The ins and outs of…weighing share-price fluctuations

Article Excerpt

It’s a fact of life for stock market investors: Stocks go up and down every day. There may be an obvious case of good and bad news. But there’s a large random element to stock-price changes, particularly over short periods. Here are two common errors that occur when investors follow share price fluctuations too closely. 1. Becoming more “bullish” or optimistic because stock prices have gone up. Some investors only feel safe buying stocks after prices have risen. 2. Becoming more “bearish” or pessimistic because stock prices have gone down. When other investors sell and drive prices down, you may wonder if they know something you don’t. What are the best ways to conteract these errors? Learn all you can about your investments. You’re less liable to get caught off guard by price fluctuations. Take a broad view. Consider earnings, dividends and other factors in making decisions. They matter far more than short-term stock-price trends. Invest consistently. Don’t follow a strategy of trying to buy at the bottom or sell…