SocialPicks.com and StockTickr.com are two new websites that are trying to get on that short-list of sites you use to research and comment on stocks. I’ve signed up for both sites this weekend and played around a bit. Here are my first impressions of the alpha version of SocialPicks and the free version of StockTickr.
Jason just posted in our forums about a new site called SocialPicks (announcement) which allows users to rate and review stocks online in a Digg-like social fashion. This could be a really interesting experiment in social investing. Will it lead to finding more undiscovered stocks or will it be abused and go to prove that (more…)
What is it about investing that motivates so many thousands of investors? It is said that the two emotions of every trader is fear and greed. Maybe. But do boys want to grow up to be the Sheriff of Nottingham, stealing from the poor to line their on coffers? What every boy desires is an adventure and to be a hero. This is no clearer than to look at boys as they play, watching them defend their pillow castles, build their appliance box spaceships, and battle with stick swords.
In this emasculated world of dull grey desks, neon office lights, and flickering computer screens, where do boys go to feel alive? No boy says, “I want to be an office drone when I grow up!” The man’s heart desires to be put to the test so he can prove he has what it takes. So the city boy must grow up to find his place in a concrete jungle, and in what better place can a man prove himself than in the lurid and dangerous world of the market.
For the past couple weeks, Jim Cramer’s been talking up the stock of the Canadian mining company Crystallex International Corporation (AMEX:KRY) on his radio and TV shows. The thesis on this company is based around Las Cristinas, a gold mine in Venezuela owned but not yet mined by the company. But that situation should change soon as all but one of the Venezuelan government agencies required have granted permission for Crystallex to tap the mine.
The last of these permits is expected soon. An active gold mine would bring many jobs to the country, which is starving for employment.
Why should we care about Las Cristinas and Crystallex? Because the current evaluation does not price in the full potential of the mine, one of the largest untapped gold mines in the world. Gold demand and gold prices are rising steeply and if the Las Cristinas mine comes online for Crystallex, they stand to make a lot of money. Cramer’s estimation is that the stock’s price should be somewhere between $12-$15 assuming the mine works out.
Financial planning is a rapidly growing and desirable field that recently made #3 on Money magazine’s 50 Best Jobs list. As defined contribution plans grow in popularity, so will the number of financial planners as more and more Americans seek guidance in understanding their investment options. It’s an interesting career blending sales, finance and one-on-one personal relationships with clients.
As of Monday, April 10th, 2006, Phil Town will no longer be responding to direct emails from his Gmail account. Each Monday, Phil will answer a randomly selected homework or question submitted to his site RuleOneInvestor.com. I’ve much appreciated Phil’s help these last few months and wish him well in his endeavors.
I was watching Deal or No Deal on CNBC last night and, being the numbers guy that I am, couldn’t help but think about optimal strategies and risk-reward evaluations. I thought about writing something down to enlighten the masses, but it seems someone has already spelled out the basis for an optimal strategy: Optimal Strategy (more…)
Google Finance has just been launched in Beta! A must see! http://finance.google.com
Phil Town’s new site is up at RuleOneInvestor.com. Check it out for podcasts, news, and calculators! Also check out FreeMoneyFinance who is holding a “Phil Town Day” with articles dedicated to Phil Town all day long.
Monday Reading Mark Cuban has written some interesting articles on investing. I think they’re a good read; it’s not the typical stuff you would hear from other investing pundits. – My Investment Advice for 2006 – The Stock Market is for Suckers – Long Tail of Investing Main takeaways: – When you buy stock, someone (more…)
