Jesus Christo!!! I'm even thinking about working harder, and God forbid, saving money. Sorry my AB/CC chicas, I'm heading for the street girls. Times are tough.

Any investors out there with all red portfolios, like mine?

I am out completely right now, although I have taken my lumps. Being completely on the sidelines, I am hoping for a complete meltdown, so I can step in and do some bottomfeeding.

Melt down continues today!

Ben, do you think that Graham and Dodd would consider buying Worldcom, Martha Stuart or ImClone at this point?

Kendricks,

I hope you start fishing soon. You forgot our local favorite crooked corp, Peregrine. Another Arthur Anderson story I think.

So who's your favorite SG pick? I'm looking for strong fundamentals, reasonable P/E, not an exceedingly high trading volume, a variety of common products/services, with a high customer satisfaction rating.

My street girl experiences have been dismal. My current MO is to hit the strip clubs for some eye candy and maybe a lapdance, maybe get an Azteca massage, hit the smaller bars (and AB or CC if I don't find anything in the smaller bars) looking for someone I can click with, and if she doesn't come along and the massage parlors are still open, get a full service massage. I don't follow this plan religiously, and it is definitely not the most economical way to go, but it is tried and true...

I was disappointed to see that the major indexes recovered today. Could this be a bottom forming? Or maybe a false bottom before the meltdown gets back into swing?

Ldvee, I'm kind of wary of a sell off prior to the 4th of July over terrorism jitters. I doubt I will start bottom feeding until after the 4th has come and gone.

hedge your bets with LMT GD

certainly not bottom feeding but timely investments.

Hmmm, bottom feeding, is it Coahuila time???

Kendricks my little 8 ball says "not at this time"

I know that market timing is a waste of time. I'm still going to hold off on jumping back in for a bit....

Where is mpegbanker? He is in the business. Dollar averaging is the best solution in my opinion. One of the technology funds if you want to take risk, index fund if not.

I am so tempted to buy AOL. It is selling for approx 15 times next years earnings and is close to its all time low, since its merger with Time Warner.

You know, every time I think one of these Internet stocks can't go lower, it does.

I don't believe that the fact that AOL is near its low since the merger means anything. In fact, I don't think AOL is really worth anything near what its selling for, except for the Time Warner piece.

Since I really fucking hate AOL, and can't understand why millions of people are stupid enough to pay over $23 a month for it, I tend to agree with Explorer.

Which probably means that the stock is about to go up in a straight line....

I don't think of this company as an internet stock. I know what AOL does, but the whole company is really an entertainment company. Movies, T V networks, cable companies publishing, etc.

If they did not have to amortize there merger cost they would be making a hugh profit, even in this climate.

They seem to be really over sold and you are right about about the statement "You know, every time I think one of these Internet stocks can't go lower, it does."

I bought this stock at $23.91 a share and sold it two weeks later at $21.72. Lost a little over $2000 I could be using for other things.

Currently selling for around over $13.25 a share and I could write an in the money call option (August 12 1/2 call) which is selling at $2.00 and reduce my down side to say $11.35.That figures out to 8-9% net over the next 49 days if my stock gets called, which is like making 60% on my money on an annual basis.

Hell I don't know what to do these days.

I had so much fun last night in Tijuana that I just may go back down there today or maybe just go play golf.

Benwhoisinlove

Yeah,

I do agree about why would anyone use AOL, but my sister(who Is very bright) I was always the stupid little brother, has AOL and wouldn't consider dropping the servive. Many who use AOL think of it as entertainment not an internet connection.

Kendricks

Here is a stock that I bought at $28 and it is now selling at a little over $26. I think it is a keeper and they will be announcing their earning on July 17th. I think this is a $35 dollar stock within the year. It also is paying a 3% dividend.

What bothers me about this stock is why it is going down?

If I was going to buy it, I would buy it before the earnings are reported. This company has a history of meeting or beating it earnings estimates.

Maybe there is something going on that I don't know about. It wouldn't be the first time.

Which one are you talking about Ben?

Oh sorry

NYCB New York Community Bankcorp

Down .25 today

I tend to shy away from companies that have that much long term debt (I really have an aversion to debt). Admittedly, I am no expert in this field. Do you think there is any rationality to this line of thought?

yes I think it is good thinking.

When you think about what has happened in the past 12 months, 9-11, Enron, WCOM etc, a dramatic military policy shift to first strike, ending of pro-forma, I think you would have to admit that we've been hit pretty hard and responded admirably. I like it. I'm averaging in. (if the 4th goes well)

Sorry, my AB/CC chicas, I have more important things to spend my money on.

Just throwing this punta de vista out there. What do you guys think?

Ben are you not going to advocate a Peter Lynch approach and buy what you like and believe in? AOL has always bothered me and I hate that little "you have mail" voice that is making its way into commercials.

Options seem to be the only way to go, the shorts will be paying soon. I remember going home post call and seeing NASDAQ 5000 on CNBC. Big rush.

TJ, fishing and golf sound better right now. How is Q going to react to WCOM debacle?

Ldvee, that is a very sound analysis, I believe. All the major indexes are back at or near 1998 or 1999 levels, which really isn't all that bad. I'm going to start easing my way back in soon, I believe, so long as the 4th goes well.

All I have to do is keep the degenerate gambler side of me in check, and I should be able to hold off until the 4th....

For you day traders out there, try Budget Rent a car (BDGPA). In a slow market, I have made quite a bit of money on this stock at the end of the day. It always starts out going lower than the previous close (down as much as 40%), then in the last 30 minutes, it recovers. I have been very happy with the results. Although it isn't a long term investment option, it is a great rythem stock. I am not a day trader; I am a hound dog lookin for nookie.

This is a very interesting topic. I hope that more information can be shared.

Ray,

I have been covered call options for years.

Not a good strategy in a raging bull market like the miss 90's of course. I was making 20% a year when people that knew little about the market were making 200% in 6 months.

Last two years it has really paid off.

The fact that the market shrugged off the Xerox news this morning would seem to add further credibility to Ldvee's outlook.

Sam:

If you don't understand that stock price changes are a random walk, well, you could just give me your money, it would be quicker.

True or false?

"The stock market will do whatever it must in order to maximize the number of people who are wrong."

False. The stock market is a complex adaptive system which is impossible to consistently forecast on a short term basis. Although the majority of people will usually be wrong, it is simplistic and sophomoric to ascribe personality traits to its movements.

I occasionally speak with accountants of multi-billion dollar companies and man are they paranoid these days. I always got a kick out of the EBITAEE (earnings before income taxes and everything else) numbers, but then again I'm a technical geek. The big crooks have gotten caught, there's probably more to come for the next few quarters, but the level of scrutiny is very high. This is good and folks are realizing it. The bears are running out of places to go. I've got a few more years before I move from equity to debt. Hope they're good because they will impact the rest of my life.

Let's see, a modest dwelling by the beach, cold beer, viagra, weekly TJ pussy, fast car, and quarterly trips to mongering destinations - yup got it all now, just have to move from earned income to investment income.

Oh man-oh-man, I have every finger and toe crossed.

Colin Powell owns a ton of AOL and his son is in charge of the FCC. I think AOL's future looks bright.

"a ton"

so you think the secretary of state and his son are going to collude to make themselves rich??

sure, nobody will ever know.

Nobody in our Federal Government would be so greedy and illmoral as to take advantage of their public office..


What do you think about Halliburton?

Gee, I want to than Explorer8939 for the insightfull hint into stock market investing. I wasn't looking for a cynical observation of supply and demand. I have been watching this stock, among others, for the past year. I have been most successful in observing behaviors of other investors with this stock, and others. Volume, price, and market all play into understanding when to buy and when to sell (with options to cover risk). I am not a genius. But, I have found something that works for me. Now, with all this, I think I will head down to the Chicago Club tonight in my continuing search fo Marina.

You mean the VP Dick??? Hey he was Pres for a bit today. No Presidential polyps tho. Video at 11.

I'd stay away from software/Internet stuff now. 1995 to 2000 was incredible. But now it's all commonplace. The buildout is pretty much finished.

Check out what Bill Gates is doing

http://biz.yahoo.com/t/62/412.html

I just can't ignore the baby boom demographic spike, invest in old age, illness, hospitals, misery, RVs, depends, botox, alzheimers, presbyopia, ventilators, cardiac disease. That reminds me, I need to take my norvasc, cozaar, zocor, and aspirin.

And then there's the companies that build domestic spy equipment, bombs, bullets, radiation detectors, antibiotics, etc.

High tech is passe. Disease, death, war, big brother, oh, I mean Homeland Security - that's where the money is.

Just joking around, I'm really looking forward to the next 20 years....

Colin Powell owns a ton of AOL and his son is in charge of the FCC. I think AOL's future looks bright.))))

Where do you get this fucking bullshit?

You Sir are a true left wing tree hugging stupid fucking dipshit.

Yea they will make a ton of money and only YOU will fucking know the inside shit.

Wake up dude.

Sam:

Day trading is a great way to lose one's life savings. I would imagine that buying lottery tickets has better odds.

What works for you is BDGPA.OB, based on a pop at the end of each day. Since you mentioned the "pop" here, Budget has dropped at the end of each day.

GC wrote "Where do you get this fucking bullshit? "

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/1349.htm
Secretary Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family includes son Michael; daughters Linda and Anne; daughter-in-law Jane; and grandsons Jeffrey and Bryan.


http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/powell/mkp_biography.html
Michael K. Powell is Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He was sworn in as a member of the Commission on November 3, 1997. He was designated Chairman by President Bush on January 22, 2001.

Oh, mostly from C-SPAN1 & 2, BBC News, The cable finance shows, The News Hour, A mix of other network and cable news and of course The Daily Show with John Stewert. With an assist from my brother who has a double major Accounting/Finance (3.6 GPA from a business school ranked in the top 20 by US World and News Report.) Throw in various magazines and an interest in history. It can be rather eye opening.

The discussion of elder Powells AOL holdings came out on the finance shows (I think on CNBC), during the AOL/TW Merger hearings. His son was just on the FCC board at that time and was the only one pushing for a rubber stamp of the deal.
No inside information, just noticing what's on the news.

This isn't a Powell bash, just some interesting connections.
I like having Powell's cool head in the administration as a counter to Rumsfeld's hot head (attribution to Henry Kissinger who last week on a talk show described Rumsfeld as the most volitile personality he has met.)

Look into our Secretary of Defenses stock holdings in defense industry stocks if you want some really scary information.

GC said "You Sir are a true left wing tree hugging stupid fucking dipshit."
No... More like a puta hugging, anti-corruption, populist who (apparently, unlike you) doesn't like getting fucked over by a greedy club of elitists.

No... More like a puta hugging, anti-corruption, populist who (apparently, unlike you) doesn't like getting fucked over by a greedy club of elitists. ]

Right.....I love the populist status that you asign to yourself. This comes out when a LOSER like yourself who can{t fucking make a dime in the real world wants to feel sorry for himself.

I{m sure you are a Jessie Jackson loving, tree hugging, racist, homo rights demo0rat.

Well try opening your small mind. People own stock and work for the government

fucking bullshit. I read the links. It proves NOTHING.

I sure you need to be attending a gay rights rally or save the baby seals PETA bullshit meeting.

Get going and spend that welfare dime.

Hey Headinsouth

Ignore GC.

Good stuff Headinsouth,

Gotta love the fringe characters that can't be civil and must resort to attacks and the fallacy of Prejudical Language. (Thanks again for the link, Kendricks)

It'll be interesting to see what kind of effect Enron, Worldcom, Tyco, etc. has on the balance of power in the elections.

I would guess they(Enron. Tyoc,etc.) will have very little effect on our next two federal elections.

I would guess the overall economy and stock market in general will have some effect on the vote.

I think the democrats will pick up a few congressman.

The market is oversold and big money isn't stepping up yet.4th of july's often marks a trend reversal into Labor day.If the market holds last wednesdays lows on the retest I'm going to consider some bottom picking.As earnings come out they don't have to perform that well to look good compared to the same fucked quarter last year.Maybe some of John Q. Public y associados will hop in at this juncture.We know they are just waiting for some reason or sign of hope to hop on in.
Ben for options if the QQQ's hold 24 1/2 this week or if big blue holds 67 then consider calls .Also if the SPX holds 951 look north.
Best bet is to watch the CNBC tv teleliars and when they all say "GET OUT" start thinking about getting in.How many times can Ned Reilly be that friggin wrong and still get his ugly mug on TV?
TB

Hey Ben,
A while back they changed the makeup of the DOW index, pulling out some old line companies and replacing them with new high tech companies.
As an interesting study, where would the DOW be if those origonal stocks were in the index still?

Stealth boom in value stocks?

What about the short term / long term interest spread and the possibility of making money by borrowing and re-lending against this spread?

Just curious

H-S: If you can borrow at the 30 day T-bill rate you can make money. IMO rates will stay low for 9 to 12 months or untill the recovery is strong.
The P/E on the market indices is not out of line with LT interest rates which would suggest the markets are not overvalued or undervalued.

I am not sure where the Dow would be if the companies that had been replaced were still in place. It seems only a few years ago that Microsoft and Intel replaced a couple of the companies that were probably considered "old economy". I think General Electric has been on longer than any of the other current 30 companies.

There is sure allot of companies on the current Dow 30 that have lost over half their value in the past two year.

The big issue with interest rates(I think) is going to be inflation. If the dollar continues to weaken, common sense would say that inflation will start being an issue for the Fedearal Reserve.

I have found over the years that borrowing short term money to lend at higher longer term rates is very risky. That is one of the reasons that thrifts got in so much trouble back in the eighties

The NAZZ has invented a time machine!!


"The NASDAQ hasn't seen these lows since January 2, 1997".

"The NASDAQ hasn't seen these lows since December 21, 1996"

etc, etc.

BDGPA up 15% in the last 45 minutes; actually up 20% from opening to high. 50% of volume came in during this period, as it has over the past 3 months when the market is down, or slow.

Riding the momentum of this stock since it was delisted on the board has earned me a continuous 35% ROI. Buy when it hits .19, sell when your goal % is hit. I know it isn't sophisticated; but, works for me.

Has anyone been watching KM? What are your thoughts on Tyco?

Last week I tried to find Marina at CC. Anyone see her? She wasn't there. I took 3 customers to CC for their first time. They couldn't believe their eyes.

Hey Headinsouth

Ignore GC. )))

Yes ignore me. From a true hypocrite.

Dude it{s no wonder your views are so fucking far outside the real world and you have to live through others.

Who was your daddy? did you know him?