Fundamentals analysis says best way to predict future trends of a stock is to understand financial figures of underlying company. The fundamental analyst would calculate a theoretical value of company using cash flow analysis, recent dividends and earnings, future dividends and earnings projections plus a host of other economic numbers. If current stock price is lower than calculated value, a trader who uses fundamental analysis would buy this stock.

This writer has opinion that fundamental analysis is difficult to master for it to be useful as a forecasting tool. Understanding and analyzing balance sheets and profit and loss accounts is not enough. You will need to analyze micro and macroeconomic picture as well. Often you will need to be have same knowledge equivalent to senior-management of a company you want to analyze – minus leadership and management skills.

Take example of Google’s free 2 GB e-mail service. How much does it cost them? Probably about $2 yearly for each customer. Assuming 100 million internet users sign up, advertising revenues from this segment alone would provide a tidy profit. It is analyst job to provide a good educated-guess of this number. More importantly, this new signings will provide a customer base to challenge Yahoo and Microsoft. With Google’s dominance in search engine market, data mining of such a huge pool of internet users will provide them with an edge in deciding future strategies over its two nearest rivals. Try translating this to what can Google earn in next two quarters.

One of better tools is Z-Score, developed by Edward Altman, a financial economist and professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, in 1968 to predict corporate bankruptcies within a two-year period. This formula has a 70-plus percent accuracy rate

Technical analysis. The “price action discounts everything” premise is central to charting, also known as technical analysis. Technical analysis uses graphic representations for prices and makes uses of various quantitative techniques to forecast price trends.

A technician makes profits in any market by having positions in line with price trend. When trend is up, then buy. Conversely, when trend is down, then look to sell. Technical analysis is not an exact science, but it is easy to learn and effective.

Technical analysis is a good starting point for beginners. The foundation should include classical technical analysis, Japanese candlesticks, trendlines, RSI, MACD, ADX, stochastics and moving averages. Learners can complete these core topics within three to six months. With constant practice, you should be able to independently analyze and identify current trends in stock market.

Use these tips to give your credit profile “tune-up” it needs:

Tip #1- Check for Errors

Your credit report or profile is more than just a collection of who your creditors are and how much you owe them or have paid them.

The first thing you need to do is carefully check that your credit report is accurate. Nearly 70% of credit reports contain errors.

These errors may be as simple as an incorrect middle initial or address. Or it could be as serious as a creditor reporting that you were late with a payment when in fact you were not late at all.

This error might not seem like a big deal to you. However,to a future lender like a mortgage company it makes a big difference!

Carefully examine your credit report and if you find an error contact your creditor and credit bureaus. Catch and correct these errors now before it hurts your chances of securing credit in future.

Tip #2 - Correcting Errors

The two most common errors contained in credit reports are: 1) wrong account information 2) incorrect recording of late payments.

If you find an account reported that does not belong you, you need to contact credit grantor or issuer immediately. Remember, finding accounts that you have not personally opened is a sign of possible identity theft.

Hopefully you’ll discover that this error is nothing more than an oversight and not an identity theft problem. Most often this occurs when they report an account belonging to a family member or someone with a similar name on your credit report.

If your problem is an error in reporting a late payment you will need proof to back up your case before this error can be corrected or removed. The most common error occurs when a payment is reported as “late” when it was actually a current or “on time” payment.

In either case, problem can and should be corrected. You will need to correct error in writing. Keep a journal or log of all calls and correspondence.