Anyone trading stocks NOT for a living?

Hi, Im learning about stock trading, and I would like to read experiences from fellow CPFers.

Im doing a 3 month intensive course in the local stock market training school.


Mind to share? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Im testing metastock End of Day 9 and already downloaded historic data for Nasdaq & DJ Composite for the last 15 years /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Pablo

After seeing things go so wrong for stockholders in general over the past few years, I'm not sure I'd be investing in stocks if I had the capital to play with. Bonds theoretically have lower yield, but you become a creditor rather than an investor, so payoff is more certain.

Well, it depends on the bond, imagine you invested in my country foreign debt bonds... they defaulted in 2001 and now you receive only 25% of what you invested and zero interest for the 2001-2005 period /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

Its true that you earn a coupon usually every 6 months, but bonds fluctuate too, unless you want to keep the bond for its life.

Im learning, and I want to apply what I learn, and as with other areas, listening to people in the trade is always a good thing.

Thanks


Pablo

I do some trading now and again. I used Metastock as far back as when it was all EOD, which is to say before they introduced the RT version. I found technical indicators to be most useful in determining entry and exit points, and not so much for buy / don't buy / sell decisions.

On the commodities side, momentum trading is really the only way I have ever been able to make heads or tails of it.

I really haven't found equities to be very appealing, other than a few months last fall, for the past few years. To the degree that I need a trading fix, I've pretty much limited myself to commodities, primarily doing currencies, with the occasional foray into the petroleum complex. But this is more recreational than anything else. Kind of like a trip to the track.

For a few years I was a big trader in NASD. It's very high stress and discipline is the key. You need to be able to admit you are wrong quickly and take small losses rather than big ones. If you have any ticks at all such as remorse or gambling tendecies you will lose. I made great money, but walked away because it consumes you.

I enjoy trading stocks. I actively trade with my Roth IRA so that I don't have to worry about being taxed every time I sell. Makes things much easier.

I don't use any crazy fancy software, programs, or methods. I just read and study charts a LOT. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Mark

Well, yesterday I made my first bucks! sold some intel stock, purchased IBM and in a day I made 2% difference. It was pure instincts, but anyway, Im happy.

What Indicators are the most common to use in metastock? from the classes Im taking I only know the simplest ones IE: Moving Averages, RSI, etc . But I saw a lot others: IE: Elliot waves, Bollinger Bands, etc.

One thing I can say, its a magnet, it absorbs you, maybe because it was my debut and I wanted to know every detail, but I can't keep my eyes off the screen /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm not a gambler, neither like casinos, and I learnt from reading a listening a lot of people these simple facts: Always take small losses, before entering be sure to know when to leave, know your expectations for wining and for losing, try to keep emotions aside.

Well, I have a lot of historical data, maybe its time to learn reading that charts, hints are always welcome!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Thanks


Pablo