Getting Gruntled

Stock trading is friendlier with two people. Or two hundred. Most of the time, when we get into something that has a high learning curve, the best way to dig in is to find a group of friends who already know the ropes, and who will help you out without taking advantage of you. The social aspect is very important because it keeps us from giving up. If you don’t feel like you are lost and completely alone in something–like a lost puppy in the middle lane of the freeway–, you will be more focused on the important bits that can make it all worthwhile.

In the post about the Google stock, I explained that I have never done any trading in the stocks and bonds arena, but have known people who were very much into it, and I went into some detail there about the information available freely on websites, making some observations on how user-friendly they are/aren’t, and could be.

There is a site called MyWallSt.net where you can set up an account and meet other investors, both hobbyist and professional. You can learn the ropes of stock trading, create and track a portfolio (using pretend dollars, but you could also win real dollars), and get into the game with all of the members who are already there. This is one of the best ways of etching out a good strategy, and testing it before doing anything with real money, and even after you start investing.

You also get a profile page, like any other social network, and you can view weekly standings. Another cool thing is that you are able to view the picks of other members in the “Rookie Challenge”. So if someone is doing a spectacular job in the rankings, you can see what stocks they have chosen, which might help you to build your portfolio as well.

The fantasy trading on this site is based on the real markets, plus a short delay.

If you think you can pick stocks well enough to make money, you should get a profile at mywallst and meet others who do!

Google stock hits 600 USD

I don’t do any sort of stock investing, but this is really big news. I knew that it would happen, but just seeing the numbers seems surreal. Heavy investing in Google ads have sent Googles’ stock roaring through the roof.

I’ve always been impressed with Google as a company. Their out-of-the box management model should be the one that all companies use for their knowledge staff.

How they get the best and brightest to work for them here

If you haven’t seen google finance before, it’s really neat, by the way. Click Here to open the page for jsut the “GOOG” stock. it’s interesting how the value graph is zoomable, and there are marked points on that graph, showing news stories to the right that may have had a bearing on the stock rising or falling. The related blog posts and enough stats to choke your average accountant, and you have lots to look at for any sort of casual, fantasy, or serious investing you might be doing.

The same info page at Yahoo shows a good graph and the headlines, and of course, a lot of the same information, but it just doesn’t seem to be cross referenced in one view the way that the Google page is. I did notice that there is a beta graph on Yahoo that is much more robust and AJAXed out, and I really like some of the features, lik having the main competition for whatever company you are looking at listed just to the left, as well as benchmark indexes.

Of course, I’m looking at these without any background in investing, and knowing only the bare basics of what the stats on these pages mean.
They both are much nicer, friendlier, and approachable than what you see on the “serious” investing sites. I mean, look at this one… …sheesh!