MSmailbox

Why Are Investors Returning to the Dollar?

We have witnessed a "War on Poverty," which has only muliplied the number of people, living in poverty. We have seen a "War on Drugs," which has only increased the profits and violence, associated with drugs. Now, we have a "War on Terror," which is inflaming and angering masses of people, worldwide... If there was only some way, to have a "War on Wars." Every political solution, only multiplies our problems. The more extreme the effort, the greater the consequences. I hate fear, worse than I fear hatred. We must resist those, who use fear as a weapon.

Obviously, I haven't panicked and sold my shrinking portfolio. I'm not quite sure what a treasury is, but it sounds like "the government," to me. So, I too am still grasping for falling knives... Five times, I have bought shares in POT, each time lower than the time before. I broke open my last CD, in order to handle a margin call, and to buy more POT. I like American companies, be it North American, Central American, or South American. As long as it's American, I don't discriminate, at least not by latitude. Solid companies, with great long-term outlooks and wise management teams, have a peculiar appeal to me. Potash fits the description. Earnings will be out, 10/23.

Why It Is Important to Start Reinvesting Now

I learned quite a bit, here. I may take a position, in Intel... Not because you have a position, but because I agree with your argument. As I read your concluding paragraph, I was already thinking INTEL. When I saw your position, it provided a confirmation. Normally, I hesitate to follow anyone's position, and I almost made the mistake of excluding Intel, but that would be just as foolish, as blindly following. So, I wil put Intel on my mental "watch-list." I am currently paying for a gross misjudgement, on POT. I tried to "catch a falling knife," then repeated my mistake, as I tried to average down. Now, I must hold a huge position in POT, as I redirect what's left into other areas. What have I learned, over the past 14 months? Never capitulate, but continue to invest, using the benefits of my mistakes, to direct my future investments.

Fundamental Valuation: How Low Could We Go?

I'm glad that I read this... I sure hope that not too many others did! :-)

Obama McCain Stock Comparison

I'll bet that Obama passes out, when he reads my letter of "support." The devil made me do it, once again! (satire)

Mike Sanders 9:54PMOct 15th 2008

I am encouraged by Senator Obama's unconditional support for Israel! Too often, our federal government has tried to meddle, in the internal affairs of other nations (and our own states, for that matter!) When you offer a true gift, which comes from a pure heart, it does not come with "strings attached." I am proud to see that Senator Obama wishes to end, using our federal government resources (our tax money), to strong-arm individuals, states and other countries. As long as he writes this into our Constitution and exercises good judgement, I see no problem. Giving to Israel has always been a good cause, but Obama must realize that putting Israel first, means supporting their decisions and not using that money as either a bribe, or as extortion by threatening to withdraw it, should Israel change direction. That's what true freedom and self-less giving are all about! Let's make sure this is exactly what he intends to do, and is bound to do, before we hand over the keys to the White House, since he's our public servant and not the other way around. We will support him, for as long as he does not interfere with an individual's Constitutional rights, our State's rights, and the right of other countries to self-determination. Let's make sure that he's understands this, because I wouldn't want him to get in and then, decide to impair Liberty! :-)

Is It Safe?

I agree, that the banks shouldn't be paying a dividend, at this point in time. When you are receiving "assistance" from the government, it doesn't look good, passing it through to just the banking sector. This is preferential treatment... Taxes will increase for investors in every sector, to pay for this, so investors in the banking sector should not be the only beneficairy of a "pass-thru" dividend.

Is It Safe?

"What it means is that we are now, in all probability, looking at tough times reminiscent of the early 1980's, not at tough times reminiscent of the early 1930's. Did the early 1980's suck? Oh yeah."

Hmm... I'm getting 3.3% on a large CD. I had a small CD, back then... It was 11.5% on a 6 month maturity. I will never for get that... 11.5%. :-)

Earnings Preview: Marshal & Ilsley Corp.

I finally got the spelling of their, they're and there, correct. I must need Folgers!

Earnings Preview: Marshal & Ilsley Corp.

Regarding "inflated consesus generators..." Maybe their should be analysts, who analyze the analysts and report their names and who their with. Anybody who's consistantly wrong, high or low, or can be correlated to having opposite positions in the company they're analyzing, outght to at least be flagged. I think they're in a position of trust and that makes them more accountable, for their estimates and simultaneous positions. Probably, hard to track, though.

Earnings Preview: Marshal & Ilsley Corp.

This has been an awefully good trade for me, this year. I've been in and out several times and collected a huge divdend, last quarter. As I've said here, many times before, MI is doing everything right and has been since before the crisis started to unfold. I have a CD and my money market with them, too. I guess that you could say that I am very confident in them. I am sorry that I can't afford to be in them, right now, but I'm locked into a POT position that has almost dragged me down into a margin call. If POT starts rising above $108, then I plan to sell some and look at MI and ALV, too. The only stock which has made me more money, this year, was EDS, or perhaps I should say, HP/EDS! MI is a staple for me. I have absolutely no idea what their earnings will be, so I'm going to throw the dart and say, .27 cent, on 657 million, since it won't hurt anybody, because the earnings come out this morning, before the open. Good luck to the MI holders (who are LONG)!

Obama McCain Stock Comparison

I'm still undecided... I was LONG McCain, to start, then I went LONG on Obama, but since Obama has been rising so quickly, I believe him to be overvalued, at this point. Being a contrarian, I sold everything that I had in Obama, on Friday. Obama could still keep rising, but I sense a bubble... I'm not ready to SHORT Obama, but I did pick up a little McCain, Friday afternoon. I intend to cautiously accumulate McCain, in the coming week... If I see a double-top in Obama's polling, I may go SHORT on Obama (this is risky, since if Obama would happen to win by a landslide, I could be wiped out!). I'll probably hold McCain, going into the week prior to the election, then pick up a small position in Obama, just to hedge myself. If things become too volitile, I may just go to cash, and sit out this election.

Act Defensively, But Not from Fear

I'm sitting on substantial paper-losses, but I have cash and my home is paid off, so I am very thankful for that. Nevertheless, I am very sad... This isn't an easy thing to watch... My raft has been leaking air, like everyone else's, but I am dismayed by those who are jumping out of their rafts, into the ocean. Ultimately, I may go down, but these poor souls have taken that into their own hands and will be unlikely to restore their positions, when things swing back up. I feel no panic, it just makes me sick to see all the ones that are jumping from their boats... The first phase of this horror is bad enough, but when the market swings up and they realize what they've done, I can't bear to watch. If I'm wrong and the world does come to an end, then I'll be glad that I held my positions, left all of my cash in the bank and acted responsibly, during the panic. I have done everything that I know to do.

Potash Corp.: No Liquidity Problems Here

Thank you, Jean. I started buying at $130 and I now have a $108 average purchase price. I am holding firm and I have cash on the sidelines, should I need it. I am very concerned about the systemic issues facing our system, as a whole, but Potash now seems to be about as risky as my CD's (If things get so bad that Potash isn't needed, then cash in the bank won't be much better).

Is Agriculture Dead?

I just lost 10% of my portfolio (on paper), trying to "catch a falling knife," with POT. I bought in at $130 and then, bought more, at $100, hoping for a bounce. I am on margin, now and all that I can do is hold. I get impatient and want to see gains, overnight... Maybe now, I can relax and stop fretting over my portfolio. There's a lot less to worry over, that's for sure! :-)

Buy, Sell or Hold: Potash Deserves Another Look

Wow! I just got smoked... I bought in at around $130 and then, I saw it drop over $11, in after-hours trading. Things have only gotten worse, from there. I am holding, but I am getting a tad nervous, as this is by far, my largest position. It seems that the company might lend us some insight, as to what's going on, but I haven't read anything.

Don't Get Sanguine About This Bill

This bill promises to do, economically, what the Patriot Act did, for Constitutional freedoms and protections. Both are being rammed through, with specious arguments. Not to be a conspiracy-freak, but there is a much, much bigger picture to this... I don't know what it is, but my alarm bell has been ringing off the wall. I am not counting on this bill to pump up Wall Street.