Stock Market Basic Principles - Part 1

By Zigfred Diaz

Several people have inquired from me whether they should invest in the Philippine stock market. They also wanted to know how to begin doing it. I am not sure know if they are really seriously asking the question. They might be just curious about the stock market considering that it has been always in the headlines lately. This is brought about by the fact that it is at its highest levels since the beginning of its creation.

The fainthearted has no business investing in the Philippine stock market or the stock market in general. A true investor always has expectations as to how much he will earn from a certain investment. Normally this is measured in terms of how much money will grow at a given time. (This is commonly known as interest per annum) Now that the Philippine Stock market is in its highest level for some time now, people think that they should get themselves involved. Sad to say most do not even have a grasp of the basic principles involved neither do they understand how the system works. This is not to imply that you have to be an economist before you should consider investing.

What I am saying is that you should understand the basic principles involved first before you could succeed in the stock market. While it is true that fortunes are made on the Stock market, loss of wealth has also been experienced by some. Some who just barge into the stock market without understanding the basic principles of investment end up leaving the stock market convinced that the stock market is no good at all as an alternative vehicle of investment.

Let us not begin first by discussing the "how tos" in investing in the Philippine stock market. Let us first understand the basic principles of investment so that we might enjoy trading and be successful in the stock market. There are ten principles involved. We will talk about the first principle here. Other principles will follow in the next articles. Visit my blog if you want to see the whole article.

1.) Its just another vehicle of investment - The stock market is just another vehicle of investment. There are other investment vehicles where you could invest your money. They have their advantages and disadvantages. One vehicle of investment is not more superior than the other. However this will not be discussed in detail here.

In economic parlance, the stock market is categorized as belonging to the "Capital Markets." Even in the Capital market category there are different types of investment vehicles. You have several alternatives here. Aside from the stock market, you could place your investment in pension funds, bonds, insurance, real estate, time deposit accounts different types of savings. It is important to know this because it will help you determine whether or not you should invest in the Stock Market considering that there are other alternative vehicles of investment in the Capital markets.

Bear in mind that each vehicle of investment has their own advantages and drawbacks. The secret here is not to place all of your eggs in one basket. Even if most of my investments are in the Capital Markets, I diversified by placing investments in the stock market, bonds through mutual funds, pension, deposits and insurances. - 23223

About the Author:

Want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he writes about several interesting topics such as investments, financial management, business, making financial online and Stock market investing

Wicked Institutional Traders Play The Stop

By Shawn Tilman

Lots of traders reason you should set your stop based on how much money you are prepared to lose. This is a huge mistake institutional traders hope you continue to make. Stop placement requires better proficiency than that. A stop must not be placed too close to the current market price or too far away.

Where You Must Never Put A Stop

Just above previous highs or exactly below former lows is a treacherous place for stops. An equally hazardous place for stops is at the 50 and 200 day MAs. This is for the reason that a lot of stops are repeatedly wedged together at these prices, inviting institutional stop-runners to snipe the stops. Preceding intraday highs and lows are also areas where stops will collect.

The Principal Error You Have To Avoid When Placing A Trailing Stop

When placing a trailing stop, you ought to relocate the stop in a explicit direction only. Provided the market is moving higher and you are long, your trailing sell stop must be moved higher. Equally, if you are short and the market is moving lower, you must move your buy stop down-never higher-as the position gains profits.

How To Utilize Fibonacci Retracement Levels As Places To Position Your Stops

The maximum percentage you want the market to retrace is .618 (61.8%) of the initial move. You do not want the stop placed exactly at the .618 point, but slightly under or above that level, depending upon whether you are buying or selling. The reason is, institutional stop-runners will regularly target the stops at that level. As soon as the market has retraced more than .618, chances are the market is going to continue to trend in its present direction.

How You Can Tell If Institutional and Professional Traders Are Stop-Running

Stop-running is characterized by what is known as price rejection. The market in the blink of an eye moves lower, only to put on a sudden recovery. This chart pattern usually appears as a 'v' bottom. At highs, the market will often surge up on short covering, go dead at the top, and speedily go lower. This chart pattern usually appears as a 'v' top. When the stops are run, the market typically moves in the opposite direction.

How Market Volatility Can Help You Establish Your Stops

As market volatility increases, the stops must be moved further away from the present market price. Keep an eye on the Volatility Index ($VIX). The higher the $VIX, the further away from the present market price you ought to set your stops. This only makes sense, as otherwise random moves will cause the stops to be hit. Try to keep away from placing your stop where other traders have placed theirs. An great quantity of stops at one price will cause panic buying or selling and you will receive a dreadful fill as a result. - 23223

About the Author:

I hope you like this article about institutional traders. To discover more about these enemy traders go to institutional traders and see stock market trading

How The Rule Of 72 Is Used By The Banks To Rob You

By Zigfred Diaz

There was once an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who worked abroad for several years. At the age of 29 his savings already amounted to P 100,000.00 (Philippine peso)

Because the only mode of investment he knew about was to put his money in the bank, he placed his P 100,000.00 in the bank. Of course, the bank manager was delighted when he opened the account. He even recommended that the money be placed in a time deposit account in order that it would yield 4 % per annum, a much more higher interest rate than an ordinary savings account.

So the money remained in the time deposit account until the OFW reached the age of 65. At that time, he then went back to the bank to withdraw the P 100,000.00. He was amazed when he learned that the P100,000.00 had already grown to P 400,000.00. He was quite happy with the growth of his money. He then withdrew the money from the bank, enjoyed life and lived happily ever after.

Is this a "live happily ever after" story or not? Do you consider this OFW as somebody who has "wisely" handled his money? Is he really earning the maximum potential for his money or is he making somebody else rich.

The rule of 72 gives us the answers to the above questions. This rule determines how many years it will take your money to double. The rule is expressed in this very simple equation: 72 / interest = No. of years it takes for your money to double

Since the OFW deposited his money in a time deposit account, at 4 % per annum, his money will double every 18 years. (72 divided 4 % per annum = 18 years.) Since he deposited P 100,000.00 at age 29 add 18 years to that and his money will become P 200,000.00 when he reaches the age of 47. Add another 18 years to that and he reaches the age of 65 wherein this time his money becomes P 400,000.00

The bank on the other hand takes that P 100,000.00 and invests it at mutual funds, the stock market, the money market, government bonds, corporate bonds etc. averaging a 12 % return on the P 100,000.00 that the OFW placed under time deposit. Under the rule of 72, that same amount of money will double every 6 years. (72 divided by 12 % interest = 6 years)

So after 36 years when the OFW goes back to the bank to claim his P 100,000.00 the bank manager gives back his P 100,000.00 with a smile plus the interest of P 300,000 totalling to P 400,000.00.They wouldn't need that anyway since they already made a total of P 6,400,000.00 out of the OFW's P 100,000.00. Talk about hi-way robbery !

If you want to be wealthy and be a better steward of your money then think like the bank! Make the Rule of 72 work for you ! - 23223

About the Author:

Would you want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he writes about several interesting topics such as investments, financial management, business, making financial online and Stock market investing

Stock Market - Basic Principles - Part 4

By Zigfred Diaz

This is the last installment of the series on stock market investment principles. We discussed about the first seven principles in the past three articles. Now we will be discussing the last three principles. If you wish to view the article in its entirety please visit my blog.

8.) You must devote your time to study - When you want to invest in the stock market you should devote time to study what it's all about. You can't just place in your money and hope that it will somehow grow someday. You have to read books and materials on the stock market. When I started investing I dug out materials in the internet related to the stock market especially the Philippine stock market. I bought books on the stock market. The Philippine stock exchange has an "investor's primer" for those who are new to the stock market. (See the Philippine stock exchange website for more information.)

Attend seminars on stock market investments. There are several brokerage firms that conduct free seminars for newbies in stock market investing. Last year, CITISEC Online did a 2 day free seminar. I took the time to attend that seminar. This brokerage firm is one of the most innovative, active and well managed brokerage in the Philippines. The information you will learn in the seminars is very helpful. Continual study is required if you want to succeed in the stock market. Once you stop learning you stop to succeed.

Do the best you can to read all the materials out there and attend all the seminars if possible. Do not give up just because you encounter terms that you could not understand. For example when you went over this article you would probably scratch your head since there are terms that are difficult to understand. Terms such as "points", Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi), "Blue Chips" or "Bull run" may sound foreign to you. Add to the fact that you don't even understand what a stock is and how it works. So what ? When I first began I did not even know what these things are.

Stuff like these are never taught in school. I only learned them by reading and having a hands on experience in trading. I highly suggest that you watch the movie "Pursuit of Happyness" This is a story about one man's struggle to learn the stock market. Years later he made millions through stock trading. This movie is based on a true story and is sure to inspire you!

9.) You must know your current events - A lot of factors can affect the stock market. You should read the news paper as this may give you a clue on what direction the market may take. More importantly you should read the business news as this may give you an idea as to which stock you should buy. I read the Philippine Daily Inquirer everyday in order to have an idea where the market is headed.

10.) Don't delay today is the best day to start - Experience is the best way to learn. You may start small but the most important thing is that you start right away. Put off procrastination. Study how to go about it without rushing, but don't delay. If you already know the basics about investments start buying your first stock. Making your first profit from your first sale is truly rewarding. - 23223

About the Author:

Would you like to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he writes about several interesting topics such as investments, money management, business, making money online and Stock market investing

The Advantages Of Investing In The Stock Market - Part 2

By Zigfred Diaz

In my previous article, the first part on the advantages or the reasons why you should invest in the stock market was discussed. Three points are highlighted, mainly potential for greater returns, part ownership of the company you are investing and belonging to a special group of people. This is the second part of this two part series. Check out my blog should you wish to view the article in its entirety.

4.) The stock market is still the one of the best investment - While it is true that investing in the stock market has its up and down moments, in the long run investing in the stock market is still one of the best investment vehicles out there. Stock market returns fluctuate from year to year. In 1986 we have the recorded highest return rate at 224 % and negative 41 % as the lowest return rate in 1997. Yet despite the markets up and down if you hold on to your money (Holding period of about 20 years) on the long term, the average return for investing in the stock market is 24 % to 28 % per year so in short you it is not possible to incur any loss if you are a long term investor.

5.) Helps you become more financially literate and inspires you to increase that knowledge - Investing in the stock market forces you to go over the business news. It also helps you give significant meaning to the major news headlines. News for you is not something to be discussed in chit chats, but rather you view it as something that will have an impact on how the market behaves. You are forced to understand words that are foreign to you. You will become more sharper intellectually as you are motivated to keep on reading. If you dozed off in your your economics class in high school or college, this time you will be pulling your hair apart just to figure out what inflation means. you will be motivated to become a life long student.

6.) Helps you more to become internet savvy. - It has been said that the development of mankind is divided into several ages. First we had the "stone age", then came the iron age and then the bronze ages etc. Afterwards we moved up to the industrial age. Currently we are said to be in the "information technology age." In this age, knowledge is power. This is not just considered as an adage. Rather this is the essence of the information age. Engaging in online trading will surely help you understand what this means. During the time that I was in college I wanted to invest in the stock market. The reason for my curiosity was because I always see in the movies how the traders are shouting buy or sell. However I did not invest during that time because of three reasons. First I lack the information. Secondly, I do not have the capability and thirdly I do not have the money to invest.

With the advent of the internet age, information is everywhere through the World Wide Web. Add to the fact that you can now trade online. With this opportunities that come into play, it was now possible for me to trade in the stock market. I monitor the news online, I buy and sell online, I transfer money to my accounts online and best of all it is now possible to trade globally and invest in other stock markets around the world with the use of your computer. Although this is an entirely different arena but the stock market trading principles still come into play.

7.) Helps build the nation - Investing in the stock market helps build the nation. Most stock market investors may not realize this but this is one of the most noble objective and advantage of investing in the stock market. Companies who are listed in the stock exchange intends to infuse more capital into their business in order that such capital might be further used for expansion. Business expansions would mean more people are hired for work. The government also benefits as more taxes are being paid. This further translates into more economic activity which in the long runs helps build the nation.

For sure these reasons certainly make a convincing argument as to why you should invest in the stock market. - 23223

About the Author:

Would you want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he writes about several interesting topics such as investments, money management, business, making money online and Stock market investing