Read this first post for the May 2012 Big Board Contest.
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First and foremost...congratulations to jbrand1! The April 2012 Big Board Contest Winner!!!
On to the next! The May 2012 Big Board Contest starts at the opening bell on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
Important - Please read carefully: IF ONE OR MORE OF YOUR PICKS ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE AFTER THE START OF THE CONTEST, YOUR POSITION WILL BE FORFEITED.
* When you make your picks, please make sure there are empty spaces around them, so they come up in the thread search.
Correct: AAPL - Long (Blank space after AAPL)
Incorrect: AAPL- Long (No space after AAPL)
-Pick TWO stocks, either long, short, that trade on the U.S. Stock Exchange.
-You cannot duplicate someone's exact play (either of them). For example, if someone picks AAPL - Long, you can only pick APPL - Short as long as it is not taken yet. Use the "Search This Thread" link as it only takes a few seconds to see if the ticker has been mentioned.
-Get your picks in BEFORE the opening bell on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. You have have until Monday, May 7, 2012, to post what your opening prices were, but you should do it opening day or soon thereafter by quoting the post with your picks and then entering your opening price for each stock on the day the contest started. This saves me from looking up the opening price for everyone's picks and saves me a couple hours of work.
-The stock/ETF must open at $5 minimum. No Indexes or pinks/OTCBB.
-You are only allowed 1 leveraged ETF. If you choose two, the second of the two does not count and is still up for grabs. If incorrect picks go un-noticed, you risk your position being forfeited. (These are the 2x/3x ETF's)
-Once you pick something, that is it, it is yours unless it is not a valid pick. This way someone doesn't pick a stock that others want, then at the last second change it. Please don't edit your posts with your picks. If you pick one at a time, just use two separate posts instead of editing your first.
Once again, it is your responsibility to check that your pick is not a duplicate. The "Search This Thread" link I mentioned makes this as simple as it can be. If you choose to not check and should you duplicate someone's pick, it will not only not count, but you will be ridiculed and laughed at as well.
You can close out one or both of your picks at anytime by posting the fact you want to close it on the thread. If you state you want to close a position during trading hours (before the closing bell), you will get that day's closing price. If you decide to close a position after the trading day is finished (after the closing bell), you will get the next day's opening price. PLEASE POST YOUR OWN CLOSING PRICES!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and if anyone sees someone else messing up, please correct them. Also, please look at your positions after I post the spreadsheets. I try to catch mistakes, in and out of my control, but need your help in making sure the information is accurate. Please PM me if something major needs my immediate attention on this thread - if it is something that cannot be worked out by thread contestants.
Remember...the contest starts at the opening bell on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
Edited by Acegraphix - 5/1/12 at 11:08am
