CAT: A break from the 50SMA makes CAT look interesting here. The 90SMA may give some resistance.
WFR: Looks to be a really good channeling stock. For the past 6months WFR has been in a 57-to-64 price range.
JEF: The chart does not yet indicate a breakout, but it looks ripe, enough to keep an eye it.
I was reading this article from AP, showcasing the problem with private student loans and the threat toward US Economic growth. This article hit a cord with me, as I am one of those people with a ‘phat’ student loan obligation. On top of the sizeable loan, a year and a half ago I realized the company holding my private loans were ripping me off. (A disturbing legal theft that gave me the urge to throw up when I realized what was going on.)
The company holding my loan clearly was taking advantage of me, making me pay far more money than a traditionl mortgage or home equity loan would have me pay. What sick fuck of a company would take advantage of kids trying to make their way into the system? On top of being taken advantage of, at the time about a third of my monthly pay check was going to pay off the debt. (That sucks)
Truly if I had Private Equity backing I would create the fairest private loan scheme available for students. Buy out a small firm that is lacking in business, but has the legal hurdles out of the way. Change the business model from ‘theft’ to ‘fairness’. The less income from the loan received from essencially stealing from kids would be made up for from the volume of the loans processed (ie market share gain). I would make the private loans straight forward and a point higher than federal loans. Make it a low margin biz, depended on volume and securitization fees on some of the loans. (Most of the loans would be kepted in house.)
I am just glad I know how to invest to have supplemental income.
My advice to any college kid reading this blog… if you have the capability, tell your parents to take out a traditional home equity loan, or long-term fixed mortgage for your college. Then pay back your parent(s).
What an interesting little quote from a man who was at the helm of the most prosperous time in America… from Greenspan
“I must admit that I do not have considerable concern about their net worth going from 40 million to five million, which in many case is what’s happened.” (article)
I love the candor. The hedge fund blow ups via the credit crunch was a taxing of the really rich. And he did not care to act on it. As a ‘lttle guy’, and who thanks him for the volatility he helped create, I gotta love him.
In a few words… corny, trying too hard, assumed to be cool - writing.
The show could be good, the acting talent is there, but it is far too corny. (I guess what makes it corny is the music playing while the one liners are executed, as well as inappropriate ‘trying to be cool’ moments.)
NMX looks to be breaking out, and making a move toward its 140 upper band range. The stock was highlighted on the blog about two weeks ago, with what I thought was a good write up as to how to play it. (a piece I was surprise not posted on seekingalpha… hint hint editors… 
… j/k)
Here is the break out, as I see it:
I am seriously considering buying a place in the NY area sometime in December because ever since my ex-girl and I went our separate ways in mid June I have been technically homeless. (Yes, homeless.)
(How I am curretly a homeless investor … About a month after getting thrown onto the street I was going on vacation so I had no real time to go through the process of finding a place to rent, and do not want to buy so soon into this housing mess. When I got back from vacation I knew I had to stay in Boston for the weekdays, living out a hotel, for a few months. Which is further delaying my finding a home. On the weekend I sleep on family and friend’s couches. Quite interesting to say the least.)
How I digress… I was planning on buying a place (condo/apartment) sometime in December as my time in Boston should come to an end. I assumed the price declines may hit near bottom levels during the heart of winter. Observing the weak macro conditions, then add on the seasonal weakness and trying to factor in the subsiding affects of rate cuts, I figure December may be a good time to start looking.
After reading this article, it has me scratching my head telling me I should wait. article. I am looking to buy in the New York area, but that is not expected to recover by 2010. Granted data always changes, especially what future contracts tell us, but I am too young to have experienced a proper real-estate cycle and this info has me a bit more cautious.
Here stands the pondering, cautious, homeless investor (oh how i make myself smile)
I am a fan of JCG, and their management. The company has room to grow, and management with the know-how to make sure things go smoothly. In the current retail environment JCG is getting beaten down, and the daily chart is indicative of this negativity. Observe the resistance of the SMAs…
Daily:
However, there is support at the 42-43 level. Fundamentally, JCG appears undervalued, at least to me, especially given the proven management. (For a quick and dirty valuation plug in JCG within the link, and you will see what I mean. Play around with the variables to suite your own expectations.)
The weekly confirms the 42 support level, and indicates JCG is still in a long-term bullish trend.
Weekly:
The play here would be to sell the 45 Dec Puts. Target and Lowes, and the retail index tell me the rate cuts need time to play themselves out with respect to benefit retail. In the mean time make some income by selling the puts, and if the puts get exercised, 45 is a great price to pay for this stock. (Granted you technically get the stock lower by including the premium received by selling the puts.)
IMO, JCG will be higher than 45 by December, but with the index acting as head wind (rather than facilitating and upward push), getting some income is better than flat out purchasing the stock… just incase the stock goes lower due to sector weakness.
Here is the unusual behavior from the Nasdaq vs the QQQQ. Usually they move in similar ways, but the Slow Stoch of the QQQQ is what threw me off. The QQQQ is pretty bullish, and looks to have fuel. (Hence my position, but in case I am wrong, I am ready to pull the trigger to buy more.)
Naz:
QQQQ:
I entered an initial position in the Qs today. I am getting the impression of a sustained steady move upward from the QQQQ. It was only an initial position because I want to be exposed to the move, but incase I am wrong and there is a slight correction I want to take advantage (and add a pretty big position).
I will post a chart later in the day. (The chart is a bit weird though, it shows the Qs as not overbought, but the Nasdaq composite very overbought. I thought it may have been a mistake, until it dawned on me that it may be justification for a sustained steady move upward for the Naz.)
I find it humorous. We all knew/know retail is in the crapper. Lowes lowering was a given. Target was a bit of a surprise seeing how they produced a solid quarter the pervious go around. (Then again, I was calling for a consolidation this week, and here is the excuse to have one.)
The premises as to why the market went up w/the rate cuts was not to save retail, but to save the credit markets and to get money moving again. (Besides, the cuts need time to work into the system. Retail maybe the last ones to benefit from the cuts.)
My discipline made me cover the GS puts yesterday, and I stand by it (albeit, relatively annoyed . I saw some bullishness there, and the retail story was probably leaked causing the markets to go down yesterday afternoon.
Let the dust settle, and use this opportunity. Look to the QQQQ, TIE, GS, GOOG and other solid names you always wanted to get into.
