My History class is doing a project on the Stock Market (I know, not related to the class subject, but at least the teacher won't be lecturing as much...), where we have $100,000 USD (fake) and diversify among stocks we choose. We use real stock prices to determine how much money we are making/losing. At the END of about 2 weeks, we see how much money we've earned/LOST. The goal is to make the most money possible. The only difference is that we are only allowed to unload stock once; at the end of the first week.

Well, today was the first day. Since the newspaper shows yesterday's stock results, I opted to check ONLINE and see how my chosen stocks were doing. (If you want, you can follow my stocks on Google Finance. Just something to do if you're bored. )

Okay, I divvied up the funds like so:

1000 shares of GBX
500 shares of XRX
750 shares of AVP
750 shares of BOOT
1000 shares of LVB

I invested $99,332.50. So, even if the stock market crashes and we have a depression, I'll have about $666 left. I'll probably win in that scenario.

Anyway, the stocks I "invested" 1000 shares in, which showed an upward trend -- tanked. GBX lost almost $3/share, losing me $2,270. The ones I BOUGHT 750 shares of actually gained almost a point apiece, netting me $500. LVB lost almost a point, costing me $770.

Actually, almost the entire stock market did poorly today, so the entire class was probably doomed for today anyway. But half the class invested in GBX, and I came out with a net loss of $2,954.50 on the first day. Ouch. That hurt.

Oh, how I look forward to the day I can unload stock. That was painful, and the game has only started.Is SCHOOL teaching legal gambling now Dilbert.

Pretty neat reality class though.reminds me of www.fantasystockmarket.com.... I used to trade on their a bit.
they give you $100k of fake money to buy whatever stocks you want. Stocks are real, but you don't really buy them and the prices change according to the real stock market. Wow. Day 2 went a lot better. I am now making $1,638 more than I invested. That means that all my stocks went up by more than $3000 today.

Quote

Is school teaching legal gambling now Dilbert

My History class is doing a project on the Stock Market (I know, not related to the class subject, ...

... The only difference is that we are only allowed to unload stock once; at the end of the first week.

....
Okay, I divvied up the funds like so:

1000 shares of GBX
500 shares of XRX
750 shares of AVP
750 shares of BOOT
1000 shares of LVB

I invested $99,332.50. So, even if the stock market crashes and we have a depression, I'll have about $666 left. I'll probably win in that scenario.

Anyway, the stocks I "invested" 1000 shares in, which showed an upward trend -- tanked. GBX lost almost $3/share, losing me $2,270. The ones I bought 750 shares of actually gained almost a point apiece, netting me $500. LVB lost almost a point, costing me $770.

Actually, almost the entire stock market did poorly today,

so the entire class was probably doomed for today anyway. But half the class invested in GBX, and I came out with a net loss of $2,954.50 on the first day. Ouch. That hurt.

Oh, how I look forward to the day I can unload stock. That was painful, and the game has only started.