| Greg Guenthner coming to you from Baltimore, MD...  There's nothing worse than getting stuck holding a lame stock… But you don't have to deal with the emotional pain caused by the meltdown of one of your investments. If you learn the two simple market truths I'm about to reveal today, you could actually protect your brokerage account from big losses. I'll also show you how to use these tips to spot a failing investment before you buy shares… Listen, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the story of an exciting company. In fact, nearly every person who has invested a dollar in the stock market has bet on an intriguing story. There are plenty of compelling businesses out there. However, we all know that most of these stories don't pan out-especially when it comes to futuristic technology. Don't feel bad-- we've all laid money on a bold speculation that delivered terrible returns (I still can't believe it's 2015 and hoverboards aren't a thing). Unfortunately, losing money on what you thought was a sure thing can be traumatic. You'll find yourself wondering why it went bad. You might even want out of the market for good… However, the two market truths I'm revealing today will hopefully put an end to your uncertainty. They don't require an advanced knowledge of economics or finance. And you can apply the tips to virtually any investing situation. Here's what you need to know… First, a stock can become "detached" from the company it represents. What this means is the share price can quickly drop—even if the company in question is releasing favorable news or impressive earnings. A sharp decline in share price on "good news" is one of the most gut-wrenching situations you'll experience when investing. It's frustrating. And it can cause you to think irrationally. There are countless reasons the stock of a seemingly good company can drop. The company could simply be too early along the development curve to attract more investors. Maybe the investing public has yet to grasp the company's potential. Or maybe a big fund is liquidating its shares. Any of these situations can drive down the share price—no matter how good recent news has been for the stock. The truth is, promising companies can have bad weeks or even bad years. You have to prepare for the possibility that your idea might not translate to an obvious investment to the average speculator… Don't believe me? Just look at how GoPro has performed this year: 
Is GoPro about to go bankrupt? Probably not. Is it a terrible company? I doubt it. But that's not stopping this stock from completely tanking this year. Sure, GoPro will probably turn things around eventually. But that's cold comfort for anyone who bought shares over the past 12 months. This brings us to the second market truth you need to remember… Strong selling usually won't abruptly stop and turn into buying. This is one of the most important investing lessons you'll ever learn. So pay attention… If the market collectively decides to sell a stock for any reason, the selling is likely to continue. Period. I don't care if the stock is selling off due to a rogue analyst chopping the stock to bits or a clueless blogger trying to get his name out there by bashing random companies. I know it's tempting to talk yourself into holding a stock that just took a punch to the gut. But nine times out of ten, this is suicidal behavior. Rarely will you see a stock reverse course and move higher immediately following a strong selloff. Investors and traders won't want to buy a stock that's diving headfirst into a strong downtrend because they think they'll be able to get it cheaper if they wait. Think about it. Would you buy a stock that's dropping every single day? I didn't think so… When it comes to both of the situations we've discussed today, it's important to identify when sellers are taking control. If the price starts to move lower on high volume, you must act immediately to preserve your capital. After all, you can always wait and buy shares at a lower price if you still believe in the company. Hey, it's better than going broke chasing a losing stock… Sincerely, Greg Guenthner [Ed. Note: Send your feedback here: rude@agorafinancial.com - and follow me on Twitter: @GregGuenthner] | 
© 2015 Agora Financial, LLC. 808 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202. Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized investment advice. 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.