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Book Review: "Warrior Trading"

Talk about stretching a metaphor beyond breaking point, this book delivers. The metaphor in question goes something like this: “The Market can be likened unto a battlefield”. No arguments there; least of all from me, I’m covered in trading scars.

But based on the above, the author concludes that if the market is a battlefield, then successful traders (such as himself it should be noted) are the new age equivalent of the ancient Samurai Warriors and Knights, carving up enemies and vanquishing any foolish dumb money who dare to get in their way. The mindless herd and the Mum n Dad investors must all be mercilessly put to the sword.
Like a modern day Elric of Melbnibone, the goal of these Warriors of Wall Street is not be the Stealer of Souls but rather the Stealer of Your Money. They ride out each day into the field to seek glory armed with their two deadly weapons (fundamental and technical analysis) plus the third ingredient – advanced mind control achieved by 20 minutes of zen meditation on a Sunday.
Quote: … “They enter the fray with a focus that inspires awe in their opponents, even as the warriors cut them down. But warriors do not celebrate their victories – they remain still and focused, ready to strike and enter a fresh battle, for they know that opportunity may arise at any moment.” 1
Quote: … “The warriors can be seen standing – perhaps exhausted, but still standing – upon the battlefield with many a slain enemy lying lifeless, or in agony, around them.” 2

I dunno folks, this is all a bit too homoerotic for my liking.


Marc Faber's 2010 Investment Outlook: Bullish Sentiment Too High For His Liking

Always the contrarian, Marc Faber’s investing advice for 2010 is this — listen to the experts, and then do the opposite. Faber, the editor of The Gloom Boom & Doom Report, wrote in his most recent January newsletter that he was bullish on U.S. stocks.

Nothing lasts forever, though.

He’s changed his mind after participating in this week’s Barron’s round-table discussion. “Everybody was looking for further gains in stocks,” he tells Henry in this clip. That opinion is also reflected by Bloomberg’s latest investor survey, which registered its highest level of bullish sentiment since the survey began in 2007.

That overwhelming consensus worries Faber. He now thinks a correction in U.S. stocks could come much sooner than most predict. Momentum players who are driving the market could “pull the trigger relatively quickly,” he says. He also observes that the charts of stocks favored by momentum investors, like Google, RIM, Apple and Amazon, look to be flattening out.

Overall, 2010 will not be one for the record books, as 2009 was. He’s looking at a more normal 5%-10% rate of return for global investors.

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