Starting at 10K in the Market

After 45 Days of Trading

2008-04-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Here is where the metal meets the road.

I have been trading for a grand total of 45 trading days.

I have an average cash investment of $14,843.49 per day of trading. This is my actual cash in. Why more then 10K? Simple. I screwed up on the one form and they took 5K from me. I moved in another 5K and both were in there for a bit. I currently have 14,836 of my cash in the account.

In the 45 days:

DJ30 +2.07%
SP500 + 3.19%
NASDAQ +3.77%

APPL +23.46%
C +5.977%

Me. +37.32% of realized gains
Me. +43.55% with todays unrealized gains

I have to say not to bad for an amateur first time investor in the first 45 days!

Good Hobbit Trades

2008-04-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

The worst of the good trades NSTR at .19 in gains. Not the best trade but it was good because it finished higher.

CNBC (the bane of the financial world) suggested to short MTL at 140 and cover at 130. Well I followed the advice. I shorted at the 150 level and covered at 140. /sarcasm=on Great call there CNBC /sarcasm=off . I did nearly the same thing again. A nice profit of 1469.

I also made some money just before tax day on APPL for $253.

My best call has been CitiBank. I have to say I love C (at least for now). I bought just before the news of the quarterly report.

I traded yesterday and make almost $1500.

Today I bought C again and expect to trade for a gain plus leverage some dividends on May 5. I am really hoping for a great run to $30. Then a retreat back to $25 or so would be great. So that is my hope for next week.

Next post: How much have I made and lost?

Bad Hobbit Trades

2008-04-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well I had some problems with market.

I was so mad I could not post.

Bad Hobbit Trades:
LNET: -1973.74

This was an impulse trade and bad one at that. I should have stopped the bleeding much faster.

I then shorted C on several trades however, I had a net gain of a few dollars.

More in C in the next post

This Week

2008-03-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

What a week. I made 17% this week.

I am really looking forward to next week and start shorting some people out of the gate.

My small goal is 5.1% per week. My real goal is 10.408% per week for 1 year. Let me be honest if I can maintain that 2% per day for one year, I will stop investing when I hit 2 Million. Of course that would be 2M net. So I would need 2.7M.

Wait for dust to settle

2008-03-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

This was a banner week for me.

Well let me be blunt. It was a banner day. I made more today then I make in a month.

Now if I could do that every day!

I will post a follow up.

March 18

2008-03-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

My goals are 1% per day. That is every single day. This comes out to 5.1% per week.

Today was a good day. I am up over I should be up $2708.09 (as of 3/18)

I have at this point not sold for a loss, even though I wanted to.

I am in with AAPL for 100 shares.
I am also long with C for 500 shares.

Today's score book is UP $732 and change. This brings my total upto $2954. of profits. This puts me over $246 ahead of the time deadlines by being up by 2 days.

The goals for wednesday: $128.

I normally keep track of this by the week.

I expect to sell both AAPL and C on Wed. I will then buy on the down turn.

March 12 Roundup

2008-03-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the wild ride.

The bad news is AAPL is up. And I shorted Apple. On the books I am down $284. Grrr.

For C and my short is just about even. I only owe 19.12. So that is not so bad.

So the current balance sheet looks like:

Start 10K

Up 1954
Dn 303

I am ahead 1651 on my third week.

Or 16.51%

March 11

2008-03-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well I did my first actual day trade. As Mr. Toads wild ride came to C (Citigroup). I bought at the somewhat high mark. I should have waited.

I cleared $575.

I am currently at shorting C for 500 shares.

AAPL (Apple) I sold my long shares and made 92.50.

March 11 = 667.50.

I have also shorted Apple.

March 5 in Review

2008-03-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

Today March 5.

Purchase 185 shares of AAPL for $124.

Apple closed down by 9 cents. I am up .4% and $91.63

What this is For

2008-03-05T19:59:00.000-08:00

Why am I starting this blog.

I want to try to keep an accurate record of how I am doing on the Market.

The record so far.

Start on 2/20 and transfer in 10K to my WellsTrade account.

2/21 Purchase 160 of AAPL at 120.96 on Margin
2/28 Sell 160 of AAPL at 129.26
Profit 1,278.

3/3 Purchase 180 AAPL at 122 sell at 123.85
Profit 333

Grr. Have Wells Trade take out $5,785 of 28% backup withholding
3/4 get in my w9 and transfer an extra $5,900 into my account. WIll have to return to savings.