we traders all know I can be short and you can be long and we both could walk away with some money,,, just need to know when to hit the MINE button!!

 

[SPIKER]

that is a possibility with GM, (they have already proven to be solvent through 2010 on the already established line of losses) Long term I think the American people are beginning to realize buying everything made in china wasn't a good move for the majority of Americans. While there are good number of people switched to Honda/Toyota they too have had some pretty bad quarters for last 2 sessions.
( also note GM is actually #1 auto dealer/MFG IN CHINA) which will also help to hold them over selling something like 300K buicks in 2007 and have full line from caddys down made & sold over there.!
GM Credit is really in a bad way. Chrysler is worse they are getting out of leasing all together and also out of the finance part of the business I believe. I think that Ford & GM are doing same very shortly, will be little end user leases unless there is an outside company buying & then re-leasing the cars... too many people leased big SUVs then the MFG are stuck with them taking huge losses along the way as re-sale is non-existent for them now...

it is ALL a guessing game though.... I'm not saying I'm right and you are wrong on just opposite I think both of use are right depending on how long term and what happens in the R & D dept as well as OIL prices ect...

it is volitile market for sure but if it is stagnate no one will make any money. Someone always looses just hope it not YOU is best way to think about it. keep watch so that when you DO loose you can cut the losses... reason I told one person to not let the stocks set for a year is way most people lose money..


Mark M

 

[SPIKER]

JUST WANTED TO SAY

that the markets are going good last few days, even though it dropped like crazy that is when you get a chance to buy stuff cheaper. then wait & sell. I'm still playing having a hard time breaking through a $34K barrier. I hit that mark & every thing turns around... dang it anyhow lol. today I finally BROKE THROUGH!!! WHO WHoo IO sold out some tech stocks as they were UP and bought some faltering insurance and bio0pharma stocks all are up FINALLY!

so if someone dumb as I am on most of this stuff can do it most people can. everyone seems to be afraid and use brokers who keep a huge chunk of the profits and use OPTER PEOPLES $ to help out their own portfolio I thinks. NOT SURE but seems logical as the brokers all seem to get rich and the clients usually are lucky to make a few% profit...

Mark M...

 

[SPIKER]

well I made it past that dang barrier finally for good I hope. it did take a few hard weeks of trying to find the right combination of times to buy stocks and right market.. so here is todays results


I sold 3 of my stocks offerings (900 total stocks)
grand total $11,302.00
total cost $7743
total profit~ $3559 (have to take of 28 bucks I think in trades for those.)

now if that was only the average I would be doing something right! belly laugh... I have to say those results are not typical or average for a day trader but those were pretty good ones. on average I held onto the stocks ~10 days or less.

I'm looking for some stocks to put those profits into I think I have 3 or 4 picked out just waiting for price changes / drops. so if any of you guys got any insider news from where ya work?? lol j/k that is illegal ya know

I think I have gotten some of the daily fluctuations figured out now as well so that will make me a few more bucks in long runs. anyhow hope every one else had as good of days...

Only bad thing is I'm still setting/leaning onto a horse shoe pillow due to my back operation they didn't pull the staples as planned have to go back monday to have them out! Angry about that but what the hey.

mark

 

[js5020]

Congrats on your success! Hopefully things will continue and keep going as well or even better!! I started in March buying Aud/Jpy at 90.70 every 100 pips got out at 104.00,,, turned around short at 104.00 and closed at 96.00,, it was sweet,,very,very sweet!! Waiting to reload!!

 

[SPIKER]

JS: good to hear, I still haven't put time into finding out best way to make $ at FOREX yet. looks like the US BUCK rise has been great (but that means if you had a bunch in Euros or Yen then you may be sweating blood about now... Stocks seem to be easier for me to wrap my brain around without all the pips & ratios ect. Though I think there was/is a lot to be had doing it.

I'm spending some time looking at all the info I can find on about 3 pages full of stock symbols that I have jotted down from watching stock ticker on CNN for winners & losers. I can't buy expensive stocks and expect to make a bunch of $ with the smaller amounts cash that I can invest. I look for the under 20 buck stocks so I can buy 100+ stocks at a time. looking for that stock to jump 5% or more. I like the 3~8 buck stuff most I can get 3~500 stocks then figuring my 14 buck fee (7bucks buy and 7 bucks sell) All i need to make money is a 20 cent or less rise in stock price to then get $100+ buck profit.

I can often hold them for only a few days or even less. If I do buy in one day and it goes up I usually hold it a little longer to see how long it will go or I'll sell 3/4 of the stock to make the profit and hold the rest to see as a longer hold for higher profit. post above shows I held 100 shares a couple hrs longer and made 30 something more cents / share...

got to find something I can pre-buy (setup a buy while I'll be gone monday) getting my back staples/zipper removed @ 1030 am so won't be able to get in on the price drops...

mark