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.
It seems to me that HFT is similar to the fellow who had bank rounding fractions deployed into his own accounts. Siphoning off small amounts of numerous transactions. Except, apparently legal, in the case of HFT.
In a way, less sophisticated trade…
Maybe. What Cisco had mostly in its favor in the early days was almost no competition.
Now they have plenty of credible peers. Still a good company though.
M* says they are currently over-valued. But, have a wide moat and great capital allocation…
Perhaps we should ask AI? Ahahah
Key figures on AI's impact:
-75% of S&P 500 gains: Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, AI-related stocks drove 75% of the gains in the S&P 500, according to a September 2025 analysis by JPMorgan.
…
@hank- Which sort of takes us back to my original question- if a great number of gamblers investors are all doing that at the same time, won't that have a significant distortion effect on the markets?
That is a great question. Maybe what AI is curre…
As another means of generating ideas, it can be useful. After all, that is what all inquiries should be about, generating ideas. And perhaps generating more questions.
If one is looking for "answers" that solve problems or end discussions, maybe p…
Yet, those who support the authoritarian power grab will grasp at the straws. A form of compartmentalization. They will shout, look at the stock market! Even when they have little to no exposure. They will aver, "immigrants are taking our jobs". Whe…
To be clear, I don't doubt that there is a future in AI. How that plays out, I have no idea.
What I question, and several here have commented upon, is the enthusiasm and trajectory at this point in the process. What it might lead to if it doesn't …
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/report-shows-hiring-at-lowest-since-2009-as-economists-turn-to-alternative-data-during-shutdown-blackout.html
"The year-to-date level of planning furloughs is the highest since 2020, the year of the Covid pandemic. C…
Meanwhile Trump tries to push down oil prices beyond what is profitable. The average driver may save a small amount overall. If you own oil related stocks you get smashed. And then you sell. Next oil companies dump employees and contracts. The fallo…
That's pretty interesting. Looking ahead, let's propose that the bugs get worked out of AI, and a basically reliable information source becomes widely available to almost anyone. What sort of impact would that have on financial markets?
OJ, I always…
How much of that error stems from poor questioning input, however? There is a direct impact in the outcome based on the quality of the input questioning. Apparently, the simple expedient of asking AI to verify its own answers can catch a lot of th…
“When 97 percent of the stories are bad about a person, it’s no longer free speech,” Trump said.
Or it could just be accurate reporting. How many "feel-good pieces" are we seeing about Jeffrey Epstein?
How many glowing articles of admiration are…
Like the children's toy "See and Say", all one has to do is pull the string for the usual platitudes and nonsense.
Chicken says, "I have enough, so I am risk averse"
Pig says, "You should own the S&P, even if I do not"
Sheep says, "The market…
Clearly it is FOMO and an AI speculative bubble driving the markets, not sound economic policy. When the reality hits home, it will be a significant event.
I feel that the above chart may be the very definition of the phrase "correlation is not causation". That the circumstances of this markets momentum need to be taken into consideration. Is it an AI bubble, or something else?
At these market levels…
Often we hear the phrase that a people deserves the leader that they get. Boston just took it up a notch.
Some nations elect Phds and other very smart people. We elect people who think that "it should be illegal" to criticize flawed leadership.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/01/leon-cooperman-says-weve-reached-the-stage-of-the-bull-market-that-warren-buffett-warned-about.html
Another voice that is warning of market problems. “Once a bull market gets under way, and once you reach the point w…
According to WSJ, International Paper has shut down 9% of its box making capacity. Closing two plants in Georgia. About twice what was shut down during the Great Recession.
This is viewed as another big warning sign regarding consumer spending, ho…
Thanks.
Also add to what they can get from your phone and your car, that which they can get from your credit card usage, social media posts, home security systems, cameras, voice assistants, traffic cameras, and your entire circle of friends simil…
@Observant1 I agree about the privacy issues. We need stronger controls. And better education. At the moment the cat is out of the bag. In reality, most everything that they can get from your car, they already could get from your phone. Location, ac…
@derf Exactly, as I get older I appreciate this stuff.
I also find it really interesting how it evolves. One can trace the most advance driving aids back to the advent of anti-lock brakes. Next you add a few sensors, a camera, radar, a better proc…
Just because prices are not going parabolic like 2022, doesn't mean that persistent inflation in the 3-4% range isn't going to wear people down. Tariffs are not going to go away because the FED lowers rates a little. On the contrary, inflation may a…
@derf. What a Sunday Night Game, eh? Our OTA coverage went on the fritz and we missed the OT part. Cloud cover, I suppose. We are 50 miles out from the antenna.
The Packers are looking like a real team, and will only get better with time.
Yes, hoodwink future generations. Like erasing the existence of slavery. Or removing women, and persons of color, from West Point honors. Why should they bother to stand up for the country, when a five time draft dodger can simply erase their contri…
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/car-industry-experts-warn-prices-climbing-fast-discounts-become-increasingly-hard-find
Even Fox Business is unable to put lipstick on that pig.
""... industry experts caution the effect of tariffs could offse…
He keeps getting trolled and his responses prove that it all gets under his skin. So he employs distractions and diversions and unlimited amounts of straw men constructs. Debate fallacies, every single one.
Yeah, he is definitely okay with employi…
