stocks investing day trading blog swing trading   Learn to invest in the stock market, invest like a pro daytrader swing trading penny stocks

Lobster Trapping for Investment Ideas


Recently, my family and I took a trip to Maine to visit relatives. During our stay, we toured the rocky shore lines and took in the beautiful architecture of the old towns.

One sunny morning, three generations of Wardlaws boarded a lobster boat and set out on a guided lobster trapping excursion.

We quickly learned lobstermen lead a life of hard work and regulations.

Over the course of many years, Maine's lobstermen and state officials have established certain criteria to protect lobsters and allow for greater development. With the rules, lobstermen look for "keepers."

A "keeper" is a lobster that measures between 3.25 and 5 inches from its eye socket to the end of its back shell. In addition to the precise measurements, the lobster cannot carry eggs nor can it have a notch in its tail (indicating it is a breeding female). The notch is carved from prior lobstermen who observed the lobster's breeding.

If the lobster does not fit the criteria set forth, it is discarded and placed back in the waters.

As an investor, you constantly look for "keepers." At your disposal is a wealth of information to determine the quality of a position.

Depending on your predetermined goals (including risk tolerances and time horizons), you may use a number of measurement tools. If the position does not fit such benchmarks, you may consider moving on to a more appropriate position.

For example, among the many rules of measurement, an investor may look toward a mutual fund's beta. Of course the fund's management, its fees, asset allocations and historical performance should play a role as well.

For bonds, an investor may consider its maturity, the coupon, its yield to maturity (or call), price, and rating. An investor must also determine the type of bond. Do you prefer a municipal, treasury, or corporate bond?

And with regards to stocks, if you have been an investor for any number of years, you know the drill. Between fundamental and technical analysis, you have several traps to pull from the waters.

It is important to know the criteria that is appropriate for your portfolio. Remember, some positions may be keepers while others may be discarded.

Wardlaw has been involved in the fields of investments and insurance for over twelve years. The author's belief is that familiar life elements best illustrate practical investment strategies; not typical investment jargon. For comments and questions, please contact the author at tools2invest@yahoo.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Fairholme Proposes Equity Investment in General Growth Properties, Inc.
MarketWatch (press release)
The proposal was designed to respond to GGP's additional request that the commitment be consistent with the parallel equity investment proposed by ...

and more »


Feds: Kirkland investment adviser stole millions
Seattle Times
Federal prosecutors say a Kirkland investment adviser stole millions of dollars from at least 20 clients. The Associated Press Federal prosecutors say a ...

and more »


Texas Instruments, GetFugu to announce $100000 investment in MobileLab at ...
Dallas Morning News
Dallas-based Texas Instruments Inc. and Los Angeles-based GetFugu Inc. are announcing a joint $100000 investment ...

and more »


Ask Jill: Investing vs. Mortgage Pay Down
CBS News
This brings me to the age-old question: what's preferable: paying down mortgage debt or investing in a diversified portfolio? The answer is a little more ...

and more »


France24

China Mobile investing $5.8B in Chinese bank
The Associated Press
HONG KONG — China Mobile Ltd., the world's biggest phone company by subscribers, said Wednesday it was investing $5.8 billion in a Chinese bank as part of a ...
China Mobile Bets $5.8B on E-CommerceWireless Week

all 152 news articles »


Dallas Morning News

Jerry Jones had a shot at investing in career of boxer Manny Pacquiao
Dallas Morning News
Parcells thought Pacquiao was worth the investment. And so he called Jones to set up a meeting. "We sat in Jerry's office and talked about how good Oscar De ...

and more »


Korea Investment Picks SDI, LG Chem on Battery Sales
BusinessWeek
Lee's KITM Meister Securities Investment Trust's return over the past six months is the third-best performer among 183 funds with assets greater than 50 ...

and more »


Investing Decision Centers
MSN Money
CEO Bob Iger says he's 'comfortable' with Disney's assets but wouldn't say 'no' when asked if he'd sell the TV network. General Electric (GE) is getting rid ...

and more »


First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund Declares Quarterly Distribution of ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity securities. First Trust Advisors LP, ...

and more »


Reuters

Investing Decision Centers
MSN Money
Economists estimate that wholesale inventories rose 0.2% in January after shrinking in December. Crude oil and gold prices gain as the dollar loses value. ...
Bull Market Celebrates First Birthday With Modest GainsDailyFinance
Stocks Gain In Mixed VolumeInvestor's Business Daily
Investing Decision CentersMSN Money
Investor's Business Daily
all 1,396 news articles »

Google News

home Day Trade Blog | site map
© 2006 Day Trade blog investing and stock market resource