No Bids!

Aug 9, 2007 10:37 pm

Did any of you boys or girls hear John Bogel discussing today's down day?

In a nutshell he said that he normally doesn't listen to the chatter because, like Shakespeare said, it's a sound and fury that signifies nothing.

He then added that he's not so sure this time.

Do you understand that in order for the market to not decline there have to be buyers.

Can anybody make a case for buying stocks in light of the credit worries--and the rippling effect of having tens of thousands of houses being defaulted on?

I know I'm an old fart, but something echoes in my head--hearing a guy who became a very big deal at Bear Stearns standing on his desk screaming, "NO BIDS--there are no phucking bids!"

There doesn't have to be a bona fide reason to sell--just no bona fide reason to buy.

Aug 10, 2007 12:08 am

REally? You have to have sellers AND buyers? This market stuff is complicated.

Also, I don't appreciate you naming yourself after me.

Aug 10, 2007 12:38 am

The market is going to be fine. That is my expert opinion.

Aug 10, 2007 12:52 am

[quote=Rabbit]The market is going to be fine. That is my expert opinion.[/quote]

How does it go up if everybody decides to wait and see before putting in a bid?

Could the Dow lose 1,000 points in one day?

Aug 10, 2007 12:59 am

No bids today huh? None at all? Zero Volume? I must’ve missed that on MSNBC today.

Aug 10, 2007 1:58 am

[quote=Rabbit]No bids today huh? None at all? Zero Volume? I must've missed that on MSNBC today.[/quote]

I think I heard that today's volume was the all time high volume.

What does a 400 point sell off on record setting volume suggest for tomorrow's trading?

Aug 10, 2007 2:20 am

[quote=DAtoo]

[quote=Rabbit]No bids today huh? None at all? Zero Volume? I must've missed that on MSNBC today.[/quote]

I think I heard that today's volume was the all time high volume.

What does a 400 point sell off on record setting volume suggest for tomorrow's trading?

[/quote]

Nothing. But the heavy selling at the end suggests that the selling is not done and there's more to come.

Aug 10, 2007 2:24 am

Could be cutting below FEB lows very soon...within days/weeks...If we do this market is officially toast IMO. 12,000s or lower on Dow...1390 on S&P...  Pretty close now...

[quote=Devils Advocate][quote=DAtoo]

[quote=Rabbit]No bids today huh? None at all? Zero Volume? I must've missed that on MSNBC today.[/quote]

I think I heard that today's volume was the all time high volume.

What does a 400 point sell off on record setting volume suggest for tomorrow's trading?

[/quote]

Nothing. But the heavy selling at the end suggests that the selling is not done and there's more to come.

[/quote]
Aug 10, 2007 3:12 am

It’s so lovely to own puts right now. 

Aug 10, 2007 12:05 pm

[quote=joedabrkr]It's so lovely to own puts right now.  [/quote]

I knew a guy like you Joeboy.  On major move days we'd run into each other at the local watering hole.

He'd wander over and tell us how he had timed that day's activity perfectly.  If we were up big he'll tell us that he used all his availalbe buying power to buy calls--if the market was down hard he just happened to be long put and paid for them by shorting calls.

It was always the same.

What was also always the same is before he left he'd whisper, "I'm a little short. Could I borrow a thousand till pay day?"

Aug 10, 2007 2:56 pm

[quote=DAtoo]

[quote=joedabrkr]It’s so lovely to own puts right now.  [/quote]

I knew a guy like you Joeboy.  On major move days we'd run into each other at the local watering hole.

He'd wander over and tell us how he had timed that day's activity perfectly.  If we were up big he'll tell us that he used all his availalbe buying power to buy calls--if the market was down hard he just happened to be long put and paid for them by shorting calls.

It was always the same.

What was also always the same is before he left he'd whisper, "I'm a little short. Could I borrow a thousand till pay day?"

[/quote]

Putsy-I don't care what you think.  I know what my account balance is right now, and I won't need to borrow any lunch money from you.

My biggest challenge right now is deciding whether or not to take more profits because the Fed is getting aggressive with their interventions.
Aug 10, 2007 3:29 pm

What I find amusing is Putsy's interactions on this board... His argumentative and abrasive nature is probably what kept him muddled in mid-management his entire career... His need to constantly convey his superiority- yet he takes potshots at me when I state my desire to own a condo in the near future. I love his need to appear superior with his 'my kitchen is larger than your condo" comments... Truly is a sight to behold when a 60 year old feels the need to "one up" someone half his age...

Makes for a humorous distraction to the markets these days...

Aug 10, 2007 3:38 pm

Putsy,

Yesterday you were barking at everyone, saying how we don't add value, and how you make eleventy kazilion doing your silly options trading.  Now you're asking us for advice? Blippity blap blap.

Aug 10, 2007 3:45 pm

[quote=blarmston]

What I find amusing is Putsy’s interactions on this board… His argumentative and abrasive nature is probably what kept him muddled in mid-management his entire career… His need to constantly convey his superiority- yet he takes potshots at me when I state my desire to own a condo in the near future. I love his need to appear superior with his 'my kitchen is larger than your condo" comments… Truly is a sight to behold when a 60 year old feels the need to “one up” someone half his age…

Makes for a humorous distraction to the markets these days...

[/quote]

Once again blarm you've proven how much you 'get it'...
Aug 10, 2007 4:04 pm

[quote=blarmston]

What I find amusing is Putsy's interactions on this board... His argumentative and abrasive nature is probably what kept him muddled in mid-management his entire career... His need to constantly convey his superiority- yet he takes potshots at me when I state my desire to own a condo in the near future. I love his need to appear superior with his 'my kitchen is larger than your condo" comments... Truly is a sight to behold when a 60 year old feels the need to "one up" someone half his age...

[/quote]

I am not trying to "one up" you.  What I am doing is shining the bright light of reality on what a poser you are.

There is a difference.

Aug 10, 2007 4:54 pm

Do you really think so?

I am in my late-20's. I am several years into a successful career as an advisor with a great firm. Adding about a million in new assets a month...

I have zero debt other than $12K in student loans at 3.79%. I have a brokerage account that will be around six figures within 2-3 months... A healthy money market account for savings... Contributing 10% to a rapidly increasing 401K. Looking to purchase real estate within the next 9 months or so...

Poser? C'mon now... You shouldn't hate so much...

Aug 10, 2007 5:31 pm

[quote=DAtoo]


I am not trying to “one up” you.  What I am doing is shining the bright light of reality on what a poser you are.

There is a difference.

[/quote]

You've reached a new high on the irony scale by making that comment....
Aug 10, 2007 5:41 pm

As an aside, they’re interviewing this guy Mike Malone on CNBC who is apparently head of trading at Cowen and Co…I’m not sure this kid is even old enough to shave by the looks of him.

No wonder you can make money trading in this market when fellas like him are on the other side.

Aug 10, 2007 6:01 pm

[quote=blarmston]

Do you really think so?

I am in my late-20's. I am several years into a successful career as an advisor with a great firm. Adding about a million in new assets a month...

I have zero debt other than $12K in student loans at 3.79%. I have a brokerage account that will be around six figures within 2-3 months... A healthy money market account for savings... Contributing 10% to a rapidly increasing 401K. Looking to purchase real estate within the next 9 months or so...

Poser? C'mon now... You shouldn't hate so much...

[/quote]

I have no hate--none whatsoever.

I still think you're a poser however.

Aug 10, 2007 6:25 pm

C'mon Datoo. You are jealous my life and my lifestyle.. You are jealous that I work my ass off during the week and am successful. You are jealous that I actually am relevant in the world today. You are jealous that I am financially secure and can do whatever I wish (maybe Vegas this weekend, maybe a trip to Santa Barbara with a lady friend for a couple days, maybe Scottsdale to party at ASU...)... You are jealous that I dont live retirement staring at a computer... You hate that you are no longer important. If oyu ever were at all...

Meanwhile, you live with your in-laws in some podunk town in GA... FUN...

Aug 10, 2007 6:35 pm

[quote=blarmston]

C'mon Datoo. You are jealous my life and my lifestyle.. You are jealous that I work my ass off during the week and am successful. You are jealous that I actually am relevant in the world today. You are jealous that I am financially secure and can do whatever I wish (maybe Vegas this weekend, maybe a trip to Santa Barbara with a lady friend for a couple days, maybe Scottsdale to party at ASU...)... You are jealous that I dont live retirement staring at a computer... You hate that you are no longer important. If oyu ever were at all...

Meanwhile, you live with your in-laws in some podunk town in GA... FUN...

[/quote]

You're kidding, right?  I've got a card in my pocket that will get me a free seat on Delta to any city in the world--first class if there is one available.

Tell me, how are you "relevant?"  If you were to be hit by a bus this afternoon would more than two or three people really give a damn? 

Think about this--if you died tonight how many people would show up at your funeral?

What qualifications do you have to be a "financial advisor?"  Do you have a degree?  Is it in portfolio management or something even remotely related to Wall Street?

Would you trust you to know what to do with $500,000?

Let me say that I've been around for years and I don't feel comfortable managing my own money--nor does anybody I know and we're a bunch of gray beards.

The idea that a kid who is still in his twenties thinks he even knows the questions--much less the answers--is laughable.

Aug 10, 2007 6:45 pm

Would you trust you to know what to do with $500,000?

Yes.

Let me say that I've been around for years and I don't feel comfortable managing my own money--nor does anybody I know and we're a bunch of gray beards.

I thought you and your crowd were DIY'ers.  That very statement flies in the face of everything you said in the other thread.  Apparently, you could do fine on your own with no professional advice.

Aug 10, 2007 6:48 pm

You're kidding, right?  I've got a card in my pocket that will get me a free seat on Delta to any city in the world--first class if there is one available.

Yet you stare at a computer all day, thinking fondly of the days when your life may have had some meaning.

You are truly a miserable old man...

Aug 10, 2007 6:51 pm

[quote=the word]

Would you trust you to know what to do with $500,000?

Yes.

Let me say that I've been around for years and I don't feel comfortable managing my own money--nor does anybody I know and we're a bunch of gray beards.

I thought you and your crowd were DIY'ers.  That very statement flies in the face of everything you said in the other thread.  Apparently, you could do fine on your own with no professional advice.

[/quote]

I didn't say I wasn't a DIYer--what I said was I am not comfortable doing it.

The arrogance of youth allows those of your ilk to think that you know what you're doing.

You don't--the reality is that the best in this business are simply better guesses than the rest of us.

Aug 10, 2007 6:56 pm

[quote=blarmston]

You're kidding, right?  I've got a card in my pocket that will get me a free seat on Delta to any city in the world--first class if there is one available.

Yet you stare at a computer all day, thinking fondly of the days when your life may have had some meaning.

You are truly a miserable old man...

[/quote]

We avoid travelling when everybody else is.  Europe is on vacation this month--we'd have to be crazy to be there now.

We hope to leave the week after Labor Day for a few weeks in Germany, Switzerland and Provence.  We're being held back by a very sick parent and a very sick dog so we're not sure if we'll be able to go or not.

What would you do if the SEC outlaws the idea of "financial advisors?"

Aug 10, 2007 6:59 pm

I didn't say I wasn't a DIYer--what I said was I am not comfortable doing it.

So, you are not confident at doing something that could have major ramifications on your life, but yet seek no professional advice? 

Aug 10, 2007 7:00 pm

"What qualifications do you have to be a "financial advisor?"  Do you have a degree?  Is it in portfolio management or something even remotely related to Wall Street?"

Do you ask every young guy on this board the same questions? Why should he give you his credentials and education. I gave you mine and that were very relevant to Wall Street and I didn't get a response.

"The arrogance of youth allows those of your ilk to think that you know what you're doing."

Do you really want to be that bitter old man that is angry at youth. Didn't you hate those guys when you were coming up through the ranks? If you want our respect why don't you give us our dues from time to time and we'll give you yours.

I don't understand if I had a 20K/mo pension and a frequent flier card I don't think I would stay the same place two nights in a row.

Aug 10, 2007 7:06 pm

[quote=the word]

I didn't say I wasn't a DIYer--what I said was I am not comfortable doing it.

So, you are not confident at doing something that could have major ramifications on your life, but yet seek no professional advice? 

[/quote]

Exactly, and the reason is I have spent thirty years being deeply involved with the hiring of "financial advisors" at one of the nation's most premier of premier firms.

I firmly--as in FIRMLY--believe that less than 2% of those who have been hired since 1980 are good enough to retain in the business if it wasn't a "numbers game" of hiring fools to seek out greater fools as clients.

Aug 10, 2007 7:17 pm

DAtoo- enjoy your trip to France with William’s hand in your pants.

Aug 10, 2007 7:32 pm

[quote=DAtoo]Let me say that I've been around for years and I don't feel comfortable managing my own money--nor does anybody I know and we're a bunch of gray beards.[/quote]

Let's see, you claim you've been in financial services for 40 years, yet you aren't comfortable managing your OWN money?  That tells me ALL i need to know...........

Advisors bring NO VALUE and are incompetent, yet you PAY one yourself..........how ironic is that?? 

Aug 10, 2007 7:42 pm

Putsy,

Let's see if I understand this correctly.  You hired people, yet you firmly--as in FIRMLY--believed that 98% of them would have failed if the business wasn't about seeking out greater fools as clients.

All this time, I just thought that you were a bitter old guy who made it into middle management.  Now I know that you're a bitter old man who made his money by hiring incompetent brokers to rip off foolish investors. 

I'm very curious.  How could you hire people knowing that 98% of them were going to be ripping people off?  Did you have a 30 year ethical lapse?

Aug 10, 2007 7:45 pm

[quote=anonymous]

Putsy,

Let's see if I understand this correctly.  You hired people, yet you firmly--as in FIRMLY--believed that 98% of them would have failed if the business wasn't about seeking out greater fools as clients.

All this time, I just thought that you were a bitter old guy who made it into middle management.  Now I know that you're a bitter old man who made his money by hiring incompetent brokers to rip off foolish investors. 

I'm very curious.  How could you hire people knowing that 98% of them were going to be ripping people off?  Did you have a 30 year ethical lapse?[/quote]

Aug 10, 2007 8:06 pm

[quote=anonymous]

Putsy,

Let's see if I understand this correctly.  You hired people, yet you firmly--as in FIRMLY--believed that 98% of them would have failed if the business wasn't about seeking out greater fools as clients.

All this time, I just thought that you were a bitter old guy who made it into middle management.  Now I know that you're a bitter old man who made his money by hiring incompetent brokers to rip off foolish investors. 

I'm very curious.  How could you hire people knowing that 98% of them were going to be ripping people off?  Did you have a 30 year ethical lapse?

[/quote]

Where did I say they would be ripping off clients?

You're an incompetent--are you ripping off clients?

What I said was that about 98% of those we were hiring were little more than bodies--cannon fodder for the cold call game.

We administered both personality and intelligence tests and tried our best to choose the most qualified.  The reality is that it's a sales career and very few bright guys and gals are attracted to sales careers.

Who among us has not heard a friend or parent tell us, "Well, you could always try sales" when we are coming to the realization that our grades and/or choice of majors were mistakes and made us essentially unemployable.

Aug 10, 2007 8:09 pm

[quote=DAtoo][quote=anonymous]

Putsy,

Let's see if I understand this correctly.  You hired people, yet you firmly--as in FIRMLY--believed that 98% of them would have failed if the business wasn't about seeking out greater fools as clients.

All this time, I just thought that you were a bitter old guy who made it into middle management.  Now I know that you're a bitter old man who made his money by hiring incompetent brokers to rip off foolish investors. 

I'm very curious.  How could you hire people knowing that 98% of them were going to be ripping people off?  Did you have a 30 year ethical lapse?

[/quote]

Where did I say they would be ripping off clients?

You're an incompetent--are you ripping off clients?

What I said was that about 98% of those we were hiring were little more than bodies--cannon fodder for the cold call game.

We administered both personality and intelligence tests and tried our best to choose the most qualified.  The reality is that it's a sales career and very few bright guys and gals are attracted to sales careers.

Who among us has not heard a friend or parent tell us, "Well, you could always try sales" when we are coming to the realization that our grades and/or choice of majors were mistakes and made us essentially unemployable.

[/quote]

So you're admitting that you are/were "essentially unemployable."

Aug 10, 2007 8:17 pm

[quote=DAtooWhere did I say they would be ripping off clients?[/quote]

Well, you SAID we all do, so that makes you part of the problem..........

[quote]You're an incompetent--are you ripping off clients?[/quote]

Again, your premise is that ALL brokers are ripping off their clients, so what's your point?

[quote]What I said was that about 98% of those we were hiring were little more than bodies--cannon fodder for the cold call game.[/quote]

That proves it.  You are WORSE than us because you hired THOUSANDS of unqualified "warm bodies"?  Nice, you ADDED to the problem............

[quote]The reality is that it's a sales career and very few bright guys and gals are attracted to sales careers.[/quote]

A LOT of CEO's rose to that position from the sales side of a corp.............

Aug 10, 2007 8:17 pm

Where did I say they would be ripping off clients?

Ok, so they were seeking greater fools, but they weren't ripping them off.  If they weren't getting ripped off, how were they greater fools?

If all that you were doing was hiring cannon fodder, what sort of positive difference were you making?  I know that you'll argue to the contrary, but you sure are now coming off as not only a not too successful rep, but a failure as a recruiter.

Aug 10, 2007 9:08 pm

[quote=pretzelhead]

So you're admitting that you are/were "essentially unemployable."

[/quote]

I was very well qualified for jobs that did not exist in sufficient quantity where I wanted to live.

I am not too proud to admit that I entered the sales game after knocking on a lot of doors that were not opening to me at the time.

I could have moved elsewhere, but I was in love with a flight attendant so I didn't.

If I could do it again the only thing I would change is I would have fallen in love with a girl who lived in my hometown instead of 1,000 miles away.

Aug 10, 2007 9:17 pm

[quote=anonymous]

Where did I say they would be ripping off clients?

Ok, so they were seeking greater fools, but they weren't ripping them off.  If they weren't getting ripped off, how were they greater fools?

If all that you were doing was hiring cannon fodder, what sort of positive difference were you making?  I know that you'll argue to the contrary, but you sure are now coming off as not only a not too successful rep, but a failure as a recruiter.

[/quote]

I was never a recruiter, what I said was I was very involved in hiring decisions--much of my career was on a wirehouse regional staff and the even more on the home office branch supervision and administration side.

There was not a new hire anywhere in the country whose file did not cross my desk.  I could not veto a hire but I was certainly supposed to comment negatively if I thought a negative comment was in order.

Almost nobody goes to college with their ultimate goal being to become a stock broker or whatever the title du jour is. People who study portfolio management want to end up doing that and people with degrees in finance and economics see themselves becoming a host of things other than a commission driven sales person.

It's like insurance--there is nobody BUT NOBODY who walks across the stage to pick up their college diploma who is telling themselves, "This time next year I'll be selling life insurance.  I can't wait!"

Aug 11, 2007 4:40 am

[quote=DAtoo]

I was never a recruiter, what I said was I was very involved in hiring decisions–much of my career was on a wirehouse regional staff and the even more on the home office branch supervision and administration side.

Ok, so you’ve finally confirmed what I always suspected, that you spent much of your career sucking the corporate teat as useless overhead…

There was not a new hire anywhere in the country whose file did not cross my desk.  I could not veto a hire but I was certainly supposed to comment negatively if I thought a negative comment was in order.

Yes...and you've proven to us that you have very well-honed skills in that area.

Almost nobody goes to college with their ultimate goal being to become a stock broker or whatever the title du jour is. People who study portfolio management want to end up doing that and people with degrees in finance and economics see themselves becoming a host of things other than a commission driven sales person.

I wonder how many of those folks feel that way because they are AFRAID OF FAILURE.....much like you failed as a "commission driven sales person".

It's like insurance--there is nobody BUT NOBODY who walks across the stage to pick up their college diploma who is telling themselves, "This time next year I'll be selling life insurance.  I can't wait!"

[/quote]