[ScBlacksunshine]

Originally Posted by Badmaash

No worries, Im in the same boat.. I am looking to buy my first home.. but people are just so stuck on their prices.. they don't want to admit or give in that their home is just not worth what it was a couple years ago. But also, I can't blame them becuase many simply cant afford to take that kind of a loss - they were crazy enough to spend that kind of money on their home and now the expect someone else to do the same. With the tightening lending standards and the winter months around the corner.. something has got to give. So either they give in.. or we all go down.

Yeah let's hope that wall is coming down soon. The cracks are in place..it's just crazy to justify that kind of price even for a house in SoCal. I mean, I wasn't aware of 30-50% pay raises everyone got since we're all supposely able to pay for half a million dollar+ houses (of course that's not that case with "creative financing)...I think the current resistance in median price still stem from holding on and waiting it out ...However, with the credit squeeze and tougher lending requirement...the tide might be turning sometime in the future. From the looks of things though, it does seem grim and hopeless at times sincein principle things should be pulling a reversal now...

[cgnahc]

Originally Posted by Badmaash

No worries, Im in the same boat.. I am looking to buy my first home.. but people are just so stuck on their prices.. they don't want to admit or give in that their home is just not worth what it was a couple years ago. But also, I can't blame them becuase many simply cant afford to take that kind of a loss - they were crazy enough to spend that kind of money on their home and now the expect someone else to do the same. With the tightening lending standards and the winter months around the corner.. something has got to give. So either they give in.. or we all go down.

Fed dropped rates to 5.75%...and there are fed assistance for first time buyers you may want to look into.

[cgnahc]

Originally Posted by cgnahc

About GS:

See that bump at $198.50?, that's a swing high resistance. I'd say anything above $194.00 is a gift and you should take it. I'll be entering at $171.50 area ideally. Higher if rally continues. My risk is mid $162.00 about 5.5%. Looking to gain 13% in about 4-5 trading days. BTW, others should not be put off by the high price, just take on less shares. Do what you can afford and appropriate with your position size relative to you account size.

GS update, first and last.
Perfect gap opening then fade to fill. $171.50 area hit at support and trended higher to end of day to close at $175.00 (2% gain). I'd place a stop at breakeven ($171.50 area, which is also near the low of the day, or place a stop about $0.20 below the low of $170.52) to make this a virtually risk free trade to the target. Again, selling into the rally as it approaches the target or accumulation of more on early strength Monday morning. May decide to hold a little size to see if it could reach back the $220s area, just for fun!

[cgnahc]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

I think Im going to play the Hollywood Stock Exchange instead.

www.hsx.com

Its much less stressfull!

I checked it out...too bad no real money. It is so much less stressful if you work from a positive expectation strategy.

[achien]

Watch out, this is called a "Dead man's bounce".

You heard it here first...
http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/17/mark...ion=2007081717

[ACZakka325i]

Im so sick of the perma-bulls on Cnn. I see another sell of on monday. I think the Feds reduction of the FFR (or was is the DR) was just a short term gimmic. I may have taken a loss selling on weakness, but i am confident in planning a new strategy and implementing when i see fit.

I am still learning, I really just thought i was implementing a stop-loss at the proper time. But, im glad it didnt cost me an arm and a leg. Lesson learned.

just hope the market doesn't drag the whole economy down...

[ArmyBimmerDude]

A newbie question regarding the stock market. Will there ever be another explosion like the 99 .com year or was that a once in a lifetime thing? Just curious.

[achien]

Originally Posted by ArmyBimmerDude

A newbie question regarding the stock market. Will there ever be another explosion like the 99 .com year or was that a once in a lifetime thing? Just curious.

The stock market is a Con's game. If you are not an insider, you are just a "fish" watching from the outside. Unlike most people who buy using "real" principles (money) or on margin, the "insiders" can make money without risking a cent (stock options is a one of many examples).

Despite all the policing on insider trading, they are probably only catching 1% of the crooks. Guess what, those 1% are not truly "insiders" (i.e. Martha Stuart), that have a racket of conspirators to save their butt.

There is a sucker born every minute, that's why you can guarantee you will see this sort of boom and bust every 15 - 20 years ('99 - Dot.com, '87 - junk bonds, '73 - oil & commodity).

[bulletproof]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

Im so sick of the perma-bulls on Cnn. I see another sell of on monday. I think the Feds reduction of the FFR (or was is the DR) was just a short term gimmic. I may have taken a loss selling on weakness, but i am confident in planning a new strategy and implementing when i see fit.

I am still learning, I really just thought i was implementing a stop-loss at the proper time. But, im glad it didnt cost me an arm and a leg. Lesson learned.

This was also a learning experience for me. An expensive learning experience. I also sold at a loss on Thursday only to see my portfolio gain profit on friday.

I am probably going to reinvest once 4th quarter starts. Its too crazy now for a guy that needs this money in the short term. If I didnt need this money in the next 6 months, I wouldnt have sold and probably wouldnt be looking at my portfolio.

[cgnahc]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

This was also a learning experience for me. An expensive learning experience. I also sold at a loss on Thursday only to see my portfolio gain profit on friday.

I am probably going to reinvest once 4th quarter starts. Its too crazy now for a guy that needs this money in the short term. If I didnt need this money in the next 6 months, I wouldnt have sold and probably wouldnt be looking at my portfolio.

All is not lost. You still have 6 more months. It's a long time. 4th quarter Sept-Oct is a great time historically. It should be obvious to you that the financial sector that has been punished lately and will likely recover the quickest. Find one that that have made a move higher and stick with it. Don't pick laggards thinking they will catch up with the leaders. Trust me, it doesn't work that way, it sounds good though (too much greed).

[fobunited]

Or don't buy individual stock? Someone mentioned structured products earlier. That's the way to go.

People trying to cash in on this wave by selling short is what furthers the downmarket.

99% of individual investors do not have the tools and resources at their disposal to make good investment decisions to "play" the market. Pay someone who does to do your investing for you.

[bulletproof]

Originally Posted by fobunited

Or don't buy individual stock? Someone mentioned structured products earlier. That's the way to go.

People trying to cash in on this wave by selling short is what furthers the downmarket.

99% of individual investors do not have the tools and resources at their disposal to make good investment decisions to "play" the market. Pay someone who does to do your investing for you.

I agree with you totally. But its also fun to dabble alittle bit yourself.

I've invested in this penny stock CHHL a few months ago. LOTS of potential, but lots of debt. The company is buying up energy resources in China but if they dont get enough investers or get the necessary financing, they will most likely go bankrupt... At .03 cents a share, the company needs $50,000,000 in 12-24 months to stay alive. Ouch! If they can get the financing and funds though, they will be able to honor their energy purchases and start making some serious profit. HUGE RISK, HUGE PROFIT.

Love to roll the dice.

[ScBlacksunshine]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

I've invested in this penny stock CHHL a few months ago. LOTS of potential, but lots of debt. The company is buying up energy resources in China but if they dont get enough investers or get the necessary financing, they will most likely go bankrupt... At .03 cents a share, the company needs $50,000,000 in 12-24 months to stay alive. Ouch! If they can get the financing and funds though, they will be able to honor their energy purchases and start making some serious profit. HUGE RISK, HUGE PROFIT.

Love to roll the dice.

Haha penny stock....I rather use that money and take my chance with a playing WAR in vegas...at least then I know the odds are 2:1..Penny stock is just straight up dangerous...

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by fobunited

99% of individual investors do not have the tools and resources at their disposal to make good investment decisions to "play" the market. Pay someone who does to do your investing for you.

disagree...u get a lot of tools now with the internet. you just need to do some homework. Paying others is just plain retarded imo. Obviously they dont guarantee a return..and you still have to pay them. dont be lazy and start doing work.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

I agree with you totally. But its also fun to dabble alittle bit yourself.

I've invested in this penny stock CHHL a few months ago. LOTS of potential, but lots of debt. The company is buying up energy resources in China but if they dont get enough investers or get the necessary financing, they will most likely go bankrupt... At .03 cents a share, the company needs $50,000,000 in 12-24 months to stay alive. Ouch! If they can get the financing and funds though, they will be able to honor their energy purchases and start making some serious profit. HUGE RISK, HUGE PROFIT.

Love to roll the dice.

in such a tight market for credit...ur .03 will turn 0.00.

[bulletproof]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

in such a tight market for credit...ur .03 will turn 0.00.

you're probably right, but I'm already in waste deep.

[fobunited]

Really...? I do not believe most investors that are using tools and resources obtained over the internet are averaging returns higher than some of the best portfolio managers out there.

Take Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, which historically over the 10 years has continually outperformed all four major indices. Since inception in December 1996, the fund has had an annual average performance of 18.65% INCLUDING a maximum sales charge of 5.5%. Have you been able to match, or better that?

Of course nobody is guaranteeing a return, but I would rather allocate a portion of my assets to said fund amongst other funds. Yeah, I am going to pay for those services, but even after paying for those services, I will still outperform virtually all of the individual investors out there that "do their homework" and use "tools" off the internet. I DO do my own work. I work at a financial firm. I will keep that firm anonymous otherwise this will become a solicition rather than informative.

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

disagree...u get a lot of tools now with the internet. you just need to do some homework. Paying others is just plain retarded imo. Obviously they dont guarantee a return..and you still have to pay them. dont be lazy and start doing work.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by fobunited

Really...? I do not believe most investors that are using tools and resources obtained over the internet are averaging returns higher than some of the best portfolio managers out there.

Take Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, which historically over the 10 years has continually outperformed all four major indices. Since inception in December 1996, the fund has had an annual average performance of 18.65% INCLUDING a maximum sales charge of 5.5%. Have you been able to match, or better that?

Of course nobody is guaranteeing a return, but I would rather allocate a portion of my assets to said fund amongst other funds. Yeah, I am going to pay for those services, but even after paying for those services, I will still outperform virtually all of the individual investors out there that "do their homework" and use "tools" off the internet. I DO do my own work. I work at a financial firm. I will keep that firm anonymous otherwise this will become a solicition rather than informative.

lol...5.5%?? damn that's huge. I break down my assets as well into funds that only charge 0.9% management fees...but they require 100k minimum investment, and self-direct (biggest returns). As for returns higher than 18.65%...i've had over 300% in the last year (Thanks to certain IPOs and high growth stocks). That's higher than 10 years of your investments. Yes I take risks but I do lots of research before hand. It's always a crap shoot. A investment manager can tell you they had 10% return every year for the last century if they want, but you can always end up with losses. As for doing your own investment decisions, that's the best way to do it. You are in control of your own investments and nobody does it for you. Do you choose what you eat or does somebody else tell you what you eat? what if it taste nasty? lol...i work at a financial firm as well and have been investing for over 10 year. Working at a financial firm doesn't mean you are an expert. You can be at the backoffice for all I know. I dont see a point for you to state that information.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

you're probably right, but I'm already in waste deep.

sometimes it might help if you give them tips or suggestions. Esp with these small companies...they're open minded for any good suggestions. But hang on to it, you might just have found a golden egg! Never knows....either wait or help them succeed!

[fobunited]

That is not what is charged, that's the information WITH the maximum charge. Nobody charged 5.5%; please read carefully. A 300% return has how much downside protection and comes along how often? The 18.65% is average CONSTANT yield. You are going to have great market upswings AND downswings. You may have had a 300% return, but what about your downisde? What is your 10 year AVERAGE? If it IS above 20%, the congratulations, you comprise less than 1% of individual investors. The "research" available is the current reason the market is where it is today. It is based on misinformation, lack of information, and basing our investment startegies on past performance, purely on credit ratings, etc. Many structured products today also have downside protection and protection of capitol, which buying individual stock and "doing your own research" cannot.

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

lol...5.5%?? damn that's huge. I break down my assets as well into funds that only charge 0.9% management fees...but they require 100k minimum investment, and self-direct (biggest returns). As for returns higher than 18.65%...i've had over 300% in the last year (Thanks to certain IPOs and high growth stocks). That's higher than 10 years of your investments. Yes I take risks but I do lots of research before hand. It's always a crap shoot. A investment manager can tell you they had 10% return every year for the last century if they want, but you can always end up with losses. As for doing your own investment decisions, that's the best way to do it. You are in control of your own investments and nobody does it for you. Do you choose what you eat or does somebody else tell you what you eat? what if it taste nasty? lol...i work at a financial firm as well and have been investing for over 10 year. Working at a financial firm doesn't mean you are an expert. You can be at the backoffice for all I know. I dont see a point for you to state that information.

[DFW_M]

50 up, 200 down...
Be ready for some ugly ride ahead...