Now updated! Your expert guide to building a profitable stock portfolio Want to make money in stocks without losing your shirt? This practical guide gives you proven strategies for weathering the current economic crisis and for selecting and managing profitable investments in either a bear or bull market. You'll navigate the new economic landscape and choose the right stocks for different situations -- and you'll find fresh real-world examples that show you how to maximize your returns. Get started with the basics -- understand stock value, assess your finances, set your investing goals, and know your investing styleRecognize the risks -- explore different kinds of risk and weigh risk against return Make informed investing decisions -- research stocks, understand growth and income investing, and use basic economics to improve your stock strategyBuild a strong foundation for your portfolio -- investigate industries, evaluate a company's financial health, and understand the effect of politics/government on stock investingCapitalize on emerging sector opportunities -- from precious metals to alternative energy, discover the hot sectors that will make your portfolio thriveBuild (and hold on to) your wealth -- get expert tips and tactics for utilizing brokerage orders, buying with fewer costs, and keeping the taxman at bayOpen the book and find: The differences between stock investing and tradingHow to understand and use indexes The various types of brokers and how to choose oneNew ways to gather stock information onlineMethods for tracking insider trading Early signs of megatrends that can affect your portfolioSolutions for protecting your profitsInvesting resources and financial ratios