It’s not easy. Too many erstwhile high-fliers — e.g. Google, Nike, GoPro and even BRKA — are being pounded. Hard to tell exactly why. Perhaps hedge funds selling for redemptions? Ultra-hard to cherry pick the few recent successes, like Amazon and Netflix.
My stop loss rule worked on Google.
Think oil has hit bottom? Try this gamble.
Don’t hold it for more than a day or two.
When it doesn’t work, get out, e.g. BOX.
Here’s what the S&P 500 looks like with two moving averages. The red is 200 day. The blue is 50 day.
Though it’s been painful, we haven’t broken the 200-day moving average. It was worse last October.
The world is changing: With the U.S. dollar way up, domestic tourism is way down. China
Life tips:
+ The Flu. Susan has it. Vomiting. Diarrhea. The whole nine yards. Get rest. Drink liquids. Pray you don’t get it. Susan and I both had the flu shot. She has the flu. I don’t. Go figure. If you get Susan’s symptoms, stop eating, drink water. Stay near your bathroom.
+ Air bags. Check your family’s cars for airbag recalls. Bad airbags can explode while you’re driving and kill you. Fixing the airbag is typically free.
+ EBay. Selling stuff on eBay can be a serious pain. Depends on how your buyer performs. EBay and PayPal are not helpful. The good news is that UPS will change its delivery address and return your stuff to you — if you catch it in time. They’ll charge you another shipping fee. (Ah, that word again.)
+ Unsubscribes. Most don’t work. You still get spam. Best solution: Every six months change the email you use for buying stuff. Keep a personal email address for your family. Swear them to secrecy. Keep another one for banks and brokers.
+ Not a very PC Thing to Say. If you missed last week’s brilliant (but disturbing) New York Magazine on the new Language Police, click here.
+ The GoPro TV Channel on Virgin America’s inflight entertainment system is a delight. The stock isn’t.
Weekend reading:
+ Oil Cash Waning, Venezuelan Shelves Lie Bare. Hugo Chavez did an impressive job of almost destroying his country. Now his successor, President Nicolás Maduro seems intent on finishing the task. Venezuela has the world’s largest estimated petroleum reserves. Mr. Chavez used his oil riches to fund social spending, like increased pensions and subsidized grocery stores. Now the money has run out, so has food and medicine. It’s a sad story.
Thousands waited last week to buy basic goods at subsidized prices in Caracas. Those who cheat on rationing risk arrest.
For the sad story from the New York Times. Click here.
+ China’s Self-Destructive Tech Crackdown. I’m not sure why politicians insist on doing stupid things. But this crackdown by China’s ruling party on the Internet is especially stupid. Read here.
It’s snowing. Boots are in. Taking them off can be a pain — unless you have this $15 gadget. Greatest invention since sliced bread.
Click here.
Susan and I flew to California on Saturday. Daughter Claire lives in Boston. She mailed this morning:
In case you doubted your decision to go to CA, this is what I looked like when I arrived at work this morning through a snowstorm.
The tip of Claire’s nose looks beguiling (?).
Harry Newton, who now has a suntan from playing tennis yesterday. California’s Coachella Valley is paradise — except in summer.
“China’s Great Firewall”
That’s a little disturbing…the implications are enormous.
Not to mention Hong Kong disintegrating into civil war.
🙁 …my 2 cents.
Run (or drive) to a Pharmacy and get some FluNada – great for treatment if you have it on hand and a superb preventative to use prior to flights♥
It sounds like Susan caught a bug on the flight. PLanes are breeding grounds for illness. Please re-print, regularly, that article about avoiding catching colds on commercial flights. It’s by far the best thing I’ve ever seen on here.
The Great Wall of China is impressive, but there isn’t a firewall the Chinese citizens can’t get around.