I dumped another chunk of VFIAX today (1/4 of my holdings). I’ll keep selling into rallies because few people are taking our COVID-19 numbers seriously here in the US. The Market has priced in a miracle or 2, and I hope the Market is right. I’d rather miss out on a relief rally than be sitting 50% underwater while I’m stuck in my house.

My play exactly.

If she thinks she's already been exposed on the airplane, it's pretty irresponsible of her to not self-quarantine, especially there.

I think someone asked awhile back. I wish to ask int again.

Who is your broker?

For years I used Scottrade. The commissions were decent at $7.00 per trade. Probably about the same as the houses. What I liked about Scott was those beautiful charts they had. Then 3-4 years ago, Scott was bought out by TD Ameritrade. And now TD Ameritrade has sold out to Charlie Schwab.

The other thing I like about Scotttrade is that there was a local office about 2 miles from me. TD Ameritrade assumed that location and last week proceeded to close the office. I'll miss that office.

10-12 days ago I visited the office to get up to date on some things. And all last week, TD Ameritrade was too gd busty to answer the phone. I don't need them holding my hand but it would be nice to be able to make a phone call. I am guessing that TD Ameritrade uses Think or Swim as a live charting service, but not sure until they answer the phone.
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For a brief period I went to Interactive Brokers. I liked IBs trading platform OK, but I missed those Scottrade charts and went back. I could go back to Interactive Brokers but I not chomping the bit to go back.
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So, what brokers is everybody using?
How long you been with them?
Why do you like them? Do they have good trading platform?
What about commissions? Or are there no more commissions?

Is there a live chart service worth paying for?

Right now I am just paper trading as I work to get back in a groove.

Thanks.

I used Scottrade about 20 years ago. Then used E-trade. Then used Ameritrade (they have Think or Swim included). I don't daytrade anymore, so I just use Vanguard so I can consolidate all my accounts in one place.

I think everywhere has free stock trades now. Pretty sure options still cost a little. Vanguard options are $1 per contract.

I have a broker I’ve been with for 19 years. Turns out, he is a pinhead as well. I went to his house a few weeks ago to put in a ColorDMD for him.

Anyone fell less America seeing taxpayer money used to bail out the stock market this way.
Can you still pretend income from equity investing is earned when social services are bailing out the market. Hard to tell if anyone is making profit or just transferring wealth to a few at the expense of the national debt.
This blog is like watching lance Armstrong gloat.

#trolling

Nope. The feds are helping people and companies. And it’s not a “bailout” if it’s something that these companies are (a) doing because it’s necessary to prevent disaster and (b) not their fault. 2009, now THAT was a bailout.

I did hear that tests are coming back 90% negative. Not sure what to make of that other than worried people - but good to hear nonetheless.

Agreed. The collapse of 2009 was mainly due to bad loans, shaky securities, and just ill conceived borrowing and the like. 2020 is a bit different in that things were mostly strong.

My concern is still the size of the debt and what will happen to future generations, but nobody seems to give a shit about it.

I don't think we have a choice at this point. Staying shut down, or running, we're going to need money (apparently). If we aren't willing to change our stance on the economy, the best we can do is just smile and take it. Don't think this won't still be just another wealth transfer though.

I just wish we could decide once and for all if we are capitalist or socialist. Obviously, it's kind of a blend anyway as some of the best things are socialist in nature (military, roads, police, fire, schools). But I think that if you were to ask most people, they would say that the U.S. is a capitalist country. But then we do bailouts and huge stimulus packages. So, I wish we would just decide. I would prefer that we lived in a generally charitable nation, myself. But I feel like I would thrive just fine in a dog-eat-dog country as well. The mixed messages are definitely confusing, especially when you find yourself on the wrong side of it just about every time.

Shirley all 300MM+ of us will agree on that soon.

It’s a wild time and everyone is begging for money because someone is going to get it.

I see lots of listed company’s looking for hand outs.

the amount money available to help out the stock market after years of record returns.

I want the stock market to survive but it needs to sustain itself.

I bet a lots of investors are torn over this situation.

I generally think here that is there is zero upside to where the market is at now. What do we know?

obviously we're not going to be open for business in April and May without a lockdown. No lockdown is coming, so this problem is going to extend for a long time
so far the options presented seem to help huge businesses and the service industry, but if you're a small business owner who made a decent amount last year you may be out of luck.
there's a huge amount of debt that will crush a lot of these companies if this extends on too long. Currently it's going to extend on too long

I really can't see why I'd want to own the market right now. Certain companies where I think they're going to do good either way (Coke, Pepsi, Verizon, etc) maybe, but companies that depend on travel and storefronts...it could be 6 to 12 months before we can go to them.

It basically took China 2 months to control everything and get Wuhan back going again, and that was when they only had 259 cases.

We have 65,000. And we're not even trying to lock it down in 75% of the US.

So at a minimum, you can add 2 months to any time we decide to lock things down finally. If we don't, then it will continue to fester indefinitely. We're not even restricting travel out of New York, just insane, that's going to make it even worse.

Outside of some miracle treatment/cure, we're going to be in trouble for a LONG time. Leadership doesn't get it. Only certain governors get it. Most companies don't get it either, they think this is going to be over end of April...got news for you, not happening. It mathematically can't happen without a full lockdown or cure.

About the only thing I'm comfortable owning right now is Gold/silver. Mainly silver, because it's completely out of whack with it's historic ratio to gold of 60 to 1 (it's like over 100 to 1 currently). And they could get crushed too if people need to liquidate more assets as debt comes due. But I like things that are out of whack with where they are normal, and silver is currently there.

This is what bugs me, corps get tons of money, poor get a little money, in the middle? Well you are out of luck so sorry so sad, you should have saved some money because you make more than minimum wage. How about we reverse this line of thinking everyone gets $1200 including executives, and then we see who the real geniuses are.

And what would happen if nothing was given to the businesses? Debt obligations come calling, the banks and notes are foreclosed on, bankruptcies are next, those who have their retirements invested lose it all, and the workers are out of a job.

Not saying all the pork grab is warranted or legit of course, but it's important to view the whole thing holistically.

Most investors (more accurately referred to as speculators ) are long side players and they will take any help they can get whenever they need it. Trust me. They will not care where the money comes from. And if you get into a long position that kicks your ass, you will grab for any lifeline you can find.

Nobody likes the shorts and they won't get anything.

It is chicken and egg. People need money to live. If this govt. thing works. you get the money, and mortgage relief in that you cannot be kicked to the curb, etc. But I don't know how far $1200.00 will last for a single person living in New York or L.A.

But you also need the business to stay alive any way possible so you can get back to work. If does not one no good to get gift. help if their job/company go tits up.

Bottom line. A lot of people/ companies are going to get some money they don't need. But trying to be fair will be difficult. But the big Corporations will have to jump thru some accountability hoops so the money does not just fly away.

Accountability is really all I'm asking for.

Are we headed back up now??

They should try eating less avocado toast and try bringing lunch to work, maybe saving up to have a 3 month buffer by not buying a daily coffee.

Accountability was what the hold was all about. Some of our leaders want to make sure none is screwing the system.

This link gives you the major stuff. One resolution is that The Prez, and the top dogs and Congressmen don't get any money for their businesses. The border wall got the shaft.

There is a lot of stuff at ....

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/25/politics/stimulus-package-details-coronavirus/index.html

Frankly, I don't even know why they're handing out $1200 to everyone. Why? Just offer enhanced/extended unemployment benefits. We're sending a ton of money to people who still have jobs for no apparent reason. The way they did it (by banning evictions but making people still pay mortgages unless your property is 1 million+) they're going to setup this snowball of landlords not being able to pay mortgages and then going into foreclosure. And the person who is really hurt in all of this (successful restaurant owner/hotel owner who makes decent money) doesn't appear to be getting anything, not even the $1200.

Anything that isn't a person that needs money, the government should get stock/ownership of that company. No free money. And no stock buybacks or corporate bonuses until the money is paid back. That's the penalty for running your business on the edge with no margin of error, corporate CEO's should have money set aside for this exact purpose.

What I find most distressing is all the rorting that will happen during the handouts for this crisis.
Poor management will lead to wasting/losing hundreds of millions.

Hopefully the handouts go to those that truly need it.

Lets hope some good management is put in place.

Bougt Cracker Barrel and Six Flags yesterday morning in the IRA. Threw the kids college fund bank in mutual funds. Cant move it again until 2021. Will look at throwing 401k back in April 1st when I can move again.

Balls man !

Naw, I disagree.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/26/weekly-jobless-claims.html

US weekly jobless claims soar to a record-breaking 3.28 million, vs 1.5 million expected

With one week to create a 2 trillion dollar package? None of us can fully realize, despite our experience or education or confidence levels, how much 2 trillion dollars is. Future generations will be paying for this for decades. The standard of living will be reduced as time goes on because of this.

It's a high price.

My understanding is that there's a large number of people who still technically have jobs to return to but are not going in and getting paid right now. They're ineligible for unemployment and having to decide between taking unemployment now or having a job to return to once this passes. This also helps address companies that don't have a sick leave policy. Beefed up unemployment is part of the bill as well.

Will we see Boeing go under 150 again?

Obviously jobs report already built in as Market still rallying. Don't let CNN hysteria get to you with their dramatic headlines. We all knew it would be bad. Market has spoken. Already up almost 1k since yesterday mornings investment.

It's the market so no guarantees but the markets reaction to this mornings news is powerful

just wondering how much "USA re-opening by easter" is getting priced in as a sure thing... when.. it's probably not?

Yea this is my thought too

Stimulus has such generous unemployment benefits that some workers were probably begging to be unemployed as unemployment would be an upgrade for many workers. I'm pretty progressive and that still just reeks to me.

I'm actually completely fine with it. It encourages not trying to work to make that 'extra' money until this is over.

I’m wondering how much the $2T addition to the deficit is getting priced in. A trillion here, a trillion there, pretty soon you’re talking about real money.

This feels almost like a bull trap to me. People are excited but nothing has fundamentally changed. I missed the timing on Boeing but the others on my list are all still there. Anybody else feel this way?

I agree, some stocks are up 50 -100% from their lows a week ago. There has got to be massive profit taking soon.
I just can't see calling a bottom until we stop the 24/7 virus news cycle.
I think after another weekend of people staying home watching the virus news network, monday will be another strong down day

of course i could be 100% wrong - would not be the first time

One hundred percent agree. I know that we differed in my decision to go to cash and wait for a better entry point but the truth is I have not found a point that I really like yet. I have bought nothing. We have a 1,000 deaths in the country to date and that is nothing in the scheme of things. When we get to a point of where you are having many hundreds of deaths a day that is going to throw cold water on people quickly. If we get to a point where municipalities go to mandatory lockdowns then shit gets real real quick. If you are nimble you can trade but if you are looking long term, this thing is one bad day or a couple of American household names dying from hitting the elevator down.

Just talking out my ass here as I have no idea. If the Govt wants to stabilize the markets wouldn't it be a good idea to cut or eliminate long term capital gains?

Say any money put into the market between April 1 and June 30th and held 10y+ is exempt from gains tax. Seems like that would greatly incentivize Buy & Hold investors and take some of the shine off this trend of buying and flipping. Obviously another benefit would be it wouldn't cost anything in the short term only missed tax revenue 10 years from now.

Except they don't want you to invest. They want you to consume! Consume, consume, consume!

I don't understand this. I checked their page and the headlines are that the markets are rallying way up, and that many hospitals are being overwhelmed with Coronovairus cases. Both are factually correct.
Just ignore every article on every website that falls under "Opinion".

unless I read it wrong, unemployment was like $250 billion and the rest of the $3 trillion is going to coprorations. Not sure why you'd let unemployment benefits get your back up here

This seems like something they would do. It would cost the government tonnes of money in revenue, and it would all be given to people who already have money and don't really more to survive.

Bull Trap sounds reasonable. I know that at this point in Boeing's chart, and Boeing's size, it sounds crazy, but could there be some short squeeze going on, as well?