Having always been in the stock market where I have a trading seat in the broker's office, I am in a privileged position to observe traders and punters who flock to the trading room daily. There was a lady, somewhere in her sixties who would be sitting in the same position daily in the trading room, always oblivious to the surroundings and people around her, lost in observing and studying the stock market price movements and charts on the trading screen.
Over the years, while many traders and punters would come and go, many after losing their fortunes, Madam Foong as I would learnt was her name, would always be around. Grandma Foong, as she was later affectionately called, was obviously a very profitable trader.
One day, I plucked enough courage to ask her how what was the secret of her success.
"Sonny," she said, " I only trade with the trend and I punt on the counter-trends!".
What a revelation!
The secret of her success, she explained further, was to poise herself for the best trades whenever there was a confirmed trend. By observing the price movements daily, she would be able to determine the extent of the prospective trend- a skill that she has picked up from experience, similar to studying the "tape".
"Trading the trends isn't a daily thing," Grandma Foong explained. " I only trade the trends 30% of the time, because that's what the market do- the stocks trend only 30% of the time".
What about those "anti-trend" stocks?
" Since most of the stocks trend 30-% of the time, the rest of the time the stocks oscillate between a high and a low, and you can trade these smaller anti-trends. "
"You mean, you trade those smaller periods of times when a stock is moving within a range?", I asked.
" Yes, these are the times when if you observe carefully, the main trend of the stock is up, so when the price falls, you will want to buy on the low against the main trend, and when it moves up, you will want to sell at the high of that minor trend up, against the main trend", Grandma Foong replied.
" But go, watch the prices like a hawk, these anti-trends are minor, you are basically there for a very short while, even day trading them, most of the time."
With those words, Grandma Foong gave a hurried excuse, and went out the door.
Here was the secret of a profitable trader. Trade with the major trends 30% of the time and trade the anti-trends ( or range trade ) the rest of the time, but be very fast with these minor oscillations.
In Part #2 of this article, I will report how Grandma Foong actually picked these main trends and anti-trends.
Showing posts with label stocks and shares. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stocks and shares. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Stocks And Shares Trading Promotions
Have you seen an offer for stocks and shares trading software that seems to be too good to be true? Chances are you're absolutely right!
Like most promotions that promise the easy life, with you sitting back after an hour or so at work in your pyjamas while the dollars come rolling in, it's probably another scam. Share trading scams are more common now that so many of us have internet access though many variations have existed prior to the internet. One of the more modern versions would have you spend up big on a special software package that analyzes stock market data. This data is either input by you from a newspaper or is input by the promoter after you connect to their system, the software then analyzes that data and makes recommendations on which buy or sell trades to make for the day.
Often this expensive software package turns out to be little more than a dressed up spreadsheet, which you could probably have put together yourself. Worse, after using the package for a while it dawns on you that you would need to make many thousands of trades, have very deep pockets and also a whole heap of luck in order to make the sort of returns the promoter sold you on. Remember that stock market trading patterns of the past, while often a useful guide, are in no way a prediction of future market movements!
Worse again, you may find that you have been steered to use a 'recommended' broker, who of course benefits from each buy or sell order you might make in the form of the brokerage you must pay. What's that you say? The broker and the promoter are related businesses or are jointly promoting the software? Now there's a surprise!
There are a few variations on the theme such as software for gambling on the outcome of horse races. The software produces a recommended betting strategy based on all the horses recent form. Save yourself the cash and all that data input and just go see what your newspaper says instead. Newspaper tipsters work with the same historical data and are at least as accurate!
As with all work in your pyjamas type scams, the usual warning signs should set the alarm bells ringing in your head. Does it sound too good to be true? Are there lots of glowing testimonials from happy customers, none of whom can actually be identified and contacted?
Stop and think - what are you being charged for software or access to a system? What are the ongoing costs after you opt in? Why is the promoter selling this excellent package? Shouldn't he be lying back on a beach somewhere instead of spending his time marketing?
Like most promotions that promise the easy life, with you sitting back after an hour or so at work in your pyjamas while the dollars come rolling in, it's probably another scam. Share trading scams are more common now that so many of us have internet access though many variations have existed prior to the internet. One of the more modern versions would have you spend up big on a special software package that analyzes stock market data. This data is either input by you from a newspaper or is input by the promoter after you connect to their system, the software then analyzes that data and makes recommendations on which buy or sell trades to make for the day.
Often this expensive software package turns out to be little more than a dressed up spreadsheet, which you could probably have put together yourself. Worse, after using the package for a while it dawns on you that you would need to make many thousands of trades, have very deep pockets and also a whole heap of luck in order to make the sort of returns the promoter sold you on. Remember that stock market trading patterns of the past, while often a useful guide, are in no way a prediction of future market movements!
Worse again, you may find that you have been steered to use a 'recommended' broker, who of course benefits from each buy or sell order you might make in the form of the brokerage you must pay. What's that you say? The broker and the promoter are related businesses or are jointly promoting the software? Now there's a surprise!
There are a few variations on the theme such as software for gambling on the outcome of horse races. The software produces a recommended betting strategy based on all the horses recent form. Save yourself the cash and all that data input and just go see what your newspaper says instead. Newspaper tipsters work with the same historical data and are at least as accurate!
As with all work in your pyjamas type scams, the usual warning signs should set the alarm bells ringing in your head. Does it sound too good to be true? Are there lots of glowing testimonials from happy customers, none of whom can actually be identified and contacted?
Stop and think - what are you being charged for software or access to a system? What are the ongoing costs after you opt in? Why is the promoter selling this excellent package? Shouldn't he be lying back on a beach somewhere instead of spending his time marketing?
Friday, February 22, 2008
Basics Of Stocks And Shares
There is a lot of money to be made from stocks and shares but the only hitch is nobody knows a sure fire way of a method. Let us now see some of the basics of stocks and shares. You can earn money in two ways by investing in stocks and shares. One is trading and the other is investing.
Buying and selling stocks, shares, futures and options over a short period of time is known as trading. If you buy shares, stocks, futures and options and retain them for a longer period of time then it is known as investing.
Besides the above, there is no get rich quick scheme which works. If such schemes work then almost everybody would be a millionaire. Money can be made by selling stocks and shares but it cannot be done quickly by buying and selling without reason. The patient, careful and intelligent investors definitely make big profits in the stock market when compared to the overeager and reckless speculator.
Stocks and shares should be bought when their prices are low and wait for the price to rise to earn a decent profit over a longer period of time.
A prudent investor should not worry about the downs and ups and look for the long-term cycles. If these simple principals are not followed, there is not going to be any profit for an investor.
Presuming it is going to fetch more money, never buy a stock or share when the price is going up, it is wrong. If the peak price is reached at the time of buying then the investor will be holding a stock or share of which its price will be slowly sliding down and you will ultimately end up with a loss
There are certain golden rules to be followed when investing money in stocks. Never invest more than three percent of the total portfolio in one stock. Over time, a successful investor should make all efforts to protect the capital base.
When a wrong decision is made, accept it and cut down the loss immediately by five to fifteen percent rather than wait for more time thinking the situation will improve. Follow the performance of the stock and never deviate from the “stop loss point” to limit the loss in case the stock does not perform up to the expected standard. Find more info at www.investmentresourcesonline.info
Never set price targets. Stick on to one style of trading instead of following various trading methods. The performance of a stock or share is reflected in the volume and price it is traded. Never get influenced by the opinions expressed by individuals.
Take note of all the signals emanating from the market which is connected with the stock or share you are holding. Do not get swayed by variations in data during the trading day. Reliance on such swings will lead to wrong decisions. A trader who is stressed out will be making a lot of wrong decisions, so take time out periodically during the day.
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find m
Buying and selling stocks, shares, futures and options over a short period of time is known as trading. If you buy shares, stocks, futures and options and retain them for a longer period of time then it is known as investing.
Besides the above, there is no get rich quick scheme which works. If such schemes work then almost everybody would be a millionaire. Money can be made by selling stocks and shares but it cannot be done quickly by buying and selling without reason. The patient, careful and intelligent investors definitely make big profits in the stock market when compared to the overeager and reckless speculator.
Stocks and shares should be bought when their prices are low and wait for the price to rise to earn a decent profit over a longer period of time.
A prudent investor should not worry about the downs and ups and look for the long-term cycles. If these simple principals are not followed, there is not going to be any profit for an investor.
Presuming it is going to fetch more money, never buy a stock or share when the price is going up, it is wrong. If the peak price is reached at the time of buying then the investor will be holding a stock or share of which its price will be slowly sliding down and you will ultimately end up with a loss
There are certain golden rules to be followed when investing money in stocks. Never invest more than three percent of the total portfolio in one stock. Over time, a successful investor should make all efforts to protect the capital base.
When a wrong decision is made, accept it and cut down the loss immediately by five to fifteen percent rather than wait for more time thinking the situation will improve. Follow the performance of the stock and never deviate from the “stop loss point” to limit the loss in case the stock does not perform up to the expected standard. Find more info at www.investmentresourcesonline.info
Never set price targets. Stick on to one style of trading instead of following various trading methods. The performance of a stock or share is reflected in the volume and price it is traded. Never get influenced by the opinions expressed by individuals.
Take note of all the signals emanating from the market which is connected with the stock or share you are holding. Do not get swayed by variations in data during the trading day. Reliance on such swings will lead to wrong decisions. A trader who is stressed out will be making a lot of wrong decisions, so take time out periodically during the day.
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find m
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