Re: Newbie Question - bet on FTSE 100 close? I don't understand the multiple going short option - can someone explain?
It is the tried and trusted technique of adding to a losing position. Tried by many and trusted by none.
The example given assumes you think the market will fall. If it goes up instead then short it again and keep doing this until eventually it does fall and you can close out your position. The major flaw with this is sometimes you run out of time or money before it eventually does what you want and falls.
Rule One. Never add to a losing position.
Rule Two. See rule one.
The advantage of spreadbets over other type of bets is that you can close a losing bet (you got it wrong) or close and reverse (you got it wrong and now want to see if you can get it right) whilst the race/event/market is running/open.
Continually adding to a poor trade ignores all the accepted wisdom of using stoplosses, chopping losers and running your winners and using money management. You might get away with it and you might be lucky and get away with it more than once but eventually it will result in a significant loss.
Never let a small loss become a big loss.
The first cut is the cheapest.
etc..
Last edited by jpwone; May 24, 2004 at 8:28pm.
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