would purchasing shares in these three ETF's: IJS, SPY, and EWO, be a good first investment?
104390
S&P 500 index, Australia index, and a small cap value iShare.\n\nHmm, I would have to ask why you wanted to be exposed to australia stocks in particular. Maybe you have a good reason. The other two are a good way to come out right about market returns.\n\nIf you want above market returns you will have to do something out of the ordinary. Read this book and see if its for you:\nhttp://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookSearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&isbn=0471733067
358597
None.  IMHO, you should start by learning how to invest, determining WHAT to buy through Fundamental Analysis and determining WHEN to buy with Technical Analysis. \n\nIMO, newsletters only make narrow recomendations based on their system of analysis and investment strategies, and often they are compensated heavily for their recomendations and therefore dangerously biased.   I firmly believe that to get a clear picture about any stock, and to determine whether you're actually going to invest in it, it's best to do your own research and adapt a system that meets your investment needs, style and risk level.  There are many stocks ripe for the picking just about at any time if you know how and where to look.\n\nStart with Investors.com, it's William O'Neil's online version of Investors Business Daily.  The How To Invest section is the best place to start learning the importance of Fundamentals and the basics of Technical Analysis.   The site has the IBD 100, a cross index list of the market leaders, the Stock Checkup, a great tool for checking fundamentals on any stock, and articles and analysis of stocks and general market conditions.  They also run various screens every day which in addition to the other lists, (IBD100, New America, stocks under $10, CANSLIM select, ect) are very helpful for finding investment ideas with solid Fundementals that are ready to move.  The CANSLIM method alone is a very successful and popular trading system, but I prefer to use a combination of Fund & Tech Analysis, rather that just the rating system alone.\n\nFrom there you can move on to more detailed study of Technical Analysis.  \n\nStart with StockCharts.com, they have an excellent free Chart School which helpfully explains various chart patterns and Technical Indicators and overlays.  Pay particular attention to the Chart Patterns section, and make sure you learn about Zig Zag patterns, Bollinger Bands, Moving Average, Volume, RSI, the MACD (Mac-D), The Williams %er, Stochastics, and the Chaikin Money Flow.  Sounds complicated, but when you start chart reading you'll want about a half a dozen or so of these overlays and indicators.  I personally rely heavily on the ZIG-ZAG, MACD, Chaikin Money Flow, Volume, Moving Average and RSI.\n\nStockTA.com is also an excellent Technical Analysis site, with charted Fibonacci resistance and support lines and will tell you if the stock is bullish or bearish in the short, medium and long run.  The site also has an extensive Candle Pattern Glossary and a fantastic technical screener.\n\nThe above sites do have premium services, but all the services I mentioned are free.  After you've absorbed some of the Technical information, do some reading on Fibonacci numbers and Elliot Wave theory, there are good links in the "School" section of StockTA.com.  I've been using Elliot Wave and Fibonacci's to help refine my in and out points.  StockCharts.com's "ZigZag" overlay helps me plot and count the waves and that helps determine where I am in the overall pattern.  \n\nSo basically I'll find interesting stocks through the screens on Investors.com or StockTA.com, run them through the Stock Checkup at Investors.com, if they measure up I'll run them through the Analyisis & Fib Analysis at StockTA.com and do an extensive chart study, examining the 2 yr, 1 yr, 6 mth, 3 mth, 1 mth & 5 day.  I'll also do my due dilligence, studying the profile, key statistics, headlines, etc. through Yahoo Finance and web searches.  If it all measures up and the stock is in a base or in a pull back and it's starting a wave 1 or wave 3, it's time to buy.\n\nRemember, always protect your downside with a stop loss or a trailing stop loss.  Once you have absorbed a few of the things I've mentioned, the fog will begin to lift and you'll start seeing which stocks should be bought or sold and you'll be able to do your own analysis on any stock, no matter where
46951
There are some solid energy stocks up there. Take a look at NXY, ECA, or some of the Canadian energy trusts such as Canadian Oil Sands Trust. The trusts offer some steady returns from a predictable and valuable asset base (oil and gas reserves). Plus you get more bang for oyur buck if you figure the Canadian dollar will rise versus the US dollar over time.
1047287
The funds chosen by you are some of the best funds available in the market. Still the portfolio can be fine tuned. Just consider the following points from my point of view.\n\n1.Fidelity Tax Advantage is new fund and hence doesn’t have track record.  No point in having a four tax saving schemes in a portfolio.  Just two or three would suffice. Any diversification beyond three is just an overhead from the point of view of operational tracking and maintenance.  Add this amount to HDFC TaxSaver.\n2.Just three AMC (at max four) is sufficient from the point of view of diversification. Hence, you can ignore Reliance Vision which is an aggressive fund and replace it Bluechip fund or Prima Plus which have all along delivered excellent returns with low volatility.\n3.While Templeton Pension Plan is good product, from the long term holding perspective, I don’t see it as right product. Hence you may ignore this. \n4.You have two products from SBI stable and the amount works out to 3000.  Instead of another fund house, I would suggest you to chose FTMIP from Franklin and invest the 2000+2000+1000 (TPP, Magnum Taxgain and Magnum Contra).  This will achieve two things.  Reduction in no of AMCs to three and increase in debt investment as your portfolio is highly skewed to equity.\n5.Through the above changes, a. the debt portion which was minimal will be above 20%.  Even an aggressive portfolio should have a 20% debt component and should be rebalanced regularly (once a year is fine), b. The no. of AMCs has been brought down to 3 (and these are best AMCs based on their investment approach and risk management), c. Number of funds brought down.\n6.I don’t know why you have chosen Dividend Reinvestment plan for most of your funds.  You could chose Growth as it eliminates some of the issues related to short term capital gains.\n\nYour revised portfolio can be:\n1.HDFC TAX SAVER (D-Reinvest) 6,000\n2.FRANKLIN INDIA TAXSHIELD (G) 5,000\n3.HDFC PRUDENCE (D-Reinvest) 2,000\n4.FTIBCF or FPP 2000\n5.SUNDARAM SELECT MIDCAP (G) 1,000\n6.FTIMIP 5000\n\nGood luck.
756185
I own an ETF that follows the price of oil - the symbol is USO.  I am sticking with this investment because I believe, long term, we are running out of oil.  Already we have to go to some pretty harsh environments to meet our energy needs.  I like the oil services stocks the most: Nabors NBR, Bolt Tech. BTJ and Mitcham MIND are some of the ones that I own.\n\nI think the best way to invest is to study what the best traders are buying and selling.  This is the idea behind the site http://www.top10traders.com - this is a free site that lets you create a portfolio of stocks with $100,000 in "play" money.  Each day the site ranks the best performing portfolios, so you can see how your picks perform compared to other investors.  You can also read posts on investing from the best traders, as well as share your own investing ideas.\n\nHere are this month's best traders:\n\nhttp://www.top10traders.com/Top10Standings.aspx\n\nGood luck!
419371
An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) for silver will be coming to the market soon. I think it's a Barclay iShare (www.ishares.com). If you want the physical metal look at www.apmex.com they're pretty good.
304843
Try Morningstar (MORN) and Ruth Christie (RUTH). Also, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and NYSE (I think it is NSE)
1149722
how about the S&W 500
938993
It could be. That is a very subjective question. Some people buy stocks without ever seeing an annual report or 10-k. What kind of analysis are you doing? What information are you looking for? In general, do as much research as you think you need to make sure this is an investment you're willing to make.
32313
Yes, especially in Brazil. But be aware that the risk of international investing is higher than investing in US equities, although the reward can be higher. There are several options- mutual funds, individual securities (riskier), and several ETF's, such as ILF or EWZ.
871106
If you are starting out and you dont know anything about stocks it is better to invest in a no load mutual fund, such as Vanguard Equity Income fund. You willneed $3,000 to open yor account and you can add $100 any time. If you buy stocks it will cost you commissions and if you dont have at least $50,000 to start you cant diversify.But stick with large cap stocks . The blue chips. A  mutual fund is your best bet. I am an investor for 40yrs.
536032
I hope you are right about the earnings, but the stock has a PE around 18, 10-15% growth and is in the middle of its slow season.  I suspect you may need to wait another 6 months (when they report 3rd quarter earnings) for you to see much action.  Really I think its a good company, but nothing special.\n\nHowever, your feelings on it, and my feelings on it are close to meaningless.  The market as a whole is always right, and I suggest you go into stocks with the mindset.  \n\nSo, if a trade goes againist you try to find out why, when will the trade turn around, did you miss something, is there something better out there.  Learn from the trade, don't call wall street names cause wall street doesn't care - you are just wasting your breathe.
976458
If you are not into a lot of risk I would recommend proven, blue chip stocks like McDonalds, Coca cola, and others that have a good record and also pay dividends.\n\nIf you don't have a lot of money to invest (less than $5,000) than maybe one of the cheaper investment portfolios like PHY. (around $3 a share)\n\nThe key to any investment is research, research and more research.  Make sure you understand the company and what they do or sell.\n\nI would also recommend one of the online traders since they only charge $7 a trade.  Most like Scottrade and Etrade are very reliable.\n\nOne further recommendation, Yahoo has some excellent tools in yahoo finance to help you including stock screeners and portfolio management.  Before you invest, pick out a few stocks you are thinking about putting your money in and set up a free sample portfolio.  You can set it up to show performance (gains and losses). Watch it for a month or 2 and see how much money you would have gained or lost.  That may give you an idea of profits/risk before you invest any real money.
598736
Probably it invest in municipal bonds and other bonds which are not taxed.  The yield will be low but very low risk.  Personally, I think that you would be better off investing in a portfolio of Exchange Traded Funds(ETFs).  With long term goals in mind the risk is not really a factor and the risk would still be relatively low.  Don't cheat yourself out of higher profits out of paranoia.  ETFs are mutual funds that trade like stocks and typically mimic an index such as the DJ30 or a commodity such as gold.  Very simple :)
646767
right now, buy in safety. Im talking about PG, GE, MO, BUD, ya know, stability. Stay away from the internets GOOG, EBAY, AMZN, MSFT, etc.\nIf you want growth, look at DELL, INTC, (both due to recover) and overseas (anything with Euro, Pound)
571223
Your question needs to be more detailed...\nvanguard is the cheapest way to invest in index funds..their commission are almost NONEXISTENT..
436540
there are mutual funds with small initial investments. $500 for example. Some even less. That is a good way to start. I have included a link through Yahoo finance showing funds of that nature that are rated better than average by Moringstar. Yahoo sometimes does not provide correct information so you need to use this as a starting point and research a little furture. \n\nAnother way is to open an on line brokerage account and buy shares directly in good solid companies that have a good track record and pay dividend that have tended to increase over time, such as BAC, for example. But that is more risky without having at at least 5 and preferably 10 different stocks in your portfolio to reduce the risk of a piece of bad news causing disaster. You also have the option of buying exchange traded index funds. That is an inexpensive method to participate in general market trends. I personally do not like the idea, but a lot of people do.