Morning Audibles 6.21.10 - Many Congrats

Before we get started with the weeks activities, CV wants to shout out particular congrats to mcHappy (becoming a father on Fathers Day), and BinT (on the announcement that he's becoming a GRANDFATHER)...

So forget about silly STOCKS are behaving... At least we all know there are a few things out there working as nature intended them to!

On Saturday, we received news that China was going to relax the peg to the dollar... Naturally, equity futures are soaring on this announcement... How long it lasts (or even if it is warranted in the first place is a different topic)...



I read all the headlines from the various sources and it's mind boggling the "justifications" that the POM POM girls make...

If you desire or seek the entire cornucopia of comedy, you'll have to search around and find the articles yourselves (most of them have "China" & "Yuan" in the headlines)... Here are the most agreed upon reasons that tell you why the DOW is now back on a path to 36,000...

The US will be able to sell more goods to China...

(Now that the "value" of FoxConn employees wages will now be worth about 36 cents an hour instead of 34 on a FOREX purchasing scale, they'll all be driving BMW's around instead of jumping out of 20 story buildings)... Oh wait, The US doesn't sell BMW's?... What do we sell? Boeing Airplanes? MSFT & AAPL? (they already can STEAL that)...

Does CV have to go on and get "real funny" with this... Nope! It's the first day of summer (meaning "lazy days" ahead)... So I'm going to only pen "fill in the blanks" comedy... Each will be required to supply your own punch lines...

One guy (from CNBS), even tried to get "technical" (which was a more plausible approach - yet even he failed to deliver the proper summary in the end)...

---

(from CNBC)
"The S&P 500 has held above its 200-day moving average since Tuesday, providing a bullish signal, but it has bumped up against resistance around the 1,121 level, the point that marks the halfway point between the October 2007 historic highs and the lows of March 2009.

Orlando said the fact that the index retested and bounced off the low for the year earlier this month is another positive sign, as investors appear to be ignoring negative data in favor of cheap prices.

"If that's happening, that suggests we're going to be back in an uptrend because investors are ignoring near-term noise and are focused on what I think is a very attractive longer term valuation picture," said Orlando.

Orlando said the fact that the index retested and bounced off the low for the year earlier this month is another positive sign, as investors appear to be ignoring negative data in favor of cheap prices.

"If that's happening, that suggests we're going to be back in an uptrend because investors are ignoring near-term noise and are focused on what I think is a very attractive longer term valuation picture," said Orlando."

---

Longer term???????????????

The LONGER TERM, still, is that there are still still structural debts & deficits on a global scale, and that the CB's are printing more credit in attempt to paper over and monetize these debts instead of opting for a clearing mechanism... Unemployment is high everywhere, many sovereigns are broke and their citizens are getting increasingly unruly due to fears that they will either lose or be restricted in entitlement benefits they receive...

Nebulous statements of "yuan de-pegging" are NEAR TERM NOISE...

Hey, but whatever "floats your boat"...


298 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   1 – 200 of 298   Newer›   Newest»
BinT said...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-21/germany-s-economy-minister-says-u-s-urgently-needs-to-balance-budget.html

...Small difference of opinion. Will this be before or after Obama's new 50 billion?

AmenRa said...

CV

China depegged the yuan to the euro not the dollar. So that's a big FU to TG (how do you say that in Mandarin).

CV said...

@Amen

REUTERS
"China's announcement on Saturday signaled it was ready to break a 23-month-old peg to the dollar and should bolster shares of companies that do a great deal of business there"...

Well... if that's the case... REUTERS reported it wrong...

I-Man said...

Happy Solstice!

1126 seems to be working its resistance magic on the ES overnight and so far... Might open with some selling in NY?

AmenRa said...

What Renminbi Float? PBoC Leaves USDCNY Unchanged, Weakens Yuan Versus Euro

Somebody forgot to give the PBoC the memo about that whole "PBoC eliminating the dollar peg" thing. According to the just released fixing by the Chinese Central bank, the USDCNY today was at 6.8275, the exact same as Monday. And adding just a little insult to injury, the PBoC devalued the CNY against the EUR by juar under 300 pips: from 8.4538 to 8.4825. That's ok though, the HFT brigade already has its wax on, er, risk on, no volume marching orders.

See: http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/trichet/CNY%20Parity%206.20.jpg

Anonymous said...

@Amen, I watch CNY to see the Yuan story unfold. Now, it's up around 4%

CV said...

It doesn't matter anyway...

And besides... in case the market "MELTS UP", I'm sure someone is poised there at the CIRCUIT BREAKERS to assure that a MELT UP doesn't occur...

The MUPT (melt-up protection team - "Muppets")...

Anonymous said...

@Amen, WTF. CNY tanked as I am writing this.

Nic said...

Happy first day of summer everyone! (Because we love summer trading, right)

Nic said...

Momo Mondays are so April 2010 ...

I-Man said...

I and I "melt up" target is 1143... think Los Bulls are up for it?

I-Man said...

Drinking my first inaugural cup of coffee from the new french press, tasty.

Wonder how not stopping at starbux every morning for a venti coffee is going to affect my budget... :)

Nic said...

Nice post CV.
I wonder if a week from now when the G20 summit is over whether the Chinese will still be being so "flexible" given that they are not doing any official revaluing.

CV said...

@I-Man

Make Juan Valdez proud!

CV said...

@Nic

CV's point is that this whole stupid announcement is just a story to break the log jam at 1120 (and a couple of doji days)...

From the "equity traders" perspective (who are a bunch of "numb-nuts"), and will use ANY STORY, good or bad, to move the market in the direction they want it to go...

Anonymous said...

Banks are selling-off. Air is out of this market.

@ I'

Good luck with your new biz.

BinT said...

http://www.foxnews.com/

"Disaster cost figures are released as teams drilling relief wells designed to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf continue a daunting task — hit a target roughly the size of a salad plate about three miles below the surface."


This is the type of reporting you get these days. There is no real checking before these stories go out. This spill is at 5000 feet. Three miles is about 16000 feet. Now the depth of the drilling to reach the oil, was over 10000 feet but they are working a mile down. These guys just publish, they don't think about what they write.

CV said...

What's frustrating to me is the TIMING aspect of it...

This practically guarantees that we go up and retest the 1150's (then probably the 1170's)...

It's going to take time to do that...

So at this point, there are 8 more trading days until EOQ... Then, there's the inevitable RUMOR FLUFFING on bank earnings (which will come out after the first week in July)...

Strap yourselves in people for 3 weeks of sheer boredom...

CV said...

@BinT

They're "FOX", what do you expect?

karen said...

when i sarcastically proffered a gap up monday last week.. i wasn't thinking THIS gap up.. well, sighing.. this is a game changer. back in a bit! morning, all!

I-Man said...

I was watching 1122 for ES support...

Next target 1119.


@ anon

Thx! (and for the Fathers Day cheer yesterday, if same anon... could you at least upgrade to "Cool Anon"?) :)

karen said...

congrats McHappy! and happy news, Bruce! CV, you outdid yourself again this morning, btw..

karen said...

My Meredith:

http://www.fundmymutualfund.com/2010/06/video-meredith-whitneys-latest-views.html

Mannwich said...

The dash for trash is on. My trash stock up over 8% today.

AmenRa said...

What happens if the yuan depreciates instead of appreciating?

Ben22 said...

action this week should confirm Andy's B wave and not a Wave 2..... in any event, big short opportunity awaits in the next couple of weeks.

Mannwich said...

I thought there'd be another one (shorting opportunity) soon. This thing is in super duper slow-mo.

McFearless said...

Well Manny, I'll respectfully disagree about the slow-mo, this market has been a roller coaster for two straight months, massive increase in volatility, awfully good enviro for traders.

I was gone for a few day and missed the Yuan "news", it's laughable how it's all the rage this morning and being used to explain the market....looks to me like some lip service by the Chinese, but hey, be a monkey and quickly place your bets on how this "changes the game"

CV said...

Art Cashin...

"The bulls may be ready to challenge resistance levels, thanks to China’s loosening of the yuan peg. The napkins see S&P first resistance at 1123/1125 with a fallback at 1130/1134. Support looks like 1110/1112 and then 1104/1106. Over the last seven years, the week following the June Expiration has seen stocks move lower. Given the look of the pre-opening futures, the bears will have a lot of wood to chop. - Art Cashin

Mannwich said...

Rental market "worst ever". Shocker. "For rent" signs everywhere here and they're just completing a gigantic brand new rentals building down the street at a busy intersection here. Why?

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/06/apartment-owner-on-rental-market-worst.html

Mannwich said...

@ben: Super slow mo to the true eventual market collapse and possible "P3" though. I guess that's what I mean.

CV said...

@McF

This morning, the VIX hit 22.90...

That's the lowest since the first wave off the 1220 highs in the end of April...

Personally, I think that has to serve as some kind of barrier...

But we'll see...

I'd expect to see at least ONE spike in volatility day coming soon...

It's hard for me to believe that the VIX is just going to meander down into the teens again...

McFearless said...

Manny,

in that case then yeah, I agree. Funny how last week before I had to leave I was reading comments all over the blogs about how 1150 would be a real struggle for the bulls to make, not its the first upside target for a lot of people. lol. What a difference a yuan makes.

CV said...

@McF

"What a difference a yuan makes."

Yeah - Buy equities NOT because a Yuan float makes any fundamental sense one way or another...

But DO BUY them because that's what everyone else is doing... (and that PPT's make going the other way difficult at every step)...

McFearless said...

according to Stephen Covey one of the habits of highly effective people is starting with the end in mind, so, here is some end game talk:

http://www.financialsense.com/fsn/main.php

BinT said...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/california-on-verge-of-system-failure/article1609891/


California on 'verge of system failure’

I posted this on the end of the last thread, but it is worth a scan. Look at the number of states with budget deficits >20%, and tell me how California gets out of this....

...It is all about the endgame. There is just going to be less money in the future.

McFearless said...

C,

that's my whole point this morning, nobody even knows for sure what china is going to do, and hilarious to me that everyone just takes their word for it.....this is herding at its best, but hey, I'm not an "expert"

McFearless said...

and for Manny, from the RP interview:

"Crises take a years to develop, and when they hit they seem to come out of the blue"

AmenRa said...

Didn't China do the same thing before the last G20 meeting? History may not repeat but it sure as hell rhymes.

Mannwich said...

@ben: Great quote. Hard to argue with that. I'm sure most (if not all) here won't feel like it came "out of the blue", but I can see how how most people in general would and will.....

Every time I "unplug" for a significant period of time like I did last week, it becomes more and more apparent that we're living in alternative universes.

Leftback said...

For fans of the Bloomberg original page layout it is here, at:

http://noir.bloomberg.com/?b=0&Intro=intro3

The new one is even more tedious and badly laid out than MW.com

Leftback said...

Bloomberg Noir... nice touch there,
sort of like Pinot Noir, the wine-drinkers' wine.

McFearless said...

Manny,

no kidding on the unplug, I literally saw no market news or anything from Wed last week until Saturday, I lived in reality for 3 full days!

I-Man said...

Yeah LB, the old one was much better, just updated mine back to it.

Mannwich said...

@ben: And "reality" is MUCH MUCH different. Part of me wonders if that world is better (or "more enjoyable") for most of the time. Very little sense of OVERT worry, although little comments here and there like "I really should be out looking for a new job" tell me that it's there, but being suppressed until the very last minute.

McFearless said...

the prechter interview was really good from financial sense....lot more big picture stuff.

CV said...

@LB

Thanks for that link... The only thing I hate more than the new Bloomberg layout is their CONTENT...

AmenRa said...

Reality is funny. The majority of people I come across have no clue as to what's happening to currencies, markets and economy. They're living their lives without any concern of what may be coming. It's frightening so many are clueless.

Mannwich said...

@cv: Looks like a child put that new site together. Maybe that's their intended audience?

McFearless said...

Manny,

I had many interesting convo's the last few days for sure, I don't know about that world being "better" only because I'd rather not be so in the dark about things...of course, knowing how effed things are does put a lot of stress on all of us, or I know it does me anyway.

what stress is worst though, I'd rather not have the stress of getting blindsided by all of this and having to deal with the fallout, which in some cases will last a lifetime....I'd rather a few years, or even a decade of high stress than a lifetime of hole digging....

McFearless said...

that new bloom site is bad, I didn't think the current is all that great but wow, they made it worse, not better.

AmenRa said...

CV & LB

There's a link at the bottom of the page of the new layout that redirects to the older layout. I also don't like the new layout.

McFearless said...

when I listen to the interview with RP, one thing I think of is that any rep like me that has equity in their book should sell sooner rather than later, if RP is correct, none of our books will be getting any kind of multiple in the near future.

Mannwich said...

Johnny Hour coming to a close?

Mannwich said...

I'm with you ben, but I have to question everything, including (and especially) my own approach and thought-processes.

CV said...

All I ever really used the old Bloomberg site for anyway was to get a QUICK GLANCE at futures...

Asia-Europe-US

plus, a few headlines in a column...

It was a simplistic view, but it gave one an overall BEARING...

Noir was ugly, but it served a simple purpose well...

This new site is an abomination...

Mannwich said...

40 people shot in Chicago over the weekend. Yikes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/21/chicago-violence-at-least_n_619259.html

Here in Minneapolis, we're already over last year's homicide total for the year. Social mood?

AmenRa said...

Manny

ES broke below its SMA(13) on the 15 min chart around 10:15 est. That was an early sign (for me).

McFearless said...

State of emergency in Chester right now due to shootings, larger wave hitting Bryn Mawr area as well, I have a client that just moved to New Jersey b/c of this crap in Philly.

Mannwich said...

Simon Johnson weighs in.

http://baselinescenario.com/2010/06/21/dead-on-arrival-financial-reform-fails/

CV said...

@Manny @McF

My guess is that all the "shooting" are just co-incidental occurrences of people SHOOTING THEIR GUNS IN THE AIR in celebration of stock market "melt-ups" due to sound central banking policies & Keynesian economics...

The bullets returning to earth just happen to be picking off people... Probably "tea-partiers"...

CV said...

Did I need to put a [snark] tag on that?

karen said...

the absurdity of the spy chart on a daily basis the last beginning may 10 cannot be denied.. that's all i have to say.

Mannwich said...

@cv: No, not for this audience.

karen said...

in my efforts to become a better person i neglected to put "proof reading" in the Needs Improvement column.

CV said...

@karen

Want MORE absurdity?

Let me attach two or three headlines per day to each one of those candles (explaining the candle itself).. Then read it as a story...

Mannwich said...

@karen: I hereby put you on a "PIP" - Performance Improvement Plan. You have 90 days to "turn things around" or you will be dismissed. ;-)

CV said...

@karen

"proof reading"

What if your intent is to PROVE that you either can't spell, can't punctuate, or are too lazy to care? :-)

McFearless said...

new social mood book:

And award-winning scientist and author John Casti's just-published book -- Mood Matters: From Rising Skirt Lengths to the Collapse of World Powers

AmenRa said...

The opening gap will be filled before the day is over. The question is how far will it move once it is filled?

Leftback said...

More truthiness, what would we do without Meredith and Janet?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-tavakoli/us-recession-breeds-escal_b_589674.html

Crime is creeping up a little in NYC, but it's not out of control yet. This summer may be more of a challenge in cities that are cutting spending on police and a variety of youth programs at the same time.

Mannwich said...

@lb: Within the last few months, I ran across another article from someone who thoerized that police stats have long been "doctored" to give off the impression of safety to the public. I'll see if I can find it.

CV said...

@Amen

Well there's still that trusty old 1090 that we've been talking about for 4 days now (not to mention 1078)...

@McF

Are you counting waves on the VIX at all?

Mannwich said...

I mean, every other "stat" is doctored at this point for mass consumption. Why not police stats as well?

McFearless said...

Rosie is solid today, I'd link here but I'm thinking most of you read it daily already anyway.

CV said...

DL thinks the VIX is just going to mosey on down to 18...

But then again, he's "DL", he would think something like that...

Nic said...

I have a little poll question for my friends here.
Does anyone here think that the 1220 high will be retested before the 1038 low is tested in the SPX?

Nic said...

Anonymous lurkers welcome to respond too

I-Man said...

Rosie O'Donnell?

McFearless said...

I've probably re-read the April 2009 theorist letter more times than I can count as it described in detail what EWI thought Primary Wave 2 would "feel" like. this letter was valuable not so much for market price insight but for the descriptions of social mood and the types of things economic/market pundits would be saying as well as the general public. it was written to help prepare subscribers to prepare for what would happen toward the end of Primary Wave 2. Simply put, market predictions aside, they got the mood, the statements, the political responses and the public perception... all of it they nailed.

Well, I think the latest Theorist offers some more in the way of mental prep for what is coming, a small example:

"The subtleties in economic performance continue to suggest that it "was" not a "recession." It IS a DEPRESSION, moving forward, in punctuated fashion, slowly but inexorably."

"Despite this outlook, keep in mind what EWT said last month: "Even though the market is about to begin its greatest decline ever, the era of hope is not quite finished." For as long as another year and a half, there will be rallies, fixes, hopes and reasons to believe in recovery. Our name for this phase of the bear market is the Slope of Hope. This portion of the decline lasts until the center of the wave, were investors stop estimating upside potential and start being concerned with downside potential....Stock prices should be much lower by then, but optimism will still dominate, and it will show up in the form of big rallies and repeated calls of a bottom."

I-Man said...

Nic,

No...

McFearless said...

"Does anyone here think that the 1220 high will be retested before the 1038 low is tested in the SPX?"

No, imo, I don't think that's a high probability, not high enough to put money on.

Always possible of course, but anything is....

McFearless said...

C,

No, I don't count the VIX at all, I'm not sure it is countable....but people try. I'd rather apply cycle analysis to the VIX I'm thinking.

Nic said...

McF
Take a look at this wavers long term S&P forecast:

Monthly Chart


Weekly Chart

CV said...

@Nic

CV's 2c...

I haven't the foggiest idea at this point...

To me, there are crosscurrents involved...

- EOM/EOQ is coming next week ("window dressing")... Keep in mind that last quarter closed at 1169... Not insinuating anything, just keeping it in mind...

- Gaps are everywhere on the charts (above & below)

- Technicals are signaling OVERBOUGHT at present (which can quickly switch to OVERSOLD in, like, a day)...

- Earnings season coming in July... Which lately means you can count on the financial stocks to be pumped & dumped...

- MOMO (1st of month), to go along with Brians BBQ... (It seems to me Lloyd would want to SELL HIGH here)... IOW - He doesn't need to MOMOS to support the "line in the sand", he wants to sell to Johnny at a good price, so there's incentive to keep things floating on air...

- Dollar???... Last wave up??? Further correction??? I don't know...

Let's say, all in all, I'm skeptical we get all the way back to 1220...

1150-1170 I could be on board with... But I also think we need at least one or two sharp DOWN days here to re-fuel...

CV said...

LOL

http://www.businessinsider.com/inmate-madoff-brags-about-a-secret-9-billion-stash-2010-6

I-Man said...

Would like to see a move back up to 1122 before any retest of gap at 1116.

CV said...

@Nic

Another thing to your (11:46)...

I think that if we start getting up in the 1150-1200 range, a lot of eyes are going to turn to DOW THEORY (Industrials & Transports) for a confirmation...

IOW - Indicators will abound that might issue a signal...

Nic said...

If the SPX closes the gap it breaks the channel and back into the wedge too.
Hourly chart: http://bit.ly/bwQpch

Shortcrone said...

As an advisor, I'm being flooded with info on this "recovery" and how my clients will benefit from managed funds with great stock pickers, etc. The latest recommendation comes from my Fidelity wholesaler from their retail site: https://news.fidelity.com/news/article.jhtml?guid=/FidelityNewsPage/pages/fidelity-double-dip-recession&topic=economy. So, everything's fine! We'll see 1350 on the S&P real soon! No double dip! No more down days ever! Wait til I tell my clients-the retired ones are sitting in 50% cash...

BinT said...

Nic:

I think we are about done. Census=over. Oil spill=doing very well, thank you. Listened to a story on NPR this morning, ice house in the NO area, sold ice to shrimpers and gulf workers...this is the busy season, sells 90,000 pounds a day, usually, mid-June. Today=0. (Yep)....

Taxes.
Housing...not better yet.
21% medicare cuts are staying in...I am sure (100%) fewer docs taking medicare and docs will lay off personel. Hospitals too. Put it in your book.

CV said...

@BinT

Yeah... But you're underestimating the power of Brians 4th of July BBQ...

And of course, let's not forget... "Brazil is getting the Olympics in 2016"...

Buy dammit!

Leftback said...

"Wait til I tell my clients-the retired ones are sitting in 50% cash..."

Wise. There will be opportunities ahead.
But Q3 2010- Q1 2011 the risks are to the downside.

Nic, mkt may go to 1250-1350 but will go there without LB.
Meredith was right this morning, housing is going in the dumpster.
Banking profits will follow.

Nic said...

BinT
I agree with everything you say ...
Sometimes the market gets bad news fatigue, and then it rallies hard. That is all I see happening.

Brian the Broker's Shapely Assistant Tawny said...

Always got room for you at Brian's, CV....

BinT said...

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/06/20/2835725/in-california-license-plates-might.html

In California, license plates might go electronic

"The California Legislature is considering a bill that would allow the state to begin researching the use of electronic license plates for vehicles. The move is intended as a moneymaker for a state facing a $19 billion deficit.

The device would mimic a standard license plate when the vehicle is in motion but would switch to digital ads or other messages when it is stopped for more than four seconds, whether in traffic or at a red light. The license plate number would remain visible at all times in some section of the screen."

....And with other technology available, individual ads could be generated! I can see it NOW! CV is driving in Washington, DC, and the car's license plate ahead says "CV, did you take your Cialis today? You never know when the mood might strike....."

...21st century, you know...

Nic said...

This fall off in indices was mostly triggered by sovereign debt worries originating in Europe. Once the idea that the ECB are really going to be able to kick the can down the road, for a while, and the EU bank stress tests are out (which are a joke but then so were the US ones) then some optimism might get a foothold and the eternal search for yield might push this market higher than we expect.
Even that wave guys S&P charts I posted show a very bearish outcome. I am just suggesting in these volatile markets we might go a bit higher than we expect first.
I am truly as pessimistic about everything as you are

Nic said...

LB - GOLD :)

Privately Employed said...

"CV, there is a Burger King 4 blocks ahead."
"Leftback, the English side sucked in 2010. Can we count on your contribution?"
"Karen, our new bikinis, what there is of them, are on sale at Macy's this weekend."

...why didn't they think of that before????

McFearless said...

Nic,

Thanks for those long term charts, I only got a quick glance, some interesting targets painted there, I'd have to go back and measure the counts...etc.

A move to 1,300 would certainly take me by surprise.

arbitrage789 said...

CV @ 11:31

How about if you go long VIX futures and hold the position for a month?

I-Man said...

Argh...

The downtime.

Been waiting for a limit to hit since 12:12...

I-Man said...

Caught the move from 1123 to 1119, but been chillin since...

McFearless said...

Fidelity page, ugh...funny,.. all lagging indicators cited as being predictive measures for future stock prices.


I heard that same mumbo jumbo about "stock-pickers market" from my fidelity guy in 07 and 08. Will Danoff, Will Danoff! I really used to enjoy when they would try to hustle Penny D's Japan, er I mean, Fidelity Diversified International fund....p.o.s. that it is/was.

but really, the money line, the one where history starts in 1980, and the same idiotic GIB argument that every single big house like Fidelity makes was in there:

"Emsbo-Mattingly: If you invest in 10-year Treasuries, they are yielding 3.2% currently. This is a fixed rate, so there is very little upside for this asset; that would require rates to go down even further. If you invest the same amount of money in the S&P 500, the earnings from these companies amount to nearly 8%. That makes for a simplistic risk premium of 4.8%. In post-World War II history, we've rarely seen so large an equity premium, and certainly not since the early 1980s."

that's about the dumbest "analysis" but I bet Johnny thinks it all "makes-cents", which of course, they are trading dollars for......

McFearless said...

I,

How's your first day feeling?

I-Man said...

Change of pace.

BinT said...

Another of my partners sent me an e-mail last week to talk about investments and the economy. Just saw him at lunch, and he said, don't need it. Sold every share of stock Friday. "slept like a baby".

This is the second partner to do this in the last 3 weeks. And both of these guys are not investors and usually do what their advisors tell them to do. Friday, the advisor tried to talk partner number 2 out of cashing in, but he'd have none of it...

McFearless said...

Bruce,

Congrats to you and your daughter, I just caught up on the old threads. Must be exciting for you.

I-Man said...

Its weird getting the hang of a new platform, futures, and a new computer all at once...

At least I finally got my charts to look the same...

But I feel like a foreigner. (No, not FOREIGNER... cv... :) )

CV said...

@BinT

I was actually making a joke about those Cialis commercials yesterday while watching the US Open...

I was wondering WHY, if the guy finally solved his problem, are he and his lady in "different" bathtubs????

@DL (12:54)

How about I don't? :-)

@Tawny
Just think, the best of ALL worlds would be Brians BBQ where they talk about Brazil & the Olympics all weekend while watching World Cup...

That's gotta be worth 20 clicks on the ES minis...

Leftback said...

Nic,

Nothing LB enjoys like CLAVADISTA d'ORO...

;-)

McFearless said...

why in the hell did I pick North Korea to win today?

That's what you do when you have no idea about any of the teams....

I-Man said...

This site is amazing, btw... some of the images, just say "JAH" to I-Man...

http://www.hubblesite.org/gallery/

BinT said...

Thanks Ben and CV. Very excited. This daughter was the one that made me proud of her every day. Amazing young woman, let's just hope the pregnancy goes well.

CV said...

@Bruce (re: California)

Yeah right... I can just see it now... The California legislature approves the use of these plates and what shows up are all paid political campaign ads...

And who approves the ad sales?

Can't wait to see the abortion vs. anti-abortion fights over that... (rolls eyes)...

CV said...

@I-Man

So I suppose it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os0F4-XFf6w

McFearless said...

"This site is amazing, btw... some of the images, just say "JAH" to I-Man..."

ditto from B22, love that stuff....especially the spirals.

Nic said...

McFearless, in North Korea today will be reported as a win, the people will never know.

I-Man said...

C-
I knew it!!!

Nic said...

BinT
I forgot!! Congratulations on your exciting news!

Mannwich said...

@Nic: Or the entire soccer team will be executed.

McFearless said...

C,

re, our discussion on F a few weeks ago, fwiw:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/06/chanos-shorts-oil-majors-ford-hasnt-played-bp/

McFearless said...

another one of my favs:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/06/gary-shillings-bearishness-doesnt-seem-so-nutty/

BinT said...

Thanks, Nic. Actually, I have 5 other grandkids, but the daughter, ah, she was the apple of my eye, and both my wife and I are tickled pink. You go through life, and if you decide to have children you take your chances on what they'll turn out to be. This girl, very special to all who meet her. Just glad she's my daughter...

...If we'd had Leftback, we'd have had to check the warranty.........

Leftback said...

Congrats, Bruce.

Spain, Italy, Germany, England all under pressure or on the brink.

Argentina, for me, the class of the tournament.
You score 3? We'll score 4.

Maradona's wackiness has them relaxed and under the radar.

CV said...

@LB

I agree on Argentina...

A few days ago I was sitting around making an overall assessment and thinking...

Argentina is the team to beat here...

Nic said...

BinT
Sadly my clock is ticking and its not a venture I plan to undertake on my own but I cherish my nephews and nieces.

BinT said...

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/109861/economy-weak-data-look-even-weaker?mod=bb-budgeting&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

Economy Weak, Data Look Even Weaker


"Now that the support is being withdrawn, we're holding our breath to see if the wobbly economy can right itself.



The housing market is the most troublesome part of the economy. "The tax-credit had the effect of front-loading sales into the first half of the year," wrote Aaron Smith and Ryan Sweet, economists for Moody's Economy.com.

To qualify for the credit, a buyer needed to sign a purchase contract on a home by April 30, and needs to close by June 30.

Sales of new homes, which are recorded at the time of the signing, are expected to fall off a cliff in May. After rising nearly 50% in March and April, sales probably plunged 20% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 405,000, according to a survey of economists conducted by MarketWatch."

...And peeps have written off Arthur Laffer's opinion piece in the WSJ that tax increases will front load income into 2010 from 2011-2012. He has been written off as a nut job, at least by some....Well, here in the mine, I plan to do that, and will suggest to my partners to do the same....we will see. (Besides us nut jobs gotta stick together....)

Nic said...

I am attempting to be more green and get through as much of summer as I can without air conditioning.
If my sense of humour is reduced I apologise.

Mannwich said...

Ditto Bruce. Congrats.

CV said...

@Nic

Ceiling fans & a swimming pool would help :-)

BinT said...

thanks Manny. My wife cried for an hour.

(Emotional little thing, you know).....

arbitrage789 said...

B_in_T @ 1:27

Perhaps you've read Ritholtz's attack on Laffer:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/06/art-laffer-make-up-your-own-facts-here/

Leftback said...

Nic,

LB suggests Bikini Trading. Save energy....

CV said...

I haven't turned on the AC at either place yet...

And we've already had a number of 90 degree plus days...

I-Man said...

Here's the Laffer piece Bruce ref'd:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704113504575264513748386610.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

CV said...

@BinT

Who did the baby resemble most... (A possible motive for the wife's crying)... :-)

Leftback said...

CV: Athletic individuals handle thermoregulation more easily in general due to healthy peripheral circulation. Of course the fact you are sitting naked in your tilapia pools probably helps as well.

Nic said...

We have pool, ceiling fan and shorts on. Having six screens is a disadvantage today :(
Humidity is horrid today but I live on top of a ridge looking NW over open fields so I get really good breezes.

CV said...

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.imnotobsessed.com/files/legacy/2007/09/conaniftheymated92407.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2007/09/27/what-would-happen-if-rihanna-and-shia-had-a-baby-together&usg=__7UhC8u5xUNLdXAD0qaHoYCsrRAc=&h=323&w=529&sz=84&hl=en&start=8&sig2=i6nC2f_jLXuqJnWmb32YkA&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=2D8lznE2hK4JaM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dconan%2527s%2Bcelebrity%2Bbabies%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=NqMfTPiZHYWClAe35rjsDA

McFearless said...

and the Naz is red.....

Nic said...

SPX has broken channel support. Unless the PPT push us back up at the close then looks like more downside this week.

Leftback said...

I believe I have you at a disadvantage Goldfinger...

Shortcrone said...

Nic, the southern women used to wrap a piece of ice into their handkerchief and tie it around their wrists, and have an extra to dab at your temples and back of the neck. You can also stick your feet in a tub of water and immediately feel cooler. Or, you can plant your face into a vat of mint julep and call it a day.

I-Man said...

Would really like to get another short in at 1120 or so, not sure its going to happen.

That sell limit at 1122 looks like a lost cause at this point.

McFearless said...

Shouldn't Peter Schiff have destroyed any credibility that Art Laffer had? I don't really think anyone needs to prove that point anymore.

CV said...

At BLOOMBERG there's a link to this video...

"Trichet Says Deficit Offenders May Lose Voting Rights"

I can't bring myself to even click on it to hear what THAT'S all about...

I can already guess...

CV said...

@Short Crone

CV's opts for the last solution...

Mannwich said...

I avoid AC at all costs until absolutely necessary. When one is holed up indoors as much as we are here for a good third of the year or more, one likes the fresh air. I love to have the windows open. AC = artificial air to me. Some folks here NEVER open their windows, which is something I don't entirely understand.

BinT said...

Ben,

This is not about Laffer's credability. It is about paying less tax. Here in the mine, we can advance or retard certain payments. Frankly, I have done this for years, and will Certainly do it in 2010. Laffer in other ways might truly be goofy, but paying lesser taxes on income in 2010 compared with having that same income in 2011 is a good idea, to me anyway. Tax rate goes up what, 8% next year?

CV said...

@I-Man

No "core holdings" allowed on the first day... :-)

Nic said...

Thanks Short Crone :)
I agree, last solution ...

McFearless said...

did everyone put some shorts on this morning?

Mannwich said...

@ben: Not yet for Mannwich. Watching and waiting. Am thinking we might go a bit summer sideways for a while?

McFearless said...

I was back home the last few days, great place being right on Lake Erie, no need really for AC most of the summer, maybe a few days if that....always a good breeze there, or just go jump in the lake.

CV said...

@MCF

No moves

McFearless said...

Bruce,

we all want to pay less tax, but really at this point the idea of less tax is long gone imo....and if we lower taxes with the kind of spending Obama is doing, well without some kind of major change on that side then its no strategy at all, and certainly won't have the desired impact.

Maybe I'm too simple minded, but given the administrations apparent agenda to "spend us out" I'm not sure why tax cuts are even being disucussed at this stage.

BinT said...

Ben, I also have my entire 401k contribution taken as soon in the year as I can. Usually complete by February. This let my contribution be compounded for the entire year without tax, rather than making most of the contribution occur later in the year.

..None of my partners does this or is willing to go without a check for 6 weeks. So some of these things are not for everybody...

McFearless said...

just curious for those that didn't put a postion on was the high 1120's on the S&P not at least a decent target given that we brought up that price level almost three weeks ago now?

Waiting on 1150's?

Mannwich said...

Good to see those pigs SRS and FAZ up to their old tricks knowing that Mannwich didn't get suckered into them again.

CV said...

Natty "Flash Crashing"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703438604575315193611917122.html

I-Man said...

B22,

I snagged one at 1125.75 earlier, and covered at 1120.50.

Then had the 1123 to 1119.

Hoping to get one last short in at 1121, with a target of 1113.

Mannwich said...

@ben: I still fear the low volume summer melt up.

McFearless said...

Bruce,

some companies have some goofy matching arrangements and therefore I believe there are issues from time to time with making your full pre-tax contribution prior to year end.

anyway, don't forget about the "catch-up" if you are over 50, but I'm thinking you are already well aware of that.

Shortcrone said...

Just be careful if you go for a multiple prong approach-I don't recommend falling forward into the footbath. It's not nearly as effective.

On a different note, any recommendations for cash alternatives while waiting the inevitable? I need to at least earn my fee for clients to stay even, and that's not possible in cash. Have used SHY, TLT, and Hussman's fund. Clients are definitely middle class, and this is important money for them.

BinT said...

Ben, if you have to pay taxes on a dollar...and you can take it in December 2010 or January 2011, and you pay more in January (rates go back to 39+) which do you do?

Again, not for everyone...

Mannwich said...

@CV: And Cramer was just pitching Natty on Friday. BUY BUY BUY!

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/nat-gas-flash-crashing

McFearless said...

Manny,

yeah, understandable, plus you aren't day trading so makes perfect sense....of course, low volume melt ups are bearish....eventually that is.

I-Man said...

I've been wary of this falling wedge in the 5min ES chart...

Its a real tease.

Mannwich said...

@Short Crone: FWIW - Since buying at variosu levels in the high 80's, low 90's, I've remaining in my large holding of TLT and a lot of cash.

BinT said...

Ben you are right about that, and the mine allows me to make my contributions early. Not all businesses would do so, you are correct.

Mannwich said...

Exactly ben. I need to be patient and really get an ideal entry point. No need to be greedy or impatient here. That burned me before last year.

Leftback said...

"did everyone put some shorts on this morning?"

No. LB is in the pink, as you can see.

CV said...

@McF

What interests me most is the time frame...

My guess is that the max down move we'd get off of 1130 would be 1090...

That wasn't worth the effort to me (because I'd see it as a ROUND trip)...

I'm only interested in the larger waves...

McFearless said...

@Short Crone,

being in what sounds like the same boat as you, I've found BND to work well for me accounts over the last 12 months, roughly 10% gain with monthly dividend over the period, low volatility, and it's Vanguard.

it's certainly not cash....there is some real crap in there...but in the near term I'm sticking with it.

BinT said...

Down 100 from the high!

(Not reported on CNBC...)

Pussy Galore said...

What are you going to buy with all that gold, Mr. Goldfinger?

McFearless said...

Bruce,

Well that's the problem for most people, of course what you say makes sense, but I work with plenty of people in the top marginal bracket that sad to say, couldn't do that due to cash flow.

Something about more money more problems...you are a saver, and therefore in the minority.

it's a good place to be.

Mannwich said...

I'm in that one (BND) a little bit as well, ben.

Leftback said...

McF: Here at Schadenfreude we like a combination of AGG and TLT, and then we hedge with TBT when we are not engaged in other trades....

McFearless said...

Nice trades today I, that's a nice start to a new role....good stuff.

I did a small position this morning short SPY but I bought several months out expy (Sept)

I-Man said...

@ Ben, Short Crone

Either of you ever looked at LALDX?

Havent done any homework on it myself, but alot of my brokers were using it as a cash alt.

McFearless said...

Yes we have quite a few clients with at least some TLT position, we've had it for a long time at this point....I haven't bought much in the 90's, if we get low 90's, or 80's I buy.

I'm in the Gary Schilling camp and part ways with EWI in the near term on this one.

Shortcrone said...

I've used a combination of LQD and TIP, but TIP is awfully high, so we've reduced the position. I want to keep a Treasury position, and will hope that we can pick some TLT up soon.

McFearless said...

I,

never looked at that one, but quick glance, there is some "junk" in the trunk of that one....would want to do more homework.

As a cash alternative, I would think this is a more pure option: LMTAX...about as boring as they come.

I-Man said...

Its about time for an early afternoon kick save isnt it?

Thought for sure the 1116 would entice the bulls a little bit...

Like the siren song of Lesbos...

Leftback said...

Yes, Gary is right, deflation first, before another reflation.

There will be no hyperinflation. Wages are stuck for a decade or two. Even Bernanke isn't Mugabe. The point is we are not in this thing alone, that is the essential ingredient for Argentina and Zimbabwe...

McFearless said...

Left,

I used to do that with TBT but I'm no longer able to solicit the inverse ETF's....counting to 10 as I type this.


Serenity Now!

Leftback said...

"Like the siren song of Lesbos..."

Or the Lorelei.... imagine Karen sitting on a rock in the Rhine, sunning herself. That could cause a lot of traders to run aground on the rocks...

McFearless said...

I haven't really looked at yet but PIM(p)CO has the Unconstrained Bond fund which sounded at least worth a look.

Leftback said...

McF,

We love our Friday afternoon and pre-auction hedges !!

I-Man said...

WTF is karen anyhow?

Must have gone back to sleep.

BinT said...

Karen wore her new bikini to the beach today, and was almost drowned in drool....

she's gonna be ok....

McFearless said...

Karen made a great call on TBT late last year, I think she used a basic P&F for it but it was a spot on call.

McFearless said...

actually, I might be mistaken, that might have been December 2008 she made that call.

I-Man said...

Insane volatility in Natty???

Get out of town!

Leftback said...

Ts were obviously not the place to be from Dec 2008 until July 2009, when LB decided that 4% on the 10y was the MAGIC NUMBER.... we rolled our TIP and JNK over gradually into AGG and TLT as 2009 progressed.

Wonder if we'll see a 2% 10y again? Japan saw a 1% 10y...!!!

Shortcrone said...

Another weird duck fund that I've used is Pimco's PAUIX. For clients, "cash" is anything that earns less than the promised 10% from stocks.

I-Man said...

Hey, that 1122 limit might get some play afterall...

Should I dick for the tick and lower to 1121.50 or hold the I ground?

I-Man said...

(Ok, fully realizing that I'm talking about $25, but fuck yall...)

:)

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