The Whole Truth About Small Caps

Talk to most traders and ask them about the OTC markets, and you'll likely get either a story about someone who made it big, or someone who lost it all. Like Las Vegas, investors can always tell you a story. The question for you is simple: is this a place to invest your hard earned money.

The answer is yes and no. The key is in recognizing the risk involved. Keep risk to a minimum by identifying which small caps have potential, and which are a trap, and you may find yourself in the staring role of one of those stories about the guy who made it big. If you fail to take heed of the warning signs, you'll find your money, hopes and dreams fade just as quickly as gamblers in Las Vegas.

The very fact that small caps trade at such low volumes increases the risks involved in investing in them. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strongly suggests traders of small caps to remember that these stocks typically trade with very low volumes on average. This makes finding buyers when you want to sell, and sellers when you want to buy more difficult. As a result, you may not get the stock at the price you want. This can result in buying too high

Despite the risks involved, small caps are often attractive investments to investors for various reasons. If you are new to investing and looking for the chance to return a high yield for a relatively low investment you are likely to come across some microcaps. Its not surprising that investors are attracted to small caps. A move of a few hundreds of a penny can mean big returns for you. For a $0.10 stock to move up 20% requires a move of only $0.02. If the stock moves to $0.20, you have doubled your money. If the stock starts to move, you can double or triple your money within days. You won't find that kind of return on the major stock exchanges.

On the other hand

There is also a strong potential for fraud with some buyers artificially 'enhancing' or driving the costs by buying large amounts of shares and raising the perceived value of essentially worthless stocks. Most investors who fall for this lose many when it comes time to sell.

Most financial advisors will suggest not investing more than 10% of your portfolio on microcaps

It is important to remember that not all of these companies are frauds and many of them have a great deal of potential. Some are new businesses that are working hard towards their goal of earning a spot on the larger exchanges. Do your research in order to decrease your risks of landing with a declining or dishonest company. Often, most traders are often convinced that one good investment can make them a nice tidy profit. While this is true it is better to invest in a company that is showing slow and steady growth than one you are hoping will sky rocket over night. Take the time and do your research rather than gambling with your investment.

Learn more about hot penny stock picks or how to trade at http://www.1source4stocks.com

How To Turn Disadvantages Of A Reverse Mortgage To Your Advantage

When it comes to a reverse mortgage, wise consumers weigh the advantages and disadvantages prior to signing on the dotted line.

Lets start on a positive note, you could do what most borrowers do and opt for the reverse mortgage line of credit. Just think about how you would then be able to draw on the loan whenever money is required for daily living expenses, medical bills, prescription costs, home repairs, etc. This could really enhance your retirement years including in-home care expenses in later years.

Furthermore, your new found income does not affect regular Social Security payments or Medicare benefits. And lenders cannot foreclose on the loan for the life of the borrower.

Okay, thats all well and good but how do you turn the major disadvantages of a reverse mortgage into a positive one? Its all in the perspective. For every negative there is a positive to obtaining this loan.

Its true a reverse mortgage loan may affect your eligibility for state and federal government assistance programs such as Medicaid but it also gives you an important financial cushion and does not (as mentioned above) affect your regular Social Security payments or Medicare benefits.

You also have no monthly payments to make. Granted, the amount you owe continues to grow larger over time but you also have more cash on hand to enhance the quality of your current lifestyle. Look at it this way, you will now have all the money you need (and want). After all, its your money. True, you wont have the full selling price of your home to leave your loved ones but if theyre financially sound in their own right, do they really need a substantial inheritance?

Furthermore with the new found cash, you could re-invest into other income-generating streams such as stock and option trading. But that would be another story with its own pros and cons.

It all comes down to whats important to you, what your current financial needs are and if leaving money to heirs is something you feel you need or want to do.

To take a look at the basics of a reverse mortgage tips and info, get more details from http://www.wealthmountains.com/finance/reverse-mortgage-tips-info.htm

This article is part of the resources, guides and tools dedicated to your financial successes found on Keith Choy's WealthMountains Site. Visit his site at http://www.wealthmountains.com/finance

How Forex Trading Can Change Your Life

Forex trading, or foreign exchange, is a market in which currency is changed from one type to the next in the hopes of making money off the trade. In fact, forex is the worlds largest market because of just how much money can change hands here. Who can do it? How can you get in? And, can you really make a good sized investment off of this type of trading? It almost seems to simple, doesnt it? But, the bottom line is that through forex trading, you can make a good sized fortune. Youll still need experience, education and a little luck but maybe not as much.

Who Can Play The Game?

First forex trading is anything but a game. In fact, people are making hundreds of millions of dollars off of it each and every year. There are big bucks to be made. As for who can get into it, this trading is open to virtually anyone. In the grand scheme of things, though, it is mostly played by central banks, larger banks, currency speculators, governments, international and multinational companies as well as others. Small investors and speculators often can be involved as well. Most of the time these individuals will use brokers to handle their investment strategies.

Because forex trading can actually be done by anyone, it allows for small investments. This is one of the large benefits of forex. Virtually anyone can invest and you dont need a lot of money to do it. Of course, trading with more can lead to more money as well. It can be wise though to go in on a larger trading scheme, through a broker, because these companies can pool together funds for larger, more lucrative investments. Yet, there is a fee involved in it as well.

What Makes Forex Trading Unique Though?

Why not just invest in the stock market or other investment portfolios? Why should you invest in forex over other types of trading? There are several characteristics that make forex unique and these contribute to why many individuals go through this type of investment.

• Markets are always open. Being able to trade anytime, except weekends, makes this trading market very available to anyone, in any country around the world. You can go to bed at night with nothing and wake up to a huge difference in your investment.
• The volume. The market is so large that there is quite a bit of volume available through it. This makes it very easy to get in and very easy to actually make a good deal of money as well.
• Liquid as water. There are no assets, no worries about how well the company is doing. Through forex trading, the funds that you invest are liquid. You can cash them in at virtually anytime. If you are working through an investment firm, it may be harder to liquidate them, but typically funds can be turned into cash quickly, far more so than other investment strategies.
• There are also a wide number of factors that contribute to the market trading foreign exchange rates. These are the value of the currency that you have in your hand. For example, if you would like to invest in Russian Rubbles, the demand for the Rubble is dependant on the value of that money in relation to other currencies, in relation to the economic and other factors within the county as well as speculative rates as well. What makes rates change can include a simple disbelief in the government, a national announcement of good economic times ahead and hundreds of other factors.

The value of the forex trading market is huge. In fact, it is estimated that the market has over 2 Trillion United States Dollars worth of currency changes happening each and every day the market is open. This large amount of money in the trading environment is what makes it such a lucrative and worthwhile investment for many people.

Getting Started

How can you get into this? How can you make the money that all of those other guys are? Youll find most of the help that you need offered to you on the web. There is a wide range of programs through brokers that can help you. Firms are willing to work with virtually any individual, corporation or small business that has any size monetary value to invest. Contracting with a broker for a small investor is the ideal way to go. Forex trading can be a lucrative market, if you get into it. It can then literally change your life.

For forex trading systems reviewed and rated visit http://www.forextradingsystemsreviewed.com/. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, link and URL remain intact.

Finding Money for Rehabbing Property

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

Forex Markets & Its Trading Characteristics

There are a number of reasons why FOREX trading is such a great way of entering the capital markets. Among them we can find its easy accessibility thanks to the use of the internet, the fact that currency trading is all commission-free and also the low transaction costs involved.

There is one important characteristic about Forex that makes it what it is. This important characteristic is that there is not a single unified foreign exchange market in the world. Instead of this, due to the over-the-counter nature of currency markets, there exists a number of interconnected marketplaces, where many different currency instruments are traded. What this implies is that there is not a single dollar rate in the world, but different rates, depending on what bank or market maker you are asking a quotation to. In practice these rates are often very close as you can easily find on the web.

As a piece of general knowledge you must learn that the main forex trading centers are placed in New York, London, and Tokyo, but this doesnt mean they are the only ones; there are other banks throughout the world that also participate. For example, as the Asian trading session ends, the European trading centers open, then the US session, and then the Asian centers open again. This kind of continuos market has the advantage that traders can react to news immediately, instead of waiting for the markets to open.

There are many factors that can influence the exchange rate of a particular currency. These rate fluctuations are usually caused by changes in inflation, GDP growth, interest rates, budget and trade deficits or surpluses, and other macroeconomic conditions f the country emitting the particular currency. Also major news that are released publicly can affect the prices of currencies; so many people have access to the same news at the same time that they can shake a currency price really hard.

According to a specialized study, the most heavily traded products on the spot market are: EUR/USD - 28 %, USD/JPY - 18 %, GBP/USD - 14 % and the US currency was involved in 89% of transactions, followed by the euro (37%), the yen (20%) and sterling (17%).

Forex Trading can make you real money if you learn the correct trading strategies. I particularly recommend you this one:

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Why Investing in Commodities (Part II)

In the first part, I wrote about your responsibility as the client when investing your money in any financial market. I also mentioned that investing is the art of predicting the future, and what consideration should be taking regarding this aspect of the financial markets.

In this second part, I will refer to the Risks involved in trading, particularly in the commodity market, and how to avoid some of the most common mistakes that investors make without even knowing.

3) Understand Risk

Future contracts and options over futures are highly leverage instruments, so they are considered risky investments. However, this characteristic of the commodity market is not a reason to run away from the possibility of investing in it. Remember that leverage is a two ways sword: it can hurt you, but it also can provide you with percentage returns that you probably wont find in other markets. In order to have a better chance of being successful in this market you have to understand the risks you are taking in each and every trade. You have the right to ask your broker about the risks involved in the trade he/she is offering you. Always remember that there are different types of risks that you might be taking without knowing. For example, you can be told that you should only buy options over futures because the risk is limited to the amount of money you invested plus commissions. This is absolutely true, but do you know that a high percentage of options expire worthless? This means that if you only make this type of trading you have a big chance of end up loosing all the money on your account. Another highly risky investment is to buy deep out of the money options (this example does not apply when selling deep out of the money options). These options can cost you for example only $200 each, so you might be advised to buy 5 contracts. This buying of deep out of the money options are the type of investments where the client is trying to make a fortune in one trade. These trades almost always do not work; the only thing you achieve when making those type of trades is increasing your risk and paying a lot of commissions to your broker.

When trading futures contracts there are also many ways of increasing the risk. For example, you can decide to go short on Unleaded Gasoline the day before a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast. Maybe you are thinking or are told that the hurricane is going to change direction at the last minute according to weather reports, so the next day all the energy complex is going to collapse and you will make a fortune on your short position (again an example of an investor trying to make a killing on one trade). Another typical mistake that investors do and hence increase their risk is to send money to cover a margin call. If you have a margin call, first close the position because it means that you are in a loosing position. If after you close the position, you still owe money to your broker, then send the money; and if that trade was your broker advise and was not the first time that you had a margin call, then change broker.

As you can see in these examples, risk is always part of the commodity market as it is of all investment markets. There is nothing you can do about the risk that belongs to the market, but respected it. However, you can have a better chance of making money, if you understand the risks associated with the trades you are advised to make.

4) How Much Money to Start

In order to answer this question, first you have to decide whether you want to trade on your own or have someone giving you the trading recommendations. Commodity markets are different from the stock market; is not a good idea to trade on your own if you dont have access to real time quotes, broadband Internet and the time to be in front of your computer most of the day. Remember, because of the leverage, mistakes are very expensive in this market.

For small investors, the best thing to do is to open an account with a broker that you feel confident with and that will give you advise and manage your positions. There is all kind of minimum requirements regarding the amount of money that you need to open an account. I think that small investors that are getting started in this market should open with a minimum of $5,000 and maximum of $20,000. Less than $5,000 is not a good idea because it narrows you on your possibilities of diversifying your money in different markets and types of trade, which is another way of increasing your risk. I also dont advise clients to open with more than $20,000 because remember that when you open your account, what you are basically doing on your first trades is seeing if the broker you are starting to work with has the ability and potential to make you money. As I mentioned before, if you loose money on your first 4 or 5 trades, chances are you will keep loosing money on that account. It might be cheaper to find some other place to work with.

Conclusion

Small investors do have an opportunity to make money in the commodity market. If you want to increase your chances of being successful in this market, you also have to do your part. It is not enough just to look for a broker, sign the paper forms and send the money. As the owner of the funds, you have the responsibility of understanding where your money is being invested and what are the risks involved in every trade. Finally, remember that you are not opening an account to get rich in the very short term. You are investing in the commodity market as a way of diversifying your investment portfolio, trying to achieve a better return overall.

Jorge Malo is the President of TeoFutures, an Introducing Broker who specializes in working with investors who want to participate in the commodity market with a minimum of $5,000. TeoFutures trades Futures contracts and Options over Futures on a non-discretionary basis for our clients. Mr. Malo has more than 15 years experience in the financial markets in the US and abroad, and is a member of the National Futures Association. Please visit our Web page at http://www.teofutures.com to learn more about the commodity market and our company, and to subscribe to my Free Weekly Financial Newsletter with important market information and analysis.

Electronic Medical Billing Control with Computer Aided Coding Software

The average practice submits half of its codes wrong, while some practices rarely exceed more than one code right out of every five codes. Inexact and inconsistent coding increases the risks of undercharging, overcharging, and post-payment audit. This article outlines evolution of coding from individualistic art towards disciplined and systematic process.

It is convenient to review the role of coding in the context of the entire claim processing cycle, which consists of patient appointment scheduling, preauthorization, patient encounter note creation, charge generation, claim scrubbing, claim submission to payer, and followup, which in turn includes denial or underpayment identification, payment reconciliation, and appeal management. The importance of thorough knowledge and correct application of coding rules at the charge generation stage of claim processing cycle are well known and have been frequently discussed. Less obvious but no less important is the ability to make correct interpretations of the same rules at the claim followup stage during denial or underpayment analysis and upon receiving payment and explanation of benefits.

Coding is difficult because of a four-dimensional complexity. First, the sheer volume and intricacy of coding rules make it difficult to select the right procedure code, correct modifier, and necessary diagnosis code for the given medical note. For instance, a claim will get denied if you charged for two CPT codes but provided an ICD-9 code that shows medical necessity for one CPT code only. Next, the payer-specific modifications exacerbate the complexity of coding, creating the need to code or process differently the same procedures depending on the payer. For example, some payers require medical notes attached to some CPT codes in addition to standard ICD-9 codes. Third, the codes and regulations change over time, necessitating continuous coding education and re-education. Finally, charge generation and claim followup are disconnected in space and time and often performed by different people, adding to confusion and costs of the claim processing cycle.

Only experienced coders can handle such complexity but experience too often turns into handicap as, in the absence of a reliable self-correcting process, the coder or the followup person may repeat the same mistake over and over. Hence ad hoc coding is error-prone and expensive. Paper superbill-driven coding improves upon traditional coding because it allows fewer errors and eliminates some of the costs. Computer aided coding with integrated superbill completes the transformation of coding from individualistic art towards disciplined and systematic process and is the most reliable and least expensive solution.

Traditional Coding

Since the practice owner is ultimately responsible for coding quality, it behooves the physician to manage personally the coding process. But traditionally, in the absence of systematic practice management, the physician looked for a coding approach to avoid the burden of coding. Such an approach to coding is error-prone and expensive. According to the Healthcare Financial Management Association's "Tip Sheet: Medical Claims Denial Management," the average error rate for CPT coding is 45%-55%. Some specialties (e.g., interventional radiologists) have trouble exceeding even 18% of correct coding, according to the March 2003 issue of "Healthcare Biller: The Communication Network for America's Health Care Billers," a monthly newsletter from Aspen Publishing.

Traditional coding involves the doctor, data entry personnel, and certified coder. The doctor dictates, types, or handwrites descriptions of diagnosis and procedures, without listing actual codes. The data entry personnel enter codes based on reading doctor's descriptions, and the certified coder supervises and audits the quality of coding by the data entry personnel.

Traditional coding process is error-prone because the certified coder does not audit 100% of entered codes and because such process does not have a vehicle for context maintenance between the charge creation and claim followup stages. The errors may become especially expensive upon post payment audit of the charges by the insurance company. This process is also expensive because multiple people are involved in the coding process and because the errors, if discovered at all, will be discovered only downstream, rising the costs of error correction.

Paper Superbill-driven Coding

Pre-compiled superbill-driven coding process places the doctor in control of coding, ties together claim creation and followup stages, and avoids many shortcomings of traditional coding. Such a process delivers two-fold advantage of lower cost and improved communication. First, the doctor codes at the end of patient encounter without involving data entry personnel in the middle. Second, the paper superbill serves the role of a formal vehicle for coding information communication between charge creation and claim followup stages. Additionally, a pre-compiled superbill improves coding consistency across the doctors within the same practice.

Superbill creation process has four stages:

1.List the codes used most often first. Use CPT frequency report.
2.List the diagnosis codes
3.Leave room for ancillary services
4.Include patient's information

Along with the advantages over the traditional coding process, the paper-based superbill still has four shortcomings. First, the data must be re-entered into the system from the paper superbill, introducing potential for errors. Next, the superbill must be reviewed periodically to adjust for changes in practice operations. Worse, it is difficult to keep up with changes in coding regulations, necessary modifiers, and bundling decisions that differ across various payers. Finally, the paper superbill contributes nothing to upfront coding error identification and correction, delaying potential error identification and resolution to post-submission, or worse, post-payment phases. Obviously, the later in the process the error is identified, the more expensive is its correction.

Computer Aided Coding with Integrated Superbill

Computerization and integration overcome most of the problems of paper superbills, eliminating duplicate data entry, automating code review and adjustment for frequency, practice operations, and payer idiosyncrasies, and shifting much of the error identification and correction from post-payment stage to claim pre-submission stage.

Computer aided coding with integrated superbill offers multiple advantages:

1.Dynamic - Adjusts for changes in practice operations and payer specifics. For instance, adds automated alert to satisfy unique payer demands, such as requests for paid drug invoices in addition to injection CPT code and J code for supplies.

2.Precise - Matches codes to EMR and alerts in real time about potential coding errors, such as confusing modifiers 59, 76, 77, and 91 for repeat procedure or test, or not coding the ICD-9 code to the highest level of possible digits in spite of specific diagnostic available in EMR.

3.Defensive - Allows for real-time profiling of coding patterns to alert about potential audit flag.

4.Reliable - Facilitates end-of-day juxtaposition of visits with charges, avoiding unpaid visits.

5.Inexpensive - The doctor can use it directly, eliminating extra data entry step and associated costs.

In summary, coding is a mission-critical responsibility of practice owner. Computer aided coding with integrated superbill places the doctor in control and enables dynamic, precise, reliable, consistent, defensive, and inexpensive coding process. Superbill digitization and integration overcome the four-dimensional coding complexity, tie it to EMR, patient scheduling, and billing (i.e., to the entire spectrum of practice management functions), and require powerful Vericle-like computing platforms.

Yuval Lirov, PhD, author of "Mission Critical Systems Management" (Prentice Hall), inventor of patents in Artificial intelligence and Computer Security, and CEO of Vericle.net Billing Technologies and Services. Vericle unites hundreds of billing services across the nation. Its electronic medical billing software tracks payer performance from a single point of control and shares compliance rules globally. Yuval invites you to register to the next webinar on audit risk at BillingPrecision.com

Forex Trader- Getting Behind The Non-Farm Payroll Report

The Non-Farm Payroll report presents quite a dilemma for the new Forex trader. On the one hand it is a predictable market mover which happens on the first Friday of every month at 8:30 am Easter Standard Time.

On the other hand, it has the following major disadvantages for the Forex trader:

• The large price swings can create whip saw reaction which can easily take out stops.
• Trading at this time is very volatile and many online brokers cannot guarantee positions. Slippage is a major factor at this time so the Forex trader may not get the profits they think they should or they may get stopped out when they think they shouldn't.

Before considering how a Forex trader should approach the market at the time of this report, let's get behind the scenes and get some background information on this fundamental announcement:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases this statistic which represents around 80% of the workers responsible for the gross domestic product of the USA. In other words, the figures released show the total number of paid employees in the USA in any sector with the exception of those in:

• general government service
• private household category
• certain non-profit organizations
• farm and agricultural sector

This comprehensive report gives details of:

• how many people are looking for employment
• how many people are in employment
• salary levels of those in employment
• number of hours worked

Why is this of interest to the Forex trader and why does this information have such an impact on the foreign exchange market?

A successful Forex trader needs to have some understanding of economic factors in order to perceive what candlestick charts are representing.

The employment data contained in the Non-Farm Payroll report is a major indication of how well the economy of the USA is doing. Additionally, the data provides a guide for investors as to where to put their money.

Another major factor is the insight the employment data gives on inflation, especially the figures relating to salaries and wage trends. Any signs that inflation may be increasing or decreasing are monitored closely by the Federal Reserve which responds accordingly.

As a result, the money markets react in a big way.

How should the Forex trader deal with the Non-Farm Payroll report?

In view of the wild price swings which are characteristic at the time of the release of this report, and as many online brokers cannot guarantee positions at this time, many professional traders choose to stay out of the market at 8:30 am EST on the first Friday of each month, and for perhaps 30 to 40 minutes after.

Additionally, price action is often very muted during the first Friday of every month as the market awaits the Non-Farm Payroll report. Modest price action may even be noted one or two days before the first Friday in some instances.

The Forex trader needs to be aware of this and recognize the market conditions leading up to this report. Price will often be in consolidation working its way up and down narrow channels. Trading opportunities still exist but of course, such price behavior will require a different set of strategies.

As for the time after the report, there can often be good trading opportunities. After waiting for the market to settle, which may take anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes after the report, it is possible to start making sense of what is happening.

By observing key support and resistance levels, candle patterns, Fibonacci levels, and other indicators, it is possible for the Forex trader to profit from the second leg of price action, after the first dramatic swing has taken place.

So to summarize:

Why does the Non-Farm Payroll report have such an impact on the Forex?

Answer: Because the employment data contained in the report can be a major indicator of how well the economy is doing and how the Federal Reserve is likely to respond to inflation indicators.

How should the Forex trader approach the time of this report?

Answer: STAY OUT! Then, once wild price action has settled some time after, calmly review the information represented on the charts, and if a good setup appears, TRADE!

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Do you know the important lesson Mohammed Ali teaches us about Forex trading? Read it here:

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Discount Stock Brokers

Discount stock brokers are individuals offering services for a variety of trades at discounted prices. Their position permits them straight access to the share market. Discount stock brokers are ideal for those who know the trade industry well and do not need extensive information about the market. Since an investor can obtain high discounts, these brokering services are very significant.

Discount stock brokers do not provide any investment advice. They only arrange the stocks demanded at a discounted rate. The brokers take an order and do not make commission. In other words, discount stockbrokers earn money by selling massive amounts of stock. Their services also permit the shareholder to invest some savings back into the market for a return.

Technological advancement and the popularity of computers facilitate almost any business deal from home, via the Internet. Stock brokering is also pretty simple to do online. Several companies on the Internet allow users to sign up, complete the application process and start trading within a few days. The online stockbrokers are mainly discount online stockbrokers and full-service online stockbrokers.

Discount online stock brokers - licensed to trade in shares - are popular with today's online investors. They offer an execution service for a variety of trades with lower fees than the full service agencies. Before making a decision about investments, it is wise to contact several agencies requesting information on fees, because all online stock brokers are highly competitive.

Full-service online stockbrokers can provide far more stocks and products compared to discount brokers. They also help in all share related activities, such as buying shares, creating a safe investment portfolio, and investment advice. These service providers are mostly paid by commission, hence they will work harder to satisfy the investor.

An investor opting for a discount broker has to know the market industry well, since the agent does not provide advice on what or when to buy sell, or trade. The person should ideally possess knowledge in the market. A stockholder can work with multiple discount brokers at the same time.

Discount Brokers provides detailed information on Discount Brokers, Discount Commodity Brokers, Discount Stock Brokers, Discount Real Estate Brokers and more. Discount Brokers is affiliated with Mortgage Brokers.

Forex Education - The Way of the Turtle

Many years ago, I read the story of the turtles in the book Market Wizards. I was fascinated to read how the legendary trader Richard Dennis, trained a group of novice traders in just 14 days and how these novices later became trading legends themselves.

Now we have a book written by one of the turtles themselves. The Way of the Turtle by Curtis M. Faith. This turtle and author made $30 million for Dennis - and now shares his insight of the turtle experiment and its achievements

The Bet

In 1983, Richard Dennis had a bet with his long-time friend William Eckhardt. They had a friendly dispute on whether traders were born, or could be taught to be successful. Dennis thought they could be taught, but Eckhardt thought they couldnt.

The turtle experiment took place - and Dennis won. The turtles achieved a collective compound rate of return of over 80%. This group of 23 traders had never traded before, yet were taught to trade a system in just 14 days.

Way of the Turtle reveals the reasons for their success, and covers such areas as:

. The system rules and methodology

. Why, even though they used the same method, some Turtles were more successful than the others were.

. How to expand the rules that the Turtles used - in order to find core strategies that work for any tradable market.

. How to apply the Turtle methods to your own trading strategy.

. Ways to diversify your trading risk

The Way of the Turtle is a good book - being easy, and fun to read. The book throws up one key fact that all forex traders should note in their forex education: Simple trading systems can provide a trading edge, but its psychologically difficult for most traders to follow these systems and take advantage of the edge the system can provide. This is clearly shown by the fact the Turtles results varied (despite the fact they all were taught the same methodology).

Theres also a discussion on the difficulty of executing a system that has a few big winning trades, in order to achieve an overall positive return on investment.

If you learn one key fact from the book, its that learning a successful trading system is not enough. You need the mental discipline to execute the system correctly - in order to maximize your returns.

Ive always found the experiment an inspiration, and Im sure other traders who read this book will come away thinking, they did it - so its possible!

Its possible to become a successful trader if you gain the right knowledge but you also need courage and discipline, in order to execute the knowledge correctly.

You may not be as successful as the turtles were but the book will point you in the right direction, to achieving currency-trading success. The book does this by highlighting some key areas you need to apply in your own forex trading strategy, in order to become a successful currency trader.

Way of the Turtle is well worth buying - and you should consider it to be an essential read, and part of your forex education.

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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Be Realistic When Selling on eBay

As some of you know, I spent many years buying and selling both on and offline and several of my products are based upon my own experience in this area. I know that the vast majority of my customers and subscribers have an interest in trading whether it be on eBay or at the local market but more and more I am seeing people with completely unrealistic expectations of what they will be able to do. Most commonly these unrealistic expectations are in respect of how much it actually costs to purchase specific products and what they can then be sold on for.

I regularly get emails from people who want to know where they can purchase products such as mobile (cell) phones, new release DVDs, Playstation games and similar at, say, a 50% discount to resell on eBay. The fact is that such a thing is not available - it is a simple case of supply and demand and competition.

Take DVDs for example, most people think that these are excellent products to resell on eBay because they are very popular, not particularly expensive and easy to package and ship. Unfortunately, they could not be more wrong. The DVD market is one of the most competitive that there is - take a look for yourself and see how many auctions there are on eBay for DVDs at any one time. I have just looked and counted almost 300,000! At any one time there will only be a certain number of buyers wanting to purchase a particular DVD and if you take into account the numerous different places there are that each buyer could purchase from, it is likely that in general, there will be more copies of an individual DVD available than there are buyers to purchase them. This situation causes prices to fall. The other factor that forces prices down is the fact that one DVD is the same as another. By this I mean that from a buyers point of view, there is no difference to a new DVD purchased on eBay to one which is purchased from their local DVD store. Often the only way to differentiate is on price and of course, the only way to make the price more attractive to a buyer is to lower it.

The above reasons help to explain why the wholesale discount on a new release DVD is just 1 or 2 at most ($2 or $3 roughly in the US). When you take into account the fact that the large retail chains can purchase thousands of DVDs at a time and receive a bigger discount than individual traders, you soon see why it is very difficult for a small business to compete in such a competitive industry. You simply cannot purchase new release DVDs at 50% discount and even if you could, it wouldn't be long before prices were forced down as there is always someone willing to sell a little bit cheaper than the next man.

It isn't just DVDs that fall into this category. Take mobile (cell) phones. Here in the UK you can walk down just about any high street and get the latest phones either free or for a minimal token payment. The stores are relying on making their money from the line rental contract that you will have to sign in order to get the phone. Of course, the actual cost of the phone is not free - most new mobiles are actually worth 200 or 300 which means that if you want to buy a batch of phones at wholesale, you are going to be looking at a pretty high unit cost. As with most electrical products, the market is competitive and prices have been forced down which means that the difference between your wholesale buying price and your retail selling price is minimal.

There are numerous products that suffer from the same market conditions as DVDs and phones and new/small traders really should avoid trying to sell such items at all costs because it will usually be frustrating and ultimately not financially rewarding. When trying to decide what products to sell, you need to be thinking about the type of market that a particular product is sold in. If there are already numerous sellers and many large companies selling at considerable discounts this is far from ideal. The exception to the rule is if you are able to add value in some way to make your 'offering' more unique. I wrote about adding value last year in one of my newsletters - you can read it here: http://www.thetraderonline.com/jul2204.html

At the end of the day, it is all about research, being realistic and having an understanding of the market that you want to operate in. Whilst it would be great to be able to buy and sell new release DVDs (or whatever) all day long, doubling your money every time, I am afraid that this is just not going to happen.

Copyright 2005 Richard Grady

Richard Grady has been helping ordinary people earn online since 1998. He writes a free newsletter which is published every two weeks. To subscribe (and claim your free gifts), visit: http://www.thetraderonline.com/newsletter.html

Online Stock Option Trading

After getting into the market with stock trading, online traders tend to look for the next challenge. Options are definitely a challenge as much for the amateur investor as the seasoned broker. Since options demand rapid response, online trading access is the way to open this money making opportunity to anyone with the cash and nerve to play.

Options have the reputation for high risk. No question that reputation is earned. The flip side is that hitting an option at the right time yields a fat payday. The lure of big bucks might be appealing to novice investors but its a strategy for experienced traders. Even veteran stockbrokers can get caught on the wrong side of a trade and lose millions in minutes with options trading.

Enough gloom, lets look at the upside of online stock option trading. Traders can limit the financial risk while keeping control over a block of stock. The difference is that options are perishable. Think of stocks as the baked potato and options as the butter melting on the hot potato. The stock will be around a long time but an option has an expiration date. If the option is set to expire on Friday, then the trader must be prepared to deal with that timeline.

Online stock option trading follows the same rules as any options trading. If your option expires in the money then you can choose to purchase the stock or redeem the option for a stated value. But if your option ends up out of the money, then you lose your investment. Its an all or nothing play.

The winners in online stock option trading make their money by educated guessing. They prepare for this high stakes contest by learning the fundamentals of puts and calls options. With more experience, online option traders move into more complex strategies using strike prices and straddles. Some traders vary the strategy used while others find their comfort strategy and stay there. While a stock trader is looking for upward or downward movement, the options trader needs to pinpoint the degree of movement. Using the complex strategies does not necessarily result in better gains than with basic puts and calls. Again, online stock option trading is a game of skill and moxie regardless how its played.

Online stock option trading can be used to reduce risk and minimize losses. Regardless of whether the stock market is going up or down, stock options can still be winners. Some traders may move between trading stocks to options trading based on what is the best opportunity for the current market condition. Online stock option trading makes it possible to combine the options trade with the stock trade in a strategy that either goes for maximum profits or protection of the stock value.

Online stock traders owe it to themselves to explore the potential for options trading. Using the same research and background information, traders can use online stock option trading to boost profits and add an element of excitement to the process.

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

Currency Trading Success-To Succeed You MUST Accept This Fact

Currency trading success relies on a lot of different aspects but the one most new or inexperienced traders make is the one that we are going to discuss in this article.

You may be surprised that what we are going to discuss is a key element for currency trading success, so lets look at it.

The fact we are talking about is:

You must be mentally prepared to accept huge gains You may say this is easy, well most traders cant do it and heres why.

First lets look at the key to making profits

Run your profits and cut your loses

But this is the exact opposite of human nature

A trader when he has a profit wants to take it and the bigger it gets the more he wants to snatch it.

For currency trading success you MUST follow the longer term trends, most traders dont they simply bank profits quickly and think their clever for getting a profit.

The fact is the profits are never big enough to yield enough profit to cover their inevitable losses

Holding a trend is not easy!

Especially as short term volatility forces the position back causing you thousands in losses. Its here you must have the courage of your conviction to hold it.

If you have a sound method you must only exit when your system tells you

A good system will not trail stops to close but give the market room to move. Moving stops to quickly to lock in profit is simply a great way to get stopped out.

How to fail straightaway

Other traders when seeking currency trading success dont even bother to look for big profits.

They fall for the myth of day trading and short term swing systems.

This ensures that they only target small gains and there losses are just as big or bigger, their transaction costs mount up and they fail.

Short term trading has the odds stacked firmly against you and to win you need them in your favor as much as possible, so catch the big trends and hold them.

Have the courage to see the big picture

Accept short term volatility will hurt you, but thats on paper not in your pocket

Currency trading success is all about the dollars you put in your pocket.

The way to do that is be a long term trend follower and make as much as you can from the big trends, that make the big profits.

MORE FREE BETTER TRADING INFO

On all aspects of becoming a profitable trader including info about legendary trader W D Gann who made a $50 million fortune trading go to our website for an exclusive Gann Trading Course visit our website at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

Demystifying Private Equity

For all of the attention that the financial press has bestowed upon the private equity industry, it seems that none of these media outlets have explained what this private equity phenomenon is and how it may relate to everyday leaders of small or midsize businesses. Moreover, these reports often fail to describe what makes private equity a dynamic and growing part of today's economy for businesses large and small.

In spite of what the headlines may lead us to believe, there is far more private equity capital invested in small and midsize enterprises than the handful of massive transactions that are chronicled in the pages of business publications. The private equity market has become an increasingly important source of funds for start-up enterprises, private businesses, firms in financial distress and, more recently, public firms seeking privatization.

This is the first of a series of articles in Winning Workplaces' e-newsletter designed to demystify private equity along with other alternative capital markets, and to provide a roadmap to navigate the financial paths that can be foreign to many of us. Through future articles we will also illustrate how better-informed financial decision making can result in improved work environments and stronger organizational cultures.

Before delving further into the subtleties of capital markets, it is best to start by asking the most basic question: What is private equity? "Private equity" is a term most commonly used to describe the entire universe of venture capital investing, buyout transactions and mezzanine/subordinated debt placements. One may also add that private equity is broad nomenclature for any type of equity or debt investment in which the securities are not freely tradable on a public market.

While this type of capital is not a new concept, the categorization and institutionalization of it are new. Entrepreneurs have turned to friends and family members to secure funds to buy a company or start a new business for as long as there have been corporations. This informal source of capital, the original "private equity," is still believed to be the largest source of private equity to corporate America.

Only in the last 30 years has capital been widely organized into private funds where general partners find, structure and oversee investments on behalf of institutional limited partners. Pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, wealthy families and other private equity fund investors have recognized that the long-term nature of business growth is not always compatible with the short-term horizons of stock analysts and public investors. Additionally, investors have realized that many of the most exciting and rapidly growing businesses are outside of the public equity markets.

As a result of strong returns to early private equity investors, pools of capital have continued to be organized at a rapid pace with the goal of seeking out long-term investments in companies of all sizes that are in need of capital. There are now hundreds, perhaps thousands, of private investment vehicles that have been formed for this purpose, and some have further specialized to focus exclusively on specific industries, certain stages of companies (ie, start-ups or distressed businesses), particular strips of a company's capital structure (ie, mezzanine debt) or even ownership structure (ie, non-controlling positions or women-owned businesses).

Now that you are armed with a brief background on private equity, you may be asking, "When is institutional private equity the right capital for my company?" Of course, there are numerous factors that one should consider before taking on a private equity partner beyond the financial ones, but putting those issues aside which we will address in future articles let's first focus on the cost of capital. Most forms of private equity and debt will be more expensive than what your local bank can provide. Thus, firms that raise private equity tend to be those that may have difficulty seeking funding from conventional financing sources.

For example, firms may be unable to get bank credit to fund rapid growth; or a bank won't fund the buyout of an existing shareholder; or a business is experiencing an industry down cycle or the establishment of a new initiative; or perhaps a company needs a bridge loan through financial distress. These are all situations where private equity capital may on the surface seem expensive. Yet, it is likely a lot cheaper than the alternatives, such as not growing, staying wedded to an unhappy shareholder, not paying bills or even going out of business.

Private equity comes in all shapes and sizes. In future articles, we will address how to position your company to access capital from these types of outside sources, including private equity, and how capital and the sources of capital can play a significant role in workplace culture.

______________________________________________

Winning Workplaces' goal is to provide small and midsize employers with proven, practical, and affordable people practices. Too often, the information and resources needed to create a high-performance workplace are out of reach for all but the largest organizations. Winning Workplaces is changing that by offering employers affordable consulting, training and information. We help employers assess needs and develop strategies to improve their workplace practices.

For more information, please contact us at: http://www.winningworkplaces.org

Famous Business Strategies

Either simply a looker-on or a player in the world of business, you see millions piling into the accounts of world's most famous businessmen and naturally the question pops "How?", wondering what is the alchemy they've discovered? Yet, there is no magic here - it's mostly pure strategy. And what it takes to spot it and make it real.

Strategy

Identifying the best strategy for your business is the key to all success. It should give you the lift that makes a difference. The art for your strategy success is planning.

* settling a vision for your business
* defining a mission
* setting out objectives
* establishing values, goals and programs.

Vision

It is all there, it is all important, but first there is the vision. So, is vision a spark, is it a moment? How much is inspiration and how much hard work? Is it 99% perspiration and only 1% inspiration? Can we all be geniuses?

According to Edison's theory I would say yes, if we are committed to hard working, as it is primarily the hard work that makes a genius. Inspiration comes on the way, when involved in as much action as you can handle. Contrary to the conceptual meaning, inspiration seems to be driven by propitious conditions - in this case, by work.

Hard work

So, what really happens behind the fairy-tale success stories is usually not what some would expect - a brilliant, extraordinary, never heard of discovery that changed the world, but, disappointingly enough, plain hard work. What these people have is what I would call "industry intelligence". How is it acquired? Working of course. That is, sharply aware of their industry environment, learning all the rules and deeply involved in their own businesses, success people have at some point of activity a vision for their business that proves to be a winner - the revelation naturally produced as a result of their work commitment.

Let's take the example of three American legends: Sam Walton, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. What do they have in common? The winning vision, the winning strategy.

Sam Walton

In the case of Sam Walton, no new, innovative business models were launched. He followed the existing low-price retailing pattern but the competitive successful strategic approach was that instead of focusing on large cities he took his business to small towns becoming the low-price leader in rural towns.

Warren Buffet

Warren Buffett's success resides in his different approach to value investing. While usually investors look for stocks they believe undervalued by the market, Buffett does not take into consideration the stock market aspects, such as for instance the supply and demand ratio. He analyzes the stocks on the basis of their potential as companies. He is interested in long-term results, such as ownership in companies with capacity of generating money, namely, companies with a strong name, great historical results, strong management and industry expertise.

Bill Gates

Neither is the case of Bill Gates to have made extraordinary innovations. Rather than innovation, he had the ability to put together other people's ideas, thus producing big hits and making a profit. He did that first when adjusting BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800 (first PC) - neither of which was his original creation. Then, the same happened with DOS, which Microsoft bought (the original version was QDOS) and adjusted.

Business strategies implementation

Then, action comes. As the saying goes, planning without action is futile, action without planning is fatal. It takes guts to act boldly and take whatever risks are necessary to put your vision into practice. It takes a great deal of tenacity to surpass obstacles and get over unfortunate happenings on the way. So, how did they implement their planned strategies? What was the outcome, what principles resulted for them to base their businesses on?

Warren Buffet

For the implementation of his strategy, Buffett has drawn his company choice principles, involving a great deal of analysis of business, management, financial aspects and a great deal of patience, waiting for the right price once the possible investment has been identified.

On businesses

* simple and understandable
* consistent operating history
* favorable long-term prospects

On management

* rationality in treatment of retained earnings and investment of company profits
* disclosure of all aspects of company performances
* capacity of thinking independently of other managers' way of thinking.

On financials

* look for return on equity, not earnings per share
* analysis of free cash flow growth
* unique niche companies with high profit margins
* look for companies with at least one dollar of market value for every dollar retained

On stock valuation

* reasonable price for the company
* stock valuation analysis followed by analysis of a possible significant discount, case in which it will be purchased.

Success depends on the investor's dedication to learn and follow the principles.

Sam Walton

He gives his ten rules for success in the book "Made in America, My Story":

1. commitment to business
2. profit sharing with partners
3. partners' motivation, competition encouragement
4. total communication with partners, trigerring their commitment
5. giving appreciation to what your partners do for the business
6. keeping spirits up in celebrating success but also in treating failures with a touch of humor
7. listening to everyone in the company, encouraging their talking
8. a sustained exceptional relationship with the customer - exceeding his expectations, showing appreciation, apologizing for mistakes
9. finding a competitive advantage in controlling expenses
10. originality, doing things differently there is a good chance to find unexplored niches.

Bill Gates

Microsoft's corporate mission "A computer on every desk and in every home" shortly became a reality. Offering an easily accessible operating system for computers, perceiving the importance of customizing their product to the ordinary client and not only to computer engineers and thus addressing masses, Bill Gates succeeded in putting together and promoting towards a tremendous popularity (and profit accordingly) the world's dominant operating system.

What these people have in common is nevertheless an extraordinary ingenuity: they innovated their industry domain, building their own strategy tailored for their own business particularities and went further to its implementation.

Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.businessplanning.ws where you can find more information about how to make a successful business plan.

Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared.

Contact:lauracio@gmail.com

U.S. Utilities Quietly Worry about Uranium Supply

According to Fridays Nuclear Market Review (NMR), many market participants were left stunned by the recent record jump in the weekly spot uranium price. The market has increasingly diverged between those who have U3O8 and those without. Utilities with existing supply contracts are heaving a sigh of relief, NMR editor Treva Klingbiel wrote. And those trying to find uranium in todays climate are forced to face the reality of a sellers market, she said.

Is there pity for one market participant, who is now scrambling for very near term delivery of nearly 500 thousand pounds U3O8? Probably not. This buyer must compete with 7 others hoping to secure about 3.2 million pounds of U3O8 equivalent.

NMR reports, Sellers remain reluctant to sell significant quantities today. By waiting longer, sellers expect to get a higher price for the material they hold. After the previous weeks astonishing price jump, the spot uranium market was exceptionally quiet, according to Klingbiel. The spot uranium price indicator remained unchanged at US$113/pound. TradeTech posts changes in the weekly spot uranium price on the consulting services website, at www.uranium.info

Utility Pricing Climate

Utilities remain skeptical about the long-term pricing of uranium. This weekends Barron article, about the crisis nuclear utilities face, quotes Exelon Corps (EXC) Tom Malone and Entergys (ETR) Frank Rives. Both believe uranium pricing should settle down. Malone quoted a long-term uranium price of $40/pound. Utilities accustomed to lower pricing levels and wishing for uraniums return to a more advantageous price level for themselves, may be waiting for more than a few years. In conversations we had with TradeTechs Gene Clark, equilibrium might not take place until 2017.

We provided TradeTechs Uranium Price Forecast through 2008 in Chapter Two of our soon-to-be-released Uranium Outlook publication. Going out further, uranium production should not reach 230 million pounds U3O8 until about 2017. And there are many disturbing developments in numerous areas, which could substantially lower this production forecast. Foremost are the difficulties BHP Billiton (BHP) may have in transforming Olympic Dam into an open pit uranium mine.

Some utilities are again taking the wait-and-see attitude about higher uranium costs. This strategy has backfired over the past year because a number of countries planned to increase or add civilian nuclear power programs. Now the Arab Gulf States want nuclear energy, adding to the number of countries seeking to obtain uranium. Everybodys going for nuclear programs, Jordans King Abdullah II told an Israeli newspaper.

Against the advice of some experts, we included a special section in our publication, Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market, predicting a rise of civilian nuclear energy in the Middle East. Turkey plans three nuclear reactors, hoping to start construction later this year on the first one. After Russian President Putin visited Saudi Arabia in February, offering nuclear aid, will U.S. utilities now also be forced to compete for Kazakh uranium against the Arab Gulf States? It appears global deals are being arranged on a country-to-country basis, and U.S. utilities are coming up short.

Environmentalists: Nuclear Friend or Foe?

This past week, Jim Marston, the Texas director of climate initiatives for Environmental Defense told the Living on Earth environmental show, We have come to the conclusion that the threat of global warming is so severe and the time for action is so short that we have to look at all low carbon options again including nuclear. His comments were broadcast on more than 300 public radio stations in all fifty states across the U.S. The shows theme was entitled, TXU Turns Nuclear.

Does this mean environmentalists are switching to nuclear energy? No. Some still cling to atavistic attitudes. One environmentalist interviewed compared a switch to nuclear on par with giving up cigarette smoking and taking up crack.

But, environmentalists influenced TXUs business model, eliminating the construction of eight new coal-fired power plants. According to the shows news reporter, Environmental groups opposed to the utility's plan for new coal plants launched a fierce legislative and legal campaign. That drove down the price of the company's stock, and made TXU a tempting takeover target. And taken over it was, but the company also negotiated with environmentalists by offering renewables, energy efficiency incentives and mandatory caps on greenhouse gases.

TXU spokesman Tom Klekner was also interviewed on this radio show. He pointed out that TXUs power reserve margins were below the minimum of acceptable levels. The spokesman insisted five new nuclear plants were needed. After TXU was taken over, the company announced plans to build the two largest nuclear reactors in the U.S.

Across the country, in New Jersey, state environmentalists are arguing about the NRCs plans to grant a twenty-year license extension to Exelon Corps Oyster Creek Salem 1 and 2 plants. They are demanding the state revise its nuclear emphasis on the Corzine Administration Energy Master Plan. The plan calls for obtaining twenty-year extensions on all of the states nuclear power plants. As one alternative, they suggested building more windmills off the Jersey shore by 2020. A wind farm currently operates in often-breezy Atlantic City, where casinos are also located.

Oyster Creek is the countrys nuclear plant still in service, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nuclear energy generates about one-half of the states electricity. More than 25,000 million kilowatt hours are generated each year through New Jerseys four nuclear reactors. It is likely environmentalists will do little more than argue about nuclear as New Jersey also has plans to use more coal.

The news media climate about nuclear has rapidly changed over the past five years. Hardly a significant news item was a transformer fire about 40 miles north of New York City at Entergys Indian Point 3 reactor. The reactor could be offline for about two weeks, and the NRC plans on tightening their plant inspections. This was the fourth unplanned shutdown since July.

Another step back for Entergy could be a Sunday deadline to pass NRC muster on their emergency siren warning systems. Only 31 of 150 sirens in three counties failed the test, but thats not good enough for the NRC. The regulatory agency demands a 90-percent success rate. While the utility can request another 75-day extension, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan announced approval would not be automatic.

These evidences confirm what we have suspected for some time. Regulatory agencies, not the environmental movement, have stepped in to prevent a Three-Mile Island repeat. Over the past thirty years, regulation of nuclear power has evolved above the level of Homer Simpson satire. Engineering developments and safeguards are steeped in sufficient layers of protective bureaucracy to avoid another serious nuclear accident. Science has replaced rhetoric when bringing about changes in the nuclear industry.

With this in mind, environmentalists could better serve the citizenry by focusing their attention on coal-fired power plants, which reportedly exude more radioactivity than nuclear plants. Yes, coal beds commonly have uranium in their composition. No nuclear safeguards have yet been applied to burning coal. Perhaps environmentalists should chase this ball of yarn if they are indeed sincere about carbon emissions, global warming and abrupt climate change.

Next month, the number of U.S. nuclear reactors should increase by one to 104. The dormant Unit 1 reactor at Browns Ferry in Alabama will get its final inspection. TVA (TVE) hopes to restart the reactor in May. The nuclear unit has not been operational for more than two decades. The nuclear renaissance is alive and well in the U.S., not just overseas.

Australian and Canadian Uranium Stock Indexes Set Record Highs

Matthew Smith of TheInvestar reports his Australian uranium stock index closed at an all-time high this past week. The Canadian uranium stock index closed a few points below its record high set earlier in the week.

Smith observed AREVAs developments in Australia. In an email, he wrote, With AREVA being so active right now in Australia this tells us:

They think the 'Three Mines Policy' will be overturned at the end of the month.

There is a higher risk for the Athabascan mines than Cameco (CCJ) is letting on. Therefore, AREVA (whose subsidiary is an owner, through joint ventures, of many of the mines there) is diversifying and spreading their risk over many future deposits and mines.

They see increased demand in a large way down the road. AREVA would not be buying if they could not justify this. The larger miners are generally very conservative. American and Australian deposits are where the big boys will go first when buying. Then, they will gradually gravitate to the more speculative plays in Athabasca and elsewhere.

COPYRIGHT 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Julie Icke and James Finch co-authored this article. James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. His focus on the uranium mining and nuclear fuel sector resulted in the widely popular Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market, which is now available on http://www.stockinterview.com and on http://www.amazon.com

Forex Day Trading - The Profit Illusion That Sees Traders Lose

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

Investing Wisely With Online Brokerage

In this ever-fluctuating financial era, to make a wise investment, you need to think not once, not even twice, but many times to fetch maximum benefit out of it. Initially, traditional stock brokers were used to be the helping hand and brain who supplied the latest information regarding ups and downs of the stock market as well as helped in sale and purchase of stocks. But, advent of Internet and increasing number of users has given rise to the concept of online brokerage.

Similar to traditional brokerage, online brokerage came into existence to help the investors deal with their finances. Online brokerage industry provides services by making a fair assessment of the investors current financial situation, assisting them in executing financial plans, providing them the stocks of their interests, but more effectively and quickly as compared to that to traditional brokerage.

Well, online brokerage industry is gaining fast grounds every second. Out of todays busy schedule and ease of Internet, Americans prefer online brokerage credited to its quick and effective services. Estimates reveal that number of investors, trading online in U.S. has increased remarkably from 4.1 million to 21 million in a span of just 5 years.

We cant deny the fact that online brokerage industry has been notorious of its loopholes and pitfalls, yet it seems to be gaining popularity among the investors. This scenario prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to analyze and scrutinize the investment products that are offered to the investors by online brokerage industry. In order to keep a thorough check, SEC has directed online brokerage industry to furnish certain obligatory information pertaining to the;

• Contents of the brokers or companys web site
• Quoted prices of the products
• Information furnished to the clients
• Security of clients account

Despite these measures and controls, SEC has still not been able to impose directives that could allow a client to produce his detailed and accurate statement of his assets and access his account online any time. However, this issue has neither hampered the image of online brokerage industry nor affected the inclination of investors towards online trading.

Nowadays, when more and more investments and stock transactions are being made online, the need of an efficient online broker has become inevitable. Over the years, number of companies offering online brokerage have stepped in. They are targeting the prospective customer by offering services, which deal with their specific investment needs and priorities.

Just few words of caution for the beginners before they open an account and make investment through online brokerage

• Perform an in-depth research on the companys history and financial status.
• Assess the speed of the companys website and check whether the site is free from technical problems.
• Check the quality of services offered.
• Check the authenticity by calling at the companys help desk.
• Place your queries regarding the commission rates, services rendered and judge the swiftness with which they provide the solution.

Well, despite having downsides, online brokerage is still charming investors to online trading and investment for a variety of benefits, including the low broker fees and investors full control over the stocks. In simple yet golden words, online brokerage provides investors an entire new level of independence, yet gaining maximum benefits from hard earned money.

Invest wisely with the best online brokerage company offering cheap trading at $3 per trade. Make money with this Online brokerage.

Market Psychology

Today we are inundated with tons of information about the economy, stocks, government agencies and foreign governments. They show us charts and graphs of the increase/decrease in oil production over the last 5 years, the amount of maple syrup produced in Vermont for the past century, the time it takes to bounce a signal off the moon and all kinds of other nonsense that we can live without. The talking heads on the investment programs, both radio and TV, tell us how this is going to affect the price of certain stocks and the market in general. Well, maybe.

When you step back to get a better view of the market because the trees are in the way you really get a different view. No matter what stock or mutual fund you own there is one important factor that is causing all of them to change. It is the mass thinking of all the people who own equities of any type. The stock market is a reflection of this mass thinking and causes changes in human behavior. This mass thinking does not necessarily reflect what the economy is doing at any specific moment.

Take the euphoria of stock buyers at the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000. All the mass psychology was bullish and everyone knew the market was going to go higher. The economy knew better and stocks headed down. The market was a reflection of what we could not see.

Currently many people are becoming bearish and think the market is headed lower, but no one really knows until after the fact. It is dangerous to be either bullish or bearish at this moment. So what is the best course of action when you are not sure of what to do with your money? Keep in mind that protection of your capital, especially your retirement money, is a prime consideration. If you own a stock now that has been going up you dont want to sell it, but you can protect yourself against loss and lock in profit by placing an Open Stop-Loss Order with your broker. Keep moving the stop up as the stock goes higher.

If you have a stock or fund that is going down you must either sell out or place an order to get out if it goes down further. Usually 10% is about right. If your stock is $40 place your stop at $36.

If the mass psychology becomes too negative it can cause massive selling and even the best equities get flushed. All boats go down when the tides goes out. If you do not have a loss limit in place at all times you will lose your investment capital. The example of this was what happened when the World Trade Center was destroyed. Selling was caused by mass psychology and had little to do with valuation.

It is a herd instinct and you dont want to be led to slaughter will all the other dumb animals. Protect your money. Put in a stop today.

Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

Copyright 2005

al@mutualfundstrategy.com; 1-888-345-7870

Investing in Russian IT Companies - Useful Tips From Experts

Due to relatively low competition, the interest of investors in Russian software and innovation companies is growing despite the potential risks and the reason is simple: the return on investment (ROI) could be quite outstanding. Many analysts believe that presently the Russian market lacks local companies with original developments, while those which have unique products or services are already acquired. As CRN reports , the growing demand for IT products in Russia from small businesses and ordinary people substantiates rapid development of the Russian IT sector.

Here are some common principles that are crucial for investors success:

If you are a potential investor, it will be very important for you to look at some existing cases and make conclusions as to which filters or criteria you would use to identify strong cases. Venture fund gurus, like Mr. Martinson of MartinsonTrigon identified a few problems on the IT segment of the market in his interview for a CRN article , including:

-- While Russias foreign investors mainly look into mature and profitable companies, Russian companies do not necessarily understand that a good investor is not about money, but rather a complex deal when it can provide some real assistance and support.

-- There is a tight competition among VCs in Russia for the best companies. Therefore, it may seem that in the Russian IT industry there is extra capital floating. In reality, on the contrary there is a deficit. Today the investors choose where they want to invest and not otherwise.

-- There is a need for investments to the second and third echelon companies, which would facilitate the development of the industry sector.

-- Another problem is poor preparedness of the companies themselves for receiving the investments. A majority of the companies have huge confusion in accounting and bookkeeping.

-- In the next two years almost all of the IT sector will be developing fast, but the most probable investment segment should be Internet technologies and services, mobile services and software export. The venture investment turnover in Russia may reach USD 100-150 million per annum. This will be a good growth compared to an average USD 50 million investments in 2005.

Notes from History:

Put field Marshall KUTUZOVs strategy to work: go for a long-term investment, rely on your partisans (local partners), endure some bumps in the road, and you will defeat the Napoleon of doubts and pessimistic media critics. Or, as Ivan Andreyevich Krylov, Russias own Aesop of the 19th century, put it in one of his tremendously popular fables of the time, a Vaska slushaet da est - (The cat Vaska is listening, yet still eating). He refers to a smart cat that listened to the cries of the chef who found him devouring a nice piece of meat from the kitchen, but kept eating anyway. So, listen to the critique critically, even give some unhappy interviews if you wish, but keep the meat!

Find out more about investments to Russia in my upcoming book "Riding the Russian Technology Boom" (www.russia.futuretext.com).

Dr. Andrey Gidaspov has over ten years of experience in business consulting in the IT and telecom (ICT) fields in Russia, CIS and Asia. Andrey has sealed deals for hundreds of American companies with Russian and CIS partners, ranging from start-up businesses to large multi-national corporations throughout Eurasia. His past clients include well-known technology leaders such as Motorola, Harris, Tekelec, Oracle, Corning, Tellabs, Qualcomm, Net2Phone, Nortel, Andrew and many others.

In September 2004 Andrey opened his own consulting business, Gidabyte (www.gidabyte.com), based in Hong Kong, China. The company provides a wide range of business consulting in the ICT sector for international companies in Eurasia and Asia Pacific. GidaByte's bi-monthly newsletter "GidaScope" has become an instant success (www.gidabyte.com/newsletter) among various businesses interested in doing business in Russia. Andrey recently authored his first book - "Riding the Russian Technology Boom" - which will soon be available on Amazon. See more info about the book at: http://www.russia.futuretext.com