*Investors Blog*

I understand crazy exponential growth and stock price can’t last forever for any company so I take profits.

Was a dumb dumb back in 2000 and learned my lesson to take profits and head for exit.
That makes sense for a lot of reasons, especially if you compare peaks... And taking some profits off the table just might mean you are playing with table money. Nice position to be in.
I rely on the long term to take care of me. I'm not smart enough to play the short game. Oh yeah, and I pay enough taxes as it is... Sheesh. Well, in truth that's a nice problem to have, as they say.

Biggest mistake I ever made, by far, was listening to a Fidelity guy and buying an annuity. I am the last investor that needs an annuity and sold a great holding to buy it. So I fired Fidelity a few years later.

Regardless, well done Dave.
 
Biggest mistake I ever made, by far, was listening to a Fidelity guy and buying an annuity. I am the last investor that needs an annuity and sold a great holding to buy it. So I fired Fidelity a few years...
At the start of my annual meeting with my Fidelity account rep I remind him that of the four bodies found in Lake Mead after the waters receded, three of them were annuity salesmen. I tell him I didn't know the fourth individual.

So far, he hasn't tried to sell me an annuity.
 
How many BITOG use margin to trade in your brokerage account ?

I was talking to a coworker the other day and they felt trading on margin is very bad.

I said margin is OK as long as you are conservative and have a cash buffer in case of a downturn.

What are your views on margin trading ?
 
How many BITOG use margin to trade in your brokerage account ?

I was talking to a coworker the other day and they felt trading on margin is very bad.

I said margin is OK as long as you are conservative and have a cash buffer in case of a downturn.

What are your views on margin trading ?
I have (limited) margin, rarely use it. In fact not for many years. I don't see the need any more, but used to allow me to get around the bindy 3 days settling. Now it's 2 days, so even less need.
 
GDP for first quarter really slowed. Interesting. Bond rates UP. Seems odd to me, but buy I will.
... just like the weather ... another bad forecast ... street hates surprises ... wouldnt matter if it was way above expectations either.
Im shocked at the reaction I think ... except WMT and GM is ok so far ... yeah, I know ...
 
... just like the weather ... another bad forecast ... street hates surprises ... wouldnt matter if it was way above expectations either.
Im shocked at the reaction I think ... except WMT and GM is ok so far ... yeah, I know ...
Good take.

Rates up is the odd part. I mean no one is saying stagflation but me. So likely I am wrong, and being a contrarian to my soul, I will buy.
 
How many BITOG use margin to trade in your brokerage account ?

I was talking to a coworker the other day and they felt trading on margin is very bad.

I said margin is OK as long as you are conservative and have a cash buffer in case of a downturn.

What are your views on margin trading ?
I don’t do it. I would recommend against it for the average investor.

Leverage increases your gains and losses, but if you are dollar cost averaging into large cap indices over a 30 year or more period, it is unlikely you will beat the averages.

Also in a margin call, the firm gets to choose what stocks or other securities liquidate to cover, if things go south.
 
GDP for first quarter really slowed. Interesting. Bond rates UP. Seems odd to me, but buy I will.
Perfectly predictable.

10UST went almost to 5% last year. Fed and treasury freaked out. JP came out and said 3 rate cuts which the street took to 6. At the same time Janet switched from selling the normal 80% coupons and 20% short term bills to selling 70% bills and emptied the $2T reverse repo. So fewer long term bond supply lowered the rate.

But now we’re back to no rate cuts and 80% coupons so it’s pushing long term rates up. Add to that USD/JPY blowing out and we’re going back up. It’s just manipulation of flows and supply / demand.

We will see what their next trick is. But I can tell you the rise doesn’t surprise the pro’s at all.
 
In my opinion, the forecasts about the economy have been too rosy. Not saying we are headed for Hreat Depression II, but spending has been supported with credit cards and inflation has been driving that spending as people go into debt to buy daily items. We have seen our household increases go up on average about 25 percent and while we are fortunate enough, and I am cheap enough, to avoid debt, it has been noticeable. For people making a lot less, this has been extremely difficult - we still see people lining up for food handouts in our area. In my opinion part of it is intentional to help the incumbent but at some point the realities of economic gravity assert themselves.
 
Perfectly predictable.

10UST went almost to 5% last year. Fed and treasury freaked out. JP came out and said 3 rate cuts which the street took to 6. At the same time Janet switched from selling the normal 80% coupons and 20% short term bills to selling 70% bills and emptied the $2T reverse repo. So fewer long term bond supply lowered the rate.

But now we’re back to no rate cuts and 80% coupons so it’s pushing long term rates up. Add to that USD/JPY blowing out and we’re going back up. It’s just manipulation of flows and supply / demand.

We will see what their next trick is. But I can tell you the rise doesn’t surprise the pro’s at all.
OK yes and this actually gives them some head room to cut.
 
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