Stock Market Game

[binary010101]

And is that a problem?

[eyeball138]

Yeah, but you won't really get an experience of what the market is like over a two-month segment...you're not going to learn anything about long term investment.

And is that a problem?

Yes, I completely agree with Binary. First of all, there are a ton of short term factors to take into account. Especially with stocks, which are not always used for long term, this is especially important. Obviously we won't leearn anything about long term investment. Obvious as well is the fact that we are not interested in learning long term economic tactics from this stock market game.

[Untitled]

Meh I joined.

I'll try my best since my dad watches squawk box every morn lol.

[EastStroudsburg13]

I'd rather if this was more strategy than luck though, so this time I'll side with andrewwski. Maybe it's just because I like strategy more. :shrug:

[binary010101]

If that's what you like, you can always form a new game, or ask tehkubix to extend the ending date on the current game.

[eyeball138]

I'd rather if this was more strategy than luck though, so this time I'll side with andrewwski. Maybe it's just because I like strategy more. :shrug:

If you don't like luck, don't use the stock market at all. Stay with safe investments like Treasury Notes. Seriously, I'm not getting your point. This if for fun. In two months, yes, you might not see an upward trend that you would normally see in a very dependable stock. However, two months is riskier; you can't know what's going to happen. With fake money and nothing to lose, I actually like a shorter time period better.

[andrewwski]

No! You absolutely don't want to keep all your money savings accounts, or even government bonds or CD's. Save for CD's, nothing's going to give you a significant return on your investment. And even CD's don't give you that much.

You do want to keep a significant amount of money in less-risky forms such as those listed above. However, you also want a significant amount in the market. Probably not all in stock...mutual funds and corporate bonds are other options to consider. But you do want to keep a significant amount in the market, or else you're going to lose money. If you're not making as much from your investments as the rate of inflation, you're losing money.

However, investment for the short term is never the right idea. Looking for stocks that are very vulnerable is quite risky. Yes, you may buy a stock and get an adequate return in two months and sell the stock, but you then want to reinvest in something else. It happens quite often - by all means sell if you've made a lot. Especially if you got it through an IPO or something. But it's not going to happen regularly, and two months is not a sufficient chunk of time to make judgment. Regardless of how long you hang on to an individual stock, you should be investing in the long term, not trying to make a lot in a short period of time.

You ideally want a mix of a lot of different investments. But investing for two months is not investing at all.

[eyeball138]

I know what the other options for investing are. I didn't even mention savings accounts, so I'm really not sure why you assumed I was saying that people should keep all their money there. I'm actually kind of insulted that you think that I know so little about investing. Really, I'm saying that this stock market game is not about making money in real life. It's supposed to be fun. You have plenty of money, but only a short period of time. Research is certainly still necessary in choosing a great short term stock.

I just don't think you're understanding the point of this stock market game. Maybe you should join and see what it's all about rather than making comments from the sidelines.

[andrewwski]

I know what the other options for investing are. I didn't even mention savings accounts, so I'm really not sure why you assumed I was saying that people should keep all their money there.

That was an oversight on my part - meant for that to be one of a list of many similar things.

I'm actually kind of insulted that you think that I know so little about investing.

I don't think that at all...your posts show that you definitely understand what you're talking about. I'm just disagreeing.

Really, I'm saying that this stock market game is not about making money in real life. It's supposed to be fun. You have plenty of money, but only a short period of time. Research is certainly still necessary in choosing a great short term stock.

I just don't think you're understanding the point of this stock market game. Maybe you should join and see what it's all about rather than making comments from the sidelines.

I guess I don't get the point then. I'll refrain from any more criticism - just that it doesn't seem worthwhile for me.

//Sidenote, is two months the standard length, or can you choose to make it longer if you wish?

[eyeball138]

Ok, thanks. The games can be any length (I think). I've seen games as long as two years and as short as a week.