*Investors Blog*

I find it frustrating for the markets to be closed, I initially thought it was just going to be federal offices. Also seems like the flag flies at half mast for everything that takes place in society lately like a self-inflicted depression that never ends. Let the flag fly high and proud. Honor all those in other ways that we feel we should.
Agreed. Half mast doesn't mean a thing anymore since he flags are lowered almost daily it seems. It dilutes the reason for doing it. Back on topic - I was surprised to see his death closing the markets.
 


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Friday, 1Pm, my first glance at the market today, it was a sad glance until I saw my two major holdings WMT and META higher.
I did pick up a small amount of AMZN a couple days ago and that isnt doing as well but acceptable as long as it doesnt get trashed *LOL*
Yes, in my 401k accounts not as good as a day vs my spec account above. ;)
 
Another blow out jobs report.
Morningstar: "The US economy added 256,000 jobs in December, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday morning. The December gain was well above economists’ expectations, with the consensus forecast calling for a rise of 153,000 in nonfarm payroll employment, according to FactSet. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%."

Economy is hot. Don't expect a rate cut. I got lucky, if you can call it that. I helped a friend and my niece refi their places at the lower rate. Had to move fast because rates jumped. Of course we will see what the future holds.
 
Another blow out jobs report.
Morningstar: "The US economy added 256,000 jobs in December, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday morning. The December gain was well above economists’ expectations, with the consensus forecast calling for a rise of 153,000 in nonfarm payroll employment, according to FactSet. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%."

Economy is hot. Don't expect a rate cut. I got lucky, if you can call it that. I helped a friend and my niece refi their places at the lower rate. Had to move fast because rates jumped. Of course we will see what the future holds.
Now bragging about 250K jobs. Tell the lazy they need to work, there ARE jobs.

Rates beating down the market.
 
Now bragging about 250K jobs. Tell the lazy they need to work, there ARE jobs.

I'll bet these will be adjusted down ... way down. They're trying to set the tone for an outgoing administration.

In August, the Labor Department announced that it had overstated the number of jobs added to the U.S. economy from March 2023 to March 2024 —and by quite a bit. The economy added 818,000 fewer jobs than estimated, a downward revision of nearly 30 percent.
 
5% is the rate I look for to nibble at bonds. Several available now. Agencies and corporates. I hate the continuous call provisions they are going to on a lot of bonds. I'd still rather hold individual bonds than bond funds. I hold til maturity and miss the capital loss bond funds have when people panic sell. Anybody else buying?
 
5% is the rate I look for to nibble at bonds. Several available now. Agencies and corporates. I hate the continuous call provisions they are going to on a lot of bonds. I'd still rather hold individual bonds than bond funds. I hold til maturity and miss the capital loss bond funds have when people panic sell. Anybody else buying?
I am not smart enough to choose individual corporate bonds. I am curios - with the 10 year at 4.8% what is the allure of a corporate at 5%? Spreads are at historical lows everywhere up the chart.

I have played rates with the TLT. Thinking about doing that again. I feel I understand rates, but the credit risk part isn't my thing. Although I suppose many of these companies have much better balance sheets than the government. Still, buying rates for a good time, not a long time so derivatives are fine for me. :ROFLMAO:
 
I am not smart enough to choose individual corporate bonds. I am curios - with the 10 year at 4.8% what is the allure of a corporate at 5%? Spreads are at historical lows everywhere up the chart.

I have played rates with the TLT. Thinking about doing that again. I feel I understand rates, but the credit risk part isn't my thing. Although I suppose many of these companies have much better balance sheets than the government. Still, buying rates for a good time, not a long time so derivatives are fine for me. :ROFLMAO:
 
I wouldn't buy a 10 yr corp at 5 percent but im buyn 4-5 yr ones at 5.35-5.4 pc. 5 yr treasurys arent near that. BBB corps yield over 6 in spots 3-5 yr. I got a 7 yr Agency at 5.72 pc this week.
 
Im flexible. Until recently I was buyin CDs cuz Chase was chasing money. 6 month treasuries also. I buy some of some sort every week. I keep powder dry in usfr, jaaa, paaa, and gsst. I average in and try to ladder maturities. These are just my thoughts and opinions.
 
I do bar bell rate buying, sometimes I will construct a ladder, but it's a pain IMHO. Presently I only own a single agency bond.

And yes I buy funds, but anything beyond a couple years, one must be ready to bail. No hesitation.

Im flexible. Until recently I was buyin CDs cuz Chase was chasing money. 6 month treasuries also. I buy some of some sort every week. I keep powder dry in usfr, jaaa, paaa, and gsst. I average in and try to ladder maturities. These are just my thoughts and opinions.
Those short term funds and others like SGOV, OBIL, TBIL have been very good to me.
 
I do bar bell rate buying, sometimes I will construct a ladder, but it's a pain IMHO. Presently I only own a single agency bond.

And yes I buy funds, but anything beyond a couple years, one must be ready to bail. No hesitation.


Those short term funds and others like SGOV, OBIL, TBIL have been very good to me.
 
Mine arent strictly laddered either. I buy at the low end of the sweet spot. I just like to have some maturing regularly so I can keep averaging into the market. European style continuous calls make it hard. Heads they win tails I lose. I just try to buy above 5 percent so I can live with them if
 
So like many public companies my employer has trading windows where employees are allowed to buy/sell company stock. These windows last for just a couple of weeks 4 times a year. For the past few years I had some inheritance money sitting in a IRA money market fund just because I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it and didn't need to bother with RMD's. Last summer I was thinking that I should just plow it all into company stock, but I got distracted by death of a pet and consequently missed the trading window. The last trading window was in mid-November and prior to it opening up a hedge fund took a huge position driving up the stock 3x and has since gone up 8x. I missed a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm absolutely sick about it. Unbelievable.
 
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