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Perfect Storm by Al Thomas

Having lived aboard a sailboat for 2 years I was stricken when I saw the movie “PERFECT STORM”. I know these are things you want to avoid at all costs. Even little storms can play havoc with your life style on a boat.

Complacency Indicator by Al Thomas

If you haven’t heard of the technical indicator with the stock market symbol VIX it is now time to pay some attention to it. When the number is running low, as it is now, around 15 to 18 it means everyone is happy and thinks the stock market is going to continue up or at least continue on its current path and there is no need to sell anything. This is a measure of complacency. When the number goes above 35 it means everyone is very nervous and thinks the market is going to fall. It is considered a contrarian indicator.

Paddle Your Canoe by Al Thomas

At some time in your life you have been on a river in a canoe and hopefully you had a paddle. You know about being up the creek without one.

Trading Systems by Al Thomas

To become a successful trader you must have some kind of method or system to follow that will keep you on track. You may be buying and selling on tips, the weather or phases of the moon (there is a system like that).

Expense Ratios by Al Thomas

Mutual funds and brokers are always preaching not to buy any fund with a high expense ratio. That is the annual costs of the fund to pay for trading of stocks within their portfolio, salaries, rent, telephone, analysts, etc. Most of them tell you not to buy one that exceeds 1.5%. There is also another expense added by some mutual funds called a 12b1 (usually from ¼% to 1%) that is supposed to be used for promotional purposes only. These numbers may appear small, but they are being applied to multi-millions, sometimes billions of dollars.

Protectionism by Al Thomas

First let’s see what protectionism is. According to Mr. Webster it is the advocacy, system, or theory of protecting domestic producers by impeding or limiting, as by tariffs or quotas, the importation of foreign goods and services.

Stuff by Al Thomas

I continually hear from economists, talking heads, other market letter writers, analysts and assorted “experts” that I need to know all kinds of “stuff” about the stocks and mutual funds I am going to buy and I should keep up with them on a regular basis.

Discipline in Investing by Al Thomas

One of the great “secrets” of successful people is discipline and it doesn’t make any difference whether it is manufacturing, processing, servicing or investing in the stock market.

What Are You Waiting For? by Al Thomas

Do you own any mutual funds? In an IRA or 401K or wherever. Privately or at work.

Performance Funds by Al Thomas

Mutual funds are doing more and more to discourage investors from leaving them and taking their money to a better performing fund. What does better performing mean? It has nothing to do with who the manager is, what the expense ratio is or how well they performed over the past 5 or 10 years.

The Big Bad Bear by Al Thomas

The big bad bear is stirring again. So far he has stretched, yawned and peaked out of his cave. After his almost year-long nap he is hungry. A nice big steak would hit the spot.

Which Way The Market by Al Thomas

I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show hosts and the talking heads on TV that the market is going back to its old highs - DOW 11,700 and NASDAQ 5000 here we come.

Selling by Al Thomas

The stock market has been going up for more than 7 months and many investors who held on through the big crash of 2000 are seeing their portfolios get back some of what had disappeared. Is now the time to sell those equities that are ‘even’ with what you paid for them? No.

VooDoo Training For the Stock Market by Al Thomas

If you go to Haiti or other places in the Caribbean you may run into the Voodoo tradition of magic. There are long and mostly noisy rituals with the medicine man spouting words that bring great power and conjure up whatever it is the supplicant desires. Great amounts of smoke and mirrors.

Cash Is A Position by Al Thomas

I go to the Money Show every year to visit with friends who have booths and are speakers. Then when folks are filing out of lectures I listen to their comments on what I know the speaker has been saying.

Stock Trading Success by Tony Spann

Stock trading success...why is it so elusive? With all the trading information, systems, trading advice and assistance available today, the fact that most people who attempt to profit from trading Stocks lose money seems quite bizarre.

How Commodity Trading Differs from Stock Trading by Rob Hall

There are several major differences between trading stocks and trading commodities. The futures trader, if using a sound trading system, can usually make more money on the futures market and make it much faster.

Swing Trading Strategies by Tony Spann

Using Swing Trading Strategies and Technical Analysis when Trading Stocks to Make Consistent Trading Profits - This article is one small part of a series of lessons using Swing Trading Strategies and Technical Analysis developed by WD Gann which are designed to show how anyone can build a profitable Stock or Commodity trading business from scratch.

Stock Valuation using the SMP Model by Scott Campanella

This is long-term investing, folks. If you are looking for a stock valuation model that predicts short-term highs and lows, well, you can find them all over the internet for $50 - $200. However, when you've spent your money, and then lost some more trying to play the ups and downs, maybe you'll be ready to listen to a little common sense investment advice.

DIY Portfolio Management by Lyle Wilkinson

ETFs provide individual investors with a way to lock in market returns while minimizing expense. ETFs have grown as investors become educated about the disadvantages of conventional mutual funds.

Option Trading Basics by Tony Spann

Options trading can increase the profits you make when trading Stocks if you understand how to use them and know what you are doing. Options can be a very useful tool that the average investor can use to enhance their returns.

Investing Basics - Stocks, Mutual Funds, Real Estate & Online Investing by Brian M. Gardner

Investing is essential to making money. Whether it be stock investing, investing online, real estate investing, finance investing, investing in bonds, investing in mutual funds. All are essential in helping secure your finances, and financial stability for you and your family. If you are interested in investing, continue reading about ways to make money.

The Shadow by Al Thomas

The Shadow knows. There used to be a radio program called The Shadow where the hero, Lamont Cranston, the Shadow, would overcome the shadowy forces of doom by clouding the vision of those around him....

Buying Stocks and the Importance of Correct Timing by Chris Perruna

The importance of timing in the market is underestimated by most investors. All fundamental and technical analysis may be perfect for a long purchase or short sale but the general market conditions may be heading in the opposite direction of your goals. Always assess the market environment before investing, otherwise you may be headed for a loss, almost immediately.

Using Sector Funds to Construct Diversified Mutual Fund Portfolios by Sam Subramanian

‘Sector funds are too risky.’ ‘I doubled my money with Fidelity Select Technology in 12 months!’ ‘Avoid sector funds.’ If all of this sounds confusing, you are not alone. Sector funds are among the m...

Why Is The Macedonian Stock Exchange Unsuccessful? by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D.

The Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) is not operating successfully. True, some of the parameters which we use to measure the success of a stock exchange have lately improved in the MSE. For instance, ...

Index Fund Trading Using Technical Analysis and Swing Trading Strategies by Tony Spann

Index Fund Trading can be one of the most profitable...or most costly exercises you will ever do. While trading a basket of Stocks has it's advantages, such as removing the risk of any single company you own Stock in going bust and taking all of your money with it, Indexes tend to be highly volatile, especially the smaller ones.

The Stock Market - Part 1: Believe It Or Not, It's Always Been Your Best Friend And Always Will Be by Geoffrey Cummins

Between April 1999 and May 2000 the Dow Jones Index went up a miserable 125points - but if you look beyond that "statistic" you'd have seen at least 7800 points of movement (and profit). Here's How and Why...

How Covered Calls Turned a Trader Around by Tony Spann

Sidney felt sick as she looked at her latest OptionsXpress trading statement. In just 8 months, she had managed to turn her $120,000 account balance into less than $70,000. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that the financial freedom she so desperately sought was slipping uncontrollably out of her grasp. For the first time since the accident, she felt desperately fearful of the future.

Struggling Stocks, Booming Commodities by Henry Lu

US stock market in general is struggling. It may take another decade for NASDAQ index to revisit 5000. However, The commodities market is booming and energy stocks are dirt cheap.