Consider Blue Chip Stocks

By Michael Swanson

Most people know there's a lot going on with the stock market. For some, this is reason enough to turn away, but they might not know that there are still good options. You can get blue chip stocks at great and discounted rates. Better yet, even with the current climate, you're probably going to get dividends.

These stocks are steady because the companies behind them are too. In good times and bad, they manage to bring in reasonable profits and have a trustworthy portfolio along with stock prices that stay steady over time. With the fluctuation in the rest of the market, these options seem like a better one all the time.

There are a variety of large scale, major companies you can look into. Pick a few, but make sure you get into buying things as soon as possible. When the economy does start to get better, the stocks here will leap ahead quickly, and you don't want to be left behind when they do.

One thing a lot of people aren't sure of is just where these stocks got their name. In fact, it comes from gambling. A blue chip is the most profitable type you can have, and so it makes sense that it would be applied here. You can make a lot of money just like if you were to hit the jackpot in slots.

Even if you don't have a lot of money, you should at least be able to buy some things what with the prices things are at these days. You'll probably even be able to get several, and then simply sit on them, waiting for the day they'll pay for themselves and totally make up for what you had to spend.

One thing you will need to succeed is knowledge of the language and other aspects of this business. The more you have, the more you'll be able to get ahead. When you become familiar with everything you'll feel like an expert and making lots of money will be easier than ever. - 23218

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Trading in the Foreign Exchange Market

By Damian Papworth

The foreign exchange market is mystifying to many people. There is good reason for this, since these financial markets are among the riskiest in which to trade. This article will explore the topic of the foreign exchange market, what makes it so risky and how to understand it a little better.

What exactly does foreign exchange mean? What are the nuts and bolts of this market? Quite simply, it's the money used in different countries around the world. An investor buys money (known as currency) from one country with the sale of money from another. Without this transaction process, the global economy would stop. Whether you know it or not, you have probably engaged in the foreign exchange market already. In fact, it may be an everyday occurrence for you.

If you have ever gone overseas on a holiday or for business, you would have needed to obtain currency in the country you visited. It doesn't matter if you used travellers cheques, credit card or cash, by functioning as a consumer overseas you would have needed to buy some local currency with the money you earned at home. It is this transaction that had you participating directly in the FX Market as a consumer.

Often, we are involved in the exchange market indirectly, as consumers who purchase goods from another country. Anything imported was either bought or sold with an exchange in currency. Next, a calculation by the importer will set the price for the foreign goods in the country where it will be sold, taking the entire scale of exchange into account. While you might have forgotten that it took this sort of arrangement for foreign goods to make their way to local stores, it happens every day of the year. The FX market has everyone involved, from tourists to exporters, from consumers to importers. The exchange of currencies makes it happen.

Part of the confusion surrounding the FX market is the fluctuation of currency. As with the price of most items on indices, supply versus demand factors heavily in the equation. As a certain currency is wanted and demanded on the market, the price will rise, as sellers realize they have something with which to bargain. Buyers are willing to pay more, supporting the whole transaction. On the other hand, as a currency ends up heavy on the supply end, anyone wishing to dump it will have to accept a lower price. This part of currency exchange makes sense when you stop to consider it.

The hard part is determining the root of supply and demand fluctuations. Therein lies the complex part of foreign currency exchange. Not even economists can pinpoint exactly the cause of demand and supply changing like the tides. Being a good trader is having a grasp on the big factors and investing accordingly, but there is definitely no simple answer and thus the market of currency exchange is not a simple game to play. There are no formulas.

To figure out the value of a particular currency, one has to find the economic value of the country, comparing it against the stability and economic foundation of another. There are a staggering amount of factors that could affect the economy of any country, so bear that in mind. Sometimes, all logic seems to have been thrown out the window, while a mood or feeling of a people or investor group is overwhelming the trade. From a simple glance, one can see the difficulty of depending on this business to deliver clear results.

Remember that the economy of a country only makes up half of the total equation. It must be weighed against the economy of another country to decide its value in the world at large. Having a great understanding of one economy only works when you have an equal understanding of the second country's economy.

Further, your currency trades against all the currencies in the world. So you need to know exactly how each individual economy is going, to compare it against your economy before making a judgement call about whether you think the exchange rate will go up or down.

Once you've completed your research and are ready to make some exchanges, you're also subject to the whims of the world itself. With a consumer crisis or confidence slipping due to the bad performance of central banks, you may see a currency shift you never expected. Fundamental traders who are weighing all the factors mix with the traders called technical traders, who mainly crunch numbers.

There are even people who buy currencies months and years in advance to lock in a price, to help support business activities unrelated to FX trading. This also impacts price. So you can start to see what a complex equation this can become.

There are also Foreign Exchange Trading strategies and these don't necessarily depend on rising or falling prices. No matter how the currencies are moving, the investor will make a small profit, as the currency inches in either direction.

I hope this helps take some of the mystery out of the FOREX market. - 23218

About the Author:

If you are bored of your mutual fund investment, Damian Papworth suggests FOREX trading. The speed and possible returns are hard to beat.

A Historical Look At Guaranteed Investment Certificates

By Amy Nutt

Guaranteed investment Certificates, (GIC) are Canadian investments that provide a guaranteed rate of return over a fixed period of time. GICs are normally provided by banks, credit unions, and trust companies.

The earliest forms of guaranteed fixed-income investments included such investments as bank notes and mutual funds. The first Canadian fund, Canadian Investment Fund Ltd. (CIF), was established in 1932. It changed its name to Spectrum United Canadian Investment Fund in 1996, and this fund changed name at the end of August 2002 to CI Canadian Investment Fund. Investing in guaranteed investment certificates, or GICs, has been the safe and sound choice from the time when registered retirement savings plans became available in 1957. GICs were created to give people a guaranteed return on an investment. Back in the 1970's, interest rates on investments were higher averaging about 7.7 per cent and as much as 15.8 per cent in 1982. Part of that high interest rate was due to higher price inflation than today.

Interest rates are lower now. Over the past five years, GICs with a five-year term have paid an average of less than 3 per cent a year. Because Guaranteed Investment Certificates are low risk, there is normally a lower rate of return. With a GIC, the financial institution will borrow the person's money for a specified amount of time which can be six months, one year, two years, or up to 10 years. When the GIC period has ended, your initial investment will be returned plus any accrued interest.

To own a GIC you must deposit at least $500.00. When the period has ended, one can then cash them as taxable income or renew it for another term. If you cash out before the term as ended, you will be required to pay a fee. GICs tend to pay a higher interest rate than bank savings accounts, but less most other investments. Interest rates tend to range from 1-9%.

There are other types of GICs such as Market Growth GICs. Their interest rates depend on the rate of growth in the stock market. This is a bit more risky as the market rates tend to fluctuate. Just like regular GICs, Market Growth GICs are low-risk because your original investment is guaranteed to be returned.

GICs are a popular investment choice due to their safety and security, guaranteed growth. (The interest rate is guaranteed with fixed-rate GICs,) flexible terms, and flexible payments. With some GICs, you can decide how you collect the interest you earn, such as monthly, annually or at maturity.

Guaranteed Investment Certificates make for a sound investment if you want a protected place to save your money. GICs could be used as a part of a fixed income portion of your portfolio, used for retirement supplemental income, or just to hold your money until you come up with a number of long-term financial strategies.

Guaranteed Investment Certificates have had a long history of providing Canadians with low risk financial planning investments for retirement or other investment endeavors. Investment portfolios will benefit from having an investment with a guaranteed rate of return. As well, these investments are often selected during periods of market volatility. - 23218

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Whether you're looking for mortgage rates or great GIC rates, with Meridian Credit Union you'll have a customized financial plan that makes sense for you. Just for you.

Decreased Volatility Breakout (Part I)

By Ahmad Hassam

Always try to understand the crowd psychology. Decreased volatility breakout is one of the subsets of breakout trading. While this strategy is similar to the strategy of trading breakouts, but it is specific to a certain conditions in the forex market. Trading breakouts is one of the most popular ways of making pips from the forex market.

When prices change to a large extent within a short span of time, volatility tends to be high. Volatility is a measure of the scale of price fluctuations over time. The more the price changes during a certain period of time, the higher the volatility of the currency pair. The reverse also holds the volatility tends to be low during such periods when prices oscillate more or less close to a certain price level without deviating much from it over a long span of time.

It is the periods of high volatility that lets traders make pips and it is the volatile nature of the forex market that attracts the risk seekers in search of high returns. However, entering the market in periods of high volatility can be stressful for most of the traders as they dont know whether the trade will go their way or not. Why not concentrate on the low volatility period instead of focusing on the high volatility market.

Just like other financial markets, there is a tendency in the currency prices to alternate between periods of high volatility and low volatility in the forex market. This recurrent pattern is due to the crowd psychology which is the force behind changes in the forex market.

You must understand how trend is developed in the currency market and how the crowd psychology affects the different phases of the trend. There are four main stages of a trend and there is a different crowd psychology behind each stage of the trend. These four stages are: 1) Nascent Trend, 2) Fully Charged Trend, 3) Aging Trend and 4) End of Trend. These four stages are closely linked to the cycle of volatility in the market. Lets discuss these stages of a trend in detail.

First Stage-Nascent Trend: Most market players are still skeptical about the possible new trend direction during the nascent stage of the trend. In the beginning when the new trend just starts either upside or downside, volatility is low as both bears and bulls tread carefully and are cautious. Nothing is clear at this nascent stage of the trend when it is forming. Market players are trying to confirm or deny the start of a new trend. So everyone is cautious whether the new trend will continue or it will fizzle out.

Second Stage-Fully Charged Trend: The trend is in full progress and it is time for more action now. During this stage the trend becomes well established. The trend becomes fully charged as there is now evidence from fundamental data that supports the trend direction. When the new information proves them wrong, traders who are caught on the opposite side of the market become exposed. They become desperate to get out of the wrong side of the market.

A lot of changing positions will take place during this period. Traders who were initially on the wrong side of the market become new converts to the trend. This causes the currency prices to move more dramatically within that stage.

Everyone wants to jump in the trend. More and more positions are established. Traders become convinced of the direction of the trend and new information convinces most of the traders of the direction of the trend. Hence volatility tends to be high during this period. This brings prices to higher highs in an uptrend or lower lows in a down trend. Always remember, Trend is your friend. Ride the trend as long as it lasts. - 23218

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Know These Forex Charts. Learn Forex Trading!

Secrets to Stock Charts

By Mike Swanson

Stock charts can be incredibly useful to people that are interested in trading stocks on the open stock market. You will be able to analyze the information from the charts as a means to ensure that you are only making the smartest investments that you could possibly make. Even stock market beginners can use them.

You will need to be able to analyze the information that you find on the stock charts in order to be able to determine if it is a good idea to invest in a particular stock or not. The charts primarily show the fluctuating market as a whole and give you statistics about all the open stocks that you can inadvertently choose to invest in.

Remember before you ever commence in trading on the open stock market, that there will be some underlying risks to every investment that you make. Simply because stocks are based off of company revenue they do have a reason to decrease as well as increase as they please.

The current economic recession that the world has been facing for the past few years has caused a lot of people to turn away from investing on the open market. The humorous thing is many of the people that made the decision to quit their investments that they had on the market, have since came back after they discovered that the main place to be able to make an income is on this open market.

Stock charts will give you a firm understanding of how the open stock market works. Inadvertently many people still follow the same guidelines when it comes to trading; they strike when the stock is low and hope that it rises so they will inadvertently make a profit.

The overall probability of a stock rising when it is at a somewhat lower stature is 50/50. However, through utilization of the stock charts many people have been able to distinguish between what stocks will serve them justice and what stocks will simply take them for everything that they have.

The stock charts have proven to be both beneficial and extremely helpful for both veteran and new investment traders as well. - 23218

About the Author:

If you want to learn more about technical analysis go to www.wallstreetwindow.com.