Stocks And Shares Trading In 2010
I like to trade stocks and shares but what do when unemployment in both the US and
UK keep increasing? Interestingly the major stock markets are also increasing.
Unfortunately, equity markets are completely detached from the real economy. So as unemployment continues to rise, and is expected to continue rising throughout 2010, we could see the Dow Jones and FTSE 100 continue to rally.
Yes the stock markets are supposedly forward thinking and investing in the future but the current picture is unclear.
Looking at the UK, inflation looks like it will remain around its target of 2%. Of course controlling inflation is easier said than done. No one knows what affect the quantitative easing will have on the economy in 6 months time.
The focus will be on the outlook for growth and indications of when the US, European and UK stimulus packages will end. Growth is returning but, with Governments short of funds, tax rises are expected in 2010. The little growth we have could quickly end.
All-in-all the markets look like they will remain volatile for quite some time. It is not all bad news though. There are a few ways of taking advantage of the market volatility.
One option is spread betting, with a
spread betting account you can go long or short of the markets. This means an investor can trade a market in the direction they feel it will move. You are not limited to only speculating on markets to go up. If you think the FTSE 100 or Dow Jones will go down you can bet on them to fall.
Another advantage in the current volatile climate is that you purely are speculating on the future price of a market; you are not actually buying or selling anything. This lets you complete trades quickly.
Of course, all forms of financial investment have the potential for incurring losses. For example, trading in stock, property, investment funds and pensions can lead to you losing money. With spread bets your losses can exceed your initial investment.
Having said that spread bets are tax free, there is no capital gains tax, no stamp duty and no income tax on spread betting*.
And unlike traditional stocks and shares trading, there are no commissions or broker's fees.
If you are considering spread betting then you should also consider where you might trade. A number of
spread betting firms offer the usual benefits of letting you trade thousands of UK, US and European markets as well as letting you trade outside normal market hours. Some firms, such as FinancialSpreads.com, will let you trade markets 24 hours a day.
A final comment though, spread bets carry a high level of risk to your capital. You should only speculate with funds you can afford to lose. Like the adverts say, before trading, please ensure that spread betting matches your investment requirements. Familiarise yourself with the risks involved. Seek independent advice where necessary.
* Based on current UK tax law, if you pay tax in another jurisdiction then tax law may vary.
by: Robert Thomas
Gold And Oil Commodities Trading Financial News - Sterling And Inflation Worries Modern Day Forex Trading Property Investment Analysis Invaluable While Buying Your Dream Home Trading Stock Market Indices Like The Ftse 100 Property Investment Analysis Growing In Relevance Investment Property Management Essential For Procuring The Best Planning Your Finances And Trading For 2010 Vertex, Vertexone Peep Into Share Market In India Intrust Advisors - Reaching Client Objectives Using Exchange-traded Funds Avoid This Mistake In Your Retirement Account Investing Foreign Currency Service: What You Need To Know About Foreign Currency Services