In Search of the Perfect Investment

“They made me work on Passover, but forced me to take Good Friday off,” said one broker yesterday,  “This makes no sense.”

Little any longer does, except that gold and continue to soar. Ditto gold and silver miners.

Here’s yesterday’s column repeated, replete with bad (i.e. good) Easter jokes.

Have a great weekend.

When a stock acts “squirrely,” you wonder if Mr. Market knows something you don’t. Google was acting squirrely, suggesting the market knew something about the upcoming earnings — which it did.  Google fell. And fell badly. The green diamond shows an earnings report.

Apple was also acting squirrely also. Did Mr. Market know something about its upcoming earnings?

After yesterday’s fantastic earnings, the answer was clearly a resounding NO.

Who knew? I should have. Two reasons. I’ve been waiting on for three weeks for my iPad2 delivery. And second, Apple’s longer-term chart is a perfectly fine chart, with occasional blips and then run-ups.

The good news is that I didn’t sell all my Apple. I kept a bunch, so I’ll benefit by today’s run-up.

Apple did well in the latest quarter. On yesterday’s conference call, you could feel Apple executives’ gushing pride  Said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer,  “We did actually very well everywhere.”

I’m not going to repeat the news about Apple’s off-the-charts earnings. You should listen to the conference call. It’s precious.

The dial-in number for the rebroadcast is (888) 203-1112 (toll-free) or (719) 457-0820. Code 8218881.

Is Apple a good buy today, up perhaps 15 points? That’s not a gamble I’m making. If you lock it up for five years, and ignore its gyrations, you should do well.

To read this morning’s Goldman Sachs report on Apple’s stellar earnings, click here.

What should your children study at College? Chinese and engineering.

It’s loosening up a bit in real estate. Now the banks are financially stable, regulators are applying pressure on them to sell their underwater properties.  Now is the time to snoop around your friendly bank for sound properties at nice prices.

The key to making money with real estate is the price you pay. It’s  the only variable you can influence. (the second important variable is don’t borrow too much and for too short a period.)

Don’t fall in love with the property you’re eyeing for acquisition.

When God closes a door,  He always opens a window. And often the same day.

My first compliement.Ever. After yesterday’s column, the email conversation went like this::

From: Claire Newton (daughter)
Subject: Harry’s new diet

No salt, sugar or meat? I find that hard to believe.

From: Susan Newton (wife)

This is Harry’s same old enthusiasm diet –- full on for a couple of days, then back the stuff he is addicted to.

From: “Harry

This is pure wife-jealousy. She is jealous of my iron discipline.

From: Susan

He does have a good sense of humor

Latest favorite New Yorker cartoons

Harry Newton who is so pleased to celebrate Easter this weekend. The nice thing about being old (and senile) is I get to hide my own Easter eggs. Which brings me to the absolute worst Easter cartoon.