What Is An Option?

By Micheal Jones

When you understand the basics of what an option is and how it works you will then be armed for working with them in the real world. An option is simply the legal right, but not the obligation, for a person to call (buy) or put (sell) the stock?s future or index at a specified strike (price) before a set amount of time has lapsed.

Options are inexpensive when you consider the costs of buying a stock outright. As an example if you purchase stock in XYZ Corp. You might spend $10000 to own it as it is $1000/share and the stock is typically traded in groups of 100; conversely, if you option the stock you may be able to get it for $800 because it may be listed at 8 points.

Options are for a block of 100 shares, so at 8 points, or $8/share, you are paying a fraction of the cost at $800 for 100 shares. Options are sold in blocks of 100.

With an option you do not own the stock; you are simply leasing the potential profits for a set amount of time. The time value of an option decreases the longer you own the option. You should know the difference between the call options and the put options.

Put options will give the buyer the rights to sell a specified number of the underlying instrument; this is usually 100 shares per contract and the price is called the strike price which is set with an expiration date.

Call options will give the buyers the rights to buy a certain number of the underlying instrument; this is typically 100 shares per contract and the specified price, the strike price, is set with an expiration date.

Find out more about options from Andrew Baxter, an expert investor and hedge fund manager. He has some great advice on investing in the Australian Share Market. - 23223

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Developing An Investment Strategy

By Micheal Jones

There are a few things to take into consideration when developing your investment strategy.

Corporate Actions A good way that you can predict whether a specific stock may fluctuate upwards or downwards is by checking into the individual company with which you intend to invest. If there is an impending action on the part of the company such as a take-over or a merger then you may see a dramatic increase in the share price even if the market trends in general are taking a downturn. You can increase your chance of beating the market average by simply knowing a bit of information about a company.

Dividends Another great trick for knowing ahead of time in which direction the share prices will go is to know when the dividend payments will be paid. Some investors actually only invest for the purpose of dividend farming.

This simply means that they will purchase the stocks to take the dividend yields and then sell them when they become ex dividend. You may see a relatively cheap stock, but you should check to see if it is ex or cum dividend. Buying a stock ex dividend means that you are not entitled to the dividend allocation of the stock that you bought. The person who is selling that stock receives the dividend and then sells it at a lower price to you.

Opinions Finally, there is the fact that people are much like sheep; if one says sell then most of the herd will surely follow. If the media says to sell then you shouldn?t just sell blindly, you should investigate further and make your own decision.

Remember that the media is not paid to give you a good bargain or opportunity. The same is true for family and friends, too. Just be confident in your own investment strategy and don?t be afraid to go against the herd if you?ve done your homework and know your own mind.

Michael Jones is an expert investor and hedge fund manager; find out what he has to say about investing in the Australian Share Market and the best approach for investing. - 23223

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My Investment Research Tool

By Lilia Germann

For many years, I have actively participated in the achievement of my financial goals by making sound investment decisions. When I first became an investor, my activity was limited to participation in a 401K program and several CD purchases. I met a financial planner that gave me life-changing advice. My new financial planner let me know that my current investment strategy would not be able to provide for me, financially, when I retired. The financial planner let me know that I would only receive $400 per month, starting at age 65, based on my current investments.

I was shocked and afraid when I heard this news. When I heard this news, I became committed to changing my investment strategy. I started working with an investment brokerage, and they began to provide me with their investment research. I actively perused the investment brokerage's financial newsletters, stock market newsletters, and investing newsletters. Their research didn't provide me with enough information to apply to my investment decisions.

I thought that the investment research lacked forward-thinking. I was dismayed when I realized that their research only paid attention to US economic forces; it did not recognize other elements that could have an effect. Another problem was that their research was posed only at very conservative, long-term investments. Im not a risky investor, but I dont want to miss out on a great investment just because it has a slightly higher level of risk. To me, it felt as though they only recommended those conservative investments because they were afraid to go out on a limb. Only a lack of knowledge would cause the investment brokerage to be that conservative.

I began surfing the web, looking for other alternatives. After days and days of reading other reports and forecasts, I located MyStrategicForecast.com.

My Strategic Forecast offers investment research that is based upon facts. They take many factors into account besides economics when compiling their investment information. For example, one year meteorologists predicted a mild tropical storm season in the Atlantic. This information was taken into account by My Strategic Forecast's stock newsletter when they predicted a slight below average return for different types of home improvement companies. They also showed that historically, an active season follows a mild one. Due to this information I decided to hold onto my stocks to see what the following years storm season would bring. They ended up being right.

By using a historical perspective, My Strategic Forecast is able to provide all the necessary information to tell where the market is headed. I was able to use their forecast abilities to gain even more and build up my portfolio. - 23223

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If you are ready to take a change for the best and start growing your own income, visit friendfeed.com/investmentresearch.

How To Invest In The Australian Stock Market

By Michele Perdue

The heart of the stock market system in Australia is the Sydney Stock Exchange. The exchange lets investors both foreign and domestic supply the regional companies with the funds that are needed in order to expand the economy of Australia. You can be among the investors that deal with the yop-performing companies in the Australian market in just a few simple steps.

Your first step is to hire a broker that is registered with the Australian Stock Exchange; this stockbroker will be able to help you fill out the agreement forms, set up your international account for the trades and give you valuable advice on the changes and trends before you begin to invest.

Investment clubs are popular because they let the investors share the learning experience of how the stock exchanges work; you should gather some friends and fellow investors in an investment club to follow the Australian stock market together. When your club meets you should discuss your individual portfolios as well as observe the rising stocks.

In order to counteract the riskier investments it is advisable to purchase some futures in the Australian stock exchange. The people who invest in the futures will sell their shares back at a predetermined time with the price established before any transactions are made. Using this investment too you can have longer range stocks mixed in with the day trading.

One of the rapidly expanding industries in which to invest is the biotechnology industry. Take advantage of the rapid expansion of the biotechnology industry by investing in some of the hundreds of publicly owned and traded biotech firms that are accessible to the foreign investors. These are the ideal stocks if your intent is to invest over a long term in an industry that is gradually growing.

There are other things to consider and more investing options, Andrew Baxter who is an expert investor and hedge fund manager can offer you some great insights about investing in the Australian Share Market. - 23223

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Stock Market Timing 101

By Mike Swanson

Playing the stock market is risky. You only have two options: lose money or make money. It is essentially a game and to play well one must have perfect timing. You have to know when to buy long, cash out and hold, or sell short. No one knows how to do this for sure. So, playing the stock market is just a guessing game. Stock market timing with technical analysis is essential to the playing the game right.

Stock market timing is very important. If you hold a stock for too long, you can lose money. If you don't hold a stock for long enough, you can lose money, too. Timing is very important.

Many companies have developed their own stock market timing systems that serve as a guide to you. They direct or advise you on when to buy, when to sell, or when to cash out. By following one of these systems, you can have a better chance in playing the game correctly and being successful at it. The stocks can be volatile. It is vital that you have adequate timing.

One plays the stock market in order to make money. No one plays it to lose money. If you do not have the money to be gambling with, then it is not advisable to gamble in this manner. The risk for losing your hard earned money is there. In order to be successful, you must have adequate timing. As mentioned previously, perfect timing all the time, is not possible.

Reality is that nobody can accurately predict what the stock markets are going to do from day to day or from year to year. Stock market timing systems are only there to serve as a guide for the investors.

One should not rely too much on the timing systems. In other words, do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Play it smart and play it safe. - 23223

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