Mike McCurdy

Who Is the Mystery Buyer?

If I am not heavily long at the time of these conspiratorial spikes then clearly, it is the shadow government market manipulators that are juicing the futures.

PS - those two charts quantify nothing.

Is Investing Legend David Winters Betting on Another Crash?

"If Investing Legend David Winters were betting on another crash, I would expect either a vastly higher percentage in Treauries or in bearish instruments (85%, not 15%)."

Exactly or, 100% cash. 85% in the market during a big crash = major pain. With the market and world the way it is, I'd never be more than 50% invested unless we had a real meltdown with no sellers left.

Weekly Preview: Last Week's Rally Should Be Viewed with as Much Suspicion as Relief

"If you think this is bad, just wait. Consider that current conditions are relatively good compared to what’s coming. "

The 40+ % rally off of the March low is THE example of why you shouldn't trade the stock market based on the apparent macro economic fundamentals. There is often not a strong correlation between that and stock market movement, which is comprised of a very complex amount of variables.

As usual, to make money in the market, buy extreme market weakness and then sell into strength. Patience and selectivity.

3 Reasons to Be Invested in Stocks Right Now

Consider a more conservative approach to buy and hold - buy extreme weakness very selectively and then sell your position into strength.

Be neither a bull nor bear - conviction in this market is counterproductive.

Priming the Pump for $20/Gal. Gas: Interview with Chris Steiner

"The problem with making predictions like this is that there a more variables involved than anyone can really take into consideration "

Exactly correct but this person is just trying to sell a book and you need a sensationalistic premise to do that.

Pompous Prognosticators 2004-2009

"Today, we have a similar situation. Politicians, economists and the media are assuring the public that everything is fine. " I don't agree at all with that statement but I look mostly on the web for my info and now avoid all talking heads - when did people learn to act so obnoxiously? To me, it's a relentless sea of negativity, much of it simplistic and discounting of ANY of the positives that have popped up. But then, it's all about advertising revenue and page hits and what sells is negativity and sensationalism.

And good luck in trying to correlate the 'apparent' future fundamentals with stock market moves on anything but a day trading basis.

Oh, So Now There Are No Green Shoots?

"This sort of manic tone that investors are exposed to from various parts of the media has the potential to be dangerous."

It already has been dangerous. The financial system was always a big confidence game and that confidence has been undermined. The media has played a big part in it - there have definitely been big fundamental negatives but the media's sole purpose, especially online, has become to generate page hits to support advertising revenue. And you generate page hits via negativity and sensationalism. More and more, I believe that commercial media is not a good source for obtaining information that is closest to the 'truth.' All you can do is factor that in to your investing and be patient and wait for the big contrarian opportunities.

Increase Equity Weighting - Scotia

Vincent could well be wrong here but I don't know. Why not just wait for the earnings reports over the next few weeks and see what they look like? Jobs are still broken. At the very least, rather than buy-and-hold, a more conservative approach is to be in cash and buy market weakness and then flip it into any strength.

A Unique Moment for the S&P 500

"Inflation is going to decrease in some geographic areas and start generating deflation, the real monster for business recovery."

I have no idea what will happen right now but the above is very much in doubt.

And we are also coming up in quarter end with low summer volume - factor that in when you think about a break below support this week .

PIMCO's Bill Gross Sees a Bleak Future

His view is everyone else's view also.

I predict it's impossible to know what will happen - too many variables that affect market movement. Buy the dips and sell the rips. Repeat often.

Why This Market's Fairy Tale Can't Last Forever

Does this mean you missed the 30% rally since last July? There's a world of apparent malaise out there but it's a big global system out there now and it will be mighty hard to move the boat in the way that you're suggesting. Scale in.