Playing & Trading Strategy

The brothers of Delta Tau Chi are pleased to announce a new series of instructional presentations designed to help newcomers to the HSX campus.

When we joined HSX, we bought a few bonds because we liked certain actors and figured that others must like them too, and that those bonds would therefore generate profits (thanks for nothing, Dan Hedaya), and purchased a few shares of every week's openers for the action, hoping the movies wouldn’t bomb (not yet familiar with shorting).  Relatively soon, we noticed that our trading strategies were producing lackluster results and did some homework.  We observed that StarBonds (now CelebStocks) bonds could change price based on investor trading but also would periodically “adjust” – abrupt (and, thank goodness, relatively predictable) price changes that disregarded trades, governed entirely by the box office results of a relevant actor’s movies.  We also observed that MovieStocks could be held short (generating profit when a stock declined in value) as well as long.

We developed some trading strategies by trial and error but also learned from several traders who were kind enough to publish pointers, sometimes in comments at HSX message boards and sometimes at independent websites.

Trading tips seem difficult to find these days, so Delta House intends to publish pointers periodically at the HSX Forum, hoping to help new traders learn, enjoy, and succeed.

The initial Delta Pledge Class involves low-priced securities.

Today, roughly 86 MovieStocks are trading at five cents per share or lower.  Fifteen are trading at a penny per share; nineteen others are trading at two cents per share.  One StarBond – SSPEE – is trading at .01.  For a new trader with limited funds, securities available at pennies per share offer a strong, rare prospect of intense profit.  Under current HSX market rules, it would be impossible for the SSPEE StarBond to decrease in value.  That bond could stay at .01 (relatively unlikely) or increase in value, but not move below .01.

A desire to identify low-priced securities presents a handy opportunity to learn to use the site search function (found below the HSX banner) and, in particular, advanced searches.  Click “advanced” next to the “Search Keywords” feature.  Under “Search the Exchange,” ignore the Keyword or Symbol box and the Security Type” boxes (for now).  Under “Price,” enter “.01” as “min” and “.01” or “.02” or .05” as max.  Clicking “Search HSX” in these conditions will generate a list of securities that can be purchase for a penny, two cents, or a nickle per share.

Dabbling in low-priced securities at HSX also can familiarize a new trader with trading commissions. Buying (or shorting) or selling (or covering) a security invokes a commission, charged to the trader’s account, of one percent of the trade’s value (with a minimum commission of two cents per share).

A penny stock that increases to two cents on the exchange generates a 100 percent profit – until one considers the two-cent minimum commission.

Delta House counsels new traders -- whose funds are relatively limited -- to consider the extraordinary profit potential of low-priced securities.  And you should trust us – we’re pre-law.  Or pre-med.  Or something.

The HSX trading platform enables a trader to arrange automatic execution of a desired transaction when a security reaches a specified price.  We expect to teach members of Delta Pledge Class that advanced strategy later this semester, but we have reached the conclusion of today’s presentation because the Omegas’ girlfriends, sisters, and mothers -- along with the dean's wife -- are due to arrive at Delta House for a special party in a minute or two, and we can hear Otis and the Knights warming up downstairs, so . . . good luck, traders!

Respectfully submitted, this seventh day December 2021,
Sen. John Blutarsky, Sergeant-at-Arms, Delta Tau Chi