It seems to me you want to put your current loss carry forward to work.
It isn't earning anything.

So sell the winner and keep the loser. Buy it back in 30 days at a new
basis.

Frank

"anoop" <ghanwani[at]gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1103681374.575869.168030[at]z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
- quote -

Consider transaction costs. Use option cost theory analysis and you'll find
your answer.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/
http://www.topgunproducers.com/
http://forum.topgunproducers.com/

Si vis pacem para bellum!

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
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signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

Will Trice wrote:
- quote -

I have lots of stock from the dot com bust that I don't want
to hold that I'm using for the $3000 net capital loss. I still
have several more years to go. :-)

I don't think either of the two stocks that I mentioned will
move a lot in 1 month. I'm looking to see if there's something
obvious that I'm overlooking in choosing to sell them both
to balance the gain/loss.

Anoop

anoop wrote:
- quote -

If you like both of the stocks, why not sell the loser now, take the tax
deduction (up to $3000 against income, excess carries over to future
years), and buy it back after 30 days (to avoid the wash-sale rule)?
That way you stay exposed to both stocks, but you get to take a tax
deduction now.

-Will

I have a couple of stocks that I wouldn't mind
owning for the long term and I don't have a pressing
need for cash. However, one of the stocks
in a significant gain, the other in a significant
loss, so much so that the loss in one balances
out the gain of the other. Is it advisable to
sell both so that it is a zero-sum game for my
taxes this year? In other words, if one is
holding stocks in the red at the end of the year,
and some other stocks that are in the black,
is it recommended practice to use this as an
opportunity to zero the playing field with as
little tax consequence?

Anoop