***Official*** 2008 Stock Market Thread

[Azurik]

Please see my 2007 Stock Market Thread for information and references: 2007 Stock Market Thread

Year 2007:

DJIA = 13,365 / 6.4%
Nasdaq = 2,674 / 9.8%
S&P 500 = 1,478 / 3.5%
Azurik's Retirement = 10.7%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = 23.1%

Last year, both my retirement (Fidelity 401k and ROTH IRA) and non-retirement (Fidelity) beat the market by a considerably margin.

The retirement account benefitted from my over-weighting in the defense sector and international investments.

I had significant exposure to defense company Raytheon (RTN), which gained closed to 20% on the year. It still remains the best defense sector play, IMO. They have sold their aircraft division and used the proceeds to pay down a significant amount of debt. The company has strong cash flow, good operating margins and are expanding beyond the standard DoD contracts by going overseas. Dodge and Cox International (DODFX), a mutual fund, also helped me outperform.

The non-retirement accounnt had another amazing year. The three whacky buys that propelled this were RRPH, BYDT and ETFC. RRPH and BYDT were purely speculative swings that I spotted irregularities with and took advantage of the trade pattern. E-Trade (ETFC) was simply betting a cow when the stock took a nosedive after a Citi analyst comment and getting out in time with excellent gains.

I see myself making at least one or two more of these whacky buys in 2008.

As for the health of the stock market, I am currently cautiously neutral. I am an avid stock market reader and look for signs of how the economy is doing in all fronts - employment figures, housing numbers, mergers and acquisitions, manufacturing index, inflation, oil, etc. To start the new year, I have holdings in Raytheon (RTN), Dodge and Cox International (DODFX), and Oakland Small Cap International. I also sold a portion of my S&P Index and bought bonds in early December. Bonds now account for almost 40% of my portfolio. I will keep it there and transfer it to whacky buys or into other stocks where I see appropiate.

Happy new year and good luck in the markets!

January 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 12,743 / -3.8 %
Nasdaq = 2,413 / -9.6 %
S&P 500 = 1,395 / -4.4 %
Russell 2000 = 730 / -2.7 %
Azurik's Retirement = -0.2%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -10.26%

My 1st whacky buy for the year has been completed. Commerce Planet (CPNE) at a dollar cost average of .35 cents.


February 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 12,266 / -7.5 %
Nasdaq = 2,271 / -14.4 %
S&P 500 = 1,353 / -9.4 %
Russell 2000 = 686 / -10.4 %
Azurik's Retirement = -1.3%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -8.7%


March 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 12,216 / -7.9 %
Nasdaq = 2,261 / -14.7 %
S&P 500 = 1,315 / -10.4 %
Russell 2000 = 683 / -10.8 %
Azurik's Retirement = -2.9%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -15.9%


April 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 13,058 / -1.6 %
Nasdaq = 2,477 / -6.6 %
S&P 500 = 1,414 / -3.7 %
Russell 2000 = 726 / -5.3 %
Azurik's Retirement = 0.1%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -17.7%

Sold CPNEE.ob for a huge loss, initiated a position in General Electric (GE) after their 1st quarter earnings slide.


May 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 12,638 / -4.7 %
Nasdaq = 2,523 / -4.9 %
S&P 500 = 1,400 / -4.6 %
Russell 2000 = 748 / -2.3 %
Azurik's Retirement = 0.6%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -15.7%

Reduced my exposure to bonds to 30% of portfolio - poured the funds into the S&P 500 index. Doubled my position in General Electric (GE) and initiated a position in Kraft (KFT).


June 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 11,346 / -14.5 %
Nasdaq = 2,315 / -12.7 %
S&P 500 = 1,278 / -12.9 %
Russell 2000 = 698 / -8.9 %
Azurik's Retirement = -5.8%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -18.2%


July 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 11,326 / -14.6 %
Nasdaq = 2,311 / -12.9 %
S&P 500 = 1,260 / -14.2 %
Russell 2000 = 716 / -6.5 %
Azurik's Retirement = -6.4%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -15.6%

August 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 11,544 / -13.0 %
Nasdaq = 2,368 / -10.7 %
S&P 500 = 1,283 / -12.6 %
Russell 2000 = 740 / -3.5 %
Azurik's Retirement = -5.5%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -13.9%


September 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 10,325 / -22.2 %
Nasdaq = 1,947 / -26.6 %
S&P 500 = 1,099 / -25.1 %
Russell 2000 = 619 / -19.1 %
Azurik's Retirement = -16.8%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -21.4%


October 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 9,325 / -29.7 %
Nasdaq = 1,721 / -35.1 %
S&P 500 = 969 / -34.0 %
Russell 2000 = 538 / -29.8 %
Azurik's Retirement = -18.7%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -23.2%


November 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 8,829 / -33.4 %
Nasdaq = 1,536 / -42.1 %
S&P 500 = 896 / -39.0 %
Russell 2000 = 473 / -38.2 %
Azurik's Retirement = -28.1%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = -15.2%


December 2008 YTD:

DJIA = 8,585 / -35.3 %
Nasdaq = 1,53 / -42.3 %
S&P 500 = 879 / -40.1 %
Azurik's Retirement = -25.7%
Azurik's Non-Retirement = 5.5% (WOO-HOO!)

 

[Schfifty Five]

I'm down a sh!t load right now. However, I'm sure whenever the market stablizes, I will recover and then some. But who knows how long that will take. 1, 2 years? 5 years!?

 

[Slew Foot]

My core account is divided between PG, JNJ, T, GE, and some fidelity gold, energy, and natural resources funds. I sold off International in december.

My play account this year starts off with leap puts on Darden restaurants (DRI) (up 100% since early december), GM( up 25% in a month), SBUX (up 130% in a month)

My general feel for the year is that automotive and consumer discretionary will be week, while staples and commodities should do well. I'd consider shorting the banks as well, but I think theyve got too much political pull to dive too far, I made $$$ on that train already, not sure if I can again.

People are saying the market will fall to 11-12K range, I see it more fluctuating between 12.5 and 14 for the year.

I used to buy Apple calls in december in prep for Macworld where APPL usually jumps, didnt do that this year.

 

[Azurik]

I will be announcing my next whacky buy tomorrow after I buy it in the morning

 

[richardycc]

Originally posted by: Azurik
I will be announcing my next whacky buy tomorrow after I buy it in the morning

did you already do the DD on this stock or you just gonna pick one randomly?

 

[Finns14]

Depending on how old you are 40% of all your holdings in bonds seems like quite a bit. I would think you could put this into an index but hey with the way the economy is its a crap shoot.

 

[akshatp]

MHS 2 for 1 split on wednesday. The stock has been rising steadily since last Jan. Started the year around 45 and is currently over 105. Landing the FEP (Federal Employee Benefits Plan) helped alot, and the stock will continue to grow IMO

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: richardycc

Originally posted by: Azurik
I will be announcing my next whacky buy tomorrow after I buy it in the morning

did you already do the DD on this stock or you just gonna pick one randomly?

Come on richardycc, you know me better than that. All my whacky buys have DD behind them.

I didn't get a chance to buy it this morning. Forgot you need to wait three days before e-funds are settled and are able to trade non-marginable securities.

I'll let you guys know Wednesday/Thursday.

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: Finns14
Depending on how old you are 40% of all your holdings in bonds seems like quite a bit. I would think you could put this into an index but hey with the way the economy is its a crap shoot.

I just turned 26 and I would agree with you 40% in bonds is alot. I did it with intention though given the outlook of the market and my impending whacky buy. I lucked out, last week while the market tanked, I gained .01%

 

[hiromizu]

I've been heavy on India which should continue its rise for sometime while hedging against dollar with gold heavy international funds. There's also a certain gold mining company which is on its rise.

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: richardycc

Originally posted by: Azurik
I will be announcing my next whacky buy tomorrow after I buy it in the morning

did you already do the DD on this stock or you just gonna pick one randomly?

Come on richardycc, you know me better than that. All my whacky buys have DD behind them.

I didn't get a chance to buy it this morning. Forgot you need to wait three days before e-funds are settled and are able to trade non-marginable securities.

I'll let you guys know Wednesday/Thursday.

I'm alittle bit sad. My electronic deposit hasn't cleared yet for non-marginable securities and the whacky buy I was going to purchase went up 34.48% today. With my intended purchase of $15,000 - that would have been a $4,000 gain.



I'm hoping the stock hovers around this level until I can get some. I will announce here immediately after I buy to go on record.

 

[tidehigh]

holy shit u missed 35% because of planning. that's got to hurt.

 

[Slew Foot]

http://finance.yahoo.com/gainers?e=us

Hmm, nothing in the US went up 34.48% today....

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

AAPL!!!!

 

[ViperVin2]

How do you feel about DODFX long? I invested into the fund early December 07 and have posted about -11% return since then ...making me regret the buy decision.

 

[richardycc]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
http://finance.yahoo.com/gainers?e=us

Hmm, nothing in the US went up 34.48% today....

the only thing that was remotely close to 34.48% gain yestersday was GAX.

 

[Ricochet]

Holey sh!t on Countrywide (CFC)!! A person could have made 60% or more in one day.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: ricochet
Holey sh!t on Countrywide (CFC)!! A person could have made 60% or more in one day.

BofA is apparently looking to buy them out completely, according to cnbc.

 

[Slew Foot]

FUCK!!!! The other blog I go to said to buy it this AM. Missed out on that one.

 

[freegeeks]

my strategy for 2008 is very simple, buy a buttload of Long Turbo Brent Crude Oil Futures and don't look at it for 5 years

 

[richardycc]

ACTC could be hot again today, sold some yestersday, might buy back in again...

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: richardycc
ACTC could be hot again today, sold some yestersday, might buy back in again...

Penny stock pumper. Take your money and try penny slots. Do they still have penny slot machines?

 

[richardycc]

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: richardycc
ACTC could be hot again today, sold some yestersday, might buy back in again...

Penny stock pumper. Take your money and try penny slots. Do they still have penny slot machines?

hey stupid, why don't you crawl back to the rock you came from, if you even bothered to look at some of the Azurik bought, ie: RRPH, etc... those are penny stocks too. so I am a pumper, and he is not? if I tell people to buy BRK.A, what kind of pumper am I, what kind of slot should I play??

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: richardycc

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: richardycc
ACTC could be hot again today, sold some yestersday, might buy back in again...

Penny stock pumper. Take your money and try penny slots. Do they still have penny slot machines?

hey stupid, why don't you crawl back to the rock you came from, if you even bothered to look at some of the Azurik bought, ie: RRPH, etc... those are penny stocks too. so I am a pumper, and he is not? if I tell people to buy BRK.A, what kind of pumper am I, what kind of slot should I play??

Hey free ipod spammer (AKA penny pumper), I already commented on Azurik and RRPH in the past. Comparing BRK.A to POS penny stock? It's no wonder you pump pennies. Keep it up, you might be able to move up to a dollar if you pump enough.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: richardycc
ACTC could be hot again today, sold some yestersday, might buy back in again...

You either:

a) bought some yesterday on some website's alert of the stem cell line news, but made hardly anything, or nothing because it almost doubled from .13 to .23 in about 10 minutes, not enough time for you to get the news and act on it at a great price (it only had a range of .19-.27 afterwards.)

b) were already long anywhere from .70 to 2.00, when they had other news, including announcing they could create stem cells w/o destroying embryos (and as a result have gotten your @ss kicked in all directions. )


Seriously, if you bought on the news yesterday, but sold yesterday as well, wtf were you doing, and wtf are you talking about saying you 'might buy back in' when you couldn't have made squat to speak of yesterday (especially since its 99.9% doubtful you bought even as low as .19 muchless sold as high as .27)