stock day trade

Expert Advisors - For and Against Automating Your Forex Trading System

2007-11-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

An expert advisor is a piece of software which works as a plug-in for your trading platform. The purpose of an expert advisor is to automate your own (or someone else's) trading system.

An expert advisor works by monitoring any market for you 24 hours a day, looking to place trades for you once it sees that certain parameters (based on your own, or someone else trading strategy) have been met.

To build your own expert advisor, you need to have a working knowledge of the MetaQuotes Language 4 (MQL4) which is the built-in language for programming trading strategies. There are companies which will (for a fee) automate your trading strategy and build an expert advisor for you based on your own settings. There are also companies which will sell you their own expert advisors.

Most forex expert advisors are developed for the Metatrader trading platform. Developed by Russian programmers, Metatrader had become the standard trading platform for many professional traders and forex brokers.

Once you have built your own expert advisor (usually a file ending in .EX4) or purchased someone elses, the process of setting it up with Metatrader 4 is quite simple. It is just a matter of opening and installing the file into your MT4 platform.

ADVANTAGES OF EXPERT ADVISORS:

The main advantages of trading with an expert advisor are:

1. The expert advisor has a plan. It sticks to this plan and the settings you have developed into it no matter how uncertain the market looks or how you may feel about the market at a particular point of time.

2. The expert advisor is consistent. It can eliminate the negative human aspects of trading which include fear, greed and inconsistency in trading.

3. The expert advisor frees you up from physically having to watch and analyse the charts to find a signal to enter/exit trades. It does this automatically for you so you don't have to sit in front of your computer all day.

4. Freeing you up from watching charts for entry and exit signals also has the added benefit of giving you more time to spend on actually developing your trading strategies, doing back tests and more and more tests.

5. Finally, the expert advisor (or forex robot) can monitor many markets at once, giving you access to many more trading opportunities than you can physically find and analyse by yourself.

DISADVANTAGES OF EXPERT ADVISORS:

1. The robot (expert advisor) does not and will never have the feel for the human and the soft non-programmable issues. The trader must always look at the bigger picture, the fundamentals as well as the hundreds of other important issues which affect the ebb and flow of the forex market.

2. Many traders also choose to use expert advisors for the wrong reason. They believe that simply by trading with a robot they will automatically have better results or be better traders. Essentially, all an expert advisor will help you with is with trading consistency. It will just free up your time to focus on developing and testing your trading strategies instead of physically having to look for and execute trading opportunities.

by Giselle Sanchez - Learn more about building your own expert advisor, how to set up an expert advisor with Metatrader 4 and choose from over 40 of the best forex expert advisors.

Trading Oil and Gas Contracts Using CFDs

2007-11-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

Many traders do not realise that Contracts for Difference can be used not just for stockmarket trading, but also in the forex and commodities markets, and one of the most liquid and exciting markets is crude oil and natural gas. CFDs are usually modelled in the same way as futures contracts, and consequently there are several contracts from which to choose in each category.

It is well known that the crude oil market is normally priced either as either Brent crude or US crude. The current spread between the two is about $3.5, Brent being higher, but this varies according to supply and demand, liquidity and other geopolitical issues.

Different contracts

Within each market, several expiration months are quoted and at the time of writing (June 2007) July, August and September CFDs are available. The difference in prices between the various contracts reflects the cost of carry and other seasonal factors as it would for all commodities.

What this means is that you do not pay financing interest on these CFDs, because all positions are rolled over into expiry and the contract values already price in the cost of carry.

What can you trade?

It is possible to trade various many different CFDs related to oil prices. These include:

Heating oil, for which there is a liquid US-based quote with several expirations

UK Oil and Gas sector CFDs

US Oil and Gas sector CFDs

Individual oil share CFDs including such varied names as Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil, Total-Fina, Exxon Mobil and many smaller oil company stocks around the world

US Natural Gas CFDs with various expirations

Calculating the margin on a US crude contract

As we analyse the US crude oil market every day in our US report, it is worth looking at this contract to calculate what margin is required on a trade.

The current most liquid contract is the July 2007 CFD, priced at $65.86 to $65.92

The margin requirement on most commodities is 3% of the total contract value.

The tick size is 0.01.

The contract value is calculated by this formula:

((Quantity) x (Price))/ Point= initial margin

Therefore if you were to buy 10 US Crude Oil CFDs at $65.92

(10 x 49.50)/ 0.01 x 0.03 = $1,978 initial margin.

The exposure per tick is worth $10.

For online traders, CFDs are an excellent way to gain exposure to the oil market as a speculative play, for hedging purposes, or when searching for good arbitrage possibilities. The markets are liquid and spreads are very attractive.

Mike Estrey is the Head of Research for Blue Index, specialists in Online CFD Trading, Contracts for Difference and Online Forex Trading.

Penny Stock Investing and Trading

2007-11-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

If you ask anyone in the finance world what they think about penny stock investing or trading , the answer that you will probably get will be: Dont do it. You will lose your money since 90% of penny stock companies are scams. Penny stock companies just want to sell shares and are not interested in developing their businesses. The truth is that investing or trading penny stocks is a very risky business. So here is the most important tip about penny stocks: Invest only money that you can afford to lose.

If penny stocks are so risky then, why do people invest in or trade them? The answer is because you can make a lot of money in a short time if you know what you are doing.

If you are still reading and have decided that you want to trade penny stocks, you need the right tools and good advice to help you survive and even win some money.

Step # 1 Finding the Right Penny Stock to Buy

To discover the right one stock, you will have to do some investigation, or Due Diligence. There are a lot of websites that will help you with your DD and you can find a list of useful ones at www.stocks-reporter.com.

The following points will guide you in learning important information about a company in which you are interested in investing:

1. Share structure: AS (Shares Authorized) and OS (Outstanding Stock) and Float.
2. Transfer agent transparency
3. SEC filing
4. Financial track record
5. Competitive position in its industry
6. Business model
7. Earnings power
8. Valuation or the potential value of the company.

For example, when looking into share structure what you want to see is that there is no dilution. A good sign is when the company has maximized the OS and is close to AS. Watching Level 2 will also give you good indication if there is any dilution from the company. A good strategy is to follow insiders who know the company better than anyone else.

Step # 2 Deciding When to Buy

After finding the penny stock that you plan to buy, you have to find your entry point and how to execute it the right way. Following the trading in that particular stock for a few days together with chart analyzing will give you a lot of valuable information. At this point it is highly recommended for anyone to learn some basic chart reading or at least let others analyze the chart for you. You can ask for help on many of the popular message boards that discuss stock trading and chart analyzing. An important tip about how to execute the trade in a penny stock is: Be very patient and always try to buy at the BID price.

Step # 3 When to Sell or The Exit Strategy

The exit strategy is something very personal to different traders or investors. It is very important to implement your strategy immediately after executing the buy order. In most cases, a good idea would be to set a sell order of 50% of your position at around 20%-30% PPS spike. Another 10%-20% rise of PPS and then sell another 50% of your current position and let the rest ride for a while. In general, your exit strategy should be very flexible and change with news, momentum, and volume. 90% of the time, though, you should sell at the ASK so it wont affect the run.

TIP: Remember always to take profits.

Happy Trading

Ron Kaye is an editor for http://www.Stocks-Reporter.com, Stock Investing and Trading Reports website that publishes stock articles, stock news, stock reports, and shares information on undervalued penny stocks.

Forex Options Market Overview

2007-11-01T19:43:00.001-07:00

The forex options market started as an over-the-counter (OTC) financial vehicle for large banks, financial institutions and large international corporations to hedge against foreign currency exposure. Like the forex spot market, the forex options market is considered an "interbank" market. However, with the plethora of real-time financial data and forex option trading software available to most investors through the internet, today's forex option market now includes an increasingly large number of individuals and corporations who are speculating and/or hedging foreign currency exposure via telephone or online forex trading platforms.

Forex option trading has emerged as an alternative investment vehicle for many traders and investors. As an investment tool, forex option trading provides both large and small investors with greater flexibility when determining the appropriate forex trading and hedging strategies to implement.

Most forex options trading is conducted via telephone as there are only a few forex brokers offering online forex option trading platforms.

Forex Option Defined - A forex option is a financial currency contract giving the forex option buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a specific forex spot contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the forex option buyer pays to the forex option seller for the forex option contract rights is called the forex option "premium."

The Forex Option Buyer - The buyer, or holder, of a foreign currency option has the choice to either sell the foreign currency option contract prior to expiration, or he or she can choose to hold the foreign currency options contract until expiration and exercise his or her right to take a position in the underlying spot foreign currency. The act of exercising the foreign currency option and taking the subsequent underlying position in the foreign currency spot market is known as "assignment" or being "assigned" a spot position.

The only initial financial obligation of the foreign currency option buyer is to pay the premium to the seller up front when the foreign currency option is initially purchased. Once the premium is paid, the foreign currency option holder has no other financial obligation (no margin is required) until the foreign currency option is either offset or expires.

On the expiration date, the call buyer can exercise his or her right to buy the underlying foreign currency spot position at the foreign currency option's strike price, and a put holder can exercise his or her right to sell the underlying foreign currency spot position at the foreign currency option's strike price. Most foreign currency options are not exercised by the buyer, but instead are offset in the market before expiration.

Foreign currency options expires worthless if, at the time the foreign currency option expires, the strike price is "out-of-the-money." In simplest terms, a foreign currency option is "out-of-the-money" if the underlying foreign currency spot price is lower than a foreign currency call option's strike price, or the underlying foreign currency spot price is higher than a put option's strike price. Once a foreign currency option has expired worthless, the foreign currency option contract itself expires and neither the buyer nor the seller have any further obligation to the other party.

The Forex Option Seller - The foreign currency option seller may also be called the "writer" or "grantor" of a foreign currency option contract. The seller of a foreign currency option is contractually obligated to take the opposite underlying foreign currency spot position if the buyer exercises his right. In return for the premium paid by the buyer, the seller assumes the risk of taking a possible adverse position at a later point in time in the foreign currency spot market.

Initially, the foreign currency option seller collects the premium paid by the foreign currency option buyer (the buyer's funds will immediately be transferred into the seller's foreign currency trading account). The foreign currency option seller must have the funds in his or her account to cover the initial margin requirement. If the markets move in a favorable direction for the seller, the seller will not have to post any more funds for his foreign currency options other than the initial margin requirement. However, if the markets move in an unfavorable direction for the foreign currency options seller, the seller may have to post additional funds to his or her foreign currency trading account to keep the balance in the foreign currency trading account above the maintenance margin requirement.

Just like the buyer, the foreign currency option seller has the choice to either offset (buy back) the foreign currency option contract in the options market prior to expiration, or the seller can choose to hold the foreign currency option contract until expiration. If the foreign currency options seller holds the contract until expiration, one of two scenarios will occur: (1) the seller will take the opposite underlying foreign currency spot position if the buyer exercises the option or (2) the seller will simply let the foreign currency option expire worthless (keeping the entire premium) if the strike price is out-of-the-money.

Please note that "puts" and "calls" are separate foreign currency options contracts and are NOT the opposite side of the same transaction. For every put buyer there is a put seller, and for every call buyer there is a call seller. The foreign currency options buyer pays a premium to the foreign currency options seller in every option transaction.

Forex Call Option - A foreign exchange call option gives the foreign exchange options buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specific foreign exchange spot contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the foreign exchange option buyer pays to the foreign exchange option seller for the foreign exchange option contract rights is called the option "premium."

Please note that "puts" and "calls" are separate foreign exchange options contracts and are NOT the opposite side of the same transaction. For every foreign exchange put buyer there is a foreign exchange put seller, and for every foreign exchange call buyer there is a foreign exchange call seller. The foreign exchange options buyer pays a premium to the foreign exchange options seller in every option transaction.

The Forex Put Option - A foreign exchange put option gives the foreign exchange options buyer the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specific foreign exchange spot contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the foreign exchange option buyer pays to the foreign exchange option seller for the foreign exchange option contract rights is called the option "premium."

Plain Vanilla Forex Options - Plain vanilla options generally refer to standard put and call option contracts traded through an exchange (however, in the case of forex option trading, plain vanilla options would refer to the standard, generic forex option contracts that are traded through an over-the-counter (OTC) forex options dealer or clearinghouse). In simplest terms, vanilla forex options would be defined as the buying or selling of a standard forex call option contract or a forex put option contract.

Exotic Forex Options - To understand what makes an exotic forex option "exotic," you must first understand what makes a forex option "non-vanilla." Plain vanilla forex options have a definitive expiration structure, payout structure and payout amount. Exotic forex option contracts may have a change in one or all of the above features of a vanilla forex option. It is important to note that exotic options, since they are often tailored to a specific's investor's needs by an exotic forex options broker, are generally not very liquid, if at all.

Intrinsic & Extrinsic Value - The price of an FX option is calculated into two separate parts, the intrinsic value and the extrinsic (time) value.

The intrinsic value of an FX option is defined as the difference between the strike price and the underlying FX spot contract rate (American Style Options) or the FX forward rate (European Style Options). The intrinsic value represents the actual value of the FX option if exercised. Please note that the intrinsic value must be zero (0) or above - if an FX option has no intrinsic value, then the FX option is simply referred to as having no (or zero) intrinsic value (the intrinsic value is never represented as a negative number). An FX option with no intrinsic value is considered "out-of-the-money," an FX option having intrinsic value is considered "in-the-money," and an FX option with a strike price at, or very close to, the underlying FX spot rate is considered "at-the-money."

The extrinsic value of an FX option is commonly referred to as the "time" value and is defined as the value of an FX option beyond the intrinsic value. A number of factors contribute to the calculation of the extrinsic value including, but not limited to, the volatility of the two spot currencies involved, the time left until expiration, the riskless interest rate of both currencies, the spot price of both currencies and the strike price of the FX option. It is important to note that the extrinsic value of FX options erodes as its expiration nears. An FX option with 60 days left to expiration will be worth more than the same FX option that has only 30 days left to expiration. Because there is more time for the underlying FX spot price to possibly move in a favorable direction, FX options sellers demand (and FX options buyers are willing to pay) a larger premium for the extra amount of time.

Volatility - Volatility is considered the most important factor when pricing forex options and it measures movements in the price of the underlying. High volatility increases the probability that the forex option could expire in-the-money and increases the risk to the forex option seller who, in turn, can demand a larger premium. An increase in volatility causes an increase in the price of both call and put options.

Delta - The delta of a forex option is defined as the change in price of a forex option relative to a change in the underlying forex spot rate. A change in a forex option's delta can be influenced by a change in the underlying forex spot rate, a change in volatility, a change in the riskless interest rate of the underlying spot currencies or simply by the passage of time (nearing of the expiration date).

The delta must always be calculated in a range of zero to one (0-1.0). Generally, the delta of a deep out-of-the-money forex option will be closer to zero, the delta of an at-the-money forex option will be near .5 (the probability of exercise is near 50%) and the delta of deep in-the-money forex options will be closer to 1.0. In simplest terms, the closer a forex option's strike price is relative to the underlying spot forex rate, the higher the delta because it is more sensitive to a change in the underlying rate.

John Nobile - Senior Account Executive
CFOS/FX - Online Forex Spot and Options Brokerage

Forex Mini Account

2007-11-01T18:17:00.001-07:00

Forex market has many advantages over other foreign exchange markets and due to its very high profitability potential most of the people around the world are looking for entering into the world of Forex trading. But one of the main worries of the new forex trader is if he needs lots of money in order to get accessed to this Fx market and also start placing trades. It is not necessary that you need to be super-rich or the owner of a big corporation. You just need a few dollars and the right strategy to start profiting from Forex trading. Mini forex trading is an outstanding way for small investors to learn about and take part in forex trading and with the most forex brokers presenting a leverage of 100:1, mini forex trading will allow you to control a $10,000 currency position with a deposit of only $100. Mini forex trading is a great way to get a feel for forex trading and learn the tricks and skills desired to succeed without having to go to great expenditure.

One greater new for the starting of forex trader is that there is no maximum trade volume when you use a forex mini account. Although the standard trade size is 10,000 units, you are not limited to trading one lot. For instance, you can trade 10,000 units or even 200,000 units. You can gradually increase the size of your positions to maximize profits as you become more seasoned and build up your confidence. The ability to customize the size of the trade will allow you to have a better risk management of your money. Once you have entered the world of Forex trading you will be finding it immediately that this field is not just about entering trades into your brokers trading station, but for gaining profits.

The only way for reaching your goal of becoming a profitable currency trader is by finding the best sources to learn forex trading. You can start practicing with a paper trading account, which is highly recommended, and this will give you the feeling of what a real trading account is as you gain the knowledge and skills you need and without the constant fear of losing your money in a bad move you may make. Once you have been profitable with a paper trading account the next natural step would be to open a mini forex trading account, but with real money. But even considering you are risking real money this time, it would be just a few dollars on the table that will be at risk; and on the positive side, you will have the chance of gaining real money from your Forex trading skills, which at the end is the ultimate aim of all traders.

Tamil Selvi is a SEO copywriter for www.1world-forex.com Can contact her at tamil@searchenginegenie.com

Rules of Simple IRA Your Business Needs to Know

2007-11-01T16:51:00.001-07:00

A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees plan, better known as a SIMPLE plan, is an IRA-based retirement plan available to employers with fewer than 100 employees.

Under a SIMPLE IRA plan, an employee can contribute a portion of his pay to his SIMPLE IRA account. An employee can make a maximum contribution of $9,000, ($10,500 if age 50 and over), to his SIMPLE IRA account for 2004. You, the employer, are required to make a contribution for every worker who receives $5,000 or more in compensation.

You can match up to 3% of the salary for the employees who contribute to their SIMPLE IRA account. You only have to match for those employees who contribute to the plan. In any 2 years out of a 5 year period, after notification to the employees, you may elect a lower matching contribution percentage but not less than 1% of salary.

Your business also has the option to select a non-elective mandatory company match of 2% of annual salary for every employee. Under the non-elective contribution formula, even if an eligible employee doesnt contribute to his SIMPLE IRA, you must still contribute to his account 2% of his salary.

Advantages of the SIMPLE IRA

Less expensive than a 401(k)

Disadvantages of the SIMPLE IRA

A special tax penalty of 25% unique to the SIMPLE IRA for withdrawals made within the first two years of opening a SIMPLE plan. (Congress is considering eliminating this tax).
A SIMPLE IRA is much less flexible than a 401(k) plan.
Employer must make contributions for all eligible employees.
No contributions can be made to other qualified retirement plans.
All contributions are immediately vested, meaning all contributions belong right away to the employee.
A SIMPLE IRA plan can only be terminated prospectively, beginning no earlier than the next calendar year. Contributions must continue until the plan is terminated.
A SIMPLE IRA must be set up at least 60 days prior to year end. Thus, October 1, is the last day to set up a new SIMPLE IRA for the calendar year.
No loans allowed.

While the SIMPLE IRA make senses under certain circumstances, this plan comes with a lot of strings attached. If your business has no employees and you do not expect to hire employees in the near future, consider using a Solo 401(k) with a loan feature instead of a SIMPLE IRA. And, if you have more than 20 employees, look at setting up a regular 401(k) as an alternative.

To terminate a SIMPLE IRA plan, notify the financial institution that you chose to handle the SIMPLE IRA plan that you will not be making contributions for the next calendar year and that you want to terminate the contract or agreement with it. You must also notify your employees that the SIMPLE IRA plan will be discontinued.

About The Author

Daniel Lamaute, CEO of Lamaute Capital, Inc. (www.InvestSafe.com) specializes in setting up retirement plans. You may visit http://www.investsafe.com to access a free calculator that will help you estimate what your maximum contribution might be under different plans.

Property In Bulgaria What Is All That About?

2007-11-01T15:25:00.001-07:00

Property in Bulgaria has caused so much activity amongst all involved in the overseas property industry that you can easily get dizzy from the amount of information and property available in the region. One thing is for sure Bulgaria as an emerging market that is set to change the former member of the Soviet Union forever

Bulgarian facts

Bulgaria officially the Republic of Bulgaria is a country in Southeastern Europe, It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north, mostly along the Danube.

Modern Bulgaria

Bulgaria opened its doors to tourism and foreign investment the early 1990s. Bulgaria's 8 million inhabitants live in an area as large as England and enjoy an attractive mix of landscapes which have made Bulgaria such a popular holiday destination. Its sunny Black sea coast attracts holiday makers in the summer. Its Ski resorts in Bansko, Barovets and mount Vitosha make it an affordable place to ski in the winter. The quiet Bulgarian villages, historic buildings and cosmopolitan cities make it ideal place to visit all year round. Investors tip the Capital Sofia as a sound place to invcest in property abroad.

Property in Sofia Bulgaria

Sofia is getting richer and is definitely on its way up both business and tourism help make the city an attractive place to invest. Businesses are setting up in Sofia and evidence around the city is clear with impressive modern buildings, multi national company offices, BMW and Porsche dealerships to name but a few. Tourists visit the city all year round, helped by low cost airlines flying into Sofia Airport. The impressive architecture makes Sofia a good place to wander around; churches such as the Aleksander Nevski Memorial Church will always attract those looking for a relaxing city break. Property investors buying property in Sofia do not need to rely on seasonal tenants to fill their investment properties. The combination of local and foreign employees and visitors to Sofia make the city an attractive place to invest.

Buying property in Bulgaria the process

Buying property in Bulgaria means in most cases that overseas property buyers will need to set up a limited company. The exception to this is when a buyer purchases a leasehold property such as an apartment. In this case you do not own the land and therefore foreign buyers can buy Bulgarian property without the need to set up a Bulgarian registered company. Entry to the EU in 2007 will hopefully see these rules change

Nicholas Marr is a lifetime property investor and CEO of Marr International Ltd a UK based property marketing company that is responsible for one of the worlds leading overseas property web sites at http://www.homesgofast.com. More information re Property in Bulgaria is at http://www.bulgarianhomes4sale.com

The Return of Sci-Fi - Texas Hospital Patients May Soon Be Talking To Robots

2007-10-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Your doctor may soon be a robot, or so the whispers warn. Sound like something out of a bad science-fiction movie? Well, maybe you should ask whichever physician shows up on-screen of the RP-7 Remote Presence Robotic System by InTouch Technologies, a maneuverable robotic system designed to allow physicians to videoconference with their patients from remote locations.

Dr. Alex Gandsas, of Baltimores Sinai Hospital and holder of stock options with InTouch Technologies, introduced the machine to hospital administrators as a way to closely monitor patients after the weight loss surgeries in which he specializes. Since its introduction, the length of his patients stays has been shorter. In Gandsas study published earlier this month in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 92 of 376 patients had additional robotic visits, and all 92 of them were medically cleared to return home faster than those who did not receive check-ins with the teleconferencing system. Shorter patient stays would be a welcome change for hospitals, health insurance companies, and patients alike -- all of which have a vested interested in sending patients home faster.

While further studies should, without a doubt, be performed by physicians who do not hold a financial interest in the technology, these preliminary results do show promise. The robotic visits were not used by Gandsas to replace his personal check-ins with patients -- only to add to them. Neither InTouch Technologies, nor Dr. Gandsas envisions the Bari, or so its nicknamed, as completely replacing personal visits with healthcare professionals. Instead, the joystick-controlled system, which employs cameras, a video screen, and microphone, is intended to supplement physicians traditional visits, and to allow patients and healthcare workers to receive advice from qualified physicians and specialists when it may otherwise be impossible. Doctors may soon be able to provide their patients with additional daily check-ins and answer questions much faster, all while sitting in their own homes or while away from the area.

Sinai Hospital isnt the only one with this technology, however. In fact, robots have been in use for some time to assist with patient care, including guiding stroke patients through therapy, and helping them play video games. Many prosthetic devices are now at least partially robotic, and if it werent for a certain amount of robotic technology, the public would not be able to communicate with such great minds as Steven Hawkins.

Johns Hopkins also has a robotic teleconferencing system to help communicate with patients who need a translator when one is not available at the hospital itself. Use of such technology could have tremendously positive effects on Texas healthcare system -- particularly in Dallas, Houston, and Austin -- which handles a high volume of patients who do not speak English. Lack of adequate communication is a major obstacle to receiving quality healthcare for many immigrants in Texas. Lack of quality healthcare, in turn, can lead to serious public health issues, including the transmission of communicable diseases.

Approximately 120 RP-7 Remote Presence Robotic Systems are currently in use around the world, with plans to implement many more in the coming years. China is already using similar systems to help deal with the lack of medical care in rural, inaccessible areas.

Dr. Louis Kavoussi, chairman of the urology department at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, took a special interest in this new trend and conducted a study monitoring the effect of the technology on patient care. The study showed no decrease in patient satisfaction, and no increase in complications due to teleconferencing visits. The technology, Kavoussi said, is rudimentary, really, in comparison to other developing systems. The need for fear is minimal.

There are relatively few of InTouch Technologies systems available, and further studies have yet to be conducted. If robotic teleconferencing is used as a supplement to personal physicians visits, however, it has the potential of dramatically improving many aspects of healthcare -- from how quickly patients questions are answered, to how many visits, in total, they receive, to whether or not rural residents receive proper care, to how well (or even if) they are provided with a translator to explain their symptoms. States like Texas, in particular, with shortages of doctors and high volumes of patients who do not speak English, stand to benefit. So maybe robots in hospitals arent something one needs to fear. In fact, they may even get your unpleasant stay over with a few days faster.

Being aware of medical technology is an important part of taking care of your health. How you take care of yourself will certainly affect you as you age, and eventually your wallet, as well.

If youre a young individual who tries to keep informed and maintain a healthy condition and lifestyle, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly-affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. Visit our website, http://www.precedent.com, for more information. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly-competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled "real time" application and acceptance experience.

Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com

Avoid Losing On Stock Options Part 3

2007-10-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

In this example, you trade exposure on 100 shares of stock for exposure on 300 shares, but you avoid or delay exercise as well. At the same time, you net out additional cash profits, which reduces your overall basis in the stock. This makes exercise more acceptable later on. Of course, you can continue to use rolling techniques to avoid exercise. Another important point worth evaluating is the potential tax advantage or consequence. Options are taxed in the year that positions are closed; so when you roll forward, you recognize a loss in the original call transaction, which can be deducted on your current year's federal income tax return. At the same time, by rolling forward you receive a net payment while deferring profits, perhaps to the following year. However, because the roll forward may involve in-the-money positions, the stock profit may revert to a short-term gain instead of the more favorable long-term gain.

The roll forward maintains the same striking price and buys you time, which makes sense when the stock's value has gone up. However, the plan does not always suit the circumstances. Another rolling method is called the roll down.

Example: Repetitive Profits: You originally bought 100 shares of stock at $31 per share, and later sold a call with a striking price of 35, for a premium of 3. The stock has fallen in value and your call now is worth 1. You cancel (buy) the call and realize a profit of $200, and immediately sell a call with a striking price of 30, receiving a premium of 4.

If the option is exercised at its striking price of 30, the net loss in the stock will be $100; but your net profit in option premium would be $600, so your overall profit would be $500:

Striking price of shares $3,000
Less original price of shares -3,100
Loss on stock-100
Profit on first call sold 200
Profit on second call sold 400
Net profit$500

The roll down is an effective way to offset losses in stock positions in a declining market, as long as the price decline is not severe. Profits in the call premium offset losses to a degree, reducing your basis in the stock. This works as long as the point drop in stock does not exceed the offset level in call premium. You face a different problem in a rising market, where the likelihood of exercise motivates you to take steps to move from in-the-money to out-of-the-money status, or to reduce the degree of in-the-money. In that situation, you may use the roll up.

Example: Trading Losses for Profits: You originally paid $31 per share for 100 shares of stock, and later sold a call with a striking price of 35. The stock's current market value has risen to $39 per share. You cancel (buy) the call and accept a loss, offsetting that loss by selling another call with a striking price of 40 and more time to go until expiration.

With this technique, the loss in the original call can be replaced by the premium in the new call. With more time to go until expiration, the net cash difference is in your favor. This technique depends on time value to make it profitable. In some cases, the net difference will be minimal or may even cost money. However, considering you will be picking up an extra five points in the striking price by avoiding exercise, you can afford a loss in the roll up as long as it does not exceed that five-point difference.

Tip: Rolling techniques can help you to maximize option returns without going through exercise, most of the time. But the wise seller is always prepared to give up shares. That is the nature of selling options.

Get your Momentum Stock Trading System and sign up for my free weekly online trading system newsletter here at: http://www.stressfreetrading.com

The Secret Of Making Money In The Stock Market

2007-10-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

You may have wondered if there are people out there who consistently make money from the stock market. And yes, there are people out there who are consistently making money from the stock market because if they were not making money from market they would not be there and the markets would not be there too. These people are no smarter than you. They do not work any harder and neither are they lucky than you.

But, unlike you, they never seem to worry about having money because they know one or two secrets of making money in the stock market. You see most people miss the big idea here. They think it takes a lot of money to make a lot of money. But that is not how it is done. The idea is to make pennies consistently and to use them to build vast personal fortunes. The stock market is a proven wealth builder and can and should benefit all participants. It is only fair that each one of us should be entitled to a piece of the action.

One thing these traders know is that the market is not an issue of trial and error but a fully quantifiable market by any fundamental Mathematics. You see, when we went to school we learn about the Standard Deviation in probability and statistics. This Standard Deviation is Mathematics and is quantifiable in modern science. Standard deviation was introduced by Mathematician Karl Pearson in 1893 although the idea was by then nearly a century old. This is the single most important idea that should explains all those mysteries, myths and legends you hear of in stock market.

Everything on this planet has properties and, or, characteristics. A stock, just like you and me, has properties and these properties are quantified by calculating the Standard Deviation of the stock. It varies from stock to stock. Our brains are lazy and what we can not understand we turn to astrology which gives our brains a rest. Rather than use planets in signs of the zodiac and financial astrology, or imagining of the latest rumors, invest that time in the study of probability and statistics. If its not you to study, who should? Probability and Statistics is that study that has to do with tossing a coin to get a tail or a head. And as simple as it may sound, tossing a coin and getting a head for only two consecutive times is an extremely very difficulty thing contrary to what our lazy brains would want us to believe.

Standard Deviation is all about vibrations. Vibrations is like in music, vibrations in a string, water vibrations, earthquake vibrations, light and electromagnetic vibrations. The stock market is like vibrations too. For the price to move it must vibrate. The stock spends a lot of time vibrating in a neutral sideway range which unfortunately we do not like. We want the stock to go to the roof the next day after we have bought it. Vibrations are waves. Waves have crests and troughs and travels from one price to another. One crest is often followed by a second crest which is followed by a third crest and so on and so forth. Every crest is separated by a trough to create an alternating pattern of crest and troughs.

Like a bouncing tennis ball, a lower bounce than the previous bounce means the ball is coming to a halt. In the stock market, strength is quantified by series of crests where each crest exceeds the highest point of the previous crest and weakness by series of troughs where each trough goes lower than the lowest point of the previous trough.

People out there will tell you to trade in the direction of trend and they go further to say getting the trend is easy : do this and that. Contrary to the believe that determining the stock's trend is easy, in real time this is very difficulty and you can not have a probability of 100%, otherwise each one of us would be a winner in the market. Some investment advisers and the media are either oblivious and always bullish or immoral, merely giving the public what it wants. It s only a question of, is it this group of stocks or that group, this sector or that sector?

Back to crests and troughs. Whenever two crests meet up with one another they produce a bigger crest which is constructive, and, whenever a crest and a trough meet one another they tend to cancel each other producing a smaller trough or crest which is destructive. If you have ever wondered why carpenters saw the wood in the directions of the grains rather than up against the grains, wonder no more - these guys find it easier and the bundles they produce are sliced clearly leaving a smooth surface with minimum defects.

A bigger crest or trough is made up of smaller troughs and crests. How many of the smaller ones makes the bigger trough and crest is the puzzle that will make our lazy brains consult astrology. Lets leave that as it is because the market moves yoyo, so we comfort ourselves.

The real forces that move the markets are the moving averages. They are a measure of accumulation of strength and weakness over time due to news, economic growth reports, manipulation, fear and greed. There are many moving averages just as there are different types of traders. It is through the dynamics of the moving averages that there are crests and troughs. The bad thing about these moving averages is that they only tell us about what happened rather than what is happing.

One of the most successful trading tool since time immemorial is multiple moving averages crossover, and the acceleration in all averages is either positive in all averages or negative in all averages that you are using. If the acceleration in averages is positive, you go long, and if the acceleration is negative, you go short. This really is multiple time frame where you trade using the shorter trend but only if the longer trend supports it.

Good trading requires you to have safety measures upfront. Always make sure that every trading position that you open has a corresponding stop loss order, repeat, every position that you open has a corresponding stop loss order. I can repeat this until breakfast tomorrow. Trading without stop loss orders is like driving an automobile with faulty breaking system. Every now and then check to see if your stop loss orders are still active. If your broker's system fails, when it come back it may come without your stop loss orders. These stops are not free. It is among those fees that should keep your broker in business and you should grandly pay him even if your stops are rarely used. And why not? And talking about brokers, get yourself a good and inexpensive broker. There are many out there. A broker who charges more than $1.0 per 100 shares of stock is expensive and if you are paying more than that, then you will develop fear of exiting trades as you contemplates the broker's commission you are to incur. A good broker should embrace modern technology and you should promote them because if its not you, then who? And never get married into certain stocks. A company and its stock are two very different things. A stock that is not making money for you is not a thing. Throw it to the dogs.

The Author's website The Secret of Making Money in the Stock Market is designed to help beginners and average traders make money in the Stock Market. In view of the above I have considered only proven mathematical logics. I now shall invite you to join me here as I attempt to intermarry all these logics and predict profitable market directions with Precision. And if you have been wondering if there are people out there who consistently make money from the stock market, wonder no more.

Selling Uncovered Calls - Part 2

2007-10-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

You will need approval in advance from your brokerage firm before you will be allowed to sell calls. Each firm is required to ensure that you understand the risks involved, that you fully understand the options market, and that you have adequate equity and income to undertake those risks.

You will not be allowed to write an unlimited number of naked calls. The potential losses, both to you and to the brokerage firm, place natural limits on this activity. Everyone who wants to sell calls is required to sign a document acknowledging the risks and stating that they understand those risks. In part, this statement includes the following:

Special Statement for Uncovered Option Writers

There are special risks associated with uncovered option writing which expose the investor to potentially significant loss. Therefore, this type of strategy may not be suitable for all customers approved for options transactions.

1. The potential loss of uncovered call writing is unlimited. The writer of an uncovered call is in an extremely risky position, and may incur large losses if the value of the underlying instrument increases above the exercise price.

2. As with writing uncovered calls, the risk of writing uncovered put options is substantial. The writer of an uncovered put option bears a risk of loss if the value of the underlying instrument declines below the exercise price. Such loss could be substantial if there is a significant decline in the value of the underlying instrument.

3. Uncovered option writing is thus suitable only for the knowledgeable investor who understands the risks, has the financial capacity and willingness to incur potentially substantial losses, and has sufficient liquid assets to meet applicable margin requirements. In this regard, if the value of the underlying instrument moves against an uncovered writer's options position, the investor's broker may request significant additional margin payments. If an investor does not make such margin payments, the broker may liquidate stock or options positions in the investor's account, with little or no prior notice in accordance with the investor's margin agreement.

Get your Momentum Stock Trading System and sign up for my free weekly online trading system newsletter here at: http://www.stressfreetrading.com

Day Trading the Emini - Training Ground For Big Contracts

2007-10-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

In 1997 the Chicago Mercantile Exchange created a new financial instrument known as the emini futures contract. It started off small but now is a fully mature market with excellent liquidity.

Now in 2005, the emini futures contract is an investment vehicle of choice, for beginning and experienced futures traders the world over.

In this introductory article, I just want to have a look at why that is. You see for an investment vehicle to gain wide appeal it has to have a few characteristics.

It needs to be accessible to a wide public. The emini is such a vehicle. The minimum you need is around $500 to get started, instead of $5000 or more with regular futures.

It needs to be liquid, in other words there must be enough buyers to buy when you want to sell and sellers to sell when you want to buy.

The emini is very liquid.

There needs to be a significant profit. The structure of a well traded account is such that with a small amount of start-up capital very significant profits can be made, enough actually to trade for a living.

The taxation situation is very advantageous, in many jurisdictions only being capital gains tax - you should always check with a professional before making an investment decision.

The lifestyle of a successful emini futures trader can be very comfortable, an hour or so of trading in the morning and that's it for the day. It's possible to make $500 or $1000 in an hour or so depending upon how many contracts you trade. It's also possible to lose just as much, which is my obligatory sobering statement to any gamblers out there.

It's this lifestyle that gives it such appeal to people like you and me.

Freedom from the man
Working from home
Spending more time with the family

But that is the positive. On the dark side, with futures and emini futures there is financial risk, so this is not something that one goes into untrained.

That would merely be gambling. Successful investing, is not so much about being right or wrong or the roll of the dice, but about money management, patience and discipline to following a system. If you are a gambler then stay away from futures, for you will surely lose and can lose big.

If you are willing to learn and trade a system, and utilise money management principles then you can join the ranks of an group of successful traders are making significant profits from home.

Graeme Sprigge is the webmaster of emini-courses.com, a site which presents and reviews more than ten quality emini day trading courses and systems. Graeme has a keen interest in investing in options, shares and futures trading. Visit emini-courses.com to get an eye-opening free ebook, The Truth about Day Trading

Gann His Trading Method's Made Millions Learn Them For a Profit Edge

2007-10-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

W D Gann is one of the most famous traders of all time and his unique methods helped him make a fortune of around $50.00 million and best of all he wrote and recorded the way he did it, so anyone can have access to his trading strategy and aplly it for profit.

Trading is one of the ways that small traders can start with small stakes and build real wealth quickly.

The good news is everything about trading can be specifically learned and Gann outlined all his methods in writing for traders to profit from and enjoy today.

His methods are applicable to any financial market from forex to stocks to bonds so you can choose where to apply them, depending on the risk you wish to take.

Lets look at why you should study Gann and his methods of making money.

1. He Had a Track Record

Many e-book sellers or traders sell information but its worthless they dont trade it themselves and simply make up a track record.

Gann made money and his track record and invited newspapers and journalists to track his trades such was his confidence in how to make money.

2. Gann and the Law of the Market Movement

Gann pointed out quite rightly, that market prices depended on humans and that their psychology was constant Because human nature was constant this nature would show up in repetitive price patterns that could be traded for profit

Gann was a technical trader and like all charts believed that what happened in the past would happen again and the key to making profits was to look for recurring price patterns to put the odds in his favor

3. Ganns method
The method was based upon several concepts and one revolutionary which was his concept of price and time.

Gann believed that important price movements occurred when price and time converged.

If price and time however were in synch or did not converge, then time was more important than price.

Time for Gann was the ultimate indicator for seeking clues to price direction.

As he once said:

"Just remember one thing, whatever has happened in the past in the stock market and Wall Street will happen again."

Advances in bull markets will come in the future, and panics will come in the future, just as they have in the past. This is the working out of a natural law"

Gann had many components of his trading plan and his work with the Fibonacci number sequence and Gann angles were legendary.

5. Learning Ganns Methods

If you have never traded before you will have to make yourself familiar with the concepts of technical analysis and there is plenty of free material on the net.

Then simply buy is books and study them They take a little while to get to grips with and you will need to practice the method, but it will be time well spent.

When you have finished your study you will have a method that you can understand and apply with confidence which is the key to trading with discipline and you know it is based on sound logic as it made real dollars in real trading.

Gann has been dead for over half a century, yet savvy traders all around the world are still building wealth applying his unique and proven methods.

GRAB 3 X FREE TRADER & FREE TRADER PROFITS NEWSLETTER

On all aspects of becoming a profitable trader including features, downloads and some critical FREE Trader PDF's and more FREE Forex Education visit our website at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

Forex Strategies

2007-10-12T00:34:00.000-07:00

Forex strategies are essential for a forex trader to profit from the market. Forex trading strategies make a trader more sophisticated and confident by helping him in making right calculations about the market. In a market with always changing exchange rates it is foolishness to trade hysterically by just following the emotions or advices from unreliable sources.

There are lots of forex trading strategies followed by forex traders. They can be broadly classified in to two type of strategies are profit maximizing strategies and risk minimizing strategies. The strategy differs with individuals as each trader has unique needs and has unique trading abilities. A trader must design a forex trading strategy according to many factors such as his or her initial investment, account size, trading ability, risk tolerance, currency pairs trading, geographical limitations/advantages, the broker to which he is affiliated, the trading system he/she uses, the profit goal (short-term profit or long-term profit), etc.

The most followed forex profit maximizing strategy is the leverage. Leverage allows forex traders to trade with more funds than in his or her account. The leverages are provided by the forex brokers to their clients. The usual leverage is 100:1 i.e., for $1 in account the trader can borrow $100 from his broker. Day traders get much more leverage than other traders and the ratio leverage differ with brokers and also with the account minimum, type of contract trading etc.

The most popular forex risk minimizing strategy is the stop loss order. Stop loss orders help traders to limit their loss by stopping a trade at a preset price. Forex trading systems allows traders to set their stop loss order prices. One related strategy is the trailing stop losses, which are proportional stop loss prices that come into play only when the prices are falling. There are also many other types of stop loss orders available which mainly depends on the broker to which the trader is affiliated to.

One another related strategy is the automated order entry. Automated order entry enables a trader to enter into a trade at a preset price rate automatically. The trader can set the price at his trading platform. Automated order entry methods help traders to enter the market at most favorable time. Apart from these strategies forex traders can use forex futures and forex options to cover the loss and well as to cover the profit. These contracts help forex traders to buy or sell currencies at a predetermined rate at a point of time in future.

Apart from these trading strategies, forex trader follow many other strategies for choosing currency pairs, trading hours, entrance and exit prices etc. Irrespective of the type of the strategy, all forex strategies involve risks. The success of a forex strategy depends on many factors like the market condition and the discipline of the trader.

Praveen Ortec works for NobleTrading.com, an Online Forex Trading Broker offering free advanced Forex Trading System and forex trading information through Stock and Forex Market Trading Blogs.

Nasdaq Q's (NASDAQ: QQQQ) and S&P SPYDRS (AMEX: SPY) Traders - Being Right, Or Making Money?

2007-10-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

When a market timer trading index funds such as the Rydex Nova Fund and Rydex OTC Fund makes a trading decision based on a news event, fear of losing out on a rally or of losing money in a sell off, or even the stock broker neighbor's trading tip, he or she is trading on emotions.

Wishing Your Were Right

Trading on emotions, news events, market rallies, etc. is basically trading on a WISH.

There is no basis for the trade, at least none that can be counted on to last. There is nothing but "the moment." The trader wishes he or she will be right.

Odds of winning? Slim.

Trades made on wishes have no plan behind them. There is no exit strategy. Invariably, the trade is held until losses become painful enough to force the trader to emotionally sell at a loss.

Making Money

No one makes money on Wall Street without a trading plan. No One! There is only "one way" to be certain of being profitable.

Market timers and traders who have a strategy for entering and exiting positions, and who follow their rules, on a timely basis without hesitation, make money.

Those who trade by daily news events, daily or weekly rallies & declines, and TV hype, will "always" end up losing money. Remember, for every winning trade in the stock market, there is a losing trade on the other side. Only those who follow a plan consistently make the winning trades.

One of the most important questions you must ask yourself is:

Do you want to BE RIGHT for a short time. Or do you want to MAKE MONEY for a long time.

Ignore the news. Ignore the daily ups and downs. You have no control over them anyway. No one knows what the next day will bring. No one!

Wishing will not help. Watching the financial news religiously will not help. There is just no way to know what will happen tomorrow, or even what will happen next week.

But a successful trading plan that creates unemotional buy and sell decisions will, over time, make even the most emotional person, a successful market timer.

Frank Kollar has been timing the financial markets since 1982, with online service since 1996. He is a dedicated trend timer. Kollar is editor and chief analyst at FibTimer.com (http://www.fibtimer.com) which offers market timing strategies for S&P and Nasdaq index fund traders, as well as bond, gold, small cap, sector, ETF and stock trading strategies.

Real Estate Transfer Taxes Overlooked Sale or Purchase Expense

2007-10-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

A real estate transfer tax is a one-time tax paid at the closing of a property, and is considered a stream of revenue for state budgets. This transfer tax though, once collected is not generally used for housing-related purposes. The tax is based on the value of a property as agreed to by the parties in a real estate contract.

In the excitement of selling or buying a home, often the real estate transfer tax cost is overlooked. Depending on locale, either the buyer or seller pays the tax at closing or escrow, but beware in New Hampshire both the buyer and seller pay, half of 1.5%!. In some states it can be a formidable amount, you should be prepared for what the transfer taxes will be, and who pays them, before you start a home search or list your home for-sale.

The good news is, thirteen states don't have a real estate property tax. They are: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

The bad news is that the remaining thirty-seven states and The District of Columbia charge taxes on the transfer of a property. The tax is only levied once when a property is exchanged between parties, unlike general property taxes which are paid annually and are based on the assessed value. Real estate transfer taxes range from a low of .01% in Colorado to a high of 1.28% in Washington state.

Variations on transfer taxes include; in Arizona only charges a tax on deeds. However Alabama and Florida charge on deeds and mortgages. To avoid financial surprises, inquire early as to who pays (buyer or seller) and how much transfer taxes will be. Some states dictate who pays the tax, and some just want the tax paid. This cost can typically be negotiated between the parties. Consult an experienced real estate attorney.

A handy online link for transfer taxes for all fifty states.

http://www.parealtor.org/content/AssetMgmt/Issues Resource Center/Realty Transfer Tax/Transfer tax chart.pdf

Mark Nash, is a residential real estate author, broker, columnist and writer based in Chicago. His fourth book 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home received eighteen five star reviews on Amazon.com. His latest book; Real Estate A-Z for Buying & Selling a Home will be published in December 2006. Mark publishes a free monthly ezine for real estate professionals. Agent to Agent features ten articles that offer free reprints for agents, home buyers and sellers through EzineArticles.com . Real estate news and book reviews, Celebrity Homestyles, Home selling and buying tips and advice, Joke-of-the-Month, Help this Agent, and agent marketing tips. Over 5000 subscribers in the U.S. & Canada. Subscribe at: http://www.1001realestatetips.com/forrealestateagents.html

Harry, The Arrogant Bank Boss

2007-10-11T20:08:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I promised I would share the story of what happened with the "bank boss" during the late eighties, early nineties. The story you're about to read was a time of tremendous adversity for me.

Every single person that appears on the stage of our lives has something to contribute, regardless of the outcome. They all take on the role of a teacher with a lesson plan or two.

David, the Bully, was one central character. If he hadnt approached me on the playground that day, I wouldnt have a unique story to share with my audiences. I would also not have known how much courage I really had to stand up for myself on that fateful day.

Harry is another such character. His name is fictitious to protect the innocent (or maybe not so innocent). Little did I know I was in for the ride of my life when I was transferred into his department.

It didn't take long to learn that this man had a reputation for publicly chewing out his subordinates over everything and anything that went wrong. Minor and major events were one and the same. Harry trusted no one and rarely promoted from within. His inner circle consisted of long-time cronies who were "yes-yes-yes-yes" people. Fear and intimidation often ruled the day -- no one challenged him.

Within a short period of time after my transfer, I faced each day with a sickly feeling in my stomach because I never knew what the day was going bring. Harry was like Jekyll and Hyde. One day he would be enraged and the next he'd do a complete turnabout, laughing, joking and having fun. We often knew first thing in the morning whether Harry would be in a bad mood. If he was, we joked amongst ourselves who would be the boss' "whipping boy"' that day. Yours truly certainly had his share of the whip.

At the time, Wall Street was undergoing massive restructuring due to the 1987 stock market crash where thousands were laid off. Job security was shaky at best. In fact, you were considered quite lucky if you had a job those days. This added uncertainty to an already pervasive work environment at the bank. Unfortunately, working for Harry only made things more a lot more challenging.

One day, I stumbled across Norman Vincent Peale's book, The Power of Positive Thinking. This gift of a book that seemed to come out of nowhere was exactly what I needed because one chapter, "New Thoughts Can Remake You" encouraged me to change my perception of the bank boss. In there was a powerful, yet simple idea:

To change your circumstances, first start thinking differently.

I took that sentence and ran with it as if my life depended on it. The moment I read it, I made a decision that I was going to change my attitude and perceive Harry in an entirely different light.

Every morning before going to work, I sat on my couch, closed my eyes and put the power of visualization to work for me. I imagined Harry as a frightened, insecure human being who might have ruled the office with an iron fist but was dramatically transformed into a loving, doting grandfather at home. In my mind's eye, he was seen romping around his backyard beaming and hugging his grandkids. I did this for months with dramatic results.

The reason I saw him in this way was because on the days when he was in a good mood, he would chatter incessantly about his grandchildren to everyone who would listen. As he was talking, his eyes -- often called the window to a person's soul -- gave us a rare glimpse beyond the Jekyll and Hyde facade. His million dollar smile literally knocked off your socks if you were fortunate to be nearby. It was an astonishing sight to behold.

Once this grandfatherly image took root in my subconscious, I couldn't help but transcend the illusion of power he had over me. It put a positive spin on my attitude toward him because I no longer perceived him as a tyrant.

Although he certainly wasn't aware I was doing this, he did notice a different, more positive energy about me. Naturally, this made him curious. He took more of an interest in my abilities rather than focusing on my disabilities. Eventually I was treated as an ally rather than as someone to keep at an arm's length, dramatically transforming the nature of our boss-employee relationship. No longer did I feel sick in the mornings - in fact, I actually looked forward to work!

Almost a year later, Harry did the unimaginable.

He pulled me into his office on the day of our performance reviews and gave me the shock of my life with an announcement that he was promoting me to a senior staff position! I almost fell off my chair. Within hours, the entire division heard about it. Everyone knew a miracle had happened. So did I.

A few months later, I received an opportunity to work for Merrill Lynch. It was as if the universe was telling me, "good job, you learned a powerful lesson and now it's time to move on."

Food for thought: Even people who pushed our buttons and make our lives more challenging are teachers put on our path to help us learn our lessons. They should be remembered too.

Profoundly deaf since birth, Stephen Hopson is a former award-winning stockbroker turned motivational speaker, author and pilot. He works with organizations that are ready to explore and overcome adversity because no one is immune from it - adversity does not discriminate. His professional speaking services, Obstacle Illusions, include fun and passionate presentations, especially the story of how his fifth grade teacher forever changed his young life with THAT'S RIGHT STEPHEN! You can view his website at http://www.sjhopson.com Stephen also maintains a blog called "Adversity University" at http://adversityuniversity.blogspot.com/

Currency Trading Courses - What Makes a Good Training Manual?

2007-10-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Many Forex courses use past information and facts as a basis for their training materials. The main problem with this is that they do not spend enough time on the practical side of investing. A better than average currency trading course should be able to help you understand the practical and technical workings of the Forex market which in turn will help yoin in developing and applying a strategy that you have formulated yourself.

Good courses should not spoon-feed you all of the information, sure they should teach you new things but it is important they also get you thinking for yourself. This is the only way you will learn how to apply the information they preach. You should be asked to think of your own approach to solving a particular problem.

Another sign that you have found a great course is if the manual is able to provide you with some first hand experience of the market or at least something simulating it. Video demonstrations, access to a safe, practice trading arena and a good level of support are always good signs that the currency trading course in question is worth purchasing.

Whilst Forex courses have their advantages, the one thing that has no substitute is confidence. A currency trading course must implant in you a confident attitude in making decisions related to Forex trading. Trading after all, is about taking risks and that is not possible until and unless you are confident about your own abilities.

When you are buying a currency trading educational course you must be sure that the material it offers you will prime you for successful trading in the real world not just in a practice environment. You will have to make a number of decisions in Forex trading and these actions that you choose will depend a lot on your instincts and on the knowledge. Therefore you are using the course to gain knowledge, which in turn builds your trading confidence and brings better results - thats the theory anyway!

It goes without saying that like any other field you want to enter, you need to have a basic understanding of the field. Forex trading is no different, if anything it is even more important to understand the fundamentals of the market than with any other market. Unlike stock trading you do not just need knowledge in one company or industry, you need global knowledge as a change in one currency can effect a change in another.

Most of the currency trading courses start with the US Dollars for the simple reason that it is the most predominant player in the market. With time, you should gain experience and knowledge about Forex trading with the US Dollar and after some practice you will find yourself more able to trade intelligently in other currencies also.

The currency trading courses can also teach you how to calculate the pip which, put simply, is the difference with which a currency rate increases or decreases. In other words, if the current exchange rate for two currencies is 1 to 45 and the next day it turns to 1 to 45.3, this means that the pip is 0.3. Calculating pip is not difficult but predicting it is essential in making profits and analyzing risk in any Foreign Exchange trade.

In summary, if you are looking to utilize a currency trading course to learn more and improve your Forex profitability then please do remember to consider the issues raised in this article carefully. A course should not be seen as a magic tutor that will bring you instant profits but should instead be viewed as a very useful learning experience that will boost your confidence and make you a more secure trader.

Paul Bryan operates Forex Reviews, News and Advice - A site aimed at bringing you the best and most independent Foreign Exchange information and articles.

Daytrading And How To Get Started

2007-10-11T18:42:00.001-07:00

One working definition of a Day Trader is, A person whose goal is to make his or her profits from a security in the shortest amount of time [preferably during a single day.] Though this definition is simplified, the day-to-day job of a Day Trader is a far more complex series of events and strategies that must be learned and implemented.

My description of daytrading has largely been based on past experiences with the markets, as well as the changes in the markets and the global economies themselves. Keep in mind; the stock market is not your friend. Much like war, in day trading and/or short-term investing, you are pitting your wits against every other person in the market. Every dollar you make is on the back of someone else's losses. Your goal is to win with your investments and your trading, and that requires someone else to lose. Try to make sure it's not you. Never forget that, and you'll be off to a much better start in the markets.

How risky is daytrading? Well, before you read on any further, imagine taking about $10,000 in crisp, brand new one hundred dollars bills out into the backyard. Put them on the ground and douse them in lighter fluid. Then strike a match. Don't burn your money just yet, but just stand there. That's about how risky daytrading is.

Always remember: at any given time, when you are daytrading for a living, you are risking probably that much money (if not quite a bit more), and your money is in perhaps just as much risk. While we are not suggesting that you actually set fire to your money in the backyard, our analogy is fairly accurate. If that bothers you, then perhaps you might consider another line of work, or a good mutual fund, because I don't know any good day traders that haven't seen at least $10,000 go up in a puff of smoke during market hours. It's simply unrealistic to expect to be able to trade professionally and profitably from day one. Mistakes will be made; lessons will be learned; money will be lost as you learn. It's a never-ending process to a large degree. In fact, the day you feel you have mastered the markets, that's the day you get your head handed to you.

In the years I have traded, I have seen many people come and go. I've seen people make and lose large sums of money very quickly. I have made and lost large sums of money very quickly! I've seen stocks go from pennies to hundreds of dollars and back again, taking traders and investors for a ride in both directions. And yet, still, in all the years I have been in this business, I am sure of only one thing about the stock market--that I have not seen it all yet. If anyone claims to have all the answers about the stock market, or claims to be the only person you should listen to - run, don't walk away from them and/or their services.

One of the most frequently asked questions is, How much capital do I need? It is a somewhat difficult question to answer. How much do you really need in order to start day trading? How big a "stake" (a term used to refer to your starting capital) is required to get going? The only answer is that it's different for each person, and it's something you must consider for yourself before you start. However, I personally feel, in general, you should have enough trading capital to purchase between 500 to 1000 shares of any given stock. Ideally, this would be without having to use margin.

If you are in the habit of trading $40 to $80 stocks, this could mean you need as much as $40,000 to start. At the same time, one can trade with as little as $10,000 and get their feet wet. It also doesn't hurt to have enough capital to diversify into several different positions (two to five generally) at one time - each with say 300 to 500 shares. Just remember, if you are starting small, keep your expectations realistic. Certainly, someone trading with $10,000 to $20,000 is going to have a much more difficult time generating $1,000 per day than someone using $100,000 or more. As long as you keep this in perspective, it will help keep you grounded as you begin learning.

When you get into the bigger leagues of day trading, then it's nice to be able to "step on" (i.e. purchase or short) a "block" or two of stock. This would be generally defined as 10,000 shares of stock. This typically is going to require $500,000 or more of trading capital, plus some use of margin in limited situations and for a limited time. When you reach this level, it's easy to see how daytrading can become quite profitable (and quite risky!). A few points (or even a few fractions) across 10,000 shares can return quite a bit of money quite rapidly. Just remember it goes both ways; you can quickly lose quite a bit as well.

As you can see there's no right or wrong answer with regard to how much you need to start. Simply keep your objectives in perspective and reasonable. This will go a long way to giving you a good start in the markets. Also understand that if you are starting small, factoring in things such as equipment fees and transaction costs may become much more important.

Good luck in the markets!

No permission is needed to reproduce an unedited copy of this article as long the About The Author tag is left in tact and hot links included.

Ray Johns is the founder and Senior Market Editor of Daytraders.com, Proudly serving day traders & short-term investors since 1996, at http://www.daytraders.com

Daytraders.com is the publishers of the award winning Morning Stock Market Report and the home of the Internets finest real time trading desk. Ray has been on the forefront of trading and investing in the markets and has appeared as a guest on a number of radio and television shows including CNBCs Market Talk. If you would like a free trail of the newsletter and the live trading desk log on to Daytraders.com. Comments and questions can be sent to articles@daytraders.com

Ten Simple Investment Tips

2007-10-11T17:16:00.001-07:00

When I first started trading the stock market, there was not the wealth of information available online like there is today. I read a lot of books and learned the terms and thought I knew everything necessary to make my fortune trading the market. I found a discount broker and started plugging away, and immediately lost my shirt.

Even though I had read these same tips in numerous places, I really didnt understand the importance of them until I had learned them the hard way. As they say, experience is the best teacher, if you survive the lesson.

These are things that I wish I had really used when I first started trading.

1.Never invest money you cant afford to lose.

2.Never invest money you are afraid to lose. If you are too uptight, you are guaranteed to make bad decisions.

3.Never buy a stock you receive in an unsolicited email or in a mass mailing. Many times, these turn out to be low cost, thinly traded penny stocks that some one is trying to pump up the price and dump them.

4.Most of them time, you should not buy stocks at the open of the market. The first hour of the trading day typically has a lot of volatility. Stocks tend to stabilize after the first hour; you could end up paying too much trying to get a stock, only to have it settle down in price 30 minutes later.

5.As a new investor, never buy stocks on margin. It is ok to have a margin account; just dont use the margin until you have enough knowledge to keep yourself out of trouble.

6.Dont worry if you think you just missed the biggest trade of the year. Never chase a stock trying to get on board, if you wait 30 minutes, another trade will come along that is just as lucrative. (This one tip would have saved me a fortune)

7.Learn how to use a trailing stop. Immediately after buying a stock, put in a stop loss order, and keep raising the stop limit. This will preserve your gains, but more importantly will preserve your capital.

8.Never buy until you have determined when you are going to sell. You need to know what point you will accept a small loss and move on. Then when you buy, keep that stop loss point; never change this point in the heat of the battle, because this is guaranteed to cost you money.

9.Never get greedy. The old market saying is Bears make money, Bulls make money, Hogs get slaughtered is very true.

10.Dont treat the stock market like it is your private Las Vegas gambling casino. Its ok for a small portion of your portfolio to gamble, but its called investing for a reason.

If you follow these simple tips, they will save you some of the misery that I went through early in my trading career. Try not to get bogged down in all of the information overload that is coming at you from all directions. Slow down, there will plenty of good trades available to you tomorrow, if your trading capital is still available.

If you would like additional trading information, please go to Trade The Stock Market or to my Forex Review Site.

Shaking Your Money Tree: Seven Ways to Make Quick Cash

2007-10-11T15:51:00.001-07:00

Does your business have a money tree you can shake when a little extra cash is needed? Every business should have one!

What I mean by a money tree is something you can do to quickly generate revenue when you need it. Where can you find a money tree? Although you can't buy one at your local garden store, they are more common than you might imagine. Just as in a forest, there are many species of money trees, so you need to find one that is right for you. Here are a few common varieties:

The Sale Tree brings in cash by making a discount offer to customers. Buy before June 30th, and you get a lower price. This creates a sense of urgency for customers to buy now in order to save money and can create a new flow of sales for you.

The Bonus Tree can work like the Sale, but instead of a discount, customers get a free item with purchase. Buy one, get one free, for example, or buy this item and get a free accessory. You might make the bonus item something only available as a bonus, and not available to buy. Booklets, books, audio programs and other items with a low production cost and high perceived value are great bonus items.

Generate cash with the New Product Tree by introducing a new product. Customers love new things, so announce it with a flourish. You might cross the New Product tree with the Sale or Bonus tree to get a hybrid with extra appeal.

Shake the Personal Touch Tree by contacting current or former customers and reminding them it may be time to do business with you again. Perhaps the supplies they bought from you a few months ago are running low, or it's time for a follow-up service.

The Referral Tree should be in bloom all the time, but you can get better results when you tend it. Do a mailing or phone campaign to ask current customers to refer their friends and colleagues. You may be able to generate lots of sales quickly this way.

The Cold Call Tree can be hard to shake, but the results can be worthwhile. Identify your best prospects and call or visit them.

One of my favorites is the Publicity Tree. It's an odd one, in that you never know when it is going to bloom, or what it will look like when it does; however, the results are often magnificent. Provide a jumpstart in its growth by regularly sending press releases and pitches to the media.

Decide which money tree is right for your business, then nurture it and keep it growing. And, every once in a while, shake the heck out of it and watch the dollars come floating down!

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker can help you attract customers and make yourself famous with inexpensive and free marketing ideas. Get free tips, articles and more at http://www.IdeaLady.com/.

How To Learn Forex The Smart Way

2007-10-11T09:08:00.001-07:00

Many people see the Forex market as a place to invest for the future. Many of these have previously invested in the stock market with mixed results and look to the currency market to increase their wealth. The problem is that most of these people ignored the fundamentals of the stock market, and are behaving the same way with the currency market. If you learn Forex trading properly, you will succeed. Ignoring the fundamentals will bring you the same results you had in the equity markets.

If you want to become a successful trader, it is important that you understand the basic principles about Forex trading. The best way of doing this is by finding a reliable trading platform that you can use to learn from. Interest in currency trading has been growing at fantastic rates. Online trading is even more spectacular because you can now trade from your home or office. Major currency dealers have met this demand by installing online trading platforms that are easy to learn and use. Once you register with one of these traders, you can begin learning currency trading without spending any of your money.

But it is not just these companies who have set up trading platforms who can help you to learn about Forex trading. A search on Google for "learn forex" will bring you hundreds of websites with different offerings. You will have to pay for some of these offerings while others are at no charge. You will also find websites run by traders who just enjoy sharing their knowledge with you. In addition, many websites provide general and specific information about the currency market.

Such sites offer a basic education to speed up your learning. You can watch videos online or download special software. You can also browse through forum posts or attend webinars. Also, these sites include ebooks and articles that can help you to gain basic knowledge about currency trading. Each site will provide you with a different method for learning about trading, and you can do all of it online, so no need for you to wait for CD's, DVD's or books to arrive in the mail. Some of these materials are also available off-line if you have a slow Internet connection. But, in almost all of these materials you will find the basic information you need to start trading.

However, if you are looking for a more personal approach, or want to speed up your learning even more, you can attend an off-line seminar. Of course, some of these seminars are also available in the form of teleseminars and webinars, but you get a physical person to talk about and discuss your concerns. You also get the support of the other seminar attendees who may have the same concerns as you do. They can also help you understand material that they have mastered.

Physical seminars are more expensive than other means to learn Forex trading because the organizers have to secure a suitable room and provide other supplies that help the attendees make the most of the training. For example, binders, photocopies of charts, graphs and other educational material. However, if you can afford the prices for these events, it is worth your while attending at least an introductory seminar. You would speed up your learning of the Forex market.

Get the latest in learn forex know how from the only true source at http://www.forextradingline.com

Check out our learn forex pages.

Forex Trading - The 3 Keys to a Winning Trader's Mindset

2007-10-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Forex trading is simple to learn, and anyone can acquire the skills - so, why is it that 95% of traders lose money? Many traders lose money because they have poor methods, though some have sound methods but still lose - because they lack the right mindset to succeed.

Here well look at the three keys for getting the mindset of the millionaire traders.

1. Desire and Passion

If you want success in anything - including forex trading, then you must desire success. If you have the desire, then youll do whats required to succeed. If you look at any of the legendary traders, they all had desire - and they loved what they did with a passion.

You must also have desire and passion for what you do. However, thats not enough - you must also avoid worrying about risk and setbacks. Currency trading success doesnt come easily so, if you cant build up the strong desire and passion required for successful trading, then you should find something else to do - as youll lose your money trading in the currency markets.

If however, you accept that its not any easy road - and youre prepared to put in the effort, then forex trading can earn you an income that most people can only dream of.

2. Confidence

You hear traders talk a lot about discipline when forex trading - but you dont hear them talk much about confidence. However, confidence is a vital component of your forex trading strategy - confidence in yourself not in some mentor, or guru youre following.

If you want to succeed in currency trading, then you have to have rock solid confidence that your currency trading system this will lead you to currency trading success. You must retain your confidence, even when youre losing money - and therell be periods when you lose money, for weeks, or months on end.

If you dont have unshakeable confidence that youll ultimately succeed, then currency trading will break you and youll throw in the towel before you become a winner.

To have confidence, you need to understand exactly how, and why your forex trading strategy works. This will give you a trading edge - and ultimately, success. If you dont know what your trading edge is, then youll be joining the majority of traders - the ones who lose money!

3. Discipline

Youve probably heard that discipline is vital to trading success - and if you think that following a system with discipline is easy then, think again.

Lets look at an example of just how hard currency trading with discipline really is: In the eighties, legendary trader Richard Dennis taught a group of traders with no previous experience, how to trade - and he gave them a method they could all use. In 14 days, these traders were given trading accounts - and collectively, they quickly made over $100 million.

They were all successful traders - yet there was a huge variation between the results of the individual traders. In Curtis M. Faiths great book The Way of the Turtle, he discusses this in depth and the lesson is: Learning a successful trading system is not enough! You need the correct mindset to execute the system correctly and nothing can prepare you for this. You simply have to experience it yourself - and its tough trying to stick with a currency trading system, when the pressure is on - and youre losing money. Money is on the line and emotions are involved.

Many forex traders try to prepare for trading, with demo accounts - and making big percentage wins. However, theres no pressure - its practice, and its easy try doing it for real, with real money thats when if becomes difficult!

Now you have them - the three keys to adopting the right mindset, in order to achieve currency-trading success. Its not easy to achieve the winning traders mindset - but when the rewards are as great as they are in FX trading, you wouldnt expect them to be.

If you can adopt the right mindset, the world of currency trading will give you immense rewards for your effort. Good Luck!

Grab 5 FREE Trader PDF's and get the support you need to trade like a pro with our user-friendly multi-lingual learn forex trading. Get up to date financial news, real-time market prices, tight pip spreads, built-in risk management system, and 24-hour professional support.

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Real Estate Foreclosure: Taming The Beast

2007-10-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

For those who are intimidated by the prospect of investing or purchasing foreclosures for profit or simply to have a roof over your head, well don't be. Here's why.

You can easily break down the process of foreclosures into three primary stages. Ready? The first stage is pre-foreclosure the second stage is foreclosure auction and the third and final stage is bank owned foreclosures or real estate owned properties as they're interchangeably called.

In general as you move along the timeline of the foreclosure process your potential for profit will decrease the later you get to the foreclosure a property. In other words there is probably much greater profit potential if you are able to identify a property right before it enters into the initial stages of foreclosure in a market that you are familiar with as opposed to calling up the bank for real estate owned properties.

Now let me clarify one thing, this doesn't mean that one model is better than another. It's actually a bit more complicated than that. It depends on what you're looking for when all is said and done. If you're planning on making a full-time living eventually from real estate investment then you'll definitely want to learn in baby steps how to get the most out of your time and efforts.

With that said for those who are ambitious enough to do this full time you will want to learn how to find pre-foreclosures because they generally offer you the maximum leverage and profitability relative to the most deep discounted properties available via bank owned properties

However if you are simply looking for a deep discount at home without wanting to start an entire business involving marketing, distribution, and promoting yourself while driving around neighborhoods every day looking up MLS listings conducting market research and paying all all the costs overlays involved in running a business, then it is definitely advisable if you are looking to simply purchase a more inexpensive home to come to call up the bank for a foreclosure property.

Or another way is to simply subscribe to a foreclosure listings service or browse through some free foreclosure listings for a limited time. Visit http://www.a1-foreclosure.com for more information.

Put Buying Strategies, Part 1

2007-10-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

Strategy 1: Gaining Leverage

There is value in the leverage gained using the put. With a limited amount of capital, the potential for profits is greater for put buyers than through stock short selling, and with considerably less risk.

Example: Safer than Shorting Stock: A stock currently is valued at $60 per share. If you sell short 100 shares and the stock drops five points, you can close the position and take a profit of $500. However, rather than selling short, you could buy 12 puts at 5, for a total investment of $6,000. A five-point drop in this case would produce a profit of $6,000, a 100 percent gain (assuming no change in time value). So by investing the same amount in puts, you could earn a 100 percent profit, compared to an 8.3 percent profit through short selling.

This example demonstrates the value in leverage, but the risk element for each strategy is not comparable. The short seller faces risks not experienced by the put buyer, and has to put up collateral and pay interest; in comparison, the put buyer has to fight against time. Risking $6,000 by buying puts is highly speculative and, while short selling is risky as well, the two strategies have vastly different attributes. The greater profit potential through leverage in buying puts is accompanied by equally higher risk of loss. However, even without a large sum of capital to speculate with, you can still use leverage to your advantage. This comparative analysis shows the flaw in analyzing two dissimilar strategies. Because the risk attributes are so different for each, it is not accurate to draw conclusions based only on potential returns.

Example: Comparing Apples to Oranges: You buy a LEAPS put for 5 with a striking price of 60 and 18 months until expiration. The stock currently is selling at $60 per share; your option is at the money. Aware of the potential profit or loss in your strategy, your decision to buy puts was preferable over selling short the stock. The luxury of 18 months in the LEAPS put is preferable over remaining exposed to short selling of stock. A drop of five points in the stock's market value would produce a $500 gain with either strategy (assuming no change in time value premium).

The short seller, like the put buyer, has a time problem. The short seller has to place collateral on deposit equal to a part of the borrowed stock's value, and pay interest on the borrowed amount. Thus, the more time the short position is left open, the higher the interest costand the more decline in the stock's value the short seller requires to make a profit. While the put buyer is concerned with diminishing time value, the short seller pays interest, which erodes future profits, if they ever materialize, or which increases losses.

A decline of five points in the preceding example produces an 8.1 percent profit for the short seller and a 100 percent profit for the put buyer. Compare the risks with this yield difference in mind. Short selling risks are unlimited in the sense that a stock's value could rise indefinitely, creating ever-increasing losses. The put buyer's risk is limited to the $500 investment. A drop of $1 per share in the stock's value creates a 1.6 percent profit for the short seller, and a 20 percent profit for the put buyer.

Potential losses can be compared between strategies as one form of risk evaluation. When a short seller's stock rises in value, the loss could be substantial. It combines market losses with continuing interest expense and tied up collateral (creating a lost opportunity). The put buyer's losses can never exceed the premium cost of the put.

Get your Momentum Stock Trading System and sign up for my free weekly online trading system newsletter here at: http://www.stressfreetrading.com

What is Forex Trading?

2007-10-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

FX, Forex, Foreign Exchange are all names for the transaction of one currency for another, e.g. you buy 100.00 with $150.25 or sell $150.25 for 100.00. Traders buy and sell currencies with the hope of making a profit when the value of the currencies changes in their favor, whether from market news or events that takes place in the world.

Forex trading has been around for years. It is viewed as the largest financial market in the whole world. The estimated amount of daily volume is 1.5 trillion (US) dollars. A true 24-hour market, Forex trading begins each day in Sydney, and advances around the globe as the business day begins in each financial center, first to Tokyo, London, and New York.

Unlike other financial markets, Forex Allows investors to respond to currency fluctuations caused by economic, social and political events instantaneously, at the time that events occur, day and night. The market only closes on weekends.

A benefit of forex trading is that it is not really subject to the same kinds of swings in the market that stocks are subject to. Of course if you always buy and sell the same currencies then there will be market swings. But, because there are hundreds of currencies out there, there is always going to be something for you to make money on because while one currency is up in value another one is down and vice versa.

Forex trading does not take huge amounts of capital to start. Traders can begin investing with as little as three hundred dollars. Transaction costs are usually minimal. Often brokers will provide you with the tools and data you need to make trades for free. There are a large number of buyers and sellers all selling the same products. Information is free-flowing and there are few barriers to participation.

Forex trading is an over-the counter (OTC) market. This means buyers and sellers do not meet in central locations to make exchanges. Instead transactions are completed by phone, fax, and email or through the websites of brokers specializing in this market. Currencies are always traded in pairs. Transactions always involve selling one currency and buying another. If you believe the euros would gain against the dollar you would sell dollars and buy euros.

A very liquid market, your money is not held up for long periods of time. You will have full control of your capitol. With planning, a good system to follow, strong money management skills, and self-discipline, Forex trading can be relatively low risk and quite lucrative.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Forex Trading and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Forex Trading web site. For more articles and resources on Forex related topics, online forex trading, trading tips, forex software and much more visit his site at:

=>http://forex.need-to-know.net/

The Seven Most Traded Currencies in FOREX.

2007-10-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Currencies are traded in dollar amounts called lots. One lot is equal to $1,000, which controls $100,000 in currency. This is what is known as the "margin". You can control $100,000 worth of currency for only 1,000 dollars. This is what is called High Leverage.

Currencies are always traded in pairs in the FOREX. The pairs have a unique notation that expresses what currencies are being traded. The symbol for a currency pair will always be in the form ABC/DEF. ABC/DEF is not a real currency pair, it is an example of a symbol for a currency pair. In this example ABC is the symbol for one countries currency and DEF is the symbol for another countries currency.

Here are some of the common symbols used in the Forex:

USD - The US Dollar
EUR - The currency of the European Union "EURO"
GBP - The British Pound
JPN - The Japanese Yen
CHF - The Swiss Franc
AUD - The Australian Dollar
CAD - The Canadian Dollar

There are symbols for other currencies as well, but these are the most commonly traded ones.

A currency can never be traded by itself. So you can not ever trade a EUR by itself. You always need to compare one currency with another currency to make a trade possible.

Some of the common PAIRS are:

EUR/USD Euro / US Dollar
"Euro"

USD/JPY US Dollar / Japanese Yen
"Dollar Yen"

GBP/USD British Pound / US Dollar
"Cable"

USD/CAD US Dollar / Canadian Dollar
"Dollar Canada"

AUD/USD Australian Dollar/US Dollar
"Aussie Dollar"

USD/CHF US Dollar / Swiss Franc
"Swissy"

EUR/JPY Euro / Japanese Yen
"Euro Yen"

The listed currency pairs above look like a fraction. The numerator (top of the fraction or "left" of the / however you want to SEE it) is called the base currency. The denominator (bottom of the fraction or "right" of the /however you want to SEE it) is called the counter currency. When you place an order to buy the EUR/USD, for instance, you are actually buying the EUR and selling the USD. If you were to sell the pair, you would be selling the EUR and buying the USD. So if you buy or sell a currency PAIR, you are buying/selling the base currency. You are always doing the opposite of what you did with to base currency with the counter currency.

If this seems confusing then you're in luck. You can always get by with just thinking of the entire pair as one item. Then you are just buying or selling that one item. Thinking like this will still enable you to place trades. You only need to be aware of the base/counter concept for Fundamental Analysis issues.

So why is it important to know about the base/counter currency? The base/counter currency concept illustrates what is actually taking place in a Forex transaction. Some of you reading this, know that short-selling was restricted in the stock market *(Short-selling is where you sell a stock/currency/option/commodity first and then try to buy it back at a lower price later). But in the FOREX you are always buying one currency (base) and selling another (counter). If you sell the pair you are simply flipping which one you buy and which one you sell. The transaction is essentially the same. This allows you to short-sell with no restrictions.

You want to be able to short-sell with no restrictions so you can make money when the market drops as well as when it rises. The problem with traditional stock market trading is that the market has to go up for you to make money. With FOREX trading you can make money in all directions.

http://www.1-forex.com

Omar Vargas; FOREX Trader and Freelance writer.
http://www.1-forex.com

Vertical Spread - Vertical Option

2007-10-09T20:10:00.001-07:00

When option traders or investors engage in spread strategies, many times they are working with vertical spreads.

Any spread is created when a person buys and sells call options on the same stock or buys and sells puts on the same stock.

A vertical or price spread gets it's name from the vertical movement of prices. In this options strategy, the strike prices are different but the months are the same.

Vertical vs. Horizontal

A horizontal spread is when the strike prices are the same, but the months are different. They are also called calendar spreads. A vertical strategy is the opposite. The months are the same, but the strike prices on the options are different.

The strategy behind this is to make money on the strike price difference potential or the premiums - if a premium gain was achieved. All spreads come down to premium gain vs. trading or exercising potential. Verticals can be credit or debit.

Debit Spread

When a spread is created and the investor has lost money on the premiums (more money was spent on the buy then the sell), it is a debit spread. Because money was lost on the options, the investor will lose money if the options expire worthless (which is possible). The only way a debit spread holder can profit is by the options widening or getting exercised. Widening refers to the premiums growing and the contracts becoming valuable enough to trade later on. A vertical debit spread tells the trader that these contracts need to be traded or exercised for profit.

Credit Spread

When a spread is set up and the investor has gained money on the premium, it is a credit spread. The profit here rests with the options expiring worthless and the person making the premium as their maximum gain. A vertical credit spread is a strategy that does not work if the options are exercised. The strike prices would be inverted - profit wise.

Examples

Buy 1 WEF Oct 60 Call for $500
Short 1 WEF Oct 70 Call for $200

This is a vertical or price spread because the strike prices are different. It is also a debit, because the premiums have resulted in a $300 loss. This is also a bullish spread. It is bullish because the trader needs the market to rise, hoping the options get exercised. The buy call gives him the right to buy the stock at 60 and the short call carries an obligation to sell the stock at 70. This 10 point potential gain on the stock is why someone would create a vertical debit spread. If the options expire, the maximum loss would be the $300.

Buy 1 GHF Apr 30 Call for $600
Short 1 GHF Apr 20 Call for $900

This is a price or vertical spread as well, but it is a credit spread. It is also bearish. The strike prices are not attractive to this investor, as he will suffer a 10 point loss on them - if exercised. The goal here is for the stock to decline and the vertical options to expire. Credit spreads are always bearish.

These and all spread strategies are most effective profit wise, when working them with stocks you are familiar with. Knowing the trading ranges and price habits of your stocks can make them attractive candidates for options or vertical spreads.

Alternative Medicine under Attack from Pharmaceutical Companies

2007-10-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

It would seem that we in the developed world have traded our health and personal freedom of choice, on what we might feel would be the best course of action to take in regards to treating our own illnesss.

With more and more regulations put in place every day, the war between alternative medicine and pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. is heating up. Were government agencies dictate to us, what it is right or not in regards to whether we chose alternative medicine or conventional.

It would seem that we are becoming victims of economics. As it is apparent that in order To have a healthy economy you need to have a capitalistic environment to keep people working harder and always striving to produce better products for trade. It is this competitive environment that keeps the cogs of the economy turning and people working.

It is unfortunate that this same highly competitive thinking, has gotten out of control and we are all paying a heavy price in the U.S. as well as in other countries of the world. The pharmaceutical companies that generate billions of dollars into the economies of many countries, and generate thousands of spin off jobs, have effectively taken control of government agencies through the use of lobbyist, political contributions and economic pressures on governments. These efforts are made, so they can have amendments made to our laws to give them more power and control over the various agencies and regulators.

So now you have government agencies working on behave of big money and not on your behalf, and not looking out for your best health, as these institutions were originally put in place for.

This sets the stage for a very dangerous situation were it is better for big pharmaceutical companies to have the population chronically ill all the time, with many different illness and never finding cures. By having lapdogs agencies pushing for laws to take away your choices of whether or not you want to take alternative medicine, or continue taking the poison put out by the big pharmaceutical companies at absorbent prices.

Were they feed you propaganda about the dangers of natural medicine? Hire medical experts that are willing to lie to the population to give these agencies credibility. Brain wash our medical practitioners and give them incentive to keep pushing there drugs.

And the worst of it is if people were to wake up tomorrow and take back there government, and stop the madness it would cause an economic disaster. It looks like the people of the world are going to continue to needless die and suffer, for the sake of a healthy economy and the lust of money.

To avoid the trap of government agencies and pharmaceutical companies learn more about Natural herbs and remedies Or drop us an email at healthbooks@aweber.com to join our mailing list and receive biweekly information natural health issues.

Isn't It Time You Step In Front Of The Big Money-Instead Of Getting Stepped On By It?

2007-10-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Trade Mechanic is committed to making you a consistent winner in the Stock Market. If you are tired of making some gain, then giving it back, tired of worrying about every news story, Futures, etc, then you have come to the right place. The Difference: Please note, other services give you a list of 15 stocks that they like every morning, then leave it to you to do the rest. Members of the Trade Mechanic, trade only the stocks that I am trading.
I will give entry and exit points, trading tips, trading rules to live by, informational blogs, and the hand holding you deserve, to help make you a winner.

The System:

The Trade Mechanic system was designed to give timed entries that are almost to the exact day a stock will move up $1 or more. This is very important because it limits our exposure time to the market, thus reducing our risk to potential hazards.

Having traded Wall Street well over a decade, probably like you, along the way I read and tried every book by all the experts. Cup n Handle, Triple Top Break Out, Candlesticks, Dogs of the Dow, so on and so on, have tried them all.

The flaw with all of these methods is they are backwards looking, work only some of the time, and expose you to high risk entries, keeping your money in the market too long, for little gain. These methods take too long to produce winners even when they are correct. Bottom line, you end up booking too many loses and burning through dollars, scratch trading.

Trademechanic.com, unlike other trading systems, does not base trades on percent moves, backwards looking chart patterns, or any other method you have read about. Our swing trade formula factors in, value, timing, external and internal bias, and a host of other mechanical factors, into a tradable system.

We base our trade results on actual dollars, assuming a 100 share purchase. We make trades that lock in $1 gain or more, over and over. You will find the key to beating the stock market, is to lock in gains, again and again, and limit loses.

We will be long no more than 1-4 stocks on any given day, and we will hold these stocks no longer than 3 days. I keep the trade amounts at 100 shares, so its easy to understand for the average trader. However, this system also sets up fantastic for 1000 or more share day traders, who can take advantage of the early pops, locking in profits.

The Stocks we Play:

The stocks we trade are best of breed, strong industry uptrend affiliation, strong institutional ownership, and have a daily range of 1 or more. Preferably we like growth over 15% and price to sales ratio above 1.50.

The simple goal is to get one of these stocks to move up just $1 a week, allowing us to lock in $100 profit on 100 shares traded. Sounds small but in 52 weeks, assuming you are starting with a $10,000.00 dollar portfolio, you have made over 50% return. Now, as you can see by the daily trades we post, we get a lot more than $1 moves most weeks. But I like to keep the goal simple, so its easy to realize the enormous amounts of money that can be made by just getting one stock, to move $1, every week.

Swing Trade Education: Along the way, you will also have regular access to my trading blogs, with trading philosophy and tips that will educate you on not only our system, but will help you start thinking like a trader, not an investor.

Try Us for Free!

It is my job, Jon Anthony, to make sure you win, win again and then win again, over and over.

The Trade Mechanic system delivers the set ups, then over a decade of trading stock experience does the rest. I would love to help you make more money then you ever thought possible. I am asking you to sign up for free, create a mock portfolio and paper trade with us for a while.

Join our community of traders, you have nothing to lose and financial freedom to gain.

Jon Anthony is has been a successful stock trader for over 10 yrs. If you are tired of the stock market taking your money, Jon is here to help. Get Jon's free stock picks for a limited time at TradeMechanic.com

Selling Uncovered Calls - Part 2

2007-10-09T19:05:00.001-07:00

Special Statement for Uncovered Option Writers

Get your Momentum Stock Trading System and sign up for my free weekly online trading system newsletter here at: http://www.stressfreetrading.com

Types of Foreign Currency Hedging Vehicles

2007-10-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

The following are some of the most common types of foreign currency hedging vehicles used in today's markets as a foreign currency hedge. While retail forex traders typically use foreign currency options as a hedging vehicle. Banks and commercials are more likely to use options, swaps, swaptions and other more complex derivatives to meet their specific hedging needs.

Spot Contracts - A foreign currency contract to buy or sell at the current foreign currency rate, requiring settlement within two days.

As a foreign currency hedging vehicle, due to the short-term settlement date, spot contracts are not appropriate for many foreign currency hedging and trading strategies. Foreign currency spot contracts are more commonly used in combination with other types of foreign currency hedging vehicles when implementing a foreign currency hedging strategy.

For retail investors, in particular, the spot contract and its associated risk are often the underlying reason that a foreign currency hedge must be placed. The spot contract is more often a part of the reason to hedge foreign currency risk exposure rather than the foreign currency hedging solution.

Forward Contracts - A foreign currency contract to buy or sell a foreign currency at a fixed rate for delivery on a specified future date or period.

Foreign currency forward contracts are used as a foreign currency hedge when an investor has an obligation to either make or take a foreign currency payment at some point in the future. If the date of the foreign currency payment and the last trading date of the foreign currency forwards contract are matched up, the investor has in effect "locked in" the exchange rate payment amount.

* Important: Please note that forwards contracts are different than futures contracts. Foreign currency futures contracts have standard contract sizes, time periods, settlement procedures and are traded on regulated exchanges throughout the world. Foreign currency forwards contracts may have different contract sizes, time periods and settlement procedures than futures contracts. Foreign currency forwards contracts are considered over-the-counter (OTC) due to the fact that there is no centralized trading location and transactions are conducted directly between parties via telephone and online trading platforms at thousands of locations worldwide.

Foreign Currency Options - A financial foreign currency contract giving the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a specific foreign currency contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the foreign currency option buyer pays to the foreign currency option seller for the foreign currency option contract rights is called the option "premium."

A foreign currency option can be used as a foreign currency hedge for an open position in the foreign currency spot market. Foreign currency options can also be used in combination with other foreign currency spot and options contracts to create more complex foreign currency hedging strategies. There are many different foreign currency option strategies available to both commercial and retail investors.

Interest Rate Options - A financial interest rate contract giving the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a specific interest rate contract (the underlying) at a specific price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the expiration date). The amount the interest rate option buyer pays to the interest rate option seller for the foreign currency option contract rights is called the option "premium." Interest rate option contracts are more often used by interest rate speculators, commercials and banks rather than by retail forex traders as a foreign currency hedging vehicle.

Foreign Currency Swaps - A financial foreign currency contract whereby the buyer and seller exchange equal initial principal amounts of two different currencies at the spot rate. The buyer and seller exchange fixed or floating rate interest payments in their respective swapped currencies over the term of the contract. At maturity, the principal amount is effectively re-swapped at a predetermined exchange rate so that the parties end up with their original currencies. Foreign currency swaps are more often used by commercials as a foreign currency hedging vehicle rather than by retail forex traders.

Interest Rate Swaps - A financial interest rate contracts whereby the buyer and seller swap interest rate exposure over the term of the contract. The most common swap contract is the fixed-to-float swap whereby the swap buyer receives a floating rate from the swap seller, and the swap seller receives a fixed rate from the swap buyer. Other types of swap include fixed-to-fixed and float-to-float. Interest rate swaps are more often utilized by commercials to re-allocate interest rate risk exposure.

John Nobile - Senior Account Executive
CFOS/FX - Online Forex Spot and Options Brokerage

Day Trading the Emini - Training Ground For Big Contracts

2007-10-09T17:59:00.001-07:00

In 1997 the Chicago Mercantile Exchange created a new financial instrument known as the emini futures contract. It started off small but now is a fully mature market with excellent liquidity.

Now in 2005, the emini futures contract is an investment vehicle of choice, for beginning and experienced futures traders the world over.

In this introductory article, I just want to have a look at why that is. You see for an investment vehicle to gain wide appeal it has to have a few characteristics.

It needs to be accessible to a wide public. The emini is such a vehicle. The minimum you need is around $500 to get started, instead of $5000 or more with regular futures.

It needs to be liquid, in other words there must be enough buyers to buy when you want to sell and sellers to sell when you want to buy.

The emini is very liquid.

The taxation situation is very advantageous, in many jurisdictions only being capital gains tax - you should always check with a professional before making an investment decision.

It's this lifestyle that gives it such appeal to people like you and me.

Freedom from the man
Working from home
Spending more time with the family

But that is the positive. On the dark side, with futures and emini futures there is financial risk, so this is not something that one goes into untrained.

If you are willing to learn and trade a system, and utilise money management principles then you can join the ranks of an group of successful traders are making significant profits from home.

Switch From Casual Trading to Forex Day Trading

2007-10-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

Forex day trading is the buying and selling of foreign currency within an individual trading day. Most day traders take on this role as a full time investor and are working with significant amounts of money. Day traders tend to be highly educated as well and without them, there would be no liquidity within the Forex market. Forex day traders have a pivotal part to play by keeping the markets flowing liquidly through their daily activities on the Forex market.

Many people who initially set out to invest in the Forex day trading field are typically funded through various sources and have made it the full time job of choice. There have been many companies that promise huge results to the beginner. Specifically promising large returns in Forex day trading however, the majority of those who try to day trade without a fundamental understanding of the workings of the market generally lose their shirts. Don't be fooled, there is no get rich quick scheme hidden behind the curtain of Forex day trading. It has to be understood and all aspects of the Forex day trading business need to be comprehended fully in order to succeed.

The pivotal difference between casual trader and Forex day traders is usually the amount of capital, which is a definite advantage. The average Joe who gets into Forex day trading hoping to make a ton of money on intra-day movements is in for a huge disappointment. In order to benefit from Forex day trading, a large amount of capital is required as well as able to be lost. Capitalizing on small investments can accrue earnings but it is a much longer process when using small amounts of capital. Like most things, you've got to spend the big bucks to generate the big bucks. But not without the knowledge and safeguarding measures that Forex brokers can provide for any investor.

Gaining a complete understanding of the Forex day trading market will bring forth personal strategies. Coupled with the tried and true strategies that are utilized in by Forex brokers will give an individual investor the tools needed. Forex day trading strategies such as swing trading, trading news and arbitrage are a few of the most common ones that are implemented by brokers and investors. Remember that these strategies that are in print are strategies that have previously tried until they showed effective limit losses and a solid history of profits consistently.

With the Forex day trading system rising so rapidly in popularity there has naturally been a negative connotation associated with this controversial subject. The Forex day traders that are both professional and individual investors keep the Forex market rolling day after day. Many people suggest avoiding day trading at all costs while others will state that Forex day trading is the only way to generate substantial income from the foreign exchange market. If there is not the presence of required skills to navigate the financial markets and the resources needed, it is best the amateurs leave the Forex day trading to the professionals.

Troy Degarnham is the author and webmaster of http://www.forex-trading-brokers.info an informative website about Forex Trading Brokers.

Extensive help and tips on systems, software, signals, forex day trading, forex brokers, courses, and other secrets to help you gain financial freedom.

Forex Trading Not Only For Banks and Investment Houses

2007-10-09T16:53:00.001-07:00

Forex trading online is a booming business and a lot of people make a good living from it. Forex trading is a very interesting business idea, simply because it allows people from all over the world the chance to trade and strike it rich in a market that has enormous liquidity. Forex trading is a serious business and it is vitally important that you gain proper education, before committing your hard earned money to the markets.

Online forex trading are spreading like wildfire as people are looking to generate income. Online currency trading allows you to make transactions any time of the day, at your own convenience. The reason why this market has grown much more than other financial markets, is because of the rise in the number of traders working online rather than using the more old fashioned method of trading by the phone.

Systems for Forex trading are methods that makes it possible to verify entry and exit points, based on parameters, which have been validated by historical examination, on quantifiable data. Whether you are a smalltrader with as little as $200 to start with or a bigger investor wanting to trade multiple contracts, you'll need to have a reliable trading system.

To be able to trade with profit, you must be able to define and choose low risk entry points. A lack of self discipline in following a well thought out trading strategy will lead to losses. Now, with the proper education and big amount of self discipline, this is a striking and profitable Internet investing opportunity. You can trade from your PC or connected laptop from any place in any country in the world.

There is a wide variety of online training available. Therefore You'll be able to get educated from the comfort of your own home. Now, if you're interested in forex trading, you must start off by getting some good forex training. Make sure that your education includes currency simulation training, to help you understand the process and to minimize mistakes when you switch to the real deal.

Forex trading is an extremely lucrative, yet volatile and therefor risky market. It is very appealing to the online trading newcomer as it is a controlled environment, and quite simple to understand. Currency trading is no longer the private playground of the banks and investment houses. Forex trading is one of todays hottest business opportunities.

http://www.small-biz-ideas.net Provides you with a broad range of small business ideas. Learn more about Forex trading!

Greek Market

2007-10-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

General economic indexes:

This country is quite economically and politically developed and stable recent years, but it is the fact that it is one of the poorest members of the European Union members. Moreover, some European representatives consider that Greece is a drain on the overall European Unions economic results. The GDP of Greece equals to 226,400,000,000 USD approximately, the GPD per capita equals to 21,300 USD approximately (these are good indicators for Greece); inflation rate equals to 3.4 percent, unemployment rate equals to 11 percent (quite large indicator), external debt equals to 57,000,000,000 USD, industrial growth rate in Greece makes 7 percent a year. All these indicator prove that Greece is a developed country and its average statistical citizen can afford drinking expensive spirits such as whiskey from most price categories.

Drinking preferences:

Greece is a very ancient country with long and interesting history. From the very beginning of a Greek history its population consumed alcohol especially wine. Wine was an essential attribute of the meals. Of course spirits are not alien to Greeks.

So malt whiskey are completely compatible with the Greek market of spirits.

Investment Climate

a. General information:

Greece is a member of many international business organizations such as World Trading Organization, World Customs Organization and others. Its major investors are European Union members and the United States of America. Greek economy is not so open to the foreign investments as other countries are even though there was established an agency which has to attract investments to Greece (the Hellenic center for investments or ELKE). However Greek government makes steps and improvements to make investment climate in Greece more attractive to foreign investors (for instance subsidies and other incentives). Domestic investors have privileges comparing to the foreign one. But despite of investors origin they receive significant incentives if operating in the less developed Greek regions.

Banking system and financial sector correspond to the norms of the European Union and developed enough. Getting a credit in Greece is not very complex procedure both for domestic and foreign investors.

b. Taxation:

Greek income taxation system bears progressive character. Personal income tax rate varies from 5 up to 40 percent of personal taxable income. Corporate income tax rate equals to 32 percent from the taxable profits (but there is an exception for partnerships income tax rate equals to 25 percent).

Social contributions from employers equal to 28 percent of the wages fund. From 2005th year value added tax (VAT) in Greece equals to 19 percent (this is not too much for European country). VAT is imposed on all goods in services which sold within a country. Additionally there is a reduced VAT rates exist in Greece (9 percent and 4.5 percent).

Dividends paid are not subject to Greek taxation provided.

So taxation rates are quite moderate in Greece.

c. Legislation:

There is an expropriation of private property possible in Greece under certain conditions but in such case all costs will be refunded to the owner. All commercial laws are harmonized with international law and the legislation of the European Union. Thus Greek legislations and regulations can be considered as transparent and consistent so-called: Foreign companies, however, report that they have encountered cases where there are multiple laws covering the same issue, resulting in confusion over which law applies in which situation, and very complicated! Very often Greek courts often make controversial and not logical decisions.

d. Corruption:

The problem of corruption obviously exists in Greece. The officials of all ranks are involved in bribery (up to ministers). Greek legislation provides severe punishment and penalties for corruption and bribery, the government actively struggles against these phenomenon.

e. Competition:

One of the most significant Greek branches of economy is tourism. Hence tourists consume lots of Greek goods and services each year and fulfill the budget significantly. This factor makes all major producers of alcohol and alcohol beverages to sell their products in Greece. Consequently competition on a Greek market is quite developed and it would not very easy to enter this market without the appropriate marketing strategy and finances.

f. Entering barriers and other disadvantages:

A disadvantage of Greece market is that there are only three free-trade zones located at the Piraeus, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion port areas. Another disadvantage of investing money in Greek economy is that intellectual rights are not protected on adequate level, trademarks are not protected too. Thus there can occur misunderstandings and frauds.

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Futures and Future Index Stock Trading Information

2007-10-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

The one thing that a person looking to get into this business will not lack is a choice of where to start. A person might even go so far as attempting sports trading if they were so inclined. It is ultimately this variety of choice that keeps people coming back to the markets time and again in an attempt to succeed.

While this kind of enthusiasm in trading is definitely good to have, it is also good to maintain a healthy amount of skepticism. For every person that is able to make a very good living from trading some kind of commodity, there are many others who get into trading and eventually fail. To be in the successful minority, you need to have some understanding of how trading works before you take the plunge and start dealing. By the time you get to the end of this article you will learn about futures trading, stock indexes and future index stock trading.

Futures Trading

One particular type of trading that has become really popular of late is futures trading. This type of trading does not actually involve any kind of physical stocks, bonds, currencies or anything of that nature, but rather involves the state of a proposition at a certain date and time. The date and time in question are referred to as the expiration date and the expiration time. A contract is then drawn stating whether or not the specific proposition will be over or under a certain value by the time the expiration date rolls around. An example of this would be the price of crude oil on January 28, 2007. Contracts circulate with different price predictions and as the price changes and the date gets closer to the actual date, the value of each contract goes up or down.

This is a very challenging type of trading to get involved in. However, for people that are good at predicting short-term fluctuations, it can end up being much more lucrative than just straight stock trading. Examples of futures trading include future stock trading, future index stock trading and future forex trading.

Stock Indexes

Another type of trading that is growing in popularity nowadays, is the trading of futures in stock indexes. Before you can understand exactly what this type of trading involves, you need to understand what a stock index is. Stock indexes are basically groups of stocks that are all related in some way to each other. The strength of the stock index is based on the combined strength of all of the different stocks that make up the stock index. The DOW, for example, is a stock index that is well known to seasoned traders as well as novices in the world of trading.

Now that you are reasonably familiar with what a stock index is, we can move onto the next section, which lists a relatively new and very exciting type of trading that many people are able to make a very nice living from. This kind of trading is referred to as future index stock trading.

Future Index Stock Trading

The concept of this type of trading has evolved due the fact that values of stock indexes are published at the end of each day and, therefore, it is possible to try and predict the future values of the stock indexes. As with other futures trading, there are contracts in existence with a specific figure and date and the values of these contracts fluctuate up or down depending on what a specific stock index does at the end of a particular day. You can buy and sell these futures just like you would any other futures and because of the ease of information available about stock indexes, many novice traders find this type of trading easier to get into.

If you are a novice looking to get into trading a bit more seriously, dealing in future index stock trading options is probably the way to go. You can read up more on the basic strategy involved and then using readily available information on fluctuations in a specific stock index, you can go ahead and buy or sell to your hearts content.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article gave you a good glimpse into the world of futures and future index stock trading. Now that you know the basics of both of these potentially lucrative trading options, it is time to take things a step forward and accelerate your learning curve a bit more. One of the biggest factors that novice traders fail to take into account is the fact that they are not going to be able to make continuous expert predictions and a high percentage of good deals right off the bat. It takes time and experience to learn any market and because of that, it is important to make sure that you use proper money management techniques in your stock trading.

Do not ever use money that you cannot afford to lose. Divide your full bankroll into portions (i.e. into 25% chunks) and only use a portion of the bankroll at any specific time. Following both these steps will help ensure that your education and initiation into the world of stock trading will be as painless as possible. Following both these plans will also help ensure that you are not affected financially by any blunders made during your educational phase.

Get your Momentum Stock Trading System and sign up for my free weekly online trading system newsletter here at: http://www.stressfreetrading.com

Avoid "Buying" Mutual Fund Dividends

2007-10-09T15:47:00.001-07:00

At this time of year, you need to be aware of the ex-dividend date of any mutual funds you plan on purchasing. If you heed this advice, you avoid some nasty tax and investment performance consequences.

To explain why, let me first define ex-dividend date. On the ex-dividend date, all registered owners of a mutual fund become eligible to receive any declared dividends and capital gains distributions. If you do not own the fund by that date, you do not receive the payout. You also want to keep in mind the distribution date. After that date, you can go ahead and buy your shares without the negative impact on the NAV (Net Asset Value).

At this time of year (Oct Dec), most mutual funds declare their dividend and capital gains distributions. You have nothing to worry about if you want to buy stock. Such distributions do not impact the share price. However, if you own mutual funds you need to consider the impact of this distribution on the NAV or share value. On the day of the distribution, you will see the NAV of your mutual fund shares drop by the declared dollar amount. In industry parlance, we call this buying dividends.

Heres how it works. Throughout the year, the cash from dividends paid by stocks within the fund and capital gains realized from the sale of assets either accumulates adding to the funds cash balance or gets reinvested in equities by the fund manager. At the end of the year, the fund must distribute at least 95% (?) of the dividends/realized capital gains not reinvested in new securities. Typically, funds declare this distribution in the months of October and November.

At the end of the year, the NAV of the fund reflects the value of all the investments it contains plus the starting cash balance and the accumulated cash resulting from dividends and capital gains. When the fund manger distributes the dividends and capital gains, the NAV drops a corresponding amount. Thats fine for the people who have owned the fund most of the year. They enjoyed the NAV appreciation that resulted from the growth of the investment, the dividends, and the realized capital gains. An investor who buys just before the ex-dividend and distribution dates has purchased cash value. When the fund distributes the cash, the new shareholder sees the value of her fund shared decrease, receives back part of her investment, and then gets to pay taxes on in essence her own money! Not a good deal.

A look at an example will show why you want to avoid buying dividends. Suppose the ex-dividend date is tomorrow and you buy shares at a NAV of $25. The fund declares a dividend of $3.00 per share. Doing so means that tomorrow the fund distributes $3.00 of the NAV so your shares are now worth $22 instead of the original $25. You now owe taxes on $3.00 per share even though you didnt enjoy the price appreciation you would have had if you had purchased at the beginning of the year.

You can see that you lose in this situation. You should avoid buying dividends. Instead, wait until after the after the distribution date to purchase your shares. Then you will get to enjoy any price appreciate throughout the year and not pay taxes on the return of your own cash!

About the Author:

Catie Fitzgerald is a 10+ years veteran of the money management profession and the founder of Financially Savvy. Financially Savvy provides investors with the education and resources necessary to gain confidence in making their own financial decisions. We offer a variety of educational venues including classroom sessions, one-on-one coaching, and online resources. If you have a personal finance question you would like answered, contact Catie at cfitz@financiallysavvy.com.

How to Determine The Worth of a Bond

2007-10-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

The value of a bond is determined by the interest that it pays along with the state of the economy. A bonds interest rate will never change even though other interest rates do. If the bond happens to be paying more interest than is available elsewhere, investors are willing to pay more to own it. If the bond is paying less the reverse happens. Interest rates and bond prices fluctuate like two sides of a seesaw. When interest rates drop, the value of a bond usually goes up. When rates climb the value of an existing bond usually drops. Several factors such as a bonds yield and return will affect whether or not a bond turns out to be a good investment.

If a bond investor buys a bond at par, and then holds it to maturity. The longer the maturity of the bond , the greater the risk that at some point inflation will rise dramatically and reduce the value of the dollar that the investor is repaid. If a bond pay more than the rate of inflation, the investor will come out a head. However many bonds, particularly those that have a maturity of five or more years, aren't held by one investor from the date of issue to the date of maturity. Investors will trade bonds in the secondary market. In the secondary market the prices of the bonds will fluctuate according to the interest that the bond pays, the degree of certainty of repayment and the overall economic conditions, especially the rate off inflation, which influences interest rates.

Yield is the amount of money that you will actually earn on a bond. If you purchase a ten year bond for $1,000.00 dollars that is paying 6% interest, and then you hold on to it until it matures, you will have earned $60.00 dollars, for ten years at the same interest rate. However if you purchase a bond in the secondary market, after the date of issue, the bonds yield might not be the same as its interest rate. This happens because the interest rate stays the same, but the price that you pay may vary, changing the yield.

Most bond charts express current yield as a percentage. Investors use the yield to compare the relative value of bonds. The return is what you make on the investment when the par value of the bond, and profit or loss from trading it, and the yield are computed.

If you would like to learn the truth about bond trading or discover some useful bond trading tips then need to visit: http://TheWorldoOfBonds.BlogSpot.com

Why Is Eric Sprott Bullish on Uranium?

2007-10-09T14:42:00.001-07:00

Eric Sprott may be Canada's answer to Warren Buffet. He's got the Midas Touch and currently manages more than $3 billion. We talk to Eric Sprott about uranium and why is bullish on nuclear energy.

Interviewer:

Uranium had been inching higher from 2001 until a year ago. Since then, it has soared up the price chart. What is a realistic price for uranium and how high can you envision it reaching?

Eric Sprott:

There is obviously a shortage between current mine production and current uranium consumption. In order to correct that imbalance, it would have to be economic to open up new deposits. Im not suggesting that it (uranium) has to go to $100 to become economic. I dont think thats true. Probably at $50, it becomes very economic. The reality is that weve been so slow in getting started that I think the whole nuclear industry will ultimately prove to be the key energy source of the future. With demand today at 170 million (pounds), who knows? It might be 300 million pounds in twenty years. The argument in the article we wrote is that based on the previous peaks, prices if you put a normal inflation rate on it, it would equate to something like $100. So, its not that far fetched that we might get there.

Interviewer:

If it takes four or five years, or up to a decade, to get a nuclear reactor going, why are the Chinese building so many so quickly?

Eric Sprott:

Because theyve been doing it right. One of the nice things about a centrally organized government is they deal with big issues. Obviously, China has a big issue in energy. If you were sitting over there, you would realize, My god, were starting to import two million barrels of oil. We used to export coal and now we dont export coal. What are we going to do if our growth rate continues to grow at eight or nine percent per year? How much power are we going to need? And where is it all going to come from when there are already shortages of the two most commonly used energy sources in the country?' The option you fall back on is, Well, lets go nuclear. We have to go into all of them. And of course, now theyre predicting two nuclear reactors every year for the next ten years. Who knows? Maybe five years from now, that will be four reactors every year. Perhaps when we all realize the extent of the energy shortage.

Interviewer:

How is this going to be sold to North America and Europe in the wake of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl?

Eric Sprott:

The way things might change is now that we have $50 oil, and the price is almost going up in an unlimited fashion. Now that weve got coal at double and uranium thats gone up, people might finally realize there is not an infinite supply of certain things that we rely on. And that we might have to take a more pragmatic view of the nuclear option. Im sure that is exactly what certain countries, including Japan, China and France, have done. The other thing is that there is a new reactor where you cant have a meltdown. Im not technically strong enough to explain it. The uranium is in graphite spheres, and they wont melt down unless temperatures reach 2000 degrees. The highest it ever goes to is 1600 degrees so its just not going to melt down.

It doesnt matter if things are out of control. They wont break down. If that kind of assurance were accepted by the public if someone could prove that that was the case I think the nuclear option would be an incredibly viable option. Another thing that would make people think differently would be having brownouts for a while, or hyperinflation because of the shortage of coal, natural gas, and diesel fuel. If we had brownouts for a while, and of course they have brownouts in China, which is probably why they are proactive in moving nuclear along.

Interviewer:

How realistic is the global energy crisis moving toward a Hubberts Peak, an energy scenario from the year 1970?

Eric Sprott:

My view is that it seems very realistic. I think it is very important that we do go back to 1970. Look at the fact that Hubbert said in 1956 that 1970 will forever peak out (in terms of energy production). Lo and behold, it peaked out! It almost goes down every week in the United States. Almost every week, there is a little less production. This is now with very high oil prices. It looks like his theory, for the geographical area called the United States, worked. Do we think it is going to work in the world? I tend to believe it is. I believe there are projections for Great Britain, which I think are at about 4.2 million barrels/day right now, that in ten years from now, will be down to 700,000. Thats what happens when fields go into decline. They go down, and you can not resuscitate them. Everyone who studies the topic knows that no significant discoveries have been made since the 1960s.

What I mean by significant are giant oil fields like Ghawar. For example, people now consider a 100-million barrel field a big deal, and 500 million is great. Well, one hundred million is like 1.2 days of worlds supply, and 500 million is eight days supply. You have got to find a lot of those every year. We dont find them. We have hardly found anything. The Caspian Sea? I am guessing it is 500 to 700 million. Its the one thing we point to, the thing in the Caspian Sea, which we have been pointing to for the last three years. Lets say it is 800 million barrels, it is ten days supply. Its nothing.

Interviewer:

There have been some pretty incredible estimates as to how high oil can go. The highest were read of stands at $182 for a barrel of oil and $15 per gallon of gasoline. Your comments?

Eric Sprott:

When you get into any commodity, where there is a bonafide shortage, there is no limit on the price. There is hardly any limit on the price. Because that last guy still wants that last barrel of oil. I always say, when a commodity is starting to break loose, Never put a ceiling on it because you never know where it is going to go. You look at what is going on in the world oil situation. If I was (in charge of ) certain countries, I would probably be changing what Im doing. You can see China going throughout the world signing agreements with countries to assure oil supplies. Its a government mandate to go out and secure their supplies. I think people at the government level realize, We have issues here that we have to solve. If we dont have assurance of supply, what happens? One thing about Hubberts Peak that most people dont go to is the economic impact. Forget the price of oil. What if we produce 83 million barrels today, and in 25 years we have 55 million barrels? What is the world going to do? Do we just have to shut down economies because we dont have a replacement for hydrocarbons?

Interviewer:

Do you think the world governments are prepared for this?

Eric Sprott:

Not at all. They show no interest. In fact, I would say one of the real problems with the democratic process is, unfortunately, too much time is spent thinking about politics. Hardly any time is spent planning for the future.

Interviewer:

On uranium, you recommended a number of uranium companies in your special report. Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) seems to be the one many recommend. Other uranium companies seem to be in the exploration or the more speculative category, and now have some momentum because of the bull market in uranium. How strong are the fundamentals in those companies?

Eric Sprott:

I think the fundamentals for some of the companies are spectacular, quite frankly. Its interesting for us because we had the same thing happen in gold, when the price of gold was $250. We tried to imagine what we should buy if, and when, gold went to $400, which we thought it would, or $500 or higher. The real opportunity always lay in, Well find someone who has a large resource that is uneconomic today, but if you move the price up, it becomes quite economic. I would say Strathmore Minerals (TSX-V: STM). They have a large resource already identified. In fact, they are acquiring properties all the time that were identified years and years ago. Yet, at $20/pound uranium, they probably dont make any sense. But, at $40/pound uranium, they are likely to make tremendous economic sense. Of course, the value of the shares can almost not go up exponentially but they can go up a lot.

You finally tip over that breakeven level, and everything after that is profit. We had an analogy like that in gold area, where one guy went out and bought all these deposits that would make sense at $400 gold. The stock has been a tremendous winner. I think it is up 500 percent. I think the same can happen in uranium. Thats why we go to Strathmore and UEX (TSX: UEX).

Interviewer:

How do you feel about precious metals?

Eric Sprott:

We feel pretty good about precious metals. Weve been pretty bullish for quite a while now. We have liked the fundamentals for gold for a long time for any one of ten different reasons. The one reason I fall back on, that gives me tremendous comfort, is the fact the world consumes 4,000 tons of gold per year, but mine production is 2,500. Anybody who uses any bit of logic knows, in due course, the price will go up to reflect the imbalance between demand and supply. I dont care how much gold Central Banks sell, ultimately they are going to have no gold. I think people realize that Central Banks have made a big mistake selling their gold.

Interviewer:

The China card keeps driving global commodities as they bring their country more technology. How do you feel about the base metals?

Eric Sprott:

We havent really gotten involved in the base metals. One of the reason we havent gone there is we have believed we are in a secular bear market, and there could be a financial implosion. In that kind of scenario the base metals dont do well. But the precious metals can provide safety. Thats the distinguishing mark we make between the two. On the China thesis, the demand for all of these things would go up. Our problem is we still expect some fallout in the financial arena, which ultimately would even affect China. We feel more comfortable with the precious metals, and we feel more comfortable with energy. Simply, energy demand in an economic implosion is pretty inelastic. It doesnt fall off the table. Demand for zinc, lead, copper, and aluminum can fall quite precipitously if there was an economic slowdown.

Interviewer:

Are you expecting an economic slowdown?

Eric Sprott:

Absolutely, yes. We might be in it now. There are certainly lots of signs that there is not much robustness in the U.S. economy. I have some very strong views as to what should ultimately happen in the U.S. My views are predicated on the fact that the government reports a deficit of $400 billion, but there are also government reports that suggest, on a GAAP accounting basis, that the true deficit in 2003 was $3.4 trillion. We can all ignore it, and everyone has ignored it. But, the reality is that the liabilities are accruing for Social Security and Medicare in the U.S. at a tremendous rate. There has been no provision for it. There was a paper released by the U.S. Treasury Department about a year ago that said the present value of their obligations, that are not funded, is $44 trillion. Again, we can choose to believe it or not believe it. I happen to believe it. I made the point that politicians are in it to be re-elected, and they are not dealing with the real issue.

The real issue is they are making promises to their citizens that they cant keep. And theyre not going to keep them. I would hate to be a retired person or a young person in the U.S. Somebody is going to have to bear the brunt of all these funding issues that havent been taken care of. Beginning in 2008, the baby boomers start collecting these things. Thats a real cash problem. Before, it was just a bookkeeping problem. Youll have a huge influx of people collecting their Social Security and getting free Medicare. Its got to be funded. Anyone whos looked at the problem has agreed that no one has done anything about funding it. You have to cut what your promises were, which is what all the European governments are now trying to do. Theyre all cutting back on the pension. Most companies are cutting back on them because they cant fund them. The trend is in place here: What we thought we were going to get, were not going to get it. Am I bearish? Gosh, weve had forty years of living off of savings that were supposed to be saved to provide this future. It was all spent. Everyone just chooses to ignore it.

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. StockInterviews Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market has become the most popular book ever published for uranium mining stock investors. Visit http://www.stockinterview.com

Can You Make Money In Penny Stocks?

2007-10-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, you can! But the amount of money you make in penny stocks is directly proportional both to the amount of homework you do and the amount of discipline you have. Penney stocks are one of the most volatile investments into which you will ever put a dime, capable of breathtakingly fast gains and even faster collapses. So if you intend to trade penny stocks, you must be willing to monitor your investments constantly during market hours, and sell when you are in profit. You should also use stop-loss orders if your broker allows it.

Reasons For Investing In Penny Stocks
Keeping all the caveats in mind, there are still good reasons for including penny stocks in your portfolio. As their name suggests, they dont cost a lot, so you can build a significant positions in a company for a relatively small amount of money. While you may never own a thousand shares of a blue chip stock, you can own tens of thousands of shares of a penny stock.

Because you can own such large amounts of a penny stocks, you dont need to see a large gain in price to make a respectable profit. Each time the price of the penny stocks of which you own ten thousand shares goes up a single penny, your position will increase $100 in value. But if you get greedy, you can lose your profits by waiting too long to sell.

What To Learn About Penny Stock Companies
Penny stocks are not merely gambles if you spend the time to research them. You just need to educate yourself in certain aspects of the companies in which you want to invest; pay particular attention to the industry in which the company operates; the expertise and reputations of the companys management and the market acceptance of the companys product or services; past trading patterns of the companys stock; and how the sector which the company is in is influenced by economic and political factors.

You can find brokers to trade you penny stocks, but you will pay a commission much larger than that charged for stocks traded on the larger exchanges. Your broker will fill your buy and sell orders, so you wont have to monitor you penny stocks so closely, but his commissions will eat into you profits or add to your losses.

Penny stocks make up an over whelming percentage of all the stocks traded in the US each day. Over three-fifths of all NASDAQ and over three-quarters of all NYSE trades are of penny stocks, and this enormous liquidity means that you will almost never have difficulty getting your penny stocks orders filled.

Penny stocks are a worthwhile investment for those who the effort to understand them, and have the discipline to stand apart from the crowd.

You can also find more info on Hot Penny Stocks and Investing In Penny Stocks. Pick-pennystocks.com is a comprehensive resource to get information about Penny Stocks.

Chinese Imports Killing Americans - White Washing of Reality

2007-10-09T13:36:00.001-07:00

In the United States of America the FDA often stops imports from certain countries that do not meet our health standards and the list of banned products from our trading partners is endless. In the US our FTC, FDA and even Homeland Security often intervene to protect Americans from American Companies selling us products. Why do the Chinese get a free pass after the recent abuse?

Well could it be that they are holding much of the US debt or that the US wants to remain on the Chinese "good list" as their middle class grows into a consumer class - 1.3 Billion new consumers is a huge future market for US exports too. Agencies like the FDA and FTC say they need more budget monies if they are to deal with this Chinese poison issue, but why should we give these agencies more money after all their failures in the past?

Besides if the FTC was really going to help us Internationally, what about the OPEC Cartel? You see the FTC always asks for more budget and always under-performs. They asked for more SPAM money, Identity Theft Money and all they EVER do is round up the "usual suspects" and participate in PR, "Tailor of Panama" style propaganda. I am only interested in one thing; Winning - not PR, not another underachieving Federal Agency. You see, it is not our problem it is the Chinese Problem:

Lead Paint on Toy imports = No Toy Imports.
Poison in Food Additives = No Food Additives.
Neuro Toxins in Tooth Paste = No hygiene products!

Period, no games, no more screwing around; Sorry, but this is what we do to every other country that imports here and realize that China does it to us, so does Japan and other nations. Free Trade is Fair Trade. Recently, the Chinese "executed" their head of ministry in the agency, similar to the FDA here. This dramatic execution is typical Chinese PR. Our Government must protect the American People, if it can't, then one has to ask the question, why do we need them? Seriously, no more BS, why is it that no one can run this bureaucracy or agencies like the FDA or the FTC with any common sense. Once the Chinese know we are serious the BS will stop, until then the lip service is all a waste.

We should not reward "piss poor performance" in any government agency and we need accountability and transparency not more lip service. Often, regulatory agencies make up cases to serve the will of Senators doing the bidding for lobbyists. Adam Smith warned us of this and the FTC is a perfect example in my opinion of MY government running a muck, let's fix government this next time around shall we?

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net . Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

History Of The NYSE - A Brief History Of The New York Stock Exchange

2007-10-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

Also know as the "Big Board" the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was created by a merger of the NYSE and Archipelago Holdings, which is fully electronic, and became known as the New York Stock Exchange Group.

The NYSE is made up of 5 rooms used for trading and is found on 18 Broad Street, New York City. The NYSE can trace its roots to 1792, however it did not become known as the New York Stock Exchange until 1817 when the organization drafted a constitution.

It is the largest stock exchange in the world in the amount of dollars that flows through it each day and has the second largest number of company listing, exceeded only by NASDAQ. The global capitalization of the exchange is $2.1 trillion with $1.7 trillion of that being companies not based in the U.S.

The NYSE works similar to that of an auction. Each company listed trades in one location. A specialist broker employed by each of the listed companies has the duty of acting as an auctioneer at the company post.

Buyers and sellers of a certain stock come together around a particular post and an auction takes place. This form of trading helps produce a price for stocks that is efficient and fair for both buyers and sellers. The human interaction and the expert judgement helps differentiate the New York Exchange from other stock exchanges that are fully electronic.

In recent times orders for stocks are increasingly being delivered to the trading floor electronically. The development for a Hybrid market bringing together the elements of human interaction and electronic markets is currently in the works.

The NYSE has been made famous by a number of big budget Hollywood movies. Its history has also been a very interesting one. In 1920 a bomb was planted on Wall Street right outside the NYSE building. When it exploded it killed 33 people, injured more than 400 and caused considerable damage to the surrounding buildings. The terrorists who planted the bomb were never captured.

There have been a number of famous Wall Street crashes the most famous of which is known as Black Thursday which happened on the 24th of October, 1929. The selling panic which ensued is often blamed for coming of the Great Depression.

The current President of the NYSE is Catherine Kinney and the CEO is John Reid while Marsh Carter is the Chairman.

Check out http://www.stock-trading-made-ez.com/ for more articles on bank of newyork emerging markets 50 adr index and stock option picks.

Forex Brokers & Online Trading

2007-10-09T12:30:00.001-07:00

There is one important thing you will need to do before you start your Forex trading career. This is, you will need to set up an account with what is known in the trading world as a Forex Broker. Once you start your search for the perfect broker, you may feel there are too many of them who offer their services online. Deciding on a broker requires a little bit of research on your part. Experience and reputation are two good starting places for the selection process. do as much research as possible and ask in online forums for anyone who may have a first hand knowledge of the company.

A forex broker is an individual or a company that buys and sells the orders placed by the trader according to his decisions. The way brokers earn money is by charging a commission or a fee for their services.

You must consider that a serious forex broker will need to be associated with a large financial institution such as a bank in order to provide the amount of funds necessary for what is known as margin trading. In the United States a broker must be registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) and also with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). These credentials will ensure you have peace of mind, knowing that you have protection against any case of fraud and abusive trade practices.

What youll always want will be to find a broker who executes orders quickly and with minimum slippage. All reputable online forex brokers will offer automatic execution once you place your orders and will let you know their policies regarding slippage. A good broker should be able to tell you how much slippage can be expected in both normal and volatile markets.

You should always be skeptical when looking for a good forex broker. Always examine any suspicious claims made about high returns and low margins, especially if the broker company is vague about the risk involved in the transactions and are unwilling or unable to disclose financial information on the strength of their company. Low margins may sound competitive, but in reality this is because the broker is speculating against you and relying on the low margin to stop out your gains.

Learn these great Forex trading strategies and become a profitable trader.

=> http://www.1-forex.com

Learning The Stock Market-What You Need To Know Before Investing

2007-10-09T11:58:00.001-07:00

Many people are interested in learning the stock market and how to make money with their investments. So what are the most important factors to making a fortune with the market?

First of all, you need to realize that you need to have a method of investment before beginning. Many investors simply jump in and start investing without having a clue what their strategy is or what they want to accomplish from it.

First of all, you need to sit down and think about what you want to accomplish with investing. Do you want a car by the end of the month, or is your goal to buy a house in 5 years? This will dramatically effect your strategy.

For instance, if your goal is to have enough money to buy a car in a year or so, you will want to invest conservatively such as a bond, something that is guaranteed to pay you money. If you need quick money, there are no guarantees in the stock market, and you are just as likely to lose all your money as you are to make it.

However, if you what to have enough money to buy a house in 5 years, your strategy will be to invest in the market in order to maximum your return on investment. While volatile in the short term, the market is very stable long term, and you can be much more sure of making a positive return on your investment.

If you do plan on jumping into the market as opposed to bonds, you need to determine whether you want to be a value investor or a technical analyst. Here is the difference: a technical analyst looks at trying to make more money short term with a particular investment, and is not concerned about investing in a company long term.

A value investor, on the other hand, wont invest in a company until they can be sure its long term prospects are sound and it has a solid financial future. Only after theyve seen this will they move forward and invest.

So which method is best? It really depends on which strategy you are more comfortable with.

Technical analyst requires constant studying of stock charts and you have to always be checking up on your investments. Also, one wrong move can literally wipe out your portfolio overnight, not to mention the money you have to pay for the transaction to begin with, which can often times wipe out your entire gain.

Value investing, on the other hand, is much more stable and requires much less attention to your investments because you are generally assured of making money in the long term. Therefore, you should only engage in technical analysis once you are absolutely sure you know what youre doing.

The bottom line is this: many people have money using either strategy. However, by far more people have lost money engaging in short term technical analysis than have made a fortune.

Therefore, you should look into both methods and decide which one works best for you. The most important part is to make a decision and not second-guess yourself. Simply commit and move forward as best you can, and in the long run you will make a fortune with the market.

For more info on how to buy stocks, and tips for investing in the stock market, visit http://www.stock-investing-tips.com, a popular site that teaches how to make a fortune from your investments.

Foreign Exchange Rate - Foreign Currency Exchange - Foreign Exchange Student

2007-10-09T11:24:00.001-07:00

Several scenarios make a great decline of currency value like political uncertainties, unemployment that leads to higher inflation, other relevant issues that can hamper commerce and business from functioning well, and other macro-economic situations. This simply means you make decisions to buy or sell but dont put any real money down. The official currency of the European Union (EU), the Euro, was launched in 1999 with coins and banknotes issued in 2002.

This World recession effectively killed any growth in FX speculation as disposable income was at a premium. When people or companies hold foreign assets, there is an extra source of possible gain or loss, over and above the rate of interest or rate of profit earned by the asset itself.

If Denars are rare - their price will remain high in DM terms, i.e. But a strong currency (the Denar, in this case) is not always a positive thing. This World recession effectively killed any growth in FX speculation as disposable income was at a premium. Euro is a floating exchange rate, therefore market demand and supply controls the value of the currency.

Placing a foreign exchange hedge can help to manage this foreign exchange rate risk. At the end of WWI there was a brief period of massive currency speculation.

Stock trading is similar to owning part of a company or organization. It is often wise for the beginner to dabble in stocks trading before looking at Forex trading. If its people have the most employment, there are more needs for commodities and supplies that businesses are revolving as well as it use of money. All other currencies were pegged to the dollar at a certain rate.

Investors used to invest domestically mainly, but with the Euro introduction more investors are now attracted to euro areas. The exchange rate refers to the value of the US dollar against the values of currencies of other countries. It is an excellent way to get your feet wet without a whole lot of risk. If the US INFLATION rate is HIGHER, investors are LESS likely to prefer the US -even with higher interest rates- because of the expectation that the value of the dollar will be ERODED by inflation.

This has benefited the poorer member states which had weaker currencies previously for example Portugal, before the euro the Portuguese escudo was not that popular outside its own country or a particularly strong currency but now since Portugal is part of the EU its markets are much more attractive to other EU and non EU countries. Their lenders will also be afraid to lend them money, because these lenders cannot be sure that the borrowers will have the necessary additional Denars to pay back the credits in case of such a devaluation. If Forex exchange rate in our terms is equal to 100 yen to the dollar, the inverse would be $0,01 (one cent) per yen. One important way of encouraging people (and firms are made of people) to do things - is to allay their fears.

Learn more about Foreign Exchange Rate Foreign Currency Exchange Foreign Exchange Student

Hermit in an Otherwise Inside Academic World

2007-10-09T11:07:00.001-07:00

From all that is seen and unseen no unusual learning impediment, or idiosyncrasy for that matter, has probably ever etched its stone in a sociologically renowned two-year college in downtown Bridgeport, CT before I walked in. I was told before I registered that I would need a significant amount of (confidential) documentation describing the limitations associated with my high-functioning autistic self; I took it to heart that there were several, maybe hundreds of, others who had the same disability and applied to the same college, but my kind of disability was probably more of a normal kind than that of other autistic savants. It was not that difficult to contemplate--possibly because I was diagnosed with a mild kind of autism during my childhood--the social, personal, and academic hardships that would, nonetheless, lie ahead in an advanced post-secondary institution. But what you could say is that I never gave up my fullest scholastic and extracurricular potential, even if I continued to be a consummate outsider once and for all.

It is, without question, that Housatonic Community Colleges location isnt exactly located where, ironically at first, intellectual outsiders like me would consider an ideal environment. The heavily diverse city, which is only 20-30 minutes from the equally diverse city of New Haven and about 90 minutes away from the quintessential melting pot of Brooklyn, is notorious for its governmental and judicial corruption, inadequate public education systems, grimy and unaffordable apartments, aging infrastructure, vacant factories and department stores and high-rises, street drug dealings, and, ultimately, its socially and culturally disadvantaged inhabitants. There is a section of this city in which warm and cozy middle-classmen like me reside, but no where in the heart of this city are there effervescent kiosks and shops for them to buy the colorful discretionary goods they most desire. What I have to tell you right now is that this is a slight, maybe big for that matter, misconception. For better (or slightly for worse), Housatonic is a school where people from all walks of life, even those below the poverty line and detached from the outside world, seek a solid educational foundation and, as a result, have their lives radically transformed for more productive employment opportunities and, for the lack of a better word, a more self-sufficient future than they could ever imagine first off.

The two-year schools main attraction, the Academic Support Center, which is the reason why so many enroll here in the first place, is, indeed, for students of all scholastic skill levels. Not once did I come across one who complained about discriminatory practices or negative stereotypes administered by the otherwise caring and supportive body that truly makes this learning center tick. The experienced tutors, as well as the apprentice-like tutors, act like they have known you since those angst-ridden years you finally came to full terms with your coming of age, which is, in and of itself, no small way of looking at your own meaning of life, albeit in a personal or professional light. Better yet, the tutors can sometimes act like a dogs owner, constantly vying for your encouragement at any random moment of unease and incompetence. There is something fulfilling about this revered student lounge, there is something sacred about this secular shrine, that cant be dismissed by almost any student in the halls of this color barrier-breaking, inner-city academic Mecca.

Almost every time I came here to seek the help I needed in the perplexing arenas of Spanish, biology, and chemistry, there is no way in which I left the center without knowing how much sympathy they had for even my most profound intellectual adversities. I tried to alleviate some mind-numbing, socially discouraging forms of pigeonholing that infect the autistic soul, of the impact it had on MySpace and other self-indulgent online chat rooms, and the reactions the executives of those web pages would have if a robot like me finally bashed out of the closet, and said nothing about my own friends and family, who having perceived certain disabled stereotypes to the point of innate exaggeration never, at bottom, socialized with autistics (which they described as humanoids) for having ignored them, to be most precise, for technically no apparent reason. I thought of autistics as special needs students arriving with no motive other than sheer IQ merit that can knock normal people out of their seats, other normal people who would rather despise them, as I was a special student there, and sat back trying to meditate on their information-asphyxiated brains and relishing at the sometimes abnormal body language of their closest ilk, which I sometimes felt very sorry for.

I, by no means, fitted with that "Rain Man" stereotype pop culture and the wider college frat subculture made it out to be, since I did, later on, happen to communicate with the overwhelming assortment of students and faculty all so present on the small yet culturally multihued campus. It is true, also, that my friends off-campus enforced me to check those chat rooms I mentioned before out, for only to experience some rather routine spamming and hacking in turn. This is not to say that all of them appreciated the strengths of my mild autism, as I still dont know how to smoothly converse with beer-chugging, cocaine-snorting brats, but, as it turns out, they were, nevertheless, astounded at my capability to perform uniquely studious techniques, such as my quick-witted style of creative writing. I didnt drink to the point of sleepless intoxication, as they all proved to me just how emotionally and physically devastating alcohol consumption can really be, to say the very least. So here lies my alienation from the all-important 21st century late teens/early 20s demographic, which, believe it or not, is becoming increasingly amoral and, most unfortunately, free of values and of discipline.

If every one I came to know and value the most at the secularly sacred two-year college posed any anti-establishment measures against the now-popular autistic conscience, it was a needlessly significant rallying cry that really turned out to be nothing more than a Paris Hilton-bashing, "National Enquirer"-style gossip column. For this gossip to be, indeed, truthful, therefore, the entire Housatonic administration would have been completely compliant with a rather disingenuous piece of protest that would not be worth protesting against because autism, just like other mental deficiencies that are now talked out with and to others, is becoming a more socially acceptable medical condition in which future generations may have to cope with, since there is no miracle cure for this otherwise non-sickly illness.

According to a recent report conducted by the Autism Society of America, 1 in 150 are afflicted with some form of autism, but, fortunately, even the most mainstream college communities have finally stepped up to the plate to address the possible causes and effects of what is, in todays increasingly multifaceted world, not literally a disease in any word, shape, or form. It can also be said that (mildly) autistic outsiders like me didnt happen to engulf themselves with so much of the egotistical or self-centered sensibilities that those unaware of their fate happen to, unfortunately, indulge in. This said, the inside academic world, like that of the two-year college I silkily bathed in, was an essential, if not indispensable, life skill for me, as well as for all those who continue to seek their own career paths--without ever resorting to social and cultural insensitivity or insider trading--in the process.

For More Comprehensive Info. on Housatonic Community College, or to Enroll There Part- or Full-Time, Please Visit:

http://www.hcc.commnet.edu/

If You Want to Make a Difference in the Autism Community, Please Visit:

http://www.autism-society.org/

Best Online Stock Day Trading Services

2007-10-09T10:18:00.001-07:00

What is Online Day Trading?

Answer a simple question. If God approaches you and asks what do you need the most now? Money would be your answer most of the times. Or may be peace. But for peace, you will have to get rid of the basic human instinct of envying the new expensive car your neighbor has just bought. But come on that is human. So, to get rid of the jealousy you will have to buy a car costlier than him. Well that needs a warmer pocket for sure. And you and I know that it rains dollars only in dreams. So, what is your next course of action? Day trading is an interesting option.

Day trading is the first thing you need to know. Shares and stocks are the basic units of trading. Do you know shares? If yes, it would be simple for you to understand this. But if you are ignorant of the term, just know that as you buy shares from a company, you give it a small amount to invest into business and as it earns some profit, it gives the percentage of profit equal to your share. So here, the company works with your money and pays you the profit, without you actually working. Now let us come to day trading. Here you buy the shares and sell them as soon as the value raises to a level you have decided. You earn some profit. Or may be, if the share loses its value, you might lose some money as well. Experience is an important factor here as it helps to make a more informed and accurate decision.

We will show you how, even you, though naive, can earn through this business, toil-less money. What you need here is an experienced hand, for you cannot afford losing a lot before gaining it yourself. So, you need to go to a day trading stock broker now. Now whos that? A broker is a person who represents a brokerage firm and helps you buy and sell shares and takes some commission for his service. There are many day trading firm that are offering their services online.

SogoInvest is an online day trading firm that offers a variety of advantages to the investor. Actually, this discount brokerage site is one of the best and the most reliable of them around. It has two account types namely SogoInvest and SogoElite. Also its various investment packages the Platinum, Gold and Bronze give you further options to select what suits your budget and your individual preference. What more, it has strategies to minimize the financial risk. It has the choices of making automatic investments daily, weekly or monthly. This best day trading stock broker also offers another very great benefit. It allows you to buy shares in fraction, i.e. you can buy any expensive share in fraction if you do not have enough money to buy the full one but are still interested in buying that share. So, with this day firm trading for you, you can earn safe and easy money.

We offer you very easy route to earn and that too online, without perspiring whatsoever. Have more queries? Just visit www.sogoinvest.com, the day trading stock broker and see if its discount online trading strategy to earn can benefit you.

I wrote this article to share my views about best discount day trading services and online day trading.

Stop Foreclosure Quick and Save Your Home

2007-10-09T10:17:00.001-07:00

First, understand that the banks and lenders really do like you and desperately want to negotiate a payment plan that you can afford. The bad part of this is that although you may be able to make the adjusted house payments you will not be gaining on your house balance or principle. This article will look at some ways to stop foreclosure quick.

One of the fastest ways to stop foreclosure quick is to make a call to the bank or lender and explain your situation. You may need to be a couple payments over due before they will realize the situation, but it can't hurt to act now. If you have lost your income due to layoff, but plan to be employed soon you may be able to stop them form foreclosing on the home.

You can stop foreclosure quick if you know your home has some equity and you want to keep your home. It might be wise to check the value of some other homes in your area to make sure that your home is worth keeping. If you determine that you want to stop foreclosure quick then make an attempt to call them immediately.

You may be able to stop foreclosure quick by checking the local newspaper for some investors to by your property from you. The bank may be willing to sell it at a reduced rate to get it done. The investor may be willing to allow you to stay in the home at a reduced rent and some work labor. it is always worth a shot.

You could possibly stop foreclosure quick by finding an investor that may be willing to buy the home from your bank or lending institution and then rent the home back to you at a reduced rate. If you can do some handy work you may be able to put some labor into the home in exchange for a nice reduction in your rent from the new investor.

If you have a larger home then trading places with someone who may want to upgrade is a possibility to stop foreclosure quick. Of course, you will need to have the other home with a lower payment so that you can afford to do the swap. If the payment is lesser then you may be able to stop foreclosure quick and make a deal.

It is possible to stop foreclosure quick and save your home from the dreaded foreclosure market. You must act fast, but it can be a great reward to stop foreclosure quick.

If you need more foreclosure help then quickly head over to http://foreclosure-help-now.com where you will find helpful foreclosure tips, advice and resources including information on foreclosure plans, negotiating and more Stop Foreclosure Quick.

Oil ETF and Stocks

2007-10-09T09:27:00.001-07:00

Just last week, we were discussing about Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) and its use. Mainly, to save commission cost and reduce volatility. There are, however, instances where buying ETF will enhance your return compared to buying one individual stocks. Buying Oil ETF and its corresponding stock is one example.

Oil stock, by definition, is shares of a company which engages in the oil production, exploration, distribution, refinery or other related oil expertise. Out of this sector, only stocks that engage in oil production will move in tandem with the rise and fall of oil price. The reason is simple. They drive their profit based on the average selling price of oil for the particular month or year. If the cost of extracting a barrel of oil is $ 20 and current oil price is at $ 50/ barrel then, $30/ barrel is the company's gross profit. If oil price moves downwards, their profit will be reduced as well.

Now, what happens is an oil producing company does not always produce the same barrels of oil each time. Weather, political reasons and other outside factors may play a role in this. Thus, for example, when oil price rises from $ 50 to $ 70/ barrels while production fell, the profit generated by this oil company is not directly proportional to the increase in oil price.

Therefore, if you feel that oil price will move up in the coming years, what should you do? Buying an oil company will generally expose you to company specific risk and some will give you higher returns than oil price appreciation, some don't. This is where Oil ETF comes into play.

Oil ETF will move in tandem with oil price. If oil rises by 20%, then its corresponding ETF will move by the same amount. Thus, this makes it easier on investor. They do not have to figure out both oil price and the company specific issues such as production, cost of extracting oil or even labor unions.

What oil ETF can you buy? There are two ETFs available for US investors; United States Oil (USO) and iPath Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Index (OIL). You could probably choose OIL, which is trading at a lower price than USO. It doesn't matter, however, as they normally moves in similar fashion and your return would not be affected by which ETF you choose.

Novice Investing is the online investing guide for beginners. You can also submit investing articles here

A Brief Introduction to Machine Vision

2007-10-09T09:12:00.001-07:00

A machine vision camera usually abbreviated by MV is the type of computer vision made available to the manufacturing industry. Computer vision is different than machine vision in that is focuses on machine based images however machine vision focuses on input/output digital devices as well as computer networks to control certain types of equipment like a robotic arm or other similar device.

Machine vision is simply a field all its own that includes engineering topics such as optics, mechanical engineering, computer science, and also industrial automation. The way machine vision is so popular is because it frequently uses an industrial camera to inspect goods like pharmaceuticals, automobiles, semiconductor chips, and food. A fire wire camera, smart camera, digital camera, or other type of image processing to inspect workmanship of different products.

Machine vision systems have very specific jobs to perform. For example, machine vision programs are programmed to simply count items on a conveyor belt or else read serial numbers. In some instances they may search products for defects along the surface of the product. Manufacturers like machine vision programs that provide visual inspection that works around the clock. This includes machine vision systems that offer high magnification and high speed. Humans used to offer this service but humans typically are more easily distracted and do not do as good a job as machine vision cameras might.

Of course, humans are better able to distinguish between certain defects or understand quicker new policies. But, machine vision does a better job in the long run because they are not distracted, work tirelessly, and can work 24 hours per day. The problem is that cameras are not exactly the same as human eyes and the machine vision is programmed to notice one particular problem whereas humans can pick up on a lot of different things. Nevertheless new types of software are being created to help machine vision become even better and be able to pick up on several different problems at once. Manufacturers are really excited about the technology and cant wait for it to improve even more in order to implement it. Only the future knows where the technology will go but the way it looks right now computers and cameras may one day replace many more human jobs in manufacturing positions. Its possible that in the future computers and machine vision may be the only ones with these types of jobs!

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. The way machine vision is so popular is because it frequently uses an industrial camera to inspect goods like pharmaceuticals, automobiles, semiconductor chips, and food. A firewire camera, smart camera, digital camera, or other type of image processing to inspect workmanship of different products. Machine vision systems have very specific jobs to perform. For example, machine vision programs are programmed to simply count items on a conveyor belt or else read serial numbers.

Good Stock Picks-How To Make A Killing With Your Investments

2007-10-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

So many people today want to know how to find good stock picks for their portfolio. They are always looking for that next hot stick tip that they can make a killing off in the next 30 days.

The problem with most investors is that they take on a very short term outlook. This is the same of most business owners. In both business and stock investing, its only a small minority who ever make a significant amount of money. Why is this?

Instead of committing to a strategy and sticking to it long term, the vast majority become so focused on finding that get rich quick scheme they will jump from one stock to the next, and ultimately make very little money at all.

The bottom line is, there is no hot stock tip or good stock picks that are guaranteed to make you a fortune overnight. Yes, some investors have gotten lucky and made a fortune in a week.

However, often times those same investors lose their entire profit in a very short period of time by continuing to employ the same strategy. When you take on a short term outlook in your investing, you switch from being an investor to a gambler.

Warren Buffet doesnt worry one bit how his stock does short term. What he considers good stock picks much different than most investor, because hes looking for long term return on investment.

If the worlds top investor invests for the long term; doesnt it make sense to model that success? Yes, you can make some money short term, but like gambling, you will always lose in the long run.

The reason the market is so volatile today is the get rich quick scheme. Think about it-instead of picking an investment they can be sure will work for them for years to come, most investors jump in when they feel they can make a quick buck.

They continue checking in on their investment all the time. As soon as it starts going down, because they didnt do their research and dont know the long term prospects of the company, they panic and sell out.

When thousands follow this same mentality, chaos ensues. This is exact the same behavior that caused the market crash of 1929, and what will continue to be responsible for the volatile up and down turns of the market.

Do yourself and the market a favor, and invest for the long term. The only good stock picks are companies that have exhibited a good profit margin for years and possess favorable future outlook. You will be ensuring your long term wealth, and you will be contributing to a stronger and more predicable economy.

For more info on how to buy stocks, and tips for investing in the stock market, visit http://www.stock-investing-tips.com, a popular site that teaches how to make a fortune from your investments.

No, The Sky Isn't Falling And The Market Moves On!

2007-10-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Last week there were several discussions about the market and it`s doldrums. One issue in particular was the fact that one of the financial analysts was proclaiming to folks in the Media that "The Sky is falling".

The same analysts were telling people 10 years ago to buy Yahoo at $400.00. They would pound on the table and scream "BUY Yahoo it would only go higher and higher!" I`m not making this up!

Once upon a time, people were satisfied with a small tidy profit.They weren't buying homes with high expectations as it is today! Now every homeowner and investor expects unusually high returns. Many,thought they could buy and sell within a day! Gains were astounding. Worse, in some cases it was true! I know, I lived it.

Back to our current market.The sub prime market and it`s total demise was due to companies or Hedge Funds on Wall Street who knew exactly what they were doing. They were encouraging these loans to be made essentially to people who for whatever reason qualified on a marginal sense of the word.

Suddenly, home buyers who qualified for loans at $250K were given the green light to obtain loans from lenders valued at $350K. Better, the loans were set at 100% financing and there began the root of all evil.

Many of these so called pundits of the street who handled these hedge funds are gone, but, they were able to amass "millions of dollars" in bonus before their departure!

Not too bad for a few years worth of turmoil and destruction. After all leave the clean up to others,which is exactly what`s transpired! The absorption rate will take years to fix, but like everything else, things have a way of taking care of themselves.

I`m not defending anyone, except the simple truth. People will always need to Buy, and others will always need to Sell. The rest is based on price and location. Will a person selling their beautiful home in the future be able to make "staggering Profits" as they once did?! The answer is no. Does this mean that the market is over? Stop listening to Stock Jocks who should stick to the buying and selling of what they know,which is stocks, not Real Estate.

scott daniels
florida list for less realty,inc.
954-275-0200.
http://www.floridalistforlessrealty.com

Forex Education - Want to Buy Advice? 2 Tips To Help You Get The Best Education

2007-10-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Forex education is vital if you want to succeed but most traders simply have no idea what is good advice and believe advertising copy, but you need to go beyond the copy to get good advice.

Most what you need to know is FREE on the net. Lets look at where to get the best advice to forward your forex education.

Tip 1 - Look For Proof

Dont buy an e-book from a vendor on the net unless they present a real time track record that they have made money with their system.

There are many e-books sold that use great copy or lies, to appeal to naive investors dont fall for this If they have made no money dont buy their product period.

Most of the systems sold by vendors are junk or you can get the information free on the net anyway more of that later. Now another important point!

Beware of the hypothetical track record this is meaningless.

Their done in hindsight knowing the closing prices so of course its going to make money but you dont trade backwards in real life you trade forwards and thats much more difficult!

Instead of buying overpriced e-books with no evidence of success, go to your bookstore and pick up books from traders who have walked the walk rather than simply talk the talk.

Here you can learn from the real pros (we have done a top list check out our other articles) and there are some great bargains to be had.

Tip 2 Take advantages of FREE Sources

You can learn forex trading for free and get a forex trading strategy without spending any money.

If you are novice trader you will probably want to trade with forex charts and use technical analysis.

Just look up the phrase and you will find all you need.

The simplest way to trade is using support and resistance and a breakout methodology so search those two phrases as well.

You will need some momentum indictors to confirm youre trading signals so look them up and in particular Relative Strength Index and stochastics.

That will give you a simple powerful method to trade with and give you a forex system based on sound logic.

THE BEST FOREX EDUCATION

Is easy to get if you follow the above two tips All the basics are free and you can get a few good books from the great traders to inspire you and help you you need spend no more than $100 maximum and you will learn forex trading the right way and get the best forex education.

Finally, leave the e-books with their over hyped copy and no proof to the other 95% of forex traders who lose.

Thats it good luck and good trading.

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No Good Thing Lasts Forever - Except, Perhaps, Immediate Annuities

2007-10-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

Most people will agree that nothing lasts forever, but a careful look at various investment options might yield an exception or two. Rising health-care costs, inflation, and consumer prices are just a few of the variables that cause people to struggle to make ends meet these days. Unusually low interest rates only exacerbate the problem, forcing countless retirees to tighten their belts. If this outlook matches what youre currently facing, dont abandon hope; an immediate annuity might be the solution for you.

Recently, we were asked for advice by an 86-year-old former executive assistant who well call Jacqueline. She came to one of our seminars at a local library. Afterward, Jackie approached us and started to talk about her situation. She never married and has no children. Shes been retired for about 20 years, and recently sold her home so she could move into a comfortable assisted-living residence. Jackies primary concern was to have enough income to supplement her Social Security and pension benefits so as to maintain the standard of living to which she had become accustomed factoring in inflation, rising housing costs, personal health-care costs, and taxes. Her will would donate the remainder of her estate to a few charities of her choice.

To meet these goals, Jackie needed more income than her principal would allow under traditional conservative investments. Like many of her contemporaries, she did not have the physical stamina to re-enter the work force. This meant that she could not afford risks associated with the stock market. What she wanted, in her own words, was a guaranteed, preferably tax-favored income stream for the rest of her life, an income that would remain perfectly stable despite fluctuations in the stock market. After a thorough investigation of many options and detailed conversations with Jackies accountant and attorney, we narrowed the possibilities to one investment vehicle: the single-premium immediate annuity.

An annuity is a tax-deferred investment vehicle that gives you a fixed or variable annual income. The amount of that income is based on the initial value of the principal and the type of annuity the owner chooses to invest in. There are many different types of annuities, all of which are designed to meet various needs. Annuities can be fixed, variable, immediate, deferred, medically underwritten, etc. As with any purchase, investors must weigh the benefits that an annuity may offer against the costs, management fees, liquidity, and the price of added benefits. The key to remember is that annuities come in different shapes, colors, and sizes. There are literally hundreds of different ways they can be purchased, but one way needs to be found. When looking to buy, you should always evaluate how the benefits match up with your own needs. It is for this reason that we always recommend that investors have a meeting with their accountant and attorney, along with the person who is selling the annuity, so that nothing gets lost in the translation. At this time, a detailed discussion of all the pluses and drawbacks can take place and an informed decision can be made taking into account factors the investor originally may not have thought about.

Although New York State is a highly regulated market that maintains a close eye on the types of products sold to investors, you should always be fully aware of the ins and outs of the product youre dealing with. Often, certain types of annuities pay a high commission to the people selling them. Because of this, and the complexities discussed earlier, it is not uncommon for the seller to place his or her interests above those of the (typically less savvy) investor. Contrary to popular belief, annuities are not only sold by insurance agents, but by brokers, CPAs, CFPs, tax preparers, local banks, and many other people and institutions as well. As always, its important to know who youre dealing with and dont be afraid to ask questions! Whether you live in NYC, the east coast, west coast, or some place in between, it is best to be prudent and always do the required due diligence. The type of annuity Jackie did her due diligence on was an immediate annuity.

With immediate annuities, the investor or investors (ownership can be single-life or joint-life) puts up an initial principal in exchange for a stream of payments. An insurance company is typically the seller of the annuity and will be the one that sends you the monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual checks. Why would an insurance company be willing to take on this tremendous responsibility of lifetime payouts? Well, it is all based on life-expectancy statistics, which are derived from actuarial tables.

Immediate annuities have various payout options. Some of the more common are lifetime income-only, lifetime period-certain, lifetime income-with-cash (lump sum) refund, lifetime income-with-installment refund, and period-certain. Simply said, you have several choices about how you receive your money. Keep in mind, however, that different types of annuities are sold through different insurance companies, with various credit ratings. Because so many factors play into a decision about which type of annuity to purchase, it is essential to consult a financial professional before making your final decision.

The payout amount of an immediate annuity is determined strictly by age and gender, unless it is a medically underwritten policy, in which case the health status of the annuity owner also plays an important role. (The insurance company will often pay more when your life expectancy is altered because of poor health.) What made this investment appropriate for Jackie was largely the fact that she had no heirs, because when you set up an immediate annuity you forfeit all rights to ownership of your initial investment principal. If you have heirs who are dependent on an inheritance they assume theyll receive, a conversation about the consequences of going through with this kind of an investment should definitely occur. Still, the benefits associated with an immediate annuity are impressive; the insurance company will guarantee your income payments for the remainder of your life, even if you live to be 120.

Jackies Social Security, pensions, and bond income did not generate enough cash to meet her high monthly expenses, which meant that she had no choice but to dip into her principal every year. Had she stayed on that path, Jackies entire principal would have been depleted in about six years. We were tempted to recommended tax-free municipal bonds because of their liquidity, income security, and tax-free status. But current interest rates and Jackies high income needs would again have forced her to invade and ultimately deplete her principal within those same six years. Knowing that the national life-expectancy average of a woman Jackies age is currently around six years, and taking into consideration her superb health and strong genetic background, investing in municipal bonds created a risk we did not feel at all comfortable with.

In Jackies case, we chose a lifetime income-only annuity because the alternatives were too risky, and also because not being able to afford to live where she wants, with the people she cares about, was unacceptable to her. If, like Jackie, you are looking for consistency, guarantees, or just peace of mind that you wont run out of money during the final stage of your life, an immediate annuity could be the solution for you.

Don Conrad is president of Conrad Capital Management, an independent registered investment advisor, in Melville, New York. Can be reached by phone: (631) 439-7878 or email: don@conradcapital.com

Don started his career in the late 1970s at a nationally recognized mutual fund company and was recruited after three years by E.F. Hutton Company to work in the consumer retail division. During his thirteen-year tenure there, he spent two years specializing in and trading the 30-year treasury bond. For the last five years, he served as a senior vice president focusing his efforts in the Consulting Services division, maintaining offices in both Long Island and Manhattan.

In 1993, he was recruited by PaineWebber as a Senior Vice President in the consumer retail division. In addition to managing his clients assets, he was asked by senior management to conduct a nationwide tour to train financial consultants in the Consulting Services division. Don also made a video on the use of advanced technology in the financial services industry. This video was distributed to PaineWebber offices internationally.

After almost five years at PaineWebber, Don decided to pursue his dream by starting Conrad Capital Management in order to offer his clients more choices and flexibility.

Unlocking the Riddle of Kilgore Minerals: Gold Exploration Inside a Uranium Company?

2007-10-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

Unless you are a subscriber to Robert Bishops Gold Mining Stock Report, you may not have heard about this budding uranium development company. The companys share price had a healthy rally after the San Francisco Gold Show, last November, when Kilgore Minerals (TSX: KAU) was discussed as a potential takeover candidate. Shares in this little-known minerals company catapulted from the C$0.50 0.60 range to as high as C$1.13/share by February 6th. Pinetree Capital (TSE: PNP), itself a red-hot stock whose shares have quadrupled since early November, announced it had purchased approximately 10.5 percent of Kilgore Minerals (and if the convertible securities were exercised, its ownership could reach 12.9 percent).

What is the excitement over Kilgore Minerals? Norman Burmeister is hardly the promotional type. Even his good friend, letter writer Robert Bishop, describes the company as non-promotional. During our interview, it occurred one might think of Kilgore Minerals as a uranium company inside a gold exploration company. That should become apparent as you continue reading this. And the question was posed to Mr. Burmeister, At the end of this year, will Kilgore be better known as a gold or uranium company. After a long pause, he responded, The objective here is to build a mining company.

Far from the very promotional Howe Street area, where the majority of the TSX Venture exchange companies have offices, Burmeister is nearly reclusive in a small town in Wyoming. Its about ten miles to the nearest stop light, he told StockInterview. Actually, Dubois, Wyoming where youll find Mr. Burmeister is less than 80 miles away from Yellowstone National Park. (Keep driving west on US 287, and youll be in Montana.) When we hear a company CEO talking up that hes going to build a mining company, the phrase grain of salt comes to mind. But a careful review of Mr. Burmeisters resume will snap even the most cynical out of that frame of mind, starting with his graduation from the Colorado School of Mines as a geological engineer. (See bio snapshot at the end of the article.) Hes found and developed a gold mine, found deposits, sold them to a major company. Been there, done it, and now hes ready for something even bigger.

Kilgore Minerals Uranium Projects

Now, Burmeister has got three gold and 12 uranium properties. The uranium properties are convincing, and the company plans a drill program on one, in Nevada. We are in the process of permitting one property for a summer drill program. Its a Nevada property that was drilled out by Utah Mining and Construction, which became a division of General Electric. It subsequently became Pathfinder Mines, when GE was ordered to divest their uranium mining and producing facilities. Hes referring to the companys 46-claim Mountain West property in Elko, Nevada. One might suspect the hand of Dr. Dieter Krewedl in this property selection. Dr. Krewedl was vice president of exploration for Pathfinder in 1990 1995 (and also serves on the board of directors of Strathmore Minerals).

Its not the largest property in our portfolio, but its handy, Burmeister said humbly. Its in a good jurisdiction in ELKO County, Nevada. Its something that we can get permitted and move forward. Its a relatively low cost type of operation. Its something we think our company with our resources can advance significantly within a budget that isnt going to commit the companys entire resources. Burmeister believes the Nevada uranium asset may have a good grade. Its near surface with essentially a low stripping ratio, so it could be mined with a slot type of mining operation, he explained. When a deposit is relatively shallow, the slot type mining method can be used, similar to how a quarry is mined.

His two Wyoming properties in Crook County, comprising 122 claims, were previously drilled by different major companies in each of the three claim blocks. Homestake Mining drilled over 3,000 holes as late as the mid 1980s on the 48-claim New Group block. In one area alone, within a 40-acre tract, over 250 holes were drilled (about six holes per acre). Bethlehem Steels 2 claims in the Oshoto Group consist of an admittedly a small property. But it is right in the center of what was developed in the late 1970s, Burmeister insisted. The joint venture, between Bethlehem Steel and a California-based oil company, did a successful test ISL operation on the property in 1979. As they were winding down the test, and evaluating the results, they had to contend, as did many other uranium exploration companies, with the public outcry after Three Mile Island.

Another uranium property block, the 72-claim Wood Group, was also extensively drilled, by Homestake and Pioneer Nuclear. It is estimated several hundred holes explored the property, and 115 holes were drilled on one 160-acre tract. Burmeister hinted his uranium package was still being assembled. The companys website notes, The Company will continue its efforts on the location and acquisition of historic data associated with its portfolio of uranium properties.

What tickles Norman Burmeisters fancy about this area? It is the Inyan Kara group, he said. His leases are part of a much larger package. There is roll front Cretaceous sediment that surrounds the Black Hills. We have properties on northern part of the system in Montana, we have properties on the western flank, and this is in addition to lands on the roll front on the eastern flank of the Black Hills. And what makes this important? Its the equivalent to the stratigraphic unit that has been highly productive in the Powder River Basin, explained Burmeister. Its also been productive at its southern extremity in South Dakota in the Edgemont District.

Others have been announcing uranium leases in Wyoming, and the state has become a hotbed of claims announcements in recent months. How did Kilgore Minerals come across these? We came by some information in a package of data we purchased that included the definitive location of the roll front, explained Burmeister. I dont think that information was widely known. Thats why these leases were not picked up in the past. I think folks didnt know where that roll front was. That roll front was defined by a major uranium company with over 15 years of exploration in the area, having drilled I dont know how many thousands of reconnaissance drill holes of these things, like one per square mile, over several counties: northeastern Wyoming, southeast Montana, and western South Dakota. That information led to the definition of the roll front where these uranium deposits occur. With that said, Mr. Burmeister is quietly confident.

The Kilgore Gold Project

But which project gets Norman Burmeister talking breathlessly? Ask him about the companys Kilgore gold property in southeastern Idaho. Im very excited about this project, said Burmeister. It was a property that was very high on Echo Bays list. At the time they were active, Echo Bay was one of the major gold explorers of the world. They had a very large budget. This was one of their top projects, possibly even their top project. Indeed, Echo Bay had drilled 122 holes (82,987 feet of drilling) in 1994-96, and bought out Placer Dome for 100 percent ownership of the property. The collapse of junior gold exploration in 1997 led to the project (and all Echo Bay projects) being shelved. Kennecott, Placer and Pegasus each drilled the gold property between 1983 and 1994. Kilgore Gold (wholly owned subsidiary of Kilgore Minerals) acquired 100-percent ownership of the property, after the exploration industry had contracted. The smart buy at the bottom of the cycle, which is what Norman Burmeister did.

During 2006, the main show for Kilgore Minerals will likely be the summer drilling program on the Kilgore gold property, comprising 150 unpatented claims over an area of approximately 4.7 square miles. The technical report (National Instrument 43-101) was filed on the property by G.H. Rayner and Associates, which estimated 218,000 ounces of gold indicated and 269,000 ounces of gold inferred. To ascertain that estimate, nearly 200 diamond and reverse circulation drill holes for more than 126, 000 feet were completed. Major gold companies spent more than $8 million to bring this property to this level of understanding.

As a resource, less than 500,000 ounces is a small deposit. However, a drill intersection, during the summer 2004 drill program, struck a 10-foot section averaging 0.465 ounces/tonne or 14.5 grams per tonne gold. Designated the Elsa Zone discovery hole, the intersection found that gold sample more than 4,600 feet from the 487,000-ounce gold resource.

A preliminary structural investigation by Stanton W. Caddey, a highly respected geological consultant, concluded in an October (2003) report:

The Kilgore prospect area represents a high quality gold project, much of which remains to be drill tested. Most the previous drilling was focused along a peripheral or satellite segment of the main hydrothermal system. The primary exploration potential is for a bonanza, epithermal, gold-rich vein system localized along the major N60W-trending McGarry Canyon NW fault zone and subordinate faults in the area referred to as Dog Bone Ridge Exploration potential at the Kilgore property for more than doubling the present gold resource with further exploration drilling is regarded as excellent.

In May 2004, Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada completed a scoping level update of Echo Bays 1996 initial engineering assessment of the Kilgore project. Neil B Prenn, P.E., agreed this is a large epithermal gold deposit, hosted in volcanic and sedimentary rocks, and the resource is hosted within quartz stockwork and in silicified sedimentary rocks. In reviewing Echo Bays work, he observed that instead of calculating a reserve for the property, they described an estimate with high confidence, the potential mineable part of the resources, at 10.087 million tonnes, averaging 1.28 grams/tonne, containing 417,000 ounces of gold. The engineer concluded, The project appears to have reasonably attractive economics if the potentially mineable material can be doubled at $375/ounce gold price.

Burmeister believes the best is yet to come. His summary of Echo Bays previous drilling was simple and to the point, They were focused on a low-grade open pit occurrence, which is very nice. It has a significant resource. In their enthusiasm to move that particular aspect of the project forward, I think they did not have the chance to step back and look at the overall hydrothermal system, which we have done. Burmeister added, We think the best may be yet to come by exploring for a high grade underground type of operation which is very much in favor these days.

The successful drill hole was a blind discovery at 410 feet of depth. Burmeister clarified, saying The first hole that we drilled, we were successful in discovering a blind high grade occurrence of gold beneath the barren sinter. He realized the mistake made during the 2004 drill program, In our enthusiasm to get our arms around this target area, which we call the Dog Bone Ridge area, we took enormous step-outs, and never offset that high grade hole. Subsequent holes were all interesting, museum quality realgar mineralization and stibnite mineralization, which are diagnostic of the epithermal model were testing. We got anomalous gold, but we didnt get any ore grade material.

The Dog Bone Ridge area, as determined by geochemistry, geophysics, geology and structure, is at least 6,000 feet long and 1,800 feet wide. Burmeister explained his better understanding of the target area, We think this is a very recent geological occurrence, and has not been eroded. Typically, there is no gold on the surface on these systems. It comes as the result of boiling. The gold is precipitated out at that level and does not reach the surface. Were actually dealing with a paleo-surface. Our discovery hole was deeper in the system, below the zone of boiling. So I dont think the other drilling we did, the other core holes, they did nothing but reinforce our interpretation of the system.

In July, Kilgore Minerals will proceed where drilling left off in 2004. A recent news release announced, The summer 2006 drill program is expected to commence in July with the first holes designed to offset the Elsa Zone discovery. There are a number of Elsa look-alike definitive targets within the overall Dog Bone Ridge target area that will also be tested. How does Norman Burmeister explain this in laymans terms? Were going to offset that discovery hole and find out what thats all about, he told StockInterview. Well go about the business of evaluating that project because its all prospective. We were targeting a projected structural intersection of which there are many. The success we had with that first hole, its not unique in terms of what we know in the geophysics, the geology, the structure and the geochemistry. Thats not to say that all of those targets are going to be successful, but the size of this system indicates it can host a very significant resource.

It was an exciting discovery hole, and the summer 2006 drilling program could spell success if drilling results match Burmeisters enthusiasm. In closing, he said, That hole could well be right smack in the middle of an ore body. We dont know what the orientation of the zone is, because with one hole, it is impossible to know what the dip and the strike is. We dont know if its close to true width or we hit it at the high angle. But, its very exciting.

Stay Tuned.

The Facts About New Stock

2007-10-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

When a company issues stock for the very first time, it is called going public. In order to take a company public, and make it possible for investors to purchase stock, the management of the company has to make an initial public offering. the road to public ownership begins with an entrepreneur coming up with an idea for a product, or service to sell, and then launching a start up business. if the company grows the entrepreneur can obtain funds for expansion in the private equity market. The private equity market is where sophisticated investors have assembled pools of money, that is referred to as venture capital. This is money that these investors have set aside to risk on new business ventures in exchange for a say in how the company is run, and a share of the profits.

Once a company finds that its products or services are in demand, it quickly finds out that the ability of the venture capitalists to provide the necessary money that is needed for the rapid growth that is taking place is extremely limited, and this is when the company decides to go public. First they find an investment broker that will agree to underwrite the stock offering. Then the underwriter help the company prepare a prospectus. The prospectus is a legal document that is made available to anyone that is interested in investing in the company. A prospects provides a detailed analysis of a company's financial history, its products or services, and its management's background and experience. It also outlines the various risks that a company faces.

In-order to attract investors, a press release is issued in the financial press announcing the proposed stock sale. Sometime underwriters will organize meetings between the company's management and large potential investors. The day before the actual sale, the underwriters establish the price that they will pay for each share. This is the amount of money that the company will receive from the stock sale. When the stock is traded the next day, the price can rise or fall depending on whether or not investors agree or disagree with the underwriters valuation of the new company.

If a company has already issued shares, and they want to raise additional money, through the sale of more stock the process is called a secondary offering. Most company's are wary of issuing more stock, since it will de-value that it has already issued usually a company will only issue new stock if their current stock price is high. This help to minimize complaints from existing shareholders that their shares are being diluted. Also if a company thinks that its shares are too low, they will buy some stock back to boost the price of the remaining stock.

To learn the truth about options trading and discover some useful options trading tips then visit: http://www.LearningOptionsTrading.com

10 E-mail Organization Tips

2007-10-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't have issues with organizing their inbox!? I receive close to 600 e-mail each day due to the variety of activities and contacts I have online. Some I am truly interested in their content - most I am not.

A big part of keeping your inbox and your e-mail organized is discipline. Yep, good ole' fashioned discipline! You need to make a consistent practice of checking your e-mail and accomplishing several tasks to keep ahead of the increased traffic of bits and bytes finding their way to your inbox.

What are we to do? Let's get organized!

1.Put your DELETE button to work! If you do not recognize the sender, look at the SUBJECT: field. Are there funny characters, alpha-numeric gibberish or it just doesn't make sense? Delete! Don't fall for tricky SUBJECT: fields that say any number of enticing comments only someone you know would say: "You left your umbrella...", "They said it's free!", "Hey how is it going?", "You blocked my IM", "Meeting is Rescheduled", or the one almost everyone wants to open "About Your Tax Refund".

None of these are from friends or folks you know or even companies you are doing business with. They are from spammers - the worst kind too - the ones who underestimate your intelligence by thinking these e-mail will be something you would take seriously. If you dont know the sender and the SUBJECT: field looks off, send them on their way to the trash!

2.Once you go through all your new e-mail and follow step #1 above, you are now ready to determine what to do with the e-mails that are left. Do you have several e-mail from the same party? Do you have e-mail from folks who e-mail you quite regularly? Do you have some e-mail that is personal business and others that are more serious and therefore, you probably need to keep a copy on hand?

This is where filters come in. Filters are your friends! Filters, or Rules as they are called in Outlook, are what allow you to organize your e-mail on the download. Yes, as you download your e-mail it can go into e-mail folders setup for specific topics or contacts!

You can have a "Mom" filter that sends all e-mail from dear old Mom right into your Mom folder. Set up filters to have e-mail from some of your hobby sites, go directly into their own folder. Your best friend can have his or her own folder. Another example is to have information from your financial institutions automatically end up in a folder specifically divided into further folders - Annuity, CDs, Stock, Bonds. The sky is the limit!

A side benefit of filters is that if you organize your e-mail to go into their own folders on download - your inbox has less e-mail that you requested or were expecting leaving only the questionable e-mail for you to review. Filters only need be setup once and they are in place until you delete them. Get your filters tightly setup and you can literally find only e-mail from spammers are left in your inbox.

One thing is clear about being online and e-mailing - it behooves you to become familiar and proficient with your tools. E-mail software being probably the most important. Check the HELP area or Web site of your e-mail software for further guidance on filters or rules. This is reading and skill building well worth the time when you realize how easily you can control your e-mail's organization moving forward.

3.Another use for your filters? As if filters are not already sounding like the best thing since sliced bread, you can use them to send certain e-mail right to the trash bypassing your inbox all together! You know, the e-mails for certain male enhancement products and adult sites - right to trash. Filters and rules can be used to not only send an e-mail to a certain folder by virtue of e-mail address, company or person's name, they can be configured to find certain adult or offensive terms when listed in the SUBJECT: or BODY of an e-mail message to you can send them right to trash on the download - gotta love it!

4.Back to your inbox... We now have filters in place that organize your e-mail on the download so all the e-mail you requested and or are expecting, is in their appropriate folders for you to read at your convenience. Now your inbox should only have the orphan e-mail with nowhere to go. After following the suggestions in #1 above, begin to review your e-mail.

If you run into an e-mail that is from a new mailing list you've subscribed to and plan on getting regular e-mail from, stop right there and make a folder and filter to accommodate these future e-mail. Set up a filter to look for something specific to that e-mail (usually e-mail address works best) and moving forward, on the download, those e-mails will go right into their own folder. Do this for any e-mail topic or contact you plan to receive e-mail from on a regular basis.

5.Read and delete. Read your e-mail as time permits and then delete any e-mail that doesn't have content worth keeping for future reference. Then, empty your trash daily. Loads of e-mail files use a ton of your system's resources. Not keeping copies of e-mail you really will never need in the future helps remove the clutter and drain on system resources.

6.When reading your e-mail you can prioritize when you want to address them. Many e-mail programs allow you to label e-mail by color when viewing a particular folder. For example you could have labels that at a glance tell you how you have prioritized your tasks. Say, red for urgent, blue for later, yellow for maybe. By opening that specific e-mail box you know, at a glance, which e-mail you have set to address right away and which you can get to as time permits.

7.Empty your trash daily but before emptying your trash, you want to be sure to take a quick look-see just in case any of your filters inadvertently picked up on some terms that were included in e-mail that you possibly didn't want to trash. This happens all the time! A quick once-over before deleting your trash will ensure legitimate e-mail you do want to see didn't get lost in the shuffle.

8.Create a folder called Follow-Up, Interesting or To Do. This is where you will file some of the e-mail from your inbox that peaked your interest that you would like to review in more detail but just don't have the time. Then, when time permits you can go to that folder and check into the e-mails worth keeping. Once you review them, though, either send them to another folder for keeps or send them to trash.

9.To avoid e-mail backup, be sure your inbox is cleared each day. Move e-mail to trash, a specific folder or your "To Do" folder, and then empty the trash. If e-mail is older than 90 days in your "To Do" folder - send them off to trash as most likely the information or offer is no longer current. By doing so each day, you keep your inbox clear and your e-mail much more organized.

10.What about all these folders? Have as many folders as you need to be organized and call them whatever will intuitively work for you with a glance. This system is different and unique to each and every user - make sure you use terms and a system that works for you.

The above 10 tips when practiced daily will make the world of difference in keeping your inbox organized and clutter free. Just a bit of discipline is all it takes to be on the road to less time spent dealing with e-mail which frees you up to do other important things... like responding to e-mail.

About the Author:
Judith Kallos is an authoritative and good-humored Technology Muse who has played @ http://www.TheIStudio.com for over a decade. Check out her popular E-mail Etiquette site @: http://www.NetManners.com

Kuala Lumpur Stock Market Outlook - Forecast for the Day - 27 June 2007!

2007-10-08T09:30:00.001-07:00

Profit-taking depressed local market. But Dow should stage rebound on Tuesday night.

Technically speaking:

1. As at Tuesdays close at 1366.99 the KLCI was lower by 10.14 points or 0.74%. Losers led gainers 648 to 286.

2. The lower close is a dampener especially after a breakout into new highs last Friday.

3. But as chartists one should expect the unexpected. In other words, if the KLCI should fall further to and violate its lower Bollinger band, one should consider exiting the market at 1348 or lower.

4. But until then, it is possible for the KLCI to stage a rebound.

5. Until the present circumstance, we would be cautious and not buy further.

6. We would wait-and-see and wait for a rebound before adding more positions.

7. Stocks-to-watch for today will, understandably be low. They are: LMCEMT and YTLCMT.

8. We were right about TRANMILE going down to hit the floor. We hope you have exited this stock as based on technical analysis it can make lower lows.

9. We observed that the local stock market moves in tandem with the strength of the ringgit. For the market to rally we would want to see a stronger ringgit. Right now the ringgit is weak.

CONCLUSION: Although it is too early to call a trend reversal, the local market has taken a beating from sellers as funds sell out for fear of further weakness from the U.S. markets. But the technical of the Dow do not seem to suggest that a market plunge is near. Instead we are seeing a Dow rebound. If so, we expect the KLCI to rebound in tandem.

Long-term Upside Targets:1492 (Target amended on 15/6/07).

Immediate downside targets: 1334/1291/1222

Fred Tam is the owner of http://www.fredtam.com and http://www.picapital.com.my F1 Trader Online - Know when to enter & exit the markets.

Finding Money for Rehabbing Property

2007-10-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

If you are just beginning in the real estate investment business, it may be hard to find money to fund your deals. Especially in the beginning, it's going to be hard for you to establish relationships with the right people with no experience. My suggestion is to polish up on your lingo so it seems like you have a little experience. When you approach all of your favorite doctors, lawyers, real estate investors, family and friends with retirement accounts you sound like you are an expert. Go in head strong like you own the place. Trust me you'll become and expert before you know it.

People love to make money and people really love to make money doing nothing and that's what you are going to allow them to do. You take the back ache off of them. When you meet them for the first time be sure you are very professional and decide what rate of interest you are willing to pay. Usually in cases like this you can expect to pay 10-16% to borrow their money. Don't forget it is risky for them and you want the to be able to win too. Create win wins for both of you. Always keep your word with potential investors in your business. If you say you are meeting them at 2:00 pm for a meeting, be there waiting on them at 1:45. Their time is valuable. Don't hold them hostage for 9 hours. Keep your meeting short and to the point.

Do your homework. Do not go into your meeting sounding like an idiot. It is your time to shine. If you really want it, they will know it. Do not cut yourself short by consistently reassuring them. Stay confident and close. Also - do not give up if the first person you approach doesn't work the way you intended it to. Stay focused and determined to go to the next. Keep your message simple and to the point. Make it look like you have a way for them to make a lot of money without lifting a finger. Most of the time, they will jump at the opportunity if it looks good.

Remember - In the real estate business, the most successful people make quick decisions. They do not sit around and ponder ideas. They take action and go with the flow.

Mandy Sheckles is the founder and President of The Wealth Corp. Her company offers Property Rehabbing Education to students around the country. In just eight years, she went from flat broke to being a real estate millionaire.

She is the author of "Renovate Your Success" and the creator of The Rehab Manager, a web-based software application designed to streamline your rehabbing business.

http://www.thewealthcorp.com

Free Forex Trading Courses - Are They Worth It?

2007-10-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

There are some who will tell any investor that free Forex trading courses are just as good as any paid Forex course. Then there are some who will be adamant in saying the exact opposite. Finding out the truth that lies somewhere in the middle is not an easy task to accomplish. Before any prospective investor makes the final decision on any Forex trading courses, it is advisable to ask a few fundamental questions as the search continues.

Finding a good quality Forex trading course that is free is not impossible. A good source will provide information that is not readily found all over the internet. If the Forex trading courses include the information that comes up time after time in a search, that is the first red flag. The potential Forex trading course is not worth the time it will take to read it and practice some of the techniques. Leave it behind and keep researching until a suitable Forex trading course is located as this is the best defense against suffering a financial loss. There is not a bigger risk than that of starting out with an incorrect set of skills and knowledge as that pretty much cements in financial failure.

Forex trading courses that are given away free are done so for a reason. It is wise to find out that reason before committing any significant time or energy on them. The idea behind the free give away is to get a potential investor to sign up to that specific company. Finding out if that specific company will benefit your interests is the best move to make in this situation. A company that deals largely in futures trading will offer a Forex trading course as a trap to get investors to sign up. If Forex is what the mission is, settle for nothing less than strictly Forex brokerages or companies.

Don't take unnecessary risks when it comes to finding suitable Forex trading courses, as these are the mistakes that generate bad financial decisions later on. Ask questions about the free offer and why it is free. Do the research into any said company and find out if they are a exclusively Forex company or if their interests lie in another financial market. Most of all, if the free Forex trading courses are claiming that it can make you a millionaire overnight. Flag it! Move on because that scam won't get anyone further except the one who is collecting the money. Forex cannot give anyone independent wealth in a short time period especially to any investor who is new to the scene. Be diligent in seeking the answers to all questions and in dissecting the answers. It could be the very key to Forex financial success!

Troy Degarnham is the author and webmaster of http://www.forex-trading-brokers.info an informative website about Currency Trading.

Extensive help and tips on systems, software, signals, trading, forex brokers, forex trading courses, and other secrets to help you gain financial freedom.

Day Trading Forex Currency, Hype, Lies and TANSTAAFL

2007-10-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Day trading Forex currency is all about making big money. Some investors have found it quite easy to make a large amount of money by day trading the Forex currency markets as they change hour by hour. But, you see that "some" in the previous sentence? What that means is that a lot of people don't make a dime and even lose a lot of money.

Usually a Forex trading system course is hyped as an easy way to make a bundle. Get your Forex trading secret and your Forex trading tool and you're golden - day trading Forex currency for vast riches. Lies. What you tend to find is that there isn't any Forex trading secret, it's the same old tired stuff repeated over and over on sales page after sales page, generally by so-called "experts" who aren't. And that so-called Forex trading tool or software? Another lame canned system that promises but won't deliver.

And now, what's TANSTAAFL? Online and offline this is the antidote to the big con. There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Fast, easy, no work, instant riches. Doesn't exist. Absolutely anything that is worth your attention is going to cost you effort, time and probably money. Anything else is a pack of lies, hype or deceptive sales yap.

You will probably not make much money day trading Forex currency. In fact, you will probably lose money. Unless you are really smart about how you do it and who you listen to. Sorry, but that's the real truth. There is no secret, no magic tool, no perfect Forex day trading strategy.

What you're going to find are a bunch of Forex trading systems, courses, techniques and tools that purport to tell you just what to do and when and how to do it. If you buy into one of these things - a ready-made off-the-shelf turnkey Forex trading system course, you're going the wrong way. This is just the same old tired search for a magic, easy, thought-free and work-free solution that lies behind every successful scam. If it were that easy, we'd all be rich already, wouldn't we? If there really were a genuine Forex trading secret, tool or strategy that would make you rich, do you actually think anyone would be stupid enough to sell it? Think about it when you see one of those hyped sales pitches claiming it's easy and quick and the money will be rolling in.

In the Forex currency market, despite all the nonsense about leverage, timing and signals - if you test it out, you'll find most signals are little better than random noise and that trying to time the market will usually end up with you experiencing consistently bad timing. Canned, simplistic approaches to a complex market just don't work.

How about technical analysis like you'll find in many a Forex trading tool? It's been said (though not by the "wizards" selling technical analysis systems with some spiffy name) that of all the major markets, Forex is the least amenable to technical analysis.

Even the basic wisdom of "buy low, sell high" needs to be seen within a special context when you start working at day trading Forex currency.

If this seems overly discouraging overall, you need to remember the sheer amount of hype and outright lies that are prevalent in this area. You need to be prepared to be coldly realistic. You absolutely have to think of Forex as a serious, complex real business. One that requires close attention and serious study. You need to be careful getting into it, careful whose advice you take, and careful about learning as much as you can from a real expert.

Certainly it's possible to make money. But, your chances of making money by day trading Forex currency will be vastly increased if you are wide awake when you get into it. Stop dreaming about fast easy money with no work or effort. Get to learning the realities so you can develop your own Forex trading strategies, ones that work for you. It will take time and effort, but then, maybe Forex trading will truly be your road to financial freedom.

Richard is a researcher, writer, programmer and marketer and he's tired of all the hype. Discover the realities of day trading Forex currency now.

How to Pick Winning Stocks

2007-10-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more exciting than finding an undervalued stock and seeing it explode out of nowhere rising in value 100% or more in a few weeks. Some stocks can move as much as 1000% in a year and. Even after the stock market crashed in 2000, some stocks still have gone up 500% or more in a year.

So how do we find these? Well first let me say that there is no way to know which ones are going to double or triple in value. If we knew then we could literally bet the farm on the trade.

The main thing we can do as swing traders and position traders is to uncover stocks that have the potential for profits based on certain technical parameters found on the charts. There is not enough room in this article to go into depth on the technical analysis of stocks, but what I am going to do is share with you the first step in sifting though the thousands of stocks that trade each day.

One of the easiest ways to cut your list of stocks down is to use a stock scanning software such as Stockfetcher.com. What it allows you to do is program in any criteria you want and then it will automatically spit out a list of stocks that meet those exact criteria.

Let me give you some specific examples. For starters say you only have a small account of $10,000, you shouldnt be looking at expensive stocks that are in the $50-$200 range. This is because when they are too expensive, you cant buy many shares. So, the first thing I would do is tell the software to only give me a list of stocks under $20. I would also have it screen out stocks less than $2 as I dont want to trade penny stocks.

Second, I only want a list of stocks that trade at least 500,000 shares a day. The more volume the better as there is more liquidity. This means that it will be easier to buy or sell shares at any time. Stocks with high volume have much less chance of being manipulated by market makers and market insiders.

Third, I want stocks that have a lot of volatility. Volatility is what causes fast movement over a short period of time. Old blue chip stocks such as Caterpillar, Ford or Kelloggs dont move that fast and have little volatility. To make sure you have volatility, I would tell the software to find only Nasdaq stocks. Since this comprises of mostly tech stocks, the odds are much higher of strong and fast moves.

Fourth, if the market is in an uptrend then I want to be a buyer so I could program in the following Look for stocks with a relative strength of 90 or above. This will ensure that the stock has a lot of upward market momentum. You could even add an additional filter to cut the list down more. For example: Tell the software to look for stocks that made new highs within the past 90 days.

You could use the exact opposite approach to short stocks in a bearish market. Look for stocks with a relative strength of less than 10 and made new lows within the past 90 days.

What is really cool about stock scanning software is you can do the job in less than a minute. Without this software the work is slow and tedious. Once you run the scan you should have a relatively small list of stocks to examine closer.

The final step is to examine each stock for certain technical analysis patterns that can lead to explosive moves. However, as I said above there is just not enough room to go into detail here.

Hope this gives you some food for thought and points you one step closer to your goals.

Dr. Jeffrey Wilde, a trading veteran with 16 years of experience is a trading coach to over 3500 traders in 63 countries. His new blog http://www.askjeffwilde.com offers free trading articles, tips and advice. He also teaches a variety of courses found at http://www.win-at-trading.com and http://www.fastforexprofits.com

Thinking About Becoming a Truck Driver?

2007-10-07T00:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes portrayed as an easy and unappealing profession fit for simpletons, being a truck driver is quite the contrary. The truck driving industry has experienced a steady increase in job growth and career opportunities in the past few years, quickly making the profession one of the nation's top jobs in terms of career growth. Truck driving provides flexibility, allowing drivers to make their own schedule, travel around the country, and bring home a substantial paycheck. The following tips are offered for individuals looking into truck driving jobs.

Talk with Seasoned Drivers
The best way to get reliable and accurate information is to speak with people who are actually in the profession. Ask an experienced driver about the pros and cons of the job, how it affects their family, and if they would do anything different. The internet is another, convenient way to get in touch with truckers; blogs and chat rooms are an excellent source of information. Chances are truckers will be much more candid and honest when they are in a setting where they can remain anonymous.

Ride with a Trucker
Consider riding along on a trip with a professional truck driver to see what life on the road is really like. Even more revealing than speaking with a driver, is actually riding with one to experience what the life of a truck driver encompasses first-hand. This will expose you to the diverse environments and situations of the professions including shipping docks, delivery sites, and what other drivers are like.

Ask Recruiters
Assemble a list of questions before you speak with any recruiters. Doing so will guarantee that all your inquiries and concerns about a job are properly addressed. Ask about salary, benefits, and procedures of the company the recruiter is representing. Make sure you visit with multiple companies and recruiters to find the truck driving job that suits you best.

Fact - Forex Trading is Not Easy - 95% of Traders Lose!

2007-10-06T19:21:00.001-07:00

As a regular trader I am amazed at what I see written about forex trading and how easy it is - it may be easy to become a forex trader but its far harder to win! Here are some facts to consider before you start to trade.

I have been a trader for 25 years and can tell you from first hand experience becoming a winner is not easy, listen to what I say, as I am no self proclaimed guru or mentor guaranteeing success.

The first fact to consider is there is a lot of advice on the net making claims that simply are not realistic and in many cases pure lies.

Trade with 80% accuracy, earn 20 pips a day, earn a regular income, the secrets of market movement revealed etc. youve seen them as well.

There normally made with no substantiation (try and get a real track record) and mostly marketed by clever sale people or failed brokers.

Fact: They make money from selling you information not trading it, well thats one way to make a guaranteed income from forex trading!

Once you have ignored the ridiculous claims, consider this:

Currency trading does offer huge rewards but with these rewards come risk.

The bigger the risk the bigger the reward if you dont like risk dont trade currencies.

Once you have accepted these facts - there is good news!

The first is that anyone who wants to can learn to trade and take calculated risks and make a lot of money forex trading remains one of the few areas where you can still start with small stakes and become wealthy.

The opportunity is open to all and there is no reason you cant take advantage of it.

You need to learn the right knowledge and base your forex trading strategy on trading the odds and you can get all the information free on the net.

Work smart and only learn what you need to and keep it simple its a fact of currency trading that simple systems work best as they are more robust.

Then its all down to mindset and the discipline to follow your system to gain long term success.

Dont believe its easy, but dont believe its impossible - its not.

As in all money making ventures (and forex trading is no different) you need to reply on yourself and get a system together you can have confidence in and follow it with discipline to win longer term.

You can do it but if you want to be a successful forex trader take into account what I have said and approach the markets with a realistic attitude of what you need to do and you can achieve currency trading success good luck!

GRAB 3 X FREE TRADER & FREE TRADER PROFITS NEWSLETTER

More on becoming a profitable trader some critical FREE Trader PDF's and more FREE Forex Education visit our website at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

Forex Signals - The Easiest Way to Trade Currencies

2007-10-06T17:16:00.001-07:00

The forex market can be pretty intimidating to a new trader. After all, it is the domain of multi-billion-dollar banks and foreign governments -- how can a small retail trader compete? Well, forex signals are one way to help level the playing field.

Forex signals are alerts that are sent to you, usually via email or SMS text message, when the conditions are ripe for a currency trade. Or, even better, you can sign up for an automated service that will automatically make trades for you when your preferred forex signals are triggered.

Forex signals services rely on forex signals software -- computer programs that constantly monitor the foreign exchange markets for high-probability forex signals. Most forex signals services rely on "technical data" from currency charts to identify conditions that have historically led to profitable trades. Although you don't absolutely need to understand the data behind forex signals, a little basic knowledge can help you get the most out of your forex signals service.

One way to better understand forex signals is to download currency charting software. Although there are many programs that are quite expensive, MetaTrader is a free one that works well for most forex signals applications.

Whatever forex software you use, it must be able to plot currency prices in "candlestick" format. This allows you to easily see the opening, closing, high, and low prices of a currency pair for a given time period -- daily, hourly, or even minutely! Viewing prices this way, you can see patterns that emerge with "support" and "resistance."

Support can be thought of as a "floor"; a price level which the currency seems to hit and then bounce back up. Resistance is like a "ceiling"; the price level at which the currency seems to reach its limit, and then drifts back down. But once a currency pierces through either the support or resistance, it is likely to fall or rise a substantial amount until it finds a new "floor" or "ceiling". Breaking through support or resistance is one of the best forex signals.

If you have a knack for examining charts, or you just like to do it, that's great. But the reality is that in order to profit from high-probability forex trades, you need to react to data more quickly than manual chart analysis will allow. This is why forex signals services are the busy trader's best friend, and automated trading programs are the very-busy trader's better friend! It helps to understand the science behind forex signals, but it isn't vital. What is vital is a quality service that notifies you when it's time to make a trade -- or better yet, makes the trade for you! There are many competing services out there, so be sure to do your homework and check the company's performance data. Reputable service providers will have it linked from their home page.

Now get out there and start making some money!

For more information visit at http://www.tradefxplus.com and get free EUR/USD Forex trading signals, trading recommendations and email alerts. TradeFXplus Forex signals service gives the novice or professional currency trader the tools to trade currencies profitably.

A Simple Step by Step Aproach to Fail Your Way to a Million Dollars

2007-10-06T17:13:00.001-07:00

If You want to be Financially Successful you need to Learn to Fail

At a Robert Allen Seminar he said the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people (Financially Successful) is that Successful know how to fail. He went own to say that in order to be successful you need to learn to fail, Unsuccessful people fail to get that 9-5 Job that pays $25,000 to maybe $90,000 a year and when they finally succeed what do they have a 9-5 Job. Successful People fail to buy that Property with a positive cash flow but when they succeed they have bought another property with a positive cash flow.

When you look around at Some of the World's Wealthiest People. Donald Trump, Lakers Owner Dr Jerry Buss, Clippers Owner Donald Sterling, Robert Allen and the List goes on they all have one thing in common they made their Fortune in Real Estate.

Let's contrast these Financially Successful Americans with the American Dream. The American Dream is to buy a House with a 3.4 Bedrooms and 2.7 Baths with 2.4 Cars in the Garage. Most people are very happy to Buy their "Dream Home". Once they buy that dream home they want to pay off the Mortgage so they can now own their Dream Home Free and Clear.

Perhaps you remember that TV Show All in the Family, from the 70s they still play it late night on cable. They had an episode where Archie and Edith had a Mortgage Burning party after they finally paid off the mortgage. There was another Episode where Archie took a loan against the House to Buy a Bar and was Edith ever angry at him.

Many people look at American Dream as Sacred. People are so blinded with the notion you buy a that dream house and pay it off that they fail to see the Big Picture. They Fail to See the possibilities that would open up to them if they would just unlock the potential in their homes. Many People are sitting on $50,000 to $500,000 in equity and are just letting it go to waste.

Let me ask you a Question. If you own a $400,000 house Free and Clear and it appreciates 10% a Year how much will it be worth a Year from now? If you have a $300,000 Mortgage on that $400,000 home how much will it be worth a year from Now? In both cases the answer is the same $440,000. The value or appreciation of your house doesn't change based on the size of the loan you have against it. The only thing that does change is the amount of Equity you have.

A Typical Homeowner has a $150,00 Mortgage on a property that is worth $300,000. Many lenders will give you a loan for up to 90% of your homes Value. If you were to borrow $270,000 you would be able to put 120,000 cash in your pocket. In St Louis MO you could Buy a 3 Bedroom Home in a nice neighborhood for between $70,000 and $90,000.

Now take that $120,000 cash and Buy 6 Rental Properties for $480,000 ($80,000 each). You take the $120,000 and use it as a down payment and borrow the other $360,000. Now rent Each of these Properties for $700 a Month and you have a monthly income of $4200. Your total loans are $730,000 and at a 2% interest rate your monthly payment would be about $2700 a Month. You would have a Net Profit of about $1500 even after the rental income pays mortgage the on your dream Homee.

Before

$ Value of Real Estate Controlled $300,000
$ Value of Equity in Real Estate $150,000
Positive Cash Flow after Paying Mortgage $0
1 Year Gain at 5% = 15,000
5 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = $83,000
10 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = $189,000
20 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = $396,000

After

$ Value of Real Estate Controlled $780,000
$ Value of Equity in Real Estate $150,000
Positive Cash Flow after Paying Mortgage $1500 (Monthly)
1 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = 39,000
5 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = $215,000
10 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = $490,000
20 Year Gain in Equity at 5% = $1,289,000

Looking at the Before and After in the Above Chart Some Numbers Stand out. You still have the Same $150,000 Equity but now you control $480,000 more Property. Instead of paying your Mortgage monthly on your Dream house your tenets are making your mortgage payments on all 7 properties and you have a $1500 monthly positive Cash flow. Using a conservative appreciation of only 5% a Year you would earn an extra $24,000 the first year alone in Equity appreciation. After 20 Years your Gain in Equity is almost $900,000 More.

If you do nothing more for 30 the next Years but collect your rents and pay off your 7 Mortgages at a 5% appreciation rate your 7 Properties would be worth over 3.3 Million Dollars even at an Ultra Conservative 3% your Net worth would be over 1.8 Million Dollars. Wow You just Failed your way to over 1 Million Dollars (This does not count the $1500 a month in positive cash flow or any Rent Increases.)

You can get a Loan with fixed payments fixed for 5 years based on a 1.95% interest rate Their are loans available with interests rates as low as 1.25%, through national lenders many of whom will approve you online

What would you do with an extra $1500 a month? A couple of car payments, a Dream home, that boat at the lake? What would you do with an extra $24,000 a year in appreciation?

About the Author
Mike Makler is a Financial Consultant in the St Louis Missouri Area Specializing in Real Estate Loans and Annuites. To Learn More Call Mike at 314 398-5547 or Visit Mike's Web Page: http://ewguru.com/finance

Get Mike's Newsletter Here http://ewguru.com/fin-news

The Secret to Generating Hordes of Free Website Traffic on Demand

2007-10-06T16:36:00.001-07:00

You're about to discover the fastest and most effective way to drive thousands upon thousands of hyper-targeted visitors to your site - even if you don't have a single dime to spend on advertising. And believe it or not, this strategy will never fail.

Now, that's a bold claim, and I'm sure it's setting off some "BS alarms" in your head right now - but stay with me, and I'll show you exactly how simple this really is, and why it makes so much sense...

As I'm sure you've already realized from your own research and experience - the only way to build a substantial amount of traffic to your site is by getting other sites to link to you, tell their email subscribers about what you have to offer, and otherwise publish your content on their site in some way.

This might be in the form of an affiliate program, it might be a link-trade, or it might be some other type of arrangement - but one thing's for certain - it will be partnership (or Joint Venture) of some kind. This is the only way to drive hordes of traffic without paying through your nose for it!

But let's take it a step further...

The Pareto Principle states that 20% of your actions will produce 80% of your results. This "formula" can also be applied to your marketing partners, because only a handful of your affiliates, JV partners and sites that you trade links with will actually provide you with any substantial results.

In fact, the time you spend setting up deals with the "lesser" partners is almost always a complete waste of time. And the fact of the matter is that it takes the same amount of effort to form an alliance with a "player" in your industry as it does to partner with a small site or resource that really can't help you when it comes to producing real results...

What it comes down to is that if you want to generate a tsunami of traffic in record time - you're going to have to go for the gold right from the start. This means that you need to form partnerships with the "players" in your industry right from day one.

And this is how you do it:

1. Use a "primer email" when you contact potential joint venture partners. Instead of simply nailing them with a pitch/proposal right off the bat (without any formal introduction), introduce yourself, address the them personally by name, and ask if they'd be interested in discussing an idea that would benefit them directly.

Get their attention, pique their interest and initiate a conversation. Don't just jam a proposal in their face. Chances are, they probably receive multiple partnership proposals daily...

2. When you approach prospects that have large mailing lists and lots of traffic, always emphasize the exclusivity of your offer.

Make them a unique offer that only they'll get. Do whatever it takes to make it totally irresistible - even if that means giving up most (or all) of your profits, or offering other incredibly lopsided incentives.

You have to remember that you're getting free traffic from this - along with the opportunity to build a client base that you can leverage again and again by selling them additional products, and having them evangelize your business for you as time goes on...

Think long-term, and view joint ventures as a way to build a business for free - not so much as a "quick cash" strategy (even though that's often a part of it).

3. Get their complete attention by sending a "hard copy" of your proposal. Not just another email cramming up their inbox (which is all to easy to delete...)

Instead, try using Fed/Ex (or even a fax message) instead of simply firing off an email. You'll be surprised with your results.

Also, once you've received some kind of response, take it to the next level as soon as possible by arranging a time to speak on the phone. When your partner hears your voice audibly, it will be much easier for them to get a feel for who you are - which will make them feel more comfortable in dealing with you.

Rapport goes a long way...

4. Set up the deal and make it happen. Make things as easy as possible for your partner.

Have mailings, articles, banners, links and other promo tools built and ready-to-go in advance. The less your partner has to do, the better.

Additionally, make sure that you set a date for the promotion to begin. If possible, solidify a start-date as soon as you can. Most deals end up evaporating because there is no deadline or schedule in place.

5. Before your JV partners start promoting you - and before their traffic hits your site like hurricane and your sales start flying off the charts - make sure you have a plan in place to maximize their traffic as much as possible.

There are hundreds of ways to do this, but this is what you need to consider doing for the most part:

a) Have a system in place to capture leads that aren't ready to buy your offer yet - but that want more information. (This is typically done by offering a free mini-course, a free demo, or something similar in exchange for a newsletter subscription)

b) Consider using an "exit-popup" to try and salvage visitors that are leaving your site. (Make sure this doesn't conflict with your ordering process)

c) Find (or develop) numerous products and services to promote after people buy your product, or subscribe to your newsletter. Remember that this is the whole point of setting the deal in the first place - you're trading upfront profits in exchange for long-term revenues from an active customer base...

d) Have a backup payment processor, web host and other "pick and shovel" necessities in the event that the sudden spike in traffic and sales causes problems with your host or your merchant account.

(This happens frequently in larger-scale product launches where several "super affiliates" promote a single offer. You need to be prepared...)

6. When the deal is done and over with, make sure to stay in contact with your partner regularly. One partnership can lead to several, and by building a relationship with the key players in your niche, you'll literally be holding the "keys" to all the traffic in your market.

And then you'll be able to generate massive traffic on demand - whenever you want - just by leveraging your current relationships.

This is how you can go from being a "nobody" to being an internet all-star in a matter of days. It takes planning, motivation and the will to actually follow-through, but it is well worth doing.

Big time.

In fact, you're only one successful partnership away from transforming your online business from being a "bill payer" into a cash-spewing powerhouse that will support a ridiculous lifestlye.

All you have to do now is find the super affiliates in your niche and use the 6-step formula you just read to generate as much traffic as you can handle...

Chris Rempel just released a video that reveals how he tracks down super-affiliates in any niche at the click of a button. Watch the Ultimate Traffic Tool in Action

Also visit Joint Ventures Revealed (Chris's home page), and the Instant Joint Venture Success System (Chris's course on JV Marketing).

How To Tame The Big Bad Bear

2007-10-06T15:58:00.001-07:00

Is the next "Bear Market" just around the corner? Was the recent market correction a harbinger of things to come? No one can know the answer to these questions, but there are a number of steps each of us can take to prepare for the next Bear which, sooner or later, is surely on the way.

The preparation should begin now, whether you are a new investor, or have already amassed a sizeable portfolio. The objective is to protect it from the ravages of the bear as it emerges from its four year slumber.

The first step is to evaluate yourself, your financial objectives, and your emotional and psychological tolerance for risk, (your account values going south in a hurry), and invest accordingly. Investing accordingly simply means building a portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance and financial objectives. If you are a relatively conservative investor then your portfolio should reflect that, whereas if you are a bona fide risk taker, then your portfolio will be designed to reach for higher returns.

Next, build a portfolio from the ground up, much like you would build your home. For example, our strategy is to build portfolios with a solid foundation of consistently performing hybrid mutual funds. Hybrids are funds composed of stocks and bonds, and the ones we use have demonstrated consistent performance over a number of years, in both good markets and bad.

Next, we layer the portfolio with a healthy dose of what we call "All Weather" stock funds, again, funds that have performed well in Bull and Bear markets. These funds tend to practice a value management strategy, buying under priced stocks in the marketplace. Many of these funds exhibit strategies similar to legendary manager Warren Buffet, the worlds most well known and respected value strategist.

The preceding describes how we build portfolios for the more conservative investor, whereas additional steps are taken for those willing and able to accept a higher degree of risk.

For those able to accept the additional risks involved, we seek to add value and capture the best performing market sectors by adding Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to the portfolio. These ETFs cover the range of economic sectors, i.e. energy, metals, real estate, health care, utilities etc., and/or regions of the world, i.e. Asia, Europe, Latin America, and even individual nations, Japan, Spain, Germany, China etc.

And finally, an additional technique that can be used by everyone is the "contrarian" fund. They come in many flavors but the two we use are the contrarian mutual funds and exchange traded funds. Contrarian funds are designed to do the opposite of what the market is doing. In actual practice we will buy this type of fund when a serious market correction is underway, which allows us to protect the value of the portfolio. Our "All Weather" funds described above tend to give ground grudgingly, and some have even gone up in past market corrections, while at the same time our contrarian funds are actually going up in value during the market decline, as they are designed to do. The objective is to be able to hold our investments through the correction and protect our capital at the same time.

Every situation is unique of course, and each investment portfolio should be compatible with ones own goals, financial needs, and risk tolerance.

Above all, never forget the two most important rules of successful investing. One, never ever suffer large losses, and two, never forget rule number one.

Steve Hood helps his clients find quality investment and insurance programs, and builds and manages "All Weather" investment portfolios.

"All Weather" => Consistent performance through good markets and bad, resistant to market declines.

Find more ideas about lifetime financial security at => http://www.allweatherinvestors.com

A Forex Signal That Is Absolutely Critical For Success

2007-10-06T15:21:00.001-07:00

Support and resistance is such a powerful Forex signal that without understanding its impact on the market, a trader will probably never master the skills necessary to make profits on a consistent basis.

This Forex signal simply registers where price reached a peak or a low. On a higher time frame these price levels can have huge significance. Why?

Getting Behind The Scene

We need to understand what is going on behind candle patterns and price movements. Imagine thousands of traders coming to their desks each day all around the world and processing orders involving billions of dollars worth of currency.

The price at which they bought the currency now represents a key level for them. They do not want to see price go in the opposite direction or they will be at a loss. So what happens? They do everything possible to protect that price level.

The daily chart is of particular importance when considering support and resistance as a Forex signal. Traders associated with big institutions often refer to the daily chart rather than lower time frames. So price highs and lows on a daily chart can represent key, strategic price levels.

If price reached a high within the last few days, you can be sure a number of traders have millions or even billions of dollars worth of currency tied up at around that level or below it. For price to go above that high there is going to have to be considerable buying pressure from the bulls. Obviously the converse is true when price reaches a new low.

So look at the higher time frames like the daily, and 4 hour charts and identify these key levels of support and resistance. They form a major Forex signal.

Where Price Spends Most Of It's Time

Here is another factor regarding support and resistance that makes it such a critical Forex signal.

Most of the time price moves in a consolidation channel or range. Depending on the time frame you are looking at, it may be a 40 or 50 pip range on the higher levels, and within these larger levels are small trading ranges of 10 to 20 or 30 pips.

Some estimates put the amount of time the market is in consolidation around 60-80%. This means only 20-40% of the time price is actually trending, making new highs and lows.

This piece of information is critical. Once you have identified a trading range (it helps to put lines on your charts marking the high and low of the trading range) you can now manage trades much more effectively.

If you are considering going long and you see price is in a consolidation channel, you will not want to enter near the top of the channel. Wait for price to come back to the bottom of the channel by putting in an entry order and get taken into the trade. This way your stop is closer and your profit potential is greater.

Once price has moved through a major level of resistance, that level now becomes future support. Once price has moved through a major level of support, that level now becomes future resistance.

Include This In Your Daily Preparation

Every day when you open your charts look for this simple yet powerful Forex signal. Mark out your lines of support and resistance on each time frame you use. For example, if you customarily use daily, 4 hour, 1 hour, and 15 minute charts, mark out the key levels of support and resistance. Remember the more candles there are either side of the high or the low, the more significant that level becomes.

Then compare the various time frames and see if any of the levels you have marked coincide. Then look for suitable trading opportunities accordingly.

An effective Forex signal does not have to be complicated. Understanding how support and resistance works can make a huge difference to your consistency as a trader.

Don't pass over it because it is so simple. Remember, in the minds of the traders who pushed price to key levels, and who are defending positions involving billions of dollars, levels of support and resistance are hardly inconsequential!

Learn how the MACD indicator can help you avoid much anxiety:

http://www.vitalstop.com/Forex/Advisor/forex-strategy-MACD-save-anxiety.htm

The powerful 200 EMA strategy - easy for newer traders:

http://www.vitalstop.com/Forex/Advisor/200EMA-forex-strategy.htm

For the best free economic calendars plus a free pivot point calculator and Fibonacci calculator click here:

http://www.vitalstop.com/Forex/tools.html

How Average Students Can Win At The IIM Personal Interview

2007-10-06T14:44:00.001-07:00

However what should your strategy be if you have no awards and achievements (other than being school prefect - somehow all MBA candidates are school prefects) to speak of and you found yourself selected by one of the IIM's or other top tier B-schools.

For you to succeed here are a few pointers that can aid in the process:

1) Be clear about your goals: In your case you will have to be definitive about what you want to achieve in the next 3-5 years and exactly how an MBA will fit in the picture. Suppose you are an Arts graduate, suppose Psychology Honors. Now you should focus on the industry to begin with- suppose Finance and Investment Analysis. You can state that a major part of the investment analysis is examining trading psychology. Why some stocks tick despite poor fundamentals and some fail to move despite good fundamentals. You can state that you have enough of numerical understanding and backed by an MBA in finance you could carve out a strong niche in the area of Investment Analysis and Dealing of securities.

2) Show your ability to think business: If you have never won a award, examine activities that seem to add value to some process. For example you could start a blog on a topic such as Tax planning for home based professionals. Talk about what kind of advice and articles you wrote for the blog and how popular your blog was by examining the page views received from the blog. You can start a blog on wordpress or blogger as they allow free blogs and also have a statistics section to measure how many page views you received.

3) Be well prepared to talk about your academics: Be clear of the basic fundamentals, as they will surely want to know how serious you were about your studies. Go over the major fundamentals and be sure to be able to answer them

It is not an easy task to prepare for IIM Personal Interview questions . So don't punish yourself mentally if the initial answers you write don't seem impressive enough.

Keep practicing to make your answers better and you may end up doing quite well at the IIM Personal Interview. Get more tips on how to perform for the IIM Personal Interview questions

Put Option - Stock Put Options

2007-10-06T14:07:00.001-07:00

What are Put Options?

A Put is a contract on a particular stock, index or other security that allows the investor to sell the underlying stock at a set price (strike price).

The holder of his option has paid a premium (cost of the contract) to buy it. Put options are profitable when the market is in decline. If the investor has a put on a stock that has now fallen enough to cover the cost of the premium, the person would be profitable.

Ways to Profit with Put Options

Trading them:

If the Put is profitable, the investor can sell or trade the contract back to the market. The profit on the contract is shown by the premium increase on the option. As the market declines, the premium increases. This premium increase allows the investor to sell the contract. He is not "exercising the option". He is trading it out. This is how most options are done vs. exercising.

Exercising them:

When an investor exercises a Put Option, he or she is selling a stock they already own. The right of a put holder is the right to sell the stock at the strike price, regardless of the actual price in the market. If you owned a Put with a strike price of 50, and the market has declined to 40, you could purchase the actual the stock in the market at 40 and then exercise the put at 50. You would make 10 points on that stock, minus the premium paid.

The break-even for investors who own put options (disregarding commissions) is the strike price minus the premium paid. In the above example, if the investor paid $300 for the option - his break-even would be 47. Since the market in our example went down to 40, the actual profit for that person would be $700.

Writing a Put Option

When you sell or short a put option, you are "writing" the contract. The writer is someone who is bullish on the market. The seller collects the premium (as opposed to the buyer who pays the premium) and is hoping the option expires worthless. The premium is the writer's maximum gain. So, obviously if the premium is all that he can make - having the option expire is the best case scenario.

Put option writing does carry risk. If the option is exercised (by the holder/buyer), the writer must purchase the stock from the holder at the strike price. In the example above, the writer would have had to buy the stock at $50 (the current price), while the market was at $40. He would be stuck with a stock 10 points above the market. His loss would be lessened by the premium received. The writer can buy back the put before it is exercised, but if the put has gained value, the purchase price would be higher than the premium he originally got - so, it would be a loss either way. The option is expiring is the best bet.

Covered Put Option Writing

Since the seller or writer of puts must purchase the underlying stock at the strike price, he must have the cash to do that. Selling stock short and using the proceeds to cover an exercised option can be done. Also, the premium received for selling the put option can assist a short position to get greater profit.

As with any option, time is the biggest factor. Put options expire monthly. All options carry large risks, but can present large profits. Educate yourself further and talk to your broker.

Learn More: Put Options

Nick Hunter is the President of American Investment Training (AIT) and the owner of http://www.brokerjobs.com - A financial career and education website.

Stock Picks 101 - Certain Profits in Uncertain Times

2007-10-06T14:04:00.001-07:00

Join me for an instructive mental exercise.

Lets imagine youre the owner of a casino. I was going to say successful casino, but this is so self evident that it doesnt really need mentioning. Everyone knows casinos are successful because the house has the statistical advantage, right?

Now imagine youre watching the people going into and out of the casino. Your security system happens to be very good, so you know exactly how much money each person brings with them into the casino and how much they take back out.

Just now you see a really happy looking person who just won $25,476 at the slot machine leaving through the front door. Does this bother you? No, because you know that, in the long run, youve got the edge.

Just as you think that, you notice somebody slinking out the side entrance after maxing out their credit cards to the tune of $37,544. Do you take a special delight at having relieved this poor unfortunate individual of all that cash? You shouldnt, because its all in the system. Its all in the odds.

Now, lets look at this from the perspective of YOU, as a professional trader engaged in stock market trading. You shouldnt EVER be in a trade unless you know you have an edge. Theres a paradox here, because obviously you can never be sure that any given trade will be a winner, so you always need to have a system in place to manage your losses.

Like I said, you should never be in a trade unless youve calculated that the odds are in your favor. Usually, this is because the CLEARLY AND CAREFULLY DEFINED system youre trading has a credible historical record that shows that the odds are, indeed, in your favor.

If the odds are in your favor, then guess what? You ARE the house. As you work your system, you should not care if any given trade ends up hitting your profit target or closing out at your stop loss.

Why? Because you know the odds are in your favor. Each trade, win or lose, brings you one turn of the crank closer to that long run average that will be in your favor.

As you can see, theres no point in being emotionally invested in being right or wrong with any one trade. You are just working your system. Each step, each trade, each stock pick, contract, option, etc., in time, just becomes a blur on the way to your eventual success.

So here is the paradox: You are totally uncertain of the outcome of any given trade. However, if your system is sound, and you stick with it long enough, you will certainly profit.

The next time you find yourself getting giddy with the thrill of a long string of winners, or despondent because all your trades are going against you, just remember: YOU ARE THE HOUSE. And the house always wins, in the long run.

With Customers in more than 70 countries Doug Newberry enjoys his position as the Editor of the "Market Toolbox Newsletter" and Host of the "Market Toolbox On Demand" online radio show. The Investing Systems Network specializes in stock market trading tools and portfolio management software.

Affiliate Program Marketing: 10 Significant Sharp Ways To Increase Your Affiliate Commissions

2007-10-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

Millions of people sign up for affiliate programs, but have no clue on how to promote and market them effectively to generate piles of cash.

Below are 10 significant sharp ways to start generating a lot of sales and commissions, starting now:

1. Participate in chat rooms related to the product you're reselling. Start a conversation with a person without trying to sell to them. Later on, while you are chatting, mention the product you're reselling.

2. Create a free ebook with the advertisement and link of your affiliate web site. The subject of the free ebook should draw your target audience to down- load it. Also submit it to some ebook directories.

3. Start your own affiliate program directory. Join a large number of affiliate programs and list them all in a directory format on your web site. Then just advertise your free affiliate program directory.

4. Write your own affiliate program ads. If all the other affiliates use the same ads you do, that does not give you an edge over your competition. Use a different ad to give yourself an advantage over all the other affiliates.

5. Use a personal endorsement ad. Only use one if you've actually bought the product or service for the affiliate program. Tell people what kind of benefits and results you've received using the product.

6. Advertise the product you're reselling in your signature file. Use an attention getting headline and a good reason for them to visit your affiliate site. Make sure your sig file doesn't go over 5 lines.

7. Join a web ring. It should attract the same type of people that would be interested in buying the product you're reselling. You could also trade links on your own with other related web sites.

8. Participate on web discussion boards. Post your comments, answer other people's questions, and ask your own questions. Include your affiliate text link under each message you post.

9. Create a free ezine. Use your ezine to advertise the affiliate programs you've joined. Submit your ezine to online ezine directories and promote it on your web site.

10. Start a private web site. Use it as a free bonus if people buy the product you resell. You could also allow people to join for free and you could advertise the affiliate program you've joined.

May these affiliate program marketing secrets help you to make a lot of money.

Warmly,

I-key Benney, CEO

I-key, a Millionaire CEO from New York City is the creator of "Mscsrrr: Millionaire Secret Cash System", (Day Trading, Online Trading) which has helped thousands of ordinary people from all over the world to attain financial security and shining success during the past 2 yrs.

Mscsrrr Millionaire Cash System helps you to generate $1,500+/Week for life, from home or office, part time or full time. No large investment or hassles. Win $1000-$2000 free cash

Forex Day Trading - The Profit Illusion That Sees Traders Lose

2007-10-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

Forex day trading simply doesnt work and you will never find a trader with a track record of real time profits, however more novice traders try this method than any other type of trading. This is desite the fact it will never work, because you can't get the odds in your favor.

If you are considering day trading then you should read this article.

First lets look at why forex day trading doesnt work.

The time period is to short!

Volatility in short time frames is random - PERIOD

This means daily support and resistance levels are meaningless and you can never get the odds on your side longer term.

Now lets look at the illusion of profits.

The Marketing Illusion

You have seen them the headlines promising you 100% annual profits or a regular monthly income - all for just a few hundred dollars.

Of course the reality is they profits do not exist and it's simply clever marketing copy.

Look at the facts and you will see no substantiation whatsoever to back up the claims.

You will of course get a hypothetical track record, done in hindsight but the key word to consider here is hindsight! The person presenting the track record knows the closing prices when they do the track record.

If I knew tomorrows closing price today, I would be a multi millionaire but thats not the reality of forex trading.

The people who create the illusion you can make money forex day trading can never present a long term track record of real profits thats real dollars made in the market by them.

Why Create The Illusion?

These people are mostly failed brokers or marketing organizations that actually have the sense not to trade the system themselves.

Why?

Becuase they can make a guaranteed return selling the system to naive forex traders.

Patterns that dont repeat

Many traders look at back data and see patterns.

They think they can trade themselves but this is a bit like roulette wheel paterns - there appears to be an order but the same sequence never repeat again its an illusion, that fools many traders and when they try and trade for real they lose their equity.

Still Not Convinced Day Trading Doesnt Work?

Here is a simple test you can do for yourself:

Ask anyone who claims they make money day trading, to produce to you a real time track record of profits, with supporting bank statements and trades.

You wont get one.

Day trading does not make money, apart for the vendors who sell e-books and forex day trading systems and they cheerfully let you take the losses, while they bank a fee for their services thats guaranteed.

Dont fall into the forex day trading can make you money trap! If you do you will lose your equity quickly.

GRAB 3 X FREE TRADER & FREE TRADER PROFITS NEWSLETTER

More on becoming a profitable trader some critical FREE Trader PDF's and more FREE Forex Education visit our website at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

How To Tell When You Guilty of Over Trading

2007-10-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

How To Tell When You Guilty of Over trading.

The essential feature of overtrading is not the number of actual trades but your reasons and motivation behind each trade.

Confused? I shall explain further.

Overtrading becomes more apparent when in a Bull Market as the share trader is frightened of missing out or will rush into every reasonable trading opportunity that shows itself or that they can afford.

These trades involved are no longer based on money management or any risk control. Here are four main questions that you can ask yourself if you think you are overtrading.

1. Is each trade based on sound research and financial analysis?

2. Is each trade part of an overall management plan that is based on matching the trade with the risk involved?

3. Does each trade have clear financial objectives which determine your exit position?

4. Does each trade only use capital allocated from your previous trades?

If the answer is yes then the trade is being made for the right reasons and the right criteria.

If two or more questions are answered in the negative, then this suggests that your are overtrading and your emotions are in charge . Can You Guarantee Success Every Time You Trade?

The answer is a resounding NO! But you can maximize your chances of success.

Firstly have a look in the mirror. It will reflect your worst trading enemy, ourselves. But most of us will blame other circumstances for our failure in the market. When in reality it is our in ability to take losses over trading.

What Steps Can We Take to Complete a Successful Trade?

1. Identify trading opportunities.

How do you do this? Usually it is done by three ways. You have the option of using a database scan using a software program or by using eyeball verification of bar charts and using indication verification using the Macd, Rsi or your own favorite indicators.

2. Analysis of opportunities.

A. Check for bias.

B. Assess stop loss conditions.

C. Assess profit targets.

D. Rank by time / risk.

3. Trade Management of our Portfolios.

A. Watch the depth of the market on your entry. B. Place and execute the order. C. Enter details in order log. Print out chart with summary trading plan.

D. With your open positions (trades) each day you verify the original trading conditions arc intact.

E. Enter details into trading record and file contract notes.

Christopher Strudwick is a keen amateur investor on the Australian Stock Market. Visit his weblog for more free articles and useful information at http://www.asxnewbie.com

Explore Asset And Sales Finance Solutions With Your Bank

2007-10-05T20:19:00.001-07:00

If you're starting up a business, it can be hard to grasp the terminology you need in order to speak to your bank about funds; when it comes to discussing asset and sales finance, for instance, things can get tricky. It is, firstly, important to know what asset and sales finance is: a service through which banks help businesses obtain a range of equipment, including plant and machinery, commercial vehicles, IT equipment, office furniture and cars. Essentially, sales financing will help you get quick access to cash, while asset financing will help fund business equipment.

Many banks offer several cost-effective and expedient sales financing solutions; and with such solutions, businesses can find enough working capital to be able to operate. Two sales financing solutions are factoring and invoice discounting. With factoring (recourse and non-recourse),up to 95% of the value of approved invoices can be advanced within a given period of time with the balance being paid on receipt. And while invoice discounting (also recourse and non-recourse) functions in a similar way, there is a crucial difference between the two: in factoring, the client's customers are made aware of the bank's involvement with the business; in invoice discounting they are not.

Another method of sales financing used by many banks is stock finance; this allows you to release as much as 60% of the funds tied up in eligible stock through a completely flexible system. This will release finance that is usually not available for working capital needs.

Asset financing solutions will help you gain assets in an economical way, without eating into your cash reserves. As with sales financing, banks will often offer a range of asset finance solutions to its business customers. Hire Purchase, for example, can help you acquire the asset you need right away, but payments can be spread across the life of the asset in question. This may also allow you to keep the asset at the end of your term for a particular fee. Operating Lease asset finance will allow you to benefit from a particular asset, while the bank itself takes on the risk of losing its value; the rental and return conditions for the asset are fixed at the outset.

Many banks will offer a variety of asset finance products that cover the needs of a wide range of businesses, be they technological or agricultural. Barclays Asset and Sales Finance, for instance, offer a Technology Lease asset finance product to help finance your technology needs, as well as an Agricultural Lease, which offers finance to buy machinery, vehicles and land, as well as many other benefits. So if you're planning to start up a business, or you run an established business in need of asset and sales financing products, check out your bank's asset and sales financing solutions to see what difference they can make.

Author John Blonn
John's Website: PR Sending

Technical or Fundamental Analysis (Forecasting)

2007-10-05T19:13:00.001-07:00

In this article I compare these two methods of forecasting in the stock market. I give the reasoning that why technical analysis is superior to fundamental analysis.

As you know, technical analysis concentrates on the study of market action, and fundamental analysis concentrates on the economic forces of supply and demand that cause price movements.

Fundamentalists try to determine the intrinsic value of the stocks. They examine all factors that affect on price. If the intrinsic value is under the current price, fundamentalist sells the stock because stock is over priced. If price is below the intrinsic value then market is undervalued and should be bought.

Fundamentalists study the cause of market movements, but reasons of movements aren't important for technicians. Technicians believe that the price reflects the effect of all events that make change in price. Therefore study of price action is all that they require.

Most people use both technical and fundamental analysis to trade. Many technicians have basic knowledge on fundamental approach and many fundamentalists have basic knowledge on technical analysis. But, most people have more interest on one method.

Why Technical Analysis

Fundamentalists must find the reasons of price movement. Sometimes this act is very complicated; there are so many factors that make change on price such as political, psychotically events and so on. To trade the fundamentalist must study and research tremendous amount of data that takes so much time and effort.

Technical analysis is Flexible and Adaptable

You can apply technical rules to every market either stocks or futures or any other market. The technician easily can follow many markets in the same time. This is a great strength because you can catch big movements in each market.

Trading in different Time Dimensions

You can use technical rules for daytrading, swingtrading, long term trading and etc. rules are the same you only change time of charts. Some people say technical analysis is only suitable for short term trading, but it is not true. Using weekly and monthly charts that refer to several years has proven the strength of technical analysis for long term trading.

By Mostafa Soleimanzadeh. Stock Market Tips, Learn Stock Market Technical Analysis and Fundamental Analysis in his website.

Making And Keeping Promises - The Only True Path To Successful Living

2007-10-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever made a promise, and broke it? On the other hand, have you ever made a promise, and KEPT IT? In both instances, how you did you feel?

Let me tell you, when you make and keep promises, you feel simply great about yourself, dont you? And, when you break promises what happens?

The fact of the matter is that because we constantly make and then, dont fulfill on those promises there doesnt seem to be any outwardly distress.

I mean, if we say were going to create those marketing documents, or follow up on those prospective clients, or deliver that promotional speech to the group, or create that newsletter weve talked about for a while now and we dont do it, nothing much happens.

Theres not going to be headline news splashed across the papers. Theres not going to be any fines slapped or hefty penalties imposed. Theres not going to be any abandonment of any sort. Again, nothing really much happens Or does it?

If we were to take a trip inside ourselves, well probably see a lot of bodily structures, organs, fluids, water, and the like. What we wont see, is our self image. Our identity. Our beliefs about ourselves.

Imagine then, that our confidence, our self image, our beliefs everything we hold true about ourselves, is mirrored by a magnificent sculpture. And, the quality, condition, lustre, sheen and magnificence of the structure, is based on our promises made to ourselves.

When we make and keep promises, our structure becomes even more magnificent, even more attractive, and even more beautiful. And, when we break even the most seemingly little of promises like doing 20 sit ups in the morning, reading that book, waking up half an hour early our structure slowly gets chipped away, our seemingly bright outlook, our confidence in ourselves, the beliefs that guided us slowly but surely, ebbs away.

What do you think would be the effect of one, ten, FIFTY weeks of this? Do you think the magnificent structure would be a little, shall we say, less magnificent? And what about years and years of this slow chipping and eroding, what then?

Well, when life starts on this pattern, and if left un-interrupted, youre looking at a life of chaos. However, the true path to successful living comes when making and keeping promises, happens as a matter of regularity. If lifes not that smooth for you yet, make and keep more promises!

Raja C. Hireker is a publisher and editor of the Marketing and Life Strategies Newsletter 'Swinging for The Fences' He has ghostwritten over 130 articles and is a Professional Self Development Coach and a sought after advertising and email copywriter. You can go to http://www.RajaHireker.com for more information. You can also reach him by fax/voicemail on 44 208 764 1085, or by email on RCHireker@Simple-Marketing-Solutions.com He lives in London, UK.

Overseas Property Investors Beirut Could Be The Answer To Your Dreams

2007-10-05T18:00:00.001-07:00

Once known as the party and culture city of the Middle East Lebanon's capital Beirut is now the place overseas property investors are looking toward. The image etched in the minds of Europeans for example is that of a war torn Beirut. Its now time to think again as the region now offers great prospects for property investors. Beirut's low property prices combined with new inward investment make it to set to be a good place to invest.

Beirut the capital.

Beirut is benefiting from investment from abroad and is undergoing a major face lift. The new construction boom is taking place and will help Beirut return to its former glory. This property boom is being fuelled by expats and overseas buyers who have already seen the great potential in this region.

Developers are heading Beiruts way.

Damac Properties is investing in the region with a $150m real estate venture called La Residence a 27 storey luxury tower designed by Ivana Trump. Other developers have also seen the potential and Beirut will be offering off plan investments to investors world wide.

Tourism is set to increase.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) are upbeat about the future of tourism in Lebanon. Lebanon's travel and tourism industry is expected to generate $4.4 billion in revenues in 2006, rising to some $8.7 billion in 2016. The report expects the Lebanese travel and tourism industry's activities to grow by 6.2 percent in 2006 and 4.4 percent per annum, in real terms, between 2007 and 2016. It added that tourism is expected to rise from 10.9 percent of Lebanon's GDP, or $2.4 billion, in 2006 to 14.4 percent, or $5.5 billion, in 2016

Beirut's education system is impressive.

Beirut has important universities targeted from major Arab countries seeking for certain level of education. The most notable is the American University of Beirut (AUB); others are the American Lebanese University (ALU), Beirut-Arab University, and the Lebanese Maronite University. Lebanon today is facing an unprecedented property boom with property prices soaring.

Beirut's nightlife is electric.

Beirut is a party town with bars and nightclubs open to the early hours. It has a social feel of Ibiza and New York City its people exhibit an overwhelming thirst for life. Visitors are spoilt for choice and wealth is in the air with some exclusive places to dine and dance.

Beirut's stock exchange.

After eleven years of absence, the Beirut Stock Exchange returns with vigour. The stock exchange is set to play an important role in attracting investment to Lebanon. The Beirut exchange has optimism in the future. Foreign interest in Lebanon was shown at meetings with the International Monetary Fund in Madrid.

Overseas investors.

All property investors know that part of your profits is made on the purchase price. Beirut's low prices and apparent sound financial future make it a place that overseas investors need to examine.

Written by Nicholas Marr CEO of Marr International Ltd a UK based property marketing company that run one of Europe's fastest growing overseas property web sites at http://www.homesgofast.com

Oil Stocks As A Long Term Investment

2007-10-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

The demand for world oil is increasing while world reserves are decreasing. This is a known fact. The current price of oil can certainly confirm this statement. Consensus also agrees that we will never see $25.00 oil again. The logical conclusion to our above statement is oil stocks should be a good long term investment. However, the location of the oil companies reserves can affect their bottom line and valuation.

Some of the largest reserves in the world are found in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Canada. Political unrest in Venezuela, unstable and unpredictable government in Russia and Osama Bin Laden targeting Saudi Arabia leave Canada, namely the Alberta Oil Sands, as the largest, most reliable oil reserves in the world.

Companies like Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. are planning to spend billions during the next 10 years to develop Alberta's unusual oil deposits as demand for crude rises and output from existing reserves decline. Oil sands output in Alberta may double to 2 million barrels a day by 2013, according to a presentation by Enbridge Inc. earlier this month. Oil sands are deposits of bitumen - heavy oil that must be treated to convert it into crude oil for use in refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuels. The U.S. Energy Department revised its global oil resource estimates to include the oil sands 174 billion barrels of proven reserves that can be recovered using current technology.

With demand for oil and other commodities from China and India increasing due to their growing economies, strong trading relationships are procuring with Canada - a country with numerous resources, political stability and neutral military views.

Companies with reserves in the Alberta oil sands look like a great investment for the next decade There are many companies with reserves in the Oil Sands here are some with strong exposure.

Suncor Energy Inc. SU.tse , Western Oil Sands Inc. WTO.tse and the Canadian Oil Sands Trust COS/UN.tse

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Invest in Stocks

2007-10-05T16:49:00.001-07:00

INVEST IN STOCKS AND GET HANDY FUTURE

A risk cell, comprising of bulls, bears, and a competitive market with tones of manipulative elements, have been unearthed with the passage of time. The stock market as commonly said is the market, which involves high risks on high amounts. It purely involves playing with the difficulties of the shares and commodities of the stock market and making or loosing money accordingly. It is a tough decision to make to invest in stock, as there is a high risk involved of loosing the hard-earned money. Every single second counts in the Share Market when it comes to the change in prices of the stocks.

Stock is nothing but a part of assets of other company being owned by other person in return of the money. This money acts as an asset for the company to be used in further functioning of the company on part of the company accounts and serves as an investment for the stakeholder who invests his hard earned saving to earn better profits for him. The profits of the company are shared with the people who invest in them. Stock, as such, is not as simple as it seems. It involves various categories involving shares, commodities, mutual funds, and a lot more. It can be stated that stock is a vehicle of choice for those who agree to bear all the risks involved and try to stock better monetary results for them.

Well, investing in stocks is not a childs play. It demands good grip of knowledge about the season chance in the market along with an expertise comments. The share market expertises are generally the brokers who are involved in the trading of stocks. Invests in stock relate to the sale and purchase of stock in the share market. These brokers are the facilitators of change that helps to locate funds in the right direction to fetch maximum return and relocate the profits to squeeze more out of it. In return, of their services, a fair percentage of the invested amount is paid in order to motivate them to make the way clear for investment in stocks, known as brokerage. They act as a guiding manual for the investor in an unknown world of stock market.

The stock market has been uncovered with the passage of time due to improvement in technology along with the rearrangement of ideas of peoples minds. The shares play was generally associated with the bureaucrats, leaders and the crme of the society. It went to the common man with the advancement of technology to the ground level. Going to share market to trade seems to be the story of the medieval period. Times have changed, so the trends have. Now, a person sitting at home can operate in stock market as an active player. The brokers are available with their services and tips on cyber space itself. Cyber space, commonly known as information superhighway or internet has become the backbone of every market through out the world. It provides same services as a virtual presence of a person may offer. An investor may communicate to people, buy and sell stocks and may transfer the money from one place to another. All these functions can be carried out within fractions of seconds through internet.

The advantage of working on Internet lies in its high speed, along with the accomplishment of work without virtual presence of the particular person at the work place. It also offeres the huge ocean of information that supports the activity of the investor. However, its disadvantage lies in its incredibility and the uncertainty of the quality of the work offered.

As such, despite of the downsides and risks involved in investing in stocks, it is still charming and welcoming the investors to trade. In simple words, the facilities of online trading add to the glory and charm of the invests in stocks.

Get extensive information on online stock investing and get expert tips on how to invest in stocks.

Introduction To Financial Derivatives

2007-10-05T15:28:00.001-07:00

"By far the most significant event in finance during the past decade has been the extraordinary development and expansion of financial derivatives. These instruments enhance the ability to differentiate risk and allocate it to those investors most able and willing to take it - a process that has undoubtedly improved national productivity growth and standards of living." -Alan Greenspan

Are financial instruments that "derive" value from an underlying item such as an asset or index. The use of derivatives provides exposure to the linked underlying item without necessitating the trade or exchange of the item itself. This allows specific risks, such as commodity or equity price fluctuations, to be traded in financial markets. Derivatives may be traded on exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE) and Chicago Mercantile Exchange(CME). Every derivative has unique features and provisions, and each derivative is used for a special financial purpose.

Derivative Uses
The main purposes of derivatives are hedging or providing risk reduction, arbitrage, and speculation. Derivatives allow risk of the underlying asset or index to be transferred between entities. This permits intermediary financial institutions and other entities that are more capable or knowledgeable about the specific risk to manage these risks.

For example, a corn farmer may enter into a derivative contract (normally a futures contract) to reduce risk from corn price fluctuation. If the farmer fears the price will fall below a hypothetical production price of $2 per bushel, the farmer may enter into a derivative contract with a merchant that agrees to purchase the corn at a specific price when the crop is harvested in a specific amount of time. In this case, assume the merchant agrees in the derivative contract to purchase corn at $2.5 per bushel. By utilizing derivatives, the farmer has guaranteed a corn sale price of $2.5 per bushel. If the price of corn decreases in the future, the value of the derivative contract increases as the farmer is able to sell corn above the market price. The use of the derivative allows the farmer to hedge the risk of a corn price decrease, and the speculator accepts this risk because of the possibility of a large reward if the price of the corn rises above $2.5 per bushel.

Derivatives are also used for arbitrage and speculation. Arbitrage is the practice of taking advantage of differences in price in two or more markets. For example, if a commodity was being sold for a lower price in a rural area than in a city, the arbitrageur could purchase the lower cost commodity in the rural area and sell it at a higher price in the city. This example excludes extra costs, such as transportation costs, that are not present in "true" arbitrage that requires no additional risk. Derivative traders engaging in arbitrage may seek opportunities between different derivatives of identical or related securities. For example, if the price of a stock listed on the NYSE is different than the corresponding futures contract on the (CME) an arbitrageur could purchase the less expensive item and sell the more expensive item.

Enhanced exposure and reward potential are the primary reasons why derivatives are used for speculation. The use of options, for example allows for greater returns than the actual price movement of the underlying asset or index. For example, if a trader purchased a stock for $20 per share and the price increased to $40 per share, the trader would have a 100% return. If the same trader instead paid a $1 option premium to purchase the stock at $21 per share, the trader would have earned an 1800% return ((40-21-1)*100%). The use of derivatives allows for greater reward potential. In addition, derivatives allow traders or investors to gain exposure to underlying assets or indexes when the direct ownership of these underlying items is difficult.

Main Derivative Contract Types Swaps - Two entities exchange cash flows Options - Contracts give holder the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an asset as a specific future date Futures - Contracts buy buy or sell an asset at a specific future date.

About the Author:
Matt Goldberg is an undergraduate finance major attending a well regarded business school. He is pursing a career in investment banking, sales and trading, or asset management. Goldberg started investing at age 13 and has attempted to learn more about the field every day. The Sharpe Investing Blog provides a way for him to learn more about a variety of areas of finance by researching, posting, and organizing important information.
Please continue to check the http://investingandfinanceinformation.blogspot.com for future new posts about these specific derivative contract types.

How To Get Tax Sale Lists for Free

2007-10-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Once you know when the tax sale is coming up in your area, you need to get the list of properties that are in the sale. I use naco.org to find tax sale property lists online for tax lien and tax deed sales. This only works for counties that have this information online. For counties or states that do not have this information online, you can either call the tax collector and ask how to get the tax sale list or you can buy the tax sale list from a tax sale list provider. To find out which counties have tax sale information and tax sale lists online, you can consult my State Guide.

To go to the countys web site, first go to naco.org and click on the link to find a county. This will bring you to a page with a map of the United States. Click on the state that you are interested in and youll be taken to that states web page with a list of all of the counties in the state. Find the county that you are interested in and click on that link. You will be taken to the NACO page for that county. Click on the link to the county on the top of the page and you will go to the countys web site. Note that this will only work if the county has a web site.

Once youre on the countys web site, look for a link to the department or county office that is responsible for conducting the tax sale. For most states, this will be the county treasurer or county tax collector. If youre not sure who is responsible for the tax sale in your state, then consult my State Guide. Once you get to the web site of the person or department that conducts the tax sale, look for a link to a list of tax sale properties. For larger counties, you can usually find this online. The exception to this is the counties in the Northeastern states. A lot of the Northeastern states do not have county tax sales. Instead the tax sales are conducted by the municipality, so instead of looking for the county web site, in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, look for the municipal tax collectors web site not county web site. New York has both county and municipal sales in some counties.

If you cant find the tax sale list that you want online, you can always buy a list from a tax sale list provider. Even if you can find the tax sale list online for free, you still may want to purchase the list from a tax sale list provider. Thats because the list that you get from the tax collector does not always have the information that you need. Frequently it will only have a parcel ID number, owner name, and amount due. What you want to know is what is the address of the property, what is the assessment and value of the property, what type or class property is it, and how big is the property. All of this (and sometimes even more information) is included in the detailed list that you can get from tax sale list providers. I talked about some different tax sale list providers in the last podcast episode, How to Find Out About Tax Sales. You can listen to that episode to get the names and urls of tax list providers for different areas of the country. Purchasing a detailed tax sale list from one of these companies will save you a lot of work in doing your due diligence.

Joanne Musa is a Tax Lien Investing Coach and Consultant who works with investors who want to learn how to buy profitable tax lien certificates and tax deeds. She is the president of Tax Lien Consulting LLC, a consulting firm for tax lien investors. She is the author of the e-books: Tax Lien Investing Secrets and Tax Lien Lady's State Guide to Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing, available at http://www.taxlienconsulting.com

For more tips on investing in tax lien certificates send an e-mail to MoreTips@taxlienconsulting.com

Earning Money Through Online Trading of Stocks

2007-10-05T14:21:00.001-07:00

The first thing you need to know when you decide to trade shares by joining an online trading of stocks system is to visit the websites of the best online trading brokers available. These companies offer a wide variety of market flow previsions and developments in the online trading of stock futures. When you decide to open an account, you must know that this is generally free of charge, but you have to pay every time you engage in a stock or security bonds transaction.

After completing this process, you must choose between several available broker-services specialised in online trading. The cheapest solution to your problem is an execution broker. This type of online trading service provides only an electronic transaction option consisting in buying or selling shares or stocks, without any stock futures prevision, counselling or any other advisory support in finding realistic market trends.

Like all the participants in the stock exchange, you can only decide between three types of operations. The first one is buying, while the others are selling and holding. The single time when you require a broker is when you decide to buy or sell. You dont need the assistance of an online trading broker to hold your personal stocks or already established stock futures.

The most important advantage in having an online trading account is the enhanced speed with which you can either buy or sell stocks. Of course, youll have a limited period of time to transact your stocks or stock futures, but once you get accustomed to the online trading market, you can start earning big money.

Obviously, this is normally easier said than done! To become an ace in the online trading of stocks and in the online trading of stock futures you must frequently analyze (usually daily) the prices evolution caused by the development in the leverage balance between demand and offer. This market leverage is widely generated by the market-makers or as, theyre also known, big fish. The market-makers are powerful companies that operate on the stock market and set the value for a specific stocks-class (for instance coffee). One of their main goals is to gain control and implicit wealth by speculating in online trading of stock futures. This way, they can raise their income by using the variation leverage of the stock market value in the online trading of stocks system.

The average stock holders and participants both in online trading of stocks and in online trading of stock futures dont normally have any chance in front of these market giants. Of course, this is not the case for you! Now, there is help available for you on the Internet. You can choose among many free online trading services provided by PhD specialists in the evolution of the stock market.

The online trading of stocks has become an extremely appreciated occupation for many nine to five working class citizens who have rapidly transformed into expert stock holders. To add more points, the even more complex online trading of stock futures has generated even more over the night millionaires.

Nowadays, online trading has become one of the few domains in which you can start with little, and quickly earn a fortune. This is a real opportunity available for almost anyone! You only have to think of a realistic plan in buying or selling shares for the online trading of stocks or for the online trading of stock futures. Its a great chance you should not miss.

Interested in making money? Then Online Trading of Stocks and Online Trading of Stock Futures are the best way to go. Go ahead, find out more about them!

Emini Trading Courses

2007-10-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

Trading eminis can be a very profitable occupation, but it takes a hard work and a lot of determination to become a consistently profitable trader. Not to mention that you also need a strategy that would guarantee a positive edge over a longer period of time. It is not easy to combine all these elements into one robust package and so no wonder that many wanna-be traders fail at this endeavor rather miserably.

When this happens, they invariably turn to more accomplished traders, or at least those who act like that, for help. Little do they know that this is usually the biggest mistake they can make as it very often sets them on the path of seeking the holiest of holy grails, a trading method that never fails. And while the method like that simply does not exist, it is not impossible to find those who offer it for sale.

There is only one way you can become a profitable trader, your own unique way. I wish more books and trading courses emphasized this aspect of trader development, but, alas, that is not the case. There is, however, one book, that does so splendidly and even though it does not address trading eminis directly, I recommend it wholeheartedly. This book can be obtained online in its digital form. It is called "Bird Watching in Lion Country." Before you ever start trading eminis or any other financial instrument, I strongly recommend that you equip yourself with the wisdom this ebook delivers.

There are many emini trading courses out there, most of which can be not only purchased online but even downloaded right after the transaction is completed. Some of them cost thousands of dollars, others retail in the hundreds of greenbacks, but there is also a niche of ebook emini trading courses that can be purchased for less than $100.

Before you ever purchase one of those overpriced, and more often than not, worthless courses, I suggest that you start with those priced below $100. They are about as good as the more expensive ones. I also suggest that you stick to ebooks that come with a money back guarantee of some sort with conditions that are clearly spelled out. Your best choice in this respect are ebooks offered by Clickbank vendors as they are supposed to adhere to an 8 week (or 56 day) money back guarantee. And while it is certainly true that most of them do so, some may bend the rules more or less in their favor. Keep in mind, though, that these practices are not always recognized as legitimate by Clickbank. Sometimes this guarantee is totally unconditional, which means that if you are not happy with the product for any reason you can get your money back, but you are also entitled to it if you believe that the sales page was misleading in some way.

You can find more information about emini trading courses including this author's selection of courses offered by Clickbank vendors on the author website at:

http://www.eminimethods.com/emini_trading_courses.html

He is the owner and webmaster of Eminimethods.com (http://www.eminimethods.com) which provides free common sense trading education and simple trading systems for e-mini and stock markets as well as reviews of honest online business opportunities in Meet HOBO (http://www.eminimethods.com/HOBO.html) section of his site.

Does Money Buy Happiness? An Economic Intrigue

2007-10-05T00:18:00.000-07:00

An enduring paradox in the history of humanity is that although the rich are significantly happier than the poor within any country at any moment, average happiness levels change very little as peoples incomes rise in tandem over time. The question of happiness is central to our lifestyles, religions and societies. It can be argued, in fact, that all that we do is ultimately for the conquest and increase of happiness.

Happiness is also a central tenet of the science of economics: the measurement of changes of income levels vis-a-vis changes in levels of happiness have been interpreted to mean that happiness depends on relative rather than absolute income. However, another interpretation is true, that is gains in happiness that might have been expected to result from growth in absolute income have not materialized because of the ways in which people in affluent societies have generally spent their incomes.

Considerable evidence suggests that if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job then the evidence paints a very different picture. The less we spend on conspicuous consumption goods, the better we can afford to alleviate congestion; and the more time we can devote to family and friends, to exercise, sleep, travel, and other restorative activities. On the best available evidence, reallocating our time and money in these and similar ways would result in healthier, longer and happierlives.

A case in point is Japan, which was a very poor country in 1960. Between then and the late 1980s, its per capita income rose almost fourfold, placing it among the highest in the industrialized world. Yet the average happiness level reported by the Japanese was no higher in 1987 than in 1960.They had many more washing machines, cars, cameras, and other things than they used to, but they did not register significant gains on the happiness scale. The same pattern consistently shows up in other countries as well, and thats a puzzle for economists. If getting more income doesnt make people happier, why do they go to such lengths to get more income?

It turns out that if we measure the income-happiness relationship in another way, we get just what the economists suspected all along. When we plot average happiness versus average income for clusters of people in a given country at a given time, we see that rich people are in fact much happier than poor people. The evidence thus suggests that if income affects happiness, it is relative, not absolute, income that matters. Some social scientists who have pondered the significance of these patterns have concluded that, at least for people in the worlds richest countries, no useful purpose is served by further accumulations of wealth. On its face, this should be a surprising conclusion, since there are so many seemingly useful things that having additional wealth would enable us to do. There is indeed independent evidence that having more wealth would be a good thing, provided it were spent in certain ways. The key insight supported by this evidence is that even though we appear to adapt quickly to across-the-board increases in our stocks of most material goods, there are specific categories in which our capacity to adapt is more limited. Additional spending in these categories appears to have the greatest capacity to produce significant improvements in well-being.

The human capacity to adapt to dramatic changes in life circumstances is impressive. We adapt swiftly to losses as well as to gains. Ads for the Provincial Lottery show participants fantasizing about how their lives would change if they won. People who actually win the lottery typically report the anticipated rush of euphoria in the weeks after their good fortune. Follow-up studies done after several years, however, indicate that these people are often no happier and indeed, are in some ways less happy than before. In short, our extraordinary powers of adaptation appear to help explain why absolute living standards simply may not matter much once we escape the physical deprivations of abject poverty. This interpretation is consistent with the impressions of people who have lived or traveled extensively abroad, who report that the struggle to get ahead seems to play out with much the same psychological effects in rich societies as in those with more modest levels of wealth.

So, therefore, the economic answer to the question as to whether money buys happiness must be in the negative. The evidence described earlier suggests that the satisfaction provided by many conspicuous forms of consumption is more context sensitive than the satisfaction provided by many less conspicuous forms of consumption. If so, this would help explain why the absolute income and consumption increases of recent decades have failed to translate into corresponding increases in measured well-being.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Stock Trading

2007-10-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

Fueled by a roaring bull market, many people have left their nine to five worlds behind to take a plunge into Day trading and looking for various options available with online day trading services. Day Trading is undoubtedly a Gamble and it would be incorrect to term it as safe and risk free, specially for novices. For sophisticated investor, it could be safe and less risky as they have high risk appetite and have better flavor of stock markets.

Day trading online is typically buying and selling of stocks on the same day making profit from increments in the stock price in the entire day. So it essentially requires traders to track the minute on minute movements in stock price, which keeps one glued to the screen for the entire day. But traders find it quite exciting.

Sit at a computer all day in comforts of your own house, wear whatever you want, and have the potential to make unlimited amount of money each day.

If you got a good luck and best available online day trading services, you can end up making good money by day trading stocks by noon and spend the rest of your day goofing off! Buy a stock in morning, watch it travel up, sell it off and book your profits. If you do nine-five job, you end up earning fixed salary which is a limited amount. As a day trader, each day can fetch you fortunes! You earned 500 $ yesterday, you can make $10,000 today. Best day stock trading, isnt it! Every day is a new beginning with endless possibilities. There is absolutely nothing which can hold you back.

Nevertheless, you should have realistic expectations from day trading. A day trader should be absolutely clear about the amount of work, discipline, his risk appetite and sheer luck that is required to be successful.

Online day trading services is quite different from regular online stock trading. In Day trading, the investor usually disregards the fundamentals of the underlying stock company (as it requires more time). Its more of a gut feel what drives his decisions. Not only that, a day trader has to pre-define his buying and selling limits. The challenge here lies in strictly adhering by these limits if markets are not behaving in the manner you have predicted. It takes tremendous discipline to book losses by selling a stock when it is continuously falling.

As a day trader, you are the decision maker and you dont have the luxury of having an advisor who can suggest you with some good tips. Remember; only investing money that you can afford to lose. Set a limit for yourself of how much you willing to lose and then invest in day trading. Else you could end up loosing considerable amount of money by adding up incremental looses over time. It is undoubtedly a very addictive exercise. So beware, if you get addicted to this, it might be a long expensive ride for you.

What is required for online day trading is

1. Initial capital Money attracts money. So more money you invest, more stocks you can buy, so even if the percentage returns are less, you will make considerable profits on your good amount of invested capital. This requirement stands true for online stock trading as well and is not unique to day trading.

2. Nil expectations for steady income You can make $1000 one week and next week you might loose the same amount. So effectively, you didnt earn any money for two weeks. If you can live like that, then its fine. So each day not only offers a fresh start, it does offer the possibility for fresh losses as well.

Day trading is very glitzy and glamorous on the surface, and it can certainly be very financially rewarding. But please dont forget, it is very challenging too that can cost you a lot of your own personal money. Weigh the risks and rewards against your current financial situation and future financial goals, and decide if day trading is for you!

Get online stocks information from cheap stock trading company.

3 Quick and Easy Tips for Picking Hot Stocks

2007-10-04T09:09:00.001-07:00

Do you know what the top tips are for picking stocks are? No one can tell the future, but we have compiled three of our top tips to getting your investment portfolio to make some real returns in the future. Just because a stock is hot, it doesn't mean that it's a really good long term pick for your portfolio. The front page of the New York Times can tell you what is hot, lets take a look at some different tips for the investing world in general are.

1. Do your research. Just because something is trading at 5 times earnings, doesn't mean it's an incredible deal. In fact, just the opposite might be true. If its really supposed to be trading at something like 10 times earnings, why do you think it's so low? The old adage: if it's too good to be true, it probably is holds firm in this situation. Big Wall Street investment houses spend years trying to run various numbers and calculations on different scenarios to determine what the exact valuation of a stock might be. If a stock's valuation is too low, there is a good chance, that the stock might have some problems associated with it, like impending competition, government inquiries, or even litigation problems.

2. Go with what you know. If you are a computer software engineer, you might be best suited to analyze software businesses or maybe even internet stocks that use a lot of software in their business. This will help you get a better understanding of what you are buying and how the business deals with its costs.

3. Get financially literate. Do you know what a balance sheet is? An income statement? A statement of cash flows. These 3 are the groundings of what it takes to really understand a business' current and future performance. Learn them and get to know how and what they are and how they are used to base an investment.

These are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about investments and their potential. Visit our site today to get more tips, resources, and a blog about different investment tips.

Want to learn about hot stocks and more? Visit http://heyhotstocks.com/blog/index.php to learn about hot stocks and stocks.

Where Should I Put My Savings? Different Types of Investment Accounts

2007-10-03T15:20:00.001-07:00

In the big world of investing, it seems we hear a lot about what securities to invest in, but not as much about what types of accounts to invest in. There are so many different types of investment accounts, each covering a different purpose, and new types of accounts seem to be created weekly. What are some of the basic types of investment accounts and what can they do for you? This article covers some of the accounts that are available currently and why you would use each one.

Retirement Accounts

IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. An IRA is meant for those who do not have access to employer sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k) plans or those who would like to contribute more than the maximum allowed by their employer plans. Why choose an IRA? Tax-deferred growth is the answer. With a standard savings account, you have to pay taxes on the interest or earnings that the account makes each year. An IRA, on the other hand, doesn't require you to pay taxes until the money is taken out in retirement, thus leaving more money in the account to grow each year. In many instances you can also deduct your IRA contributions on your taxes, giving you further tax savings. It seems like a small thing especially when the account balance is still small, but over time it makes a big difference. Investing $10,000 for 30 years in a regular savings account with a 28% tax bracket and a 6% average growth rate will give you $35,565 whereas that same amount put into a tax-deferred account will give you $57,435. Eventually, however, you do have to pay taxes on the earnings in your IRA, but you are still left with $44,153 after taxes are paid. Your net gain for tax-deferred growth is just over $8500.

Another individual plan is a Roth IRA. It is somewhat similar to a traditional IRA but the difference is that you cannot deduct the contributions and the earnings grow tax-free instead of tax-deferred. This type of plan is good for someone with a longer timeframe to invest or those whose tax bracket in retirement will be close to or higher than their current tax rate. Tax-free growth means that you don't have to pay taxes on any of the earnings in the account. If we start with $10,000 and invest it for 30 years at 6% growth like our example above, you would be left with $57,435. None of that money has to have taxes paid on it since the initial $10,000 already had taxes taken out and the earnings grew tax-free. Before you wonder why anyone would not automatically use a Roth IRA, consider the fact that the initial $10,000 investment wasn't tax deductible like it was for the traditional IRA above. With a 28% tax bracket, the Roth paid $2,800 on its initial $10,000 investment. If we look at the growth potential of $2,800 for 30 years in a tax-deferred account, it grows to $16,082. So, in this person's situation where their tax bracket is the same in retirement as it is while working with a 6% rate of growth, a Roth wouldn't be the best option. The Roth would only grow to $57,435 - $16,082 = $41,353 when all taxes are taken into consideration while the traditional IRA would grow to $44,153. There are several online calculators that can estimate which type of IRA would be to your advantage. Search under Roth vs. Traditional IRA for more information and calculators to determine the best account for you.

In addition to individual plans there are also employer-sponsored plans. SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA and Keogh plans are in between Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts and the standard employer sponsored plans such as 401(k)'s. SEP's, SIMPLE's and Keogh's are for self employed individuals or small companies that need to put aside more money than a standard IRA allows but aren't large enough to warrant the expense of a 401(k) plan. Each plan allows both employee and employer contributions. Each has set maximums between $6,000 and $30,000, depending on the plan and the contributor, and each has tax incentives for both the employer and the employee. These plans are great for small businesses to be able to set aside money for themselves and their employees and not have to go through the time and expense of larger employer sponsored plans.

The last type of retirement plans are employer sponsored plans. When it comes to retirement, it seems everyone knows the term 401(k). This is because a 401(k) is the retirement plan of choice for medium and large companies. In 2006, the maximum contribution to a 401(k) is $15,000. If you are over fifty and your employer offers the 401(k) "catch-up" contribution, you can contribute up to $5,000 more, so $20,000 total. Your employer may also contribute to your 401(k) plan which generally doesn't decrease your contribution allowance. Originally, 401(k) plans were only offered to for-profit companies. Those who worked for non-profit companies such as charities, schools, universities and hospitals weren't able to contribute to 401(k) plans but were able to open 403(b) plans which allowed most of the same contribution limits as a 401(k). Government or public employees often used 457(b) plans for their contributions and for highly compensated employees there are 457(f) plans. This eventually changed to where 401(k) plans are now available to non-profit companies so more and more of the non-profit sector are opening 401(k) plans for their employees. Taxes on these types of plan can vary from one plan to another, so it is best to consult your plan director or talk with the investment company that manages your employers plan.

Education Savings Plans

Education plans have become available in the past decade allowing parents to better save for their children's education. Instead of trying to set money aside in taxable savings accounts, parents can now setup an education savings account that has various tax advantages depending upon the type of account used. Choosing an education savings account depends upon what your long-term goals are for the money. There are three basic types of education savings accounts, IRC section 529 plans, the Coverdell Education Savings Account (CESA) and the Uniform Gift to Minors Account (UGMA). Each plan is tailored a little differently when it comes to its tax advantages and who gets the money from each plan, but each has the same general purpose, to save for your children or grandchildren's future.

Medical Savings Accounts

There are three different types of accounts to help you save for healthcare costs, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). The first of these, Flexible Spending Accounts are also called section 125 plans or "cafeteria plans." This plan allows participants to put pre-tax money into the account each year to cover health insurance deductibles, co-payments, dental care and other medical expenses. Cafeteria plan money cannot accumulate from year to year, however, so it needs to be used up in one year or it will be gone. The second type of medical savings account is a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. It is similar to an FSA but the employer contributes to the account instead of the employee.

The employer can make contributions contingent on an employee participating in designated health and wellness programs. In June 2002 it was updated to allow funds to rollover from year to year, but it cannot be rolled over from employer to employer so if you change employers, you loose the accrued benefit. The last and most recently created plan is a Health Savings Account. This plan enables employees with high-deductible health insurance plans to set aside and invest money to use to pay the deductibles or other healthcare costs in the future.

These plans are designed to put healthcare decisions more into the hands of the employees. These plans are also portable so they move with you when you change employers and they can be rolled over from year to year.

Other Accounts

For those who are just looking to invest, a brokerage account is the medium to use. Brokerage accounts are setup through investment companies to allow you to purchase securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money markets, options, etc. Generally the money sits in a "core" account such as a money market until you are ready to invest it in other securities. There are fees for purchasing many securities which vary depending on the company that the account is setup with. Brokerage accounts can also offer check writing, debit and ATM cards for easier access to money in the account. Since there are no tax-advantages of a brokerage account, money can be withdrawn at any time from the core account. These accounts are perfect for additional savings that you want to invest in the stock market.

The standard savings account is probably what everyone is most familiar with. Offered by any bank, a savings account allows you to set money aside and receive a variable or fixed interest rate depending upon the account. Savings accounts are very liquid and can be withdrawn at any time, but they don't allow check writing capabilities. Most savings accounts now days do offer ATM cards. Certificates of Deposit or CD's are types of savings accounts that require money to be left in for a certain period of time in exchange for a slightly higher interest rate, these accounts are less liquid and there is generally a fee to take the money out before the predetermined period of time.

Whatever the reason or account used to set aside money, it is always a good thing. Savings in any form creates a more secure financial future and allows for problems or emergencies to be taken care of without having to obtain loans or dip into less liquid savings such as a home or other physical assets. Opening up any of the above types of accounts gets you started on the right track towards savings.

Emma Snow is a writer who specializes in financial planning. She has worked in the financial industry for over eight years. Currently Emma works on a Finance and Investing site at http://www.finance-investing.com and Investing Partners http://www.investing-partners.com

Forex Trading - The 4 Biggest Myths that Cause Traders to Lose

2007-10-03T11:06:00.001-07:00

If you believe the four forex trading myths below you will lose. There all commonly accepted by the vast majority of traders but dont let that worry you, the vast majority of traders dont win!

So here are the top 4 myths of forex trading.

1. Someone else can give you success

It amuses me the amount of information I get from forex vendors that promise me huge riches and a regular income, for spending a few hundred dollars with them.

My own view is if their profits are so good why are they hassling me?

The answer of course is, that their courses and e-books are junk and they are hoping to dupe me with tempting advertising copy.

Dont fall for their copy be realistic, the only person who will make you money is yourself, so learn forex trading yourself.

If you dont learn the basics yourself and know how and why your forex trading system works, you will never be able to follow it with confidence and discipline and these are vital in achieving currency trading success.

2. Day trading makes money

The biggest myth of all is perhaps that you can make money with a day trading system you cant.

All daily volatility is random and you stand no chance of winning, as you can never calculate the odds and forex trading is an odds game.

3. You need to work hard

No you dont!

You have to ensure that you get the right forex education and learn the right knowledge to succeed.

You can learn all you need to know in about 14 days and you should be able to trade in less than an hour a day.

People often think the more effort they put into trading currencies, the more they will get out in terms of profit, but this is totally wrong you get your reward for being right and thats it, the market rewards you for results not effort.

4. You need a complicated forex trading system

No you dont.

This leads on from the above point in many respects, as many traders simply assume that more indicators the better the system will perform.

This is incorrect, in fact the complete opposite is true simple systems work best as they have fewer elements to break and are more robust in the brutal ever changing conditions of real trading.

Remember to keep it simple, this will increase your odds of forex trading success.

Dont believe any of the above

So there you have the top 4 currency trading myths, believe any of them and the market will take your money and you will end up in the losing majority.

Avoid them and you can set yourself up for currency trading success, in the worlds most exciting and lucrative investment medium.

GRAB 3 X FREE TRADER & FREE TRADER PROFITS NEWSLETTER

More on becoming a profitable trader some critical FREE Trader PDF's and more FREE Forex Education visit our website at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

Futures System Trading - How To Choose A System

2007-10-03T09:56:00.001-07:00

If you are new to system trading, after reading my previous article ("Futures System Trading - Reality Check") you might feel a bit uneasy about the whole business. That's good because you should. There is a vast wild jungle out there with swamps scattered all over rather generously. One false step and you just said good-bye to a nice chunk of dough.

How then should you choose your system, you may ask. The short answer is: the same way hedgehogs multiply, that is, cautiously... The long answer is that you have three options and each of them can be good if used judiciously.

The first option and probably the best one is to find a vendor who offers his system through a broker (using Tradestation or Strategy Runner to generate orders) and charges you based on the actual profits his system makes in your account per month. That usually means a 10-20 % cut of real profits for the vendor. Vendors like that are few and far between and if you ever decide to choose one like that you want to make sure that you know how his system performed in the past in a real account and not on paper. The broker that handles vendor's business or the vendor himself should be able and even eager to provide this kind of information. If they can't, don't bother as this is usually an indication that you are dealing with some monkey business. If the system is new and there is only a limited amount of information about its actual past performance you may want to wait a quarter or two to see how the system is doing. Rush is never a good thing in these matters.

The second option is to buy a good system from a reputable vendor. You want to buy a system that is fully disclosed and it is very advisable to choose a system that has very little room for curve-fitting (no more than 1 to 2 parameters that are optimally adjusted in the backtesting process) over a system that has plenty of room for this. The latter are usually less robust than the former. If the system is not fully disclosed (i.e., it comes as a gray or black box) you will never know if it was optimized and to what extent. This is not good as it is rather easy to produce a system with a stellar past performance by curve-fitting it to the data. It is very naive to expect that the system designed this way will continue its stellar performance. The opposite is more likely, that is, the system, being not very robust, might unravel as soon as you start using it. Now, how to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable vendor? I would dismiss all hypsters as a rule. A good system can speak for itself, no hype is necessary. I would also avoid vendors who are not very forthcoming with information on the realistic system performance: for instance, they do not account in their advertising for the slippage and commissions in a realistic way. This can have grave consequences as the previous article was meant to show you. Particularly insidious can be 'non-fill' slippage occurring in systems that use limit orders. As opposed to regular slippage caused by the use of market or stop orders, the kind of slippage in question is not always easy to estimate and if not accounted for can lead to significantly inflated profits. It can even turn an essentially losing system into a great looking winning one.

I believe that the only honest way to account for this kind of slippage is by disregarding all the trades whose entry or exit prices were not penetrated by at least one tick. A robust system will survive this type of cleansing, a bogus one will not. I do this routinely with my systems, but alas, to the best of my knowledge, no one else does. If you are still wondering why, you may want to re-read my previous article. Another issue is regular slippage which should be estimated realistically depending on the particular market's liquidity. For instance, this kind of slippage is smaller for a market as liquid as the S&P500 emini futures (ES) than for the Russell 2000 emini futures (ER2) that also enjoys some popularity among traders. Finally, you definitely do not want to overpay for the system. I think that nowadays you should be able to buy a good fully disclosed system for less than $1000. However, most vendors still think that they can afford to charge more. I would avoid them. If a vendor really believes that he has a good system that is worth more, he can always generate a steady income either by employing the first option mentioned above or by leasing it (option three to be discussed next). Finally, it's good to check if a vendor offers a money back guarantee (at least conditional) for his system. Most will not, so those who do should, in my opinion, be given priority over the others. You can certainly agree that a vendor who offers some form of reasonable guarantee has more faith in his system than a vendor who shuns any idea of such a guarantee.

The third option is to lease a system on a monthly or quarterly basis. This is a good option, but very often not as good as the previous ones. Electing a system for trading in this way requires as much prudence if not more as in the other options, the reason being that when the year of using the system comes to a close you may end up paying much more for the system than you would by buying it outright and still have nothing to show for (see the previous article for an example of a situation like that). This is so, in part if not largely, because the subscription fees are absolutely not commensurate with the system actual performance, so be careful not to overpay. As a rule, I would avoid any vendors who charge more than $150 a month. The majority of them will hardly ever deliver profits to your account when all is said and done and so you want to be frugal as much as possible. Beware though of the common trap: people tend to think that if something is expensive it must be good. This is absolutely not true! A vendor who charges $300 a month for his system may not necessarily deliver greater profits than the one who charges only $150. The past hypothetical performance cannot be used as a justification for higher fees.

All systems are born equal every single quarter and the system is only as good as its next quarter and not its past 5 years. You also need to realize that unless a vendor backs up his claims of past performance with a Tradestation performance report, you should not put much faith in what he claims. However, even with the Tradestation report available you still don't know if the system has not been curve-fitted and so you might end up paying a lot for something that could be performing much worse than the past performance would indicate. It should not come as a surprise that this option is most frequently used by vendors. The reason is quite simple: they can keep milking you forever, no matter whether they deliver or not. Unlike in the first option where the vendor's fee is tied to your account's actual performance or in the second option where you can get a system for life for a one-time fee (and not only can you use it but even learn from it if the system is fully disclosed which is by far the best deal in this option), in the last option you are hardly ever in the winning position and so the only way to make sure that you do come ahead as a winner is to ensure that your subscription fee is as low as possible.

Waldemar Puszkarz, Ph.D., is a web veteran with 15 years of web surfing under his belt. By training, he is a theoretical physicist, but his interests are much broader than science and include trading financial markets, sports betting, poker, and researching online business opportunities. He is also an avid book reader and sports afficionado. Currently he is making his living mostly as a day trader. He has been in the trading trenches for almost a decade during which he has traded a variety of financial instruments. He is the owner and webmaster of Eminimethods.com (http://www.eminimethods.com) which provides free common sense trading education and simple trading systems for e-mini and stock markets as well as reviews of honest online business opportunities in Meet HOBO (http://www.eminimethods.com/HOBO.html) section of his site.

E-gold Invest: Make Money With Currency Trading

2007-10-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

Many people are already starting to pay attention to the newest online trend: E-gold investing.

E-gold investing is a all about a system that allows you to profit from the money that is being traded everyday on the internet. What you're doing when you are trading e-gold (or e-currencies) is that you are providing the backup for internet money. Let me go back a bit. What exactly do I mean by "backup for internet money"?

There is a cashflow of all of the money that is being moved throughout the internet every day. However, this money has to have, for every dollar that is being backed up, a physical backup of that dollar must exist.

This is a very superficial explanation about how the dxgold system works, but to be honest, to profit from it, you don't have to understand exactly how it works to profit from it. If I were to put the e-gold training courses into a metaphor I would say it's very much like driving a car. You don't need to know how it works in order to use it properly.

What you do need to know is the egold exchange process and every step of the way. This may sound complex, but once you get to know it, it becomes a daily routine that takes about five minutes just to check up on.

Investing in e-gold is something that I could describe as a great investing strategy, if you are investing in the long run.

It isn't as fast as a rising stock in wall street, it isn't something that will double your profits in a couple of days, but it is something you can expect to generate a good income from. And the important keyword in that past sentence would be to Expect, because this is a safe long term strategy that is guaranteed to make a profit for you.

This is why I personally think it is plain silly not to learn this currency trading system. You even know how much money you will make each day in advance.

For some it may be tough, but saving a couple of hundred dollars and investing in e-gold can be a very wise decision. As many people have experienced already, it can even turn into a "hands off" second income without the 8 to 5 job.

E-gold is all about discipline. Is about the discipline of having your money work for you and letting it grow, without getting an urge of a shopping spree and taking your money out of your account.

If you think you can wait for a few months and are interested in getting a second income, then the e-gold system could be a good fit for you.

I've writen detailed reviews for the best courses about e-currency exchange, visit my site (http://www.currencytrading-center.com) for the inside scoop on how to Invest in e-gold

Stock Market Timing - Which Months Are Best to Invest?

2007-10-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

The U.S. stock market at the time of writing, (August 16, 2007), has spent a large part of the summer so far in a seemingly unstoppable swoon that has spooked all but the hardiest of investors and traders. Many may wish that some kind of simple guidelines were in existence that could provide pointers as to which time of the year may be the most suited for bullish bets in the market and which constitutes the best time to take money off the table. How much easier it would be to make money in the market if buy and sell decisions could be made simply by referring to the calendar!

Techniques designed to time markets in order to maximize profits come in many shapes and forms and naturally there are many opinions as to when might be the most propitious times during the year to buy and sell stocks. Statistically, September is the month that shows the biggest tendency for stock market declines. October scares some people because some major market crashes have occurred in that month including those of 1929 and 1987. We hear about "summer rallies" but find that concept is contradicted by the old adage "Sell in May and go away." There is a Santa Claus rally, closely followed by a January Effect. But in our view Mark Twain probably summed up the best way to view the timing of stock purchases by month of the year when he wrote: "October. This is one of the particularly dangerous months to invest in stocks. Other dangerous months are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February."

This article was written jointly by Aidan J. McNamara and Martha A. Brozyna

Aidan McNamara is associate publisher at The Deal LLC in New York, publisher of the weekly financial magazine The Deal as well as The Daily Deal and TheDeal.com. He holds an MA (with distinction) in Area Studies (Eastern Europe and Russia) from the University of London, 1981 and a BA in German from the University of Manchester.

Martha A. Brozyna received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Southern California in 2005 and a BA in history and political science from Rutgers University where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1995.

McNamara and Brozyna are the authors of Contrarian Ripple Trading: A Low-Risk Strategy to Profiting from Short-Term Stock Trades, scheduled for publication by John Wiley & Sons in October 2007. Martha Brozyna published Gender and Sexuality in the Middle Ages: A Medieval Source Documents Reader in 2005 (McFarland & Co.)

The authors have additional information on themselves and their forthcoming book at their website http://www.ridetheripples.com

Forex Day Trading - The Profit Illusion That Sees Traders Lose

2007-10-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

If you are considering day trading then you should read this article.

First lets look at why forex day trading doesnt work.

The time period is to short!

Volatility in short time frames is random - PERIOD

This means daily support and resistance levels are meaningless and you can never get the odds on your side longer term.

Now lets look at the illusion of profits.

The Marketing Illusion

You have seen them the headlines promising you 100% annual profits or a regular monthly income - all for just a few hundred dollars.

Of course the reality is they profits do not exist and it's simply clever marketing copy.

Look at the facts and you will see no substantiation whatsoever to back up the claims.

If I knew tomorrows closing price today, I would be a multi millionaire but thats not the reality of forex trading.

The people who create the illusion you can make money forex day trading can never present a long term track record of real profits thats real dollars made in the market by them.

Why Create The Illusion?

These people are mostly failed brokers or marketing organizations that actually have the sense not to trade the system themselves.

Why?

Becuase they can make a guaranteed return selling the system to naive forex traders.

Patterns that dont repeat

Many traders look at back data and see patterns.

Still Not Convinced Day Trading Doesnt Work?

Here is a simple test you can do for yourself:

Ask anyone who claims they make money day trading, to produce to you a real time track record of profits, with supporting bank statements and trades.

You wont get one.

Dont fall into the forex day trading can make you money trap! If you do you will lose your equity quickly.

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