Got any tips on getting started?

[BearDown]

Let me say that I don't know anything about the stock market at all, but I have been starting to think about getting into it. Is there any advice you can give me to get me started in a right direction. Thanks.

[therealdeal]

follow analysts ratings it helps n use money management it works

[molta02]

I'd suggest checking out the Foreign Exchange Markets (google FOREX), and do currency trading. I've researched it extensively, and it is easier to make money (and more of it) than in the stock market.

[BettorsChat]

Let me say that I don't know anything about the stock market at all, but I have been starting to think about getting into it. Is there any advice you can give me to get me started in a right direction. Thanks.

You need to get some good books first about the market/markets and read them real good.

[BearDown]

Thanks Deal, Molta, and BC for your input. BC do you know of a good book to get started on or a web site? I've been watching Mad Money on MSNBC and the guy that does the show has gotten me intrested in the market. My sports book betting has not been doing well, and I have not placed a bet in about a week and a half and I find myself being real board. Who knows maybe I'll become a market Tycoon LOL. Thanks again.

[videoman]

Reminiscences Of A Stock Operator By Edwin Lefevre
Tools And Tactics For The Master Day Trader By Velez/capra
Both Are Great Tools To Get A Foothold In Trading. Good Luck... The Dude

[CheechB03]

Diversify using mutual funds. Let the experts do the investing for you.

Invest in gold, Japan, China and Latin America funds.

[RJeremy]

Diversify using mutual funds. Let the experts do the investing for you.

Invest in gold, Japan, China and Latin America funds.

Exactly right. If you're new to this, stick with 5* mutual funds. You can go to Morningstar or Yahoo and find the rankings on them.

I also have a lot of China stocks and gold......ENERGY is big too

[thaikarate1]

Go to MSNBC website and look at their mutual funds. Find the one that has been arounf for at least 10 years and if they are doing better than 15-20 % per year during those time. Buy that fund. Some funds may even have a better return rate.

If you are young. 40 and under. go for the aggressive one. Put money in it weekly or monthly and just leave it there and until you retire. This should be money that you do not need right away.

Here are some that have great return for the last 3 years:

CGM Realty 52.35%
ProFunds Ultra Real Estate Inv 41.63%
Alpine U.S. Real Estate Equity Y 40.71%
ProFunds Ultra Real Estate Svc 40.19%
Alpine International Real Estate Y 38.84%
Cohen & Steers Realty Focus I 38.34%
Strategic Partners Real Estate Sec A 38.30%
Strategic Partners Real Estate Sec B 37.20%
Cohen & Steers Realty Shares 36.14%
Morgan Stanley Real Estate A 35.66%

Do more research on them. As you knwo most of these are real estate funds. They could be losing some steam, since real estate is possibly stablizing in the next year.

Here are a few more from msnbc:

Symbol Company 3-month YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
UNWPX U.S. Global Investors WrldPrecMineral 36.71 18.11 55.16 43.95 44.17
LETRX ING Russia A 34.97 23.17 92.59 55.15 47.41
USERX U.S. Global Investors Gold Shares 32.56 16.36 57.22 35.21 38.53
MIDSX Midas 31.25 12.37 59.24 32.94 31.95
DPCAX Dreyfus Premier Greater China A 29.19 18.45 20.30 26.63 11.37
DPCTX Dreyfus Premier Greater China T 29.07 18.37 19.95 26.38 11.43
DPCBX Dreyfus Premier Greater China B 28.95 18.33 19.37 25.67 10.49
DPCCX Dreyfus Premier Greater China C 28.92 18.32 19.41 25.72 10.52
USAGX USAA Precious Metals and Minerals 28.73 12.23 56.99 34.96 40.92
INPMX RVS Precious Metals Fund Class A 28.60 15.18 46.65 26.88 28.44

[thaikarate1]

Symbol Company 3-month YTD 1-year 3-year 5-year
UNWPX U.S. Global Investors WrldPrecMineral 36.71 18.11 55.16 43.95 44.17
LETRX ING Russia A 34.97 23.17 92.59 55.15 47.41
USERX U.S. Global Investors Gold Shares 32.56 16.36 57.22 35.21 38.53
MIDSX Midas 31.25 12.37 59.24 32.94 31.95
DPCAX Dreyfus Premier Greater China A 29.19 18.45 20.30 26.63 11.37
DPCTX Dreyfus Premier Greater China T 29.07 18.37 19.95 26.38 11.43
DPCBX Dreyfus Premier Greater China B 28.95 18.33 19.37 25.67 10.49
DPCCX Dreyfus Premier Greater China C 28.92 18.32 19.41 25.72 10.52
USAGX USAA Precious Metals and Minerals 28.73 12.23 56.99 34.96 40.92
INPMX RVS Precious Metals Fund Class A 28.60 15.18 46.65 26.88 28.44

[goodboy]

I would read as many books as possible and do testing testing and more testing and do not follow the analysts. If they were so good they wouldnt be working for a news station they would be trading full time its just like most sports handicapping services they lose more then they win

[CheechB03]

Diversify using mutual funds.

Start with No Load funds. ProFunds, T Rowe Price and Fidelity are both very good fund families.

Like RJ stated above. Stick with Morningstar 4* or 5* funds.

I also use Yahoo Mutual Fund Screener

http://screen.yahoo.com/funds.html

[CheechB03]

I would read as many books as possible

A good book to start with:

Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World.

However, once again leave the investing to the experts. Invest in Mutual funds.

I'm invested in ProFunds Precious Metals mutual funds. Gold pricing has dipped the past few weeks. Now might be a good time to invest.

Another fund I'm invested in is ProFunds UltraJapan mutual fund. Japan is another you might want to consider. The Japan funds have been flat the past 3 or 4 weeks.