Anyone else into stock markets

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I'm intrigued by the way the whole thing works, and I think I could do reasonably well in it with my limited knowledge.

I know about IPOs and "buy low, sell high". :shrug:
 
the working behind the stock market do sort of interest me

in the end all you can do is follow up on info given by people who actually know what is happening in several companies
 
My dad spent years working for Brokers and the like. He went from Lend Lease to the ASX before he finally cracked the shits and left it forever. It is pretty much just gambling. On a large scale. I once had shares. They're only a long term investment unless you have large sums of cash and dont fear the risk of losing it all. If you insist on investing this way, the only advice I can give you is to stick to Blue Chips. Or go to your nearest casino and pour the money straight into a poker machine.
 
I disagree that it is gambling. If you are playing with low-value shares of bankrupt companies, then probably it is gambling. You can always minimize your loss.. but the profit can be anything if its done properly. There are stop losses

If you are doing proper research, then its investment.

However I am too scared to put money on a long term basis.

If you still call it gambling , you can call me lucky so far since April this year :) I like it..kind of addicted to it . Win or lose - Gives me a high. May be someday I will learn a lesson.. But till then I would like to analyse 100s of graphs ..

AcrobatMan
 
First, no money no stocks :der:

Even if I did I don't think I'd do it. I know two older people who lost their entire life savings in the stock fad of the late 90's.
 
U2Kitten said:
First, no money no stocks :der:

Even if I did I don't think I'd do it. I know two older people who lost their entire life savings in the stock fad of the late 90's.

first of all, you can buy stocks worth many times the amount ( say x) you have...but the only thing is that if that the value of stocks fall as much as x , you lose all the money..so very risky and not advisable.

secondly, one should never all of life saving in stock..may be 25% or less of that.

Looks like I can become a broker :)
 
The best return we've ever received is a couple thousand dollars on some Prudential Insurance stock, the biggest loss was a few hundred dollars on some worthless crap a relative suggested we buy.

Most of the stock we still have isn't worth keeping our accounts open but I don't want to pay the broker fee to close them :reject:
 
AcrobatMan said:
I disagree that it is gambling.


:sexywink:

It is gambling. The market can crash at any time, so many factors influence the value of shares there is no way to protect it as an investment unless you have such a vast sum, you spread your interest around. So if/when one falls, you dont lose everything. Rene Rivkin didn't become a squillionaire by being a wuss. Nor by being an average worker either.

You're lucky, and well done. Truly I hope you continue to be successful. But it's only been 5 months mate. That's chicken feed in the stock market.
 
I would be interested in investing when I have enough money, that will be several years away. Until then all I can do is learn about how the damn thing operates.
 
I also disagree it's gambling mostly because you're able to make educated guesses in the stock market whereas you can't do that playing the slots, for example, it's just a matter of stochastic probabilities there.

I do think that when they do studies of longterm earning potential, stocks average to about 10-12% yearly returns, which is pretty good, but you have to have a strong stomach if you're gonna put any kind of decent money into them.

I have a pretty good mutual fund (it's moderate-high risk) at the moment but I am considering putting some of that money into stocks. In life, until you've lost everything you have three times, you're nowhere, LOL. No guts, no glory as they say.
 
You have a serious problem, my friend :sexywink:

I know a bit about the market but not enough to make my own trades. . .I only invest for the long-term. The odds are in my favor if I diversify and stay in it for the long haul. If there are any stocks that are doing especially bad my financial advisor moves them for me. He gets paid for that. Not as exciting but practical for me! :yes:

My investments are about 25% bonds and 75% stocks (diversified amongst growth and more stable areas).
 
AcrobatMan said:


Never buy a cheap stock - Its gambling :shame:


Well, we don't make a habit of it. Most of our investments are for the long term, not to make a quick buck, but this was a highly recommended stock that someone we trusted had already invested in.

The technology being developed by the company we invested in was supposed to be in high demand due to security changes after 9/11 and it looked like a pretty sure thing. Of course I know now that nothing is a sure thing, but it was a live and learn experience.

That said, we let our financial planner do the work for us now. He keeps things diversified between mutual funds, global and small cap stock. I'm not thrilled with our return rate the last few years but I'm too conservative to pull everything out and put our money somewhere else.
 
Being that I live hand in mouth and have no extra money to invest I won't have to worry about it.
 
Bono's American Wife said:



Well, we don't make a habit of it. Most of our investments are for the long term, not to make a quick buck, but this was a highly recommended stock that someone we trusted had already invested in.

The technology being developed by the company we invested in was supposed to be in high demand due to security changes after 9/11 and it looked like a pretty sure thing. Of course I know now that nothing is a sure thing, but it was a live and learn experience.

That said, we let our financial planner do the work for us now. He keeps things diversified between mutual funds, global and small cap stock. I'm not thrilled with our return rate the last few years but I'm too conservative to pull everything out and put our money somewhere else.

That said, our guy is in the know..he's the vice-president of a Prudential division that, from what I understand, was purchased by Wachovia...we've known him well enough that he was at our wedding several years back...matter of fact, he told me how much I could spend on the wedding without getting into trouble...Either he was wrong or BAW didn't listen! :lol: we're okay now..we keep our eye on it weekly but we don't dwell on it...some pretty safe and conservative ventures...:up:
 
I am a retirement planning consultant. I advise companies on their 401(k)s but not with their investments however I do work in the investment field and daily with Mutual Funds.

I am studying right now to obtain my broker's license.
 
The stock markets have changed over the years. In the past, prices were largely driven by company standing and forecast outlook. Far from gambling, investing in stocks was an educated business.

Today, with computer trading, day traders, and instant access to all news sources, short-term prices can fluctuate as if with the wind. You also have more individuals looking for the quick $$$, playing with risky stocks, chasing after tech stocks, etc. That stuff is gambling.
 
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