The stock market has been a very bumpy ride for most investors, so much so that many of them are sitting on the sidelines. it’s a shame that they are doing so since there are other ways than making money than buying low and selling high. Dividend stocks are just another way to make money even when the stock market isn’t doing anything.
There are hundreds of companies that are traded on Wall Street that offer dividend payouts to their shareholders. What are dividends? Dividends are a way for a company to share the profit of the company with it’s shareholders. Many times a company has grown so much that they don’t need to put so much into research and development, so they will pass a portion of it to it’s shareholders on a quarterly basis (four times a year).
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in doing so, an investor can make money even if the company’s stock price doesn’t change. Let’s say you buy shares in company XYZ for $100 per share and the company offers a 10% dividend. Which means that the company will give it shareholders $10 a year for each share you own. So four times a year you will receive $2.50 every three months for each share. After one year of owning the shares, your actual price per share is $90. If the price hasn’t moved over the same period, you are still up 10% on your investment. How could you go wrong with that?
There are also many different ETF’s that are built around this concept, but why pay a fee for something you can do yourself. Typically you can also do better than the ETF’s since you are able to get in and out easier than the big boys.
Be aware though that Washington and the present Administration is looking to raise capitol gains taxes which will include dividend payouts. Of course if it’s your IRA retirement account, it won’t affect you. Look into it for yourself to see if dividend stocks are right for you.
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During the last two years (2008-2010) we’ve seen the stock market as well as the housing market and financial institutions go through a very rough period of correction. Now in the second half of 2010, average investors are wondering if they should start investing again. Well it depends on what you’re going to invest in.
We are no where at there bottom or the worse of it yet, but at the same time I’m looking at many different investments I may want to get in on. I will say though that the stock market is not one of them at this time. In my opinion, there is no reason for the DOW to be over 10,000 and I do expect it to come back down below 9000. When I do not know, but it will be there in due time.
What about precious metals? There is only a limited amount of gold in this world and it’s one of the few things that will retain it’s value (if not go up) in our present economic condition. I’ve been building a portfolio of just different precious metals. If you’re looking to buy gold make sure you are buying actual gold pieces and not some paper stock that trades off of gold. Between the two, only actual gold will be worth anything when and if our economy crashes.
As for the housing industry, I suggest you take your time and look for solid and profitable deals. The housing market will not turn around any time soon so you will have plenty of time to find the right one for you. We will see foreclosures going on for years to come so prices will stay in the general area if not come down even more. As an investor, you will need to look at properties that will return to good value in five to eight years from now. The days of flipping houses are on hold and will be that way for some time.
Stay away from investing in any financial institution since they are still not sure of what will happen in time with all the government regulations that will be coming down the line. So is it time to start investing? Yes if you take your time and study what it is you want to invest in.
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Stock market volatility fluctuates all the time, some days more than others. Volatility in the markets grow as the gains increase along with those times when uncertainty rises.
Since the markets have risen as high as they did and the condition of the economy is still on shaky ground, I’m not surprised to see that the VIX (volatility index) jumped 20% in just one day. What does surprise me is the fact that it took so long for it to happen.
In the last fourteen months, the Dow Industrial Average (DJIA) has increased by nearly 80% and over 10% in the last three months. I’ve been saying for quite some time now about the fact that the DOW sitting at over 10,000 points has no real reason to be there. Of course many investors are still riding the wave as long as they can. Unfortunately many of them won’t see it coming when the markets take the next plunge.
Unemployment is at 12% (officially), but it is estimated to be at 17% since most people who were receiving unemployment benefits last year are no longer eligible. Many companies are holding off on hiring until they get a good look at the new tax laws that the present Administration has passed. Add on the fact that the foreclosures in the United States are not shrinking, instead they are holding steady in most areas.
The VIX is one of the indicators that should be watched on a regular basis as part of your stock market strategies. As the uncertainty in the markets rises, the VIX will climb. Many average investors lose money in the stock market as this happens because the price per share of most companies will rise and fall with large swings. If you are a veteran in trading stocks, most likely you’ve learned to read the VIX and play it accordingly.
For those who are not familiar with VIX, there are a few stock market books that will help you understand much better. In many of Jim Cramer books, you will find information about the volatility in the stock market and how to play it.
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