SML: Week 2

After returning from the festivities on Monday, I made my way to the library to see how my virtual portfolio was doing. Here’s what I found out about my stocks:

Aetna: +2.11 to 81.86 (+2.65%)
Barnes & Noble: +0.15 to 38.34 (+0.39%)
Motorola: +0.32 to 18.06 (+1.80%)
Safeway: +0.32 to 22.84 (+1.42%)
Lockheed Martin: +0.09 to 65.15 (+0.14%)

All told, my portfolio rose 1.28%, gaining $1275.84 in value. The market in general (as measured by the S&P 500 index) rose 0.17%, so my portfolio beat the performance of the market handily.

I’d be excited about this, except for three things:
1. The performance of stocks over a one week period means precisely jack;
2. In a 100 meter race, it doesn’t matter who wins the first 10 meters, only the last 10—and I’m not obsessed with winning anyway; and
3. It’s not my money.

Still, it’s fun to know that, for this week, at least, I seem to have done something right.