Category: Portfolio Update

This thread tracks real trades in one of my portfolios. Refer to backgrounder for more info.

Options expiration week is always interesting.  There is a lot of money at stake and the big money is determined to have as many options expire worthless as possible.  Real Money member, PCU, is a great example.  It opened on Monday around $90 and was pounded all day closing at $86.50.  On Tuesday, it floated back up to $89.  Then around 2PM the pounding continued non-stop.  The stock closed the day where it started at $86.50.  It closed on Friday at $85.09.  Surprisingly it closed over $85, but there was no way in the world that it was going to close over $90.  The games people play.

For the week the Real Money portfolio was down -1.4% v. +1.1% for the S&P 500.  There were a few changes in the portfolio, so let’s take a look.

Continue reading “Real Money Portfolio – Update 5/19”

On Wednesday, the market liked the Feds decision to hold interest rates at 5.25% and closed higher.  After thinking about it overnight, the market decided that it wasn’t pleased with the Fed’s statement.  Since the Fed didn’t provide any indications that it was closer to lowering rates – the market sold off on Thursday.  By Friday, all was good again as the PPI data eased inflation concerns.   That’s the way it is in the market these days – this wall of worry keep investors on thier toes.  By the end of the week, the S&P 500 had nothing to show for its efforts as it closed flat.  The DOW was up 0.5%.

However, the action was in the mining stocks.  Aloca started the week off making a bid for Alcan.  Then rumors surfaced about a BHP Billiton / Rio Tinto deal.  Needless to say, the BBO exploded.  For the week it was up nearly 8%.  It is nice being in the right place at the right time.

So, let’s look at the porfolios. Continue reading “Week in Review 5/11 – Mining Stocks Exploding”

This thread tracks real trades in one of my portfolios. Refer to backgrounder for more info.

In last week’s update I said the following,

I think this is the third time this year the portfolio has been fully allocated.  In the previous occasions, the week after moving to 100% were disasters.  Let’s hope this time is different – my famous last words.

Good news – it didn’t bite us this time.  Matter of fact, the portfolio performed like a champ.  For the week, the Real Money Portfolio was up 3.3% v. 0% for the S&P 500.

Let’s take a look at the action.

Continue reading “Real Money Portfolio – Update 5/12”

DOW 13,000 is old news now – the bubbleheads have shifted their focus to the S&P 500.   I am always amazed at how much attention 30 stocks can garnish.  The S&P 500 is a much better representation of the stock market.  The new bogey is 1527.35 on the S&P 500 on a closing basis.  That high was accomplished more than 7 years ago on March 23, 2000.  There was an intra-day spike the following day to 1553 that signaled the beginning of the end of many dreams. 

I can’t quite figure out why the bubbleheads make such a big deal out of the DOW or the S&P for that matter.  It is only back to even – 0% gain in 7 years.  I celebrate not the DOW, but the barbaric relic (a.k.a. Gold) that was a mystery to me until 2002.  It has enabled me to recover from the damage delivered by the beloved DOW and its tech friend the NASDAQ.  Since the infamous day in March of 2000 Gold is up 140%.  Where is the champagne and pom poms for Gold?

I will get off my soapbox now.  So, how did the portfolios perform? Continue reading “Week in Review 5/4 – Focus Shifts to S&P 500”

This thread tracks real trades in one of my portfolios. Refer to backgrounder for more info.

The great thing about stocks that usual find their way into my portfolios – is that when the move they move.  Unfortunately it cuts both ways, but this time it’s in the direction we like.  For the week, the Real Money Portfolio was up 3.2% v. 0.9% for the S&P 500.  Also by the end of the week, the portfolio was back to 100% invested.  I think this is the third time this year the portfolio has been fully allocated.  In the previous occasions, the week after moving to 100% were disasters.  Let’s hope this time is different – my famous last words.

Let’s take a look at the moves from last week.

Continue reading “Real Money Portfolio – Update 5/5”