Basic Investment Principles In The Stock Market – Part 2

This the second part of the series on the discussion of principles of investment in the stock market. This is the continuation of a four part series. We previously discussed the first principle. This involves realizing that the stock market is just another investment vehicle. You must realize that there are other vehicles of investments before you decide to invest in the stock market. In this article the next two principles will be discussed. Please visit my blog if you want to view the entire article.

2.) Investing in the stock market is a roller coaster ride – The advantage in the stock market is that when it goes up, big profits are often made. But when it drops fast, big losses are made also.

Bearing in mind that the stock market is a roller coaster ride it is generally best to sell when the market goes up and buy when the market goes down. When I started investing in the stock market about 2 years ago, the Philippine Stock exchange index was about 2000 + points. It went up to 2500 points and then down to the 2000 level in the middle of 2006. Slowly and steadily it climbed up to the 3200 level during the 1st quarter of 2007. It then went down in a very short period of time during the final days of the 1st quarter of 2007. It steadily climbed to a high of 3700+ points in July 2007 but went down below 3000 points a month after. It rose steadily to its highest at 3800+ points by October 2007, but after a month dropped to 3600 points.

The conclusion here is that it is really a roller coaster ride. During those up and down moments of the market, profits and losses are made

3.) Long term or short term ? – You should determine what type of investor you are. Ask yourself the question on whether you are a long term investor or a short term investor. This question is very important and should be asked by every serious new investor. The reason for such is because it affects whether you should buy or sell a certain stock.

Take note that If you are a long term investor, this means means that you hold your stocks from 5 to 10 years or more. This actually means that you believe in the company that you are investing in. Since you are putting in your money for a long period of time, you must be certain that such money you put in is considered already as extra.

Long term investors also do not have to worry about the gruesome day to day technical analysis that has to be monitored. For as long as they believe in the fundamentals of the company there is no problem if the stock is held for a long period of time. But if you are a short term investor, that means you decide to cash in within a months time to 6 months time, then you should consider several things. You have to monitor the day to day activities of the market.

Similar to the the long term investors, short term investors have to make sure that they can afford to put in their money for a long period of time. But such time is not as long as that of the long term investor. One of the main reasons for doing that is because during the short period wherein you plan to invest and pull out your stocks, it is possible that you might incur losses. With this in mind you might decide to wait a while.

When I started out I determined to be more of a long term investor. I do have stocks whom I consider as short term but I consider most of the stocks I hold to be invested in the medium and long term period.

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, money management, business, making money online and Stock market investing

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