if you're gonna invest, it has to be a full time job.
you wake up early and watch the pre-market report, and you trade all day.
all you're trying to do is ride on the coat-tails of the big market movers.
if a stock pop's 3 percent, you're not gonna get that full 3 percent, all you wanna do is catch that middle 1 percent.
the easy thing is all you have to do is pay attention... and use common sense (usually.. sometimes common sense doesn't work. lol).
there's a hurricane? get long oil and short airline's.
there's a natural disaster? short insurance co's with the greatest exposure.
co loses a lawsuit? short it and cover before it bounces back... then get long and hold it on the way back up for a quick pop.
pharma co gets a drug approved? that's good for a 5 point pop, all you wanna do is catch the middle 3 points.
ect, ect, ect....
if you don't pay attention you WILL lose your money, so in that sense, sure, it's like a casino... but when I go to the casino and jump on the roulette table, i'm not throwing chips over the table all willy nilly.... i'm looking at the odd's of the past numbers hitting and i'm playing those, and i'm spreading my chips... top 3rd, end 3rd, black, 4 corners, ect... you increase your chances of winning, but lower your overall winnings. i'd rather make a little for a long time, than make a lot once or twice.