WACG

S&P 500 Price Change Frequency Distributions

HA! The price change (or returns as the literature calls them) are, in general, NOT normally distributed. Only the the statistically unsophisticated determine whether a normal or Gaussian distribution is present by "just looking at a picture". In fact, the "picture" or histogram by itself reveals very little. Those that think that these "chi by eye" judgements of normality are sufficient will never comprehend important financial phenomena like "option smiles" or even Black-Scholes option pricing calculations. There are a virtual infinitude of non-normal distributions that "look like" a bell shape curve. Each one has different properties. By the way, "pretty good" is for religious judgements not mathematics.

Why We Went Short POT

Technical "Analysis" is EXACTLY like trying to drive a car by looking in the rearview mirror. Those that "invest" using such cloud pattern interpretations will lose money the same way. Shorting because of the truly imaginary patterns in price charts is doubly stupid because the risk is, in principle, unlimited. But have fun kid. It ain't my money.

Weekly Market Notes: Bye Bye Bernie

"Operators such as this decimate their investors ..." You should not use words you do not understand. Doing so casts doubt over everything you say (write). Decimate means to reduce by 10%. It was a Roman punishment practice for cowardly soldiers wherein 1 in 10 were executed - hence the word decimate which has origins related to the word decimal. In fact, Bernie Madoff did far worse than decimate clients. In many cases he annihilated them. Your version makes him seem a petty swindler.

Potash Is Not Growing Green Shoots

You are going to get deservedly burned on your short trade - not that I care. For some reason you have the hubris to think that YOU can time the market(s) and even in POT. "Technical" analysis of stock prices is especially stupid in stock prices that are tied to weather, inelastic goods, and near monopolies ... but have fun. BTW, those that have any skill (and therefore success) in trading have NO NEED to yap about what they are doing.

Investors Looking for KB Homes Shares to Short

"Investors Looking for KB Homes Shares to Short"; Surely you jest or have been away for a very long time. One of the biggest problems and frauds in the markets is the Failure to Deliver scourge that the SEC allows to continue. Let me be clear - THERE IS NO NEED TO LOCATE SHARES TO SHORT. Naked shorting is rampant.

Cramer's Mad Money - When the Facts Change...(6/25/09)

Cramer permits his friends to "front run" price movements in many stocks he pumps or pans on his show.The disclosure that he "might" preannounce stocks discussed on his show scrolls by so fast that it is very hard to read the fine print. Cramer is a self-promting clown. Only market neophytes pay any attention to Cramer.

Cramer Is Wrong: Why NII Holdings Is a Buy

Cramer permits his friends to "front run" price movements in many stocks he pumps and pans on his show.The disclosure that he "might" preannounce stocks discussed on his show scrolls by so fast that it is very hard to read the fine print. Cramer is a self-promting clown.

Chart of the Day: Risk and Size in Banking

As for the spreadsheet: It is "nice". However, as a matter of principle I refuse to accept any calculation from some cobbled together spreadsheet as representative of "reality". I advise others to reject as nonsense such calculations ESPECIALLY when they are hidden (and why is that, hmmm?). I will answer my own rhetorical question. Hidden calculation methods always alway always hide an agenda that requires particular numbers for support. But have fun!

Amylin: Icahn, Eastbourne Celebrate Disposal of Chairman

Cook and Wilson were instrumental in the systematic looting of Amylin. The amount of equity stolen from shareholders via the unconscionable flurry of stock options is one for the record books. All of it was done in the name of "retaining talent" while the "talent" lead the performance vis a vis share price from a high of 35 to $5.50. If Danny "Boy" Bradbury (CEO) can also be jetisoned perhaps there is a chance that some adults might break up the Amylin kegger and put the house back in order. The utter absence of ANY PR activity or department except when the children were desperately trying to save their jobs in the face of a proxy fight is emblematic of how rotten Amylin management has been. I say good riddance and get rid of some more of the barnacles.

Crude Oil Outlook: Our Short Term Bullish Stance

RSI is a useful indicator only until it is not. As with ALL technical "analysis" indicators, using it is driving by looking in the rear view mirror. Any blogger, commentator, or other wag that mentions "technical analysis" in their emanations raises several red flags in my mind - but have fun.

25 Options Strategies for a Bullish or Flat Market

I looked at the first two of your "plays" (AAPL & BAC) and they are ALREADY losers. The market isn't even open yet. I stopped reading after that but have a nice day and thanks for playing!

Stock Watch: Contrary Indicator on Antigenics

"As long as AGEN is below a dollar I'll be buying." In that case you might end up owning ALL of the outstanding shares if your buying persistance is dedicated (and truthful). I am amazed that you cannot find ANY other company in which to invest your few dollars. It is true the downside risk is small (but yet 100%) but so is the downside risk at floor number one when one has lept from a hundred story building.

As the Dollar Continues to Collapse, Where Will You Put Your Money?

People that make extreme predictions are usually extremely wrong. But have fun and thanks for playing!

Amylin: Icahn's Proxy Damning for Management

Contrary to others' opinion, the linch pin for Amylin's success is monotherapy approval. LAR without monotherapy usage relegates Byetta LAR to being one ingredient in a cocktail of meds that users would be taking. With monotherapy approval Byetta LAR has the possibility of rendering other DM-2 meds irrelevant. Without monotherapy LAR's success will depend on marketing. It is a towering display of stupidity and ineptness that Amylin "management" did not grab monotherapy approval when it was essentially (and unexpectedly) offered by the FDA 2- 3 years ago. That act of bafoonery alone labels their bloated perk packages and salaries as financial pornography. Throw the bums out!

Sell in May and Go Away: Good Advice?

The Fed can print all the money they want ... even until we run out of paper ... but that does not create inflation. "Printing money" only can cause inflation when it is loaned. In other words, if you have a veritable mountain of newly printed dollars they do not contribute anything until those dollars get into the hands of people via borrowing. There is not much borrowing going on and there will not be for several to many quarters.