Stock Market Again

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Correct me if I'm wrong. (like I need to ask )

The stock market does well when the mood of the country is upbeat, partylike, frivilous, with little concern for the future.

But, when the party is over and reality shows up, it goes in the tank. Then, cash and cash-like assets do well.

While we were in Florida, our stock portfolio, went to hell in a handbasket, like Mel's Diner in Sarasota. At the same time the market value of our zero coupon strips stepped up big time.

Have there been any times of great concern in our country when the stock market did well?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I no longer want to disscuss the market.

[Icc5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icc5]

Certain

Correct me if I'm wrong. (like I need to ask )

The stock market does well when the mood of the country is upbeat, partylike, frivilous, with little concern for the future.

But, when the party is over and reality shows up, it goes in the tank. Then, cash and cash-like assets do well.

While we were in Florida, our stock portfolio, went to hell in a handbasket, like Mel's Diner in Sarasota. At the same time the market value of our zero coupon strips stepped up big time.

Have there been any times of great concern in our country when the stock market did well?

The market does well when facts are known and bad when questions exist.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

If you are a serious investor, this is the time to ferret out the great stocks and invest while they are low. When the panic seems the worse, buy.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

OK.

I'll sell all my losers at big losses, and buy them back while they are low.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

But . . . there is little uncertainly now. It is fairly certain that things are screwed.

The market does well when facts are known and bad when questions exist.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

This is a tough market and tough time to trade. FOMC meets at the end of the month, will it be .25, .50 or will they go big and do a 1% drop? Unlikely for 1% IMHO, but there are people calling for that size drop to get the economy started. Also, Bush has announced plans for help, the $800 tax rebate, and as I watched the Bush speech on CNBC, I watched the marked dropping. That doesn’t seem to be a favorite of the market.

Defensive stocks may do best for a while, as much as I hate smoking, MO is a good stock for this market, except after I buy it, it drops, which it did when I bought it last week. Other stocks (according to what I have heard) Coke, Proctor and Gamble, and a few other defensive stocks in the cigarette, drinking, medical. Gotta have drugs, smokes and booze or pop, even in bad time. Jim Cramer of Mad Money is annoying, but he knows his stockmarket and theory of what should be the stocks for the current conditions.

My goal is to quit my job in September 2010 and just trade for a living. Poor DW stomach is churning, but I think my style of holding a stock for a couple days to couple weeks and getting the quick 3-6% profit or having tight stops is a way that works for me. Your mileage, and trading style, may differ.

And yes, we are screwed for several months to come, I think.

[Guest Close monaco]

IMHO, JLB should hold on through the current correction and Vintner should look into Covered Calls.

[Icc5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icc5]

To Don

Don,
Hope your system works for you. My brother did this several years ago and made $75,000 and felt great. The next year he lost over $100,000.
I, on the other hand am old fashioned buy and hold. I've won some and lost some and luckily so far still far ahead.
Bart

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

The stock market movements are broadly similar in the UK and US. A financial advisor recently showed me a long term graph of stock market prices since about 1950. Any time since then when there has been a major downturn the stockmarket has always returned to at least its original position within 5 years.
For most people stock holding should be considered a long term investment. I've seen my shares almost half in value in the past few months. As I don't plan on selling it really doesn't matter.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I have always loved the stock market.

I just reviewed some of our IRA statements. The zero coupon strips are doing well. The stocks have been written off as worthless.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

I have always loved the stock market.

I just reviewed some of our IRA statements. The zero coupon strips are doing well. The stocks have been written off as worthless.

These are good to sell when (if?) you ever sell any stock for a profit.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I am doing great today in the market. I am not losing any money today. Good thing the markets closed for MLK day.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Don,
Hope your system works for you. My brother did this several years ago and made $75,000 and felt great. The next year he lost over $100,000.
I, on the other hand am old fashioned buy and hold. I've won some and lost some and luckily so far still far ahead.
Bart

I'm also buy and hold and am way ahead. Sure, just paper gains, and over time there have been "just paper" losses. Nothing to cry about, nothing to be nervous or joyous over. I've ridden the ups and downs and there has been nothing bad enuf to make me lose faith in any of them - I haven't sold a one, I only add new ones.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Frank, you are, but only because the our Market is not open. Doesn't look so good on other markets, today.