Despite the current economic downturn, stocks are still moving, and part of that activity could be due to student investors. Current data from the New York Stock Exchange shows that after a sharp drop in shares traded in August, the number of trades taking place each month has almost doubled, reaching a high point for 2008 activity in October. Carlson School of Management finance professor Timothy Nantell said the current economic situation is ideal for âÄúbottom feeders,âÄù or groups of people with cash on hand who invest while they feel stocks are being sold for less than their real value. Students, most of whom have a long time before they will need to call on their investments, are also in a unique position, Nantell said. âÄúIf they have some extra money and they can let it ride for a while, itâÄôs good because they have a long horizon,âÄù he said. University of Minnesota student investors Dan Rice and Bryant Ruffalo agree, and are putting more money into the stock market. âÄúThereâÄôs an old stock market saying: âÄòAt the time of ultimate pessimism, thatâÄôs when you should be buying stock,âÄô âÄù said Rice, a finance sophomore and president of the student Investment and Finance Organization. That theory, which Rice called the âÄúWarren Buffett philosophy,âÄù has led Rice to beef up his investments recently. âÄúLately, IâÄôve moved cash from my savings to my brokerage fund to buy stocks,âÄù he said. Ruffalo, a management information systems junior, has also put more money into his Roth IRA and 401k plan in the last month. âÄúI increased my investment by a large amount about a month ago because it was pretty cheap,âÄù Ruffalo said. For investors like Rice and Ruffalo, Nantell said now may be a good time to invest. âÄúPeople who have liquidity, or cash, and who have experience, at a time like this, they think itâÄôs great,âÄù Nantell said. âÄúWhether theyâÄôll be right or not, weâÄôll see.âÄù Nantell said there are currently two main theories on the economy. One is that stock prices are low because of a temporary crisis, and despite the cause it will soon go away and stock prices will go back up. Nantell warns investors, however, about the second scenario, where the market is returning to normal after years of a long and favorable run that caused sloppy investing. âÄúIf I knew the answer, I wouldnâÄôt be sitting here,âÄù he said. âÄúNo one knows the answer.âÄù Nantell said, however, that inexperienced investors need to be careful. âÄúIf I was advising a student, I would say to find a professional manager,âÄù he said. âÄúDonâÄôt do it on your own.âÄù Ruffalo and Rice, however, see the current times as a great opportunity for students to get involved, they said. âÄúMost students are viewing this as more of an opportunity than anything else,âÄù Rice said. âÄúIf they had previous investments, IâÄôm sure they lost money, but I think the majority of young people right now are putting more money into the market.âÄù Ruffalo agreed. âÄúIf you have the money I would say now is a good time to buy,âÄù he said. âÄúIt will go down in the immediate future, but eventually it will go back up and thatâÄôs when you make the money.âÄù