Will the stock market hold...or is the bubble ready to burst?

[CFH]

Hmmm, maybe the guy who stands at the intersection to my university holding signs is right... Maybe the global financial crisis IS all part of the devils plan to institute a new world order by 2013.

[pacfan]

How do you even go about buying stock? Do you have to talk to your banker? Or what?

And is there a certain amount of money you have to invest, or can you invest just enough so that if it goes wrong, you're not really losing that much?

Clubber, there are lot's of ways to invest in stocks, even just thru the internet. But you don't just go in there and buy them without knowing much about them. First thing first. First, you have to learn about investing in stocks. You can do that by reading some books about them or even studying some infos about them on the net.

During normal times, what people who don't know much about stocks do is to find a reputable and reliable mutual funds company and let them invest your money - they have all the expertise to do that for you. But for now, since it's not normal times these day, the best thing to do is to put your money in the bank - I'm pretty sure they're guaranteed so it's safe there...

[CFH]

How do you even go about buying stock? Do you have to talk to your banker? Or what?

And is there a certain amount of money you have to invest, or can you invest just enough so that if it goes wrong, you're not really losing that much?

Clubber, there are lot's of ways to invest in stocks, even just thru the internet. But you don't just go in there and buy them without knowing much about them. First thing first. First, you have to learn about investing in stocks. You can do that by reading some books about them or even studying some infos about them on the net.

During normal times, what people who don't know much about stocks do is to find a reputable and reliable mutual funds company and let them invest your money - they have all the expertise to do that for you. But for now, since it's not normal times these day, the best thing to do is to put your money in the bank - I'm pretty sure they're guaranteed so it's safe there...

That's what I did. I followed the advice I was given when all I really wanted to do was keep it in the bank.

I wouldn't feel so bad if it was my own money, but it was the cash I got from my mom's life insurance for my education, so I find it particularly hard to deal with atm. I'm thinking of pulling what's left out of the funds and sticking it in the bank...

[pacfan]

Hmmm, maybe the guy who stands at the intersection to my university holding signs is right... Maybe the global financial crisis IS all part of the devils plan to institute a new world order by 2013.

Hmmm... that's really something to think about, CFH...

...actually, I'd sort of seen it coming but I don't want to start an ugly religious discussion so I'll keep it to myself...

[CFH]

Hmmm, maybe the guy who stands at the intersection to my university holding signs is right... Maybe the global financial crisis IS all part of the devils plan to institute a new world order by 2013.

Hmmm... that's really something to think about, CFH...

...actually, I'd sort of seen it coming but I don't want to start an ugly religious discussion so I'll keep it to myself...

I actually kind of admire that crazy bastard in a way (the dude with the signs, not the devil), it takes a lot of guts to do what he's doing, even if he comes across as a total nut.

[pacfan]

How do you even go about buying stock? Do you have to talk to your banker? Or what?

And is there a certain amount of money you have to invest, or can you invest just enough so that if it goes wrong, you're not really losing that much?

Clubber, there are lot's of ways to invest in stocks, even just thru the internet. But you don't just go in there and buy them without knowing much about them. First thing first. First, you have to learn about investing in stocks. You can do that by reading some books about them or even studying some infos about them on the net.

During normal times, what people who don't know much about stocks do is to find a reputable and reliable mutual funds company and let them invest your money - they have all the expertise to do that for you. But for now, since it's not normal times these day, the best thing to do is to put your money in the bank - I'm pretty sure they're guaranteed so it's safe there...

That's what I did. I followed the advice I was given when all I really wanted to do was keep it in the bank.

I wouldn't feel so bad if it was my own money, but it was the cash I got from my mom's life insurance for my education, so I find it particularly hard to deal with atm. I'm thinking of pulling what's left out of the funds and sticking it in the bank...

Check out if the fund is in any kind of trouble, and then you can decide what's best for you. Having said that, I'd still say the bank is the safest bet for now.

Hmmm, maybe the guy who stands at the intersection to my university holding signs is right... Maybe the global financial crisis IS all part of the devils plan to institute a new world order by 2013.

Hmmm... that's really something to think about, CFH...

...actually, I'd sort of seen it coming but I don't want to start an ugly religious discussion so I'll keep it to myself...

I actually kind of admire that crazy bastard in a way (the dude with the signs, not the devil), it takes a lot of guts to do what he's doing, even if he comes across as a total nut.

I know what you mean. There are some guys or gals, despite their queerness - or because of their queerness - are fun to be with. I bet Bill Gates would make an interesting chummy, and I'm not even thinking about his zillions.

[CFH]

Clubber, there are lot's of ways to invest in stocks, even just thru the internet. But you don't just go in there and buy them without knowing much about them. First thing first. First, you have to learn about investing in stocks. You can do that by reading some books about them or even studying some infos about them on the net.

During normal times, what people who don't know much about stocks do is to find a reputable and reliable mutual funds company and let them invest your money - they have all the expertise to do that for you. But for now, since it's not normal times these day, the best thing to do is to put your money in the bank - I'm pretty sure they're guaranteed so it's safe there...

That's what I did. I followed the advice I was given when all I really wanted to do was keep it in the bank.

I wouldn't feel so bad if it was my own money, but it was the cash I got from my mom's life insurance for my education, so I find it particularly hard to deal with atm. I'm thinking of pulling what's left out of the funds and sticking it in the bank...

Check out if the fund is in any kind of trouble, and then you can decide what's best for you. Having said that, I'd still say the bank is the safest bet for now.

Hmmm... that's really something to think about, CFH...

...actually, I'd sort of seen it coming but I don't want to start an ugly religious discussion so I'll keep it to myself...

I actually kind of admire that crazy bastard in a way (the dude with the signs, not the devil), it takes a lot of guts to do what he's doing, even if he comes across as a total nut.

I know what you mean. There are some guys or gals, despite their queerness - or because of their queerness - are fun to be with. I bet Bill Gates would make an interesting chummy, and I'm not even thinking about his zillions.

Yeah, I don't know if I'd want to have a conversation with the dude with the signs, especially not in private, but he's definitely an interesting dude. He stands there for hours wearing a sandwich board sign and holding two other signs with wooden handles which he rotates around b/c they have things written on the front and the back. All about the end of the world, and the illuminati, and how this crises is the devils plan etc...

[Kirkland Laing]

And so it came to pass that hours after The Infallible One announced the Kirkland Laing Global Financial System Rescue Plan would be adopted by global leaders within a few days, U.S. Treasury chief Hank Paulson held a press conference and announced that he was implementing the KLGFSRP and details would be announced "in a few days" and European and other world leaders followed over the weekend.

And lo! The Dow has gone up 1000 points and it looks like credit markets are starting to thaw. If they continue to unfreeze it will be no exaggeration to claim that Kirkland Laing, The Infallible One, has single-handedly saved the world from global economic collapse. But you just know people like Bush, Bernanke, Paulson, Gordon Brown and other world leaders will claim the credit. Those arrogant bastards.

[killersheep]

How come these stupid rallies always happen right before I'm ready to buy more securities

[Gandalf]

How come these stupid rallies always happen right before I'm ready to buy more securities

You must have the miles touch!!

[pacfan]

And so it came to pass that hours after The Infallible One announced the Kirkland Laing Global Financial System Rescue Plan would be adopted by global leaders within a few days, U.S. Treasury chief Hank Paulson held a press conference and announced that he was implementing the KLGFSRP and details would be announced "in a few days" and European and other world leaders followed over the weekend.

And lo! The Dow has gone up 1000 points and it looks like credit markets are starting to thaw. If they continue to unfreeze it will be no exaggeration to claim that Kirkland Laing, The Infallible One, has single-handedly saved the world from global economic collapse. But you just know people like Bush, Bernanke, Paulson, Gordon Brown and other world leaders will claim the credit. Those arrogant bastards.

Would, by any chance, an acknowledgement and a citation from a poor fisherman mean anything to you?

[pacfan]

How come these stupid rallies always happen right before I'm ready to buy more securities

That's because you're keeping your eyes, and picking the odds, on boxers. Just keep your eyes on the stocks and you'll be fine.

[killersheep]

How come these stupid rallies always happen right before I'm ready to buy more securities

That's because you're keeping your eyes, and picking the odds, on boxers. Just keep your eyes on the stocks and you'll be fine.

I'm doin fine right now, I just don't have the futureman timing.

[killersheep]

How come these stupid rallies always happen right before I'm ready to buy more securities

You must have the miles touch!!

Touche my good friend. Speakin of which, are you gonna jump in on the book again?

[Kirkland Laing]

And so it came to pass that hours after The Infallible One announced the Kirkland Laing Global Financial System Rescue Plan would be adopted by global leaders within a few days, U.S. Treasury chief Hank Paulson held a press conference and announced that he was implementing the KLGFSRP and details would be announced "in a few days" and European and other world leaders followed over the weekend.

And lo! The Dow has gone up 1000 points and it looks like credit markets are starting to thaw. If they continue to unfreeze it will be no exaggeration to claim that Kirkland Laing, The Infallible One, has single-handedly saved the world from global economic collapse. But you just know people like Bush, Bernanke, Paulson, Gordon Brown and other world leaders will claim the credit. Those arrogant bastards.

Would, by any chance, an acknowledgement and a citation from a poor fisherman mean anything to you?

It means more than any praise from the arrogant Bush or Bernanke.

I've been inundated with emails from the SEC and the British equivalent telling me exactly what I can and can't say in public, public forums etc. Both organisations are expecting a massive public backlash against the financial industry after this crisis (KLGFSRP willing) settles down and bankers will make lawyers and estate agents look popular when people see what we've wrought. But it turns out I now know exactly what I can say re. investments. I can definitely tell you not to invest in something, so right now I'd say not to invest in any kind of paper or equities, stocks etc. There's going to be an unpleasant recession and they're kryptonite to stock markets. We could easily see Dow 7000 this time next year. Long term if you've taken a haircut on your stocks over the past year hang onto them as in three or four years they'll return to their previous value.

We're not out of the woods yet though. There's lots of things could go wrong. There could easily be another Iceland before the end of the year. The new Iceland could even be England. There's massive banking debt everywhere and Britain is basically a massive bank. A third of the UK economy is financial services and all the dodgy/risky stuff got booted out of the US by Clinton and moved to London (which is why I'm not working in the States anymore.) An example. Banks used to work on a 10:1 debt to assets ration. If you walked into the bank and deposited £1. They'd keep the pound in the safe and lend ten pounds out on the strength of it. That was considered a safe capital reserve. Barclays bank, Britain's biggest, has a 57:1 ratio and owns over three trillion pounds' worth of things called Credit Default Swaps, which are insurance on various kinds of securities, including the very kind of securities that are causing the current crisis. To put that in perspective UK GDP is less than thst. And nobody outside the bank knows how much they owe because there's no oversight or regulation of the global CDS market. And the global CDS market is worth $60 trillion. To put that in perspective the US stock market is worth about $11 trillion.


And a bank like that somewhere going bust and taking a country down with it like Iceland already (hopefully not the US or things will get really bad) is just one of the problems we might see in the next year or so.

And we've also got the possibility of hundreds of hedge funds going bust and triggering CDS carnage on the world, lots of big insurance companies in trouble, the ongoing process of asset selling by banks to deleverage that's forcing all asset prices down (which makes their :1 all the more worthless) and could turninto a cascade, and of course house prices still falling which would make all those bad securities even more worthless.

Governments are going to have to start a lot of spending on public works to stimulate the economy too or a nasty multiyear recession (which we're guaranteed) will turn into a deacade-long slump. There's no point in the KLGFSRP being successful as a slumping real economy will just make the banks go bust all over again and then this cunting crisis would last years on and off. I've had enough already.