Stock Research

One of the subjects under discussion is the price for oil and gasoline. That’s why I time and again advert to this subject. So, in the USA retail prices for gasoline have reached record values, representatives of research company Lundberg Survey have declared. By results of comparison of the prices for gasoline on 7 thousand American gas stations, an average of retail price it has been certain at a level 3,015 dollars for gallon. Thus the minimum price for gasoline has been noted at the gas station in state of South Carolina – 2.77 dollars for gallon, while maximal - on filling stations of San Diego – 3.28 dollars for gallon. The previous maximal value of an average retail price for gasoline in the USA – 3.0117 dollars for gallon - has been noted in September 2005.

This post is just a very little more advice about trade at the Stock exchange that I could collect.
1. Always pay more attention to behavior of the market and formation of price models, than to target levels and areas of support/resistance. The last can often cause that your correct opinion concerning the market will change prematurely.
2. When you feel, that it is necessary to take actions - either to open a position, or to leave it, - take actions immediately.
3. Never act against own opinion in occasion of a long-term trend of the market. In other words, do not try to sit on two chairs.
4. Advantageous positions, as a rule, have positive reassessment from the very beginning.
5. The correct choice of time for opening a position and an output from it (for example, a choice of the moment of an input on the basis of convincing price formations, an immediate output at the first sign of failure) can often save from greater losses, even if a position is unprofitable.
6. Intraday time decisions are almost always incorrect. Be not engaged in intraday time trade.
7. Necessarily check the markets before closing on Friday. The situation is often visible more clearly by a weekend. In similar cases the best price of an input or an output can be usually received before closing on Friday, than at opening a stock exchange on next Monday.
8. Dreams about the market can quite form the basis for actions (when memoirs on them unambiguously). Such dreams often come true, as they represent your subconscious knowledge of the market which makes the way through the barriers established by conscious thinking (for example, ” As I can buy here if I could open a long position on $2000 below last week? “).
9. You cannot have immunity from bad trading habits. The best that you can make is to suppress them. Day and negligence will quickly lead to their returning.

The Largest Brazilian air company Varig which is on the verge of bankruptcy, today has been sold on auction to former subsidiary - VarigLog. How absurd! The sum of the deal has made 500 million dollars. VarigLog was the unique participant of auction, Associated Press informs.
Initially the group of its employees applied for purchase of the company - TGV. The sum of their offer was below (449 million dollars). However court on affairs of bankruptcies has cancelled already planned and coordinated sale as group TGV did not manage to make the first payment at a rate of 75 million dollars. Company VarigLog (the former branch Varig) engaged transportations of cargoes, has been bought in 2006. Company Volo do Brasil. However this deal still should receive approval by authorities, as foreign investors supervise Volo. Under the law, foreigners can own only 20 % of the Brazilian airlines.
The court has declared that will not undertake actions on liquidation of the company while company’s creditors will not apply with the request for it.
Airline Varig has financial problems within several last years. Its duty makes 8 billion real (3.5 billion dollars). In June 2005 Varig became the first Brazilian company which has got under action of the new law on bankruptcies. Varig remains the largest international air carrier of Brazil though in a home market has conceded to the competitors - TAM and Gol. This is small wonder after financial problems during several YEARS!

Forex, the greatest international market for currency exchange, is becoming more and more popular all around the world. A lot of people, though, take this financial phenomenon too easy, trying to get of it an inexhaustible source of wealth, notwithstanding that a lot of people have already lost their fortune trying to augment it.
So, how to escape this kind of lot? How to avoid common mistakes and stay profitable?
 

Let’s consider a man completely new to markets, trading and technical analysis, who has invested all his capital into currency trading. In his attempt to become rich and famous, he is always anxious about his capital, getting nerves and losing self-control every time when the market is against him, or when the trend is about to reverse.
The first thing one should do in order to become successful in foreign currency trading is to start working on self-improvement. Discipline is one’s key factor if one is tending to be a successful investor or trader. Thus, one should give away the thought, that life depends on profit/loss and stay cool whatever the market condition is – forget about money as money itself!
 

Let’s proceed further in our tiny research. Have you ever heard of a famous financier, who has made his fortune overnight, just having staked thoughtlessly? Neither have I. Even Geo. Soros had made a reasonable economic research before having decided that English Pound was underestimated and was worth buying. (That has made him very rich, by the way) So one should admit that currency trading is a hard job and it should be regarded correspondingly, not just as a hobby. One has to develop a reasonable trading strategy, be it simple or complicated, and follow it.
 

So what to begin with? First – start reading more. Read, read and read. There are numerous sources of information in the World Wide Web… Subscribe to the latest newsletters, read economic reviews and surveys, articles on technical analysis, follow the latest trends in the trading world. Broaden your horizons – the more intelligent you are – the more achievements are waiting for you.
Then invent your own strategy, as mentioned above. It might sound complicated, but everything comes with experience   Be always inspired. Do not let your faults bring you down, but try to stay disciplined at the same time.
You also have to make a choice, what kind of trader you are. If you are a long-term investor, you should try to follow the world’s leading financial agencies’ forecasts and advices.
If you see yourself as a short-term investor, working in high-risk environment of volatile currency market, you should devote more time to technical analysis studies.
 

If you feel that you are not so self-confident yet, you might find it comfortable for yourself to try a demo-account, a lot of market brokers nowadays provide their customers with this kind of service. In a demo account you operate with virtual money, which nevertheless allows you to get recent currency quotes from real market. Opening a demo account gives you a brilliant opportunity to work through your strategy and improve your trading tactics.
 

Anyway, let currency exchange market be your friend, do not be afraid of it. To the contrary - study it, and soon you yourself will be able to counsel on how to become successful in currency trading. Good luck!

Today I’d like to analyze financial positions of several world-known companies such as Intel Corp., Motorola Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and American AMR Corp. To my mind this information will be useful for each investor and will help him to make prognosis.
Net profit of the largest in the world manufacturer of microchips (corporations Intel Corp.) on results of 1st half of 2006 year has fallen to 46.8 % and has made 2.24 billion dollars. A year earlier it has made 4.22 billion dollars. Such data contain in the financial report of the company that has been published today. Proceeds of Intel for first six months 2006 has decreased on 9.2 % - up to 16.95 billion dollars, whereas in 2005 this it has been fixed at a level 18.67 billion dollars. Operational profit has decreased on 50.9 % - up to 2.79 billion dollars instead of 5.68 billion dollars in 2005. The profit before tax has decreased on 47 % - about 5.91 billion dollars up to 3.13 billion dollars.
Net profit of Intel on results of 2nd quarter of 2006 has decreased for 56.6 % and has made 885 million dollars In April-June 2005. The net profit of the company has made 2.04 billion dollars. Proceeds for accounting quarter have decreased on 13.2 % - about 9.23 billion dollars up to 8.01 billion dollars. The Operational profit has decreased on 59.5 % - up to 1.07 billion dollars (in comparison about 2.65 billion dollars year earlier). Profit before tax in 2nd quarter of 2006 has decreased for 54.5 % - about 2.75 billion dollars up to 1.25 billion dollars.
Oh, it’s the bed information for shareholders of Intel…:(

Net profit of one of the leading world manufacturers of mobile phones American Motorola Inc. on results of first six months 2006 has grown on 27.4 % and has made 2.07 billion dollars in comparison about 1.63 billion dollars a year earlier. Such data contain in financial report Motorola published today. The Sales volume of the company in the 1st half of 2006 has grown on 26.6 % - up to 20.48 billion dollars in 2005. This criterion has made 16.18 billion dollars. Operational profit for the accounting period has grown on 30.7 % - up to 2.37 billion dollars in comparison about 1.81 billion dollars year earlier.
Net profit of Motorola in 2nd quarter of 2006 has grown on 48.3 % - up to 1.38 billion dollars instead of 933 million that have been received in April-June 2005. The Sales volume has grown on 29.4 % - up to 10.88 billion dollars in 1st quarter of 2005. This criterion has made 8.41 billion dollars. Operational profit has grown on 58.9 % - about 958 million dollars up to 1.52 billion dollars.
Geronimo! I like products of this company and I am unfeignedly glad to its achievements :)

Net profit of the American manufacturer of computer techniques Apple Computer Inc. for the first 9 months 2005-2006 has grown on 59.9 % and has made 1.45 billion dollars. A year earlier this criterion has made 905 million dollars. Such data contain in the financial report of the company published today. Sales volume of Apple since October 2005 till June 2006 has grown on 41.2 % - up to 14.48 billion dollars in comparison about 10.25 billion dollars year earlier. The operational profit has grown on 49.8 % - about 1.23 billion dollars up to 1.85 billion dollars.
Net profit Apple in 3rd quarter of 2006, which has come to the end on July, 1st 2006, has grown on 47.5 % - up to 472 million dollars instead of 320 million the dollars received on year earlier. The Sales volume for accounting quarter has grown on 24.1 % - up to 4.37 billion dollars Year earlier this criterion has made 3.52 billion dollars. Operational profit has grown on 32.6 % - about 427 million dollars up to 566 million dollars. Growth of financial parameters Apple has been reached in many respects owing to successful sales MP3-players iPod and computers Macintosh on the basis of processors Intel.
My congratulations to company! It’s always pleasant to achieve a success!

Net profit of the American AMR Corp., the parent company of the largest air carrier in USA American Airlines, in 2nd quarter of 2006 has grown in 5 times and has reached 291 million dollars against 58 million dollars year earlier. Such data are presented in the report of the company published today. Proceeds of AMR for the last quarter of 2006 has made 5.98 billion dollars, on 12.5 % having exceeded a criterion in 5.31 billion dollars for the similar period of 2005. Analysts predicted proceeds at level 5.93 billion dollars.
Successful activities, according to representatives AMR, are caused by a significant sales volume and the high prices for tickets which have helped the company to overcome negative consequences of a rise in prices on fuel. The company finishes in plus works the second quarter successively. Prior to the beginning of 2006 AMR 22 quarters reported about losses.
Such great results!!! Let’s keep that up! :):)

 As I have promised I tried to find as many as I can advices for those investors who only begin to trade. So herewith you can find several advices for keeping of profitable positions and output from them.
1. Do not fix small fast profit on transactions in directions of the main trends. In particular, if you are absolutely assured of the transaction, never fix profit in the first day.
2. Do not hasten to close a position after occurrence of break in your direction. Use break as an initial stop; then enter following stops.
3. Try to use following stops, placing them proceeding from development of a market situation instead of fixing profit at target levels. Use of the purposes often prevents to realize completely the opportunities given by the main trends. Remember, from time to time greater victories are necessary to you to block failures.
4. Despite of the previous rule, all the same it is useful to define the initial purpose during the moment of opening of the transaction that will allow to apply a following rule: if during a short time interval after the open position the most part of target profit (for example, 50-60 % for one week or 75-80 % for two or three weeks) it is necessary to fix profit parts is reached, meaning restoration of the liquidated contracts at correction of the market. The idea consists that would be correct to take fast significant profit. Though this rule can often lead to loss of the remained part of profit on the liquidated position, keeping of a position in a similar case can often conduct to feverish liquidation at the first sharp return of the prices.
5. If the purpose is reached, but the position still is pleasant to all of you, leave it, using a following stop. This rule is important from the point of view of opportunity to trade in a direction of the main trend. Remember, the patience is necessary not only during those moments, when you wait for good transactions but also to not close a position when it makes a profit. Inability to receive adequate profit on the correct transaction in a direction of a trend is the key factor limiting profitableness of trade.
6. One private exception of the previous rule is that if at you very much the greater position and cost of your actives grows on eyes it is necessary to consider an opportunity of partial fixing of profit. When all goes too well to be the truth, be on the alert! Probably, it is time to start to fix gradually profit and to place close following stops.
7. At fixing of profit have arrived in the transaction which, in your opinion, still has long-term potential (but, probably, it is vulnerable from the point of view of short-term correction), develop the plan of renewal of a position. If the market will not make the essential return, allowing to renew a position, watch occurrence of price models which can be used for a choice of the moment of a new input in the market. Be not afraid to open again a position even if the new point of an input in the market appears worse, than a point of an output if representations about long term of a trend and an estimation of a present situation assume renewal of a position. Inability to return to the market at the worst price can often conduct to loss of the basic part of greater trends.
8. When trade in several contracts, avoid an emotional trap which consists in desire to be right on 100 %. In other words, fix profit parts. Always try to keep, at least, a partial position in a direction of a trend - until the market will not generate convincing turning figure or will not reach the important protective stop.

The largest world manufacturer of software Microsoft Corp. and the manufacturer of telecommunication equipment Nortel Networks Corp. (largest in Northern America) have entered into the agreement on an alliance for 4 years. As informs Associated Press, the companies plan to share already developed technologies, in common to sell a number of new products, and the obtained money to direct on cooperation in creation of new decisions. Under forecasts of Nortel, the agreement will allow to add nearby 1 billion dollars to annual proceeds.

Every day not only investors discuss the changes in prices of oil, that’s why I think this peace of news is noteworthy.
So, the prices for oil</a> futures on July, 18th have continued falling. It was the second from the beginning of week falling of the prices for oil. And it was approximately same essential, as well as on the eve. Once again the prices have fallen more than to 2 %, but this time they have already left a mark $75 for barrel.
The official prices for oil were established on July, 18th on the marks as much as possible close to the lowest prices under transactions. Thus the price of oil Brent has remained a little above $74 for barrel, while the price of oil WTI (Light Sweet) was established below this level. Results of the trades at stock exchanges contracts of the nearest month of delivery have made:
- in New York on New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) the official price of future Light, Sweet Crude Oil (August) has fallen off on 1 dollars and 76 cents (-2.3 %) and was established on a mark $73.54 for barrel. (The lowest price of closing more than for two weeks) at the prices under transactions for session $73.50-76.50 for barrel;
- in London on InterContinental Exchange Futures (ICE Futures) the official price of future IPE e-Brent Crude Futures Electronic (September) has fallen to 1 dollars and 56 cents      (-2.1 %) and was established on a mark $74.36 for (the lowest price of closing for a week) at the prices under transactions for session $74.30-77.29 for barrel.
But why have prices began to fall? For first two days of this week oil has fallen in price more than on 4 %. Development of a situation in the oil market was once again defined with atmosphere in the Near East. Participants of the conflict have continued on July, 18th an exchange of rocket and artillery impacts. And the Air Forces of Israel have made a strike on military base in Lebanon that for a while promoted a rise in prices on oil futures.
Nevertheless, by the end of day the price for oil have gone down under pressure of confidence (that have became stronger) of market participants that the conflict will not extend to Syria and Iran. Decrease in interest to purchases of oil futures was promoted by the announcement of the Secretary of State of the USA Condoleezza Rice that the arrangement on cease-fire in Lebanon will be soon reached. Reduction of prices on oil products on July, 18th also has proceeded.
Additional technical pressure upon the oil market has rendered on July, 18th essential falling of the prices for gold. So, despite of preservation in the world of geopolitical instability, gold this day has fallen in the price for 3.4 %. Oil and gold already for a long time bargain in pair, is persistent following one after another. Simultaneous falling of the prices for oil and on gold testified that large investors gradually deduce their actives from the market of commodity futures, considering that fact that the US dollar has grown for a week concerning euro more than on 2 %.

Yesterday when I read the news-block I thought why I couldn’t discuss the current news in my blog. So I’ve tried to find the most interesting news for investors.
Wienerberger Brick
The European Reconstruction and Development Bank have allocated Austrian Wienerberger 13.3 million euros for building and construction of brick-making plant in the Russian Federation.
 About it is spoken in the message of bank. The European Reconstruction and Development Bank has purchased 18.1 % of stocks of limited liability company “Wienerberger Brick” (Russia) for 2.5 million euros and has granted a loan in 10,8 million euros on payment of debts. The rest of means in construction (which total cost is estimated in 38 million euros) will put Wienerberger AG.
The factory will make nearby 120 million facing bricks per year or 220 million hollow bricks. The given project - a part of the joint program of the European Reconstruction and Development Bank and Wienerberger under investments into manufacture of building materials into the countries where the bank works.
The Austrian group company Wienerberger was based in the Vein in 1819. And now it is the world leader on manufacture of a hollow and facing ceramic bricks. The group company has more than 230 factories in 24 countries of the world.

Sadia
Company Sadia S.A., one of leading manufacturers of meat products and semi-prepared foods in Brazil, has proposed purchase of 50 % of stocks of Perdigao S.A for 1,7 billion dollars. Such data are resulted in the press release of the company published today. Cost of the transaction is estimated in 3.7 billion real (1.7 billion dollars). According to conditions of the offer, Sadia it is ready to pay 27.88 real (12.58 dollars) for each current stock Perdigao. Offered to Sadia price exceeds on 35 % cost of stock Perdigao on results of closing of the share trades in the San Paulo Stock Exchange. Term of the offer expires on October, 24th 2006. As it is marked in press release of Sadia, as a result of merge in the international market of meat products and semi-prepared foods there will be a new leader. Net profit Sadia on results of 2005 has been 656.12 million Brazilian real (307.88 million dollars).

Wimm–Bill–Dann
Shareholders of public corporation “Wimm–Bill–Dann Food stuffs” (WBD) at extraordinary meeting will consider the problem on expulsion of Jamshid Jadegardzham from structure of board. As they say in message WBD, it is offered to shareholders to consider the given question under the recommendation of chairman of board of the company of Toni Mahera. Only those shareholders have the right to take part in assembly, who was registered artificially of July, 2006. The Date of ending of reception of bulletins for voting is September, 1st 2006. Also it is offered to shareholders to approve creation of branches “Wimm–Bill–Dann” in Samara, Tuimazy, Novosibirsk, Rubtsovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk.
Ownership capital of WBD is 880 millions of rubles. In circulation there is 44 million ordinary stocks (face value 20 rubles). The principle shareholders of the company as of end of 1st quarter of 2006 are Gabriel Jushvaev - 17,13 %, Sergey Plastinin - 9,30 %, David Jakobashvili - 8,33 %, Michael Dubinin - 5,71 %, in nominal holding of shares at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is 39,99 % of stocks of the company.
Public corporation “Wimm–Bill–Dann Food stuffs” was created in 1992. And now it is engaged in manufacture of juices and dairy products in Russia. Into the company enter 30 industrial enterprises which are being 21 regions of Russian Federation and the CIS. “Wimm–Bill–Dann” owns the portfolio of trade marks covering from above 1 thousand of 100 types of dairy products (”Domic v derevne”, “Milaya Mila”, Neo, Bio-max, etc.) and more than 150 types of juices, nectars and soft drinks under marks “J7″, “100 % Gold”, etc. Net profit of public corporation “Wimm–Bill–Dann” on US GAAP in 2005 has increased for 31.7 % - up to 30.3 million dollars.

GoAir
Indian airline GoAir and planemaker Airbus have signed the agreement on purchase of 10 planes A320, press-service Airbus informs. Moreover the contract gives GoAir an opportunity of purchase in the future ten similar planes. The financial component of the transaction and terms of deliveries of planes are not informed.

Today I’d like to finish the story about Saint-Petersburg Stock exchange…
Kinds of the securities presented at the Saint-Petersburg Stock exchange.
The Share market has been presented in 1830 by:
- the state and city bonded loans which shared on short-term (till 1 year), long-term and termless (the original rent)
- continuously profitable, basically denominations in 100 thousand rubles.
- mortgage sheets and bonds of ground banks and private establishments of the long-term credit;
- bonds and stocks of the private companies (stocks were issued only by the commercial enterprises, and bonds as the state and bodies of city self-management). Bonds were issued basically by denominations from 100 up to 5000 rubles, termless loans - in 100 thousand rubles. Bonds and other securities with the state guarantee could not be a subject of Exchange frauds, unlike stocks of the private companies and other securities. Last third of XIX century the most popular were stocks of private railways. The share market of 1995 differs a little:
- the state securities;
- municipal bonds and loans;
- the securities emitted by commercial bank;
- stocks and bonds of the privatized enterprises;
- securities of the private emitters created outside of process of privatization.
The following - current liabilities. They are issued by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation in the paperless form. The purpose is repayment of debts to the enterprises - suppliers to the state orders and mutual payment between the enterprises. Current liabilities become the securities after the term specified in the global certificate of release. Face value of 1 current liability is 1 million rubles, the fixed profitableness at repayment - 40 %.
During the same period of time have appeared Bonds of the State Savings Loan. They are issued in the cash form, face value from 100 thousand up to 500 thousand rubles. Four times a year the coupon income established depending on profitableness of state credit obligations (the State Short-term Obligations) is paid. Sale is made on auctions which are spent or in the form of voice (calculations between participants), or electronic (calculations directly with depository of the Stock exchanges) the trades. A securities market of 1830
- The state and city bonded loans,
- mortgage sheets and bonds of ground banks and private establishments of the long-term credit,
- bonds and stocks of the private companies.
Stocks of private railways are most popular; a securities market in 1992:
- the state securities,
- municipal bonds and loans,
- the securities emitted by commercial bank,
- stocks and bonds of the privatized enterprises, - securities of the private emitters created outside of process of privatization. The state securities are most popular.
Legal aspects.
Initially according to “the companies and stocks” of 1836: all Operations on the stock exchange have been forbidden by Regulations about, but already there was a law on obligatory use of registered stocks. In 1893 have been entered restrictions on carrying out of operations with securities without the share broker. Books of the share broker submitted to audit of the Ministry of Finance, and its chapter could dismiss brokers for abusing, not asking on that of the consent of Exchange committee. Without the permission of financial department it was forbidden to enter securities into the quotation.
On June, 27th, 1900 at the Petersburg Stock exchange the share department, as “a department which was laid down in special conditions of activity” has been created. The department submitted to the Ministry of Finance on especial office by a credit part which began to interfere with activity of the share market.
In 1907 Rules for transactions on purchase and sale of a foreign currency, funds and stocks at the Petersburg Stock exchange have been founded. The bulletin of a share department of the Stock exchange became the official document; the rates specified in it - obligatory for all Russian empire. Brokers were sworn, represented the mortgage and for execution of the transactions concluded at their participation, answered within the limits of data to them of decrees. For the infringements noticed by officials of the Ministry of Finance, could exclude from full members and regular customers.
Nowadays members of the Stock exchange representatives of broker firms, banks, associations, and the dealers, brought a share can be. Physical persons for membership in he Stock exchange should have the certificate of the state bodies on the right of carrying out of transactions with securities. All members of the Stock exchange should correspond to qualifying requirements. By position 1997 the number of members should be not less than 20. The input on a stock exchange is limited. Members of controls, officials, employees of the Stock exchange have the right of a free admission.
 Thank you for your attention and I hope this information will be useful…:)