New [tag]stock picks[/tag] this week:
Telestone Technologies Corp. (TSTC)
Medifast Inc. (MED)
Existing & new [tag]holdings[/tag]:
| Symbol | Qty | Last | Gain($) | Gain(%) |
| [tag]ASIA[/tag] | 25 | 30.45 | 67.50 | 9.73 |
| [tag]CTL[/tag] | 9 | 36.21 | 1.08 | 0.33 |
| [tag]MED[/tag] | 16 | 30.58 | -10.87 | -2.17 |
| [tag]RAX[/tag] | 37 | 20.85 | -56.24 | -6.79 | [tag]RINO[/tag] | 7 | 27.65 | 2.16 | 1.13 | [tag]TSTC[/tag] | 19 | 19.84 | -12.72 | -3.26 |
| [tag]V[/tag] | 20 | 87.46 | 248.92 | 16.59 |
Contribution this week: $0
Current [tag]capital exposure[/tag]: -16.09% 
New positions available to open: 0
Starting [tag]account value[/tag] = $2,416.96
Account value = $2,231.94 (without margin)
Buying power = $2,881.05
[tag]Portfolio Gain/loss[/tag] this week = -7.66%
[tag]Portfolio[/tag] Gain/Loss for DECEMBER 2009 = 4.46%
Portfolio Gain/loss for 2009 = -14.48%
[tag]Annual Return[/tag] (CAGR): -16.69%
It seems like the last week of 2009 was a big profit taking or crowd panicking for no reason. All my stocks were losing the whole week and almost erased all gains for December 2009. Last week my portfolio was gaining about 13.5% for the month, the best result I have ever had. This last year week erased it to only 4.5% gain. Better than nothing. However, this experience made me to adjust my loss control plan for the next year a bit. In my management loss control plan I calculate a potential risk for every trade. It is a potential loss to a stop loss order of every single position and I base my new positions allowance on this potential loss vs the total loss of the entire portfolio. This allowed me to open new positions even though some of the existing positions were showing potential loss. Next time I will open a new position only if the potential loss calculation indicates positive numbers or zero (no loss but breaking even or making a gain).
Dear investors, it is the end of 2009 year. Let me wish you the very best in the new year 2010 and a lot of success! Good luck in your investing or trading approach.
The reason for the quick drop was probably taxes. Lots of people close positions at the end of the year for tax purposes. Here’s to better trading in the next year.