Blog Archives:
My 20 All-Time Favorite Finance Books (Part 1)
Posted by timothysykes on Thu 8th of May, 2008 04:10:56 PM
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These are my favs, ranked in order of how much of a fav they are–whether enjoyment or education-wise. You can see my whole 300 business library HERE (or at least what we’ve put up so far)
Notice there are few “How To” books—I believe success is more about understanding the variables and players behind the scenes so you can adapt to the inevitable changes. So, I prefer autobiographies—experiences full of lessons told through the eyes of the experienced who’ve learned those lessons the hard way so you don’t have. Throw in a few financial history classics and some trading psychology gems and you’ve got yourself one hell of a financial education. Just order the whole lot of ‘em, the cost of these books are a small price to pay for the money they’re gonna save you in the markets.
[HTML2] - My all-time favorite book, not just because it’s quick, entertaining, meaningful, practical, inspirational and timeless…okay well, yeah because of all that. Before you ever trade another stock, read this book!
[HTML3]An American Hedge Fund - C’mon, you knew I had to mention this if only because I’ve never read any other book so many times. Granted, some of that was for editing purposes, but I really think I nailed what the life of a stock trader is like—the passion, the nervousness, the anxiety, the restlessness—it’s not just about the money, it’s a great profession for those willing to challenge themselves and see what they’re made of. And, considering 90% of traders lose money, I wish there were a lot more brutally honest books like this.
[HTML4] - My top pick for beginners, this sucker has sold 1+ million copies…besides CANSLIM investing being a successful strategy, it’s now just all one big self-fulfilling prophecy—don’t be the only one on the block who hasn’t read this…lots of angles to profit from its popularity.
[HTML5]
- by Nison. If you’re gonna trade based on chart patterns, you need to know how to read candlesticks. This is a semi-expensive book so all you homeless people are gonna have to go to your local library to read it.
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Posted by timothysykes on Thu 8th of May, 2008 12:41:01 PM
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THIS answers all your questions, or least builds a foundation to build from
Why PennyStocking Is Not An Optional Course, It’s Required
Posted by timothysykes on Thu 8th of May, 2008 12:29:41 PM Sponsor Offer:
You know why I’m always promoting my 6-hour PennyStocking instructional DVD package? (See the first independent thorough review HERE) It’s definitely not about the money—not yet anyway—it’s to help teach you guys the rules of trading penny stocks that I’ve learned the hard way over the past 9 years. I’m giving you my battle-tested rules of engagement that I wish someone had given me when I first started or even now cuz anyone with a decade of market dominating success is someone worth listening to and learning from.
Don’t say you’re gonna dip your toe in penny stocks and make some amateur error, writing it off as “why penny stocks are like gambling” or how it’s “part of your penny stock education”. My DVD is your tuition—I should probly get it accredited or something—not the more expensive stupid trading losses!
You want some examples? Fine, I’ve got plenty of them (people, I’m gonna use your comments not to be mean but to make examples out of you…it’s not like any of you use your full name anyway!)
First that comes to mind is Wes shorting SIX after a morning panic 10% drop. Stupid stupid stupid…even though I occasionally short in morning, I don’t recommend it—there’s too many spikes, the afternoon is usually much more gradual. And, even when I do short, I short looking for that morning panic, NEVER after it!
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Posted by timothysykes on Thu 8th of May, 2008 07:29:17 AM
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12 stocks to watch and why I’m loving my VRML short
A Short Seller’s Dozen: What Stocks Get Pumped, Must Come Down, Usually
Posted by timothysykes on Thu 8th of May, 2008 07:26:44 AM Sponsor Offer:
VRML Short 1,300 @$3.75
LGDI
SUNV
Getting up bright and early, I reserved shares in all three of these stocks to possibly short today, not knowing which I’d actually short. LGDI didn’t even trade for 5 minutes and when it did, it moved slower than an under-cooked lobster. SUNV didn’t breach the key $1.20 level until the afternoon (when I had no trades left), so it was all about VRML.
I wanted to short into strength cuz it was a classic short covering rally from yesterday’s $1.75 pullback off the highs…given the magnitude of the declines and that it’s still up 300+% in a few days—on an ill-researched story thinking this near bankrupt company will do anything but go under—meant short sellers would be aggressive. Afraid I’d miss the probable pullback, I jumped the gun too early, shorting 1,300 shares at $3.75…as I watched it hang around $3.90 x $4 for another 30 min, I wasn’t very worried as the big buyer blocks were only on the bids—the wall of sellers at $4 never in danger of cracking—a clear sign of pumpers trying to scare up buyers/short covering…inevitably, the volume faded, the bids disappeared and the stock spent the day chomping gradually away at its early gains, few buy orders at the ask. I’d call it a perfect crack of sideways price action in the $3.60 range, but it still managed to finish up on the day, so it’ not totally perfect…just yet.
Despite my poor timing, I’ve got a nice $380 profit so far, I let it ride overnight cuz I think it goes under or around $3 today or tomorrow, possible big stop loss panic if it take out $3, might get to cover at $2.60-$2.75ish if I’m lucky.
VNDA
Nice gradual fade, but not my ideal PennyStocking short, too tight a chart/variables not fraudulent enough to squeeze one in
BDCO
Everyone’s goin crazy over an 18 cent gain, leme know when it gets to $3, until then jewwwww noooo
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Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 04:37:13 PM
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VRML closed down nicely, I’m up 8%, or $380ish, still early in the pattern, I might be getting greedy, but considering I ALWAYS cover too early, I want under $3 tomorrow. Either way, 3rd big victory in 3 days for PennyStocking!
The Timothy Sykes / A Sponsor To Be Named Later College Tour 2008/2009
Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 03:18:03 PM Sponsor Offer:
After testing out my out my public speaking skills at University of Arizona, Rutgers University, University of Minnesota, Baruch College and Options University’s Online Trading Expo and receiving loud rounds of applause, more than one standing ovation and some great feedback (which you can see below), I’m ready to plan a national speaking tour! Students from the University of Maryland and University of Florida have already contacted me, but I wanna make one massive list right here so I can show sponsors and be all organized…somewhat.
So, if you’re a college student, frat brother, president of college/high school organization, basically whoever is part of some big community whose minds I can warp, leave a comment below so we can put this thing together, either gonna be in Fall 208 or Spring 2009!
Here’s just a sampling of the many testimonials:
“Attracting a diverse crowd of students from the University of Minnesota with varying levels of interest in Finance, Tim’s story kept everyone on the edge of their seats and asking for more. His casual demeanor, hysterical life experiences, and avant-garde trading style were both eye opening and entertaining. Overall, students left feeling inspired and motivated to learn more about finance as a hobby and potentially a career. Definitely a breath of fresh in the world of investing.”
-Dan Rice, President, University of Minnesota Investing Club
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Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 12:49:20 PM
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VRML is making me more confident in my short by the minute, big sell blocks coming, getting more aggressive, actually taking out some big buy blocks at 3.74, 3.72 and 3.70….message board pumpers reverting back to showcasing 6 month old stock promotion which the company paid $40k for
Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 11:52:05 AM
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Forget about bastard stock promoters, HERE is the story of a soulless magazine editor
Hey, Randall Lane, You Sick Twisted Son Of A Bitch, Remember Me?
Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 11:42:57 AM Sponsor Offer:
Photo Of Randall Lane By Chester Higgins Jr./The New York TimesNote: Aside from the last paragraph this post is written following the journalistic style of Randall Lane—treating assumptions and circumstantial evidence as fact. It’s cruel, amateurish and immature—oh yes, I know—but that basically sums this guy up so in order to help him grow up, he must be given a taste of his own medicine.
To those who don’t care and just want stock picks—this is also a great lesson on how to pounce when your enemy is wounded, no different than the vultures who took out Bear or LTCM.
Last time Randall Lane, editor-in-chief of Traitor Monthly was in Page Six, he was attacking a small-time trader (me) because his magazine staff fumbled, disinviting me from their little party at the last minute after we’d been discussing my covering the event for MSN Money for days.
Clearly in the wrong, this balding bastard was forced to go on the offensive, charging my hedge fund’s losses were the result of my publicity hounding rather than bothering to research the matter like a responsible journalist might do (turning his nose up at the complimentary book I’d sent him weeks before that explained the situation in detail) and running his arrogant mouth off to the press, confident of favorable treatment due to his connected Forbes wife.
Now, just a few months later, the tables have turned as Lane himself was fired as publisher of the Player’s magazine by Lenny “Nails” Dykstra who called Randy boy out on what he’s becoming known for, trash talking when he doesn’t get his way: “If you want to fight, take me on. Don’t go behind my back and bad mouth me,” said Dykstra. “He thinks I’m going to buckle,” said Dykstra, referring to Doubledown President Randall Lane. “I don’t buckle - I go to war.”
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Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 08:37:38 AM
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The list just keeps growing, today 20 hot stocks to watch…PennyStocking is on!
Timmayyy’s 20 Totally Tubular Tickers To Trade Through Thinkorswim Today To Thursday
Posted by timothysykes on Wed 7th of May, 2008 08:31:01 AM Sponsor Offer:
LGDI
Still on watch for a break under $4, gonna be tough to do from here, today at least, actually consolidated well until the last 5 minutes…still wouldn’t be surprised to see a big 50 cent-$1 upwards spike or at least that’s what I be praying for, oh yah man!
VRML
Mistake of the millennium yesterday, still gonna be volatile
ASIA
Now that’s a breakout…PennyStocking DVD student and upcoming grandmaster Tony Ellis kindly alerted everyone to this and then proceeded to make a quick $1,200 in 3 minutes…That’s right, the DVD preaches that you should these pieces of junk on breakouts, too—just as I did with COIN back a few months ago during a live radio interview
CSIQ
Trying to do the same kind of breakout—doesn’t interest me in the least, would require waaaaay too much precious buying power
SUNV
Finally a stock that doesn’t require much buying power—but it does waste a precious trade, a double jewww yahhhh f$%# you to my friends over at the SEC for that one! Volume’s fading though…gotta crack $1.25 to have any chance
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Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 08:49:00 PM
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Wow, it’s gonna be tough for you guys not to do better than THIS junk!
Controlling A Stupid Trading Mistake Means An Opportunity Lost
Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 08:47:26 PM Sponsor Offer:
Despite my rather long list of potential plays I posted this morning, I had two clear favorites—LGDI and VRML—two sketchy and failing, respectively, penny stocks that were up in excess of 100% over the past few days on fluffy news, a contract and a poorly researched NBC video claiming this near bankrupt company was gonna cure Ovarian Cancer (seriously, I can’t make this junk up), respectively again. So, at 7am (early bird gets the worm), I dutifully reserved 2,000 shares of each stock to short—as both were hard-to-borrow—putting my limit orders waaaaay above (or as high as my buying power would let me) their current price, LGDI at $5.49 and VRML at $3.99, intent on ratcheting the down if and when I wanted to short.
Fearful of a large VRML price surge, I commented on my blog post at 9:36am “cancelled my VRML order, not enough buying power to worry about it executing” and focused on LGDI—as it was weak the day before. Tried shorting my 2,000 shares right near its weak open at $4.35, but didn’t get executed…it quickly dropped to $4.10ish, but I didn’t want to chase it…fearful of a morning fakeout (proven correct over the rest of the day—good avoidance)
Next up was VRML, which was spiking from $3 to $4.75…I posted “VRML sooo thinly traded, let it run, I still have my shares borrowed for the day, just in no rush to use em” Whew, glad I canceled my short at $3.99, as I celebrated in a post at 10:05am. Still, at $4.25, everybody is talking about shorting it, so I post THESE rules about patience
But now at 11am, I figure it’d be good to re-enter my short, so I login…wait a minute—WTF, my short had executed at $3.99?!?!?! I posted my disbelief as I chatted with Thinkorswim to see if there was anything that could be done about this error.
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Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 03:03:44 PM
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Check out my Huffington Post interview…yahoo user, please feel free to buzz it up!
My Huffington Post Interview & Why My Readers Will Soon Be Richer Than Me
Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 02:50:57 PM Sponsor Offer:
Check it out HERE–it’s definitely a solid interview and it’s great when a reporter actually takes the time to make sure the facts are correct (yeah suck on that Randall Lane, I’ve got an article coming about you tomorrow!)
PS Even though I screwed up today’s perfect PennyStocking plays rather royally–although controlled losses well–my analysis was dead on, so I’m pretty damn proud and happy that many of you readers banked. Here’s a quick and dirty rundown:
PennyStocking student Davey and Mark shorted VRML around $4.60, Davey covering conservatively at $4.33, Mark still waiting to cover (as of the last comment saw). Ryan shorted some at $4.65 and $5, covering all at $3.70, posting a great comment “With more than $3500 made in a single day today, I am up 72.86% up in 4 months. All this credit goes to our number one Tim!!”
But the gains weren’t limited to VRML alone. Tony Ellis banked $1,200 on COIN, Shthappns banked on UFPT…any others, I can’t even keep track of all the comments today—so please comment about your winners–and losers–in this post so we can see how everyone’s doing! Last one to $1 million is a dirty Jew!
Stock Puppets: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cutting Through Industry BS
Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 11:51:28 AM Sponsor Offer:
When I created this book-blog-DVD publishing business model that is BullShip Press, LLC, I figured I’d repeat my feat, become the top ranked / most popular guy on Covestor, show everyone exactly how to turn thousands into millions trading fantastically predictable penny stocks without using any leverage whatsoever, cut through all the industry corruption and ego, teach a few people and many former suckers how to profit from it, and piss a few others off by promoting my book An American Hedge Fund and instructional DVD PennyStocking in EVERY blog post (cuz they’re that important / helpful / necessary and help cut down too many questions / emails I get).
Everything’s been going well—and then, a few weeks ago, I discovered some bastard using a variation of my name, “timsykus1” on the animalistic Yahoo! message boards. I did some research and discovered the term for this kind of deceit is a “sock puppet”. I thought, okay, that was bound to happen, ignore it.
Flash forward to last night when I’m doing my nightly screen for potential pump and dumps and I come upon VRML, a miserably failing biotech in the same vein as its Paulie-from-the-movie-Rocky-like relatives REED, PSTI and VION, all of which were great to short sell into. And lo and behold, who do I see promoting this thing that belongs in a toilet—yup, “timsykus1” again, using my good name—at least to those who are blind in one eye—to pump this stock!
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Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 10:51:47 AM
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People keep forgetting Rule #1 And Rule #2, learn them, know the, live them!
Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 09:00:45 AM
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15 stocks to watch, do it, do it all night looooong!
15 Low Priced Stocks: Buy & Short Sell Some, Avoid Most, Despise Them All!
Posted by timothysykes on Tue 6th of May, 2008 08:59:05 AM Sponsor Offer:
First, let’s get the fun / useless guessing game contest over with—with YHOO’s $24.37 closing price, there were 2 winners: Ann-Nan Lo $24.50 and DarkMatter $24.24—congrats guys! (UPDATE: Ann-Nan Lo has been disqualified cuz her winning guess was her second…wow, my readers are on top of things!)
Now to business, stocks with predictable charts—doubt any of these topics will get 200+ comments, but gimme a few years to set you straight. Tons of plays, gonna be handicapped yet again by the SEC pattern day trading rule—all that handicapping inspired me to write one hell of a post, which I gotta vet with a lawyer…
VNDA
Yes its bounced, but its a ton off its highs and it’s an earnings play, still watching it, doubt I’ll have the buying power to touch it, f$#@ you SEC!
LGDI
My top play for today, made $350 ayer, look to make more if and when it cracks $4.40 to the downside, could / should move fast when it cracks as that’ll put it slightly down on the day, potential to go all the way down to $4, then it’s a game of whether or not stop losses can get taken out, $4.05-$4.10 if it holds, $3.60-$3.70 if it doesn’t…and this is all of course after the probable / hopeful morning short squeeze, which could / should retest highs, pleaseeeeeeee…game of chess baby, I don’t know how to play, only game I know is PennyStocking where you gotta think a few moves ahead!
SUNV
Kills me I didn’t short into yesterday’s spike, read my twitter message about it (Follow me on there to get quick messages like that), I was all set! That calls for my second f$#@ you to the SEC in as any minutes.
FEED
Lesson in why you don’t scalp these range bound suckers, use my friggin experience to your advantage you dumb Jews!
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