YITBOSGP

Leveraged ETF Ban Spreading Like the Flu

I agree with BPYHO, I don't want some Politician or Beaurocrat who's never seen the outside of a government building restricting my access to these. I've been using leveraged securities for years (first through Profunds Mutual Funds, and more recently 3 X Direxion's leveraged ETF's) with varying amounts of success.

What the Rising VIX Means to Stocks

So the market tanked the past couple days which is reflected in a higher VIX. So what? What do you think we should do with this information? Your articles are usually a bit more informative.

Triple Leverage ETFs Should Be Reserved for the Strongest Conviction

BGU could be useful if you find Jason's double the DOW (DtD) strategy too boring for you. I would try Jason's DtD if you haven't already before diving into BGU, to get a feel for the valuation swings of 2x. If you do decide the DtD isn't enough action for you either:

use a portion you would have used for the Double the Dow Strategy to buying BGU
or
Sell a portion of your DtD holding and buy BGU

(I would recommend the former over the latter).

It might also be worth noting that the DtD uses a mutual fund as opposed BGU which is an ETF. A major difference being you can buy/sell into and out of an ETF intraday, whereas the Mutual fund you have to wait until the end of the day for your trade to finalize.

Rumors of the Death of Moral Hazard Are Greatly Exaggerated

I think the federal government is unleashing the moral hazard dogs on the free market. I really don't like the way all this is headed... It appears that over $700 Billion (that's $700,000,000,000) is headed to the market to bail out the banks. This is on top of the bailouts that have already been done. It has been said that Freddie, Frannie, and AIG and were too big to fail. I think they are wrong, I think they were too big to bail out, yet we're doing it anyway.

At the root of the problem is government intervention in the housing market. And yet all that is being talked about is more bailouts and more regulation. We will be creating another (and probably bigger) problem by all this government intervention and bailouts. I have a novel idea... how about we take a look at the regulation we have in place and remove what isn't working as intended before we pile on more regulation. We don't need more regulation and bailouts, we need government to get out of the way.

Let the free markets work, there is no such thing as too big to fail.

Offshore Drilling Is Not the Solution

It's nice to both sides presented in this article, the last was very once sided.

You devoted a larget chunk of this article to quoting Al Gore. I really don't trust much of what Al Gore says. He invented the human caused global warming hysteria just like he invented the internet.

I do agree we should develop alternative sources of energy... but this should be done along side drilling. DRILL DRILL DRILL!!! Drill here drill there drill in my back yard if you think there's oil there. If enough new oil production is brought on line, it will bring down prices.

Don't look to the government to solve this problem. Government is the problem. The government needs to get out of the way.

Offshore Drilling in the Eyes of Presidential Hopefuls

I say let the free markets work. Open up the drilling in ANWR, OCS, and allow the development of oilshales. Remove all corporate welfare for the Oil companies AND alternative energies.

Additional carbon emissions has had and will have little affect on global warming. Human caused global warming is just trumped up hysteria by Al Gore and friends. (And yes I am in the pocket of the Oil companies... I cash those dividend checks from my oil stocks and trusts just fine thanks.)

I'd also like to note if additional drilling won't have any impact on price why is oil down so much today? When did the fall from the peak in oil price first start? It was mid July... the day President Bush suspended the Executive Moratorium on drilling, oil has gone into a free fall. If removing just one barrier to additional oil production has had this much effect, just think of what will happen 5 years (not 20 as you suggest) once the additional oil production comes online. In short the additional drilling only having $.05 affect on price is WRONG.

I'd also like to address the Exxon earning 11.6 Billion lamentation with pointing out it would have been close to 20 Billion but they had to pay over 8 Billion in taxes. Exxon is just another example of free market capitalism at it's finest!

Geopolitical Risks to the Market

I agree with sivere. We need to develop our alternative sources, but we also need to start talking about the 2000 lb gorilla in the room--we need to start looking for oil in ANWR, the Outer Continental Shelf, and anywhere else there's oil in the United States. We also need to develop our refining capacity. Had we started drilling in ANWR during Bush's First term, we would be benefiting from some of that oil production by now.

What Gives the Portfolio Its Power?

Read his book and look through your couch and find the money to sign up for his free trial to his website, you might learn something.

How Microsoft Could Kill Google on the Web

I think that is a very good idea. I've always loved the "get them addicted and then start charging them business model". That's the kind of strategy that could make Microsoft the verb and Google past tense. I'm not sure that's necissarily a good thing because I'm a Google shareholder based in part on your recommendation. But if we see that on the horizon that would be a reason to switch out of Google and into Microsoft.

PS I loved your Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing, I've have recommended it to several people over the years and will continue to do so. It's the best book on Investing I've read.