Congrats to the Champ. Looking for Suggestions for ROUND 2.

[Dan Mezick]

It's officially Over. We have our Champion.

Here are the top 10:

Rank Username Net Worth % Return # Trans
1 jpkruse $1,065,202.46 113.04 % 46
2 paral2004lax-ebay $629,269.85 25.85 % 9
3 nhamstra $614,526.97 22.91 % 2
4 ShakRampage $601,142.26 20.23 % 1
5 nikir2003 $594,870.58 18.97 % 59
6 stoli7 $585,492.77 17.10 % 4
7 dandy_don_17 $569,266.16 13.85 % 59
8 badboybenny_gc $562,398.36 12.48 % 7
9 i_checkraise $537,411.61 7.48 % 19
10 kitaristi0 $532,121.22 6.42 % 5

#1 with 113% return.
#10 with 6.42% return.
These are impressive numbers.

This was a short term contest. My intention was to generate some interest in trading from the general 2+2 population.

I'd like to run another one of these. We could open it up and go 6,9 or 12 months. We might open it up to options & futures.

I'm looking for suggestions and insights on

1. Alternative sites to run such contests
2. What's OK and not OK about Marketwatch
3. What people want to see in terms of timeframe and format to represent a true (current) measurement of trading prowess.

So, let's hear from you. This Stock Market Forum is underdeveloped 2+2 real estate. Let's get it going.

A good first step is setting up a wider and longer trading competition on the best platform we can find, and letting it rip.

Please get your specific suggestions in by next Friday, October 7th.

It would be truly great to get a small (large?) essay from The Champion ("jdoe" on 2+2) on how he did it. How about it jdoe?? Such a post would be WIDELY discussed.

That's an impressive 3-month return to say the least !!

[wildwood]

Hi Dan,
The top ten list you posted doesn't include today's (9/30/05) market action , but it doesn't make any difference as to the winner. All the best.

[TStoneMBD]

what was the average return for all investors combined and what was the market average during this period?

[wildwood]

Here are the final results: (Jul 5 thru Sep 30, 2005)

1. jpkruse $1,065,319.11___ 113.06 %
2. paral2004lax-ebay $641,003.14___ 28.20 %
3. ShakRampage $639,157.51___ 27.83 %
4. nhamstra $629,010.30___ 25.80 %
5. nikir2003 $592,695.63___ 18.54 %
6. stoli7 $591,266.59___ 18.25 %
7. dandy_don_17 $569,328.50___ 13.87 %
8. badboybenny_gc $560,904.35___ 12.18 %
9. goofballthegreat $541,275.74___ 8.26 %
10. i_checkraise $537,462.46___ 7.49 %

[Sniper]

For comparison... 3rd Quarter selected key indexes...
Dow... 7/5 Open: 10292.62... 9/30 Close: 10568.70... +2.7%
SP500... 7/5 Open: 1194.44... 9/30 Close: 1228.81... +2.9%
Russell... 7/5 Open: 643.04... 9/30 Close: 667.80... +3.9%
NazComp... 7/5 Open: 2052.10... 9/30 Close: 2151.69... +4.9%
NDX (Naz100)... 7/5 Open: 1485.96... 9/30 Close: 1601.66... +7.8%
SOX (Semiconductor index)... 7/5 Open: 419.31... 9/30 Close: 475.32... +13.3%
OIH (Oil Service Holders)... 7/5 Open: 103.68... 9/30 Close: 124.00... Dividends: .171... +19.8%
GOX (Gold index)... 7/5 Open: 83.54... 9/30 Close: 102.38... +22.6%

[alekhine8]

What about a 12-month contest held somewhere like Marketocracy.com, and force everyone to follow their diversification rules (which are the same as those that apply to real mutual funds)? It would be more intermediate-term and not be a game of 'who can pick the biggest short-term winner'.

Of course, it might be hard to keep up interest in it over that long of a period.

[Sniper]

[ QUOTE ]
What about a 12-month contest held somewhere like Marketocracy.com, and force everyone to follow their diversification rules

[/ QUOTE ]

I 2nd the Marketocracy idea! At the very least it would give people some insight into one of the frequently asked questions, and least understood concepts of the market... Why individual investors can easily outperform mutual funds that are restricted in their activities.

[zerosum]

Strong consideration should be given to using the portfolio tracking tools at Marketocracy.com. The links below will take you to the three portfolios I implement on Marketocracy, just to give you an idea of whether the service is suitable for this group.

2020 http://tinyurl.com/9b35z
2040 http://tinyurl.com/baolc
4040 http://tinyurl.com/anmmy

[Sniper]

Zero... nice performance, care to share some more info on your methodology and stock picks?

[zerosum]

[ QUOTE ]
Zero... nice performance, care to share some more info on your methodology and stock picks?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks.

The stocks are selected using an expected-return factor model.

This weekend, I'll run the 4-week update and revise the portfolios. I'll post the selections.