Stock Market - Basic Principles - Part 3

By Zigfred Diaz

This is part three on our discussion about the basic principles of investing in the stock market. Previously, the first three principles of investment was discussed. The first principle given was that you must realize that the stock market is just another vehicle of investment. The second principle dealt with realizing that investing in the stock market is a roller coaster ride. The third principle talks about determining what type of investor you are. In this article the next 4 principles will be discussed. Please visit my blog should you wish to view the entire article.

4.) You must realize that investing in the stock market does not take a lot of money but if you really want to make an impact on your portfolio you have to place in a substantial amount. - You don't need millions or hundreds of thousands of pesos to invest in the Philippine Stock market. You only need at least P 20,000.00 to somehow play it out. I started out with only this amount. In fact you can invest if you only have P 10,000.00 but for me that is too small an amount. For example Jollibee (JFC) shares cost only 51.50 per share as of today. The board lot (which is the minimum amount of stocks that you could invest in) is 100. 51.50 x 100 = P 5,150.00. This is the only amount you need to be a stock holder of Jollibee. Let's say in 1 year time Jollibee stocks climbed to P 100.00 per share, you have gained P 5,000.00 more. But if you had invested 200 shares you could have gained more than just investing in 100 shares.

5.) Be consistent in your investment - Start small but do not stay small. You must have the discipline to consistently invest a certain amount of your income to the stock market. This way you can have more capital thereby growing your portfolio. Over the years, I have slowly added to my investment. I did not stay at P 20,000.00. The act of investing should become your habit, and I say it is a good habit to develop.

6.) Minimize your losses, Maximize your profits - The loss is only on paper if your stock goes down. The actual loss occurs when you sell your stock at the "losing" price. The best thing to do therefore is to never ever sell at a loss. This is the reason why it is very important that the money that you invest in the stock market is considered as surplus money, not your emergency fund. If you invest your savings or emergency fund, you will be forced to withdraw sell your stock at a loss if you desperately need the money. To maximize your profit you must utilize profits you gained from the sales of stocks and the dividends you receive to buy more shares of stocks.

7.) Want to get rich quick ? Don't even think about investing in the stock market. - The stock market is not a get rich quick scheme. You should never ever expect to get rich overnight here. Investments always takes time to grow. If you hear about investments that give you shocking rates of return in a very short length of time, beware of those ! In the stock market, especially the Philippine stock market, it may take you several months or even years before you could say that you have made it big time. On certain rare occasions, there will be a time that it will only take weeks or days perhaps wherein you can make a killing, but again these are only rare occasions. This might occur when there is a consistent bull run or when there is an unusual going up or going down of prices within a certain period. - 23199

About the Author:

Would you want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he blogs about several interesting topics such as investments, financial management, business, making financial online and Stock market investing

Rule Of 72

By Zigfred Diaz

There was once an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who worked abroad for several years. At the age of 29 his savings already amounted to P 100,000.00 (Philippine peso)

Since the only investment vehicle he knew about was putting his money at the bank he went to the bank and deposited his P 100,000.00. The bank manager gladly accepted the money and even recommended that he put it at a time deposit account so that it would yield a higher interest rate at 4 % per annum.

So he placed his money in the time deposit account and waited until he reached the age of 65. At the age of 65 he went back to the bank and asked to withdraw the P 100,000.00 in his time deposit account. Lo and behold his P100,000.00 already became P 400,000.00 because of the interest. So he withdrew his money from the bank and lived happily ever after.

So tell me, is this a "live happily ever after" story or not? Do you think this OFW has "wisely" handled his money? Did he really maximize his money's potential or did he just made others more richer ?

The rule of 72 gives us the answers to the above questions. This rule determines how many years it will take your money to double. The rule is expressed in this very simple equation: 72 / interest = No. of years it takes for your money to double

Since the OFW deposited his money in a time deposit account, at 4 % per annum, his money will double every 18 years. (72 divided 4 % per annum = 18 years.) Since he deposited P 100,000.00 at age 29 add 18 years to that and his money will become P 200,000.00 when he reaches the age of 47. Add another 18 years to that and he reaches the age of 65 wherein this time his money becomes P 400,000.00

The bank on the other hand takes that P 100,000.00 and invests it at mutual funds, the stock market, the money market, government bonds, corporate bonds etc. averaging a 12 % return on the P 100,000.00 that the OFW placed under time deposit. Under the rule of 72, that same amount of money will double every 6 years. (72 divided by 12 % interest = 6 years)

So when the OFW went back to the bank after 36 years and claimed his P 100,000.00 the bank manager gladly gave him back his P 100,000.00 plus the interest of P 300,000 amounting to P 400,000.00. After all they already made P 6 million pesos out of the OFW's P 100,000.00. Now isn't that hi-way robbery?

You want to be wealthy and a better steward of your money? Think like the bank!!! Use the Rule of 72 wisely ! Make it work for you ! - 23199

About the Author:

Would you want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he writes about several interesting topics such as investments, financial management, business, making financial online and Stock market investing

Principles Of Investments In The Stock Market - Part 1

By Zigfred Diaz

A lot of people have asked me on whether they should invest in the Philippine stock market. Most of those who asked also wanted to know how to start doing it. I do not know if they are really serious about investing or if they are merely curious about it since it has been given emphasis lately considering its very positive performance.

The fainthearted has no business investing in the Philippine stock market or the stock market in general. A true investor always has expectations as to how much he will earn from a certain investment. Normally this is measured in terms of how much money will grow at a given time. (This is commonly known as interest per annum) Now that the Philippine Stock market is in its highest level for some time now, people think that they should get themselves involved. Sad to say most do not even have a grasp of the basic principles involved neither do they understand how the system works. This is not to imply that you have to be an economist before you should consider investing.

What I am saying is that you should understand the basic principles involved first before you could succeed in the stock market. While it is true that fortunes are made on the Stock market, loss of wealth has also been experienced by some. Some who just barge into the stock market without understanding the basic principles of investment end up leaving the stock market convinced that the stock market is no good at all as an alternative vehicle of investment.

Before I would even begin to tackle the ins and outs of the how to invest in the Philippine stock market you should first understand the basic principles of investment in order that you might enjoy trading and possibly succeed in the stock market. I will be discussing ten of them. We will discuss the first one here. The other points will be tackled on coming articles. If you wish to see the entire article please visit my blog.

1.) Its just another vehicle of investment - The stock market is just another vehicle of investment. There are other investment vehicles where you could invest your money. They have their advantages and disadvantages. One vehicle of investment is not more superior than the other. However this will not be discussed in detail here.

You must understand that the stock market belongs to an investment category called "Capital Markets." Capital Markets are divided further into several categories. Here alone, there are several investment vehicles wherein you could place your money. Examples of these investment vehicles aside from the stock market are real estate, pension funds, bonds, insurance, different types of savings and time deposit accounts. It is of vital importance that you know this fact because knowing the different types of investment vehicles under the Capital markets will help you evaluate whether or not you should invest in the Stock Market considering that there are other vehicles of investment.

As I said each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. What I personally did is not to place all of my eggs in one basket. I have invested in most of the Capital Markets including the stock market, insurance, pension, deposits, and bonds through mutual funds. - 23199

About the Author:

Would you want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he writes about several interesting topics such as investments, financial management, business, making financial online and Stock market investing

Basic Investment Principles In The Stock Market - Part 4

By Zigfred Diaz

This is the last installment of the series on stock market investment principles. We discussed about the first seven principles in the past three articles. Now we will be discussing the last three principles. If you wish to view the article in its entirety please visit my blog.

8.) Study Study Study !!! - You have to do a lot of study if you want to be a a successful stock market investor. Don't expect that you can just place in your money and hope that it will somehow grow. Read a lot of books and materials on the stock market. I started out this way. I searched the internet for materials on the stock market, especially the Philippine stock market. The Philippine stock exchange has an "investor's primer." I bought this material and other stuff from them.

You can also attend seminars on how to trade in the stock market. Several brokerage firms have conducted free seminars for those who are new to the stock market. I attended a 2 day seminar by CITISEC Online last year. CITISEC online is one of the most innovative, well managed and most active brokerage firms in the country. The information that you could learn is astounding. Studying the stock market requires continual study. You should not stop learning.

You should read all the materials and attend all the seminars you can to further expand your knowledge You should not give up when there are terms you could not understand. For example reading this article alone may give you a headache since there are words that you can't relate to. Words such as "points, "Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi), "Blue Chips" or "Bull run" may sound foreign to you. What is worse is that you don't even understand what a stock is. It does not matter. I started out not knowing what some of these things are.

Most of these things were never taught in school. But I learned slowly by reading and experiencing it myself. You should watch the movie "Pursuit of Happyness" You will be inspired on how one man's struggle to learn the stock market has led him to make millions through stock market trading.

9.)Know what is happening in the world around you - There are several factors that affect the stock market. Be aware of the news that is making headlines in the news paper. For sure this will give you a hint on the direction that the market will take. Never skip the business news. It is here where you will be given an idea as to which stock you should buy. I prefer reading the online version of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in order that I may know where the market is heading.

10.) Now is the best day to start - Some people say that experience is the best teacher. I agree, experience is the best way to learn. It does not matter if you start small at first, the most important thing is that you start immediately. Never procrastinate but don't rush immediately without first studying the basics. When you have already learned the basics of investments, start buying your first stock. The most rewarding thing in your career as a stock market investor is when you have profited from your first sale. - 23199

About the Author:

Want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he blogs about several interesting topics such as investments, money management, business, making money online and Stock market investing

The Advantages Of Investing In The Stock Market - Part 2

By Zigfred Diaz

In my previous article, the first part on the advantages or the reasons why you should invest in the stock market was discussed. Three points are highlighted, mainly potential for greater returns, part ownership of the company you are investing and belonging to a special group of people. This is the second part of this two part series. Check out my blog should you wish to view the article in its entirety.

4.) The stock market is still the one of the best investment - While it is true that investing in the stock market has its up and down moments, in the long run investing in the stock market is still one of the best investment vehicles out there. Stock market returns fluctuate from year to year. In 1986 we have the recorded highest return rate at 224 % and negative 41 % as the lowest return rate in 1997. Yet despite the markets up and down if you hold on to your money (Holding period of about 20 years) on the long term, the average return for investing in the stock market is 24 % to 28 % per year so in short you it is not possible to incur any loss if you are a long term investor.

5.) Investing in the Stock Market forces you to become financially literate, more aware of your environment and inspires you to learn. - When you invest in the stock market you are forced to read the business news and place significant meaning on major news headlines. News to you does not only become something to be discussed in the coffee shop but something that has an impact since you know it will affect how the market will behave. You will be compelled to understand terms that you did not even dream of understanding. You will become twice smarter than you were as you will keep on learning and reading in order to expand your knowledge. If you slept through your economics class before, your eyes will be wide open when you try to figure out what inflation means. You will be inspired to learn.

6.) Investing in the stock market will help you know what it means to harness the power of the internet - The progress of man is divided into several ages. We had the "stone age" the iron ages, bronze ages etc. then we moved up to the industrial age and now they say that we are in the "information technology age." In the information technology age, knowledge is power. For many of us that term is considered just an adage. But with online trading you will know what that means. Since I was in college I really wanted to know what it is like to invest in the stock market. I was just amazed when I see traders in movies, shouting buy or sell. But I did not invest back then mainly because of three reasons, lack of information, lack of capability and most of all lack of money.

The advent of the internet age has certainly changed a lot of things. The information technology is powered by the internet and information on anything is accessible via the world wide web. This has also the changed the way stock market trading is done. Because of this I am now able to do everything online such as monitoring the business news, buying and selling shares of stocks and transferring money to and from my accounts. A future development would be to trade stocks globally. Although this might prove to be a much more complicated area of study nevertheless the principles of stock trading are similar.

7.) Helps build the nation - Investing in the stock market helps build the nation. Most stock market investors may not realize this but this is one of the most noble objective and advantage of investing in the stock market. Companies who are listed in the stock exchange intends to infuse more capital into their business in order that such capital might be further used for expansion. Business expansions would mean more people are hired for work. The government also benefits as more taxes are being paid. This further translates into more economic activity which in the long runs helps build the nation.

For sure these reasons certainly make a convincing argument as to why you should invest in the stock market. - 23199

About the Author:

Want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he blogs about several interesting topics such as investments, money management, business, making money online and Stock market investing