Worth the time trying to figure out the 'Nasdat' language
346861
When I picked up this book, I read the first few sentences and found myself completely confused.  You see, "A Clockwork Orange" contains a little bit of this language Burgess made up that is supposedly Russian slang.  Regardless, I kept reading and in a few chapters I had picked up most of the vocabularly.  It actually became fun trying to decifer the words that Burgess refers to as the Nasdat language.
This book is about a young boy named Alex who runs around with his friends and terrorizes society.  They steal, they rape, and they beat people.  All is well for Alex until he gets caught by the police.  He then undergoes experimental treatment at a correction facility.  This treatment was suppose to make it so he could no longer do harm; however, it doesn't all go exactly as planned.
This is a dark novel based a bit into the future where the night is run by villans such as Alex and his gang.  It is well written and a joy to read.  Plus, even though some people disagree, the book is actually pretty humorous.  Well worth the read.
4809154
John Slatter's strategies to some may be archaic, to others nonsensical.  But really, when it comes to investing, everyone has their own strategy anyway, so what is the fuss all about?  Slatter's statement about stocks is really in reference to the "bond craze"  that some people get, the real estate markets and commodities.  People who don't understand those particular markets should stay away from them as they have a good potential to get burned if they are ignorant about their moves within it.  More people understand stocks, he knows that, so he is going to speak to these people.  The definitions of market lingo are great and very clear.  The company profiles are great and give pretty good insight into each company and what makes them valuable.  Updated information?  Why try and find that in a book anyway?  The internet will do for updated information.  Afterall, the author is only giving an opinion as to what makes those particular stocks valuable.  He is definately not writing a stock atlas or performance history.  Good read, thought through all the way.
625758
This was an excellent read, and let me learn a lot of information that I had not known yet. It taught a lot about evaluating companies that I had not even thought about yet. That is why I am giving it the five out of five that I did. I think that the way the authors wrote the book/writing style was very helpful. If this book had been written in more sophisticated language, the content of it would have mostly flown right over my head. The way it was composed, with little quirky jokes, and things they put in for someone who doesnt quite understand what they mean by a certain term really let me understand, and will let me make more knowledgeable decisions when it comes to investing in the future. The only thing that you had to really know was what was out of date, and what still was happening because of it being written in 2001
4151083
I have read the most recent version of Malkiels A Random Walk Down Mainstreet, and it made me thankful for those people who actually go out and try to make a return for themselves on the market. It provides a service that current leftist critiques of finance capitalism forget  they provide liquidity and aid price discovery. Now, that is just a small part of what they do, and the bulk of their profits are actual rents, and half of the people will end up losers whatever system they try  because there are some patterns in the market, but I am a believer that the market will stay irrational longer than I can stay liquid. I guess at heart I am pretty conservative about what I do with my money because people like Malkiel and Bogle speak to me so much.

This book is like a cover version of Malkiels classic, coming in with a shorter page count and being less of a sales document  though where the recent Random Walk made me curious about Wealthfront and reading this made me go to the Vanguard website, I still am paying more in fees than I should to the company-administered 403(b) even in their so-called Index Fund.  This is a pretty well-written book, but it does have a bit of an odd structure,  with short chapters closed by asides referencing the current point made with an outside source instead of integrating it in the main chapter. Overall, though, it is a strong case for indexing your funds and taking advantage of the work the active traders do. When you are buying the market, you are giving up the chance of some great stock or sector that goes parabolic, but it also prevents you from thinking you are clever and taking a short position in that same sector just before it goes parabolic. Buy and hold and buy again seems to be the best way to ensure that the money you do invest will be there when you need it at the end of your life. Im not trying to get rich by any means, but Im also not looking to degrade the quality of my life at the end.
4174142
Very easy to understand language, I read through it in 1 night. My overall review is positive.

But few things which I didn't like are :
1. Author keeps talking about the "Magic Formula" over and over again as if it is some wizardry. If he had kept a professional tone and just explained the concepts, it would have left a much better impression than sounding so cheesy.
2. I call it incomplete, because he should have dedicated a chapter on how you would use the "Magic Formula" starting from what you do after you see the 30 stocks. He could have walked us through buying those and probably monitoring how they are doing instead of holding the losers and winners blindly for a year.
3. Finally, the 30 stocks that were shown to me from the website, 3 were very shady and even almost falling into penny stock land with major drops in prices. I would have loved it if next to your picks you provide commentary on how they really fit the magic formula.

Overall still a good read, I think.
1832713
I'd like to give this book foreign a half stars if it was possible. But  I think four stars wouldn't be fair so I went with the solid five.  I only have two issues with this book. Number one, because of all the graphics and the layout sometimes it's a little challenging to read.  Number two,  it has a ton of information packed into a small book. That's one of its best worst features though.  On one hand I love the fact that the author trimmed all the fat and got right down to it which makes it great for traders that already know a great deal about trading.  But, if I was a brand-new traitor I would find the book a little much and it wouldn't be my first choice.  I think after one has read a few beginner books and has a grasp of trading in charts this is a phenomenal book to have.
4307338
Market Data Explained is a rather slim volume that takes a high-level look at the kinds of capital markets data that is typically available, and finds a place for that data in a conceptual framework of the author's devising. Alvarez categorizes the data, shows how it relates both textually and with diagrams, and describes the typical attributes of each kind of record.

There is a great variety of market data out there from various sources described chaotically, if at all, in proprietary ways. Every new practitioner slowly develops their own mental model of how the data fits together. This book can help speed that process.

However, the book is not quite what its title or blurb leads one to believe. It is short on detailed explanation and hands-on practicality. That's not to say there isn't a lot of value in this work: the approach is  clear and possibly unique.

What this book does not do is actually show the reader any market data. There are no examples of market data values or transactions whatsoever -- the whole exercise is a bit abstract in that sense. If you are truly new to market data, you won't have much idea what the author is talking about.

The presentation is rather repetitive, which is either a bug or a feature depending on whether one reads the book straight through or just wants to dive into a particular section.
1874111
I have been trading futures for about 2 years and consider myself just below intermediate in my skill level, meaning I am making money but still have a lot to learn to obtain larger profits. I just began trading FX and bought this book, although the content could be applied to futures, options or stocks. I liked this book because it covers the basics of learning to read charts and to trade based on current price action and not lagging indicators.  This book is simpler than other chart books I have seen.  In this regard I believe this simpler method will help me plan better entries, stops and exits. This strategy consists of money management (well planned entries, stops and exits) and interpreting the immediate price move, rather than depending on many lagging indicators. Personally, it will help me determine when price has finished retracing -- a problem I have had -- because it taught me to identify *which* candles to pay attention to and *what characteristics* they should have. The book is short, the writing is concise, and I liked that it was not unnecessarily long. I finished the book in a few short sittings.
3657805
Much has already been said about "A Random Walk Down Wall Street," a classic tome that is now in it's tenth edition. I picked up this book because it was featured on the reading list of New York University Stern, and because it is viewed as one of the most definitive guides for  non-professional investors.

As a "crash course" or primer on the world of finance and "Wall Street," I would say that it does a fair job. Malkiel definitely covers most of his bases by running through a short but substantive history of the stock market, outlining different investment strategies and schools of thought, and providing explicit, detailed advice to investors of different ages and risk-capacities. Someone who knows absolutely nothing about finance would easily be able to pick this book up and immediately access some of the most predominant and consequential aspects of the markets.

I have to say, however, that I find Malkiel's writing to be rife with a bit too much subjectivity and critique. Even in the early chapters, it is abundantly clear that he is a staunch proponent of the "buy-and-hold" method and that he believes  active trading is a pastime suited best for those with a penchant for gambling. He consistently disparages both fundamental and technical analyses (in essence, he derides non-efficient market theorists) as well as the idea of taking an active and responsive approach to investment. The reason I cannot give this book five stars is because I find his dismissal of investment as a legitimate hobby as opposed to a vehicle for growing a retirement fund somewhat repelling.

Many of the business and finance books that were released after the 2008-2009 crash have a similar thesis underlying their publication: that the rules of "Wall Street" and the stock market have changed; that there is a new normal. It is argued that average volatility in securities has spiked, and that the tenuous state of the market demands further research and attention, even by investors with simple 401(k)s or IRAs. Regardless of whether this is really the case, you will hear pundits on CNBC often talk about the importance of setting aside time to do homework so that one is not caught off-guard when an earnings miss takes a stock down 20%.

To me, it seems that Malkiel's suggestions are much too laissez-faire to inspire immediate credence and adoption by many investors. As more and more information becomes publicly available and discount brokerage firms abound, the trend is moving distinctively towards active investment. Why would someone want to hold a portfolio made up of mainly SPY shares, REITs, and maybe a couple corporate bonds and break even for the year 2011? There is far too much promise in tech, emerging markets, China, and niche industries to want to sit on the sidelines and occasionally watch one's portfolio fluctuate madly but remain more-or-less unchanged. This book is absolutely well-suited to the older, not-so-reckless individual with a retirement to plan for, but younger, hipper types who buy this book because they're interested in learning AND making money should heavily supplement (if not outright avoid) this title.

Note: This is a review of the 2007 edition of this book and was written at the time I was reading Joe Terranova's "Buy High Sell Higher."
2764608
As a broker for the last 36 years, I have focused primarily on 1031 exchange properties throughout the US. The Delaware Statutory Trust Exchange is a great alternative to the traditional exchange.  Mr. Getty seems to have a real understanding of the tax code and I look forward crossing his path again and making a few dollars in the process!

Mark Haworth - SVN
2875587
This was a good read.  Sometimes when I pick up books by veterans of Wall Street they can become so mired in "Streetspeak" that the thing ends up reading like a textbook.  That was not the case here.  Ablin's book reads more like an interesting newspaper or novel.  If you are intelligent and comfortable with the markets but you do not work on Wall Street, this book is going to work for you.

Ablin accurately identifies the major misconception among small investors that the way to invest is by stock picking.  He spends a good deal of time showing the futility of the exercise for any little guy because he is up against highly sophisticated investors in NY and elsewhere.  Instead he teaches why focusing on the big picture is best and how that is the path best taken by prudent do-it-yourself investors.  One of the things I really liked was the author's intense effort to remind the reader that this is not a get rich quick book.  He lays out how his strategy of identifying what he calls "metrics" is for finding long term trends for various asset classes in an attempt to ride multi-year type moves.  If you want to know if you should buy IBM or McDonald's you have the wrong book but if you want to decide between the US market and foreign markets this is the guy.  I think both weekend warriors and the pros would be well served to crack open this book.
4401274
Written with the skill of a professional journalist with friends in rarefied tech places.
A bargain at $10; special terms with Amazon Prime.

  Here are some of the questions covered:
Do chart pattern recognition algorithms yield profits?
Do support and resistance price levels cluster around round numbers?
Can market news be combined with technical analysis?
Do momentum and trend-following strategies work in futures markets?
Do momentum strategies work with currencies?
Does momentum-trading work with monthly stock charts?
Do momentum strategies work for weekly stock returns?
Does momentum trading work on a daily timeframe?
Is pair trading a viable, technical strategy?
Does pair trading work on an intraday basis?
Does one price jump lead to another in the same direction?
Is there a correlation between volume and price direction?
Are moving average trading rules effective in emerging markets?
Are exponential moving averages superior to simple moving averages?
Do reversal strategies work?
Can reversal strategies be enhanced with artificial intelligence?
Which technical indicators are the most effective?
Can technical analysis be effectively combined with neural networks?
Do moving average crossover rules work with volatile stocks?
Can one forecast forex prices with technical analysis?
Can trends be identified based on past performance?
Can technical analysis augment fundamental analysis?
Can analysts' recommendations augment technical analysis?
Can technical analysis work in combination with earnings announcements?

Book Two
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Alpha-Interface-Empirical-Research-on-The-Predictability-of-The-Financial-Markets-Book-Two-Twenty-Four-Trading-Strategies-Based-on-Scientific-Findings-About-Technical-Analysis/dp/B00CDA4R04/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Alpha Interface: Empirical Research on The Predictability of The Financial Markets. Book Two: Twenty-Four Trading Strategies Based on Scientific Findings About Technical Analysis</a>

Book One
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Alpha-Interface-Empirical-Research-on-the-Predictability-of-The-Financial-Markets-Book-One-Forty-Trading-Strategies-Based-on-Scientific-Findings-About-Analyst-Forecasts/dp/B00C2DL5TS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Alpha Interface: Empirical Research on the Predictability of The Financial Markets. Book One: Forty Trading Strategies Based on Scientific Findings About Analyst Forecasts</a>
1871100
You know you are dealing with a book that's overstating its value just a tad when you see this in the introduction:  "... we'll show you how the indicators we've chosen can help you see the turns in the economy before they happen.  With that prescience you can make changes to your investments ahead of time and avoid the suffering you probably felt during the past couple of years."  Now anyone who could actually predict the "turns in the economy" using these indicators -- or any others -- would be reclining on his yacht moored off the south of France, and would be unlikely to divulge his secrets in a mass market paperback.  That said, this book is an entertaining read and can serve as a useful reference to anyone who follows the markets or the broader economy.

Simon Constable writes for the Wall Street Journal and hosts their afternoon "NewsHub" recap of the markets.  Anyone who follows the NewHub will be familiar with his witty -- actually, kind of snarky -- commentary.  He's sort of the Simon Cowell of the Wall Street crowd.  His distinctive voice is evident in this book.  His co-author, Robert Wright, has written extensively on business history and used to be associated with the Stern School at NYU and the Museum of Financial History in Manhattan's financial district, although he apparently now teaches at a college in South Dakota.

The book consists of 50 short chapters devoted to the indicators.  Each chapter has a brief description of the indicator -- usually accompanied by a  quote from an investment analysts on the indicator's importance -- a time series graph of the indicator, and a discussion of possible investment opportunities that might occur when the indicator is unusually high or low.  Each chapter ends with an "Executive Summary" box that explains when data on the indicator are released, where to go to find the data, what to watch for, and so on.  To anyone who follows the financial news even casually, many of the indicators will be familiar, such as automobile sales, durable goods orders, or M2.  To most people, though, other indicators are likely to be less familiar, such as book-to-bill ratio, the Baltic dry index, and the Tankan survey.  I'm a little skeptical about how useful some of the more obscure indicators will be to the average investor, but they make for interesting reading.  The final (tongue-in-cheek) indicator, the "Vixen index," measures how attractive the waitresses are in your local restaurant.  The more attractive the waitresses, the worse the labor market, because in a strong labor market these attractive women would be working at better jobs elsewhere.

All-in-all, leaving aside the somewhat overstated claims the authors make for investment strategies based on these indicators, this is a valuable little reference tool and should be, at the very least, a fun read for most personal investors.
2237388
The first thing I look at when I pick up a trading book is when it was published.  Pick this one up--"Copyright 2000."  That immediately sets off a siren in my head, and warns me to take everything in the book with a substantial amount of salt.  Anyone can write a book on how to successfully invest in a market where everything is hot--if you don't believe me, do a search of real estate investment books and see how many of them are older than the current boom. When everyone's an expert--well, just be careful.  Couple that with the fact that this guy's website is gone--I've read up a little on him and it would appear he's no longer trading--and caution is definitely warranted.

That having been said, I was able to glean from this work some important information, and certainly picked up a couple tidbits that I've found useful.  This was one of the first daytrading books I ever read, and I think it has its merits for a strict novice.  Farrell's sections on NASDAQ level II were insightful as were his thoughts on trading NASDAQ vs. NYSE stocks.  His rants on the evil nature of "market makers" and how they're out to get individual daytraders is probably overblown but certainly worth thinking about.  And though most of us will never move the kind of capital around required to "scalp trade" (meaning you trade a huge position and hope for a razor-thin margin), I found the technique interesting.

In short, I wouldn't use this book as a basis for a trading strategy, and would keep in mind the fact that most of these techniques are outdated.  Look, for example, at the other reviews of this book--the most recent ones rate this book much lower than those written in the heyday era (or even shortly after).  I do believe, though, in assimilating useful information wherever it is found, and that having been said I'd recommend this book for a casual read, not to be taken too seriously and keeping in mind that the value of the author's opinions are very limited.  If anything, view it as a daytrading history lesson, and learn from the mistakes of the past.
4863142
This is neither a "get rich quick" book nor an elementary introduction to options. The author assumes a fairly solid background in options, including the details of the Black-Scholes-Merton model, option Greeks, and familiarity with the payoffs of various common option strategies. This is is a survey of how to trade volatility as an asset class using options as a vehicle. The intermediate to advanced trader will find much to like here, while the novice may seek clearer, more detailed explanations elsewhere. I particularly liked the chapters on Money Management, Trade Evaluation, and The VIX. The chapter on Implied Volatility Dynamics was also good. The chapter on Psychology was yet another rehash of the same old material, but is worth reading. Sinclair, a PhD in theoretical physics, was obviously holding back on the level of his mathematical exposition, which while diminishing the appeal of the book somewhat, makes it accessible to a wider audience. Though lacking in some areas, I give it five stars for the clarity of the writing and the singular focus on volatility as the single most important determinant in option behavior.
464405
Although this brash american personality offends my delicate british sensibilities you can't help warming to this compelling character. Unlike many authors there's a refreshing  dose of self criticism [where i went wrong etc.]. Topics for discussion are well organized and the examples help to explain some off-putting wall street jargon. This product is itself an excellent investment for anyone taking their first baby steps into equities trading, i'd swap one share of yahoo for cramers insight any day of the week - it's going to save [and maybe even make] me a fortune on the future.
2788111
I loved how relatable the language is. Even though it's a little outdated, it gave me a wider view on things I never considered before. Especially being from another country and coming here in my early 20s. I am starting a little late on the savings part and I may never afford to buy a house, it's good to know what I should be focusing on first though.