Smart Investments

By Audrey Kay

While some people today seem to be going into debt because of the strain of the economy, there are those people out there looking for good investments - maybe you are one of them. When you have money to spare, putting it in a savings account does not necessarily make sense; yet, the investment alternatives out there today seem to be risky. Because of this, many people are hesitant about where they want to invest their money - and, for good reason. However, there are solid, sound, and relatively risk free investments that are still available to people today looking to invest money.

When we talk about a good investment that does not necessarily mean it is going to be risk free, however all risk free investments are relatively good investments on some level because you do not incur a risk of monetary loss with the investment. When you are looking into to various securities, anything that has the potential to cause you to lose money cannot be classified as risk free. However, securities that are free of this risk are often more popular and usually found in government bonds, treasury bills, and certificates of deposits (CD).

The wise investor will most likely consider a risk free investment not only to minimize risk, but also to save smarter when it comes to the future. One of the difficulties with investment securities is that they are not very liquid. Unlike your regular checking or savings account, you might not have access to the money in your securities or even a surety that it will be there in the future. However, with risk free investments, you can rely on the fact that the money you have invested today will at least be there tomorrow, and this is a nice comfort for many investors today.

Although there are different types of risk free investments, one of the most popular risk free investments is obtained from the government in the form of a bond. A government savings bond is a nice long-term investment security that accrues interest over time; and once it matures, you can count on getting your money because you invested in the government instead of a bank or the stock market. The downside of bonds is obviously the fact that they provide a lower rate of return, yet there is no risk and you are guaranteed at least some return on your investment.

Treasury bills (commonly called T-Bills) are another form of investment that is relatively risk free and popular in today's economy. T-Bills function very similarly to bonds, except they have a different time period. While your bond investment may take years to mature, your investment in a T-Bill will mature in one year or less; thus, it is a great risk free investment for the short run investment. Also, when it comes to T-Bills, your money is guaranteed at the maturity date, so you can expect some sort of return on your investment.

Many people who do not invest in government securities but are still looking for risk free investments rely on certificates of deposits (CDs). Certificates of Deposits typically have a time period that ranges from one quarter to five years, and, once the CD has matured you receive the principle and the interest. And, although CDs are definitely sound investments and free from risk, they do not have the tax breaks that other investments offer; so, make sure to consider that when you are deciding which security to invest in.

Anyone who has done a little research in the investment industry knows that not all investments are created equal. And, because of the differences in investments, many people seek the advice of a financial planner so they can make the best decisions about their investments. Whether you work with a financial advisor or not, it is important to remember that you need to be cautious when it comes to investing and do your research, especially when it comes to riskier ones.

Unfortunately, to make a better return on your investment, there has to be an element of risk involved. Therefore, the more risky an investment, usually the better the possible return might be. However, it is important to be cautious in today's difficult industries, especially when it comes to real estate and the stock market. Where it once seemed easy to make a decent return, it now is a lot more risky and a lot less people are reaping the rewards.

For this reason, you might be better off sticking with the risk free alternatives. Savings Bonds, T-Bills, and CDs are always great investment options. And, when you invest, you can be sure that at least you will not lose any money! - 23218

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Trading The Forex

By Jo Nash

FOREX trading is all about trading foreign currency, stocks, and similar type of products. The currency of one country is weighed against the currency of another country to determine value. The value of that foreign currency is taken into consideration when trading stocks on the FOREX markets. Most countries have control over the value of that countries value, involving the currency, or money. Those who are often involved in the FOREX markets include banks, large businesses, governments, and financial institutions.

What makes the FOREX market different from the stock market? A forex market trade is one that involves at least two countries, and it can take place worldwide. The two countries are one, with the investor, and two, the country the money is being invested in. Most all transactions taking place in the FOREX market are going to take place through a broker, such as a bank.

What really makes up the FOREX markets? The foreign exchange market is made up of a variety of transactions and counties. Those involved in the FOREX market are trading in large volumes, large amounts of money. Those who are involved in the FOREX market are generally involved in cash businesses, or in the trade of very liquid assets that you can sell and buy fast. The market is large, very large. You could consider the FOREX market to be much larger than the stock market in any one country overall. Those involved in the FOREX market are trading daily twenty-four hours a day and sometimes trading is completed on the weekend, but not all weekends.

You might be surprised at the number of people that are involved in FOREX trading. In the years 2004, almost two trillion dollars was an average daily trading volume. This is a huge number for the number of daily transactions to take place. Think about how much a trillion dollars really is and then times that by two, and this is the money that is changing hands every day!

The FOREX trading market is not something new, but has been used for over thirty years. With the introduction of computers, and then the internet, the trading on the FOREX market continues to grow as more and more people and businesses alike become aware of the availablily of this trading market. FOREX only accounts for about ten percent of the total trading from country to country, but as the popularity in this market continues to grow so could that number. - 23218

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Learn how you can guarantee your profits from forex trading with Forex Trading Software or by using Accurate Forex Signals

FOREX, Trading Foreign Currency

By Jo Nash

FOREX trading is all about trading foreign currency, stocks, and similar type of products. The currency of one country is weighed against the currency of another country to determine value. The value of that foreign currency is taken into consideration when trading stocks on the FOREX markets. Most countries have control over the value of that countries value, involving the currency, or money. Those who are often involved in the FOREX markets include banks, large businesses, governments, and financial institutions.

What makes the FOREX market different from the stock market? A forex market trade is one that involves at least two countries, and it can take place worldwide. The two countries are one, with the investor, and two, the country the money is being invested in. Most all transactions taking place in the FOREX market are going to take place through a broker, such as a bank.

What really makes up the FOREX markets? The foreign exchange market is made up of a variety of transactions and counties. Those involved in the FOREX market are trading in large volumes, large amounts of money. Those who are involved in the FOREX market are generally involved in cash businesses, or in the trade of very liquid assets that you can sell and buy fast. The market is large, very large. You could consider the FOREX market to be much larger than the stock market in any one country overall. Those involved in the FOREX market are trading daily twenty-four hours a day and sometimes trading is completed on the weekend, but not all weekends.

You might be surprised at the number of people that are involved in FOREX trading. In the years 2004, almost two trillion dollars was an average daily trading volume. This is a huge number for the number of daily transactions to take place. Think about how much a trillion dollars really is and then times that by two, and this is the money that is changing hands every day!

The FOREX trading market is not something new, but has been used for over thirty years. With the introduction of computers, and then the internet, the trading on the FOREX market continues to grow as more and more people and businesses alike become aware of the availablily of this trading market. FOREX only accounts for about ten percent of the total trading from country to country, but as the popularity in this market continues to grow so could that number. - 23218

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Learn how you can guarantee your profits from forex trading with Automated Forex Trading Software or by using Accurate Forex Signals

US Dollar Guru (Part II)

By Ahmad Hassam

Knowing currency correlations between the major pairs can help you a lot in your trading. Suppose you have the data about the currency correlations of the major currency pairs. The correlation between GBP/USD and EUR/USD is 0.68. This correlation coefficient is positive and it means both the pairs move in the same direction 68% of the time.

USD/CHF and EUR/USD have a correlation coefficient of -0.975 and is pretty close to (-1). It means both USD/CHF and EUR/USD pairs move in the opposite direction almost 97.5% of the time. It means if USD/CHF moves up, the pair EUR/USD will move down!

You have this information that tells you how much these pairs move in the same or opposite directions. You trade the pairs USD/CHF and EUR/USD at the same time by going long on both. You are in fact canceling both the positions.

If you win on USD/CHF, you will lose on EUR/USD and vice versa. The two trades would effectively cancel each other due to the negative correlation between the two pairs. A savvy investor would go long on USD/CHF and go short on EUR/USD. So you are shorting USD in both the trades and diversifying the USD bearish investment.

You can make trade entry and exit decisions based on currency correlations. Suppose GBP/USD starts showing volatility and approaches a resistance level. You anticipate going long on a breakout.

However, you notice on the charts that the other three major currency pairs are not showing volatility and moving as much as the GBP/USD. EUR/USD is not showing volatility and moving up on the chart. USD/CHF is not showing much volatility and moving down on the chart. USD/JPY is also not showing much volatility and not moving down on the chart. This means that the volatility in GBP/USD is solely GBP driven. The move is maybe related to some news in the British economy about Bank of England raising or lowering interest rates or some big companies merging.

Now you know that the move in GBP/USD pair is Pound driven. It is not US Dollar driven. You can take advantage of this information. Ignore the GBP driven move and dont enter into any trade. Wait for a later opportunity that involves simultaneous correlated moves of all the major pairs.

Lets take another example to make things more clear. Suppose you have taken a short position on EUR/USD currency pair. You want to know will the currency pair proceed down towards your profit target. You also want to know can it go against you. If so when to exit the trade with a small loss!

Your EUR/USD is heading towards M1 level after having broken the S1 support pivot level. You should take a look at the pair EUR/GBP. You find that it has paused at its S1 support pivot level. It is showing signs of reversing to the upside.

Knowledge of currency correlations can help you a lot now. It can tell you if EUR/GBP breaks through the S1 level, you are poised for a profitable trade in this type of a situation, However, you should watch the indicators. Exit before taking a big loss if EUR/GBP reverses and heads back to the upside. You might consider trading a basket of all the major currencies as you mature in forex trading. - 23218

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Know These Forex Broker Games. Learn Forex Trading!

When The Out Of The Money Covered Call Writing Strategy Fails Miserably

By Marc Abrams

There are many investment training strategy websites and e-books that promise you incredible things. One of the more common stock market trading strategies taught is to sell covered call options on stocks. These websites maintain that you can earn monthly returns up to 10% or more using that very strategy! Sound good? Read on.

I will be the first to admit that selling out-of-the-money covered calls can bring lucrative monthly returns under the right circumstances. This strategy has been successfully used by me. However, this strategy is not without its disadvantages. The public has not been properly educated by the website and e-book marketers. They market this strategy as conservative with little risk. They leave you holding the bag when it all goes wrong.

When the stock market is rising in value selling out of the money covered calls works well. Additionally, when the stock market is neutral (not going up or down by any meaningful amount), this strategy also works well. Please tell me when the last time was that the stock market remained neutral for any length of time?

We are currently in the midst of an extremely volatile market. We have recently seen swings in the Dow as much as 200 points in either direction on any given day. Hardly a profitable market for an out-of-the-money covered call writer. Once that stock you are holding starts to decline, so do your profits. I can assure you that profits can evaporate very quickly. I have seen stocks fall from $10 per share to $1 per share over night! There is never enough premium on an option sale to cover that kind of decline.

The key to out-of-the-money covered call writing is to select stocks that will get called. Too many advocates of this strategy do not want the stock to get called. They want you to keep the stock so you can sell a covered call option on it the next month. This is a flawed strategy. You need to select stocks that are trending up in value, hence, a rising market. Those are the stocks that will maximize your profit. If the stock gets called, I know I ended up making my maximum anticipated return.

What if the stock shoots way up in value? The stock simply gets called away if it rises up past the strike price and stays there through expiration. Isn't that what you wanted to begin with? Because you did not participate in those gains you may feel like you left money on the table. If that upsets you then just buy the stock outright and don't sell covered call options on that stock. Why not just let the stock get called away, take your profit and move on? Then look for another stock to buy and sell calls on for the next month.

Remember, selling out-of-the-money covered calls can provide an excellent source if income in a rising stock market. However, this strategy is less than ideal in a stock market like the one we find ourselves in today. There are, however, other strategies that will offer significant protection in a volatile or declining stock market. - 23218

About the Author:

Marc Abrams Is A Certified Public Accountant With Over 15 Years of Financial And Investing Experience. Visit Marc's Website at http://www.rebuildingmyfuture.com To Learn More About Successful Covered Call Option Writing Strategies In A Declining Market.