College student looking to get involved in stocks - advice?

Pretty self explanatory. I'm a junior undergrad student who's trying to get financially secure. Since I don't have much saved away, I was considering investment options. As of now, I get $70 a week allowance (dorm life and meal plans covering the basics), though I'm about to get a part-time job, so that'll change soon. Basically, I have little knowledge of how the stock market works, and I just want to get started. What I really want to know is how stocks and the stock market works, how to play the market - things like that. In fact, if there's recommended reading on the subject for beginners, that'd be great too. Any other advice about particular stocks, or even advice about other preferable investment options, would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

No free lunch, but if you give me 2 hours per weekday, 10 hours/week, you'll become a millionaire before you are 25. Open a Roth IRA account at Tradeking.com....watch Mad Money and Fast Money on CNBC every weeknight. They mention a lot of stocks, but there's a few that have virtually no longterm downside...RIMM (just got access to China), BIDU (Google of China), GOOG (everyone and their brother just upgraded to over $750), NILE (revolutionizing how diamonds are purchased) RIO (raw materials play on world growth and devalued US$). Wait for short-term pullbacks in these or other stocks they mention and then buy "out of the money" calls 2 to 3 months out (if you don't know what this means read about options). Once you've gotten a nice return put a trailing stop of 5% to protect yourself. Once you get more sophisticated you can buy puts to take advantage of downsides, and way down the road you can get into other options strategies. This is the simplest way for you to amass a sizeable amount of money quickly, as well as really learn how the leverage of options can amass a small fortune quicker then any other investment vehicle. I guarantee if you take notes on everything you see and do you will become a millionaire. It's not hard, it's like anything else, you need to be passionate about it and you will succeed. Also, for some sure fire buy and hold but slower growth, but FXI(China) and EWZ(Brazil) ETFs on pullbacks and let ride.

I have listed a few sites that provide excellent information for the beginner that wants to learn how to invest in stocks. Click on the ads to receive free newsletters and other subscriptions. All of the information on these sites are free.

Not to sound negative but I see this alot. The truth is you'll never be able to invest enough to really see much of return. With $70 a week, or even a little more than that , you wont have enough to buy a substantial amount of any one stock. Your best bet is to open up a high interest savings account, cd or money market account. That way theres no reason you'll lose any money. And in the meantime.....................read everything you can on the stocks market. SO when you get a real good job in the future and have 1000's to put on the market you'll well prepared.

So....Do your Own research and the research is when you read EVERYTHING.

Intern at a firm. Ask a lot of questions.

Also remember the the stock exchange truly is just an legal , glamorized form of gambling and as long as you keep that in mind , you'll take less uneducated risks.

Also try out the site , it is a fake Hollywood Site, That gives you a fake 2million to invest in movies, actors, etc. We use it as an educational tool to teach interns how the market fluctuates and the difference between buy/sell/holds/etc Hope this helps.

HSX.com

Being young is fun so enjoy it first. To make money you have to have it, I was told that years ago by my father. He gave me $100.00 for a A 75. for a B and 25. for a C. D's cost me 75. and a F or a I cost me $100.00.

I took the money and put it into a few simple products that the world will not do without ever again.

Female Hyg. Products,
Toilet paper,
Baby diapers,

The Av. market over time turned me a nice 12% with no risk of loss.
Next. Heating oil futures, (and jet fuel are both desel products). Invest in these in the first week of Aug. sell in Dec.
Invest in Coffee Futures in Jan and sell in June.

I took my H.S. funds and invested as above. That was a few years ago, starting in 1966 and have a very nice home drive nice cars and live well on the intrest from the checks each years.
John

From one beginner to another, it's easy to get started through online services like Etrade.com, Sharebuilder.com (no opening minimum $), Scottrade.com, places like that. Usually the brokerages have some online articles, etc, that give you the run-down of investing basics. Also, I really like MSN Money, lots of great updates and articles there too, with recommendations on trends and stocks that should perform well. Some things to consider.....you can buy stocks of an individual company itself (like Chevron), and/or you can also buy ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds, which allow you to buy into lots of companies within the same index/sector....so for example, 25 or so of the biggest gas companies- check out symbol XLE for example), which are easy to find on an online brokerage accout. ETF's allow you to minimize risk (not putting all of your eggs in one basket), but less risk generally means less gains, but more diversity in your porfolio. Also, there are many stocks and ETF's that also pay dividends. So for example, if you invest in a stock (or ETF) that trades for 20$ (AINV), and it also pays a 2$ annual dividend, then that's a 10% dividend, or 10% that you are paid, usually on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis, depending on the co. Kinda nice to have some icing on the cake on top of your earnings too.

Well start safe, learn much. Check www.stockpickguide.com

i think this the best one ............................
Stock Market Simulation
Make Money in Stock Market
How the Stock Market Works
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details about undervalued stocks,stock sentiment,stock market features, BROKER'S COMMENT ON EACH STOCK

http://www.freewebs.com/allstocks