Portfolio Position

[kingie_d]

Ive been shorting since the new year and Im up 20%. Loving it

 

[Buffettology]

Realised or not your portfolio is valued at whatever it is today.
Walk into a bank and see what they value your portfolio as relative to your nett wealth.

As an investment you wouldn't be looking like good value.
As a business director you'd be fired by share holders.
You don't happen to be the CEO for Citibank?

Just like Citibank one day you may actually have to realise those losses,Naively thinking all losses turn to profit has blown up many a budding BUFFETT.

So these losses mean I will get a break on my tax return? Will the tax collector realise these losses?

Buffett made a HUGE loss when he bought Coke on its way down!

Sure, many a budding Buffett have lost cash, but we all know, the market trends up in the long-run. The only difference is that as I have not bought at the VERY bottom, my long-run returns will not be as high as they could be. But hey, who can pick the bottom?

Last time the market had a correction, I surely made some HUGE losses! Thats how I ended up 50% up last year, because I bought stocks as they were "crashing", never to return to their previous highs!

Day trading is absolutely very different to buying for long-run gains, so I dont count my losses until I actually sell the share.

 

[Buffettology]

Just like Citibank one day you may actually have to realise those losses,Naively thinking all losses turn to profit has blown up many a budding BUFFETT.

Do you believe out of 5 differentiated, value stocks, BKL, JST, TOL, EQN, DEX, that in 4 years, all, or the majority will be a realised loss? Oh and I bought SDG also the other day.

And that is assuming I DO sell in 4 years!

Cash pouring into super funds, economists predicting 15 of the past 5 recessions, really leaves some room for optimism.

Sell if you beleive we are in doom and gloom, will just give me some even better bargains.

 

[ithatheekret]

I noted that MON was down over 20% on it's price , dipped below $100 the other night , I won't mention what I did .......... I'm sure you can guess , I'm a MON bull .

 

[nizar]

Tech,

You did a good thing trying to educate somebody, but it looks like you shouldn't have wasted your time....

 

[MS+Tradesim]

There's nothing wrong with value investing. But even a basic stop, eg 200day wma, would improve returns. Have proven it myself in my value buys - not that particular stop, but using one.

Ending up 50%? I ended up a lot more than that by using stops. I now have the option to buy those same stocks back at crazily discounted prices. But I have more funds so I can buy more than I originally held - even taking CGT into account.

No disrespect intended, but ignoring real losses merely because you don't yet have the SELL contract is a mug's game. Try buying something with the difference between the sp and what you believe it's worth.

What if this turns into a 18-24mth bear market? Not counting "paper" losses won't improve real returns.

 

[Buffettology]

There's nothing wrong with value investing. But even a basic stop, eg 200day wma, would improve returns. Have proven it myself in my value buys - not that particular stop, but using one.

Ending up 50%? I ended up a lot more than that by using stops. I now have the option to buy those same stocks back at crazily discounted prices. But I have more funds so I can buy more than I originally held - even taking CGT into account.

No disrespect intended, but ignoring real losses merely because you don't yet have the SELL contract is a mug's game. Try buying something with the difference between the sp and what you believe it's worth.

What if this turns into a 18-24mth bear market? Not counting "paper" losses won't improve real returns.

If you ended a LOT more than 50% up last year, then good work! That alone is something amaizing and you must have struck luck and had some great techniques!

Buffett must be a mug. I have seen some of his buys of which he only got stocks half way down their incrdible slides! Never saw him using stops and Im sure his not a mug!

The strategy has worked brilliantly for me in the past, perhaps it will fail me in the future (all a learning curve), but my returns are still FAR IN EXCESS of what I planned for. So there is definately no need for me to panic anytime soon!

18-24 month bear market, is a possibility if EVERYTHING turns out bad! But Im sure some strong results are coming for Australian firms, recession is not even prooven in the US yet, simply speculation (which like I said, has been predicted 15 times out of the last 5) and most economists beleive it will be mild and very short-term either way.

 

[Buffettology]

Tech,

You did a good thing trying to educate somebody, but it looks like you shouldn't have wasted your time....

Another trader. Stick to your own. Dont worry about my money.

Why is it this forum has action in 99% COMMODITIES threads? Because of all you traders trying to make that quick buck! Good luck!

 

[cordelia]

well I bought several stocks based on value...when they started to go down I read the charts. I sold them at a loss but I have saved heaps by not being in the market. There was no way I was going to sit and watch my money disappear. I can buy back in when they start to go back up for much cheaper prices. Honestly in this market how quickly do you think prices are going to go back up? If they start going up real fast I will just jump right back in.....

eg..I sold zfx @10.50 and today they are around 9.70. If they look like they are doing a reversal I will buy them back and I am ahead. It makes no sense not having a stop loss.......

 

[MS+Tradesim]

Buffet isn't a mug. But then he's big enough to influence a company he buys. And what's he up to now? All cashed up and about to go into the bond insurance business.

 

[Plugger]

From the 8th - 15th I actually made over 18%, should've sold . The last four days have hit me with avengeance!

 

[evwatkins]

I cashed in on the 15th just before close, as citigroup announced there loss. Thought it was a good time to get out, counting my lucky stars right now after what has happened thus far. I actually made a $2700 profit from my $30k invested, i just feel for those that have been hit hard (my dad included).

 

[Go Nuke]

Um..well after today i think I'm down about 38% over the last 12months since bought my first share on the market.

Just about everyhting is back at (or lower) than the price I paid over the last 12months.

I think this is why I'm holding shares for less time. It just looks as though if I sell on the highs, then i can just buy it back at almost the same price sometime down the track.
I haven't sold many shares over the year, just buying and holding....which is probably not always the best idea when they are spec stocks.
I think i need to sell more often to lock in profits and get a better feel of the markets, rather than living on hope.

I'm still ahead on BMN& HLX

Guess it was to be expected to not do so well when your a beginner

 

[evwatkins]

yeh im a beginner also, invested back in April 2007. my highest point was about 38.5% in the green would have been good to take profits then. but hey still learning and this has been an eye opener thats for sure.

 

[Lucky_Country]

Many of us in the "I should have took profits boat"
The most sprising thing in my portfolio is BHP is my biggest loser yet it is probably the biggest profit making company in AUS.
Its got me confussed bigtime I'll certainly learn from this lesson for sure.

 

[Nyden]

Many of us in the "I should have took profits boat"
The most sprising thing in my portfolio is BHP is my biggest loser yet it is probably the biggest profit making company in AUS.
Its got me confussed bigtime I'll certainly learn from this lesson for sure.

Yes, I was in that boat. Then I was in the 'should have taken the smaller loss' boat, now I'm in the boat at the bottom of the sea; finally realising I should have gotten out 6 boats ago!

 

[stargazer]

Hi all

I sense on reading many posts in various threads and forums there is a real fear and panic sentiment with those that are in.

All i can say is i bet horses and let me tell you at times it makes the dow look pretty good but it turns, if you beleive in what you are doing HOLD YOUR NERVE as long as you haven't broken the NO. 1 RULE DO NOT BET MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD TO LOSE. Yes its that simple people panic because they are over extended in my opinion.

My opinion is not to sell everythiing at once for huge losses if it happens to turn you will kick yourself so hard.

If it doesn't turn for a longer while than expected try and think of small incremental stages to sell down.

If it all falls in a heap over night well RULE 1 IS THE KEY.

cheers
SG

 

[heads up]

i sold out last week. the sentiment in the market is all pervading at the moment. i sold to retain profit, when BHP falls by this much, even though i bought at $30 its a harsh lesson......

 

[Judd]

You lot got me curious so I checked the price Friday to today and the market price of our holdings is down 0.6% and, from 12 days ago, we seem to be down about 8%.

 

[barnz2k]

Many of us in the "I should have took profits boat"
The most sprising thing in my portfolio is BHP is my biggest loser yet it is probably the biggest profit making company in AUS.
Its got me confussed bigtime I'll certainly learn from this lesson for sure.

me too. especially since late last year went back to square one and then back up to almost high again within weeks - should have taken that cue.
im scared to look now.