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“What Buffett wouldn’t do”

Warren Buffett (@WarrenBuffett) | TwitterInvesting:

  • Don’t be too fixated on daily moves in the stock market (from Berkshire letter published in 2014)
  • Don’t get excited about your investment gains when the market is climbing (1996)
  • Don’t be distracted by macroeconomic forecasts (2004)
  • Don’t limit yourself to just one industry (2008)
  • Don’t get taken by formulas (2009)
  • Don’t be short on cash when you need it most (2010)
  • Don’t wager against the U.S. and its economic potential (2015)

Management:

  • Don’t beat yourself up over wrong decisions; take responsibility for them (2001)
  • Don’t have mandatory retirement ages (1992)
  • “Don’t ask the barber whether you need a haircut” because the answer will be what’s best for the man with the scissors (1983)
  • Don’t dawdle (2006)
  • Don’t interfere with great managers (1994)
  • Don’t succumb to the attitudes that undermine businesses (2015)
  • Don’t be greedy about compensation, if you’re my successor (2015)

Last, Buffett advises “Don’t worry about my health” — because Berkshire’s future success is is tied to reinsurance lieutenant Ajit Jain. “Worry about his.” (2001)

Moderna, S&P: Vaccine hopes

A look at vaccine developments and its impact on the stock market

Moderna

FBSSource: Bloomberg

Yes, we’ve heard it already – both statements. Of course, from a humane point of view, it’s good to hear there is progress with the vaccine development. But it increasingly looks like by the time it is ready, most people indeed will already have immunity to the virus. In the meantime, Moderna is enjoying spikes of investor attention.

FBS 2
The latest update is that it got one step closer to the vaccine pushed its stock from the rage of $60 to $75. Needless to say, if the reports informed us tomorrow that another testing stage is cleared, we would see this stock already somewhere at its recently made all-time high above $85. Trajectory zone 2 would be the channel of movement in this case.

In fact, Moderna’s stock may well get to those highs anyways: fundamentally, the interest for anti-virus business will keep its momentum months or even years ahead, even if tomorrow is no virus at all. So Moderna will see its rise, just it will be a slow case scenario – the one that corresponds to trajectory zone 1.

S&P 500

For the stock market, the vaccine hope seems to be the only “joy” that keeps the optimism on the stage. With the S&P, currently, we are almost exactly at the previous high of 3 320, and in an obvious consolidation. Meaning, the market is not really sure what to look at more: still spreading infections in the US of the vaccine hopes. Today, it seems the latter is taking the upper hand. What the next step is going to be?

An optimistic scenario suggests we will see Trajectory 1 giving the green light to bulls and repeating the pattern of the previous upward wave the S&P followed in May. How probable is that? Quite probable, given that the reports about vaccine developments keep coming more often.

A pessimistic scenario as per Trajectory 3 suggests that we are actually at the tip of another “inside wave” which will bounce down from the resistance of 3 230. How probable is that one? Also very probable: clearing testing processes is good, but we don’t have the vaccine yet. It may take months before we finally see it.

A moderate scenario presumes that the market will overlook the absence of the vaccine and take on a more positive mood. That will be Trajectory 2.

The thing is that, indeed, it may be not until the very end of 2020 when the vaccine eventually gets done. Everyone knows that. If the S&P was only waiting for the vaccine to finally get developed, then it would be going sideways between 2 980 and 3 230 for months from now. Is that likely? No. Regardless of the vaccine process, the more we move into the future, the more the market becomes insensitive to the reality of infections and, therefore, independent from the vaccine hopes. Why? Because with the vaccine or without it, life goes on. And even the virus is now on the rise in the US – again – it will slow down pretty soon. So the question is not “if” but “when”. And the market is bored waiting.

FBS 3

This post is written and submitted by FBS Markets for informational purposes only. In no way shall it be interpreted or construed to create any warranties of any kind, including an offer to buy or sell any currencies or other instruments. 

The views and ideas shared in this article are deemed reliable and based on the most up-to-date and trustworthy sources. However, the company does not take any responsibility for accuracy and completeness of the information, and the views expressed in the article may be subject to change without prior notice.

Strong close for US stocks

Major indices close at session highs

Today saw the stock market rotate into the Dow and broader S&P indices. The tech heavy NASDAQ was the laggard. However a late day surge “raised all boats”. The Dow had its best day since June 29. The dow rose for the 3rd day in a row.

The final numbers are showing:
  • S&P index rose 42.39 points or 1.34% to 3197.61
  • NASDAQ index rose 97.73 points or 0.94% to 10488.53
  • Dow industrial average rose 557.72 points or 2.14% at 26643.53
Leading the Dow 30 were:
  • Caterpillar, +4.96%
  • Travelers, +3.8%
  • Chevron, +3.49%
  • Exxon Mobil, +3.31%
  • Home Depot, +3.25%
  • McDonald’s, +3.19%
  • UnitedHealth, +2.96%
  • Goldman Sachs, +2.58%
  • Boeing, +2.48%
Other big gainers today included:
  • First Solar, +9.96%
  • Alcoa, +9.47%
  • Rite Aid, +7.57%
  • Schlumberger, +5.81%
  • Ford Motor, +5.12%
  • NVIDIA, +3.31%
Laggards included:
  • Wells Fargo, -4.55%
  • Intuit, -4.13%
  • Citigroup, -3.93%
  • Slack, -3.14%
  • LYFT, -3.02%
  • Delta Air Lines, -2.61%
  • Uber, -2.51%

NASDAQ closes at a new all time record level

Now erases 203 point decline and close higher for the 1st time in 4 days

The major US stock indices are closing the day near highs for the day.

  • The NASDAQ closed at a record high surpassing the previous high of at 10020.35
  • The NASDAQ has closed at a record low for the 20th time in 2020
  • Apple closes at record high
  • Dow industrial average erased a 203 point decline
  • NASDAQ post longest win streak of 2020 (7 trading days)
  • NASDAQ is up around 12% on the year
  • Dow close higher for the 1st time 4 days
The final numbers are showing:
  • S&P index rose 20.45 points or 0.66% at 3118.19
  • NASDAQ index rose 110.35 points or 1.11% at 10056.42
  • Dow industrial average close up 150.81 points or 0.59% at 26024.23

The Federal Reserve decision is Wednesday: Three things to watch for

The Fed has executed the pump; watch out for the dump

The Fed has executed the pump; watch out for the dump
The Federal Reserve decision is on June 10 and it’s shaping up to be a bigger event than anticipated a week ago because of surprising strength in jobs and equity markets.
We’ve quickly moved from a paradigm of Fed action supporting equity markets to the unwinding of Fed action sapping equity markets.
Here is what to watch:

The Main Street Lending facility

main street

(more…)

S&P and NASDAQ snap 4-day winning streak ahead of US jobs report today

Dow industrial average ekes out a small gain

the S&P and NASDAQ index snapped a 4 day winning streak ahead of the US jobs report released tomorrow at 8:30 AM ET. The Dow industrial average up the trend by closing higher on the day but just barely.

The final numbers are showing:
  • S&P index, -10.52 points or -0.34% at 3112.35
  • NASDAQ index -67.098 points or 0.69% at 9615.81
  • Dow industrial average up 11.93 points or 0.05% at 26281.82.
Below are the percentage changes and high low percentages for the major indices in North America and Europe. European shares end the day modestly lower after the sharp gains over the first 3 days of the trading week.
Dow industrial average ekes out a small gain_

Major US indices close near session highs

Dow industrial average rising by over 1%. Posts 2 day win streak

the US major indices are closing near session highs. The Dow industrial average led the index is charged with a 1.05% gain. S&P and NASDAQ posts the 6th gain in 7 trading days. The NASDAQ index is closing lesson 3% from the record high set in February.

The final numbers are showing:
  • S&P index up 25.09 points or 0.82% at 3080.82. The high price reached 3081.07. The low price extended to 3051.64
  • NASDAQ index rose 56.326 points or 0.59% at 9608.37. The high price reached 9611.22. The low price extended to 9472.08
  • Dow industrial average rose by 267.63 points or 1.05% at 25742.65. The high price reached 25743.13. The low extended to 25523.74.
Some winners today included:
  • Chewy, +9.6%
  • Square Inc., +6.3%
  • Qualcomm, +6.2%
  • Alcoa, +4.53%
  • General Electric, +4.29%
  • Alibaba, +3.79%
  • FedEx +3.42%
  • Slack, +3.2%
  • Citigroup, +2.79%
  • Broadcom, +2.76%
  • Southwest Airline, +2.56%
  • American Express, +2.36%
Some losers today included:
  • LYFT, -2.85%
  • Wynn Resorts, -2.73%
  • Beyond Meat, -2.61%
  • Gilead, -2.53%
  • Tesla, -1.87%
  • Amgen, -1.43%
  • Raytheon technologies, -1.28%
  • Northrop Grumman, -1.16%
  • Intuit, -1.03%
  • Booking.com -1.0%
  • Starbucks, -0.69%
  • Costco, -0.39%

EXPLANATIONS OF COMMON TRADING PROBLEMS

Why Traders Naturally Cannot Follow Their Trading Plan

  • The brain automatically engages “distinct mechanisms” to handle these two scenarios differently: (i) risky situation where the probabilities are known, and (ii) ambiguous situation with incomplete information where historical probabilities provide only a clue. For the latter, there will be a “uncertainty circuit” that will raise a red flag to say “more information needed”.
  • This results in traders trying to do exactly what they planned while their brain fights them to find more information or to scramble in the face of a clear, but maybe only subconsciously perceived, threat.
  • Just because you decided on taking a long or short trading position, your “brain on uncertainty” doesn’t change how it goes about making judgment calls in uncertain circumstances. The basic process steps through the context-belief-perception cycle because it can’t help it.
  • Uncertainty means — at least to part of your neural and white matter networks — that a black bear, ready to eat all your apples (and you with them) could be just around the corner. The more uncertainty, the more you can realize how much you are relying on contextual clues in order to make sense of the situation.

Soros on Soros: Staying Ahead of the Curve

This book is comprised of a series of edited interviews with George Soros, and is broken up into 3 parts. The first part is about his investing. He talks about his family history, investment philosophies and theories, his early times as an analyst on Wall Street, and the Quantum Fund. He talk about how his theories were related to some of his real trades, specifically the Japanese stock market, the Mexican market, and the British Pound.

The second section deals with his views on (and participation in) politics. He talks about philanthropy, the geopolitics of Europe, diplomacy, and open societies. The third section of the book deals with philosophy and talks about some of his personal writings.

This book was fun for me to read since it was about hedge funds back when hedge funds were pure – before they were contaminated by Wall Street. Since this book is about Soros the person, and not Soros the investor, a significant portion of the book is devoted to politics and philosophy, and not investing. Although these topics are not out of place, most people will be less interested in this stuff since they are more interested in his investments.

Since Soros talks about his theories (specifically his theory of reflexivity), this book could be considered a more philosophical version of Alchemy of Finance. Hence, this book will appeal to traders/investors looking to ponder their personal investing philosophies. Although Soros tries too hard at times to make every statement sound profound, the timeless philosophical topics he brings up lends the book substantial (as well as lasting) value. This is due to the fact that a majority of traders will always lose money. When novice traders are unable to achieve success, it is best for them to step back and ask fundamental questions, like “why do I trade?”. But most don’t do this, and this book can help with that.

Consequently, the most important lesson that can be extracted from Soros’s market philosophies is that it is important to HAVE market philosophies. When I wrote my “How to Become a Trader” checklist, I said that one of the first things you should do is to write down your philosophies about the markets. This catches some prospective traders off guard since it is something that they’ve never thought about.

S&P and Dow close at session lows

NASDAQ are on the day but off the session highs

the S&P index and Dow industrial average are both closing at/near session lows. The NASDAQ index remained higher on the day but well off its high levels.
The final numbers are showing
  • S&P index -20.02 points or -0.70% at 2848.42. The high percentage was 0.79%
  • NASDAQ index +45.266 points or +0.51% at 8854.38. The high percentage was 1.41%.
  • Dow industrial average -218.45 points or -0.91% at 23664.64.  The high percentage was up 0.72%.
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