stevep said:
I agree, prices on tech stock can fluctuate quite a lot. For a budding investor, like the OP, the best thing would be to start on the safer industries such as construction or the banking sector.
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buying Apple. No seriously (stock). I want advice..
- Thread starter EssentialParado
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I agree, prices on tech stock can fluctuate quite a lot. For a budding investor, like the OP, the best thing would be to start on the safer industries such as construction or the banking sector.
I realize it sounds stupidly simple, I should have put in there that the stock is trading right around it's all time high right now. So it is paving new ground going up, can be tough with people taking profits along the way. Also the post about buying high yield stocks is a valid point, but Apple doesn't pay a dividend.PBGPowerbook said:oh, so THAT'S how to make money...OK I've been going about this all wrong
Ahh. Thanks a lot for all your extra replies. Especially stevep - thanks for the link!
I know it's bad to buy on credit, but I wouldn't technically be buying on credit. I'm worth the money on paper, just don't have access to it yet.
I also know I shouldn't buy when it's high. But Apple just keeps getting higher and higher, if I wait, I just imagine it to be even higher when I come to it.
But also, you are right that I should buy on a rumor, heh. So I think I will hold off until the next big iPod.
I know it's bad to buy on credit, but I wouldn't technically be buying on credit. I'm worth the money on paper, just don't have access to it yet.
I also know I shouldn't buy when it's high. But Apple just keeps getting higher and higher, if I wait, I just imagine it to be even higher when I come to it.
But also, you are right that I should buy on a rumor, heh. So I think I will hold off until the next big iPod.
there is always rumors... for example intel macs very soon. But you never know what has already been factored into the shareprice.
Also, when you buy stock, you should have a plan on when to sell from the start... not timewise, or how much money you made (or lost) - more depending on how the shareprice develops. It is only worth keeping stock as long as it goes up (sounds evident), so the trick is to recognize when it starts going down, and sell. Getting the exact timing is pretty much impossible, but if you get it halfway right you should be good.
Of course, this is not an exact science. It depends a lot on your timeframe of investment, too. But buying stock with a wait and see mentality is a recipe for disaster. When things start to get rough (sudden price movements), you won't be able to act in a rational way (you might sell too soon or too late). It is really hard to sell a stock which drops... the tendency is to hold it until it goes back up ("if I sell now, I will lose money"). But sometimes it never goes back up... or it takes a really long time, during which you could be making money elsewhere.
Not sure if any of the above makes sense... I need to get lunch
Also, when you buy stock, you should have a plan on when to sell from the start... not timewise, or how much money you made (or lost) - more depending on how the shareprice develops. It is only worth keeping stock as long as it goes up (sounds evident), so the trick is to recognize when it starts going down, and sell. Getting the exact timing is pretty much impossible, but if you get it halfway right you should be good.
Of course, this is not an exact science. It depends a lot on your timeframe of investment, too. But buying stock with a wait and see mentality is a recipe for disaster. When things start to get rough (sudden price movements), you won't be able to act in a rational way (you might sell too soon or too late). It is really hard to sell a stock which drops... the tendency is to hold it until it goes back up ("if I sell now, I will lose money"). But sometimes it never goes back up... or it takes a really long time, during which you could be making money elsewhere.
Not sure if any of the above makes sense... I need to get lunch
I'm bumping this because I'm finally buying some stock in Apple (and I can't believe you guys put me off buying them back when I posted this topic! Grr! )
I checked out this site for buying shares (from the UK): http://www.hoodlessbrennan.com/products-services/online-trading/foreign-trading/ - and I'm confused by a few things. First off, the trading symbol is ACP - what happened to AAPL? Second, the charts and information all looks completely different to when I view it on google finance or yahoo finance, etc. - http://www.lse.co.uk/shareprice.asp?shareprice=ACP&share=apple_computer
If I'm buying stock in Apple from the UK am I not buying into the normal AAPL shares, but buying into some special UK version? That's not really what I want. I'm a bit confused.
)I checked out this site for buying shares (from the UK): http://www.hoodlessbrennan.com/products-services/online-trading/foreign-trading/ - and I'm confused by a few things. First off, the trading symbol is ACP - what happened to AAPL? Second, the charts and information all looks completely different to when I view it on google finance or yahoo finance, etc. - http://www.lse.co.uk/shareprice.asp?shareprice=ACP&share=apple_computer
If I'm buying stock in Apple from the UK am I not buying into the normal AAPL shares, but buying into some special UK version? That's not really what I want. I'm a bit confused.
as economic expert I can say:
you should have invested earlier.. there's much at stake trading with stock nd shares.
you should have invested earlier.. there's much at stake trading with stock nd shares.
Maybe it's best doing a bit more research before investing then... Have you tried any financial/stock market forums, as I think more people would be able to realistically advise you then a computing forum.
I'm bumping this because I'm finally buying some stock in Apple (and I can't believe you guys put me off buying them back when I posted this topic! Grr!
I checked out this site for buying shares (from the UK): http://www.hoodlessbrennan.com/products-services/online-trading/foreign-trading/ - and I'm confused by a few things. First off, the trading symbol is ACP - what happened to AAPL? Second, the charts and information all looks completely different to when I view it on google finance or yahoo finance, etc. - http://www.lse.co.uk/shareprice.asp?shareprice=ACP&share=apple_computer
If I'm buying stock in Apple from the UK am I not buying into the normal AAPL shares, but buying into some special UK version? That's not really what I want. I'm a bit confused.
ACP is AAPL on the London Stock Exchange.
See the wikipeda page on AAPL, and it will say (NASDAQ: AAPL, LSE: ACP, FWB: APC)
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I got told the same thing back when Apple was at $64. If I'd invested then I would have doubled my money now :]
Thanks. That's helpful on some level. I'll look more into different countries' stock exchanges and see how they relate to each other.
I got a lot of help when I posted this thread originally, so it seemed like a logical step to just ask the question in here again. I searched for a few hours to find financial forums which I've posted the question on too, but the majority of the threads have zero replies :/
I'll see what happens. But if anyone here can offer any more information that would be very helpful.
Fair enough - I had read through the entire thread, so I did see that people had been helpful to you in the past - just as long as you're not being led astray!
The only one holding you back from doing this is yourself.
I would recommend going out to a bookstore and buying a book on the market. (hopefully you've stopped looking at yahoo. . . look more at MSFT, seriously.)
It's really not that hard -- I've been using the market since I was 21.
I would recommend going out to a bookstore and buying a book on the market. (hopefully you've stopped looking at yahoo. . . look more at MSFT, seriously.)
It's really not that hard -- I've been using the market since I was 21.
Thanks for the help guys. I finally found an active UK forum discussing investing in the USA. For anyone curious (now or in the future), I found this thread particularly helpful: http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mid=9609275&sort=whole
Even though a couple of questions are relevant to Japan, it answered a lot of my questions. I've decided to take the suggestion in that thread and open a US dollar account through Charles Schwab.
Only problem is I shouldn't have assumed it would be a simple website registration. I have to send some kind of US tax form to register. And it's WWDC on Monday! Nooo
Thanks again for all the help!
Luke
Even though a couple of questions are relevant to Japan, it answered a lot of my questions. I've decided to take the suggestion in that thread and open a US dollar account through Charles Schwab.
Only problem is I shouldn't have assumed it would be a simple website registration. I have to send some kind of US tax form to register. And it's WWDC on Monday! Nooo
Thanks again for all the help!
Luke
Was that the W8-BEN form? I recently bought apple shares and that was the form required to clear myself from US tax.
One piece of advice. If you are dealing through an online broker, call them up to find out whether the form has gone through yet and don't assume the website will suddenly let you buy. I did that and when it wouldnt let me buy, 5 days later, i called them up to find out it had been processed and something else was wrong with the site.
Toby
One piece of advice. If you are dealing through an online broker, call them up to find out whether the form has gone through yet and don't assume the website will suddenly let you buy. I did that and when it wouldnt let me buy, 5 days later, i called them up to find out it had been processed and something else was wrong with the site.
Toby
Just a little bit of new information: there is a new stock trading website called Zecco.com that allows you to trade with ZERO commissions. That means you buy AND sell and it costs you NOTHING. The only catch is that there is a limit of a maximum of 10 trades/day and 40 trades/month. Look at the website. There ARE some other types of things that they do charge for, but for simply buying or selling stock, it is FREE. The other things they charge for are CLEARLY listed on their website and usually things that most basic investors don't even do anyway.
If you're going to just buy or sell occasionally, don't pay TD Ameritrade, E-Trade, or Schwab or anyone else. Do it for free at Zecco!!! Not much in life is free.
By the way, I am IN NO WAY AFFILIATED with Zecco.com. I just recognize a great deal when I see one!
If you're going to just buy or sell occasionally, don't pay TD Ameritrade, E-Trade, or Schwab or anyone else. Do it for free at Zecco!!! Not much in life is free.
By the way, I am IN NO WAY AFFILIATED with Zecco.com. I just recognize a great deal when I see one!
That's correct, vintagetobe, it's the W8-BEN form. Thanks for the tip!
Although, after going to register with schwab, I found they needed a deposit of $10,000 to open my account
Not really accessible for a beginner. So I'm looking for an alternative that's very similar to schwab but requires no more than a $2,000 deposit.
At least, that's my position for now But I can think about this site for the future if I become a pro.
Although, after going to register with schwab, I found they needed a deposit of $10,000 to open my account
Not really accessible for a beginner. So I'm looking for an alternative that's very similar to schwab but requires no more than a $2,000 deposit.
That seems very good, and thanks for the tip,StratoMAC. But there's no way I am going to do even 10 trades per month, let alone 10 per day! I'd need to start making them up!
At least, that's my position for now But I can think about this site for the future if I become a pro.
Dear Essential Parado
They have been due for a stock split for quite some time now. I hope they drop down low enough to let you in. No one has mentioned just how fun Mac is as a company to follow and how being aware of what a company is doing is important and fun in this case. My Dad always says people love to hate Mac and that is why to not invest in them. Makes sense to me but hasn't stopped me from seeing my apple stock grow like grass in the summer. As long as it isn't Mac vs. the World and you like Jobs' keynotes go for it. One last thing, avoid small term capital gains by holding on to your stock for a year or more (?) it's true in America that the tax laws change. Good luck!
They have been due for a stock split for quite some time now. I hope they drop down low enough to let you in. No one has mentioned just how fun Mac is as a company to follow and how being aware of what a company is doing is important and fun in this case. My Dad always says people love to hate Mac and that is why to not invest in them. Makes sense to me but hasn't stopped me from seeing my apple stock grow like grass in the summer. As long as it isn't Mac vs. the World and you like Jobs' keynotes go for it. One last thing, avoid small term capital gains by holding on to your stock for a year or more (?) it's true in America that the tax laws change. Good luck!
its been advised on yahoo finances that a good idea will be to sell short Apple in anticipation of the iPhone flop.
Hehe, the iPhone flop. Do you know something we don't?
EssentialParado, try The Share Centre at www.share.com. Thats what i use and is what my dad has been using for years. Trading prices vary from about £4 to £7 as far as i am aware.
Good luck!
Toby
"its been advised on yahoo finances that a good idea will be to sell short Apple in anticipation of the iPhone flop."
The absolute worst thing you can do as a newbie investor is to follow the yahoo finance message boards, especialy for aapl. There is absolutely no worthwhile info to be found there, and quite a lot of dangerous disinformation.
The absolute worst thing you can do as a newbie investor is to follow the yahoo finance message boards, especialy for aapl. There is absolutely no worthwhile info to be found there, and quite a lot of dangerous disinformation.
Thanks for the link Toby. I read the site but it seems they only trade with a selection of US companies, and I really need a broker with full access to US companies, like schwab. Basically every US website does it, but I need to find the US website with a UK branch.
I was looking at E-Trade but their website is so frustrating. It has so much text but it doesn't tell me anything!
BTW, for those curious who is telling people to short Apple, it's John Dvorak.
