Marketwatch Joins the Wisdom of Crowds Crowd

Filed in archive Investing on March 30, 2007

Marketwatch has joined the "Web 2.0" crowd in creating more features to help its readers get involved. Its new toy is MarketPerception, which allows you to vote on whether certain stocks are on the upswing or downswing and then see whether other Marketwatch readers agree or disagree with you. In addition, you can find which stocks readers are most bullish on in general and which stocks they are most bearish on.

It's similar to Motley Fool CAPS, except the MarketWatch site doesn't have a competition between members to see who's the best stock picker. It's really just a small way to see what the crowd thinks about a stock's short-term fortunes. I'd liken it more to the Lifeline on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in which the audience votes to try to help the contestant pick the right answer.

I'm not much of one to buy or sell stocks based on the opinions of crowds of unknown people, but if you are, have at it. It's a fun tool regardless, and it might put some stocks on your radar screen that you were previously unaware of.

Bonus: Name the stadium in this picture.