Sunday, October 21, 2007

Playing the Stock Market

It seems that the stock market is a good indicator of how the economy is doing. If the market goes up, everyone is happy. If the market goes down, people get worried. People can make lots of money, or they can lose lots of money - all based on what the stock market does. But what does that actually mean? And how does it actually work? If you're anything like me, you have no idea.

MyWallSt.net looks like a good way to learn a little more about that. You can sign up for a free account and start trading stocks from real companies, but with virtual money, using their trading simulator. It works with real stocks and real numbers from the real stock market. I think it sounds like an interesting educational tool - a way to learn how the stock market works without any risk to actual money. Traditional publications are often dated and the learning curve can be costly. Here's a way to get 'hands on' stock market experience without risking your own money.

MyWallSt.net doesn't just leave you to your own devices to figure out how the stock market works, either. It's a social networking site that allows you to find and add friends. I'm thinking that adding friends who seem to know a little bit more than I do about the stock market would be a big help for me and help me figure out how things work - how to pick stocks, when to buy, when to sell, all that stuff. If they're doing well with their stock picks in the trading simulator, hopefully they'll be willing to share some secrets or advice. I need all the help I can get! There's also a forum to join, to ask questions and get advice.

If you're interested in learning how the stock market works, you might want to check out MyWallSt.net to see if it might help you. They'll even give you a free hat for signing up and building a profile, and you could win some real money, too.