2011 fantasy stock market game; Jan 10 start

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

I know this has been done before.

I was thinking that we start with $10,000 per player. Pick up to 5 stocks on the NYSE or NASDAQ (or even just play the DJIA or S&P500). I don't think I'm up for managing trades but we can do monthly, quarterly, and end-of-year rankings. 2011 winner gets ???

Thoughts? Lame?

I know this probably belongs in Business/Finance but the eight people that read that forum have real portfolios they're managing. Very Happy

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I like it. I waste enough time on fantasy sports that have no value, this you may learn something.

Redistribution allowed or set it once and go?

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Id be interested, id like to start getting into some shorter term investments and something like this could be a good learning exercise.

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

I guess for it to be halfway relevant, we'd need some kind of buy/sell plan. I think that each person could handle their own trades as long as they posted them in the thread so the math could be verified by the group. We could set a max of five stocks owned at one time (to keep it manageable) and some limit of number of trades per week (2? 3? 5?). If there's enough serious interest, we could turn it into a pool with some kind of payout (I'm partial to a boat fender as a prize, but whatever).

brew · Posted: Dec 29, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject:

I would probably be in as well. There are some sights out there that will manage it if you want to do it that way. Otherwise tracking it in the thread would also work.

goofyboy · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 4:24 am Post subject:

I'm in. i need to start somewhere and with fake money is a good place to start.

Faust · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 1496

I'd be in.

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

Awesome. I think the first trading day of 2011 is Jan 3. Anyone interested in playing, pick any combination of up to 5 stocks (or as few as one) from NYSE or NASDAQ. Buy with their closing value over the weekend so you already own them as of Monday. To start, post symbol, share price and number of shares you own (fractions of shares are permissable so you can spend all your money). For trades, post symbol, share price and number of shares you sold and the same info for what you bought. Trades not posted within 24 hrs never happened.

I'll post monthly leaders, game ends when we're all sick of it or the last trading day of 2011.

Should we have a no cash rule (all 10k must be in stocks)?
Should we have a flat rate transaction cost for trades ($50, maybe)?
Everyone ok with adding new people (maybe a September cut-off)?

pyrocasto · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 5:21 am Post subject:

They have games like this: http://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/

It's set up to pretend like you're actually trading, just with monopoly money. 100,000 start up.

I used to use something like that when I used to trade on another forum. We did that for fun while our $1000 real money was actually gaining or loosing. Laughing

vette74 · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 5:32 am Post subject:

Do you have to be in the market all the time or can you hold a cash position part of the time?

ohsix · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 6:04 am Post subject:

I'm in. $50 trades with $10,000 total money seems a little high considering most people with $10,000 portfolios are probably e-trading at around $10/trade.

brew · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 6:10 am Post subject:

GnarShredd · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 6:54 am Post subject:

I'm in. I've been meaning to learn more about all of this, sounds like a good opportunity.

eeven73 · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 7:38 am Post subject:

I'm in.

I will go with the all cash position. Unless you are allowing shorts.

I guess you can tell my thoughts on the market Laughing

nmballa · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 8:09 am Post subject:

brew · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 8:22 am Post subject:

It looks like a pretty good site. You can set up a private contest on it, so that everyone can join the same group and keep up with it. It gives you all the variables that you can set including initial money, position limits, commission, margin trading, short selling, etc.

tball, just set up a contest with whatever variables you like and then we can all join. My idea based on the options would be the following:

Don't care on the starting cash
100% security position limit
No max number of trades
A $1 minimum price for buying to cut out the penny trading b.s. (however, I'm fine either way)
No shorting
$10-$50 commission depending on starting cash ($10 for $10,000 and $50 for anything much over that)
Allow day trading
No portfolio reset
No trading on margin
No options.

vette74 · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 8:25 am Post subject:

Why no shorts?
Do we need to announce our 5 pics on Jan 3 or can I slowly add them?

McFly · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 210 City: Edmond

I would be interested in this as well. I have been wanting to learn more about the market, and this sounds like a good way to do it!

McFly

brew · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 9:09 am Post subject:

I think shorts over complicates it for the people that aren't in tune with the way the market works and are just wanting to learn about investing. It's easier for them to research stock, buy deals, and ride the ups and downs. Also, for anyone in the financial arena, it gives them more of an advantage because you can make a lot (or subsequently lose a lot) on shorts based on the knowledge they have.

However, I'm fine with using shorts if everyone wants to. I'm also fine with allowing penny stocks, but I kind of view it the same way as I do shorts.

Also, if we use the stock website, then once it's set up everyone can get in as they want to. You just start with whatever base is set up.

arof · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 9:16 am Post subject:

I'm in.

Can't we find some site that we can each set up an account with to do all the math and calculations for us?

If not, I think we should do it more simply (otherwise we'll lose our minds trying to keep track) - something like pick 5 stocks (assume equal weighting) and allow re-balancing once a month or something like that - more of a stock picking game as opposed to stock market competition.

How are we treating dividends?

arof · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 9:16 am Post subject:

oops - just saw that someone found a site. i say we use that!

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

I'll set it up tonight. I looked at some of those sites and initially decided against using them because everyone would have to give up at least some personal info to play; I also figured they would be thick on advertising. It sounds like you guys don't mind and I'm ok with it too.

Buy in for a prize?

Faust · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 1496

Sorry, I don't think I'd be comfortable buying in for a prize.

Especially if a late arrival could jump in with all cash in September when they see everyone is at $5000

brew · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 10:18 am Post subject:

The wallstreetsurvivor site only requires an email address and a username. It has a lot of advertisers on it, so I probably wouldn't use a primary email address because your info will be sold. Other than that there isn't any more info required.

I'm good with a buy in as well if everyone wants to pitch in a little bit.

pet575 · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 10:19 am Post subject:

I'm in as well and am in agreement on the site.

I think we should have to get in and get it all set to go and choose our stocks all at the same time. If we can't pull this off by January 3 let's push it back to the 10th.

vette74 · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 10:59 am Post subject:

brew · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 11:57 am Post subject:

What if we just say that those who want to put a little something up can and those that don't can play for fun. The highest grossing person that pays takes whatever the prize is. We can also set a cutoff and say that you have to be in by some date (say the 10th) if you are going to be eligible for the money/prize. That way those that aren't comfortable with it can still play and we have more people involved. Also, late arrivals can still play around with it but they would also be ineligible for the prize.

pet575 · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject:

Can't we just say everyone has a $10K limit for their total basis, you are limited to so many transactions per week (5?), but are otherwise free to do whatever you want to do?

Then we just determine the winner by largest percentage increase over basis at the end of one year? This allows everyone not have to stress over using every last dollar of the $10K.

brew · Posted: Dec 30, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject:

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

We'll start on the 10th, find a way for buy-in (but not necessary to participate), and will have established rules on one of these sites. Great feedback.

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

I'm in, and I am up for a buy in.
Everything I invest in is long term, so this should be interesting for me.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

What about my portfolio in iGoogle. I use it to track my SEP, 401k and 529 all separately and it works quite well. Easy downloads to excel too, just a thought.

In for buy in as well

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

OK. Open for sign-up...trading begins Jan 10 and the game ends on Dec 30. Settings are per brew's description except shorts are allowed.

It will prompt you to create an account (obviously). Let me know if there are problems. It doesn't appear that I can change the parameters now that it's been established, so if there is widespread discontent with something we'll need to start over to correct it.

EDIT:
Once you either sign-in or create an account, you will go to your stock homepage. Click the "Portfolio Tab" and you'll see the WAKEBOARDER FANTASY 2011 tab. You should be good from there.

CLICKING THIS LINK WILL NOT WORK. YOU MUST COPY AND PASTE IT INTO THE BROWSER. I HAVE NO F---ING IDEA WHY.
https://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/Public/Members/Register.aspx?partnerTournamentID=4463
CLICKING THIS LINK WILL NOT WORK. YOU MUST COPY AND PASTE IT INTO THE BROWSER. I HAVE NO F---ING IDEA WHY.

Regarding the buy-in:

1. Not required to play, but no buy-in, no pay-out. Best finishing buy-in wins the pool.
2. How much? $5, $10?
3. Best way to hold the pot? Paypal? Any mods interested in this? I don't expect anyone to trust me, but I can hold the pot if needed.
4. I recommend allowing people to jump in at any time, but buy-in must happen by Feb 1. Good?

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

that link just says:

"Register for fantasy stocks 2011 at WallStreetSurvivor.com"

no Wakeboarder Fantasy 2011 anywhere..

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

Dpierce37, thanks. The "fantasy stocks 2011" is the right page. Go ahead and register. BTW; that link works great in the email they sent me but i get some other screen clicking it from here. I've tried manipulating the "www." and the "https:" and "http:" stuff. No luck, but it works just fine if you copy and paste it into your browser window. I'd blame it on Explorer but I'm using Safari. Any ideas?

Let me know if this unfrozen caveman method doesn't work. Sorry.