Friday, 12 December 2008

30 years ago I learned this market secret

From the desk of Adam Hewison

I can honestly say that 30 years ago I learned how to trade the markets in the pits of Chicago.

It was there, in one of those sweaty, tumultuous, in your face trading pits, that I learned one of the most valuable trading secrets in the world.

This one trading secret opened my eyes to why things happen in the markets.

This trading secret, which is over 800 years old, is one of the most monumental mathematical discoveries of all time.

The publication in 1202 of the "The Book of Calculation" was never meant to be a road map to success in the markets. However, it turned out to be an extraordinary blueprint for how modern day markets work.

The number sequences contained in this amazing 800 year old book, is like having a virtual DNA for every stock, futures and foreign exchange market.

No one knows for sure why these number sequences work. Some traders believe them to be mystical, others, like myself prefer to call them one of life's little mysteries.

I have been using this sequence of numbers to trade the markets for over 30 years. I have to say that after all this time, I am still amazed that these numbers still work!

My new 8 minute educational trading video that remains true to core principles of the "The Book of Calculation." Show you step by step, exactly how you can benefit from using this trading secret.

SEE VIDEO

Once you view the video and absorb this valuable educational trading lesson, you can apply the exact same principles you learn to your own trading. What could be better than that.

We do not require you to register to view this video.

Discover and benefit today, from what I learned over 30 years ago in the trading pits of Chicago.

SEE VIDEO

Every success.

Adam Hewison
President, INO.com

Friday, 5 December 2008

The Dow Crashes

How did a dead mathematician pinpoint the downturn in the market?

In my new video, I will show you how a mathematician who has been dead forseveral hundred years, pinpointed today's downturn in the market (12/1/08).I think that you'll find this short video informative, educational and aboveall practical.

VIDEO LINK

With the 2008 trading year rapidly coming to an end, we think it's diligentto look forward at what and how you're going to approach the markets in2009.As I've said before in our blog, there is going to be some fabulousopportunities to make money in the New Year. However, it's going to takediscipline and a structured approach to take advantage of thoseopportunities.

Enjoy the video, and let us know if you found it helpful.

VIDEO LINK

Adam Hewison
President, INO.com
Co-creator MarketClub

Connecting The Dots

JUST SHOW ME THE VIDEO, I HAVE NO TIME TO READ!!!

One of the easiest ways to determine the trend in any market is simply to connect the dot's. In this five minute video, I explain how you can connect the dots in any market to determine its trend. I will show you three examples of connecting the dots...

1. How to determine a downtrend.
2. How to determine an uptrend.
3. How to determine when a market is making a change of direction.

One of the key components I look for is how a market closes on a Friday or the last trading day of the week. This is when traders have to decide what they want to do with their positions. It also tells you with a high degree of probability which way the market is headed for the upcoming week. I learned this trading secret on the floor of the exchange in Chicago and it is one I would like to share with you today. I feel that this technique has a lot of validity, particularly in light of today's volatile markets.

Enjoy the Video

Adam HewisonPresident INO.com

Saturday, 15 November 2008

A Plan To Save The World

When Paulson came out today and stated that his earlier plan to save the western world was not working, he offered up a plan "C" (or is it "D") to relieve pressure on consumer credit, scrapping his earlier effort to buy the value mortgage assets.

No matter what happens or what the next plan is here, are the 3 reasons I believe stocks are headed lower.

* Number one: The trend in most all stocks is down. This trend is likely to persist and last longer than most people imagine.

* Number two: There is no plan. The government is floundering and does not have a plan that is going to work anytime soon.

* Number three: We have a lame-duck president, and nothing is going to happen of any consequence until President-elect Obama is sworn in.

New Video analysis of what could really happen:

VIDEO LINK

Okay, so let's look at the first problem. Most people trading the market today have had no experience in a prolonged bear market like the one we had in the '70s. That bear market was brutal as it did not let anyone out. Over the course of the early '70s, the bear market basically wore people out to the extent they eventually just threw in the towel. We believe the market is going to make another new low and take out the recent lows that were put in place in early October. Unlike a bull market that constantly needs positive news to drive it higher, a bear market just falls under its own weight.

The second problem we have is that there is no concrete plan in place to rescue the economy. In fact, the domestic and global economic issues are so great that they are overwhelming in scope. The Paulson plan, which is being changed and will continue to change, is a major concern and creates significant uncertainty in the marketplace. Only when we see the new regime take! off ice this coming January will we see any meaningful changes.

The third problem we have is a lame-duck president. This is a major problem for the markets as President-elect Obama can not make any sweeping changes until he is sworn into office. Yes, he may hit the ground running, but the reality is, it's not for over two months from now and a lot can happen to the market in two months. The key levels that everyone is going to be watching for are the recent lows we saw in early October. If these lows are taken out, and I expect they will be, it's going to push this market and everything else down to new lows. It will exacerbate the housing situation, the unemployment situation and most of all, the morale of the country.

Having lived through the bear market of the '70s, I know firsthand how difficult the journey we face is going to be. Now this may seem like a very pessimistic outlook and in some ways it is, however there are always opportunities to make mone! y i n the marketplace. These opportunities may not be in stocks! , it may be in forex or the commodity markets.

So buckle your seatbelt. I think we are in for a bumpy ride...check out the new video analysis:

VIDEO LINK

Adam Hewison,
President, INO.com
Co-Creator, MarketClub

Saturday, 1 November 2008

Deciding Your Stock Investment Time Frame

We often wonder for how long we should hold our stocks before we sell it, and the answer that comes to mind is to leave it as it continues to rally and make us more profit. However the moment we see a slight down turn in the market we panic and become restless...why?

The reason we find ourselves caught up in the above is because we do not plan our trades before we execute them, and we do not apply methodologies with proper money management. For instance, Mr A holds his stocks for X years because he is investing for growth and Mr B holds his stocks for Y years because he is investing for income. What we have here are two individuals with different goals in mind. This goal is what determines how long we stay in the market on a particular trade, and the deciding factor on how long it takes to realize our set goals.

So before you dump your money into the stock market and walk off to brag to your friends about how you trade the markets, it is worth while for you to take a moment and visualise what is happening in the market at the moment you intend to invest and decide how long you intend to hold the investment for. The reason you need to do this is because you are setting for yourself a pre determined level of involvement before hand, also deciding at what point to exit the market acts as a guide to tell you when you have moved from the realms of investment to out right gambling.

Before you enter a trade there must be a reason why you think that stock is a good buy at the time and if for any reason you wake up tomorrow to find that this reason is no longer present, then it might be time for you to think long and hard about staying in that position. There is no rule of thumb about how long an investor should hold their stocks so stop looking for one and simple follow the plan you had drafted before you entered the trade.

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Trading stocks online

Online stock trading is becoming a very popular way in which to invest in the stock market. Ordinary everyday citizens such as you and me can now trade stocks like the pros without paying the ridiculous broker fees that are often associated with trading on the stock market. This doesn't mean there are no fees involved or that you won't be discouraged from capriciously trading stocks. What it does mean is that you will be able to trade stocks, as you may have never been able to do before because the costs involved in trading were so high that only the wealthiest among us could really afford to work the market to any real advantage.

You will find quite a few companies that are going to compete for your business when it comes to empowering you to trade stocks online. It is best to go with a business that offers education and advice in addition to the ability to trade. There are many big names in the brokerage business that are getting in touch with the technology of today and offering full service brokers and financial advisors in addition to offering new online services that include Internet trading.

If you decide to go with some of the bigger names in the business you should understand that you will pay a little more than you would pay going with many of the lesser name firms and trading companies. The good news is that the bigger names have more to loose after working for decades to establish themselves and develop a good reputation among traders. This means that they are not going to be "fly by night" and are going to work to make sure you have the best possible service from them for your future in the stock market trade.

Many of these firms in addition to offering the ability to buy, sell, and trade online will also offer financial planning for retirement, future expenses, and advice on how to create a fixed income from your investments. They will offer many tips, hints, and advice free of charge on their website while also promoting the services they offer through discounts in hopes of gaining your business for some of the higher ticket transactions that really pay their bills.

Online investment services offer consumers the opportunity to invest with lower commissions and fees which means you bring more of the money home when all is said and done and spend far less on fees and expenses associated with investing. By saving these fees you may be doing yourself a huge service but keep in mind that the invaluable advice of a broker can often mean the difference between mild successes and wild successes. If you can manage the fees it is a good plan to at least consult with a broker or financial advisor or planner once or twice a year in order to get the most out of your investment money.

Online trading is great but you will find that it lacks the personal service you can expect from a financial advisor or a stockbroker. Very little has such a profound impact on your financial future than the ability to receive and follow expert advice. While there is much to read on the Internet by way of advice on investing in the stock market there is also a lot of conflicting information just as there is a great deal of misinformation. This is something that, when possible, is best left to the experts at least until you manage to learn the ropes and have a few successful trades under your belt.

If you have the heart of gambler however, then it is your money you are playing with and your future you are investing. If you are not spending more than you are willing to lose then there is no harm in trying your hand at investing through online brokerage services. You just might roll the dice and find a nice payout for your efforts.

Sunday, 14 September 2008

Stock Trading Computers - Are They Always Helpful?

Technology has outdone itself these days. May it be in simple means of communicating or in much more complicated business or moneymaking transactions, the use of the computer has become very apparent in most people’s lives.

In stock trading, the rise of the market transactions online has become quite prevalent over the past few years. Many institutional investors prefer to use sophisticated computer technology to assist them in making investment decisions. And many people argue that computers may just be better at picking stocks than traditional human brokers.

Although computers may perform a lot of sophisticated utilities, you may wonder whether or not these can really be better aids for trading as compared to traditional brokers. At the end of the day, remember that what technology has to offer are mere recommendations and ultimately, the decision is still up to you.

Taking The Emotions Out of Stocks

One of the most common arguments that many people who choose to make use of computer technology in trading is that by not having to deal with many emotions that human brokers may have in stock picking, then computers can offer more objective recommendations to the investor.

Because most computer programs cater to quantitative models by searching through layers of data to look for stocks that are compatible to be bought or sold, then the computer’s lack of the ability to become confused from human emotions can be very beneficial. Remember that by taking out human emotions like pride or greed, choosing the right investments in quantitative models can perhaps become more lucrative.

No System Is Perfect

Though computers can be very promising tools in trading, take note that no system is always perfect. Since humans are still responsible for building the said models in which computers revolve in, there fundamentally are sill biases in the system. And even the most sophisticated computers cannot always report for all the variances out there in the market, at least, not at the moment.

One very common problem encountered with the use of computers is that may times, computer programs often end up recommending the same stocks on their lists. And if a hundred of these programs analyze companies at the same time, then they would most likely be giving the same recommendations to so many clients. And at the end of the day, investors would still have to fight for stocks.

When many people generally want to invest in the same stock and the demand goes up, what happens in the market is that prices also go up, and this can be very bad for the investor.

And so, the ultimate question is whether or not computers are really helpful in making trading much easier for you. The answer is to this is yes and no.

Although computers can surely help you in so many ways by foregoing of the usual distracting human emotions and can even analyze data much faster, remember that it is still a system that has yet to be perfected. And despite the many benefits, there are underlying flaws that can still make the trading game a jungle to get involved in.

The stock market with its unpredictable behavior can surely be a difficult arena to take on. And so, take note that whatever assistance you would want to use, whether sophisticated computer equipment or more traditional brokers, at the end of the day, your decisions would still be the make or break factor in order to become successful in your endeavors.

Saturday, 13 September 2008

Making A Smart Stock Investment

The trends in stock trading are very volatile and consistently fluctuating. If you are interested in investing in this economic jungle, you might find yourself surprised and confused with the differing trends and patterns in the market. And often times, it may be very difficult to find good stocks where you can invest with much ease.

Getting to know the right stocks to gamble your money on is very critical. And in doing so, it is very important that you understand how the company you are giving your investment to makes a substantial amount of money. Unless you have a full grasp on a company’s market, products as well as its competitive strengths and weaknesses, it would be pretty difficult for you to foresee whether or not your investment is profitable.

Get The Right Help

The very first step that you must take is basically to get the right people to help you in making good and lucrative decisions. First of all, find a good broker where you do not only gain a lot of savings from commission fees, but also make sure that you find one that will assure you of your investment’s production.

It also wouldn’t hurt for you to seek advice from experts regarding which stocks would give you good results in the stock market. If you are new to stock trading, this will be very vital. Remember that in order to be good in trading, sufficient experience and skills are needed, but for a beginner, using the knowledge and advice from a more experienced person may be the next best thing.

Try To Check On Investment Ideas

Try taking a trip to the mall and see which type of businesses are doing well in the market. It could also help if you check your own cupboard to see which products consumers like you would most often buy. By doing these things, you can find companies that could not only give you an assurance of success, but ones that you can possibly understand better as well.

Check For Competence

Take note that you should not stop at only understanding companies that you invest in. Make sure that you check on a company’s strength in competing in the business world as well. After all, you may know and believe in the product, but if it will not assure you of profit then your investment will still go down the drain.

A company you invest in must be able to display excellent economics. Having an attractive price for consumers as well as a management that is friendly to shareholders can guarantee good returns for your investment.

Remember that stock trading can be a very good way to earn, but remember that good returns can only come if you are smart in doing business in this confusing field. The market is full of competitors, and many stocks available are not necessarily good ones.

Always do your research on the companies you invest in before making rash decisions. Aside from this, make sure that you adopt the best strategies in the market, and you can do so by getting the right help especially if you are new to trading.

With the ever changing and volatile behavior of the stock market, make sure that you remain smart in your investments. Take the extra mile, and you will realize that all of your efforts will pay off once you get good profits.

Introduction To Forex Trading

If you are just starting out in the stock trading business or if you are already in it, you may have heard the term Forex trading quite a few times, but you probably might not have a clue on what it may actually mean.

Forex or foreign exchange trading is actually the largest and a fast-rising financial industry in stock trading these days. Here is a quick introduction to trading in foreign exchange.

What Is Forex Trading?

The Foreign Exchange market (Forex) is actually the largest financial market in the world. It actually makes a volume of over 2 trillion U.S. dollars a day, and as compared to its counterpart –the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) which usually only trades a volume of 25 billion dollars each day, this industry is so huge that it becomes a profitable playground for many investors including central banks, large banks, multinational companies and even governments.

What is actually traded on the foreign exchange is money. It actually consists of the concurrent buying and selling of currencies, which are traded through brokers and are traded in pairs.

When you are buying currency, it is like you are investing on the economy of a particular country. For example, if you buy U.S. dollars then it is as if you are buying a share of the U.S. economy. Whatever the market thinks about the current health of a country’s economy would directly be reflected on the price of its legal tender and this is how currencies go up or down.

Forex Trading For The Masses

Originally the whole concept of trading in the Foreign Exchange was only intended for huge companies and banks, but not for normal citizens. After all, you could only take part in the trade if you have around ten to fifty million dollars minimum.

However, with the rise of globalization through the Internet, trading is now offered to retail traders. And these days, almost anyone can now invest on the foreign trade. All you really need to join is some small amount of money, a computer and a high-speed Internet connection, and you can sign up for an account with online Forex trading firms.

There is no exact physical office for Foreign Exchange unlike its counterpart in New York. However, the three main centers for this trade are United States, United Kingdom and Japan. These countries handle majority of Forex transactions and trades goes on for 24 hours everyday.

Today, the Foreign Exchange, as the largest market in the world, is fast paced and enormous. And it has become a very lucrative arena for many traders who may have had participated in stock trading and in other markets. Many large institutions and even smaller-based individuals have gone out to play in this market.

Although this particular market gives huge promises, remember that there is still too much at stake. It is estimated that around 70 to 90 percent of the Foreign Exchange market is still speculative. And the parties that trade currencies may not always have a plan to actually take delivery of the said currency, and more are still speculating on movement of money.

If you are interested in investing in this particular arena, take time to be familiar with the game and make sure you get the right educational background. Taking the extra mile will all be worth it, and once you have tasted your success in this arena, you will be ready to take on anything in trading.

Friday, 12 September 2008

What is the Reasoning Behind the Arbitration Agreement?

It is almost a universal practice to include an arbitration agreement when an investor opens a brokerage account or commodities, mutual fund account. An investor will find that in the process of signing up for a brokerage account there is a standard arbitration agreement contained in the packet of information. This article addresses some of the history of the stock brokerage arbitration agreement and the reasoning behind the agreement. Not all arbitration agreements are alike and therefore if you have any questions about the legality of the agreement you should contact a competent attorney in the field of securities arbitration agreements.

The reasoning behind the accepted practice of arbitrating disputes with your stock broker and mutual fund manager is the notion that arbitration can be handled privately, with a qualified expert arbitrator in a reasonable period of time. While it is not required an investor may file a simple letter complaint. The necessity of hiring an attorney to file the complaint. It may be advisable, but it is not necessary to hire an attorney. The rules and guidelines for arbitration are set forth on the New York Stock Exchange web site or may be requested by mail.

The history of the arbitration agreement in the United States stock exchange has a 200 year history. The Courts and Congress have uniformly favored the arbitration agreement signed when the account is opened. That is not to say that all arbitration agreements are flawless. Some arbitration agreements have been voided for various reasons.

The arbitration provides a forum for disagreements that may occur with the investor and the broker. Disputes may vary in severity, but the key is disclosure of pertinent facts known by the broker that negatively effected the investor. The other reasons are obvious mishandling of a clients funds, failure to act in accordance with the clients orders and fraud like conduct. All of these reasons and variations in between can occur and sometimes do occur in the relationship of client and broker.

There is a Director of Arbitration with the New York Stock Exchange who has the duty to provide the forum and implement rules that govern the arbitration of dispute. The Director has the duty to provide lists of arbitrators who are qualified to hear specific types of disputes. There are securities arbitrators and public interest arbitrators. The Director has the obligation to report to Congress any and all issues regarding the arbitration of disputes. It is designed to be a forum that is friendly to non-broker complainants.

For disputes involving less than $25,000 there is an expedited form of arbitration. For investor complainants over the age of 70 with health issues an expedited handling of disputes may be requested. According to testimony provided by the Director of Arbitration to Congress in 2005 the complaints from investors have increased since 2002. See: Karen Kupersmith, Director of Arbitration New York Stock Exchange to the Finance Committee of Congress, March 17, 2005.

Adjustments in staff and case management were suggested to keep the intent of the New York Stock Exchange vital and up to date for the protection of investors.
The New York Stock Exchange Arbitration has in the past years of 2003 and 2004 awarded the public over 70 and 80 percent of all claims presented. The rule of thumb that most arbitrators use is when applying whether information by a broker should be disclosed is: " If in doubt, disclose," according to Ms. Kupersmith.

The question of whether to sign an agreement to arbitrate is not germane because you will not get an account without the agreement. The question should be is the agreement to arbitrate you are being asked to sign legal and enforceable. That issue may require you to ask for an attorney consultant to review the arbitration agreement. A majority of well known brokerage houses have standard arbitration agreements.

Horror Stories:

There are some really nasty events that can occur between the holder and advisor of your money and you. In recent years, some down right fraud has occured. Some of the bad dealings required the FBI to uncover. Some examples would be a broker who is not licensed and sells bogus securities. Other schemes include churning accounts. The concept of churning means the broker buys and sells stocks on your account to get commission fees not for the benefit of your portfolio. Specious equities and other instruments are offered by a former member of the exchange that turn out to be bogus. All states have an Insurance and Securities Commissioner whose responsibility it is to regulate the activities of brokers and the products that are sold in your state.

If you believe you have a complaint or have concerns about an investment it is advisable to check with your Securities Commissioner or State Attorney General before you invest. It is much easier to avoid a bad investment than to have to undo one.

Thursday, 11 September 2008

How To Invest in Gold

The diversified portfolio has a small position in the gold market. For some investing in gold means holding gold coins. Some speculators buy gold contact futures on the commodity exchange. Future contracts are risky because you are betting that the price of gold will go higher in the future. The contract requires a relatively small up front payment, but there can be daily fluctuations that require you have funds to back the dips in the price of daily gold.

The reasons investors have been interested in gold is that the old reasoning was that if the stock market was down the gold market was generally up. This reasoning has become a possibility, but not an axiom of the current marketplace. The weakness in the dollar generally brings a surge in the price of gold. The current price for gold is in the range of $670. Prices have fluctuated within a range of $664 and the current high of $672. Traders think gold could easily go as high as $1,000 an ounce.

Investing in gold stocks and precious metal index funds can be purchased through a stock broker. A stock broker specializing in this area is very important because the investment needs savvy investment advice. Most of the larger brokerage houses have individuals that are specialized in the area of commodities and precious metal stocks.

There are certain international gold stocks that are noteworthy. A Canadian based international player in the gold market is Agnico-Eagle Mines. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock ticker AEM. The stock is also sold on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This company has more than a thirty year history in the production of gold. Since the 1970s AEM has produced over four million ounces of gold. The company is international and has operations in Canada, United States, Mexico, Sweden and Finland.

Other noteworthy gold stocks include; Barrick Gold Corp, Goldcorp Inc., Kinross Gold Corp., and Newmont Mining. All of these gold stocks are currently trading on the upside, but it is advisable for all investors to make sure these stocks fit your investment risk potential.

In recent years the price of gold has been as low as the $450 an ounce range. Since the late 1970s gold has made huge profits for holders of gold. The key to owning gold is to know the various resistance points and to assess the global market for the use of gold. It is used primarily in jewelry manufacturing and other types of manufacturing. Currently in India there is a small slow down in the use of gold for jewelry making. The same applies to a degree in China. Whether it is enough of a slow down to effect the price of gold is uncertain.

Investors who trade in gold should seek the advice of an analyst that can factor in all the various aspects that effect the price of gold. If you own gold as a hedge against a weak dollar you should look for any strengthening in the dollar. The important thing to remember is to gage your investment in gold to a level that you are comfortable. If you bought spot gold at $600 an ounce, you might consider a rise to $720 a good profit. The ride to $1,000 an ounce may be bumpy and there is no telling when it will reach that level if it does as speculators have gambled.

There are numerous gold mining stocks on the market and if you are interested in a small investment you can find these stocks in the $5 to $12 range The smaller gold mining stocks do carry a risk because a great deal of overhead goes into making a mining company profitable.

The range of risk and amount you decide to invest in gold is a personal choice. It is always advisable to seek the expert advise of a stock expert or commodity expert before leaping into this market. Another sage piece of advise I learned is to trust my sense of cashing out before the price of gold drops significantly due to outside pressures or manipulations.

Monday, 25 August 2008

Investing for the Sports Fan

The avid sports fan has a place in the Stock Market. If you have a passion for sports either as an amateur player or sports fan there are great stocks for you to invest. The sports retail and manufacturing industry is worth billions in revenue. Passions do not come cheap so maybe you can turn your enjoyment into making a few dollars.

Dick's Sporting Goods is a multi sport equipment, apparel and general store. The passion of the owner Dick borrowed $300 from his grandmother and opened a bait and tackle store in 1958. Today Dick's Sporting Goods is located in 34 states with 315 stores. In addition, he owns Golf Galaxy a multi-channel golf specialty retailer with 77 stores. The stock sells on the New York Stock Exchange with the stock ticker DKS. The stock currently sells for about $70 per share. It enjoys a market cap of over 3.5 billion dollars. The stock has some big name holders like Citigroup, Oppenheimer and Goldman Sachs.

Foot Locker Inc. is another sports shoes and apparel shop that has a significant market share of sports market. The stock sells on the NYSE for $16.71 a share. It trades under the stock ticker FL. It has some room to go back up to the $40 range where it belongs. Some weakening in the retail area and other concerns have weighed on this stock. It is a good stock and worth watching.

Cabela's is a Nebraska sports and apparel company that sells on-line. It has store outlets that are an adventure for any shopper. Cabela's is a success story and when the jitters in the market subside it will soar. It is priced currently in the high $20 range and worth every dime. It trades under symbol CAB.

Nike Inc. is a familiar brand name for most sports fans and enthusiasts. The stock is sold on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock symbol is NKE. The company sells apparel, shoes and accessories. The company has a 28.2 billion dollar market share. Nike employs over 32,000 employees. Nike is priced currently at $58 per share. The stock is expected to climb as high as $70 per share. Some of the major holders are Barclay's Global Fund, Fidelity Blue Chip Fund, Vanguard 500 Index Fund and some other blue ribbon funds.

The combined efforts of Molson Brewing Company of Canada and Coors Brewing Company in recent years created the Molson Coors Brewing Company. The market cap and distribution of the company is tremendous. It employs 11,000 people. It has plans to open a new subsidiary. It is going through a shift in upper management, but it is a sold investment to keep on your radar. The stock symbol is TAP and sells in mid to high $80. The company has a blue ribbon list of holders of the stock. Barclays Global Fund, Vanguard Group, and Goldman Sachs are a sample of their investors.

The sports fan has lots of opportunities to invest in their passion and enjoy the game as a participant in the sheer fun of making a few dollar in the process.

Tuesday, 29 July 2008

A Roadmap To Trading The Markets

Having a trading plan is similar to having a map when traveling to a new location. Modern day vehicles often come with a navigation system making it easier to travel with the fastest route. A trading plan acts as a road map for the trading day.

Most new traders trade without a plan. This often causes reckless trading, emotional trading, and no predefined entry and exit points. They are simply lost during the trading session. Designing a plan prior to the open is necessary. Most new traders are still inexperienced to devise an effective trading plan that can guide them throughout the day. They are unable to locate key support and resistance levels, do not hold strict money management rules, and lack the discipline needed in trading. In order to devise a plan, one must be able to understand how to make one. This requires market knowledge and a methodology a trader feels comfortable with.

So What Is A Trading Plan?

Everyday after the close I will spend 1-2 hours studying the market action. I will then go through my daily charts, 233 TICK charts, and Market Profile charts. First thing I do is to look for market acceptance vs rejection. Then I switch to the daily chart to view the bigger trend. I will then plot the pivot points and any significant price level that I will be looking at accordingly. This gives me a road map for the markets.

The second step is to plot the route I plan to take on the road map. I will visualize a number of possible situations for the following trading day. Couple examples include:

1. If the markets open up above the value high pivot, I will look for long setups.
2. If the markets gap down to the daily pivot, I will fade it for a gap fill.
3. I will not trade between certain price levels as it offers no opportunity.

Every trader has their own methods and analysis techniques to develop a trading plan. There is no right or wrong way to devise one. The biggest mistake alot of traders make is that even with a plan, they are unable to follow it. Why draw a map and not use it?

Develop a trading plan and stick with it. Have the discipline to follow your plans. By having a plan and applying money management, you have a significant edge over a good percentage of traders. Best of trading.

Saturday, 26 July 2008

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Third Party Advertising

I do use cookies to store information, such as your personal preferences when you visit our site. This could include only showing you a popup once in your visit, or the ability to login to some of our features, such as forums.

I also use third party advertisements to support our site. Some of these advertisers may use technology such as cookies and web beacons when they advertise on our site, which will also send these advertisers (such as Google through the Google AdSense program) information including your IP address, your ISP , the browser you used to visit our site, and in some cases, whether you have Flash installed. This is generally used for geotargeting purposes (showing New York real estate ads to someone in New York, for example) or showing certain ads based on specific sites visited (such as showing cooking ads to someone who frequents cooking sites).

To read Google Adsense’s privacy policy, click here.

DoubleClick DART cookies

We also may use DART cookies for ad serving through Google’s DoubleClick, which places a cookie on your computer when you are browsing the web and visit a site using DoubleClick advertising (including some Google AdSense advertisements). This cookie is used to serve ads specific to you and your interests (”interest based targeting”). The ads served will be targeted based on your previous browsing history (For example, if you have been viewing sites about visiting Las Vegas, you may see Las Vegas hotel advertisements when viewing a non-related site, such as on a site about hockey). DART uses “non personally identifiable information”. It does NOT track personal information about you, such as your name, email address, physical address, telephone number, social security numbers, bank account numbers or credit card numbers. You can opt-out of this ad serving on all sites using this advertising by visiting DoubleClick DART cookies.

You can choose to disable or selectively turn off our cookies or third-party cookies in your browser settings, or by managing preferences in programs such as Norton Internet Security. However, this can affect how you are able to interact with our site as well as other websites. This could include the inability to login to services or programs, such as logging into forums or accounts.

Deleting cookies does not mean you are permanently opted out of any advertising program. Unless you have settings that disallow cookies, the next time you visit a site running the advertisements, a new cookie will be added.

Release of Information to Government Officials

In the event that systems notice that you may be doing something illegal, I reserve the right to submit your details to proper authorities and government officials. In the event that I'm asked to release information by proper authorities, I will do so.