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 I've been largely standing pat over the last 30 days, somewhat convinced I've got a combination that goes up slightly more than it retreats. The moves made have been largely a trial and error process, not stemming from any conviction or facts - more of wonderment style of tinkering designed to lose you small amounts of money - and offer a fast exit.
It goes like this; " I wonder if Tech Stocks are ready for a bounce?" You buy a taste of AAPL and dab of CSCO - and when they retreat the next day you're out as fast as you got in.
"Maybe refiners are poised to make a move..." - and they retreat just as quickly.
"Brazil looks tasty..." - nope, you're on the sidelines again the following day.
Ninety five percent of your portfolio is tied up in things you're comfortable with - leaving you that last 40K for you to discover the next Microsoft at $1.00 per share, or get your feet wet in some promising, but as yet unknown, alternative energy company - or even take a flyer on something you read about somewhere.
Mostly you lose money, but occasionally there's a plum.
I'm sitting on food and energy, alternative energy really, anything that can be used as an alternative to gasoline. Coal and Natural Gas are the preferred stocks and both industries are rising in lockstep with oil prices.
Food is still my longterm stance, and the floods in Iowa helped a great deal. Iowa being one of the bastions of the corn belt, and all those crops are toast. I added DBA to my portfolio for a second time due to the rise in corn prices that I'm anticipating. It's already moved to nearly 41 (from its historic 36ish levels) and will likely go higher when the extent of the damage is revealed. US Corn feeds an awful lot of folks in other countries and it was already straining under the Ethanol demand - so I see some movement skyward.
I also expect to spend a lot more at the supermarket soon, as corn prices drive a lot of grain products, beverages, and even dog food, so the suffering will be shared by all of us.
I added small positions in Canadian Oil companies (CNQ and BQI) as they've seen a startling upsurge in prices over the last month. Most of the oil consumed by the US comes from Canada, so I expect these companies to continue their torrid pace - so long as prices remain as they are....
As the SLO2 ends in less than 40 days - remember to factor that into your investments. Oil prices will likely fall - but not in time to affect this contest. I see the summer driving season erasing the small drop in US consumption, and oil demand continues unabated.
I'm not planning on any radical changes for the last month, as long as my portfolio returns beat the piddling interest banks will pay, I figure I'm a winner, likewise for the rest of you folks.
Not much going on - just me tinkering a little with a dab of extra cash hoping for one last inspiration of pure genius. Unlikely at best, but it gives me something to prevent me from sleeping well...
I wonder if financial's are ready...
KB
http://singlebarbed.com
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