Deciding What to Purchase... and How

Today, as I scrolled across Google finance, I found a couple of interesting tools to begin my investment experiment. First, one of the articles I was reading on a possible stock purchase of mine provided a link to marketbuzzreport.com and described it as "an investment community with a special focus on updating investors with recent news on the U.S. stock market." I have since signed up for their newsletter and alerts to enhance my ability to buy and sell appropriately by using immediate knowledge of big events and market shifts to shape my decisions. On the site there was also a newsletter to "teach" market skills which I will test for a few days and use as a tool based on pending results.

Based on week ending closures, here is a list of stocks I will purchase with my $10,000 along with the amount and reasons for doing so. I will attempt to make final calculations at the end of the list that include totals for stock price, adviser fees (which, to prevent errors, I shall use an average of $200 per hourly "visit") and the Security and Exchange Commission's $0.0042 fee per transaction. The SEC fee may be negligible until a later date as it is intended to hit heaviest in millions of dollars.

• Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM)- Gold producer. April 5th close: $38.05 One-year low/high: $31.92/$57.35
• Gold is classified under the sector, "basic materials" and as of 2010, AEM has paid a dividend for 29 consecutive years
• With it's highest price being almost $20 more valuable than the current price and possible rise on the way, I feel confident that this is a money maker.
• Price has risen to $38.65 since the April 5th closing
• I will purchase 50 shares which will be a total investment of $1,932.50
• Walter Energy, Inc. (WLT)- Coal Producer. April 5th close: $23.67 One-year low/high: $22.72/$69.41
• Walter Energy, as indicated by it's name is in the energy sector of the market
• Really my main reason for buying this stock is the extremely low price as compared to its high on April 17 of last year.
• Several reports have been filed criticizing the investment techniques of the company's financial board, including one on businesswire.com. With such poor performance, I doubt it can get any worse, especially when investors start raising questions.
• Price has risen to $22.73 since April 5th
• Again, I will purchase 50 shares, resulting in a total of $1,186.50
• My last investment for the day, as recommended by my mentor, will be a $2,000 federal treasury bond, 20% of my total investments. This is the safest investment, guaranteeing growth, however, the pay off will come in 30 years, but the benefit is the lack of risk involved.

My total investment expenses for the day result in $5,119. After fees and commission costs, the grand total amounts to $5,319. Being my first "purchase," I will keep an eye on the daily rise or slump of each stock as well as buying or selling when necessary. For more effective strategies and tips, I will meet with my mentor, Patrick Cross.