Playing the Stock Market. A Beginner's Journey

12/8 Wednesday - Easy come, easy go

2004-12-08T23:11:00.000-08:00

It happened again!
I decide to buy more SIRI and the stock takes a dive again! Only this time I held on to them and lost plenty, though still above my initial total investment.

SIRI dropped 23.45% (dn $2.11/Share) today taking most of my gains away.

Today I tanked against the averages.

Details tomorrow.

12/7 Tuesday

2004-12-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

Had a great Day today!

My transfered funds cleared this morning and I was able to purchase an additional lot of 290 shares of SIRI, whick had very nice growth today.

Here's How I did;

IES - dn 2.24% to $3.92
PACT - dn .57 % to $12.22
SIRI #1 - up 11.42% to $9.014
SIRI #2 - up 3.92% to $9.014 (purchased @ $8.67/Share)
ARGFX - dn .78% to $51.92

Against other averages;

DJIA - dn 1.01%
NAS - dn 1.7%
S&P - dn 1.11%
Me - up 2.35%

I've been doing great beating the Averages!

Excluding todays increased investment funds, My Investments were up 20.75% to date. Thats 20.75% growth on my Investments in 30 Days.

Including Today's additional Investment funds, My total Investments are up 15.69%

Go Sirius!
I bet it surpasses the $10.00 mark before week's end.

Peace!

12/6 Monday

2004-12-07T01:25:00.000-08:00

Hello, Happy Monday!

SIRI is still going strong. And more good news, factory installs available in Toyota, Lexus, and Scion Vehicles starting in Feb 05. I'm looking forward to more gains tomorrow. I'm trying to buy shares but that damn eTrade hasn't cleared the bank transfer I made Friday! Hopefully it will show in the morning.

Here's how I did today;

IES - dn 2.2% to $4.01
SIRI - up 7.68% to $8.13
PACT - up 2.03 % to $12.29
ARGFX - dn .55% to $52.33

Against other averages;

DJIA - dn .43%
NAS - up .15%
S&P - dn .08%
Me - up 1.74%

Investments are now up 17.25% to date.

Have a great Week!

I'm Back! Friday 12/3

2004-12-03T22:58:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a nice Holiday.
I've been out of town. Here's how I've been doing...

I took a rest after my last post and spent the week regreting selling those lots of SIRI as they started to climb again. So, on 11/30, after my trades cleared, I decided to Invest again in SIRI and bought 300 shares. I also bought 25 shares of PACT.

Here's how I did Today (And since purchase);

IES - up 14.53% to $4.10 (up 42.86% since purchase)
SIRI - up 3.99% to $7.55 (up 16.33% since purchase)
PACT - up 21.67 % to $12.045 (up 1.22% since purchase)
ARGFX - dn .06% to $52.62 (dn .45% since purchase)

Against other averages;
DJIA - up .07%
NAS - up .20%
S&P - up .07%
Me - up 10.03% Woo Hoo!

My Investments are now up 14.71% to date.

Very nice change from my last post two weeks ago. I gained over 14% in those two weeks.

IES is up on news of a sale of one of its businesses. Its been going great.
PACT did real nice Today. It had been going down on me.
SIRI is still growing strong. I should have held on to my first lots of this.
ARGFX is lagging bad. What happened to those high averages? I have almost 1/2 of my assets in this one and I'm not happy with its performance. I'm thinking about eating that withdrawl fee to get out and move it to stocks. My stock account is up 27.35% to date while ARGFX Fund is down .45%.

Lets hope next week is just as nice!

Have a great Weekend!

11/19 Friday oops!

2004-11-22T06:09:00.000-08:00

Today was not a great day.

My decision to buy more SIRI this morning was not a good move. The stock jumped yesterday on good news, then started dropping this morning. I was able to stop my losses by placing a stop limit order to sell if it fell to $5.20. It Did. In executing that sale I got into some trouble with my brokerage firm. Because I had purchased more SIRI shares with the proceeds from my IPXL sale and then sold those SIRI shares before the IPXL sale was settled, I am now on a restriction from using unsettled funds for purchases for 90 days, unless I transfer funds into the account to cover that unsettled amount. Spank my Hand!

Well Here's how I did Today;

IES - dn 1.81% to $2.71

SIRI #1 up 9.53% to $5.20 (Sold @ $5.20, Stocked ended the day @ $5.17)

SIRI #2 dn 5.45% (Bought at $5.50 Sold at $5.20)

ARGFX - dn .93% to $51.32

Against other averages;

DJIA - dn 1.09%

NAS - dn 1.6%%

S&P - dn 1.12%

Me - up .34%

My Investments are now up .33% to date, dropping again but still above water.

Well, in about an hour I lost 5.45% in My SIRI #2 Investment.

On the bright side, My investment in SIRI #1 made a 30.65% profit.

Now I'm counting on IES to grow. Lets go IES!

11/18 Thursday

2004-11-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

Another down day for me. I had to cut with some profits on IPXL as it slid again. They release a revised earnings report tomorrow, and are being sued by another firm. I then took those monies and placed a limit order for 325 more shares of SIRI which had more great news Today.

Here's how I did;

IES - dn 2.47% to $2.76
SIRI - dn 4.65% to $4.72
IPXL - dn 1.58% to $12.45 (Stock dropped 2.85% to $12.29 for the day)
ARGFX - up .08% to $51.80

Against other averages;
DJIA - up .22%
NAS - up .22%
S&P - up .14%
Me - dn 2.16%

Today is the first day my average was below the others.
My Investments are now up 2.28% to date, dropping again.

I had a bad feeling this morning and I knew I wouldn't be able to watch my stocks during the day, so i placed to stop limit orders for SIRI and IPXl, IPXl had been dropping the last few days and I don't think there will be good news tomorrow. Well the IPXL order was executed while the SIRI wasn't. I was able to get out of IPXL with an 11.16% profit. Not bad.

Along with the announcement that former Viacom Inc. President Mel Karmazin is joining SIRI as president and chief executive check out this clip;

NEW YORK (AP)--Shock jock Howard Stern, surrounded by strippers and cheered by thousands of fans, began promoting his switch to satellite radio Thursday at a Manhattan rally where he handed out free boom boxes and satellite subscriptions.
"Down with the FCC!" Stern told a legion of sign-waving backers gathered at Union Square. "They have ruined commercial broadcasting".

This is really going to get pumped up, it could be a Goldmine!
SIRI was up to $5.58 in after hours trading.

Go Sirius!

As for other good news, I won a 50" HDTV at a Company Meeting raffle today.
Woo Hoo!

11/17 Wednesday

2004-11-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

Here's how I did Today;

IES - up 1.07% to $2.83
SIRI - up 5.10% to $4.95
IPXL - dn 1.56% to $12.65
ARGFX - dn 3.07% to $51.76

Against other averages;

DJIA - up .59%
NAS - up 1.01%
S&P - up .55%
Me - up 1.54%

My Investments are now up 3.77 % to date, dropping again.

ARGFX hit me hard with a 3.07% drop. I have almost half my investment in this fund. I'm thinking about selling and moving it into stock but I will be charged a fee unless I leave it in for 6 months. I might think about paying the fee.

SIRI is still going strong. And more good news today; Factory Installed option in 2005 Mercedes Benz Models, and units on sale at Target Stores. SIRI stock rose to $5.04 in after hours trading. I predict more upward movement Tomorrow. I'm up 14.83% to date here.

Have a great Tomorrow!

11/16 Tuesday

2004-11-16T17:45:00.000-08:00

Well the Market was down today on news of a jump in wholesale prices, the largest in 15 years.

Here's how I did Today;

IES - dn 2.10% to $2.80
SIRI - up 5.84% to $4.71
IPXL - dn .85% to $12.85
ARGFX - dn .45% to $53.40

Against other averages;

DJIA - dn .59%
NAS - dn .74%
S&P - dn .71%
Me - up .61%

My Investments are now up 5.13% to date, dropping slightly.

SIRI is still going strong, I'm up 12.68% here to date, how high can it go?

Lets hope for a better day tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Monday 11/15 Begin Week Two

2004-11-15T18:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday!
I decided to sell DITC Today. It wasn't moving as well as I hoped. So I sold at $17.57, 14% above my purchase price/Share, but only a .803% profit turned on that investment. With those funds I bought 300 shares of IES, Integrated Electrical Services. It's shares had dropped about $2 over the last week due to a report that they are having problems getting bond funding to start new projects. They are working on it and other financing options. I'm betting that they get the funding. They've got projects lined up. OK....

Here's how I did Today;

IES - dn .35% to $2.86 (Executed at $2.87, closed at $2.86. The Stock was up 5.15% for the day)
SIRI - up 6.71% to $4.45
DITC - up .80 % to $17.57 ( Stock was up 1.20% for the day, $17.67)
IPXL - dn 1.37% to $12.96
ARGFX - up .11% to $53.64

Against other averages;
DJIA - up .11%
NAS - up .42%
S&P - dn .03%
Me - up 1.18%

My Investments are now up 5.44% to date.

IPXL continued to slowly drop and I found out why;

They are being sued in a Class Action.
The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period, IMPAX violated federal securities laws by issuing materially false or misleading public statements. On November 3, 2004, IMPAX announced that the "Company has postponed its release of 2004 third quarter financial results to Tuesday, November 9, 2004 in order to allow its independent auditors more time to complete their review of the Company's third quarter financial statements, including the timing of certain customer credits on bupropion products marketed by a strategic partner." On this news, IMPAX shares fell from a close of $13.00 per share on November 3, 2004, to close at $10.07 on November 4, 2004. On November 9, 2004, IMPAX announced that its 2004 results would be restated.

Hmmm, lol thats why i decided to buy! After the shares fell ofcourse. Anyway, I should have checked the company news sooner, posted 11/12 at 5:23pm, I may have been able to get out a bit early. But Im not worried, I think this one is at its low now, its gonna go back up. Besides Im still up 15.71% on this one to date.

SIRI continues to rise, I'm up 11.81% to date, and look at this news clip I found;

November 15, 2004
Coral Gables-based attorney/indecency crusader Jack Thompson has an offer for Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone - get rid of Howard Stern and the indecency watchdog will go away.

Looks like it might be going the way I had hoped. A lot of activity in this stock, 140 mill shares traded Today.

Another stock im watching is TMR, Meridian Resource, they're stock droped over $2 a share last week over conserns that drilling expenses have risen. They drill for gas (Natural I think) and with Oil prices dropping im sure the expenses are not. They fell again Today 6.6%.
I'll be watching this one to try to predict when it has bottomed out.

Friday 11/12/04 End of first Week.

2004-11-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Not a bad week. The new SIRI shares I got this morning helped cover the loss in IPXL.
Here's how I did;

SIRI - up 2.21% to $4.17 (Exectued at $3.98)
DITC - up 1.91% to $17.42
IPXL - dn 1.20% to $13.14
ARGFX - up .53% to $53.58

Against other averages;
DJIA - up .66%
NAS - up 1.17%
S&P - up .91%
Me - up .86%

My Investments, factoring in the commission, is now up 5.72% to date.

I've just adjusted my tracker to also figure in the commission I'll pay when selling, to more accurately track my growth. With that done my investments are now up 4.80% to date.

My purchase of SIRI this morning helped my investments continue to grow. I would have dropped a bit without it. I believe the downturn in IPXL was due to profit takers selling off at the end of the week. I think it will grow more next week. I'm going to check out other stocks this weekend and see if I find any other bargains for next week.
Have a great Weekend!

11/11 Stock Pick

2004-11-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

Just read an article about Howard Stern possibly leaving Infinity Broadcasting soon and Sirius Satellite Radio buying out the remainder of his cantract. Howard's been talking down broadcast radio and pumping up satellite radio on his Morning Show.
If that happens I believe he might join Sirius shortly afterwards. Howard signed a $500 Million 5 year deal with Sirius to start in 2007. I also heard some talk about possible consolidation. I just placed a market order for 100 shares of SIRI($3.85 dn .26%). Details tomorrow.

Thursday 11/11

2004-11-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Vanessa! The Big 10 years old!

Good upward movement today. Here's how I did;

DITC - up 1.73% to $17.09

IPXL - up 4.48% to $13.30 (Has grown almost 12% in two days)

ARGFX - up .32% to $53.30

Against other indicators;

DJIA - up .81%

NAS - up 1.31%

S&P - up .91%

Me - up 2.18%

My Investments, factoring in the commission, has now grown 5.43% to date. ( 4 Days)

Wednesday 11/10

2004-11-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

Another good day for me and IPXL. DITC is down again but I'm going to hold on to it for a while. I still have a good feeling about this one.

Here's how I did today;

DITC - down 2.38% to $16.80
IPXL - up 7.43% to $12.73
ARGFX - up .40% to $53.13

Against other indicators;
DJIA - dn .01%
NAS - dn .43%
S&P - dn .1%
Me - up 1.81%

My Investments, factoring in the commission, is now up 3.52% to date.

Not bad. If I cashed out now I would make more in 3 days than if i invested in a CD for a year.
Hope I can keep this upward movement going. I decided to do a little experiment tonight. I submitted a limit order to sell IXPL for $15.20 a share for trade tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

Tuesday 11/9 Day 2

2004-11-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

Well my hunch about IPXl was correct. The news was actually good, above same QTR last year's numbers..
Here's how I did today;

DITC - down 2.05% to $17.21
IPXL - up 5.33% to $11.83
ARGFX - up .15% to $52.92

Against other indicators;
DJIA - dn .05%
NAS - up .2%
S&P - dn .07%
Me - up 1.14%

Great, I did better than yesterday.

My Investments, factoring in the commission, is now up 1.26% to date.

Although DITC is down I still have a good feeling it will rebound to its 11/2 levels in a few days. If not I may dump it for more IPXL.

IPXL is looking great, can't wait for a market rally to boots this one higher. But because of the Feds meeting tomorrow, and they will likely raise interest, I don't forecast much rallying this week.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Monday 11/8 Close

2004-11-08T14:29:00.000-08:00

OK at the end of my first day here's where I stand.

DITC - Purchase Price $17.43, Close $17.57 up .80%
IPLX - Purchase price $11.20, Close $11.25 up .45%

Against other Indicators;
DJIA - up .04%
NAS - up .02%
S&P - dn .11%
Me - up .57%

Woo Hoo! lol
Great, my stocks did better than the indicators, and they went up, I'm going in the right direction. But after I factor in the trade commission I'm down .18% on my Stocks.
Along with my Airel Fund - Close $52.84 dn .04% Since purchase, My Investments are down .10% to date.

Today I learned about pre and after market trading and how it affects the Openning Market price of stocks. That is why my market order for DITC executed higher than I expected. I don't know who gets to trade during those times but I don't believe I can.

Monday 11/8 Market Open

2004-11-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!
7:48 pst

OK, Market opened and my Market orders were executed.

IPXL - Executed at $11.20/share, + .03 Above Market close on 11/5.
Price is steadily climbing and is now at $11.60. Looking good so far.

DITC - Executed at $17.43/share, + .23 Above Market close on 11/5.
Opened higher than previous close then dropped to about $17.25. Now at $17.46.

Order was executed a bit higher than I was expecting but with Market orders it is bought at the current asking rate when executed.

Im thinking about placing limit orders in the future to avoid paying a higher price if the stock shoots up at market open.

A beginner in stock trading

2004-11-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

Greetings Reader!
Now that I have finally become debt free and have been able to stash away a small chunk of change I decided that I should start making that money work for me.

First I looked into CDs, 2.30% a year? "WHAT?" I thought "My money, locked away for a year, and I only make $$?!" I couldn't believe it. Maybe if I had a million in it it would look nice. But I'm small time. I make in a day at work what that CD would make in a year!
I also checked out a few other savings options but they didn't look much better.

I want greater growth! So I decided to try the Stock market.
So I opened two accounts with online trading outfits and transfered funds into them.
From one Account I purchase shares of Airel Fund at $52.86.
The other account I will use for purchasing individual stocks.

I spent a few days researching different stocks, thier market ups and downs, company news, etc.. And decided to make a play on these two IPXL (, Impax Labs, Specialty Drugs) and DITC (Ditech communications inc, Telcom supplier) I found Ditech while searching for the Loan Giant Ditech.com's stock, which I found out was privately held. I placed market orders for both, to be placed on Monday 11/8.

Remember, I am an amature and don't really know what I'm doing but here are some things that helped me choose these two;

Both companies had bad news on 11/3 and dropped.

IPXL, which floated around $13 through Sept. and Oct. dropped to $10 on 11/4 on news of a delay in thier 3rd QTR report due to customer rebates that had to be figured in. On friday 11/5 they closed at $11.17. They will announce 3rd QTR earnings on tuesday 11/9.
OK, I'm thinking that most bailed on the 4th because of the news and the stock bottomed out in its current valley of ups and downs and now is on its way up again. I have a hunch the report on Tuesday won't be soo bad. They will also announce sucesses and future plans. Plans that will hopefully excite investors. I plan to watch it closely on monday & tuesday, to see if it rises on anticipation of the report being not as bad as expected. If it increases $1 or more during that time I might try to sell and run with a small profit. Or I'll wait till after the announcement to see if it spikes. Who knows, I may end up holding it for a few Months.

DITC has a similliar story, it has floated around $23 through Sept and Oct and dropped on 11/4 to $16.60 on news that they would cut 2nd QTR earnings forcasts due to a shipping delay to Asian Wireless Telephone Companies. On 11/5 it climbed to $17,16.
Again I'm thinking that most bailed on the 4th because of the news and the stock bottomed out in its current valley of ups and downs and now is on its way up again. The Company makes Voice quality equipment for Wireless companies that include Nextel, Verizon, and several Asian Companies. Asia has a HUGE Wireless Industry and growing! Ditec is also working on equipment for Voip, or Voice over IP, which is suppose to be the next big thing in voice communications. I know that the Cable industry is Investing heavily in Voip to be thier method of delivering phone service over thier broadband systems, directly competing with local service providers like SBC. I'm gambling the stock will slowly increase back to the $23 mark within a week or so and continue to grow into the new year as they fix the delays and start moving product to Customers.

Well, wish me luck and we'll see what happens on Monday. Stay tuned for Updates.

Carl