[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

I would also like to add that debt leveraging is not necessary. Although it is probably one of the few ways to make money consistently within the scope of short term fluctuations (I don't recommend trying this unless you're an institutional investor with deep and diversified positions), buying for the long haul in the right places can create quite handsome returns, even for established companies and a relatively small beginning principal.

pianist

It's not necessary, but it served me well over the course of the recovery. You don't need to be an institution to use margin. You just need to make intelligent trading decisions and be sure to limit your losses when the market's telling you that you were wrong.

I never meant to imply that debt leveraging is only for institutions. I just don't recommend it to try to profit off of short term fluctuations like a lot of financial institutions try to do (in things like Forex).

Interesting tidbit I found. I can't vouch for the reliability of the source, but it seems as though Gaddafi might start using chemical weapons:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110501/world/gas-masks.363135

I certainly wouldn't put it past him.

You know, I'm wondering based on some of the posts in this thread if these are exactly the kinds of reactions the Libyan government is trying to draw out of people. They are in bad need of both domestic and foreign sympathy and support. Which makes me wonder what kind of game the Jamahiriya is playing with this airstrike. I suspect they could very easily be lying.

[QUOTE="Citrus25"]

Whose with me on this one? I mean the guy is a unwanted leader to his country.

He is killing his own people and he should be dead by now and replaced by some other guy that is not that crazy.

l4dak47

I still do wonder if the wholesale dissolution of the Iraqi army and police had a lot more to do with the chaos that followed than the end of any framework of stability that Saddam offered.

Those things are much better happening on their own accord.

Another of his sons died a few weeks ago by rebels as well.

JasonDarksavior

If you're talking about Khamis al-Gaddafi, he still is apparently alive and well. As he heads the feared "Khamis Brigade", that particular report of his death was most likely rebel propaganda, and at best, it remains only an unconfirmed rumor.

[QUOTE="chaoscougar1"]agreed, stocks can be extremely risky. Not to mention to actually get a half decent return you need to buy a copious amount and at that price, would require a lot of funds and probably debt leveragingpianist

They're not really as risky as most people believe they are. People only get smashed because they practice poor risk management or have inadequate education. For those who spend some money and take the time to learn how to analyze a chart and apply good risk management techniques, stocks are by far the best place to put their money over the long term.

I would also like to add that debt leveraging is not necessary. Although it is probably one of the few ways to make money consistently within the scope of short term fluctuations (I don't recommend trying this unless you're an institutional investor with deep and diversified positions), buying for the long haul in the right places can create quite handsome returns, even for established companies and a relatively small beginning principal.

There's no justification for buying MS shares at the moment. The dividend's pretty insignificant, and the stock is currently trading in the 25-30 dollar range, where it has spent much of the past decade. If you're looking for a buying opportunity, you should be looking for something below $20, or a clear and sustained break through $30.

Like others have said, it would be good to acquire some education in investing before trying your hand at this. And before you start trading with real money (even after acquiring some education), practice trading with fake money. It's easy to track a hypothetical trade, regardless of whether you're using real money or not.

pianist

The problem with fake paper trading is the very fact that it is not real money. It doesn't adequately prepare oneself for the emotional factor of putting money into the market. I suppose though that can only come with time, experience, and learning to just buy and hold over a reasonable period as opposed to micromanaging.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

[QUOTE="Seajack"]So typical of NATO. I feel like the screw ups are intentional sometimes. Intel could always be improved, but this is not acceptable. What a worthless treaty. Seajack

What are you protesting? The killings or lack thereof of high value individuals who were killed?

I'm sure if NATO wanted to they could just carpet bomb Gaddafi's entire complex. But that would lead to unacceptable collateral damage. Besides, I am highly suspicious of these reports. Like I posted earlier, this isn't the first time an airstrike "almost killed" him.

About time the nato target him... but Christ, this rebellion is such a joke. We are on the third months of this ridiculous mess and even with bombardment, sea and air blocade, the rebel still can't win. This mean they don't have enough support from the inside... Why botherFranko_3

You know it's what happens on the ground that counts the most. And don't forget quite a few cities in western Libya fell into rebel hands before they were retaken by force. Not to mention the particularly violent measures taken against protestors in Tripoli. As well as the general weakness of the regular army, where strength is instead concentrated in either sufficiently loyal units and those tasked specifically with regime security.