How I Trade and Invest in Stocks and Bonds

Book excerpt: Richard Wyckoff was a Wall Street legend. Not only did he make a fortune, but he also was the longtime editor and publisher of The Magazine of Wall Street and the developer of successful methods to analyze and forecast the market. In this book, originally published in 1922, Wyckoff lays out his insider's knowledge for everyone, especially those who are willing to study before risking one's own money. After all, he wrote, "in Wall Street as anywhere else, the chief essential is common sense, coupled with study and practical experience." He covers topics such as the six rules he's found helpful, why he adopted Harriman's principle, what he looks for before buying a bond, the earmarks of a desirable investment, the importance of knowing who owns a stock, and how to recognize manipulation in the market. RICHARD D. WYCKOFF edited and published The Magazine of Wall Street and wrote Studies in Tape Reading and other books on his stock market techniques. He was an early proponent of ticker tape reading, and his method of analyzing the market is still used by brokers and traders today.