Stock Charts and Your Finances

In order to capitalize on the stock market, it pays to learn how to read stock charts. A stock chart is a graph that represents the value of a given stock or group of stocks (called an index). Stock charts graph values over a specified time interval. The daily stock report shows values of stocks for the current day of trading. The reason why it pays to learn how to read stock charts is because they can quickly show you stock values and also show how wide the range was during the day (if using a daily stock report). In essence, you gain information about the possible profits and losses when read stock charts.

If you read the daily stock report, then you may be ready to take the next step into learning how to read stock charts, watch trends, and expand your investing know-how. Stock charts are varied in size and scope, and therefore allow you to see the many different things you need to in order to make informed trading decisions. Some charts will show you the activity in a given day, while others will show market trends over the course of several years.

In years past, stock charts were read in print. Today, however, learning how to read stock charts can be done online in the comfort of your own home. Taking a course on how to read stock charts can come in handy, as many stock charts are now found online and are interactive. This works to the advantage of the trader because it allows you to track stocks over any period of time needed. Online, interactive stock charts make researching investments an overall easier practice. They also give you more information at your fingertips than you would get with just the daily stock report.

There is more that goes into stock trading than just looking at the daily stock report; even more than knowing how to read stock charts. To really be successful in doing your own trading, you’ve got to be able to look past analysis when need be. Just because a stock may fall doesn’t mean that it’s no good. Sometimes it is when the stock of a particular company falls that you can benefit the most from buying it.

While knowing how to read stock charts can give you a good start in growing investments, it isn’t the end of the road. There is a lot that goes into trading, whether you are engaging in online trading through a brokerage firm, or you have hired an investment broker to do the work for you. The investing that is done on your behalf, or by you, directly affects your future. By knowing the language of trading and learning how to read stock charts, you give yourself the best chance of having a helping hand in your own financial security.

The payoff is worth the learning you must do. Navigating your way through the investment game can lead you to that long-awaited vacation, or just safely into retirement. Whatever your dreams are for the future, learning the stock market is one piece of the puzzle to help you reach them.

© 2010 FastSwings.com

Plan for a Secure Financial Future

When talking finances, many people tune out far before they should. Perhaps you fall into this category. Perhaps you feel that securing a financial future is out of reach. This simply isn’t true. The fact of the matter is that the sooner you start thinking about your long-term financial plan, the better your chances of making sure it is as secure as you’d like it to be.

A big part of financial planning comes in the way of college for your kids. You may not even have kids at this point, but opening an IRA, either a traditional IRA or a ROTH IRA, can be a great starting point for investing in the future educational needs you are sure to face. By planning early, before your life becomes hectic with family and work obligations, you ensure that you don’t let time run away from you; leaving you without much-needed college funds. Additionally, you will have more disposable income before you have children. By getting an early start, you can balance out the savings once children do enter the picture.

Investing is a common practice that will help you grow the money you earn now. Investing doesn’t have to be a risky endeavor. In fact, you could put yourself through a reputable stock trading course to learn everything you need to about trading and reading the daily stock report. Learning the basics of investing can be done in the comfort of your own home oftentimes. A good stock trading course doesn’t have to be a college-style course; just something that gives you a greater understanding of the daily stock report and stocks in general.

Buying and trading stocks can be a practice that you engage in for a lifetime. Because there is so much you can learn in a stock trading course, you set yourself up to really make a significant impact on your finances by taking one. This will reduce the learning curve and give you confidence to get involved in online trading.

Sometimes it helps to sit down with a financial planner. However, there are some questions you can ask yourself, alone or with your partner, to gauge the best way to make sure your future needs are taken care of. Here are a few questions you can address.

• What are your short-term financial goals?
• What are your long-term financial goals?
• How much income do you make today and how much do you hope to make in five years? In 10 years?
• What are your career goals?
• How many children do you want, if any? How will children change your budget?
• Do you plan to purchase a home? If you currently own, will you need a bigger home later?
• When do you hope to retire?
• Do you own a business or hope to start one?
• How will you protect your family if something happens to you or your partner?

Planning for your future financial picture is a task that pays huge rewards when done in time. You will find that it hurts much less than you may have originally thought to start putting away for your future.

InfoSpace Surges, Who Knew?

Who knew that InfoSpace (INSP) was still around? The search company was popular in the early stages of the Internet, way back in the 1990s. But the company said today that revenue and earnings are going to far exceed the current projections for the fourth quarter. It’s stock rose close to 25% on the news.

Not anywhere near it’s 2000 peak of $1,305, the stock closed the day at $11.59. One of the dot-com darlings, the company has survived and even acquired a number of mobile properties since the bursting of the bubble, including Go2Net, Moviso, and Switchboard.

InfoSpace now expects revenue to be close to $70 million or an increase of 90% from the same quarter a year ago. The prior estimate was for only $57-60 million in revenue. New earnings forecasts are in the range of $6.3 million to $7.5 million compared to analysts estimates of $3.4 million to $4.4 million. The company lost $6.8 million last year.

If you have dotcom fever once again, InfoSpace looks attractive with a 38.63 price to earnings ratio and 90% growth.

Goldman Sachs (GS) Begins Climb to Earnings

Even with the overall markets declining slightly in light trade on New Year’s Eve, Goldman Sachs continues to climb heading into their fourth quarter earnings in mid to late January. Up close to 2% on Thursday, Goldman began to move higher on Tuesday after three months of lackluster movement. A report from Bloomberg came out the same day detailing the leading role Goldman has over others in underwriting fees for Initial Public Offerings.

Earnings Estimates

The earnings estimates have not improved too much, despite the report, as the current quarter has a recent decrease in expectations from 5.56 a share to 5.47 a share. Next quarter is a little more promising with profit estimates improving from 4.38 a share to 4.46. Year end buying by portfolio managers is more than likely the reason for the uptick. But the company’s earnings announcement shortly after the beginning of earnings season, January 11th, should provide additional support in the coming weeks.

Options Volume

The Call Options for Goldman Sachs also saw some volume on Thursday as strike prices in January of 165, 170, and 175 were popular. Later months did not see an significant volume increases.

© 2009 FastSwings.com

Jackson Hewitt Jumps on Wal-Mart and Earnings

On back to back days the two largest tax preparation services released prior quarter earnings. H&R Block Inc (HRB) reported on Tuesday disappointing investors who sent the stock tumbling from $20.48 a share to $19.90 a share on the day. Today saw the opposite reaction for Jackson Hewitt (JTX) which saw their shares bounce higher 17% on a better than expected loss. These companies are both cyclical and usually post profits during the first 2 quarters of a calendar year only.

H&R Block Inc.

The H&R Block loss was better than expected at 38 cents compared to 40 cents. But the company also announced the closing of 400 stores in 2010 and their exit from Wal-Mart stores across the country. They also forecasted single digital revenue growth during the coming year. TaxCut is a popular software product available from H&R Block that allows tax filling through self preparation. This form of tax filing is become more popular as compared to the face to face tax preparation that has been the standard for the company for years.

Jackson Hewitt

Jackson Hewitt lost 66 cents per share during the most recent quarter. But the company is excited about manning 1,800 Wal-mart stores with tax preparers this coming tax season. The company also has a new online tax preparation product that they will be releasing for the first time this January. These two revenue growth outlets have investors feeling good about the company. The 17% jump in price is a good opportunity to take profits if you have help the stock for some time. Otherwise, wait for the stock to fall back to preannouncement levels before buying.

Federal Reserve Sees Economic Improvement and Some Jobs

Late year reports from the 12 different regions of the Federal Reserve saw improvement in consumer spending and manufacturing according to a report released today. This is the best report since the recession began as 8 regions reported an increase in economic activity. Can this recovery continue after the First Home Buyer Tax Credit expires next April, more than likely it can.

Jobs Improvement

The Fed plans to keep rates were they are as inflation, even in recent reporting, has not increased. And maybe the best news of all is job improvements in the Boston area and the service sector in St. Louis. Even with the two regions of job growth, the board doesn’t expect the unemployment rate (10.2%) to move downward until the middle of 2010.

S&P 500 Proshares

I still feel the best way to play the economic recovery is purchase Ultra S&P 500 Proshares ETF (SSO). There are other ETFs that you could also add to a portfolio but I tend to the use the double return S & P 500. It has fluctuated between $37 and $38 a share for the past month but should run if it breaks above $38.

© 2009 FastSwings.com

Coca Cola Reaches New 52 Week High

The Coca Cola Company (KO) fell slightly on Wednesday after reaching a new 52 Week High the past two trading sessions. On Monday a report came out from the Financial Times that the company plans to double it’s bottling capacity in China and triple it’s sales within the country over the next 10 years.

Call Options Volume

Options Volume for KO Shares rose nearly 2000% on Wednesday (According to Options Dragon) with over 350,000 contracts changing hands. December Calls for 52.50 and 55.00 were strong. Along with January Calls from a strike price of 40 up to a strike price of 52.50.

Expectations

Earnings estimates for the fourth quarter of 2009 don’t look to be improving much over time but first quarter 2010 and the full yearly earnings for 2010 have seen some expectation growth. Next quarter earnings are expected to be 15% better than a year ago while 2010 is expected to be 11% more profitable than 2009. Revenue is expected to grow at 1% this quarter and 8.7% next quarter.

KO Trade

The Forward Price to Earnings ratio (P/E) for Coca Cola (KO) is currently at 16.99, a little rich for the expected growth of the company next quarter. The stock has rallied 28% over the past 52 weeks and is due for a pull back from it’s high. I would wait for a correction of 5% before building a position.

Dell Falls on Poor Earnings

Dell Inc (DELL) reported today a 54% decline in income for it’s most recent quarter along with a 15% reduction in revenue. The company missed estimates on both fronts and the stock was battered 10% lower on Friday. The bad report has made some investors question the technology leadership and the overall market rally.

Opposite of Other Tech Giants

These earnings are in contrasts to a number of other technology companies that have beaten estimates and performed well during the 3rd quarter. HP, Intel, and IBM have all done well with HP and Intel both operating in the consumer PC space. Michael Dell stated during the announcement that the company has seen consumer strength in the last 30-60 days. This would correspond with the beginning of holiday shopping in the US.

Consumer Buying

Dell has not suffered because of the consumer in the last quarter but because of it’s reliance on business spending and government contracts. Both business and government revenue declined for Dell. Laptops and Netbooks have become hot items this year and Dell is missing some of this trend. At the same time Dell is moving into the services market with its recent acquisition of Perot Systems.

http://www.tradestockamerica.com

© 2009 FastSwings.com

Gold: Don’t Fight the Trend

An old saying in trading technical charts is ‘don’t fight the trend’. And this has been the case with Gold over the past year, every pause in the rally of the price of gold has been a good opportunity to buy. Of course this could reverse if the US dollar was to gain support with a monetary change by the Federal Reserve. But that doesn’t not appear to be on the minds of the Federal Reserve.

Gold rallied to a new high today as Federal Reserve officials spoke about keeping the current historic low interest rates in place until there is a more forceful economic recovery in America. Gold is moving in the reverse direction as the US Dollar which has fallen over the past 15 months and looks to continue falling until their is a policy change.

Inflation is also a concern for traders who are predicting a rise in consumer costs as the dollar continues to fall. Gold is then used as a hedge against the inflation and the fall in the dollar. Gold reached a new high of $1119.10 an ounce this morning on the NYME and closed slightly lower by mid-afternoon. Investors can play the price of gold rather conservatively by buying the Exchange Traded Fund, Spiders Gold Shares (GLD), and following practical trading guidelines.