is the stock market as hard to learn as it looks.?
607234
It sure can be. Ive studied it off and on for awhile. Lots of different angles to using the stock market. Depends on the person. \n\nGet a few books, study up on the angles that particular person used and how it worked for them. Figure out what you feel comfy with.
805999
Well, I think technical analysis is only one of the many tools we can use to predict market movements. There are many factors to look at when investing. There will always be people on either side of the fence when it comes to forecasting and this is probably when the technicalities come in but then again, if you are looking at short-term profits, it is more important to look at the market sentiments.
407887
I would recommend checking out the website www.investopedia.com  You can learn some things about the stock merket and also use play money with it's stock market simulator.\n\nHave fun
138914
bobbrinker is really an idiot, so is that Suzie Orman.  I recomend "thestreet.com", go out and get Jim Cramer's books, also pick up a copy of Leeb's "the oil factor", you may want to pick up a copy of Rich Dad/Poor Dad, and also Harry Dent's "the next great bubble boom", and Jim Rogers "hot commodities"  Once you have read those, then you'll have a good entry level understanding of how the equity markets work, and the current forces driving those markets. Also, read the Wall Street Journal daily.  If you do all of these, then you'll be able to have an intelligent conversation with your broker, and possibly be ready to start investing on your own if that is what you choose.  Good luck.
416820
Lot's of fun to watch. No way would a "real" investor follow his advice.  The most someone like him can do for you is to give you leads to follow up with your own research...... but for the most part... find another way to find leads to good investments.
1180201
If you could only realize how silly this question is, you would not try to sound like you know something about investing. Nor would you pose a question with so many unlikely decisions already made.\n\nFirst, "doing well" is subjective; different for everyone. If you cannot be specific, you just don't get it. Investing and trading is precise, not general. Like, how much steel should I use in this building, in general?\n\nSecond, in all of the plans you've made in your life, how often does it work out as planned? Almost never, right? Something's always a little different than the plan. So, how much money you "expect" to make is irrelevant.\n\nThe sad part is, that you "expect" to make money at all, from knowing nothing at all about what you're doing. It just doesn't work that way, or am I the one being silly? \n\nThird, you are focusing on profits, exactly the opposite of what you should be focusing on. The number one rule of investing is capital preservation, which means managing risk and losses first, then if you don't lose it all, profits will come eventually. Warren Buffet's #1 Rule, "Never lose money." Making money comes after you learn something. Making sound investment or trading decisions requires more than a click of the mouse. Cheap and easy does not equal successful trading or investing. Nothing substitutes for research and education. It is a burning desire to achieve mastery that produces success, not a burning desire for money.\n\nFourth, a "good" stock is subjective; different for everyone. What exactly do you mean? "Good" stocks lose money every day.\n\nFifth, if you invest "$2000 into seven stocks," either you're talking about penny stocks, or just a few shares of each one, and just from the initial hit of commissions on seven stocks will put you down by !0% before you ever begin. The $2,000 is barely enough to buy a hundred shares of one "good" stock, let alone seven. If you buy 100 shares of IBM, that will cost you $9,000. Don't even think about penny stocks, where manipulation is rampant and companies come and go faster than you can keep track of them.\n\nYou have quite a bit to learn before you can post a relevant question. Stick it in the bank, and count yourself lucky to have $2,000.
612936
Ab-so-fricken-lutely. There's a but. You need to have educated friends in the fiancial arena because the markets change just when you least expect them too. And timing the market ain't easy. Here's an article by Jim Jubak at moneycentral which includes a tidbit on these contracts.
216354
If you have to ask that question in this public forum, I doubt that you are positioned to risk your money in any stock today. Stock market prices are driven by Public Perception and not necessarily by the value or the income of the company. Take a look at Exxon Mobil (XOM) for the last 6 months while oil and gasoline prices were going up. XOM is down 5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial is up 7.5%. Investors who put down their money without doing their homework are easily fleeced by brokers, some who hang around chat rooms hoping to get young investors into their areas of service. Remember one thing if nothing else: stock trading is a net zero business; it produces one loser for each winner, and the loser is usually the little guy who buys (through a broker) what the big guy doesn't want. Study how the market works, find newsletters that have a good history of recommending stocks, invest your money in a step after step manner, maybe 20% each month for 5 months, and be ready to sell even if at a small loss if the value of your selected stock decreases by more than 10-20%. You will have to set your own loss limits. Good luck, but don't rush.
667301
There's sooooo much poor information here.\n\nWhen you invest in most stocks the Stock Exchange manages things so you are guaranteed to find a buyer if you're selling and guaranteed to find a seller if you're buying.  The large banks are granted favourable trading terms in return for being in the market and quoting a price to take those 200 MSFT shares off your hands.  They can drop the price they're prepared to pay when more people are selling than buying but they commit to being in the market and quoting a price most of the time.\n\nPink Sheets and Over The Counter are basically the same thing (the name Pink Sheets comes from the fact that closing prices were printed and distributed at the end of the trading day on pink paper).  It is a seperate market for stocks not quoted on the main market.  Basically, when you want to buy or sell a stock there is no guarantee there will be anyone prepared to trade with you.  The more popular stocks normally trade reasonably well but there are thousands of stocks on the OTC market that trade no volume for weeks at a time.  Most of the shareholders will be held privately and if no one is prepared to sell you're not going to be able to buy.  If you are able to find a seller you run the risk of paying a large spread (the difference between the buy and sell price).  On the main market the buy or sell price for MSFT will be the same.  On the OTC market the buy price for a stock might be $10 higher than the sell price.\n\nThe biggest danger is that something happens to the stock while you're holding it and you find yourself locked in.  If I buy MSFT I can sell the stock seconds after bad news is announced by going to my PC and logging onto my brokerage account.  If I hold OTC stock I can only sell my stock if there's someone out there prepared to buy.\n\nOTC stocks are not neceessarily up and coming, as with penny stocks choose very carefully.  Stocks quote on the OTC market for a number of reasons, and there are definately some bargains out there.  But it is much much more risky than the main market.
1112722
It works - if you have a system. \n\nSure it is volatile. But that's one ingredient you do need in a market if you are trading for quick profits.\n\nOne simple technique is to examine the news release predictions, make your own mind up, make a decision of how it will affect the price and just enter the market with a close stop loss.\n\nIf you get stopped out when the data is against you, then you live to trade another day. If you don't, well that means the trade went for you and you made some moolah...\n\nGood Luck!
175229
Go to Amazon.com and find beginner's stock market books that have the highest customer ratings that based on their description, will teach you what you want to learn.\n\nThen find the book or books at your local library.  If they don't have the books you want, many libraries can borrow them for you from other libraries that do have them.  They will get them for you and loan them to you.\n\nWhen you return the books, they'll return the books to the libraries they got them from.\n\nGood luck!
344111
There's no such thing as easy money. Learn all you can before entering the market.
288089
I would say the consensus of most experts would be: We don't know. But if you can handle the ups and downs, stocks and bonds will do well over the next 20-30 years. I invest for the long run.
452671
there are stock clubs located all over the country that you can get involved with as a newcomer.  meetings are held on a regular schedule, the group pools money and everybody is given certain companies in different sectors to do research in,  the groups usally vote in what they invest in, and all members share inthe profit/loss of the trades.  other than that take a basic class, start with mutual funds, and keep a few dollars to have fun with and buy stock you have done more than listen to the gossip about
648736
Absolutely..However you need to know strategies to trade. Because as much is it lucrative, its equivalent risky also..\n\nPlease visit my blog to get more info -\n\nhttp://the-forex-trading.blogspot.com
404773
I don't trade stock options, nor do I have any expertise on the subject, but I enjoy trading prediction options on Cenimar.com. It gives you a little bit of a feel for how an options market works.
104003
Hi Frankie,\n  There are quite a few websites that you can go to for info. But if your just starting out I would suggest Yahoo finance page. From there you can browse through the listings on the left hand side. Go slow and learn the basics day by day. Before you drop one cent into the market, I strongly urge you to test you new found "skills" by paper-trading. This is trading without money. There are a number of sites that allow you to do paper-trading, virtualstockexchange.com being one. This will teach you discipline which you must have or you will lose your shirt & pants and underwear. Do this type of trading for at least 60 days. Iknow I know, you want to make money now. Be patient, this will be the best education you will ever get for trading. It's sorta like the difference between reading a book on swimming or getting in the water and you apply what you read, once your comfortable wading a bit, then you can go to deeper waters,(real cash). \nGo into each trade with a set goal of profit AND loss objective. Always use real or mental stops. Stops are prices you set for closing out the trade, both for profit AND loss, you can place them at the same time you place your order or any point after, I prefer the latter.  \n  Also, be highly skeptical of get rich quick schemes, programs and books/tapes, if their formulas were so great, why are they trying to make a few bucks from you buying them? I doubt it's because they really, truly love you, and they are hoping to receive the NOBLE PRIZE for humanitarianism. \n  I also suggest you spend some time reviewing the info the exchanges have on their websites, invaluable. And let's not forget our boys at the SEC. They have a great wealth of info on particular stocks and companies, a must site.\n  That being said, I wish you the best of luck, cause you will need it, and always remember, your trading points not dollars, this will keep you from getting too emotional, but you will anyways. \nSee ya at the bank...(hopefully not the blood bank)