Did anyone profit from this years volatile stock market
12-31-2008, 03:59 PM
#1
Racer
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Did anyone profit from this years volatile stock market
I'm just curious if anyone has made money in stocks in 2008.
My parents lost 40% of the equities they've owned, and I'm made 29% profit.
Though I've only started investing since middle of November with $10000 dollars I've saved up over the last year.
My parents lost 40% of the equities they've owned, and I'm made 29% profit.
Though I've only started investing since middle of November with $10000 dollars I've saved up over the last year.
12-31-2008, 04:25 PM
#2
Team Owner
You picked a good time to get in. Protect those profits
12-31-2008, 05:02 PM
#3
Team Owner
12-31-2008, 05:24 PM
#4
Registered but harmless
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Not me-- the market has 
my accounts.
Thank goodness I'm healthy, employed, get pretty regular sex and am good looking.
I quit checking the percentage decreases at the beginning of the year, so I don't know how much the market has me. 
At least none of our money or investments were with Madoff or in Lehman Bros.
my accounts. Thank goodness I'm healthy, employed, get pretty regular sex and am good looking.
I quit checking the percentage decreases at the beginning of the year, so I don't know how much the market has
me. At least none of our money or investments were with Madoff or in Lehman Bros.
12-31-2008, 05:48 PM
#5
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I'm up about 60% but all beginners luck. I was lucky enough to get in on HIG and rode some pretty big swings and protected profits. Sometimes I sold a little too early and bought back in a little too early but I'll take a 60% return in 2 months. Now I'm just investing for the long term and hoping to start doubling up when the markets return to normal.
01-11-2009, 10:46 PM
#6
Drifting
It was a tough year, but I managed to make realized gains come year end. Since we had a bearish market, I made most of my money using shorting strategies. I shorted FSLR and held DXD (2x short of the DOW30) as well as QID for shorting the nasdaq100 numerous times throughout the year. It was very hard making money on holding stocks long last year. I made money on SAFM, SLV, TCHC, and FRD and lost money on financials (ETFC, XLF, CNA) and some energy stocks (XLE, COP).
My Portfolio paper performance was -17% .vs. a -38.5% SP500 so it beat the SP but I'm still down $ from last year this time. The way this year has started, we may have another tough year again but I'll wait until end of January to make a final decision on that.
My Portfolio paper performance was -17% .vs. a -38.5% SP500 so it beat the SP but I'm still down $ from last year this time. The way this year has started, we may have another tough year again but I'll wait until end of January to make a final decision on that.
Last edited by LaCostaRacer; 01-11-2009 at 10:47 PM. Reason: typo
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01-30-2009, 10:28 PM
#8
Drifting
January results are now in: SP500 down -8.6% compared to last year at this time being down -5.0%. We're worse this year than last.
I project a -20% or worse SP500 performance for 2009. The best money ideas are market index shorts and holding commodity ishare positions (oil when it bottoms and gld/slv) with maybe a end of the year rally maybe.
Time will tell how accurate my projection will be, but I have a pretty good track record for both up and down markets. Stock trading is one of the few things that age/experience actually makes you better than youth/inexperience.
Best of luck trading!
I project a -20% or worse SP500 performance for 2009. The best money ideas are market index shorts and holding commodity ishare positions (oil when it bottoms and gld/slv) with maybe a end of the year rally maybe.
Time will tell how accurate my projection will be, but I have a pretty good track record for both up and down markets. Stock trading is one of the few things that age/experience actually makes you better than youth/inexperience.
Best of luck trading!
Last edited by LaCostaRacer; 01-30-2009 at 10:30 PM.
01-31-2009, 10:23 AM
#10
Team Owner
I've been hearing a lot of people talk about these lately. Usually by the time the guy in the next cube is talking about something its too late.
01-31-2009, 11:26 AM
#11
Drifting
^People talk about things all the time- it's actions that count and placing real money on the line. Many people simply parrot what they heard the previous night on Kramer and we all know how great of a stock picker Kramer is- not.
Every investor needs to make his own decisions on the direction of the market and how to profit. If you think the market is going to be higher come year end, then you would obviously not go and short the market indices. I think the market will be lower so I will short regardless of what other people are saying.
All you need to do is look at a chart like DXD to see what I'm referring too regarding profiting. If DXD breaks 65 to the upside then there is lots of room for a run to mid to high 70's. The trading volumes on DXD are pretty average so this idea in far from being worn out. DXD is currently testing resistance because the DOW is at a 8000 support level that seems to be holding for the time being. I don't own any DXD shares yet but probably will in the next few weeks.
Every investor needs to make his own decisions on the direction of the market and how to profit. If you think the market is going to be higher come year end, then you would obviously not go and short the market indices. I think the market will be lower so I will short regardless of what other people are saying.
All you need to do is look at a chart like DXD to see what I'm referring too regarding profiting. If DXD breaks 65 to the upside then there is lots of room for a run to mid to high 70's. The trading volumes on DXD are pretty average so this idea in far from being worn out. DXD is currently testing resistance because the DOW is at a 8000 support level that seems to be holding for the time being. I don't own any DXD shares yet but probably will in the next few weeks.
02-19-2009, 02:57 PM
#14
Engineer
I can afford to lose it assuming work and everything else is going well. I still have plenty saved up and put aside towards a house/rainy day which this would not come out of.
I don't want to worry about it day to day and would rather be surprised a couple years down the road by it's performance. Maybe use it towards a better house or something else I may need down the road. With everything going on, it is just a bit confusing as to what would be a good moderate to long term investment...
02-19-2009, 05:09 PM
#15
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02-19-2009, 05:23 PM
#16
The Box
I just started playing around for the first time (I put in under $1K). I can lose it, would rather not, but I'm having fun...
Hopefully I can make something of this.
Hopefully I can make something of this.
02-22-2009, 01:58 PM
#17
Drifting
I bought DXD shares on this week's technical breakdown. 7450 was a pretty substantial support level that broke down easily. This week's DXD position has already yeilded a 6% profit since Tuesday's purchase. The next big support level for the DOW is 7200 and then 6950 that was set in 2002. If these break, we're in for a world of trouble regarding the technicals of the DOW and other indices- DXD will vault.
DXD closed at 71.55 on Friday and my near-term price target is 79 so there's still a potential 10% profit left.
SLV (silver i-share) is another favorite and this is performing great- currently at 14.25 with a 19.00 price target and that has a > 30% profit left in it. I started buying SLV in mid-November and those positions are already up 52% in the last 3 months.
I'll probably be adding to both positions this week if the weakness in the market continues.
DXD closed at 71.55 on Friday and my near-term price target is 79 so there's still a potential 10% profit left.
SLV (silver i-share) is another favorite and this is performing great- currently at 14.25 with a 19.00 price target and that has a > 30% profit left in it. I started buying SLV in mid-November and those positions are already up 52% in the last 3 months.
I'll probably be adding to both positions this week if the weakness in the market continues.
02-23-2009, 11:36 AM
#18
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^ WTF? Those sound like big profits.. What kind of money are you playin with??
Oh yeah, the DOW looks like it'll easily slip under 7,000.. Right now we're down about 100 all day then the 120 now
. Well, if the DOW goes under 7,000 I'm gonna be cashing out my mutual funds and 401k... I'm startin to tweek. I think I'll take that money and just hunt down all the big bank CEOs and Madoff... I got something I wanna tell them.
Oh yeah, the DOW looks like it'll easily slip under 7,000.. Right now we're down about 100 all day then the 120 now
. Well, if the DOW goes under 7,000 I'm gonna be cashing out my mutual funds and 401k... I'm startin to tweek. I think I'll take that money and just hunt down all the big bank CEOs and Madoff... I got something I wanna tell them.
02-23-2009, 08:03 PM
#19
Drifting
^ I manage my own accounts now. Mostly because I hired a money manager around 2000 and he managed to lose a lot of my money. Had to learn things myself and haven't looked back since. I manage both taxable and IRA rollover accounts.
Today's action is extremely bad- watch out if 6950 gets broken for the DOW. It could become very ugly- down to year=1995 levels! I bought a new position in TBT that shorts the 20 year treasury- got in at 45.81 this morning. My bear picks are now: TBT, SLV, and DXD.
Today's action is extremely bad- watch out if 6950 gets broken for the DOW. It could become very ugly- down to year=1995 levels! I bought a new position in TBT that shorts the 20 year treasury- got in at 45.81 this morning. My bear picks are now: TBT, SLV, and DXD.
...one of the guys at work lost about 149k... i havent lost, but my gains have been about 10% of what was projected...
02-24-2009, 01:49 PM
#21
Iro Ridg .308
^ I manage my own accounts now. Mostly because I hired a money manager around 2000 and he managed to lose a lot of my money. Had to learn things myself and haven't looked back since. I manage both taxable and IRA rollover accounts.
Today's action is extremely bad- watch out if 6950 gets broken for the DOW. It could become very ugly- down to year=1995 levels! I bought a new position in TBT that shorts the 20 year treasury- got in at 45.81 this morning. My bear picks are now: TBT, SLV, and DXD.
Today's action is extremely bad- watch out if 6950 gets broken for the DOW. It could become very ugly- down to year=1995 levels! I bought a new position in TBT that shorts the 20 year treasury- got in at 45.81 this morning. My bear picks are now: TBT, SLV, and DXD.
Like yourself, I've been keeping a close eye on USO for awhile now.
Then my safe money:
- is making 6% in a fixed annuity
- 9% in a money market being dollar-cost-averaged swept to high yield bond & energy funds with a guarantee on my principal against any market losses
- 10% in an overseas CD
- about 4.25% cash value increase in my whole life policy
02-24-2009, 02:01 PM
#23
Iro Ridg .308
02-24-2009, 02:06 PM
#24
Iro Ridg .308
All you need to do is look at a chart like DXD to see what I'm referring too regarding profiting. If DXD breaks 65 to the upside then there is lots of room for a run to mid to high 70's. The trading volumes on DXD are pretty average so this idea in far from being worn out. DXD is currently testing resistance because the DOW is at a 8000 support level that seems to be holding for the time being. I don't own any DXD shares yet but probably will in the next few weeks.
02-24-2009, 02:29 PM
#29
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Regional Coordinator
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Index funds FTW!
I've been making nice gains, everytime Obama announces another stimulus bill, spending bill, or bailout
I've been making nice gains, everytime Obama announces another stimulus bill, spending bill, or bailout
02-24-2009, 10:34 PM
#30
Drifting
I bought DXD shares on this week's technical breakdown. 7450 was a pretty substantial support level that broke down easily. This week's DXD position has already yeilded a 6% profit since Tuesday's purchase. The next big support level for the DOW is 7200 and then 6950 that was set in 2002. If these break, we're in for a world of trouble regarding the technicals of the DOW and other indices- DXD will vault.
DXD closed at 71.55 on Friday and my near-term price target is 79 so there's still a potential 10% profit left.
SLV (silver i-share) is another favorite and this is performing great- currently at 14.25 with a 19.00 price target and that has a > 30% profit left in it. I started buying SLV in mid-November and those positions are already up 52% in the last 3 months.
I'll probably be adding to both positions this week if the weakness in the market continues.
DXD closed at 71.55 on Friday and my near-term price target is 79 so there's still a potential 10% profit left.
SLV (silver i-share) is another favorite and this is performing great- currently at 14.25 with a 19.00 price target and that has a > 30% profit left in it. I started buying SLV in mid-November and those positions are already up 52% in the last 3 months.
I'll probably be adding to both positions this week if the weakness in the market continues.
Today's market bounce was good and needed and DXD took a bad hit as a result so I lost 1/2 my profits in this position today. No worries because I still have a 6+% gain in one week which isn't bad. I don't think anyone wants to see a Dow 6950 get broken on the downside.
The Point & Figure chart of DXD just gave a sell signal while a candle stick chart still shows an upward price trend. I generally like both charts to confirm a trend but probably won't wait this time. Any weakness tomorrow will cause me to exit this with a hopeful profit. From a technical basis, DXD might be coming down to 65/61-ish near-term which is a 20/50 day Exponential moving average. I generally abide by a P&F chart for a short-term trade like what DXD is.
Last year, I traded DXD 5 times- all profitable. My shortest hold period was 3 days and that yielded a 22% profit. The longest hold period was 162 days and that yielded a 6% profit similar to what I have now after 7 days- might be better to play it safe on this one and keep the profit streak alive. My average hold was 70 days for 20% profit.
I'm a Technical Trend trader for index shorts like this. The trend appears to be abruptly changing on this pick. This is generally a strong time of the year for the market so maybe we'll see more of a bounce for the next couple of weeks or months. Time will tell.
02-25-2009, 08:34 AM
#32
Iro Ridg .308
I probably won't be adding to my DXD position at this point now.
Today's market bounce was good and needed and DXD took a bad hit as a result so I lost 1/2 my profits in this position today. No worries because I still have a 6+% gain in one week which isn't bad. I don't think anyone wants to see a Dow 6950 get broken on the downside.
The Point & Figure chart of DXD just gave a sell signal while a candle stick chart still shows an upward price trend. I generally like both charts to confirm a trend but probably won't wait this time. Any weakness tomorrow will cause me to exit this with a hopeful profit. From a technical basis, DXD might be coming down to 65/61-ish near-term which is a 20/50 day Exponential moving average. I generally abide by a P&F chart for a short-term trade like what DXD is.
Last year, I traded DXD 5 times- all profitable. My shortest hold period was 3 days and that yielded a 22% profit. The longest hold period was 162 days and that yielded a 6% profit similar to what I have now after 7 days- might be better to play it safe on this one and keep the profit streak alive. My average hold was 70 days for 20% profit.
I'm a Technical Trend trader for index shorts like this. The trend appears to be abruptly changing on this pick. This is generally a strong time of the year for the market so maybe we'll see more of a bounce for the next couple of weeks or months. Time will tell.
Today's market bounce was good and needed and DXD took a bad hit as a result so I lost 1/2 my profits in this position today. No worries because I still have a 6+% gain in one week which isn't bad. I don't think anyone wants to see a Dow 6950 get broken on the downside.
The Point & Figure chart of DXD just gave a sell signal while a candle stick chart still shows an upward price trend. I generally like both charts to confirm a trend but probably won't wait this time. Any weakness tomorrow will cause me to exit this with a hopeful profit. From a technical basis, DXD might be coming down to 65/61-ish near-term which is a 20/50 day Exponential moving average. I generally abide by a P&F chart for a short-term trade like what DXD is.
Last year, I traded DXD 5 times- all profitable. My shortest hold period was 3 days and that yielded a 22% profit. The longest hold period was 162 days and that yielded a 6% profit similar to what I have now after 7 days- might be better to play it safe on this one and keep the profit streak alive. My average hold was 70 days for 20% profit.
I'm a Technical Trend trader for index shorts like this. The trend appears to be abruptly changing on this pick. This is generally a strong time of the year for the market so maybe we'll see more of a bounce for the next couple of weeks or months. Time will tell.
03-02-2009, 09:51 AM
#38
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Hey, if you own a stock that's worth less than what you paid for... Say you own a stock that's worth 50 bucks, and now it's worth 45 bucks, should you sell it then buy it up right away at the lower price? Seeing as you believe in the stock. Or does this not make sense?
03-02-2009, 10:28 AM
#39
Iro Ridg .308
- You buy 1 share at $50 plus pay commissions on the buy transaction
- Stock drops to $45 on the open market, so you're under $5
- You sell the stock say at $44 since that is how much a potential buyer is willing to pay for it. Now you're under $6 plus transaction fees x2
- Then you're going to buy back in at $44 and pay another transaction fee?
You'd sell it if you think it would go much lower than $45 to cut your losses.