Ben is a Republican who knows that the R&R team will replace him if they get elected. The majority of voters on the Fed now support is views and know the job numbers are horrendous. Yes,it is close to the election. The Supreme Court is supposed to be non political,but we saw that thrown out the window when they picked Bush over Gore. I do not think the Ben and his supporters care about political ramifications. There are only 5% undecided in this election. Fed knows which side of the bread is buttered.
Republican Keynesians Need To Come Out Of The Closet [View article]
Pointless wars are NOT a win win for the thousands who return in body bags, life altering wounds, and mental illness from the battlefield stress. Then, the government that sent them to fight, ignores them for the most part once they return. These soldiers should get the best we can offer upon return,but the politicians forget about their care and welfare. They do not forget about the welfare given to the Military Industrial complex. Watch those Repbulicans battle to protect those power brokers. Disgraceful.
How about some risk management analysis from the Apple cores here? I currently own 125 shares at a cost basis of $133. I had 125 more but I sold them a year ago as the percentage of my portfolio was being overcome by too much APPLE. so, I want to keep what I have due to my bullish outlook+dividend. Apple is still over 50% of my portfolio after that last 4 months of increase. I am trying to capitalize on my shares,and recently bought a call in Jan. and sold it in April and made mucho bucks. I sold a Jan 13 725 call in mid March for 27.15. I bought on Oct 655 call last week @21.10 before earnings when Apple hit 550. This week I bought a June 455 put to cover my rear in case it goes down the elevator like some chartists predict. I do not want to get called away, so I will buy back my covered call if Apple takes off again in the fall after new phone, buyback,and TV banter. No way do I want to pay taxes on a fast 75,000,especially if the do nothing Congress does something about adding money to the treasury, ahhhh I digress. So, I think I have my ducks in a row,but I would appreciate some feedback from those who have much more experience doing the option thing with Apple than this core believer.
The Real Way Apple Can Make You 'Wealthy' [View article]
This seems like a correct forum for my Apple options situations. I have 125 shares at a cost basis of $133 dollars. Apple is now about 60% of the value of my portfolio which I know is too much,but I have sold 100 shares when it was between 250 and 330. I want to keep my current amount AND receive the dividend,PLUS would like to make some money while holding these shares. I have made quite a bit of money buying calls, especially in the past 4 months. I sold the last one for a 13K profit. Currently I have SOLD a Jan 2013 725 strike about 6 weeks ago for 27.15.When Apple was closing in on $650 I was losing enough that I was going to buy it back if Apple hit 650,which we know it did not. I do not want this to be called away,but I think the strike is so high that I am not concerned for the next few months, at least until after the next quarter earnings. Any thoughts Apple fans? Last week, amidst the doom and gloom before earnings, I bought a the OCT 655 call for 21.10 when the stock was at 558. I thought that was appropriate action when Apple is on sale. I am thinking that the new I phone and TV announcements while propel the stock to at least 700 by October. Of course, stuff happens,even with Apple,but this company is not the best money maker for frivolous reasons. So, with the expertise of responders here highly valued by this reader, I throw out my scenario for some analysis. One more item. I do not have enough money to sell puts on Apple, thus, eliminating that plan of attack. If my covered call is called away, I would do this,but I like the profit I have and see it increasing with a dividend and new products.Big reason why I probably will buy it back before it gets called away. I do not want to lose big money doing this buyback however. SO many decisions!
Next area of support is 559.16. If it goes there in next few days, I will buy a May 540 put. I already sold a Jan 13 725 covered call a month ago. I was going to buy it back once Apple went over 650,but now I am going to possibly buy it back for a profit. Depends on how bullish the post earnings crowd gets. I do not think Apple will take off again until they get the catalyst of I phone 5 and whatever is coming in TV innovation.
As the market reacts to the world situation, I think you are going to see a rotation out of risk to Less risk stocks. Tech is now in the throws of selling and money will flow to sectors that were popular the last quarter of 2011. Apple is now less favored by those with big money in the game. They have turned more bearish, and until things seem calmer and more growth oriented, tech is going to lose favor. Apple is the epitome of tech. If they give blow out numbers in a week, the stock will start to go above 600,but it will take until July to see if Europe and China are in better shape. If so, more risk will be on the table and then you will see Apple go up to 700 by October. If things get worse, Apple will have seen its high of the year already at 644. That is what I see in my crystal ball.
Zogenix: Smart Biotech Buy Before Earnings [View article]
natty, People are throwing eggs at your statue in Savannah,GA after this fiasco. I sold half the position this am, and hope that eventually this company DOES exactly what you predicted a few days ago, in the future. Hope you got short and made a killing like some did here.
If you review the FED minutes, and the Fed involvement since QE1, all the mumbo jumbo of normal market rules do not apply anymore. This market is manipulated in an upward bias. There is a floor and the manipulators will not let it go below. There will not be a leg down to 09 lows. It is in the best interest of this nation and the leaders to keep those invested in the market feeling that there is hope in investing. If that means devaluation of the dollar,and the long term implications on future generations, well, that can will keep getting kicked. If confidence is gone in the market as a primary engine of money making, the 10% will sit it out,and that will bring down the economy. If you were running the show, upward manipulation would be a foregone conclusion. What is the alternative? Laissez Faire means massive loss of money by those who have CLOUT. Clout =money. Politics runs on money from the 10%. Yes, shorting the market can make money,but it is not psychologically uplifting to count your bucks as the ship sinks.
More Downside Than Meets the Eye for Finisar [View article]
If you want the in depth story,and not this type of hack job, then read Next Inning Tech and P Mc Williams' take on this writer. Too bad most of you do not read the man in the know.
Why the Plunge in Silver Is No Surprise and How to Play It Now [View article]
Silver will go back up to 50 within a few months. For now, if you need the cash, buy a few ZSL calls for June. Silver will be quite volatile for the next 6 weeks. It will probably bounce up a bit , but will go down to 200 day moving avg most likely. May go lower into high 20's. Watch the dollar and if it stays under 70, then silver and gold will start moving up. I bought July puts on SLV a few weeks ago,and you should do this for 3-4 months out IF you stay with your silver and wait it out. ALWAYS have a plan for any commodity going down rapidly, and have it in place when you buy during mass excitement. I am planning to buy more silver if it gets to 30. I think the better metal is gold and bought a bit of DGP yesterday,and will buy more today. It depends on your cash situation now. If you have none, and can wait 6-8 weeks , I feel that you will recoup most of your loss from this week. If you have to have the cash, then sell when silver bounces up a bit,but know that it is not going above 40 for weeks to come. That is what my crystal ball says to do.
Will QE Ultimately Lead to Weaker Labor Markets? [View article]
So, TM, how will the next 6 month unfold? That is what all your followers need to contemplate. The end of QE2 leads to a higher dollar which hurts the market, and stock prices generally will fall , But how far? I truly believe that you are correct in this post,and the Fed is inhibiting employment as a result of the influx of cash. If they do stop at the end of June, will business start hiring as soon as "stuff from the ground" goes down in price, thus making profits easier to come by? Hiring means more of the bottom line being diminished in salaries. Plus, many of those jobs lost in the last two years are the jobs that have been eliminated in cost cutting moves. Those workers are NOT needed. Leaner and meaner has made them superfluous. Do these downsized businesses really need to employ massive millions that will bring the unemployment rate down under 8 percent? What if we only get to 8.7 by September? Any bets that a QE3 could be in the offing, especially if the market has been in steady decline by the Fall equinox? That would seem to be the best risk/reward bet based upon some recent history. What would QE3 do to the dollar and does anyone care as long as the CPI does not get over 3? I follow your comments here TM, and find your insight on point. I hope that you would project your thoughts to surmise various scenario's you feel could play out.
Is the small company that is doing well in VOip, 8x8 in the same market as Skype? Do any of you know if this company will be eventually hurt badly by this new Skype/Avaya venture?
Very astute comments to Mark's thought provoking article concerning the barbell of job creation. He hits the nail on the head about the disappearance of those jobs that populated the middle. I am sure there are policy wonks who also understand what has been happening for two decades. So, let us quasi wonks HERE with TM deal with the reality of "What needs to be done to create jobs to fill the middle of the barbell?" I see myriad young people with college degrees working in jobs where they are underemployed. That is part of the problem that has been created with the missing MIDDLE of the barbell. I commented previously that programs like the US created during the NEW DEAL would do wonders to ease unemployment. Yes, it it Fed spending, but the government spent enough money in Iraq to fund a large job creation program. It is all about the priorities in D.C. I just read this week that 5 Billion of our money has gone to waste according to a recent audit in Iraq due to infrastructure that we built and are not being used>hospital,water treatment,prison by those whom we liberated. We all know that this is just the tip of the iceberg there. Back to the reality of HERE and now. Who should be stimulating job creation? What policy would create those jobs that have disappeared? How about the GREENING of the US? Would it be the catalyst? Mark, you are one of the sharpest tools in the shed.
There are plenty of minimum wage jobs for those that want them. I went into a local supermarket and there were signs posted"HIRING ALL POSITIONS" Any job that has minimum skill level is abundant in the service industry. I know a Hair salon owner who can NOT find competent workers, or when she does hire , they can not handle the job due to lack of skills that they never learned,although they have a license. As I look around, the biggest job in this area,Western PA, is the crumbling infrastructure that must be dealt with soon. Massive sums of money are needed. If we had a building program for new bridges, sewer systems, locks and dams, highways, water treatment, green energy to replace the polluters, modern transportation systems to move people, just to name the top priorities the I see, then you could make a large dent in the unemployment numbers. Who can stimulate these types of jobs,and provide the financing? Look at the 1930's? I still see evidence of projects financed by New Deal spending as I live here. Many of those are now in need of being replaced. Local and state governments are lacking money to finance such massive job creation. It would seem that the Chinese are doing these same type of projects, and they are now the economy that is booming and the ideal of other nations. They are doing what we did decades ago, but we are in need of a revitalization of this nations structures, and in doing do, we just might find the answers.Oh, yes, it would mean FEDERAL spending, but what a return we would get for the money. Much better return than what we got in Iraq.
Why QE3 Will Not Happen [View article]
The majority of voters on the Fed now support is views and know the job numbers are horrendous. Yes,it is close to the election. The Supreme Court is supposed to be non political,but we saw that thrown out the window when they picked Bush over Gore. I do not think the Ben and his supporters care about political ramifications. There are only 5% undecided in this election. Fed knows which side of the bread is buttered.
7 Reasons To Expect Mac TV At Apple's WWDC [View article]
Republican Keynesians Need To Come Out Of The Closet [View article]
Bullish Play On Apple Into 2013 [View article]
I currently own 125 shares at a cost basis of $133. I had 125 more but I sold them a year ago as the percentage of my portfolio was being overcome by too much APPLE. so, I want to keep what I have due to my bullish outlook+dividend. Apple is still over 50% of my portfolio after that last 4 months of increase.
I am trying to capitalize on my shares,and recently bought a call in Jan. and sold it in April and made mucho bucks. I sold a Jan 13 725 call in mid March for 27.15. I bought on Oct 655 call last week @21.10 before earnings when Apple hit 550.
This week I bought a June 455 put to cover my rear in case it goes down the elevator like some chartists predict.
I do not want to get called away, so I will buy back my covered call if Apple takes off again in the fall after new phone, buyback,and TV banter. No way do I want to pay taxes on a fast 75,000,especially if the do nothing Congress does something about adding money to the treasury, ahhhh I digress.
So, I think I have my ducks in a row,but I would appreciate some feedback from those who have much more experience doing the option thing with Apple than this core believer.
The Real Way Apple Can Make You 'Wealthy' [View article]
I have 125 shares at a cost basis of $133 dollars. Apple is now about 60% of the value of my portfolio which I know is too much,but I have sold 100 shares when it was between 250 and 330. I want to keep my current amount AND receive the dividend,PLUS would like to make some money while holding these shares.
I have made quite a bit of money buying calls, especially in the past 4 months. I sold the last one for a 13K profit.
Currently I have SOLD a Jan 2013 725 strike about 6 weeks ago for 27.15.When Apple was closing in on $650 I was losing enough that I was going to buy it back if Apple hit 650,which we know it did not. I do not want this to be called away,but I think the strike is so high that I am not concerned for the next few months, at least until after the next quarter earnings. Any thoughts Apple fans?
Last week, amidst the doom and gloom before earnings, I bought a
the OCT 655 call for 21.10 when the stock was at 558. I thought that was appropriate action when Apple is on sale. I am thinking that the new I phone and TV announcements while propel the stock to at least 700 by October. Of course, stuff happens,even with Apple,but this company is not the best money maker for frivolous reasons.
So, with the expertise of responders here highly valued by this reader, I throw out my scenario for some analysis.
One more item. I do not have enough money to sell puts on Apple, thus, eliminating that plan of attack. If my covered call is called away, I would do this,but I like the profit I have and see it increasing with a dividend and new products.Big reason why I probably will buy it back before it gets called away. I do not want to lose big money doing this buyback however. SO many decisions!
What Is Wrong With Apple? Nothing [View article]
What Is Wrong With Apple? Nothing [View article]
Zogenix: Smart Biotech Buy Before Earnings [View article]
People are throwing eggs at your statue in Savannah,GA after this fiasco.
I sold half the position this am, and hope that eventually this company DOES exactly what you predicted a few days ago, in the future. Hope you got short and made a killing like some did here.
Is This A Bear Market Rally? [View article]
More Downside Than Meets the Eye for Finisar [View article]
Why the Plunge in Silver Is No Surprise and How to Play It Now [View article]
I think the better metal is gold and bought a bit of DGP yesterday,and will buy more today. It depends on your cash situation now. If you have none, and can wait 6-8 weeks , I feel that you will recoup most of your loss from this week. If you have to have the cash, then sell when silver bounces up a bit,but know that it is not going above 40 for weeks to come. That is what my crystal ball says to do.
Will QE Ultimately Lead to Weaker Labor Markets? [View article]
Hiring means more of the bottom line being diminished in salaries.
Plus, many of those jobs lost in the last two years are the jobs that have been eliminated in cost cutting moves. Those workers are NOT needed. Leaner and meaner has made them superfluous.
Do these downsized businesses really need to employ massive millions that will bring the unemployment rate down under 8 percent? What if we only get to 8.7 by September? Any bets that a QE3 could be in the offing, especially if the market has been in steady decline by the Fall equinox? That would seem to be the best risk/reward bet based upon some recent history. What would QE3 do to the dollar and does anyone care as long as the CPI does not get over 3?
I follow your comments here TM, and find your insight on point.
I hope that you would project your thoughts to surmise various scenario's you feel could play out.
Skype: Making All the Right Moves [View article]
When New Jobs Mean Lower Wages [View article]
I am sure there are policy wonks who also understand what has been happening for two decades. So, let us quasi wonks HERE with TM deal with the reality of "What needs to be done to create jobs to fill the middle of the barbell?" I see myriad young people with college degrees working in jobs where they are underemployed. That is part of the problem that has been created with the missing MIDDLE of the barbell. I commented previously that programs like the US created during the NEW DEAL would do wonders to ease unemployment. Yes, it it Fed spending, but the government spent enough money in Iraq to fund a large job creation program. It is all about the priorities in D.C. I just read this week that 5 Billion of our money has gone to waste according to a recent audit in Iraq due to infrastructure that we built and are not being used>hospital,water treatment,prison by those whom we liberated. We all know that this is just the tip of the iceberg there.
Back to the reality of HERE and now. Who should be stimulating job creation? What policy would create those jobs that have disappeared? How about the GREENING of the US? Would it be the catalyst?
Mark, you are one of the sharpest tools in the shed.
Inside ADP's 10,000 Private Sector Job Losses [View article]
As I look around, the biggest job in this area,Western PA, is the crumbling infrastructure that must be dealt with soon. Massive sums of money are needed. If we had a building program for new bridges, sewer systems, locks and dams, highways, water treatment, green energy to replace the polluters, modern transportation systems to move people, just to name the top priorities the I see, then you could make a large dent in the unemployment numbers. Who can stimulate these types of jobs,and provide the financing? Look at the 1930's? I still see evidence of projects financed by New Deal spending as I live here. Many of those are now in need of being replaced. Local and state governments are lacking money to finance such massive job creation. It would seem that the Chinese are doing these same type of projects, and they are now the economy that is booming and the ideal of other nations. They are doing what we did decades ago, but we are in need of a revitalization of this nations structures, and in doing do, we just might find the answers.Oh, yes, it would mean FEDERAL spending, but what a return we would get for the money. Much better return than what we got in Iraq.