Vote early and often

  • Lots and lots of bad news but am thinking we may still get yet another positive close. The only problem with this strategy is that profits are taken so swiftly, we will have to have a couple of buy programs to set it up.

  • Bob Pisani pointed out this morning, we are up 20% from the November 20th low. so, we have had a good bounce.

  • But there are too many portfolio managers trying to play catch up.  Hope is not a strategy but the PMs sure hope they can save their jobs with a Santa Clause rally.  Especially true when you consider speculators can make a year’s gain in a matter of hours.  For example, Potash was floundering four days ago at $49 and is now trading at $64, up 5% on the day.

  • Bought the FCXprM at $37.75.  I had to be careful with pricing; the spread is wide and volume light.

  • Boston Legal’s finale was last night.  My wife says it had to end, the writing was getting “loopy”. Notwithstanding the constant liberal grandstanding, I loved the show.  Maybe I loved it because of it.

  • And a hearty well done to both the Governor of Illinois and the Tribune.  The governor was arrested and the Tribune filed bankruptcy.  The state has a long history to maintain and am glad to see they are trying their hardest.

  • And then this oldie but goody from NYC’s oldest institutional equity salesman and scratch golfer:

Who was in charge and what happened to them?

In 1923, Who Was:

1. President of the largest steel company?

2. President of the largest gas company?

3. President of the New York Stock Exchange?

4. Greatest wheat speculator?

5. President of the Bank of International Settlement?

6. Great Bear of Wall Street?



These men
were considered
some of the worlds most successful
of their days.

Now,


80 years later, the history book asks us if we know
what ultimately became of them.


The Answers:

1. The president of the largest steel company.
Charles Schwab ,


died a pauper.

2. The president of the largest gas company,
Edward Hopson ,


went insane

3. The president of the NYSE,
Richard Whitney ,


was released from prison
to die at home.

4. The greatest wheat speculator,
Arthur Cooger ,


died abroad, penniless.

5. The president
of
the Bank of International Settlement,


shot himself.

6. The Great Bear of Wall Street,
Cosabee Livermore ,


also committed suicide.

However:


in that same year,
1923,
the PGA Champion
and
the winner of
the
most important golf tournament,
the US Open,
was

Gene Sarazen.

What became of him?

He played golf until he was 92,
died in 1999 at the age of 95.
He was financially secure
at the time of his death.

The Moral:


Screw work.
Play golf.