VIX
No, this is not a symbol for some Latin number. The Wall Street mavens talk about this market timing device as if they knew how to use it to determine which way the stock market is going - up or down. It is pretty obvious that brokers, analysts and financial planners have not learned the language.
What does it mean and can it be used to predict market moves? The VIX is actually a measure of volatility for those who buy and sell stock options think about the market. To make it simple you can find it displayed as a chart on the Internet at www.cboe.com. It measures the volatility of the market calculated by taking a weighted moving average of the implied volatility from eight puts and calls on the S&P 100 index. I hope I didn't lose you here. Stay with me a moment and I'll try to make it simple.
Every trader is looking for the Holy Grail indicator and recently the VIX seems to be it. Of course, like all indicators it will work until too many use it and then it will fail taking with it the spoils of the market - their life savings.
It seems relatively simple to use and therefore attracts novices as well as professionals. When the indicator goes below 30 it would be a time to be short the general market such as the DOW, the S&P or the Nasdaq. When the numbers go above 45, which is supposed to show panic of investors, it is a time to buy. It is an inverse indicator. The lower the number the more complacency of the little investor - SELL; the higher the number the greater panic - BUY. Maybe it has become too simple because there is a sing/song that goes "When VIX is high it's time to buy, when VIX is low its time to go".
If it were only that simple. Every timing device has its shortcomings. With the VIX the numbers can remain in excessive high and low levels for prolonged periods and therefore cause the trader to experience losses before the desired market movement occurs. Like all other timing methods it is best when combined with other signals such as the 50-day moving average, P/E ratios and other devices.
Having been a trader for many years I can assure there is no Holy Grail indicator. The VIX is but one letter in the alphabet of market language. You cannot be successful with one syllable. You must take the time to learn the entire vocabulary.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
1-888-345-7870; al@mutualfundstrategy.com
.
More Resources
Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exitingMore Stocks & Mutual Funds Information:
Related Articles
Hot Stock Trader: How to Pick Momentum Stocks with Ease and Simplicity
Most stock traders know that momentum trading can be a very profitable activity. You can make big amounts of cash in a short period of time.
Dispelling Illusions of the Stock Market
How can you dispel an illusion unless you look directly at it? The magician distracts the eye with one hand while he does his manipulation with the other. You are looking in the wrong place and not seeing what is actually happening.
Which Way The Market
I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show hosts and the talking heads on TV that the market is going back to its old highs - DOW 11,700 and NASDAQ 5000 here we come.It seems to me that in 2000 I heard these same people saying there was no top to the market and were looking into their crystal balls for DOW 30,000 or some other fantastic number.
Buy and Hold Investment Philosophy
Wall Street has been preaching the doctrine of Buy and Hold forever. The worst part about it is the small investor (and some big ones) actually believe it.
Online Investing & Stock & Share Trading: 4 Reasons Why Most Online Investors & Traders Go Broke
Are you attracted to the idea of being in control of your financial future, but confused about how to start investing in the stock or share market, while avoiding costly mistakes?Or maybe you're disappointed with your performance so far?Does it sometimes feel like every time you take the plunge and buy into the market, the price goes down?That's understandable..
Inverted Interest Rates
Inverted interest rates? What's that? Who cares? Even if you don't understand what Mr. Greenspan is saying (and almost nobody does) it is important to you because it could mean you might lose you job next year or have to cut back on some of the things you want to acquire.
The Cub; II
We keep hearing about this bear market and that the bottom is "in" or "very close" so we should be invested in these bargain basement prices to take advantage of the next bull so we won't lose out on the expected huge profits.This is not a big bear market - yet.
Dividend Reinvestment Plans: Investing on Automatic Pilot
If you're like many investors who squander those small dividend checks from your stock portfolio, a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) might be just what you need. Just as its name implies, a Dividend Reinvestment Plan allows you to reinvest some or all of those dividends into more stock of the issuing company.
Dividend Paying Stocks
I would like to share with the reader an article printed in the financial section of U.S.
A Stock Market Investment Plan that Never Lets You Down
The bulls and bears of the stock market are both tempting and scary to the investors. Speculators are enchanted by the stock market's potential to help them in making quick money with a big M.
Trading For A Living
How many times have you said to yourself, "I'd like to quit this job and just make a living trading in the stock market"? Well, maybe you can, BUT..
Tips to Finding Other People's Simple Trading Plans
Did you know you can make money (and a lot of it) by simply modeling someone else's trading plan? Yes, it is true. Unbelievably, there are many of trading gurus doing it RIGHT NOW.
Overvalued & Underbought
With all the bad news that has been dumped upon the economy for some reason the stock market is going up. Why?The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) has just set up new guidelines for core earnings.
Never Fall In Love!
Recently I watched my favorite football team lose a vital game.I simply love this team.
E-mini Day Trading - Day Trading for Beginners - Stock Market Timing Software
I mean it when I say that. While plastic silverware is fine for picnics and parties, it is totally inappropriate in a surgeon's hand with an open brain in front of him.
Choosing An Investment Stock Broker
If you want one.And I don't recommend any broker with whom to trade who will be giving you advice on what to buy and sell.
Why Change Funds?
On November 17 I bought 7 different mutual funds and went to a 100% invested position. One of the funds I bought was Robertson Stevens Information Age (RSIFX) and it has made money as have the other six.
War Market
There is no question that the stock market is being affected by war jitters. When it looks like peace we have a strong rally.
How To Beat The Mutual Fund Companies At Their Own Game
You'd have had to be living on a desert island with no TV, newspaper or internet connection to have missed hearing about the great mutual fund scandal of 2003.The issue was that some mutual fund companies allowed certain hedge funds to engage in after-hours trading, sometimes incorrectly referred to as market timing.
A Common Misconception about Stock Prices
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell me that they only purchase low priced stocks because they offer higher potential gains. A common phase I hear is "I like to buy $1 and $2 stocks because they can double easily and I will make a 100% profit".