YES....the nasty CORRECTION continues. I dont care about the (-10%) definition. This is a correction pure and simple. As others have said......"I" will also do nothing. At this point everything is just....on paper. We are seeing a DUMB market....just jerking itself around based on news, innuendo, and idiocy.....every day recently. I will do a few posts....before I start to get ready to head out for surgery later today.
As to the constant and obnoxious everyday commentary about.....where is the impact of AI? Here is where it is.....it is embedded everywhere. It is one factor that is responsible for the HUGE HISTORIC earnings that companies are posting right now. I dont care if the markets wish to recognize there earnings....they are HAPPENING regardless. Microsoft's $41 billion AI bet just cleared a major test: Chart of the Day https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/a...-a-major-test-chart-of-the-day-100000116.html AND Microsoft stock surges on strong quarter, record cloud revenue https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/s...g-quarter-record-cloud-revenue-123002444.html
As to the INFLATION BS. US economic growth slows in second quarter, missing expectations https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/us-economic-growth-slows-second-132740621.html ....."On Thursday, BEA data showed that Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation had slowed to 3.7 percent in June, from 4.1 percent the month before. The indicator is the US Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation, as it takes into account a broader swathe of spending than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data."..... In the world of REALITY.....this inflation reading is right in line with the HISTORIC NORMS. The above is more good news.
META does a very good job of TALKING. AND....for some reason the markets and the media just nod and go along......and the stock goes up. On the other hand MSFT does a TERRIBLE job of communicating but....puts up great results....which are of course....IGNORED. FINALLY reality hits for META. Meta stock sinks 10% on earnings miss, 'barely passable' quarter https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/a...s-miss-barely-passable-quarter-124851083.html
I STRONGLY agree.....from an ECONOMIC standpoint....as well as a lifetime of LIVING this in person. The Laffer Curve More Relevant Today Than Ever More government revenue is generated by a wider and more robust tax base. https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/07/the-laffer-curve-more-relevant-today-than-ever/ ......"poor tax policy is behind the many countries’ economic problems. The Laffer Curve encapsulates precisely that. At a time of rising economic populism on both sides of the American political spectrum, the Laffer Curve offers a conservative alternative: low taxes, a simplified tax code, more economic freedom and a pivot towards growth-based economics once again.".....
A basic lesson.....that is still relevant today and usually forgotten. Adam Smith’s ‘Wealth of Nations’ Helped Create the World’s Wealthiest Nation Smith’s classic book helped unleash the market forces that took root first and deepest in America. https://www.barrons.com/articles/adam-smith-wealth-of-nations-36cabcc0?st=U6doty
Speaking of capitalism and to continue the theme above. Why Capitalism Is the Most Moral Economic System "Success comes from meeting the needs and wants of others," says businessman and publisher Steve Forbes. https://reason.com/2026/07/29/why-capitalism-is-the-most-moral-economic-system/
I think it probably is. Although this little article sees HOPE for Value Investing. Is Value Investing Dead? Cheap stocks have not performed well, but the core idea is still sound. https://www.morningstar.com/funds/is-value-investing-dead
A great open today for the markets and the big averages. BUT....as usual.....I dont trust it. I do think it is fully JUSTIFIED and what we saw yesterday was just IDIOTIC. But these days.....IDIOTIC...is the short term NORM in the markets. Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq rebound after Fed decision, as Microsoft leads tech gains https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/l...sday-july-30-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-082255995.html
OK.....ENJOY THE DAY. I will probably mostly IGNORE this site for the rest of the week....post surgery.......MAKE ME SOME MONEY. I have to admit it is GREAT to simply do nothing and IGNORE the day to day markets.
I have been compiling my COSTS for the live album that I produced and have now distributed. The release date is coming soon...in August. My OUT OF POCKET costs so far......$4600. Largest item is Engineering for Mixing, Mastering, EQ'ing, Editing, and other studio work. Next largest cost is CD design and production.....a limited run of 200 to start with for PR and PROMOTION. Other expenses are for payment to the original musicians for their live performance, song licensing, postage, supplies, distribution services, etc, etc. Of course this DOES NOT include "MY" musician performance payment or "MY" Producer time....which at this point is about.....60 hours. And I saved by not having to pay anything upfront to the heirs of the front-person.....who is now deceased.....the STAR of the show......since they are partnering with me on this project. Primary distribution will be digital and streaming.......although I have world wide rights in any format.....from the original record label. I guess if I included my time as Producer and performance payment....this little project would be at about.....$9300. NOW....the GRUNT WORK dong PR and PROMOTION begins......which I will mostly do myself since we are on an extreme budget. It will mostly be a....GUERILLA MARKETING campaign.....at least to start.
Investment musing. Read at your own risk. This is just someone sharing how they do it. You may not be able to do what I'm discussing but you likely can do something similar, in another industry. Do what you know. I don't see this content online and I believe it could be helpful, although this post will probably cause a lot of overconfident people to hurt themselves (notice I did not write that I will hurt anyone... everyone is responsible for their own investing decisions). I'm reasonably knowledgeable with a few industries. I've done well by sticking to those and ignoring other industries, even when they seem like great opportunities. So. Oil. I won't give too many specifics, as I will not operate anyone's portfolio, but here is a thought process. The way oil field service companies make money is unusual. When the price of oil goes way down, they make money reducing capacity. When the price goes way up, they make money bringing capacity online. In this way, their profit window is longer than an oil price plateau. This is a rare case where an investor has a clear view of the future. When oil goes down to $18 bbl, service companies will be busy for the next six months before work is reduced. Work basically never stops, as you can't just shutter a well and expect it to work properly again. There is a whole industry that revolves around production management. When the Ukraine war ends, Ukraine is going to want to rebuild their economy and their cities. They are going to pump the Hell out of the Donbas. Long term, I expect they will develop their domestic industry but, short term, getting this production back online is going to be a lot of work. Oil field service companies are a unique breed. Service companies that operate overseas are even more unique. There are a handful of these companies. I'm familiar with most of them and I've owned a few of them from time to time. I'm going to categorize companies that might be interested in this work into three groups. 1) Basically insolvent. Insufficient capital to operate overseas and probably incapable of working in Ukraine. 2) Borderline insolvent. They are hungry and will aggressively take this work on to stay alive. 3) Solvent. Well run. Plenty of operating capital. Category 1 is irrelevant. Category 3 is relevant. One of these companies can be purchased and it could go up 50% in market cap after one or two booming financial reports. Category 2 is where the magic happens. There are companies that haven't turned a profit in quite some time that will become profitable during the next boom. These are small cap companies in the $8~120m size range. With our infinite need for energy to power the AI surveillance state, a couple of these $0.02 to 0.08 stocks with infinite PE that appear to be circling the drain will absolutely breach $4. This will very likely be a 50x opportunity.
I can not resist......another one bites the dust. I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER....trust my money to a 25 year old....WONDER-KID. AI investor Leopold Aschenbrenner forced to unwind all public stock positions after steep losses, sources say https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/30/leopold-aschenbrenners-hedge-fund-is-facing-steep-ai-losses.html In the end....I trust the content and investors on this board more. AND......I actually ONLY trust ONE PERSON with my money......"ME". This should be the firm position of EVERYONE that is investing.....TRUST.....only yourself.
I return to the Dr shortly after the open tomorrow. I will at that point be done with the surgical process. NOW....the month long process of drops in both eyes.....and wearing eye shields at night for the next week or so. I should be able to return to some music activities in about 8 days. Mostly due to lifting restrictions. I am planing to SKIP OUT on the markets tomorrow.....MAKE ME SOME MONEY.
So, this is likely my last post here. With some more research and the absence of any on-site administration I have more concerns than I am comfortable with here. That's about as simple as I can put it. It is time for me to move on as a result. I was hesitant to even return here with this post, but I wanted to give one last shout out to the few remaining posters. I have enjoyed the interaction over the few years I have been here. I hope that each of you accomplish all of your financial goals and remember to think long term about those plans. The journey will be worth it. Yes, I will continue on with my plan as well and glide into a nice retirement in the not-too-distant future. I have a bit to go, but it is definitely within sight now. Take care all. We sail on.
wow… have to say this news comes as a bit of a shocker for me, and a crushing blow to this community to hear it smokie. but i do wholeheartedly understand where you’re coming from. you’ve been (imho) by far one of the most invaluable contributors this community has had over the many years — especially recently. your market wisdom and insights is some of the best i’ve seen on any stock message board. your contributions to this thread has been in a word - priceless. going to personally miss this dearly. really wish there was something that could be done to change your mind. but i can’t say that i blame you for feeling the way that you do. it is pretty discouraging to be apart of a community where the people running it are hardly to be seen anymore. even now the lone mod here (tormented) has gone AWOL past few months. it’s a bit sad to see this community barely keeping it together these days. i’ve been apart of this place since its glory days. oddly enough this year marks my 20 anniversary at this community when it was formerly known as “hotstockmarket”. but there’s no denying that the state of this community is at its bleakest now as i have ever seen it. if it wasn’t for W keeping up with this thread, and keeping things active and updated with content daily i think this community would have died long ago. case in point - outside of this long term investor thread there is nothing else being posted on here other than SPAM. one doesn’t have to look far to see it. it’s unfortunate… losing such valuable contributors like yourself really is a massive hit to an already struggling community. i really do miss the good old days of this community. but i’m afraid those days are long gone. this all being said, will really hope you’ll reconsider the decision to part ways with this community. if not here at least elsewhere, as there are other communities out there with active on-site administration that would welcome your contributions. it really sux that it’s come down to this, but with new registrations being closed off here for well over 2 years now - this site unfortunately isn’t going to grow. hence losing members like you will just continue digging that inevitable grave for this community. i’m truly saying all of this from the heart. i’d hate to lose contact with you smokie, so if there is some way to keep contact (email?) would be great.
Hey Smokie. Are you comfortable with the site that is run by Bigbear? If so perhaps it is time for us ALL to move over to that site. There is already a Long TERM Investor thread there. What does anyone else think? Big Bear....what is the address of your site? if you are comfortable posting it here?
