I am referring to a bull run. Margin during bear market is not quite applicable.

As I mentioned before, why we leverage when only in paper profit? It means you have to leverage at a higher price not lower price. When the price drop, your initial paper profit acts as a buffer. If the stock does not take off after you leverage, you don't just hold, you sell off and when you sell off when you have initial paper profit, you probably break even, make a bit or just lose a bit.

Of course you don't leverage and still hold if the stock keeps dropping. Why people lose a lot? Refuse to cut loss, refuse to preserve capital, and just keep holding and holding......

Another very cheap  alternative :-  what i am doing -  buy one (1) Spore Big Sweep ticket every month . Max loss limited to only $3 per mth.

So  far still waiting for the big one!

I understand your position but margin is dangerous for most ppl especially those who cannot control their emotions and have no experienced as a good trader. Thou margin is less dangerous than contra, however inability of one to control their trades it is very dangerous too.

 However i am sure jackjames should be matured enough to control himself and knows what to do. i only worry abt the majority masses who cant.

Good question, if you vested wrongly in year 2007, you are probably in paper loss of 80-90%, in year 2008 , paper loss at least 40-50%..

unless, you are so lucky every single times, pick at the rock bottom price...

in other words, if you buy stocks in year 2007-08, most likely you are in loss unless you do hit and run things, else, everytime back to the square.. and no one can guarantee you next year will be a bull run... so, many people still apply hit and run stratergy,thats why the stock can't fly high like before. that's the fact.

quoted  your message "boh bian, well i write for general public. not everyone is as sharp and smart as you. some ppl need to show them the way. "....

my next target is to buy a condo for investment, spread it to 35 years housing loan (still able to do so, as I am only 28).. and every monthly rental can cover my housing loan +200 maintenance fees. Where to find this condo? There are tons of it now, and will be more available next mid of year... so be alert and grab the good bargain...

target is still at the west as I know Wild Wild West better, ha ha..

Yes, US stock, can buy for long term, but willing to pump in only 30K... not more than that, actually still prefer singapore blue chips, still waiting patiently for $1 dollar shop... like Keppelland, Sembmarine, SPC... i know the day will come, just be patience, and collect stable dividends..

good luck folks.

if you cant find 100k than find 10k. 10 k if done well also can turn into 100k. Eat only what you can eat, no need be greedy, if u can only 1k, than aim to make 10k from this recession. 

1 million is a common dream target / goal  for ppl to achieve but it is  not necessary  for most to earn this by 2012. those who can make more go hit dream target of more than 1 miilion by all means squeeze every chance.

i have made more than USD 100K by selling my house this month.. and downgrade to 4A flat..

that's first step...

once i "have done" my second step, i will share again.