Saturday, October 20, 2007

The Portfolio

Not long ago the Fed decreased the interest rates by 50 basis points (9/18/2007). The market rallied and so did my holdings. It showed a 30% return when the markets were up by 10%. I was building castles in air. A super jumper IPO STV (China Digital TV) came out and I picked a 100 for 31.00. It closed at 28 jumped to 39 then to 50 then to 54 in the next 4 days. I grabbed 50 more at 52.00. So, as it happens with a volatile stock it tanked to 42 in minutes following BIDU's revised analyst erstimate (Phew - a mere 300k). Call it Panic selling - I fell a victim. I surrendered my $2500 loss and let it fall to a mere $500. Huh - and as it happens always the stock turned and touched 47 and off to 50 in the next days. Not to be left out again I jumped right back there - this time to recoup lossed quickly - bought a 300 @ 50. With the overall portfolio showing gains I let this guy slowly slip to 46 42 and 37 when it has closed on this Black Monday anniversary in 2007 at 39.5. I dont know what market holds in store for Monday. Analyzing back I have just made $500 in all these weeks of trading, having been unable to hold on to my gains and see them melt away.....each day. This trading is not even taking me to the millionaire club in years. Few salient points:

- Grab your gains when it is reasonable. The truth is no one went broke taking profits.
- Cut losses short. That is the only way for you to stay in the street and pursue opportunities.

Well - these are not new to anyone who has traded for some time. But these basics will come back to haunt everyone - I believe you are empathizing! Waiting on Monday....

Friday, October 19, 2007

Black Friday

At the outset I have to admit this is my first blog ever! What drew me to this is the series of events in Wall Street on this Black Friday where the basics were relearnt time and again. The Blog is an online diary - someone told me. So what - I stopped writing diary ever since school. Let me not deviate now.

I want to be a Trillionaire. Well, yes, a USD Trillionaire. My philosophy in life is different - Make as much money when you are young and having a lot of energy to spend it. An expensive car, a royal home, fly in private jets, own an island off Mauritius. The power of compounding overwhelms everyone. The rule of 72 defines the years needed for doubling ones money. Even assuming I double my money every four years (compounded at 18% p.a) my seed of USD 30,000 will turn into (paltry) 32 Million USD in 40 years! How measly! So, here I am, trying to beat the market every single day of my life in my quest to become a Trillionaire - perhaps the first in the world. Can I do it? This is a summary of my past experiences, my daily tryst with truth (Read Wall Street and its gimmick creators) in reinventing wheels and finding out the best solution. I know I will succeed some day - well - in the next 20 years.

Hope you have fun with my blogs!