[rcooled]

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

IMO the stock market is the same as any form of gambling, you have to be prepared to lose it all when you invest or don't bother investing at all.

The stock market used to be primarily a place where businesses could go to raise capital in order to expand their operations. Now that enormous blocks of stock can be traded instantly by mega-computers, that's become a secondary purpose. The markets are now manipulated by powerful investment & banking firms for short term gains. Nearly three-quarters of the stocks traded on the NYSE are currently held for three minutes or less. The individual investor doesn't stand a chance unless they are unusually lucky. Just like in Las Vegas...