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Should You Choose Stocks Or Bonds?

By: Bill Dufrane

The difference between stocks and bonds isn’t clear to those just starting in the wonderful world of investing. While stocks give investors part ownership of a company, bonds are loans made by investors to corporations or governments. Rather than benefiting from company profits the way that stock holders do, bond holders receive a fixed rate of return a fixed interest rate. Bonds only last for so long and have a termination date called the date of maturity. Also, they can take decades to mature, whereas stock exchanges happen with lightning speed every day. If you are just looking to make a quick buck with high risk, go for stocks. In comparison, if you need stability, say, for a retirement, you might choose bonds.

1. Risks Versus Rewards

As hinted at earlier, stocks have a higher rate of risk whereas bonds are more secure. Of course to say bonds are safer than stocks doesn’t automatically mean that you will always make money on bonds. A bond is an investment - and as such it may not be paid back. US government bonds are considered to be the safest type of bonds. Blue chip corporations (those with established performance records that span over many decades) are also very safe bond investments. Smaller corporations have a greater risk of defaulting on their bonds, but if the business goes bankrupt bond-holders are preferential creditors and will get compensated first.

2. Trading Bonds

Traditionally, bonds were the exclusive trading realm of huge corporations and banks. Not any more - even a savvy investor can begin trading bonds with as little as $5,000. Bonds bought and sold after the initial issues are quoted in increments of $100. A bond that is listed at 96 is selling for $96 per $100 face value.

3. Stocks Or Bonds?

Given what you have read so far, you might think that stocks are better for the short term and bonds for the long term, but the statistics do not lie. Bonds offer greater security and return on your investment than stocks, overall. The situation changes, however, when time spans of longer than 10 years are considered. The stock market has consistently outperformed bond investments by a large factor. This is because companies continue to increase in value and any short term fluctuations in the stock market become smoothed out. Overall, you should never put all your eggs in one basket - consider a bond as part of your portfolio to help cushion against market fluctuations. A mixture of investments is always the best choice.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

For more great stocks related articles and resources check out stockhub.info

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Sustaining The Future Of Your Stocks Market

By: Mohamed Rabea

After investing your money into the stock market, it doesnt mean that it has a life on its own and it would generate lots of money every month. Of course, you are the most important factor in the success of your investment.

Whether you are the stock broker or you buy your stocks individually, it is important to be aware of the correct timing in making use of your money. Here are some few tips that could maintain the money you are making from the stock market and prevent future losses:

* Stock listings. For your investments to grow rapidly, you should have your own lists of the companies you have bought shares on. With this listing, you would be able to check up the profit each company is earning every month. Thus, making your money assured from losses.

* Proper timing. Knowing the general markets condition would play a vital role in the profiting and losing of your money. Although you have invested on a company with stable earning sales, you are still not safe from losing your money. When the market moves into an opposite direction, you would not be making earnings. It is now your decision to buy or sell your stocks.

Note: Never be too attached with investments. Remember that stock market is a game that needs high mental capacity and less emotional burdens. Meaning, you should begin to move on when you have been proven wrong with your timing. Accept your losses and try winning your money back.

* Buying and selling. If you have lost money from the companies you have invested on, dont fret. It is still in your hands whether you would continue to trust the companys competence or not. Many brokers advice that cutting down the losses in your list of stocks is significant for the future of your investment.

When buying for new stocks, it is sensible to test the stocks first by investing a smaller amount of money. By doing this, you would be able to analyze the market condition and if losses occur, it wouldnt be too much of a load in your part.

* Balance. To know which stocks are suitable to buy, you should observe the price, volume, and daily highs and lows in the environment of the stock market. By doing so, you would be able to know the market trends and analyze your prospect companies.

For your stocks to provide you with high ROI, know the environment and trust your judgment in deciding the right timing to buy and sell. By doing this, you would ensure that the future of your investment would be in safe hands.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

Mohamed Rabea www.online-stocktrading-guide.info www.onlinestocktrading-now.info

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The Basics Of Investing In Stocks And Shares

By: Joseph Kenny

Stocks can be considered a tool for building wealth, as they are a part of almost every investment portfolio. They represent the ownership of a company and are bought in the form of shares. Shares refer to the stock of a particular company. Your stake in a company depends on how many shares you possess, because these are considered a part of the companys capital.

The popularity of investing in the stock market is increasing constantly. Today, investment in stocks and shares is not limited to the well to do; even the average middle-class is getting into it in droves. The opening up of markets with advanced trading technologies has made owning shares easy for everyone. However, if you are planning to invest, do not depend on luck to get you returns. Investment in stocks is considered a very risky affair. It requires a high rate of return. You need to use a well thought out strategy and necessary tools to invest in the share market.

The allure of investing in shares and stocks, however, does not mean that every would-be investor has the know-how of this often-slippery market. If you feel that the get-rich-quick theory applies to stocks and shares, then it is a misguided notion, because stocks are not the answer to instant wealth. Just like the real estate market, the share market also involves a lot of risk. Yet, people are often under the misconception that they will get rich instantly if they invest in shares.

You can buy a share in a stock when a company first enlists on the stock market that is, at flotation or privatization. Alternatively, you can purchase shares once they are in circulation and are traded.

You could go to a stockbroker if you want to buy stocks. Stockbrokers do business with the stock exchange. They hold the shares in an account that is created in the name of the nominee. You can also keep your shares in the form of a paper certificate. Once the buying and selling of shares is over the transaction is made complete through an electronic system. This system is responsible for linking all the banks along with the stockbroker and registrars of the respective companies.

You can invest in international stocks as well. When a company performs trading in a stock market of another country, their stocks are known as International stocks. These stocks are traded like the UK stocks or, for that matter those traded in the Nasdaq in the US. All the stock exchanges in the world work in the same manner.

There is no guarantee when it comes to Investment in stocks but if you are ready to take a big risk then you can expect great returns on your investment. Despite the risk factor this form of investment has outperformed other investment options like bonds or saving accounts. So if you have the right strategy and you make the right moves in the stock market then nothing can stop the money from rolling in.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

Joe Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store where you will can compare UK loans and offer more information on UK secured loans and other loan topics available on site. Visit Today: www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk

Stocks higher in early trading (AP via Yahoo! News)
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Asian Stocks Fall in U.S. Trading, Led by BHP, Commodity Shares (Bloomberg.com)
Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) — Asian stocks fell in U.S. trading as reports showed U.S. economic growth slowed and manufacturing in the Philadelphia region contracted by the most in more than three years. BHP Billiton and other commodity shares led the decline.

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Friedman, Billings, Ramsey settles trading charges (Market Watch)
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Stocks Decline in Late Afternoon Trading (ABC News)
Dow, Nasdaq Slide in Late Afternoon Trading on Weakness in Regional Manufacturing

What Is A Stock Index?

By: Bill Dufrane

In the fast paced ever- changing world of todays stock market you need a quick way to analyze and graph the movement from day to day, month to month or year to year. Stock indexes such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard and Poors 500 give you a tool to do just that.

But what exactly is a stock market index? A stock market index is a listing of a group of stocks, and a number to go with them. The number that goes with them is used to track trends in the market, going up or down when the market does. In general the stocks have something in common, such as trading on the same exchange, or belonging to the same industry. The Indexes can be classified in a wide variety of ways. The most widely quoted Index in the world, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, is a broad based index designed to reflect the stock market as a whole and give an idea of investor sentiment on the state of the economy.

1. How Are Indexes Calculated?

Different Indexes are calculated in different ways and it is important for stock investors and traders to understand how the index they are using is calculated because the calculation method has a large impact on results. You need to know what is being measured and how. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for instance, was originally just that. In the beginning, when there were no calculators or computers, and calculations needed to be done quickly and by hand, there were 12 stocks in the Dow Jones Index, that were counted up and then divided by 12. The results were expressed as points. Now, with computers the norm, the index is calculated differently.

Most stock indexes such as Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index are weighted and give more weight to larger companies. These are capitalization - weighted indexes (Capitalization is the total market value of any outstanding shares of a companies stock.) These indexes are not valid indicators of the price of the average stock in the index. Since there should be more investors in the larger companies they do give us an idea of price levels in an average investors holdings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however is NOT capitalization- weighted. It is price weighted, giving more importance to higher priced stock then lower priced ones. The Dow Jones Industrial Average now includes 30 stocks. It is calculated by adding together the price of those stocks and then using a divisor. The Dow average is quoted in points and not dollars.

2. Types of Indexes

The most widely quoted indexes are the broad based indexes, that attempt to represent the movement of an entire stock market. They normally include the largest companies on the nations largest stock exchange. Standard and Poors 500 (S+P 500 index) and the Japanese Nikkei 225, as well as the Dow Jones industrial average, are examples of this type of index.

More specialized sorts of indexes are indexes like Morgan Stanleys Biotech, that consists of 36 American biotech firms, or NEMAs EIS (National Electrical Manufacturers Associations Electroindustry Stock Index) that tracks Electroindustry stocks.

Indexes that track companies of a certain size or a certain type of management are also fairly common.

3. Socially Responsible Indexes or Sri Indexes

Another specialized index type are those for Socially Responsible Investing indices that include only those companies satisfying ecological or other social criteria. Often called SRI or Socially Responsible Indexes, SRI indexes allow investors to watch stocks according to their beliefs and performance on Social issues, and may exclude companies such as arms or tobacco companies. They include The Calvert Group, Domini, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and the FTSE4Good indices

With so many ways of grouping stock it is often difficult to choose that index, if any, are the ones you should follow. Deciding what you want to track and how you want to track it is important. Make sure you pick the indexes that are right for your investment strategy, and easily understandable for you.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

For more great mutual funds related articles and resources check out greatmutualfunds.info.

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