The Stock Market and Investing

anthonyp

I wish all a happy Thanksgiving, and continued success in the market ...I went to the Apple store the other day, and it was very busy....That is my report... other than down here in Miami things, particularly exotic cars are just everywhere more than I have seen in a few years Prosperity .Tony

ljflx

Happy and safe Thanksgiving to all. Charlie and Tag - I hope you guys are right and I'm wrong about that 10,800 Dow today especially because I bought my first Rolex this week and now my wife wants one. Gotta tell you having a jeweler as a very close friend is an expensive proposition.

dieselone

Yes and no. My BIL is a jewler and yes, he spends a lot of my money, but at least I get a hefty discount;)

ljflx

Oh I get a phenomenal discount from him. But his items are really phenomenal. Actually one piece we have from him is a 7 carat tourmaline surrounded by 7.5 carts of diamonds on a platinum necklace. He picked it up at a huge estate sale. We paid all of $6200 for it back in 1995 (he nust have made $500) and we went to and independent jeweler recently who appraised it at $52K. The tourmaline is so beautiful that some folks have mistaken it for an emerald. An emerald that size would probably be in the Smithsonian. He's made things for Tiffany and Cartier in the past that I could have bought from him at 15-20% of the price they sell them for.

dieselone

Nice!

ljflx

And here in central NJ it's snowing on Thanksgiving but it should only be brief until rain takes over.

tagman

Southern California weather today... a choice of driving to the snow in the mountains, or enjoying the forecast high of 65 sunny degrees at the beach right here in Malibu. :shades:

Len... I am probably in the minority, but I don't wear any jewelry whatsoever, and haven't done so in many years... I just don't like adorning myself and I find it interfering and uncomfortable for some reason. But my wife loves jewelry, of course, and I have taken good care of her (hopefully... haha) all these years, and even had some custom once-of-a-kind pieces made years ago. I did buy my wife a ladie's Rolex some years ago from a jeweler friend. To be honest, I have no idea if it was a good deal or not, but she has always loved it, so I guess that in itself made it a good deal.

Anyway, enjoy that timepiece. You truly deserve it!! (So does you wife... hint, hint.)

Oh... Loved the L.A. auto show yesterday. Many unexpected pleasant surprises as well as some disappointments. But lots of fun.

I'll check back now and then... Back to the festivities.... We've started setting up Christmas today.

TM

houdini1

We've started setting up Christmas today.

Whew !! Just finished that chore, with one big tree and two small ones (about 5 feet) inside and 2 more small ones outside. I swear I don't know how I manage to misplace so much stuff from year to year, not to mention how it all fits together: tree stands, cords, decorations, etc.

But lots of fun !! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving !!

cyclone4

Charlie and Tag - I hope you guys are right and I'm wrong about that 10,800 Dow today especially because I bought my first Rolex this week and now my wife wants one

I'll tell you what. Based on what I witnessed this morning driving to work (in Des Moines) at about 3:45 AM, this will be a HUGE Holiday shopping season. The traffic on my way to work was incredible for that hour of the morning. People/knuckleheads were out in droves heading to stores and get in line for the 4:00 AM opening bell. I passed by one mall and it was difficult to see any open parking spots on the huge parking lots. I saw a very long line of people waiting for the doors to open to the Target store at the mall.

My feeling is that this will be the best Christmas shopping season for retailers in quite a few years. I truly believe that people are indeed spending money and this gives me even more confidence that 2011 will be very good for the stock market.

gagrice

We had Thanksgiving with about 50 family and friends yesterday. I love the variety of food and especially all the pies. Several of my wife's nieces were headed to the mall at midnight for the Midnight Madness shopping that has become popular here in San Diego. I would not consider going out. Yet they love the chaos and crowds. Just finding a parking spot is a huge challenge. So I would guess you are right about it being a good Christmas season. At least for those with jobs. All the family and friends I talked to yesterday are back to work. The economy looks better than last Thanksgiving. Our unemployment is lower than the rest of the state. Housing is still going down in price. People not qualifying is the biggest obstacle. Plus the massive amount of foreclosed property. If you got the cash and willing to put in the time you can make some money.

cyclone4

Some of the stores opened at Midnight last night here as well. It is incredible what action some people will take just to save a buck or two. I'm also certain that some of these people do this because they actually enjoy it.

houdini1

One theory is that us humans never do anything of our own volition unless we get some sort of satisfaction or enjoyment out of it.

fintail

On that subject, and I guess as a weak investment, this year I also bought my first higher end watch. I had for some time wanted something nice, but never took the plunge...however this year "you only live once" has been on my mind, so I did it. Luxury watches seem to depreciate a bit in their first few years and then stabilize, so I bought a gently used model - an IWC Ingenieur chrono with a design I had admired. I have no regrets.

cyclone4

Len... I am probably in the minority, but I don't wear any jewelry whatsoever, and haven't done so in many years... I just don't like adorning myself and I find it interfering and uncomfortable for some reason.

I am the same way. I hate to wear any jewelry. I do not even wear our wedding ring. I do wear a fairly cheap watch but that is it. My wife does have some and wears some very nice jewelry but that's her.

ljflx

I wear a watch, wedding band and my father's diamond pinky ring. Ive never worn bracelets and necklaces.

houdini1

Now that is odd. I always pictured you with your shirt open and those big gold chains around your neck !! Just kidding, hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

tagman

Hi Houdini... Quite a ways back, I believe Len posted a pic of himself as a young man standing next to his car... I think he was sporting a fair head of hair, an open shirt, and he was wearing a chain around his neck. :surprise:

TM

ljflx

Then and now;

1982 with my Jordache jeans and single but soon to be engaged. My wife put the mustache on me and actiually drew it onto a similar picture. Before that it was on and off

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=oavf2v&s=7

2007 with the family on my mothers 90th that we threw for her.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2hoftwk&s=7

September 2010 at my buddy's (nasdaq) daughters wedding. My jeweler buddy is next to me.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=24pwjza&s=7

tagman

Kind of interesting how nearly everyone has a friend who is a jeweler. :surprise:

Those guys sure are a mighty clever bunch.

TM

anthonyp

Nice pictures, and everyone is looking ``happy``---as they should be -- on such occasions......Tony

gagrice

I got a friend that is a jeweler. His shopped was robbed. They killed his guard dog and stole his collection of rare opals. Cops never recovered them and he did not have insurance. So he just putters around in there. Fixes jewelry for friends at no charge. He owns the building and gets rent on the other shops. I was told the markup is very high on jewelry. Buy for $100 sell for $1000. Pretty good margin. Plus all the phony stuff out of Thailand makes it shaky, unless you do know the jeweler and trust him.

cyclone4

Len, it looks like the jeweler's lady friend has had a few . You don't look a day over 39 in your recent photo . Seriously, I think you look better now than you did in 1982.

Everything I heard on the news this evening suggests that this will be a huge Holiday shopping season. It got off to a great start today. That has to bode well for the economy.

houdini1

Good pictures Len, thanks for being a good sport and thanks for sharing.

tagman

Ditto that.

TM

ljflx

Jeweler is married and his wife s not in the picture. One of the woman in the pix (not my wife, of course) is a great obstetrician and was part of the team that delivered septuplets in NJ about 10 years ago. We have a close nit group of about 14 of us that are all close friends. I think all of us had plenty to drink at the time of that photo but wedding had another 2.5 hours to go and those of us driving went to water and soda the rest of the night. This reception was at the Eagle Oaks Golf course and it's a beautiful place. To get home all but 2 of us had to drive thru the Earle Naval Weapons Station (about 3 miles or so) and there's usually a trouper or naval cop on duty and hidden. So none of us wanted to have too much in us at the end of the night. I put my cruise on 50-55 whenever I drive through there. My son used to play soccer on Earle and they'd ticket you for going 26 in a 25mph zone. After 9/11 the school games on the Earle ceased.

ljflx

Here you go Charlie - looks like a solid black Friday.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/What-recession-Shoppers-eat-apf-3019348230.html?x=- 0&sec=topStories&pos=9&asset=&ccode=

cyclone4

I am not surprised! Len, does this change your thinking at all on the stock market and the economy going forward?

ljflx

I've never been down on the market except that it can only rise so high (I'd say 12-12.5K) with this level of unemployment. I've been down on the year end for profit taking especially if the tax issues aren't resolved. My jeweler buddy is having a strong year end close here but that's not representative as he also had a good year last year. That's more tied to this zip and the fact that this immediate area is old money and a lott of it. We're closing the year with record profits too but that's beacuse ad money is always first to bounce back and on radio the auto industry has roared back to life and many small agencies that cancelled us last year are now back thanks to dealership advertising.

laurasdada

But hopefully not as good as I'm going to be... Hello, folks. Still lurking, it's been a tough 18 months (as for many, my problems don't amount to a hill of beans compated to other's, unfortunately...). While things appear to be heading in the right direction, I still feel a bit adrift. As I've noted, really lost my muse when it comes to writing in my usually long-winded, pseudo literati-post rambling style...

Heading to the New England International Auto Show on Thursday and, indeed, I shall be looking for the aforemetnioned and not-forgotten Dre. I'm sure she'll remember me as much as I remember her. But having dropped a few pounds over the last 18 months, she may not recognize me. I'll have to wear the same Patriots hat and have the bag full of canned goods to donate to the non-existant food drive, a la 2008 (or was it 07?)in order to jog her memory!

IWC Ingenieur AMG editon, I've been debating buying for some time to add to my "collection." A man's watch! No Rolexes, I prefer to fly a bit under the radar in that respect, although a Daytona would like mighty fine on my beyond skinny little wrist! As would a matching Ferrari of the same nick name in my tiny garage... And that is it, I also wear no jewelry. A watch is not jewelry, it is funtional!

TL still chugging along, with oh, so many coats of Zaino. Still eyeing used Jag XKs, a dealer down the road is calling me after I inquired about an '08 on their lot. Good price, but still a lot of $ for this still middle-class working man. And, slate/creme interior, not sure I could live with that. But, a good price, almost a year of factory warranty left... Even a low-ish ball offer is still new car money territory. I'm just a window-shopper at heart, but that has kept me debt-free!

Hoping all is well with y'all. Missed so many stock opportunities (C, F, QLIK noted here, but others too). But, as I've mentioned, I've been using my free cash to stay out of debt. Although, yesterday, bought a new Sony 60" LCD/LED TV. It will look good on the dash of the TL, since I didn't get the Nav TL model! Or, maybe even better mounted over the fireplace in the family room... nah. TL it is.

fintail

IWC AMG Ingenieur you say....that's exactly what I bought:



(it's hard to take a good pic of a watch)

It's a lovely thing, very intricate dial, yet masculine with the titanium and colors. I bought it online, gently used, several months ago. They are still depreciating - a couple just went on ebay for marginally less than I paid for mine. I have had 2 AMG cars, so I thought this watch would be a good fit. No regrets...although it does still feel kind of fancy for me, and workdays I wear a 40 year old Timex.

gagrice

I have worn a Casio Data Bank since they hit the market. Would not be able to tell time with a regular watch. :shades: Cheap and light weight.

Gave my son my heavy old Seiko dive watch. He used it for years.

anthonyp

Hi DaDa

Very nice to red your words again, although I look forward to the masterful writing of past.....Tony

fintail

I haven't had a digital watch since I was in junior high :shades:

I hate jewelry, but I like to have a watch. I had wanted a higher end watch for some time, and earlier figured now's the time, you only live once...and it will always be worth something.

The IWC watch is very light as it is all titanium. The one drawback is that it lacks a date function.

laurasdada

Very nice, Fin. I'm considering the sans-chronograph with strap (prefer the date vs. chronograph. My IWC DaVinci SL is a chrono, as is my beloved circa 1978 Seiko Chrono automatic). Ebay, local watch store, Tourneau. I think supply is good.

Yes, just like a Timex or Casio will keep fine time, so will a CamCord provide a fine drive. But, God invented IWCs/Omegas/Rolexes and S6/M5/AMGs for a reason...

I'll give all your best to Dre, as I don't think my best shall do!

fintail

I prefer the metal band to the kevlar style, but the black band is cheaper, as well as the non-chrono version. As you say, there are a few out there - always a handful at ebay. The chrono listed at over 7K new, one can find a used one for 3K or so. I can't see them going under 2K. Money can be wasted much worse. At the IWC dealer in KaDeWe in Berlin, they had some IWC listed at over 20K Euro.

The previous owner told me it had never been opened, so I shipped it off for a service right after I got it. Cost nearly as much as a service on an AMG car! I guess the name means something after all :shades: But as you say, these were invented for a reason. It's something special.

There's a style of Tutima (German) military style watch with a black metal band and black dial that I would like to have, but they are fairly rare. That might be my next, but it will be some years off.

kyfdx

.. I just look at my phone for the time...

tagman

I just look at my phone for the time

Same here.

Or... one of the computer screens, one of the household microwaves, TV displays, desk clocks, wall clocks, auto dash clock....

TM

cyclone4

Laurasdada,

It is SO great to hear that you are on the road to recovery. It's amazing that we were talking about you the other day and here you are, blessing us with your talent.

Hey, when Dre sees your Pats cap at the show Thursday, she will adore you.

BTW, I always get excited when you mention the Patriots. When it is all said and done, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will be known as the best QB and best coach in NFL history. My brother lives only about 4 miles from Gillette Stadium. He won a Ford F-150 when he entered a contest on the Patriots flagship station about a month and a half ago. Maybe you saw him on the local TV station over there as he was interviewed several times. The members here will get a kick out of how he won the truck. He and many thousands of others were suppose to pick the winners of all the NFL games back in October. Well, he won that contest. That qualified him to win a truck. Listen to this: The truck would be won ONLY if the Patriot kick-off return guy would return it all the way for a touchdown either at the start of the game, or in this case, the start of the second half. Brandon Tate caught the ball 3 yards deep in the endzone, It looked like he was going to be tackled several times near the Pats 25 yard line. He somehow escaped and the rest was history. TD and my brother wins a brand new 2011, F-150. The truck is suppose to arrive sometime in January. The odds were probably at least 1 in a million that he would win since he first had to win the initial contest and then the Pats guy had to return it all the way for a TD (only one chance).

That IWC is some kind of watch. I just looked it up on Google. Wow, they are not cheap. About the cheapest model is just under $5K.

Hey, when Dre sees your Pats cap at the show Thursday, she will adore you.

dieselone

That's a sharp watch. A watch and my wedding band are the only jewelry I wear. I didn't go crazy with the watch as I have a Tag Heuer Aquaracer as does my wife, except her's is a bit fancier as it is a "Mother of Pearl".

I wear my Tag all of the time whether I'm waterskiing, swimming, or just hanging out at the beach. If I had spend 4 digits on them, I probably would be more careful, but I was able to buy them relatively cheap so I wear it like I would a timex. I will say it takes a beating and has held up well.

fintail

High end watches are like high end cars - a best buy when gently used. My 7K+ when new watch can be had for not much more than 3K now.

tagman

Given the nature of this forum, it begs the question... which watches, if any, are good investments?

I would have to think that wearing and enjoying the watch is the highest priority, but since there are those of us that don't like to wear a watch or any jewelry, I was wondering what you guys know about the investment perspective.

TM

fintail

I like the Tag Monaco with a blue dial, but it costs more or less the same as I paid for my IWC, and for me the AMG connection was cooler. They do make some nice stuff though.

My daily wearing watch is a pre-quartz electric Timex that I bought at an estate sale for a quarter some years ago because I thought it looked cool. It keeps moving on, but the old tech guzzles batteries, goes less than a year before it slows down.

houdini1

I still wear my college ring (proud of that darn thing), wedding band and normally my $15.00 Casio. I bought the Casio because it is very simple and has a 10 year battery.

My wife and I both have Rolex's but seldom wear them. I would think they might depreciate less than a lot of others because the price keeps going up on new ones. Still, like most trinkets, a poor investment.

fintail

New Rolex's don't seem to be the best investment - like a brand new highline car, but they do seem to hit a depreciation floor, so if anything you might not lose money if you buy at the right time. However, everything in life shouldn't be looked at as an investment.

I don't have an attraction to Rolex, based on what I call "Cobra syndrome" - everyone will assume it is fake.

ljflx

I bought pre-owned recent ones and I didn't buy them as an investment. If you look at everything as an investment you'll never live.

Charlie - the market and sunspot theory. Both fit your area of expertis and this guy sees Dow 5000.Where do they find these people. We seem to have more and more extremists and fewer and fewer people with common sense.

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/stocks-fine-for-now-but-then-dow-will-crash- - -to-5000-says-nenner-535663.html?tickers=%5EDJI,%5EGSPC,%5EIXIC,%5ESPY,%5EQQQQ,%- - 5ETLT,%5ETNX&sec=topStories&pos=8&asset=&ccode=

tagman

If you look at everything as an investment you'll never live.

Truer words cannot be spoken. I have wasted so much money over the years on cars it has been delinquent. (until recently... saving for upsoming massive private college tuition is currently a higher priority). Yet, had I not done so, I would never have enjoyed so many of them.

Since I don't find that a watch helps me to "live" or be happy in any way, I was wondering about its investment value... which might actually be of interest to some. Some people collect and/or invest in many different things... antiques, art, coins, stamps, war memorabilia, cars, or maybe even watches.

TM

houdini1

Sunspot theory eh? That is probably as good as my dart board theory.

Tag, I have high hopes for my $15. Casio. Since it has a 10 year battery I will only keep it for about 7 years and then hope to unload it for about $17. or so on some clueless watch investor who doesn't know about the battery situation.

fintail

I don't think any normal (under 5 figures) watch can be called a good investment - most of them don't seem to become true collectibles and don't appreciate like normal investment vehicles. Kind of like with most cars, buy it because you like it, because the ROI isn't going to be great. However if one can buy from an urgent seller or something similar, profits could be made. The really high end precious metal/gemstone kind of stuff should at least move along with what it is made from, which seems to be nothing but upward lately.

cyclone4

Charlie - the market and sunspot theory. Both fit your area of expertis and this guy sees Dow 5000.Where do they find these people. We seem to have more and more extremists and fewer and fewer people with common sense.

Truly amazing! The shame of it is that QUACKS like this guy make a lot of money by deceiving people.

tagman

Tag, I have high hopes for my $15. Casio. Since it has a 10 year battery I will only keep it for about 7 years and then hope to unload it for about $17. or so on some clueless watch investor who doesn't know about the battery situation.

Muwah ah ha. Dang, that's ridiculously funny.

TM