In Search of the Perfect Investment

Yesterday’s blog:

 

I missed Google (GOOGL), though I’ve always loved it and its latest profits soared. But Amazon alone was far better than a slap in the belly with cold fish.

From today’s New York Times:

Here’s the thing with tech stocks like AMZN, GOOGL, FB and NFLX. They go in and out of favor You really gotta buy them when they’re out of favor. Or buy them when you feel confident (as I did yesterday) that upcoming earnings will be blow-out.

Nice two-day chart for Amazon this morning. Clearly some people are dumping their short-term gains. good opportunity to pick up more AMZN.

Meantime, I have three Amazon boxes coming this morning. What joy!

Day-trading still works.

You have to learn a stock’s movements. It should be a traded heavily — so that your trades don’t move it. And it should fluctuate a few pennies the through the day. Some stocks open low in the morning and climb back. You’re looking to capture those few pennies. You’re looking to be out overnight. This is not for everyone, but I have several friends who make a handsome living at — percentage-wise far more than any hedge or mutual fund. I play it when I’m sitting in front of my computer doing something else. I look for a $500 to a $1,000 gain per trade. But some days it’s less. This morning I made the grand sum of $100 on one day. I wanted to be out quickly, since I’m leaving soon. Heck, the trade paid for Uber to the airport.

Useful stuff:

+ When you open an online brokerage account, dribble money in. Each time you do, ask for free trades.

+ Vanguard is among the cheaper on-line brokerage firms. Its reporting and its analysis tools, however, su*ck bigtime.

Nice new campaign slogan

Trump has a “great” relationship with Putin, though the two have never met! Go figure.

All the reasons to dislike Donald Trump. Summed up by Jeremy Nix on Huffington Post. Click here.

Traveling this summer? (I am.)

9 Travel Safety Tips from a Former CIA Agent, courtesy Conde Nast

1. Acquire or make a copy of the fire escape plan on the back of your door. Most of these just slide out.

2. Do not stay on the ground or the top floor. The ground floor is readily accessible to intruders and the top floor does not allow any room to maneuver.

3. Keep the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, even when you are not there.

4. Always assume the room is bugged. Keep the radio or TV turned on with the volume on low at all times-even when you are not in the room.

5. Keep the drapes/blinds pulled at all times, even when unoccupied.

6. Keep a light on in the room when unoccupied.

7. Keep a small “bug-out bag” packed with must-have items (money, ID, passport, etc.) in the event of an emergency departure.

8. Carry a motion alarm that can be placed over the doorknob. They are about $20 and can be found in most electronics stores.

9. Keep a flashlight next to the bed and within arm’s reach.

Favorite cartoons: The first one said before Amazon was around. But it’s appropriate.

 I make no apologies for these silly cartoons. They made me laugh. That’s good.

Harry Newton who is today taking son (and father) Michael on a one-week Stockholm to Copenhagen Bike Tour, which Backroads modestly describes as “Idyllic Islands, Castles & Countryside.” This is what we’ll see:

Michael and I have been on several Backroads bicycle Trips. They’re enormous fun. The hotels first class. The price also.

My next blog will be Monday, August 8. Take a trip. Hug the kids. Kiss the spouse. Give the dog a treat before you send he/her off to some horrid kennel.