The Stock Market

[beauregard]

I moved into bond funds last year. A few weeks ago I readjusted my 401K completely into bonds funds. Pimco Real Return had some ridiculous return last year I cant remember for sure but it was in the teens.

I'm usually a buy and hold guy... I'm just waiting for a correction to get back into stocks.

Oil is my only real fear... not that we will run out but that enviromentalists wont let us go get it.

If I had to pick stocks I'd research death services industries, pharmecuticals, retirement home crap. Older americans arent depending on their children to take care of them anymore. My grandmother lives in a retirment community a mile away. She just got married in 2007 (younger man... he's 83). She doesnt call me when she needs help. She's been to the hospital a few times recently when she's gotten sick. She goes by ambulance. If you can invest in any of those ambulance services or just buy one I'd do it. They are providing a needed service and it's a growing industry.

Just my 2 cents

[TheEconomist]

Originally Posted by AAlmeter

PM and MO report tomorrow and Thurs...if I recall.

I have positions in both, but I still like my UST. I see UST's sales growing or at the very least remaining constant unlike MO's. On top of that, they are less exposed to legal



UST is similar to MO in its shareholder friendly stance. They sell an addictive product that is marketed AGAINST pretty heavily in this country. Im not expecting to see massive growth.

Now...for massive growth...see central sun mining (SMC, formerly GLE Glencaire gold). That one has been a fun ride for me since last November

Geez! talk about a roller coaster! looks like you should be back in the green on this puppy if you bought it in november. And you benefited from the split!

I like your little hedge against the dollar here! great move! Depending on when in November you bought it, it looks like you could be feelin pretty darn good depending on your position. (if bought at the very end of November, looks like youd be close to doubling your investment)

unfortunately I see the dollar coming back strong in the next 6 months- 1 year (doesn't mean that smc will stop growing, just probably grow less quickly than up 100% in 5 months . Commence my pure speculation(guessing) ), as bernanke seems to flow with whatever the media tells him to do. if the day traders are yelling to cut rates, hell definitely cut em, even if it isn't for the best of the country. but oil has us by the balls now, so there is going to be media pressure pulling for not cutting rates.


One of the largest reasons for the gigantic upswing of oil in april (double digit growth) are these darn rate cuts that just keep sinking the dollar, which appears to be one of the big reasons our markets have continued to suck. (high oil prices)

BE A MAN BERNANKE...

[TheEconomist]

good day for me! Microsoft up 3.3%, nok up 1.85% dis up .96%, intc up 2.5%

I hate watching this stuff everyday! its addicting..

watching CNBC and it sounds like they are calling for another .25 cut.. needless to say I'm pissed....

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by TheEconomist

good day for me! Microsoft up 3.3%, nok up 1.85% dis up .96%, intc up 2.5%

I hate watching this stuff everyday! its addicting..

watching CNBC and it sounds like they are calling for another .25 cut.. needless to say I'm pissed....

I must agree, these dam cuts are really screwing up the value of the US $$$!

[papajohn67]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

I must agree, these dam cuts are really screwing up the value of the US $$$!

Wish the Fed would stay out of this and let the chips fall where they may.

And perhaps off topic a bit but a little anecdotal evidence as where we are with the economy today and how people may be reacting.

Called our dog groomer yesterday who also watches our dogs while we are out of town. She talked a bit about just how slow things had been the past few months in the grooming business, very unusual. She had called a number of other groomers she know's and it was ditto for them too.

I guess it's starting to sink in for many today that borrowing your way to the good life just doesn't work out that well...even if the Fed believes different.

[TheEconomist]

For sure! i think a lot of it comes down to psychology as well.

when big B followed through with that emergency cut of .75 a month or two ago, I think it freaked people out. now that he keeps talking about how we need cuts in order for anything to operate successfully, it is just adding to people's perception of how poor our markets are. Therefore, people stop investing in the market, stop spending, shoving our money under our mattresses(metaphorically) while banks continue to not lend out money, and continue acting in a way that hurts our economy because they are told that if they don't, they will be in trouble.

Good example of this is that whole rice deal. Just heard today that most analysts are saying that the whole drastic inflation of rice prices in the U.S. is unwarranted, and is only being caused because people are starting to horde it because of the news of the shortages in Asia, when in reality the U.S. is sitting on a surplus. yet, sams club and costco are putting limits on how much rice you can buy, and restaurants are now paying 2x as much as they were before for rice.


Unwarranted economic activity.

I think if Big B just flat out said, we aren't cutting because there is no pressing issue calling for it, when in fact there are issues that are calling for stabilization, confidence might shoot up a bit. Maybe not immediately, but within a few weeks i think we would see a change for the positive.

[cvm4]

I wouldn't be surprised some big hedge funds/traders are behind the speculation in gold/oil/wheat/ et al commodities.

And dog groomers are the epitome of discretionary spending. I'm not surprised the business has fell off there.

[Pablo]

I can see having a "Stock Market" Social Group when we launch the next version of the software. You guys would have your own "clubhouse" then.

[RUJohnny99]

Originally Posted by TheEconomist

To show my appreciation, If anyone brings my attention to something that directly leads me to a purchase, I'll send ya a little something to show my gratitude!

So CVM4 (USB) and RUJohnny99(for previous invaluable advice), pm me your Addresses and I'll get something sent to you soon!

(I tried to make it a surprise but I guess I don't qualify for the ms. Floydp listings because i don't have 2 of the 3 qualifications met)

Now now...I'm not taking smokes away from a guy in college. Just remember me when you're some big Wall Street hotshot & I need a job!

[TheEconomist]

I pay 35,000 a year to go to school, what will a few sticks matter? I have a job just like every other guy on this board. It's tradition here in the jungle, it would be bad form to ignore tradition! (and not to mention, your advice would still leave me at an insurmountable gain)

me becoming a wall street hotshot?

haha, this coming from mr. "I work for one of the largest (if not the largest) and most prestigious investment firms in the world.."

I'm honored that you'd say such a thing..


haha

[JohnnyFlake]

I just got off the phone with my son, who lives back in Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where I came from when I relocated to Henderson, Nevada 7 years ago. It's the village of Elmwood Park. Anyway, he told me that today, the cost of gas hit $4.00 a gallon, almost everywhere in the area. How sad is that, and our government/leaders are doing nothing about it!!! Very Bad Times Ahead, in my Humble Opinion!!!

[cvm4]

Everything (almost) is priced off of gas prices. I hear ya there, I'm tired of Ben pandering to Wallstreet.

[AAlmeter]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

I just got off the phone with my son, who lives back in Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where I came from when I relocated to Henderson, Nevada 7 years ago. It's the village of Elmwood Park. Anyway, he told me that today, the cost of gas hit $4.00 a gallon, almost everywhere in the area. How sad is that, and our government/leaders are doing nothing about it!!! Very Bad Times Ahead, in my Humble Opinion!!!

I couldn't agree more! Our government most certainly should step in and fix the prices! This is absolutely silly!


Im in the ethanol business...bring on he gas shortages!

[jloutlaw]

Originally Posted by AAlmeter

I couldn't agree more! Our government most certainly should step in and fix the prices! This is absolutely silly!


Im in the ethanol business...bring on he gas shortages!

We tried fixing the gas prices in the 70s and it was a disaster. This is just another market that needs to work it out.

Everyone wanted to do something then and we had a lot of alternative energy initiatives and then crude fell back into the $10-20 range and we bought our suv's and forgot about the energy problem. Well...it's back!

Back to the stocks. My Starbucks is going to take a killing tomorrow. I wish I had bought McDonalds, but hind sight is 20/20. Should I sell or hang on to it?

[AAlmeter]

Originally Posted by jloutlaw

We tried fixing the gas prices in the 70s and it was a disaster. This is just another market that needs to work it out.

Everyone wanted to do something then and we had a lot of alternative energy initiatives and then crude fell back into the $10-20 range and we bought our suv's and forgot about the energy problem. Well...it's back!

Back to the stocks. My Starbucks is going to take a killing tomorrow. I wish I had bought McDonalds, but hind sight is 20/20. Should I sell or hang on to it?

Yeah...I guess my sarcasm is less transparent now that I post less.



A lot of believers in Starbucks...