As mentioned a few times in here. YET....another example of the constant media fear-mongering being.....WRONG.....again. AND....they dont even care. they got their clicks. Oil’s Stunning Reversal Rekindles Fears of a Global Glut https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/oil-stunning-reversal-rekindles-fears-123106659.html ......"already Brent crude futures have erased all their wartime gains and are trading near $70 a barrel, while the physical oil market is flashing signs of weakness more extreme than any time since the demand collapse of Covid."...... It is ACTUALLY trading BELOW $70 a barrel. I bet they just CHOKED having to compose that sentence.
YEAH.......pretty crazy. You too can become an influencer or make a fortune on sports gambling or poker. Why the 'follow your passion' mantra can derail your career — and what to do differently https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/a...er--and-what-to-do-differently-113556625.html ....."Think about what "follow your passion" assumes. First, that you have some preexisting passion just waiting to be discovered, which most people don't. Second, that this passion will remain constant throughout your life, which it won't. And third, that passion automatically translates to fulfillment, which it almost never does."..... OK.......even as a self employed and SUCCESSFUL business owner.....I had one big GOAL......make and save enough to GET OUT. Which I did at age 49. That was my passion. I was very good at running a business and being successful. BUT....my primary goal......was to get to the point where I could be free of the daily grind and my silent partner.......raking off over 50% of my hard work.....GOVERNMENT. I......choose..... to NOT allow my success to control my life and become my identity. I was very LUCKY to have the choice to move on. BUT....I have seen many over my life that got to that point and could not let go. Their identity and ego were just too connected to their business or work.
AND YES.....it is STILL a BULL MARKET.....there is money to be made by smart investors that have a long term focus. 'It's a bull market': Wall Street sees more upside in stocks for the second half of 2026 https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/a...ks-for-the-second-half-of-2026-120220657.html .....""It's a bull market driven by earnings and liquidity, and those are the kind of things that can keep this going into the 2nd half of the year, and probably, in my opinion, into 2027 as well."".....
I have been busy the past few weeks with work commitments, a bit of travel, and of course things to do around the house. I have spent a bit of time to catch a number of games in the World Cup. It has been quite interesting to watch. I hope that all of our visitors have received some good US hospitality. As a general rule, the average American is not what is portrayed in the silly media or by our ignorant politicians. Seeing all of the fans from different countries together in a large stadium exhibiting national pride in their teams has been quite the spectacle to observe and be a part of. The sportsmanship, camaraderie, and common interest should give all of us hope on a larger scale.
On to market musings. Odd to think we are entering the last half of the year already. Granted, I haven't followed closely, nor do I really need to anymore. I can't offer much. Maybe a bit of performance chasing taking place the past month or so. Not too uncommon to see in bull markets. There are a lot of shiny new things out there to gain attention for sure. Looks like many of the same topics exist that were being used by the financial media to play investors emotions like a fiddle. That's what they do, so nothing new to see there. So far this year, no complaints from my side of the fence. I am around the +10-11% range last time I checked. It will be interesting to see how this last half plays out.
I have a lot of respect for your opinion and we think alike in many ways but my opinion on this somewhat differs so perhaps there is some value in me sharing it. IMO, the story here isn't the endless stream of media lies and arbitrary drama. For me, the story is that legions of gamblers follow the media, despite knowing the media is wrong close to 100% of the time. A coin would be infinitely more accurate, with a 50% accuracy ratio. When oil went high and the media reported the sky had fallen and it was going to stay high forever, I bought FedEx at a considerable discount. I held out for a > $300 sell price and got that a few weeks later. While I didn't double my money, I'm delighted with the return of that transaction. During the Hormuz drama, I held my energy companies as the long term assets they are. The next time the media plays gambling knee-jerk reactionaries like Charlie Daniels getting his soul out of Hell's lay-away, I will seriously consider another ride. I've done several of these now with none going badly. I started doing this before posting my rant on how the media is wrong far more than it's right (last year). You can do the opposite of what they indicate and generally do very well. Of course, I will continue to hold my long term companies being as always. This is an opportunity. That removes 100% of the annoyance for me.
NOT a very pretty picture....but....averages are not very useful. those of us on here are OBVIOUSLY way above "average". AND....if you follow what is talked about on here......YOU....will not be average. What Is the Average Retirement Savings Balance by Age? See how you stack up against your peers when it comes to retirement savings. https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/average-retirement-savings-balance-by-age
OK......some good news for the country. AND....basically a laundry list of what the WWII generation, and Baby Boomers, GenX, and the MILLENNIALS.....have achieved. The real question is what will the current generation and those that follow do from this GREAT starting point and where we will be after they take over everything? In other words.....DONT SCREW UP.....and be the generation that lets it all get away. Twenty-Five Reasons to Be Optimistic About U.S.'s Future https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...ericas-future/?itid=sf_opinions_package-2_1_3
AND.....to continue the above....here is some very good commentary on the...."PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS".....in our founding document. The Verb What Are We Actually Celebrating at 250? https://www.yesigiveafig.com/p/the-verb ......"Two hundred and fifty years in, that bet is not settled. It was never supposed to be. A verb has no final tense while the speaker still draws breath, and a nation founded on a verb has no End Game — only the question, renewed each generation, of whether we will maintain the conditions under which the striving remains real."
A good open and now a MIXED market. I have no TRUST in the markets right now....short term. Nasdaq, S&P 500 as tech jitters ease https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/live/stock-market-today-monday-july-6-225645420.html
WELL......DUH. I consider this a buying opportunity....but I am already in the stock, as a full position, so will not be buying any more at this moment. MU is UP about 3% so far today. this little article now represents.....THE PAST.....now we will see where the FUTURE takes us. Micron stock has now plunged to a surprising level https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/a...-plunged-to-a-surprising-level-141142114.html ....."Micron stock (MU) has sank 22% since making new highs following its strong June 24 earnings report and outlook. Oddly enough, the stock is now below where it traded before its stellar earnings report."...... WELCOME....to modern fundamental based investing.
Thank God for the retail investors. Otherwise the markets would simply be gambling and short term trading. Schwab: Retail investors keep on buying tech stocks https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/schwab-retail-investors-keep-buying-113106362.html ....."The monthly report shows that retail investors continue to buy dips in the market and favor tech stocks even as worries about an AI bubble persist."....
BUMMER......the continued impact of AI on jobs. Microsoft lays off 4,800 jobs, Xbox studios spun off https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/microsoft-lays-off-4-800-135239492.html
YES....we are now.....ALREADY....at the next inflection point for SPCX as a public company. SpaceX stock gets its next catalyst, Samsung earnings on deck https://finance.yahoo.com/technolog...alyst-samsung-earnings-on-deck-131003284.html ....."SpaceX (SPCX) stock will be added to the Nasdaq-100 (^NDX) on Tuesday. SpaceX's fast-tracked inclusion in the index will require mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that track the index, like Invesco's QQQ (QQQ), to buy the stock. The move comes after 15 full days of public trading for SpaceX."..... YES......I currently DO have a gain in my TINY SPCX position.....with an average cost per share of about $158. It will be a LONG ride. BUT...that is fine with me.
AMAZING.....but obvious having lived through the past six months with the stocks that I happen to own. This surprising wrinkle in the 2026 bull market could drive stocks higher https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/a...rket-could-drive-stocks-higher-120223653.html ....."Despite investor enthusiasm for owning stocks this year and there being only one 5% or more pullback, valuation in the broader market hasn't kept pace. The S&P 500's forward P/E ratio is now below where it started in 2026,".....
Looks like I am starting the week with a MEDIUM gain. The big question is....how will I end the week. I am riding a small wave today....so....no caps, in this sentence. COME ON.....SHOW ME THE MONEY.
From the article above about "catalyst" this week for SpaceX. A little nugget buried within below. Second, SpaceX's quiet period is ending. That means the underwriters for the IPO, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan, will be able to release research reports and give recommendations and price targets for the stock. Now, this is not something new or unusual for companies listed. We see the big firms make predictions, speculations, push narratives out to media sources and so on with many companies. There is always a vested interest in what they do whether it is this company or any other. All of the frustrations about the market doing this or that. Well, now you know. It has been a part of Wall Street for a very long time, but it does explain why so many investors get all caught up in the media and the bigger game.
I am hearing some commentary on business TV on this topic right now. We are in one of the GREATEST GOLDI-LOCKS times in the markets in a long, long, time right now. PE figures are a bargain. Individual stocks prices for AMAZING companies are extremely LOW and at big discounts. Fundamentals and earnings are BOOMING......and will continue to do so for the rest of the year and into next year. Some will answer this call and many will not. The fear-mongering MEDIA will hold many back by creating and pushing....the investment KILLER.....DOUBT. I have said it before......but....the current situation is one of the MOST GOLDEN investor situations that I have ever seen. Nearly EVERYTHING is lined up as a big POSITIVE right now. Of course this assumes that the modern markets care....anymore. I TRUST that the little retail investors are seeing this and taking action. Someone has to be the GUTS of the markets. AND....it is so simple.....buy GREAT stocks on sale and sit and wait for the long term returns.
Hey Lori. Looks like England advanced from their match. That was a wild finish and a very extended stretch to play a man down! Exciting to watch though. Maybe the US and England will meet in the final. Wouldn't that be something? We are going to have a big task ahead of us tonight though.
