Archives: 2008 December

Archive for December, 2008

Posted by Martin December 29, 2008

Picks 12/22 – 12/26

No new picks. There is nothing to buy out there. Existing holdings: 100% CASH Contribution this week: $0 Starting account value = $2,009.80 Account value = $2,009.80 (without margin) Buying power = $2,009.80 Portfolio Gain/loss this week = 0.00% Portfolio Gain/Loss for DECEMBER 2008 = 0.00% Portfolio Gain/loss since inception = -19.19% Annual Return (CAGR): Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 24, 2008

Happy Holidays

Posted by Martin December 23, 2008

Madoff’s lesson

America is shocked and people are angry, because they lost a lot of money and the “government didn’t protect them”. Are we in socialism? Madoff provided us with a very good lesson. One of the best actually. Unfortunately some people had to pay a large fee for it. A ponzi scam is well known and one of Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 19, 2008

Picks 12/15 – 12/19

No new picks. There is nothing to buy out there. Existing holdings: 100% CASH Contribution this week: $200 Starting account value = $2,009.80 Account value = $2,009.80 (without margin) Buying power = $2,009.80 Portfolio Gain/loss this week = 0.00% Portfolio Gain/Loss for DECEMBER 2008 = 0.00% Portfolio Gain/loss since inception = -19.19% Annual Return (CAGR): Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 17, 2008

Stock Options review

On Monday, December 15, 2008 I filled my first stock option covered call trade. However it was very confusing for me and when I reviewed it I didn’t understand what I was doing. The account results were confusing and I couldn’t see how I am supposed to make money by covered calls. This table was Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 15, 2008

Stock option positions opened

Note: This is a virtual trade for learning purposes. This morning I have: bought 100 AFAM @45.79, total market value $4,579 and sold 1 .KQAAJ @0.05, total market value -$5.00 I will write more about this trade later. If you want to know, how my stock option trades are doing, click hereto get regular updates. Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 14, 2008

Stock options, the first kick off

As I said, I am not experienced in stock options at all. I have never traded it, but I really want to. As many books or literature say options can be a great source of income, among other strategies. There are many option strategies, maybe hundreds or thousands of them. I am looking for only Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 12, 2008

Picks 12/08 – 12/12

No new picks. There is nothing to buy out there. Existing holdings: 100% CASH Contribution this week: $0 Starting account value = $1,809.80 Account value = $1,809.80 (without margin) Buying power = $1,809.80 Portfolio Gain/loss this week = 0.00% Portfolio Gain/Loss for DECEMBER 2008 = 0.00% Portfolio Gain/loss since inception = -19.19% Annual Return (CAGR): Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 11, 2008

A bailout for automakers failed

Senators didn’t pass the loan for automakers tonight, because UAW didn’t accept lowering salaries of employees to the same level as Japanese automakers in the US. The US manufacturers have about $69/hour salary overhead per employee, Japanese producers manufacturing in the US are at about $48/hour level (Gross salary with all benefits). I have only Continue reading →

Posted by Martin December 10, 2008

Stock investing psychology

During my learning period, even today I am experiencing one psychological trap every investor probably went through and every new beginner investor will experience. Some may handle this with a brilliance, some may suffer the similar way I do. I am talking about the psychology during investing into a particular stock, which later, after you Continue reading →