.l#0 CONTENT of README!.TXT file: MarketMaster(tm) version 1.42 is copyrighted. Copyright (c) 1989 by R.M.C. You may not decompile, disassemble or reverse engineer the programs of MarketMaster(tm), nor modify MarketMaster(tm) itself without prior written consent from R.M.C., or act in any way that impairs the proprietary and intellectual property rights of R.M.C. or its successors and assigns. R.M.C. retains the title and ownership of the MarketMaster(tm) v1.42 programs and accompanying files but grants you a lease and license to use and distribute said programs and files for trial use. A license is required for post-trial use. You are free to copy and distribute the archived copy of MarketMaster(tm) for your or others' trial use PROVIDED: IT IS DISTRIBUTED IN ITS ORIGINAL COMPRESSED FORMAT WITH ALL SUPPORT FILES AND DOCUMENTATION; YOU DO NOT CHARGE MORE THAN A NOMINAL FEE OF US$10 FOR EXPENSES AND COST OF HANDLING WHILE DISTRIBUTING THIS SOFTWARE FOR TRIAL USE. The author, manufacturer and publisher retain all rights to the program and support files and can makes changes to them, or withdraw them from public use altogether, at their sole discretion and without notice. Although user feedback has thus far led to diligent modifications and revisions, and we appreciate any comments and bug reports, the author, manufacturer and publisher are under no obligation to revise the program or its support files or to correct any fault. MarketMaster(tm) Version 1.42 is distributed as "as is" and for trial use. Trial use does not extend to later versions, nor accessories, unless expressly so declared by the publisher, R.M.C. Your use of MarketMaster(tm) constitutes representation that you are fully aware of the inherently uncertain nature of forecasting, and in particular financial forecasting, as well as the risks inherent in buying and selling in the financial markets, and that the output of MarketMaster(tm) does not constitute "advice" or "recommendations", and that past performance is no guarantee of future results. MarketMaster(tm) release/version number follows this pattern: Version Number Internal ID (Optional) | | 1 . 4 2 A / \ Upgrade Level Correction Level If any of the Version Number is preceded by a 'R' e.g. Version R1.42, the 'R' denotes that it is a registered version, and as such may not be duplicated or distributed. Users who find MarketMaster(tm) useful and continue to use the program after 100 forecasts shall elect one of the following use license terms: 1,000 X 2 FORECASTS: $99 [CA residents add 7% sales tax] + $7 shipping and handling of new disk. 3,000 X 2 FORECASTS: $199 [CA residents add 7% sales tax] + $7 shipping and handling of new disk. Any of the above licenses may be terminated by R.M.C. with a 30-day advance notice and licensee's sole remedy shall be limited to a pro rata refund based on the remaining term of the license. Any and all claims and liabilities whatsoever shall be deemed fully discharged by payment of such pro rata refund of any unused portion of license if remaining. Support by telephone is available to registered licensees only and only during the time that a use license is in effect. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE TERMS, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM -- MARKETMASTER(tm). IF YOU AGREE WITH ALL THE ABOVE TERMS, THEN YOU MAY FURTHER PROCEED: HOW TO INSTALL MARKETMASTER(tm): MarketMaster(tm) requires 640K RAM, a hard disk and DOS 2.1 or later. To install MarketMaster(tm), you should first create a subdirectory on your hard disk using whatever name you like, and copy all the MarketMaster(tm) files over to the newly created subdirectory. Unless you obtained MarketMaster(tm) on a disk with all the programs and support files already de-compressed and ready to run, you will note that MarketMaster(tm) and support files are compressed into a single self- extracting file with its name in the form MMnnna.EXE, where "nnna" are 3 digits and an optional letter. For example, MM142.EXE contains version 1.42 of MarketMaster(tm). After you have copied all the files to the hard disk subdirectory as described above, you may begin extracting the files by typing either "GO" or "MMnnna" (where "nnna" is the version number) and press key. For example, if you have MM142.EXE, then just type "MM142". Press "Y" if you are asked "Overwrite?". After file extraction is completed, make sure that your computer has the correct date by typing DATE and then press key. If the date shown is incorrect, enter the correct date. Thereafter, SIMPLY TYPE "GO" or "MM" AND HIT TO START MarketMaster(tm). THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT! ******************************************************************** ******************************************************************** 24-HOUR STOCK MARKET BBS: 408-733-9341 (300/1200/2400/4800/9600 baud MNP, 8/N/1 using U.S.Robotics HST Dual) 24-HOUR FAX LINE: 408-746-0477 TECHNICAL SUPPORT PHONE LINE (voice): 408-773-8715  œ2wœ2  Š******************************************************************** ***** MORE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO USE MarketMaster(tm) ***** ******************************************************************** As described earlier, you start MarketMaster(tm) by typing "GO" or "MM", after copying all files to a hard disk subdirectory and after you have extracted all the files by typing "MM142" and . After the introductory screens, hitting any key begins the running of MarketMaster(tm). THE PROGRAM THEN ASKS FOR A FILE NAME. YOU CAN ENTER "DEMO" IN WHICH CASE THE PROGRAM WILL USE THE "DEMO.DBF" FILE CONTAINING ACTUAL SAMPLE DATA (S&P500 futures contract) TO DEMONSTRATE TO YOU ITS CAPABILITIES. There are additional .DBF files that come with MarketMaster(tm). These files contain actual historical data for various futures contracts, etc. to enable you to evaluate the power and efficacy of this program. IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN ANALYSIS, DO NOT ENTER "DEMO" BUT ENTER THE NAME OF THE FILE YOU WANT TO USE. IF THAT FILE DOES NOT EXIST, IT WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY CREATED FOR YOU SO THAT YOU CAN THEN BEGIN DATA ENTRY FOR THAT FILE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO CALL THE DATA FILE FOR IBM STOCK "IBM", THEN JUST TYPE "IBM" AS THE FILE NAME WHEN ASKED. IF A FILE NAMED "IBM.DBF" EXISTS ON DISK, IT WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY FETCHED AND OPENED. IF THE FILE DOES NOT EXIST, IT WILL BE CREATED. Once the proper data file is chosen (or created, if not found on disk), you are ready to use the functions. You will be presented with a spread -sheet-like command menu. If you are familiar with Lotus 1-2-3, you will know how to move (i.e. cycle) from one command to the next by using the arrow keys, or by pressing the space bar. As you move from command to command, a brief description of the function of the high-lighted command will be displayed on the last line of the screen. Use the space bar to move to the different commands and familiarize yourself with the functions of each command. Note that the Delete command is a toggle in that it will alternate between the functions of delete and undelete. The use of the View command immediately put you in a line-by-line display of data records (also known as the "browse mode"). Once you are in view (i.e. browse) mode the Lotus-like menu will no longer be operative. Instead, use the new commands as described on the top of screen to navigate or manipulate data. For example, ^U means pressing down the key and then press the U key. It is the same as the delete/ undelete toggle in the earlier Lotus-like menu. You can mark each line of record as deleted or undeleted using Control-U key combination. Likewise, as described on the top of screen, you can use F2 key to edit any record while in view (i.e. browse) mode. The F3 key allows you to append or add a record, and so forth. You can use the arrows to move from record to record, and from field to field. To get out of the view mode, you simply press the key, and the Lotus-like menu will again be presented at the bottom of the screen, ready to carry out the commands you choose. YOU MAY FIND THE VIEW MODE MORE CONVENIENT FOR ADDING (i.e. APPENDING) OR UPDATING (i.e. EDITING) RECORDS. Before you do your own analysis, you should play with the DEMO historic data that comes with the disk just so that you become familiar with the MarketMaster(tm) program. To do so, simply enter "DEMO" as the File Name œ2±œ2  Šwhen you are asked. Be sure to look into other .DBF files too. If you use "DEMO" as the file name, it already contains sufficient data. Once you hit '1' or '2' while in the main menu, you will see a graphic display seconds later. Three lines will be presented. The blue (or dotted) line is the closing price line showing the actual closing price for the last 50 days or less. The yellow (or solid) line is the forecasting indicator which tends to precede the blue line and forecasts the probable future price target/direction. A confirming indicator of of price (given as a light-blue or dashed line) is also provided. This indicator confirms what has been forecast and is useful to confirm a trend, turning point or reversal of a trend. Confirming indicators are not forecasting indicators. By their nature, they lag behind the actual price peaks and troughs and serve to confirm what has already happened. Only the yellow (solid line) forecasting indicators predict price tops and bottoms ahead of their occurrence. The yellow (solid) lines are true leading indicators and are therefore the most important. Some users will not have an EGA or VGA monitor, therefore, the blue line will show up as a dotted line (representing price), and the solid line will represent the forecasting indicator. The dashed line is, as said before, the confirming indicator, which is analogous to, but more sensitive than, the commonly used moving averages. Note that for CGA monitors, the program picks the highest resolution which usually results in a two-color black and white display. By comparing the yellow (solid) indicator line with the price line and the confirming indicator, you can immediately determine the near-term price outlook. In general, if the forecasting indicator, i.e. the yellow (solid) line, is above the blue (non-solid) line(s), i.e. the closing price line (as represented by the blue (dotted) line), and the confirming indicator line (as represented by the light-blue (dashed) line), it is bullish. This is so because the yellow (solid) forecasting indicator is telling you that the future price/direction will be above the current price and is confirmed by the confirming line. Conversely if the forecasting indicator, i.e. the yellow (solid) indicator line, is below the closing price (as represented by the blue or dotted line), or the light-blue (dashed) confirming line, it is bearish. This is so because the yellow (solid) line is saying that the future price or direction will be below the current price and this bearish outlook is confirmed if the yellow (solid) line also drops below the confirming line. Price drops can be very sharp and sudden. To warn you well ahead of time, we have added forecasting indicator #2, which tends to be more sensitive to price tops, and therefore tends to provide earlier warnings of a price decline than forecasting indicator #1. Aside from the greater lead time for indicator #2 for price tops, there is no difference in the general rule of interpretation, which applies to both indicators. As stated before, the general rule is thus: If the yellow (solid) indicator line is above the blue (non-solid, or broken) line(s), it is bullish. Conversely, if the yellow (solid) indicator line is below the blue (non-solid, or broken) line(s), it is bearish. Moreover, the degree of bullishness or bearishness can be gauged by the amount that the yellow (solid) indicator line is above or below the blue (broken) lines. A deteriorating bullish situation (i.e. one turning bearish) is indicated where the yellow (solid) indicator line, although above the blue (non-solid) price line(s), is rapidly dropping or moving towards said blue (broken) lines. Conversely, a decreasingly bearish situation (i.e. turning bullish) is one where the yellow (solid) indicator line, although below the blue (non-solid) line(s), is moving up relative to said blue (non-solid) line(s) and approaching them from the downside. Buy and sell signals are triggered where the yellow (solid) indicator line crosses above (for buy) or below (for sell) the blue (broken) line(s). Depending on the nature of the underlying stock, future, index or whatever issue being forecast, the buy/sell signal may be leading. If so, it is important to adjust for the amount of lead time. For example, if for a  œ2öœ2  Šcertain stock, the buy signals tend to come a day before the true price bottom, then you would want to wait for one more day before going long. If the sell signal for this same stock tends to come 3 days ahead of the true top, you would want to wait for about 3 days from the sell signal before selling or going short. Each stock, future contract or security has its peculiar lead time for buy and sell signals and an examination of the graphic display given by MarketMaster(tm) will usually provide the clue as to how much time adjustment to make. Future price targets are also roughly estimated by the yellow (solid) indicator line. The price target approximation can be good or poor, as seen visually, depending on the underlying issue. Besides stocks and futures contracts, areas where MarketMaster(tm) can readily apply include the forecasting of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which is a market index that has a High, Low, Close and Volume for each day. In the case of the S&P100 or OEX index, High, Low, Close are given but Volume figures may not be readily available. A proxy for its volume would be the Dow stock volume, or the NYSE daily volume. Likewise, the NYSE daily volume may be a good proxy for the volume for the S&P500 Index. It should be noted that all the data are analyzed in a relative sense. Therefore, it is OK to use any unit of measure, so long as you do it consistently. For example, volume figures may be to the nearest 100 shares as in stocks or to the nearest 100,000 shares for market indices. But one could successfully use larger or smaller units as he/she finds conven- ient, so long as it is done consistently. The same is true with price, i.e. High, Low and Close. Of course, as the units of measurement get larger, the loss of precision will occur. However, errors in data that are under 2% of daily range will probably not materially affect the forecasting indicators and their forecasting results. MarketMaster(tm) assumes that the data are real historic observations and process them with that assumption. Certainly if the numbers are false, the processing will be meaningless and computational failure may result. To avoid problems, always use real historic data. For best results, pick only actively traded issues for your analysis. Not only will the forecasts tend to work out better, these are also the type of investment/trading vehicles that you'll want to use since they tend to offer the most opportunities for profit and the least slippage. ******************************************************************** *********** SAMPLE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK FROM OUR USERS ************ ******************************************************************** "After five previous ... programs to do market analysis, MarketMaster(tm) is by far the easiest to use and understand ..." G.W. "Your program [MarketMaster(tm] is what I've been looking for." D.M. "I've tested it [MarketMaster(tm)] with Dow Jones Industrial Average. The indicators really do work and turn ahead of time." L.L. "Boom! Platinum moved just as MarketMaster(tm) forecasted. So did silver. I am really excited about this software ..." J.M. "The T-Bonds moved really well [as forecasted by MarketMaster(tm)]." S.P. "MarketMaster(tm) is terrific, its SELL signal for the S&P500 on October 6, 1989" could not be more timely. Keep up the good work." M.B. "I back tested the system on many markets over a period of months. I can safely say that anyone can trade with MarketMaster(tm) and make money. It can be used with any market from S&P to Wheat. I have referred MarketMaster(tm) to about 20 of my friends. Thanks and good luck." R.M. ======================================================================== ENJOY!! Acknowledgment: Lotus 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. -- END OF README!.TXT --