F. Bradeen

The World Financial Markets in Eight Charts

Are you assuming there is a correllation between TLT and JNK. I don't see any. Any comment on that?

Think Twice: How People Are Fooled by Irrelevant Data

Let me see if I have this straight. We know now after the crash of 2008 and rebound of 2009 that the market is 90% psychology (of a madman I might add.) but I can make money by being coldly logical while all others are losing their head.

Another way of looking at this is, when all the elephants are trying to get through the door, I should logically stand in their way because I, as a cool and calm investor, have superior knowledge and should hold on. How many investor lost last year with that attitude??? Personally, When the elephants started to run, I did too and am happy to report I survived to fight another day.

The Power of Unintended Consequences: SuperFreakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

"Everyone has a price" reminds me of a joke. A man asks a woman if she would go to bed with him for $1,000,000.00. She says, "Yes." he then asks, "how about $100.00?" She answers, "What kind of woman do you think I am?" he says "We already determined that. We are now just haggling over the price."

To make this serous, ask yourself what percent of women would answer "Yes." to the first question and you will have your answer to "EVERYONE has a price." Maybe not everyone, but I bet it would be in the high 90% catagory.

The Social Security Windfall

Let me get this straight. We severely understate inflation. We then tell seniors that they don't deserve a raise. Now thats real justice.

Municipal Bond Fund ‘Swan Dive’

Another Muni CEF, symbol MFL, had the same market decline over the last 4 or 5 days. This action may not be fund specific.

Bond Expert: Wednesday Wrap

Please. Keep rambling.

Where Have All the Bulls Gone?

To Seeking Alpha: I am still having problems accessing your web pages. Even when I do the graphics are gone. Anything you can do about this situation? I have Verizon.net. Thanks

Silver: Commercial Short Positions Continue to Rise

Just like the Bunker Hunt fiasco in 1980, the CFTC will be there to help the shorts (their buddies on the trading floor) by only allowing no new buys but only liqidations which collapsed the silver market. The CFTC is not your friend. Be careful.

Deutsche Bank Breaks the Buck

Do you really think I am going to park my cash in a fund that fluctuates in value every day? I may as well play around and speculate in short term government ETFs like SHY or even TIP with my extra cash and take my chances at earning a little extra. They also yield more than current Money market funds to boot.

Money Market Funds, Risk and Cash

Do you really think I am going to park my cash in a fund that fluctuates in value every day? I may as well play around and speculate in short term government ETFs like SHY or even TIP with my extra cash and take my chances at earning a little extra. They also yield more than current Money market funds to boot.

Wednesday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

Dave. Thanks for looking into the volume of trading issue. It does seem unusual that the volume is so poor over the last few months as this market rallies. Maybe the theories are right, Hal 9000A trading with Hal 9000B. Need to keep an open mind on this. Up is still up and volume be damned. Just keep tight stops.

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

David, Could these Dark Pools be where all the low/missing volume is occuring?

Updated Case-Shiller 100 Year Real Estate Chart

Now mind you, I have never been a fan of real estate, but anybody, including Schiller who I do respect, tells me housing prices went sideways from 1945 to 1995 has to be looking at the data in a funny fashion or smoking some funny stuff to say the least.

How to Use Leveraged ETFs to Your Advantage

You have more problems with your analysis than those listed above.

First, both SSO and SDS have had large distributions. Have you taken them into account for your percentage gains or losses over time.

Second, you only gave half of the position. A bear call spread on SDS would be, in effect, a bull call spread. Is that what you want? Be specific. What is your "Bear call spread" position using SDS call options.

The half position you gave seems to me not worth the risk. A gain of $2.25 with the risk of a $6.75 loss.

A Simple (and Impressive) New Three Factor Return Model

Great. Now make an ETF using it. Maybe I might, just might, invest in it.