Random Thoughts: After the Riots

Market Instability Continues Too

It is evident that The Streets of London, one of my all-time favourite songs, has finally regained its composure, and the riots that plagued the British Isles have subsided for the time being. However, the stock market remains volatile, bouncing around like a super ball trapped inside a plexiglass cube. Despite the numerous conjectures put forth to explain the situation and potential solutions, I believe that we will not have a definite answer for some time..

The volatility on the street right now is astounding with 4-5% ups and downs on entire indexes causing investors to run to old-time safe harbours like Gold and Bonds, looks like the fall is going to be an exciting time, my guess is I would do best just not to watch, because this is really uncharted waters.

I managed to shoot myself in the foot with my site this week, so if you have been having problems reading some of my posts, my apologies:

• My Sunday after Market Mayhem best of post included a few of my favorite Oldie But Goodie posts, as usual.
• When I mentioned Ethical Investing I was hoping for a more visceral response, but I guess most folks think like I do?
• Nothing I love more than a good rant and with Really Bell? Really? I go back to my ranting roots. Whether I actually have got a good deal remains to be seen.
• Credit Card Consolidation was not about how you should consolidate your debt into one place, it was talking about how the Canadian Banks seem to be buying out a lot of credit card firms, does this mean a monopoly play is far off?
• If you read 10 Steps to a Debt Free Life and was expecting a great new methodology, you have not read enough of this site. Any time you see a list or number in the title of a post you can be assured I am taking the piss out of some topic.
• Random Thoughts: Market Meltdown 2011 is a recap of last week’s best.

I enjoy all comments (even the ones that question my intelligence), and will try to respond to most comments, so please feel free to comment away. For you spammers who continue to inundate me with your drivel, keep it up as well.

The market volatility has caused a lot of reactions from many of the better financial folks out there including the following few:

• Frugal Trader at Million Dollar journey helps us with a post on how to create a stock watchlist with google spreadsheets maybe you want to wait until stocks calm down a bit?
• Gail Vaz-Oxlade talks to students and parents of students with Juggling Textbooks and Chequebooks giving good advice to students on how to deal with money (and how to find money too).
• Michael James warns us not to be mesmerized by the market which is good advice in these interesting times.
• Canadian Capitalist comments on David Swensen Ripping into Mutual Funds about their continual chicanery introducing “new” products.
• Sandy at Yes I am Cheap points out that Warren Buffett Says we are Being Soft on Him (and his rich buddies) and they should be taxed higher. I kind of agree, but will the government down south have the guts to do this?
• Larry MacDonald wonders if the bottom near in U.S. housing market? I have heard many grow ops in Ottawa have gone south (to the states) for cheaper housing, so maybe this is true?
• Mrs. SPF at Sustainable Personal Finance gives us another Tip: Unplug the Charger, which is very true, leaving a charger for your phone or computer plugged in wastes a lot of electricity.
• Preet reminds us it is Time to employ ‘buy low, sell high’ strategy which sounds obvious, but if it is, why aren’t we all doing it?
• Boomer of Boomer and Echo, says that Timing is Everything, but not in stock markets (anyone who claims they can time the stock market really is selling you a pile of horse dung).
• The Canadian Couch Potato points out Why Choice Can Be Bad for Investors, and it is very true, too many choices can cause folks to do nothing, and enter brain gridlock.

Carnivals this Week

I did make it into a carnival this week too:

• Financial Uproar hosted the Carnival of Personal Finance #322 – Diminished expectations Edition which featured my post It’s a Mad House! A MAD HOUSE!

Remember

“Money doesn’t talk, it swears. ”

Author: Bob Dylan