Stock market prediction is an arcane art mixed with the best of computer science. With the recent performance of the stock market and economy, it is something we all need to take seriously.

The papers, radio and TV all talk about how our personal investments have taken a beating. While things have recovered some recently, many investment portfolios have been hit very hard. Credit card balances have gone up and foreclosures have skyrocketed.

Pundits often admit that the economy has a significant influence on the stock market performance. Short term the market may be able to shake it off but in the long run profit, loss and cash flow will win out. Equilibrium can take a while to re-establish itself though.

Just remember as you listen to the prognosticators giving their latest stock market predictions that they don't have a crystal ball. Had you known what was going to happen in 2000, you would have avoided a large drop in your investment accounts. They are really just using fancy models to forecast the market's movements.

Their prediction is based on experiences, a model and sometimes just a gut feeling. Knowing what their stock market prediction is based on can help you understand if it is going to be useful for you. No one truly believes you can predict the future. those experienced in the trading pits can make very educated guesses though. They use tools like technical analysis based on the past price movements and trading volume to determine the probability of the market moving in one direction.

Can You Dominate Your Retirement?
Being able to look at technical analysis can give you an edge in the market. Even a small percentage over the long run can add thousands to your retirement income. People will often talk about bubbles and picking the top or bottom of one. Just remember one very important fact.

Bubbles always tend to last longer than people expect they will. Trying to guess the end of a bubble can be dangerous. Now one really knows if silver or oil will continue its price increase. Or if the economy will enter into a decent recovery or a double dip recession. Building a model allows us to get a decent idea of where things are likely to head though. Developing those models can be very difficult. They will often function very well for a short period of time and then deteriorate swiftly.

Many times that is enough to give you a decent edge. Commodities aren't the only thing in question. Many commodities have a direct influence in the stock market. Gold price can have a huge impact on a gold mining company's ability to make a profit. Those profits tend to dictate the share price of a stock. If you can generate increasing and steady profits, investors generally reward you with higher stock prices.

Make sure you study the model and understand what it is built upon. Make sense of their model before believing their conclusions. Stock market prediction can give you a distinct advantage in the market IF you find the right one. Pick the wrong one and you could be living in the paupers section of town.

For additional you can also read Is stock market prediction fact or fiction?