While there are numerous options and reasons available to kickstart your short term trading, for me, I set aside a small cash for play based on news hype. Most of the news-screened companies are based on social media activity and short interest. The much speculative stocks $AMC Entertainment(AMC.US)$ $GameStop(GME.US)$ exploded back in 2021 has sparked my interest into short term play. These two stocks have been the most popular tickers in Reddit. Well, why not i...

Using some modifications on Magic Formula of Joel Greenblatt, my thoughts on investment are based on the below 5 yardsticks:
1. Return on equity: at least the return is higher than the prevailing market bank interest rate.
2. Cash flows: company may be making profits but I would set an expectation that at least the cash flows from operating activities should be positive. Alternatively I would be happy that the company has extra monies to distribute dividend or invest and expand its business strategy.
3. Growth: keep an eye on its quality growth where the it's earnings are increasing and compliment the ROE as in point 1.
4. PE ratio: setting price not more than 20 times earnings; a good business does not necessarily measured by a super high PE ratio
5. Dividend yield: as long it is comparable to FD interest rate but have to take note to avoid dividend trap companies
Of course, the simplest way is passive investing via etf $S&P 500 Index(.SPX.US)$ $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US)$ $Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF(VCLT.US)$ $Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF(VTI.US)$ $Invesco QQQ Trust(QQQ.US)$ which the risks are diversified and they will revised their basket. Good luck in investing 🍀

My biggest mistake this year is FOMO participating in a frenzy over $GameStop(GME.US)$ back in January, resulted some funds being tied up.
I cringe at misinformation out there surrounding investing and finances in general, especially on social media. Somehow, feel pressured and fear of missing out on investing certain trends😔
I learnt that it is best to invest passively through index funds such as $S&P 500 Index(.SPX.US)$ $Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF(VCLT.US)$ $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US)$  and watch portfolio grow over time. 🍬

Totally agreed with Charlie that the market now is crazy and over valued. Inflation continues to come in hot and a new policy to be announced soon. There is an element of uncertainty and valuations for US equity markets most likely come down over next few months.
With the current supply chain being disrupted, released of oil reserves, overcrowded ports, labor shortages, opex most likely increases more than revenue. This can be seen in most parts of the world as goods price increases, which will lead to demand destruction for many areas of economy. We can track these top markets via $SPDR S&P 500 ETF(SPY.US)$ $Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF(SCHD.US)$ $Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF(VTI.US)$ $KraneShares Global Carbon Strategy ETF(KRBN.US)$ $Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF(VWO.US)$ $Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF(VCLT.US)$  Embrace snafu because it's not fubar yet. So, in all these chaos, let's stay calm and eat ice cream 🍦

While there are numerous options and reasons available to kick start your short term trading, for me, I set aside a small cash for play based on news and meme/hype. With the recent $ROUNDHILL MEME ETF(MEME.US)$ launched, the screened companies are based on social media activity and short interest. The much speculative stocks $AMC Entertainment(AMC.US)$ $GameStop(GME.US)$ exploded back in 2021 has sparked my interest into short term play. Of course, new day traders favorites emerged regularly whenever online message boards light up. While some traders profiting via meme stocks and stocks that based on the news/hype but this is very risky, hence, only invests with an amount you afford to lose. There is always an online ranking board displaying the "hot stocks during the day" or we can use the function heat map and short sale ranking under the "Explore" function which we can screen out the top picks during the day as well. We'll, it's safer to put in $SPDR S&P 500 ETF(SPY.US)$ $Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF(VCLT.US)$ $Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF(VTI.US)$ but a small amount to play around the hype will not harm. Happy investing 🔝🍀