Michael Kamerman, CEO of Skilling, shares his opinion on what stock you should buy this week.

Intel

The pandemic unearthed many key trends, one being the demand for semiconductors and computer chips.

Part of this demand is due to the versatility of computer chips being used in various sectors including the automotive industry and with 5G rolling out around the world, this momentum will only increase.

Whilst Intel was once dominant in the industry, it has since been surpassed by competitors such as AMD and Nvidia, who innovated quicker and more effectively. 

Therefore, investors should consider Intel’s pace of innovation before taking bets on the stock.

Despite this, Intel is hedging on production to Asia being outsourced and has announced plans for a $17 billion production facility in Madgeburg, Germany.

By reducing the competitive edge of production in Asia, Intel is hoping to rediscover its success and market share. However, this will hinge on protecting their market share of existing chips, whilst innovating at the same time. Only then, might Intel stock be attractive for investors.   

Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Not investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. 

Even if you've never looked into crypto investment yet, this might be the best time to do so. Crypto can now be utilised in such activities, and it is already happening in some regions of the globe. In exchange for services rendered, more businesses are taking cryptocurrencies as fees. You could also use a cryptocurrency trading platform to help you manage your transaction if you are a newbie. Based on this article, Bitcoin Prime is suited for beginners, created by professionals at a trusted crypto outlet and enables rapid signup. Now let’s look at some of the most beneficial crypto tactics and scenarios for holding, which you may follow to boost your venture.

Set A Target Selling Value

You may set a target selling value. Therefore, you can figure it out, and it's time to sell. To achieve this goal, all you have to do is wait for the rates to stabilise. Whichever the situation could be, one must be conscious that you'll be attempting to obtain the maximum possible market value. You may accomplish this by looking at the price graph of your coin. You may utilise the highest sales price on record as a factor for calculating your objective price after you have located it. After you have traded your cryptos at your desired sale value, you might anticipate prices to fall drastically, requiring you to reinvest your funds. You might just have to wait a long time to acquire your crypto assets for another wave of cryptocurrency trading. So it is best to hold multiple cryptos if you can. You might still draw on your previous knowledge to estimate how low the purchase value could be. You might plan for a time when the sales price is the same as it was before you bought your coins.  Examining certain market projections can also help you guess what will happen afterwards. You can also read some credible price prediction articles online.

Wait For The Ideal Opportunity

Whenever it applies to cryptocurrency trading, timing is everything. You must understand when it is preferable to keep or trade your investments. This will essentially define if you generate income or continue to lose money. Investors that wish to improve their prospects may have to wait a while. This is entirely dependent on the value of your coin. It's also a beneficial factor if you acquire a coin that is significantly volatile. You might, at the very minimum, capitalise from the fluctuation without having to wait a very long time. Despite cryptos being often regarded as great investments, you cannot predict whenever the price would be ideal. Remember that cryptocurrency investing is a highly volatile environment, and no one can foretell whether you could profit or end up losing your capital. It's vital to keep a strong financial condition to get through all the waiting time. That means you won't have to withdraw your cryptocurrencies. It is a good idea to have separate funds for the financial crisis rather than withdrawing all your assets prematurely.

Hold Until The Price Is At An All-Time High

You may be bewildered at this point if you want to sell your cryptocurrencies. With some, it involves selling something for more revenue than you spent for the assets. You will have to keep a record as to how much you have spent on your crypto accounts. The amount would be used to determine if you're not able to deal. One should be aware of the pricing, and they'll be the primary consideration in your investment decision.

Closing Thoughts

Follow the option that best suits you. This will only work if it is compatible with your temperament. For beginner investors, holding is reasonable and easy.  At the end of the day, the decision is up to you. You can hold your cryptos for as much as you choose and trade them whenever the value goes up while building your crypto portfolio along the line. Whenever it relates to cryptocurrency assets, it is indeed essential to come up with strategies. As a crypto investor, you should be attentive to any threats which you can manage as long as it keeps control over the situation.

In an attempt to be helpful, many traders point newbies towards forums, such as r/cryptocurrency on Reddit, hoping that they will find answers there. But this can actually make the process even more complicated - there is so much conflicting advice that it can feel impossible to know which advice to trust, and which to ignore. More than anything, it is impossible to know which users are telling the truth, and which users are making up fake wins in order to try and build a following. 

NAGA founder Benjamin Bilski talks about exactly this in his recent interview with Hackernoon, Any Financial Advice You Can Get Online Should be Taken with Caution.

What are the key pitfalls for beginners trying to get involved in crypto?

The key pitfalls for beginner crypto investors are very similar to the pitfalls involved in investing in virtually anything. And one of the main problems with investing is that we often let our emotions control us. There’s even a term for it: emotional investing. 

“One challenge for beginners that applies to any asset class might be not understanding how to control emotions, namely fear and greed, and when it might be wise to take profit/cut losses,” says Bilski. 

For new investors, this can be easier said than done - especially for those who only have a limited amount of money to invest in, and who first got into crypto because they’d read about the huge gains made by other investors. Realising that investing can be difficult and often involves lots of trial and error can be a difficult pill to swallow.

Another big pitfall - as we touched on earlier - is that new investors will often believe anything they hear because they want it to work. The problem with this is that anyone can use platforms like TikTok and YouTube and say they made millions by investing in a certain coin - but there’s no proof, and there’s no accountability. It can be difficult to tell whether influencers are being incentivised by companies to push a particular coin, and by the time large influencers are exposed, it is often already too late. In fact, this has become such a problem that TikTok has cracked down on crypto, share trading, and finance influencer promotions after it was revealed that scammers were using influencers to dupe investors. 

What if you could get investment advice from experts with a proven track record, and even copy their trades?

Crypto moves extremely fast, and there’s a steep learning curve. Ultimately, this means that unfortunately, it is not a very beginner-friendly industry. This is exactly the problem that Bilski is trying to solve - and the reason he built NAGA, the social trading platform that has racked up a global community of over a million users. 

NAGA is a super app for investing, crypto, and payments. It was founded back in 2015 and has since developed a lot of unique technology that is designed to bring more people into crypto trading while rewarding professional traders. 

The key feature of NAGA that has made it so popular is its auto-copy feature - a tool that allows new traders to essentially spy on other professional traders, and to copy from experts. The app is powered by the NAGA Coin, which allows skilled traders to monetise their trading strategies and get payments deposited instantly into their wallets as more copiers follow them. 

NAGA’s protocol can be compared to the industry trading version of Facebook. This means that users can essentially leverage the platform for all of their trading needs, instead of having to continuously hop between different platforms. Creating a single account allows traders to get involved with the vast, growing community, hold stocks, participate in events and educational seminars, win prizes, and pay for anything using their NAGA card. 

By far, the main benefit for new crypto traders is that the NAGA platform is completely transparent. Instead of guessing who to follow based on who is the loudest on forums, or who has paid the most to advertise themselves, users have access to a fully transparent leaderboard that shows the platform’s top traders, along with the amount of profit they have made, the number of auto-copiers they have, and their win ratio. 

How do experienced traders benefit from this?

The benefit for new traders is clear - they get to copy the trades of experienced traders and then carry on their lives as usual. But at this point, you might be wondering: ‘what’s in it for investors? Why should they share their trading strategies with me?’ 

Experienced traders, on the other hand, get to benefit from the NAGA Popular Investor Programme. In exchange for sharing their trading strategies with other users on the platform, traders can get paid up to $100,000 per month from the Popular Investors’ fund. 

In addition, copiers will pay €1 for each copied trade. Approximately 35% of this will be shared with the trader that they are copying from. This will incentivise traders who usually monetise their audience through email lists, Facebook, or YouTube to bring their audience over to NAGA and get paid directly instead.

Social trading platforms like NAGA are helping to reduce the risks associated with investing

Unlike an anonymous platform such as Reddit, an investing super app where everything is combined into a single platform increases accountability between users. Given that the entire premise of NAGA is based around transparency, we can be hopeful that it is a step in the right direction when it comes to reducing the number of crypto scams, which increased significantly throughout 2021. 

“I think increasing the general understanding of cryptocurrencies among the public could be the way to minimise risks - in other words, not let risky scams get attention and let good projects prosper and bring value to people around the world,” Bilski told Hackernoon. 

Bitcoin was down 1.8% to trade at $48,310. Earlier in the week, the price of bitcoin had surged, passing $49,000 but failing to reach the key level of $50,000. Furthermore, bitcoin is currently down around 30% from its all-time high of roughly $68,000, which it hit in November.

Meanwhile, ethereum, the second-largest crypto by market cap, dropped 2.6% and was trading at $3,917. 

It appears that investors are instead moving their focus to smaller crypto assets, with cryptocurrencies such as ripple, cardano, polkadot, dogecoin, and shiba inu increasing by 1 to 5%. 

Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Kalkine Group CEO Kunal Sawhney said, “Cryptocurrencies have remained turbulent in the recent past with the most populous crypto-asset bitcoin continuing to hover below the mark of $50,000.”

"The persisting uncertainty in financial markets have severely dismantled the growth prospects for most risky assets including some of the tech stocks and cryptocurrencies," Sawhney added.

As the world watched on, global leaders, scientists and academics convened at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow just weeks ago, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the “doomsday clock is still ticking” in the effort against climate change. While this enormous undertaking has truly only just begun, traders and investors have no doubt been pricing new commitments into their portfolio management strategies.

All things considered, the path to a greener future is paved with investment opportunities, but this has not necessarily translated immediately to the stock market. Although the first day of trading on the London Stock Exchange following the summit saw some global mining giants take a hit, the FTSE 100 still managed to close the day out up 3.95 points, or 0.05%, at 7351.86. Typically, the markets struggle to account for any long-term view, and this remains the case post-COP26. This is especially the case considering that world leaders have mostly been speaking in terms of “phasing down”, rather than “phasing out” coal. 

For this reason, it is not exactly surprising that research* commissioned on behalf of HYCM has shown that only 45% of investors consider sustainable investing to be important to them. Without concrete and robust action to tackle climate change, it is perhaps even less surprising that caution still prevails among investors, with just 19% considering ESG investment to be a savvy investment strategy at present. 

So, what exactly is driving this mindset, and what should investors be watching as we transition to a zero-carbon economy?

‘Too much hype’ around ESG?

One potential answer to this question could be that concerns surrounding ‘greenwashing’ are deterring traders and investors from upping their investment in ESG assets. According to that same HYCM survey*, more than a third (38%) said that there is “too much hype” surrounding ESG investing at present. 

The question, then, is whether these trepidations are substantiated. The answer is yes and no; while investors are quite right to be sceptical of companies hopping on the green bandwagon with re-branding and lofty environmental claims, they should make themselves aware of genuinely green initiatives.

In the months and years to come, there will be many opportunities for traders and investors in the race to net-zero across many areas. From a growth perspective, in the capital goods area, there is a huge amount of potential in the supply chain for climate solutions. Likewise, the technology field will be a crucial enabler for climate solutions in the long-term, so investors should monitor these opportunities closely. 

At the moment, just one third (33%) of the investors surveyed* by HYCM plan to invest (or increase their investment) in green energy such as wind power, water stocks and solar energy in the next 12 months. That said, we can expect these figures to grow in line with changing environmental policy, such as a global carbon tax which would shock the stock market in the future. Green metals, such as copper, aluminium, nickel and lithium could also see gains over the medium term as their demand is expected to increase. Likewise, it is also important to note the fact that alternatives to traditional energy, such as oil, are already proving popular with traders and investors – right now, oil is one of the top traded commodities at HYCM.

Young investors will lead the charge

Another trend to be aware of is the fact that younger investors appear to be at the forefront of the shift towards net-zero. Compared with the smaller number (45%) of investors who said that sustainable investing was important to them, comparatively, the majority (60%) of younger investors aged 18-34 said that these investments were a priority, indicating a more values-driven approach towards investment.

When compared with other bodies of research, these figures stand up; research from MSCI has also shown that millennials have spurred the growth of sustainable investing throughout the 2010s – specifically, investors contributed $51.1 billion in sustainable funds in 2020, compared to the figure five years ago, which came in at $5 billion.

Traders and investors should expect these trends to stick, and this sunnier outlook will no doubt feed into the corporate mentality, as industry titans like Microsoft and Nike will be keen to establish their ESG credentials. All told, although COP26 may have failed to have an immediate impact on the stock market, the summit has likely set the tone for change over the medium to long-term, and traders and investors should ensure that they are kept in the loop with any policy changes and developments in this area.

HYCM recognises this trend and offers traders exposure to the renewable space through commodities and ESG stocks such as Tesla, and copper, which is expected to be more in demand as we build a greener future.

High Risk Investment Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. For more information, please refer to HYCM’s Risk Disclosure.  

About the author: Giles Coghlan is Chief Currency Analyst, HYCM – an online provider of forex and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) trading services for both retail and institutional traders. HYCM is regulated by the internationally recognized financial regulator FCA. HYCM is backed by the Henyep Capital Markets Group established in 1977 with investments in property, financial services, charity, and education. The Group via its relevant subsidiaries have representations in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Cyprus. 

*About the research: The market research was carried out between 5th and 10th November 2021 among 2,000 UK adults via an online survey by independent market research agency Opinium. Opinium is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) Company Partner Service, whose code of conduct and quality commitment it strictly adheres to. Its MRS membership means that it adheres to strict guidelines regarding all phases of research, including research design and data collection; communicating with respondents; conducting fieldwork; analysis and reporting; data storage. The data sample of 2,000 UK adults is fully nationally representative. This means the sample is weighted to ONS criteria so that the gender, age, social grade, region and city of the respondents corresponds to the UK population as a whole. Within this sample, 857 respondents had investment portfolios worth in excess of £10,000 – this includes all assets from bonds and currencies to commodities and stocks and shares but excludes any savings, pensions or property that is used as their primary residency.

Public companies are traded publicly on the stock market and invested in by the general public. Private companies are owned by individuals or specific shareholders, and shares are not available to the public to purchase. The funding for private companies comes through institutional investors rather than the stock market or the general public.

In recent years, there has been a rise in investors in private markets. The UK private equity investment is currently at its highest level for five years. It has resulted in numerous private companies raising more amounts of capital. Then, they wait longer than usual before going public.

The private sector is considered the engine of economic growth. Among numerous other things, it has contributed to technological advancements in vital sectors. These include transportation and energy – both impacted by the rise in demand for more sustainable businesses. The private sector has also helped to increase life expectancy through innovation in healthcare.

Benefits Of Operating In The Private Sector

Private markets have structural differences from public markets. While the downside of these differences is frequently discussed - there are benefits as well. Benefits such as these are some of the reasons why more companies are opting to stay private.

The Private Markets Are Unregulated

Being unregulated can bring significant risks to companies. However, it can also provide significant opportunities. The information about investments is not regulated. There is nothing in place to regulate the forms and structures of either due diligence materials or financial statements.

To succeed, investors must be prepared to collect their own data sets and evaluate opportunities for themselves. There are great opportunities for investors to leverage these market dynamics to their benefit. In addition to this, they can also earn significant financial returns.

Provide More Accurate Information On A Niche Market

Due to the information in the private sector not being regulated, there are opportunities to collect an abundance of accurate information, especially on a niche market. They will then have more information, especially compared to others in their sector, helping to remain one step ahead of competitors in their industry. With this additional information, these companies will have a top-down view of all buyers and sellers, especially those in a particular market. Once they know this, they can use it to invest with a favourable risk or return profile.

Individual Opportunities To Grow

For those with extensive knowledge of the rising private market sector, it helps to put them in a great position ahead of competitors. For those wanting to learn more about private market investments and alternative investment management, there are courses available where you can earn a certificate online. Some of these courses focus on investment management and alternative investments. In addition to gaining deep insight into this emerging sector, it can show potential employers or future partners that they are well-versed in alternative investment management.

Greater Control Over The Business

Many companies choose to stay private to obtain greater control over their business. Remaining private allows the business to stay in the hands of a select few people, including family members. Companies that choose to be private also are not obligated to fulfil the ideas of shareholders.

Private companies are not subjected to the volatility that comes with being a publicly-traded business. The highs and lows of the stock market are an accepted cost of doing business for many investors; however, they can easily become a distraction for the business, which is especially true in instances where employees are shareholders. Without worrying about what the stock is doing and what it could mean for their finances, employees can focus on their jobs, rather than the numbers.

Private Markets Can Navigate Rising Inflation Expectations

The return of inflation has presented investors with a challenge. Searching for yield should now be coupled with the need to protect against inflationary trends. There are various strategies in private markets that look to be well-positioned to provide that hedge. They could even flourish if higher inflation were to persist. In addition to this, the geographical spread of private-market strategies can help investors diversify across economies at different phases in the inflationary cycle. However, some private-markets strategies are fixed rates with long duration. As such, they may not necessarily underperform in an inflationary environment, especially if actual inflation does not exceed market expectations for inflation.

Why Firms Should Consider Private Market Investing

Private market investing, often used interchangeably with private equity, provides investors with a robust opportunity. Many companies in today’s corporate landscape are staying private for longer. They choose to go public when they are at larger sizes. Due to this trend, more investors are interested in participating in the private markets. These investments require a different mindset and strategy. Here are a few things worth considering before investing in private market investments.

• An Extension Of Traditional Asset Classes – View private market investing as an extension of traditional asset classes. Private market investing does bring additional considerations for investors. For example, if an investment is illiquid there are often fees associated with private market investments.
• Choosing The Right Partner Is Key - Take the time to understand the investment partnership. Ensure you understand the fund and also the terms of the obligation. Private investing requires access and knowledge of opportunities. It might be worth working with a firm or advisor you trust. Working with an advisor might offer access to investment opportunities that would have been unavailable otherwise.
• Diversification Is Crucial To Manage Risk – The added risk from private market investing mean your portfolio should be carefully constructed to mitigate potential losses. The best way to succeed is to have a diversified portfolio.

The Future Of The Private Market Sector

Most private-sector figures follow the rules of the system. However, there is a growing number of entrepreneurs that are choosing not to play by the rules. Instead, they are looking at working to change them. Some are even aiming to transform the purpose of business and the economic system itself. They are looking to help with social and environmental issues. Additionally, working with governments and other stakeholders to advance sustainable development, and transform systems that have led to climate change and unsustainability.

In future, investors should integrate private strategies that operate in less efficient markets. It will help to exhibit more growth and more opportunities to generate dominance. To do this effectively, investors and their advisors must adjust their mindset from seeing alternatives as additional exposure, to viewing them as being core holdings in a portfolio.

The future of the private market sector looks promising. For many companies, now is an ideal time to learn more about alternative investments. Also, now is the time to find out ways to succeed in the private market sector. Taking the time to understand now will help them be ahead of their competition in the years to come.

So far, this year has been anything but typical. As nations have attempted to regain their footing after a difficult 19 months or so, inflation fears and spiralling energy prices have cast a very dark shadow on worldwide economic recoveries. 

Even as world leaders prepare to convene for the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), global fossil fuel prices are soaring. While oil prices have hit multi-year highs in the US, with Brent crude sitting at $86 a barrel, the situation in Europe grows grim, as crude and gas have crept up to near all-time highs. As we approach the colder months, where demand for these commodities usually tends to rise in line with changing weather conditions, many traders and investors may be wondering if we are in for a particularly volatile winter.  So, what factors should individuals consider when weighing up their investment activities? 

‘Stagflation’ may cast a dark shadow

One aspect which may exacerbate usual seasonal patterns is the fact that we are currently in a ‘stagflationary’ environment – a deadly combination of rising prices, rising wages, low productivity, low growth, and rising unemployment. No doubt, this will be a pressing concern for investors given recent CPI data, as a prolonged period of inflation may drive central banks to raise their interest rates. What’s more, energy rationing and contracting consumer budgets may also spell trouble for the economy, stifling global growth. The result of all this? Energy prices may pose a road bump on the path to post-Covid recovery.

As such, I would advise traders and investors to watch central bank meetings closely. Not only will the minutes of monetary policy committee meetings give a direct insight into the thoughts of leading economists on these issues, but they will also provide a forecast of where inflation is headed.

At the moment, inflation figures have steadied somewhat in the UK, where the energy crisis originated, to 3.1% in annual terms for September. That said, the newly appointed chief economist at the Bank of England (BoE) Huw Pill has offered some words of caution, warning that inflation figures may top 5% by early next year – which could prove problematic for a central bank with an inflation target of 2%. Now, traders and investors are expecting a potential interest rate rise from the BoE at their next meeting on 4 November. Up until now, the Federal Reserve and the European Central bank are months behind taking such action.

Investors should also consider the fact that, generally speaking, oil tends to have a significant effect on currencies, as it has a strong inflationary component. In effect, this means that any volatility in oil prices will result in serious implications for the FX world. While central figures maintain that, like inflation, the energy crisis is “transitory”, I would still advise investors to keep their ears to the ground for any rumblings about oil. 

COP26 will mark a shift to cleaner energy

Additionally, the upcoming COP26 summit on 31 October will contribute to something of a shift where usual seasonal patterns are concerned. Given that the recent energy crunch has marked a turn back to ‘dirtier’ sources of energy like thermal coal and oil, traders and investors can expect world leaders to recommit to old pledges to reduce their carbon emissions and accelerate these plans. While such efforts may seem like a given, the pace at which this transition occurs should provide traders and investors with some more nuance; so too will the inevitable opportunities that come along with an event like this. The summit will likely result in a new push for greener investments – clean energy sources, as well as the technology required to advance, transmit and store it, will provide new avenues to investors. Here, though, it is important to note that investing in any emerging market, and particularly energy, can come with some risks.  

‘Tis the season

While most investors are no strangers to the fact that cold weather conditions tend to result in higher energy prices – particularly in the winter months – worsening weather conditions could exacerbate this trend. At the moment, meteorologists are predicting that the UK is in for a bitter winter, which could result in further gas shortages and supply bottlenecks.

In short, it seems like this year we can expect normal seasonal patterns to be amplified by the energy crisis, as well as other extraneous factors. While none of this is certain as yet, traders and investors should ensure that they anticipate any market shocks.

High Risk Investment Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. For more information, please refer to HYCM’s Risk Disclosure.  

 About the author: Giles Coghlan is Chief Currency Analyst, HYCM – an online provider of forex and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) trading services for both retail and institutional traders. HYCM is regulated by the internationally recognized financial regulator FCA. HYCM is backed by the Henyep Capital Markets Group established in 1977 with investments in property, financial services, charity, and education. The Group via its relevant subsidiaries have representations in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Cyprus.  

Shane Neagle, Editor In Chief at The Tokenist, delves into value investing, exploring whether it is making a comeback, or whether it’s been here all along.

As savvy shoppers prefer to wait and buy a TV when it goes on sale rather than paying full price, a value investor seeks to buy a stock at a discount. This model requires a substantial amount of patience, diligence, and research—but it can also pay out well. 

Understanding Value Investing

Prices of stocks and other assets fluctuate based on demand, market sentiment, good and bad news, and other factors. At times, these fluctuations might leave a stock either overpriced or underpriced. This is why value investors are sceptical of the efficient-market hypothesis and believe a stock's price does not always reflect its intrinsic value. 

Value investors have the premise that they will own parts of a business when they purchase its shares. Of course, this is true for all investors—everyone investing in a business will own parts of it, even if they are not value investors—but some just "play the market," meaning they take action based on technicalities, and disregard the fundamentals. 

Value investors call the difference between a stock's current price and its intrinsic value "margin of safety." A higher margin of safety suggests there is the potential for more profitability and a lower risk of making a loss. Since not every value stock will turn its business around favourably, the margin of safety represents an investor's risk tolerance. 

How To Spot A Value Stock?

The prime feature of a value stock is that it is undervalued in comparison to its financial performance — metrics like revenue, earnings, and cash flow. Small businesses can record these using a simple accounting software. Yet as the company grows, the task of compiling such information by the company — and accessing such information by a researcher — becomes increasingly difficult. We’ll dive more into that in a moment.

Other defining characteristics of a value stock are fundamental factors like brand, long histories of success, business model, consistent profitability (even if insignificant), target market, dividend payment, and competitive advantage. For instance, Cisco Systems, Inc. can be deemed as one of the biggest value stocks available. The company, which delivers software-defined networking, cloud, and security solutions, tends to display most of the value stock characteristics. Here is a breakdown:

1. Since 2015, Cisco has been delivering between $47 billion and $50 billion in revenue every year (it has been profitable and has steady, predictable revenue).
2. It is a market leader in computer networking systems. In 2019, Cisco had more than half of the entire market for Ethernet switches.
3. It has a reputable brand worldwide, and its products are present in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
4. It pays dividends (although this isn't a requirement).
5. Most importantly, Cisco trades for a relatively low valuation compared to most of its tech peers.  

However, it is worth noting that finding value stocks requires a reasonable amount of subjectivity — it can be more of an art than a science. 

Pros And Cons Of Value Investing 

As a favoured investing strategy by some of the world's most prominent traders, value investing comes with a number of unique advantages. In the first place, it offers the potential for significant gains. This is because value investors buy stocks at a discount and sell when they come to fruition (reach the estimated intrinsic value).

Moreover, since value stocks are already severely undervalued, they are not subject to the risk of suffering extended losses. This creates a favourable risk/reward ratio given that the stock is evaluated accurately. Further, considering that value investors buy for the long term, they also don't have to worry about short-term fluctuations and volatility. However, value investing also comes with a number of downsides. Firstly, it is quite difficult to identify undervalued companies. In addition to a certain level of expertise, value investors need to have a fair amount of subjectivity to be able to accurately estimate the intrinsic value of a company.

Furthermore, value investing requires a substantial amount of patience and diligence. At times, value investors might have to hold their positions for several years as it can take quite some time for the market to understand the value of a stock. Therefore, those who expect to reap the benefits fast might find that this strategy isn’t ideal.

Prominent Value Investors

Throughout history, a number of investors have managed to earn a name for themselves for being exceptionally successful value investors. Among them, two names stand out: Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett.

Benjamin Graham was an economist, professor, and investor who is regarded as the father of value investing. He published Security Analysis in 1934, and The Intelligent Investor in 1949 as the founding texts of value investing. In his books, Graham described the concept of intrinsic value and the necessity for establishing a margin of safety when trading value stocks. Besides his books, Graham made contributions to value investing by mentoring legendary investors like Warren Buffett. Buffett, who is now CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and the world’s 8th richest person with a net worth of over $100 billion, studied under Graham at Columbia University and worked at Graham's firm for several years.

Following Graham's school of value investing, Buffet looks for securities that are unjustifiably undervalued compared to their intrinsic worth. He has become one of the world's most successful investors, earning himself the nickname "Oracle of Omaha," which implies other investors closely follow his investment picks and comments on the market.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that many financial experts believe value investing is an old-school strategy. Some argue that the rise of hard-to-analyse intangible assets—assets that are not physical in nature—has made value investing irrelevant in 2021. A look at Keith Gill's investing strategy suggests otherwise, however. 

Keith Gill: The Modern Value Investor

Keith Patrick Gill, the guy who is largely known for his role in the GameStop saga, is a self-characterised value investor. Known as Reddit user u/DeepF***ingValue, he is a prominent trader within the retail-centric r/Wallstreetbets community. For his role in the GME phenomenon, Gill faced a class-action lawsuit and also had to testify before the House Financial Services Committee. In his testimony, he acknowledged that GME was undervalued compared to its intrinsic value. He said:

"I believed the company was dramatically undervalued by the market. The prevailing analysis about GameStop’s impending doom was simply wrong."

Gill also declared that he examines a company's value before investing. "As an individual investor, I use publicly available information to study the market and the value of specific companies. I consider a complex array of factors and track hundreds of stocks – all in search of market inefficiencies," he stated.

All of this suggests that Gill is openly a value investor. And even though it has become difficult to use value investing techniques due to the increasing complexity of the markets, value investing continues to remain alive and well.

Maxim Manturov, Head of Investment Research at Freedom Finance Europe, explains what retail investors should know as the “meme stock” movement continues to thrive. 

The key to success is to understand the motivations behind emotional investing and to avoid both euphoric and depressive investment traps that can lead to bad decisions. The investor psyche can overpower rational thinking during times of stress, whether the stress is caused by hype or panic. To capitalise on market euphoria or frightening events, it is critical to take a rational, realistic, and strategic approach to investing.

With this topic in mind, below I explore the rise of the “meme stocks” movement, and whether investors should look to capitalise on this growing trend or steer clear of impulse buys. 

What is the "meme stocks” movement?

“Meme stocks” are stocks of companies that have recently seen a sudden surge in trading activity, usually supported by online social media platforms such as Reddit and Twitter. The hype surrounding a particular stock encourages retail traders to invest, knowing that its share price will likely rise and do so quickly. In addition, the “meme stocks” exchange community often favours stocks with high, short-term gains. By forcing everyone who sold the stock to cover their short position, this leads to further stock growth overall.

The term “meme stock” originated on the Reddit online discussion forum, where a sub-Reddit known as WallStreetBets became heavily popular. Towards the end of January, the users of WallStreetBets criticised large financial institutions and hedge funds for constantly 'shorting' the shares of distressed companies such as GameStop and AMC Entertainment. This led to retail traders buying large quantities of shares in these companies, taking advantage of the ‘buy and hold' approach.

Following this surge, news of the short squeeze spread across various social media platforms, attracting a lot of attention from investors across the globe, even to the point where the phenomenon came to the attention of the SEC. This resulted in certain hedge funds and brokers who worked with them making some pretty hefty losses.

Should investors look to participate in this growing trend? Or is it important that they do not get sucked in by impulse buys?

It is important to remember that “meme stocks” are nothing more than speculation. Essentially, it is not worth allocating large sums to these trades, given the stock's volatile behaviour or unsubstantiated valuations backed only by information noise. In the long term, the company fundamentals will matter a lot, and after a short squeeze rally, the prices can easily go down as fast as they went up, so it is worth acting with caution and being aware of all the risks.

Has the "meme stocks" movement impacted the global stock market as a whole?

The movement of “meme stocks” has more to do with factors brought about by the pandemic. Historically low interest rates and incentives, as well as high levels of liquidity in the markets, combined with increased leisure time and self-isolation, provoked many people to enter the stock market for the first time. In addition, the increasing availability of zero commission accounts and trading apps for millennials contributed immensely to the growing trend. 

Over one million new online brokerage accounts were opened in Q1 2020 alone, with equity trading becoming one of the most popular applications for Covid's incentive cheques in the US. Yet, the retail investment boom is not unique to the US. Almost all major stock markets have seen similar trends, with local trading applications becoming more widespread. 

What does the future hold for meme stocks? Will the movement last?

The future of the “meme stocks” movement will depend on the fundamental reasons for its emergence in the first place, including liquidity levels in the markets, interest rates, and monetary policy. Without these components, the rise of “meme stocks” might have never happened in the first place. As such, while it is likely that this theme will continue to exist, it will not move at such an incredible scale as in January with Gamestop and AMC stocks.

What are the top five “meme stocks” to watch out for in 2021?

While it is clear that investors should avoid impulse buys, with the right level of research and precaution “meme stocks” can result in profits for more experienced buyers. So, what are the top “meme stocks” that investors should watch in 2021?

1. Through its subsidiaries, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) provides technology infrastructure and marketing opportunities for merchants, brands, retailers, and other businesses to engage with users and customers. It operates in four segments: Core Commerce, Cloud Computing, Digital Media and Entertainment, and Innovation Initiatives. It is sitting at about 72% upside to the average target price of $246.

2. ContextLogic Inc. (WISH) operates as a mobile e-commerce company in Europe, North America, South America, and other areas across the globe. The company operates Wish, a platform that connects users with merchants. It also provides marketplace and logistics services to sellers. The company was incorporated in 2010, at about 92% upside to its average target price of $9.2.

3. Palantir (PLTR) is a software developer that specialises in big-data analytics. The company recently announced that the US Army's Intelligence Systems and Analytics Program Manager has selected PLTR to provide the data framework and analytical foundation for the Capability Drop 2 (CD-2) program. As a result, the software firm has been selected to advance the next phase of the Army's $823 million indefinite-delivery contract, with an approximate 23% upside to the maximum target price of $31.

4. PubMatic (PUBM) provides a cloud infrastructure platform for digital advertising that enables real-time advertising transactions. The company was founded in 2006 and today operates 14 offices and eight data centres around the world, at about 97% upside to its average target price of $46.

5. NIO Inc. (NIO) designs, develops, manufactures and sells intelligent electric vehicles in China. The company offers five, six, and seven-seat electric SUVs, as well as smart electric sedans. It also provides energy carriers and service packages to its users; marketing, design and technology development activities; production of electronic powertrains, batteries and components; and sales management and after-sales service activities, at about 88% upside to the average target price of $63.8.

What is social trading?

We may seek social trading in the same way we would look for a social network, such as Facebook, Linked In, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter. The difference is that you are trading in financial markets, and you can also observe other people's track records. However, the interaction is essentially the same as in other social networks; you have your feed where you can view other people's postings about markets, questions, surveys, and so on. 

Some social trading platforms make it simple to locate successful investors whose trading approach matches your requirements. However, this is not always easy because finding the proper investors to emulate might take time and expertise. 

With social trading, you get a more in-depth look at what you're investing in. You have access to the investors' historical returns (which are not predictive of future results), risk score, drawdowns, holding period, and even current holdings, so everything is clear to those who wish to start copying. 

How does social trading work?

Social trading operates like a well-oiled system, with brokers, platforms, inexperienced traders, and experts playing vital roles. 

A platform for social trading 

It's a professional network that acts as a link between novice and experienced traders in trading and a forum for conversation and information sharing. It frequently resembles a typical social network, with capabilities such as publishing information, commenting, postings and sending messages. 

Traders who are professionals 

Traders who are professionals assign roles as signal providers. They trade on their accounts, allowing inexperienced traders to replicate their moves. They can even have their professional blog on various sites. 

Investors and novice traders

Investors and novice traders are the platforms' primary users. They can duplicate the trades of experts, communicate with and copy signals from skilled traders, and do so on their accounts at the agreed ratio. 

Broker

Brokers ensure order execution and access to copying instruments. They benefit from increased trading activity and the acquisition of new customers. Some brokers, such as eToro, FXTM, and RoboForex, have their social trading platforms, while the vast majority rely on third-party suppliers. 

Provider of social trading platforms 

Is a provider of social trading software, a platform that brings together clients from several brokers in one location. MQL5, ZuluTrade, and DupliTrade are the most popular suppliers. 

Is it safe to engage in social trading? 

A lot is dependent on the broker and platform you've chosen. Consider platforms with the regulation in one of the nations with an established legal system (for example, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, and the United States) and transparent statistics for study. 

Social trading on Forex from the world's leading brokers is risk-free, and the main dangers, in general, are in the trade itself. However, as the popularity of the service grows, scam brokers may also provide copy trading. Scam brokers are often unregulated, do not explain the dangers, and exaggerate the possible reward. 

How have companies’ investor engagement strategies changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The pandemic has really shone a light on so many things. Some, we always knew but didn’t realise quite how key they were to our most basic way of working. Investor engagement is a case in point.  We all recognise that investment decisions are not all about balance sheets and financial projections.  The numbers need to stack up, of course they do, but that is not always enough. Clearly, trust plays a big part, but much of that trust is earned, not just from past successes and an individual’s track record, but a belief in the person you’re dealing with. We used to joke about sizing someone up by the strength of their grip in a handshake or how they relaxed over lunch or a couple of drinks. That’s all gone now. Hopefully not for much longer, but physical contact and the sheer physicality of actually meeting someone face to face; that will never be the same again. The WebCam World is here to stay which means we need to do a lot more groundwork, before that first online ‘meeting’.  Potential investors need to have a good feeling about the players involved and the investment opportunity being presented before they get that video meeting. For PR and IR specialists, like me, shifting strategies to meet changing market conditions is second nature. For investment companies, themselves, this can be a real challenge, which can lead to a costly loss of focus.

How can you help companies when it comes to investor engagement?

As mentioned, the investor environment has changed - not in terms of returns, but in terms of engagement. I think the role of Pristine and myself is now, more than ever, to give investment firms greater control of this new environment. We do this very proactively, as now is not the time to sit on the sidelines and nudge or to be too subliminal. The world is in the grip of a paradigm shift and waiting for that world to come around to our way of thinking is not an option; better to be in there batting and shaping the new future.

The investor environment has changed - not in terms of returns, but in terms of engagement.

Let’s face it, we always say ‘challenges’, not ‘problems’, don’t we? We always put that ‘positive spin’ to demonstrate our positive outlook. Well, spin won’t cut it this time. It’s got to be all about action.  No more ‘putting out the feelers’; ask the question- and make sure you get the right answer. No more email reach-outs; get on the phone- and don’t get off that call till you’ve got what you want. It’s the time for a little street fighting- and I love it!

What would you say are the advantages of hiring outside of your vendor when it comes to IR, PR and marketing?

I think in-house PR and IR has its place. It is very focused, obviously, which can offer some good results. However, its focus can, also, be its undoing. An investment opportunity is no more something to be seen in isolation than a market can be ring-fenced. To put over anything, you must be able to compare it with other things on the market. Context is very important. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worked in-house, myself, and see the value in its focus, but I think a more ‘bird’s eye view’ won’t detract from that focus; but will fine-tune its targeting.

David Smith, a cryptographer from the Smart Card Institute, offers Finance Monthly a beginner's guide to various financial markets and what a prospective investor can hope to get out of them.

Most people get intimidated by the idea of making an investment – mostly because they don’t understand the different types of financial markets and which one could be the best suited for them. Our article today sheds light on the different types of financial markets so that you can make better investments in the future.

1. Stocks

Most people are aware of stocks. They are probably the most popular and simple kind of investment that has been around for a really long time. Basically, when you invest in stocks you are buying a part of a share in a public trading company. Some of the biggest companies in the world today such as Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, all sell their shares. However, they sell only a small percentage in the stock market.

Once you buy the stock and the prices go up in the stock market then you can sell the share at a profit. The downside is obviously if the price goes down and you will go into a loss. If you wish to buy stocks then brokers are the right people to get in touch with as they will help you make an investment.

2. Bonds

Buying a bond means you are lending money to an enterprise that is either government-owned or is a business. Businesses issue corporate bonds whereas the government issues treasury bonds or municipal bonds. Once you have held the bond for a particular time period and it reaches maturity, you can acquire the bond with interest. Bonds are generally a low-risk investment and come with a lower return as compared to stocks.

Buying a bond means you are lending money to an enterprise that is either government-owned or is a business.

3. Foreign Exchange

This is a relatively simpler investment. Foreign exchange investors buy a currency that is expected to increase in value in the future and then they make a profit out of it. The profits all depend on the exchange rates at the time of selling.

4. Mutual Funds

Mutual funds refer to a pool of investors who are investing in several companies at the same time. These funds are either managed actively, in which the manager chooses the companies for the investors to put their money, or they can be passively managed, in which the fund tracks some stock market investment. There can be mutual funds which are a mixture of actively managed and passively managed funds.

5. Certificates of Deposit

One of the safest forms of investment is a certificate of deposit in which you give money to a bank for a certain time period and once the time period is over you can withdraw the money along with the interest which was pre-determined.

6. Physical Assets

Investing in physical assets means you are buying an asset that holds a market value and can be liquidated when you need the money. These assets can be precious metals, jewelry, property, etc. As in the case of most investments, investors who put their money here expect the prices to increase so that they can sell their property, jewelry, etc. at a higher price.

7. Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies can be thought of as digital currencies that have market value and are a great investment option. Bitcoin is one of the most famous cryptocurrencies that is now coupled with advanced smart card technology. However, cryptos can be an extremely risky form of investment as their value fluctuates tremendously.

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8. Retirement Plans

Most people are offered a retirement plan at either their workplace or some other means. Retirement plans are not exactly an investment category but they can be thought of as a means to make other investments as they give you countless advantages such as tax leverages.

9. Annuities

A lot of people use annuities coupled with their retirement plans to make investments. Once you purchase an annuity you come to terms with a contract with an insurance company that provides you with payments periodically. The payment duration and the amounts are both predetermined. Annuities are a low-risk investment but they are low-growth as well.

10. Options

Options can be thought of as a complex kind of stock. An option gives you the ability to either buy or sell a certain asset at a predetermined price at whatever given time. An option may decrease in value and might end up in a loss for the investor.

Conclusion

Overall, financial markets make it possible for companies to acquire capital due to their regulated and open system and enable businesses to balance risk with the help of foreign exchange, commodities and other derivates.