Buying Stocks and the Risk of Short Selling

For many who own stocks, there is little or nothe stock as a loan, which you in turn sell. The
strategy attached to their purchases - buying stocksmoney from that sale is put into your account with
for them is an almost automated process becausethe broker, and once the stock actually falls, you buy
they utilize a broker who advises them on what toit again at the lower price. You then return the
buy and when, as well as when to sell. For somestocks to your broker, and keep the difference
investors, however, buying stocks is a morebetween the sale price and the price you pay to
hands-on activity. You know the type: they arere-purchase them.
continually scouring the headlines and stock quotesFor those who are serious about buying stocks to
looking for every new occurrence that might servemake short-term profit, short selling offers an
as an indicator of the next big stock opportunity.incredible opportunity to turn over a profit in very
Still others use a process call short selling to bothlittle time. It does not, however, come without the
diversify their portfolio, and earn short term returnsrisk of loss. In fact, for many investors, the risk that
on their investments. For those familiar with buyingthe stock might actually increase in value is a strong
stocks, the act of short selling has a well-earneddeterrent to short selling activity.
reputation for being risky if the investor is less thanAfter all, if the stock rises in value, you are required
adept in his or her research and decision makingto pay your broker the difference in price. On any
process.serious short selling transaction, that difference can
Short selling is the process of selling a stock that yousometimes run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
believe is going to decline in its value. It requires aFor anyone buying stocks and considering short
broker, and a savvy investor. To make it work, youselling, the prudent course of action is to never
have to research and identify a stock that you feelimplement a strategy until you have researched its
will soon drop in value. Your broker then gives youevery aspect.