Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
This is an excellent article covering Bitcoins and is long, but required reading for those interested.
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/mf_bitcoin/
I find the construction of the whole system remarkably complex and rather fascinating from a …
Reply to @rono:
"Folks- politics is very similar to following the stock market. Remember what Gary Smith told us about 10 years ago? He never listens to CNBC but watches it without the volume. That way he reads the ticker tape and ignores the talk…
Reply to @Old_Joe: "Yes or No: Do you really believe that after 2008 our government should have just sat back and watched to see what might happen? That does, after all, seem to be the perspective of many partisans of the GOP. Especially of those wh…
I think it's remarkable that people still keep talking about the tea party. You give legitimacy to a group that hadn't done anything and was barely in the news until this.
Another poster brought this up (sorry, I forget who - TSP?) and THIS should …
This is sort of like if someone on "Survivor" wanted the tribe to follow their plan, then when they didn't get their way, they trash the shelter, throw the food into the jungle and break the fishing pole, then they wonder why they are getting voted …
Reply to @bnath001: I definitely discuss individual names at times, but if they are the subject of a discussion, I would put them as "off-topic" (you can use the edit function to switch this from a fund discussion to "off-topic."
As for the origin…
I owned a foreign stock where there was no volume for a couple of months at at time. I tried to sell it and ... nothing. It took probably 30 min but eventually was able to get a market order for it to go through.
ATRI looks on the illiquid side wit…
Some debate on whether a deal has been reached, but it appears one has.
(sarcasm) So....I'm confused. What did the republicans get after all that? (/sarcasm)
Reply to @scott: "Also, Reid said in his speech earlier that the US would be downgraded again as early as tonight if something is not worked out. "
Fitch puts USA on ratings watch negative. "By Ben Eisen
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Fitch Ratings put …
No, because people are more afraid of being out of the market than in the market and think that Yellen and the Fed will continue to support the market for years if that is the case.
Reply to @Old_Joe: I think that's hilarious in the worst possible way. There seems to be a lack of comprehension as to what the negative effects may be for one, not to mention how this appears on the global stage.
And speak of the market not reacting and it does. Senate fiscal negotiations suspended until House Republicans work out plan to raise debt limit and government funding, according to Sen. Durbin.
U.S. SENATE FISCAL NEGOTIATIONS SUSPENDED UNTIL HOUSE…
No sugarcoating soft demand for soda
Major beverage companies are at risk to a "structural decline" in sugar intake, concludes a Credit Suisse Research Institute report.Though the harmful effects of high fructose corn syrup are still being debated b…
Reply to @MOZART325: I think that's the interesting thing. I think there was some desire by government that the financial markets have a reaction that would put pressure on a deal being made, but the market has largely - and rather bizarrely, as not…
I think ABC is a very interesting potential option for those looking for a long-term holding. Company provides a core/important service and one of only a few major players in its industry.
I find it rather odd how desperate the market appears to be…
Reply to @TSP_Transfer: It's really unfortunate because it's a terrible way for a country to proceed, it looks terrible globally and what's particularly sad is that all it would take to start going in the right direction is for these people to start…
Updated: "*BOEHNER SAID TO CALL SENATE PROPOSAL A HAND GRENADE"
CNBC also: "WHITE HOUSE: LATEST GOP PROPOSAL IS ANOTHER RANSOM DEMAND."
Boehner press conference: "The idea of default is wrong, we shouldn't get anywhere close to it." Uh, welllllll.…
Reply to @TSP_Transfer: I still own Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP), which I like from the standpoint of the ability to be opportunistic in terms of infrastructure investment globally, not to mention that their investments are very specific (everyth…
Reply to @hank: "Your first link (the only current one) is an interesting read. But, let's think about this. ... The investments Summers participated in got squeezed by the '08 train wreck. What didn't? "
Um, so the person who was going to be the F…
Reply to @hank: "His departure from Harvard amid" ....not to mention delightful use of interest rate swaps.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-29/summers-schooled-by-rates-at-harvard-now-wants-job-setting-them.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps…
I agree with Winters about the EM consumer, although I just lean more towards the Nestle and basic needs/"light luxury" (travel, some tech) than trying to play EM via high-end luxury goods whose demand is going to be highly volatile.
The other play…
I think anything revolves around energy infrastructure/transport is still a good long-term story; other infrastructure sectors are probably okay and pay a nice dividend but I don't see a long-term theme as much as energy infrastructure.
Reply to @TSP_Transfer: I do like/am looking at more investments in Canadian energy transport. I think Canada does have a plan regarding Asia as a continued (and likely continually greater) customer of oil and other resources. Additionally, I think …
Reply to @Charles: Aside from AA, earnings haven't been as impressive as I'd like/hope, although it's early on. Costco was not great, nor was Gap (which just took a crap - down 5% AH.) Now, if JP Morgan doesn't do well tomorrow, everyone be nice to …
Reply to @catch22: Yeah - in our own government. It should be very apparent that these people are completely incapable of working together. If something is accomplished here in the next few days, we're simply going to be going from crisis-to-crisis …
Reply to @Investor: It should be clear at this point they don't care. Watch CNBC, watch MSNBC, watch Fox, watch whatever. Interviews with these politicians are downright depressing because it's not rational discussion - it's yell-y talking points an…
Reply to @catch22: There is no confirmation of a deal - my favorite moment this morning - CNBC flash news blurb on bottom of the screen: "Stocks rise on RUMOR of a deal." Additionally, the deal revolves around a DELAY - kicking the can yet again. I'…
Hong Kong exchange raises amount on T-bills used as collateral.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-10/hong-kong-raises-haircut-treasury-bill-collateral-over-debt-default-dears
I continue to think that people have to be globally diversified. China working together with other countries to encourage global use of the RMB is not an indicator of a serious decline of the dollar, but it would appear that China continues to reach…
Reply to @Old_Joe: What a world we live in where we effectively cheer (or are at least pleased) by the election of the person who pushed for NIRP a couple of years ago and who admitted that: “I did not see and did not appreciate what the risks were …
Another long, rambling response to a post, again written at 6 in the morning.
Reply to @davidrmoran: I'll agree with you that there is certainly a greater level of complexity, but:
1. Let's take debt-to-GDP. According to the CBO, we're at 73% of G…
