Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Scamelot, a dedicated thread to Cyto in Orlando -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim Bishop who wrote (204)	5/30/1999 3:14:00 PM
From: Jim Bishop	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 349

Perspectives Weekend Edition - May 28 Commentary One of the greatest failings of the rookie trader is an inability to take losses. The seemingly natural thought is that losses mean failure, and holding a loser means holding out hope against failure. And so, the trader who has not yet paid enough tuition to the College of Trading holds his or her losers, apparently eager to pay tuition. Let us give you a free education. The smartest thing you can do when trading stocks is take losses. Take them early, make them small, and you will be well on your way to success in the stock market. Playing the stock market is like playing a complicated game of chess against thousands, many of them worthy, competitors. No matter how good you are, you should't expect to win all the time. Winning should be judged by the monthly statement you receive from your broker. If you made money over a large number of trades, you are beating the market. Checkmate. To enable a winning record in the market, it is not necessary to be right all the time. There are successful traders who aren't even right half the time. The key is to cut losses early, and let the profits run. You have to allow some margin of error, so selling a stock the instant it is down from where you bought is not what I am trying to suggest. However, you should establish a hypothesis before you buy a stock. Study market activity to gauge what a stock should do if you are right, and at what point you will be proven wrong. When the market tells you a decision was in error, accept the message with eagerness and take the loss. In the long run, the battle lost will lead to a war won. Enough Said.