You and I both know there are no guarantees on how to make money on investing in stocks. From which stocks to buy, through when to buy or sell, the variables. You can only do your homework and believe your investigations are sound. There are three stock market trends that you may not be aware of and they are detailed below.

DEAD CAT BOUNCE: This is when a stock price increases after a long and sustained downward movement, but the effect is only temporary and the stock reverts to its down ward trend. In many cases the increased price causes investors to buy again and then lose when the price drops again.

What does it mean for me in stock trading? It is usually difficult to determine when a slide is going to turn around, so don’t bank your house on a reversal. However for short term investors a dead cat bounce may present a selling opportunity.

A BELLWETHER STOCK: This is a stock (or security) that usually signals the direction the market will take.

Why is this important to me? These stocks usually have a large percentage ownership by institutional investors – the big boys on the scene. While these stocks may signal the direction of the market they may not be the most attractive investment choice for those wishing to make gains. They are useful to watch however to get a feel of what might happen next.

THE JANUARY EFFECT: This is the effect that sees the beginning of a new year heralding higher stock prices in January. It has been attributed to tax factors and to investor sentiment. People often unconsciously expect prices to rise in a new year.

Why is this important? It has been shown in investigations that the January effect is real. However in recent years it has become more difficult to take advantage of. So it may be useful to watch for, but it is unlikely to be a reliable way to make money.

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