| |
| |
|
|
Investing Information |
|
Dont Catch a Falling Knife
One of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced investors is trying to "catch a falling knife". This is the phrase used to describe the habit of buying stocks that are in "freefall", and is a poor strategy, albeit common among new investors. Sadly, it is a common practice even among old and experienced investors. I've even fallen prey to it myself. Remember, there are two primary approaches to investing: fundamental analysis and technical analysis. We generally fall into the fundamental camp, since we evaluate stocks based upon their valuations, rather than looking primarily at their short-term price movements. We take this direction because we believe this provides the greatest potential for long-term success. A single-minded view of only the fundamentals of an investment, however, can limit an investor's profits and lead to some unpleasant positions. This is because there are real limitations to buying a stock as it falls. One may purchase a stock that appears to be a great value at $10, only to see it fall to $5. Surely, if the stock rises again to $20, you may have been "right" to buy at $10, but one might argue that you weren't "right enough". Buying at 5 would have yielded a 300% return, while you settled for only 100%. Furthermore, if you were convinced that $10 is a reasonable price, you might have saved time by buying it on the way back up instead of on the way down. It is quite simple - buying a stock that is in mid-fall is not a pleasant experience, and it isn't difficult to come up with a variety of other strategies that would bring happier outcomes. Still, we mustn't avoid all stocks which have dropped. In fact, studies have shown that investors who buy stocks which have fallen hard tend to outperform the market on a regular basis. In fact, such a bottom-fishing strategy can provide one of the best performance levels of all strategy sets. Missing out on these opportunities can be costly. The decision then is not whether to buy "fallen angels", but WHEN. This is where a tad of technical analysis skill comes in handy. While technical tools can't really tell you which stocks to buy (unless you're willing to buy any piece of junk that happens to have good price momentum), it can lead us to a better understanding of timing. Once we have selected a good investment based on fundamentals, it is time to decide when to put the money down. A good first step is to watch for a positive movement on good volume before committing. As long as the stock is dropping, there is a good chance you may get it at a better price. Better to wait a few days (or weeks) to assure your purchase is timed appropriately. There's no advantage to buying before the time is right, even if the choice of stock is ideal. It is here that patience is a virtue. Don't try to catch falling knives, but be sure to pick them up after they hit the floor. By: Scott Pearson For more information, quesitons or comments please visit our website at www.valueview.net. You can also email us at article@valueview.net or Scott directly at scott@valueview.net President Scott Pearson is the Chief Investment Advisor for Value View Financial as well as a writer, editor, instructor, and business leader. As editor and publisher of Investor's Value View, a nationally distributed investment newsletter, he provides general money tips and investment advice to readers, and demonstrates a special knack for locating and providing analysis for undervalued stocks. To reach Scott for questions or comments please send an email to scott@valueview.net. You can also visit his website at http://www.valueview.net
MORE RESOURCES:
Investing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Terror-Proof Your Money "To drift is to be in hell, to be in heaven is to steer." -George Bernard ShawFormer Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, has said it's not a matter of "if" we'll have another terrorist attack, but when. Top Ten Investment Mistakes 1. Lacking an investment plan a/k/a/ "Don't take a trip without packing the map". How Do I Start Investing Online and What Are Some Basic Tips? If you are new to investing online, don't put your entire life savings into an online account. Start with a smaller sum, which will be easier to handle and keep track of. How Eating Bitumen Made Me a Better Stock Trader Stock market trading is a fascinating activity.There are so many layers to it. The Power of Small Numbers: Trading Success is Based on Consistency, Not Home Runs Online trading is so seductive - just sit, click, and rake in the profits! But as anyone who has ever seriously attempted online trading will probably tell you, it's just not as easy as it sounds.Many beginning traders are seduced by the lure of the "home run", that big trade that makes you an instant millionaire and retires you overnight to your own private island paradise. Gold; What Type of Gold to Buy JewelryThe advantages are:? Gold Jewelry is the easiest of the gold to buy and has the enjoyment of being able to be worn.The disadvantages are:? Retail Jewelry is often marked up by 300% or more in the shops. Four Key Components To Building A Trading System Need some insight on what you should really be striving for when you're building a mechanical trading system? When it comes down to it, there are really only a few criteria that are used in judging the merits of a trading system. The most obvious one is profitability - does the system work? But really, there's more to it than just that. Day Traders and Swing Traders and Options? Maybe! Typical day traders and swing traders look for stocks with quick, short term movements, and are not in the business of holding positions overnight let alone a week or two. So the use of options has not usually been a component of their trading strategies. Investing in Car Dealerships: Doing Your Homework This article attempts to help give the investor a broader basis upon which to decide whether a dealership merits their time, money and attention.Interviewing Factories and Financial InstitutionsLenders have an affirmative duty not to promiscuously disclose the financial condition of their debtors. Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer Rich people: fortunate, lucky, selfish, and arrogant? Or highly educated, caring, brilliant individuals? Becoming rich isn't hard, but it does require a bit of time and knowledge. Having time to get rich, educating oneself, and buying assets are the three key factors in attaining untold wealth. Trading Commodity Futures Using Support and Resistance - Paper Trading Setting Up a Paper Trading AccountQuestion: I cannot trade with "real money" as yet; however, how do I go about setting up a paper trade account?Answer: You can paper trade various ways and it really does not require that you have anything more specialized than a notebook to track your trades and access to charts.Begin by funding your paper trading account with the amount of money you think you will really begin with, whether it is $2000 or $20,000. Invest or be Pink Slipped Firing an employee seems to be easier and easier for corporations. Up until now you allowed them to set your clocks. The 8 Biggest Mistakes When Designing Portfolios - and How To Avoid Them Are you as good an investor as you think? Do you consider yourself a well-informed investor able to anticipate and avoid nearly all pitfalls associated with investing? Chances are, you are making one of the common errors that could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, or worse yet, your financial independence, control and security."I see people making the same costly mistakes over and over," says Scott Frush, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and author of Optimal Investing: How To Protect and Grow Your Wealth With Asset Allocation (Marshall Rand Publishing; available by calling 1-800-247-6553). Critical Investors Business Daily Responsibilities - If not Followed Could Cost You Millions! When thinking about the investors business daily responsibilities in today’s market environment, the best remedy for this situation is for you to get more involved in your own investing decisions.The problem is that most individual investors do not have the knowledge, resources, or time to spend doing their own research, stock selection, execution, and position management. Raising Capital Using a Public Company Going public in this manner is ideal for companies that may not be large enough to attract an underwriter for an IPO and those that don't need to raise capital immediately. They want to go public because of the many benefits that being a public company offers such as increased valuation, using public stock as currency to acquire other companies and assets, liquidity, prestige and to reduce the need for expensive venture capital and other financing sources. Critical Options Investing Tip When Trading Naked Calls and Puts An option is a derivative trading product that is best used by investors as a hedging tool providing investing profit protection and profit enhancement. Although it is a powerful risk management tool, it can also be used effectively as a stand-alone trading vehicle. Useful Tips on Investing Here are some useful tips on investing. When you make an investment, you are giving your money to a company or an enterprise, hoping that it will be successful and pay you back with even more money. Delist My Corporation Please It use to be said that once a company was de-listed from the NASDAQ it was the kiss of death, not so any more. With Sarbanes Oxley and all the insane reporting requirements it might save your company from incessant lawsuits from investors and the government regulators who are out to destroy free enterprise. Seven Investment Terms Everyone Should Know For those who have never given their financial future a second thought, the term "Financial Planning" could be a scary one. Investments can be a smart way to invest money for your future, but it can be confusing for those who have no experience in the financial business. Fundamentals of Option Pricing When one begins to consider an option, it is very important to figure out how the premium is calculated. Option premiums depend on a variety of factors including the time left to expiry as well as the price of the underlying security.
|
||||||||||||||||
