Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
It's hard not to accept the explanation for this volatility (and I mean in both directions) on algo-trading.
Yep - algo-trading is a big part. Smarter and smarter computers doing the buying and selling in place of human hands. But increased volatili…
Bear markets are prone to sudden violent 1-2 day upshots (like today’s) only to resume the downward trend. That’s not so much a prediction as an observation. I’ve been expecting this.
With some IRA money moving right now between fund houses I fe…
Well, I wonder if Powell will sleep better tonight. The upswing must undoubtedly be due to the fine work at the Fed, since the downside was all Powell's fault. Right?
I think he’s like that weird uncle that families sometimes shut away in the closet…
Plunge Protection Team
This was too big to be just a relief rally or a 'bottom' or a trend change imho. Let's see what carrythrough tere is into year-end.....
Yes big-time PP today. Watching Bloomberg much of the day, it sounds like:
(1) Ind…
Thanks. I’ll take a look. NASA TV’s gotten much better under the new guy if you haven’t watched lately. Recently they’ve been airing a near hour long tribute / discussion forum taped 10 years ago with the three astronauts, Borman, Lovell and Anders.…
True to form and right on cue. Did they all vow to never, ever put money in the stock market again?
Wonder how many sold on the 24th after a 600+ point drop? It was a shortened trading day (1:00 PM close) - but the volume was insane heavy.
Personally, I always use my Magic 8-Ball for my investment decisions.
You too? ;)
No Sir. When really confused I play “spin-the-bottle”. The more empty she is the better it works. :)
BTW: Alexa has the ability to generate random numbers. Would…
@Catch22, In response to your query: Amazon’s Alexa says “Sorry. I don’t know that one.” However, I’ve found that if you repeatedly ask the same question several days a week, the WIZs at Amazon will eventually program a clever answer into their syst…
”there is no such thing as a conservative investment.” I think he’s playing with semantics here.
“He asked whether those in the audience thought they were better planners that others in the room. Almost everyone raised their hands, illustrating the…
“The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don’t have a feel for the market,” Trump said.
And here I didn't realize that the Fed's main purpose was to sustain the stock market. I'm sure learning a whole lot more about this stuff since Trump…
Related:
“The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don’t have a feel for the market,” Trump said on Twitter. “The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch - he can’t putt!”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-…
Ted said: “FYI: Japanese stocks plunged Tuesday and other Asian markets declined following heavy Wall Street losses triggered by President Donald Trump’s attack on the U.S. central bank.”
“Attack on the central bank” seems a bit strong @Ted. Jer…
How long is the sell offs/sideways...another month or two, DOWS down another 15%% ...anyone know?
@John, I hope you intend that question rhetorically. But if you want a definitive answer, consult Jim Cramer, John Hussman or some other charlatan.
…
Lost about >10% of my total portfolio .. What should I do now.
John, that’s why it’s important to maintain a well-stocked liquor cabinet.
While my funds are off almost 5% YTD, the half-dozen bottles of scotch whisky I stashed away last summer h…
Well, look on the bright side. If deferred accounts are at their lows on 31 Dec, RMD withdrawals will be slightly down for 2019.
Yeah - Gotta look at the bright side.
Probably way too early, but Roth conversions are also useful for turning lemon…
It’s not a loss until you sell & lock it in.
Unless you just dove in head first sometime during the last 18 months you should still be sitting pretty after a 10 year bull run.
Merry Christmas all ... :)
Re: TRRIX - The fund lost 18% during 2008. The S&P was off 36.5% that year. Over the past 10 years (including 2008) the fund has averaged in excess of 6% annual. I’d guess that cash and cash-equivalency instruments failed to return even half tha…
I would be on suicide watch if I was down 4.6% YTD (or for that matter 1% or 2%). and I have definitely been around the block a few times.
I appreciate the sentiment. Different situations require different approaches. But I’m wondering if, perhaps,…
Hi Ol’Skeet,
Thanks for both responses. I think it’s important for everyone to have some sort of plan and you certainly have one.
I have no barametor. I don’t pay too much heed to moving averages and p/e ratios either. When I was younger and trade…
@Ted, Thanks for clarifying. I had assumed you were so hurriedly throwing up all those links (most very good BTW) that you inadvertently came across one referencing “Cash” and just assumed it to be the investment variety.
@msf, Thanks. Voice of a …
@Ted, What on earth does this have to do with investing? (To be honest, I can’t even make out his words.)
It appears to me, anyway, Cash is stoked-up on something. Popular clean-cut image - but like Campbell and so many others, a darker side.
htt…
Update:
Fox News is reporting on Sunday that Mattis’s departure has been accelerated to January 3 by Presidential Tweet (instead of his planned February 28 date). Fox’s Howard Kurtz attributes the change to the President’s displeasure with Mattis…
Dark humor.
My math shows the S&P off 17.5% since its high in late summer. Not cheap - but “cheaper” than during the most recent euphoria. To me that implies valuations are heading in the “right” direction. I’m most curious when the report wa…
Yeah - I heard that last evening. Thought about posting it. You hear a lot about “Individual 1“ nowadays. Hard to tell what’s true. What’s real.
I hope Janet Yellen has an unlisted number. That’s the last place she’d want to be. (Don’t answer th…
@Old_Skeet,
By some accounts the major indexes thus far in December have suffered the biggest one-month loss since the Great Depression. I can’t confirm that. But December has been rough.
Curious how that affected your barametric reading. I ask, …
Just to clarify. I agree with @rono that the general tenor stinks. Even CNBC’s Ron Insana was recommending Friday that those near retirement raise some cash. He strikes me as a sane individual.
Where I may have screwed up a bit in my positioning wa…
Lest this thread get overrun by left-wing anti-Trump zealots, here’s the other side of the Syria issue.
“On this, Donald is right. I agree with him," https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/20/putin-applauds-trump-syria-decision-1070946
actually, many would argue the opposite, that bad actors do not have longterm or lasting effects on the general markets ...
Of course, planetary destruction is something else ...
But, how would we know?
If I were 45 or 55 I’d already be buying in increments. At 72, Discretion is the better part of valor. Already at my high side for cash. Haven’t felt inclined to raise more. Am rapidly exiting OAKBX through some Roth transfers. Not the same fund it…
It is always a good day when David is on Chuck's show. I liked his words about the Bruce Fund especially. Dave Ditto.
But the market fell 200 points while I listened. So you might want to hold off until after 4 PM EST.
It’s beginning to resemble a mild correction. Just “ball-parking” the numbers on the Dow, it appears to be off around 10% (give or take) from the year’s high. I’m sure the NASDAQ is more badly beaten up than that.
Re speculation elsewhere on the b…
He can say what he wants, but at least Powell is doing his job on behalf of the country and has a clue about things he's responsible for. The same can't be said for ..... others in DC.
Overall our institutions are still strong.
