Zacks Top Simulator Player Interview features Micro Linear Corp., OMNI Energy Services Corp., Gold Fields Limited, Transmeta and Biopure Corp.CHICAGO -- Zacks.com introduces its Second Quarter Challenge top player interviews, which feature insights from the leaders of the Zacks Simulator game. The Simulator allows investors to prove their stock picking abilities by competing directly against other players for prizes worth thousands of the dollars. This week Zacks is delighted to introduce Darius Loftis (aka: Darius), whose Simulator portfolio is showing an overall return of approximately 30% since Apr 3. Darius' Simulator portfolio holdings include Micro Linear Corp. (Nasdaq:MLIN MLIN Massachusetts Library and Information Network ), OMNI OMNI Omnidirectional OMNI Organising Medical Networked Information OMNI Opportunities for Micronutrient Interventions Project OMNI Operating Missions as a Node on the Internet (NASA networking project) Energy Services Corp. (Nasdaq:OMNI), Gold Fields Gold Fields Limited is one of the world’s largest unhedged producers of gold, providing investors with maximum leverage to the gold price. The company was formed in 1998 with the amalgamation of the gold assets of Gold Fields of South Africa Limited and Gencor Limited. Limited (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :GFI GFI Ground Fault Interrupter GFI Go For It GFI Government-Furnished Information GFI Growing Families International GFI Goodness of Fit Indices GFI Government Financial Institutions (Philippines) GFI Gross Farm Income ), Transmeta (Nasdaq:TMTA TMTA Transmeta (stock symbol) TMTA Texas Music Teachers Association TMTA Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association TMTA Truro Morlaix Twinning Association (UK) ) and Biopure Corp. (Nasdaq:BPUR BPUR Biopure Corporation (stock symbol) ). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2518 Highlights from the April 26 interview include: Like last week's featured top player, Darius' investment style leans towards the short-term. He mentioned that he is more of a swing trader and does not hold stocks for a long period of time. As the case with many Simulator contestants, Darius' Stock Challenge portfolio is a reflection of real-life trading. The savvy investor explained that he is going for the short-term because he is finished saving for retirement. Thus, he likes fast moving stocks that have a good chance of a fast return. Take a look at this player's trade history at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2515 and discover what he has been buying and selling. Recent positions include Micro Linear Corp. (Nasdaq:MLIN), OMNI Energy Services Corp. (Nasdaq:OMNI), Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI), Transmeta (Nasdaq:TMTA) and Biopure Corp. (Nasdaq:BPUR). The technical stock picker uses stock screens to find potential investments. Darius noted, "I use computerized programs to scan for stocks that meet certain criteria such as trending, volume, breakouts, etc. I am more of a technical trader rather than a fundamental trader." What does this Simulator contender look for in a security? Keeping in line with his short-term trading philosophy, Darius stated, "I trade stocks that are lower priced that are set for movement. Timing is everything in swing trading Swing Trading A style of trading that attempts to capture gains in a stock within one to four days. Notes: To find situations in which a stock has this extraordinary potential to move in such a short time frame, the trader must act quickly. ." What about timing a sell order? Zacks was not surprised to hear a lot of technical jargon in Darius' response to this question. He said, "I look at candlestick Candlestick A price chart that displays the high, low, open, and close for a security each day over a specified period of time. charts and try and see what they are telling me. I pay attention to trend lines, candlestick formations such as evening stars, morning stars, bullish and bearish Bearish Words used to describe investor attitude. A bearish investor believes that a particular asset or the market as a whole will decline in value. bearish candles, etc." What does his crystal ball show? The market's direction will largely be guided by energy prices according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. this stock trader. "I really believe that a lot of where the market will be depends on energy prices. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how much more the investing community can stand such outrageous prices at the pump nor idly sit by and watch the major oil companies keep reporting record profits every quarter. If these high prices continue upward I really expect the Dow to decline and investors will have to be prudent in the stocks they pick," commented Darius. How about some words of wisdom for those who are just starting out in the market? The market enthusiast's advice can actually be summed up in one word, "read." With the abundance of information that is out there today, Darius indicated that voracity for reading could quickly turn a green stock dabbler into a successful investor. He added that, prior to taking the market plunge, it would be wise to decide if one is going to invest for the long-term or the short-term, and learning how to read charts as well as studying indicators is very helpful. Check out the complete interview and learn more about the Simulator at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2518 The Challenge is On! Do You Have What it Takes? Sign up now for the Zacks Challenge. It's free. It's fun. It's the place to show your investing prowess. The best stock pickers will be rewarded with thousands of dollars in prizes. Learn more at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2520 About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research Zacks Investment Research A firm that compiles earnings estimates and brokerage firm investment recommendations for thousands of publicly traded firms. , Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2521 Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. (a) The S&P 500 Index ("S&P 500") is a well-known, unmanaged index of the prices of 500 large-company common stocks selected by Standard & Poor's. The S&P 500 includes the reinvestment of all dividends, no transaction costs Transaction Costs Costs incurred when buying or selling securities. These include brokers' commissions and spreads (the difference between the price the dealer paid for a security and the price they can sell it). , and represents the gross returns before management fees. Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. |
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