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.
First: Thanks for telling me what I think.
Additionally: I simply was sharing a newsworthy story.
@Crash - An apology to you if my remark appeared personal. Wasn’t meant that way. I appreciated your OP. The story belongs here on the board. Wha…
Lots of studies / articles written over the past couple decades re the accuracy and usefulness of IMF predictions (detractors and supporters) if anyone wants to do the digging.
I’ll defer to the wisdom of Yogi Berra: “It’s tough to make predict…
“I might point out the esteemed Mr Giroux’s interests and motivations don’t necessarily align with individual investors.”
I think that’s a bit too darkly suggestive. But it does raise an interesting question of what the primary motivational facto…
Would it be fair to suggest that Donald Trump has succeeded in lowering whatever passes for "standards" in the Republican Party to his own personal level?
”What a tangled web we weave …”
Another question - What does it say about that district’s v…
@hank, I saw LB's article. All I read is saying it may be or may be pretty close to thinking it may be time to consider bond funds again.
@MikeM - Yes, LB’s article seems to make the case for bonds - particularly floating rate types of lower credit …
”The other issue is that the global economy and global securities markets are two separate things.”
Yes (emphatically).
I also find that we here, and the media as well, tend to focus on the United States. There are other important economies out…
"I even have a few passwords that I don’t write down or file anywhere"
Exactly why using old telephone numbers that you already have stashed in your memory works well. Using the entire exchange name prefix with the first two letters capitalized plu…
A little off topic, but lately I’ve encountered frustration over Apple’s IOS operating system attempting to create passwords for me when, like Old Joe, I desire to create my own. Sometimes this screws up the process. For less sensitive sites I’ll l…
Ain't THAT the truth!
More importantly … Do you care what the IMF thinks? How much are you willing to (or planning to) alter your long term investment plan to accommodate their thinking?
We all engage to a degree in confirmation bias - the tendan…
Good question @MikeM … Mine is not a direct (or likely helpful) answer…
Since mid-year I’ve preferred intermediate term investment grade bonds over cash. In particular I’ve used the etf GNMA as a cash replacement. Not because I hope to make an…
Thanks @Catch22
From Whitman: “The ship has weather’d every rack …”
Owning bonds / bond funds felt like “bow-shock” aboard ship or plane all year long. The talking heads and market gurus I monitor mostly speak optimistically of a splendid 2023 f…
Topic has certainly broadened. First experience in a 100% robotic car wash yesterday. Payment is via touch screen with a remarkably human-like voice. Damn good wash, wax & dry for $10. It’s cold here. So the big doors open and close automatic…
Young kids here - under 60 - probably won’t remember how “revolutionary” / “earth-shaking” it was when Walters was given a co-anchor job on ABC news. Demonstrates how far we’ve come as a society in garnering equal rights regardless of gender since t…
Nice summary @Yogibearbull
In the “Broken Record” section … from Elizabeth O’Brien:
“Check-List for a Recession / 4 Steps to Prepare Your Portfolio for a Recession in 2023”
Haven’t we played this one before? :)
I’ll miss her. Airs too early here. But often watch the show later in the evening from the archived shows on PBS. None better IMHO. Class act right up until her retirement!
@Old_Joe - I know you to be a very deep thinker. The last “blow-off” comment in my post wasn’t directed at you personally - but was merely an afterthought from someone with no expertise in advising others on investing or intent to do so. The first…
There is lots of red in that chart - not much helped in 2022! Hopefully, 2023 will be a better year for investors.
While the historical contexts are very different, I can’t help thinking on the last day of the trading year of Whitman’s opening lines…
@Old_Joe - Assuming AAA rated bonds and bond-like securities (including CDs) of the short to intermediate term variety compete to some degree in the marketplace for investor inflows, does the following help explain what has happened to CD rates of…
If I understand @Derf correctly, he didn’t post the comment …. but yet it’s under his name … ?
Also, sounds like he’s tried to “edit” it already. Gremlins? Or another “Derf”?
But (per @Catch22 and @Sven) it is a relatively easy matter to edit o…
Having mental health issues is no excuse for being a ”MAGA Nazi jerk”. But it might shed some light on this guy’s erratic and seemingly self-destructive behavior.
The 50-year-old Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who first publicly disclosed that he has Asper…
Apparently, individual investors net/net have been buying TSLA while institutional investors have been selling.
A blurb from today’s WSJ:
”Still, individual investors have been doubling down, purchasing a net $16 billion of Tesla stock this year…
Interesting take on inflation’s effects in today’s WSJ:
Inflation Takes Biggest Bite From Middle-Income Households
”Inflation is often called a tax on the poor, but this time it’s hit middle-income households the hardest. Many low-income househ…
Unfortunately, @Bopa appears to have deleted most of his original content (OP) on July 31. The intellect here is so massive that a great discussion has ensued for nearly 5 months afterward. :)
I can only say that I’m glad I retired nearly 25 year…
Pulled a wee bit out for my estimated 2023 needs this week. Just moved it into Fido’s mm fund for now. So it’s all “on paper” for time being. Fortunately, all my 2022 needs were socked away in late 2021 when markets were a lot higher. Not the case…
What I’m wondering about is the potential for a hedge fund or other big player to move markets near-term for their own benefit - especially by slanting the 24-hour news cycle. Albeit, a human reporter could also do it. But there seems something p…
@hank- Yes, but seriously, those "AirTags" have been be misused to track the location of individuals without their knowledge. They have been placed in vehicles or even in purses or clothing and then been used to track people without their permission…
TWU Local 556 President on Southwest's canceled flights
The above is an NPR interview. There’s a written transcript of the full interview. But also, at the top, there’s a link to the (6 minute) audio version, which I found more compelling.
Once…
Re: TSLA
YTD -72.7%
1 Month -40.36%
Today -11.41%
(Numbers from Google)
ISTM @Sven ‘s original question has been largely answered. Your exposure to TSLA has now been diminished whether you did anything or not.
Began tracking TSLA a week or s…
Great quote @Mark. In general that quote has the same meaning in all processes. It's a rule for statistical process control in manufacturing which was the basis of my working career.
Trying to make constant adjustments to short term events can neg…
Good quote. We’ve all heard many of his others: Like “Rule #1 - Don’t lose money … Rule #2 - Never forget rule #1.”
Elsewhere he’s said you shouldn’t buy anything you’re not comfortable holding for 10 years. It strikes me that one’s a bit problem…
@Old_Joe -
Yup - It’s complicated. My reported comparison was just a rough sample. Results may vary. Knowing how short in supply labor is I have to believe that’s a big factor for airlines / airports because of the intensive use of manual labor …
Checked any airfares lately? Today I applied a $425 “e-credit” from a flight cancelled by Delta in November. I used it to purchase essentially the same flight on Delta in March. The new ticket cost over $700. Shopped among the 3 carriers that serv…
Season’s Greetings to David, Chip and all. The 27 meals constitute ”necessary seasonal stimulus”. Inflationary consequences may be addressed later ”on the cycle.”
”Is this a topic that this group can include or is it off the table no matter how real it is?”
@LarryB - Depends on the “group”. I have no trouble with you raising the topic on a general purpose Twitter or Facebook page. Nor do I object to your ri…
And @hank can pretty much plan on snow in his part of town. I'm sure the snow blower is already tested and ready.
@Catch22 - Shucks. I’ve nearly worn the blower out this year already. There was the 2 feet that fell before Thanksgiving. And than…
+1
I’ve been waiting for this one the past couple weeks! Thanks so much @rono for keeping this great holiday tradition alive. Peace.
Folks - If you haven’t watched the original “Santa Clause” with Tim Allen, it’s funnier than hell once you get in…
