ask tom

[Rod]

:laugh: LOL. That is something I have considered for a while. I have procrastinated because I didn't think it would generate much interest. Maybe in 2009.

I think a designer TSPTalk wall calendar with key economic dates (Fed meeting dates, etc.) would be nice, especially for a newbie. It could be something similar to the Stock Trader's Almanac, but not as in-debth. Just some key event dates. It could also include "TSPTalk Tips" or "TSPTalk'n Points". A great talking point topic could be the (I) Fund since many questions are asked about how its price is formulated.

Just brainstorm'n

 

[McDuck]

Is it just me, or does Kwanzaa seem to come earlier and earlier each year?

 

[KevinD]

It's just you...

 

[McDuck]

Tom, What are your thoughts on how the U.S. regime change will effect the stock markets over the next 2 weeks?

 

[tsptalk]

If you remember, there was a rally in late October as it became more apparent that Obama was going to win the election. But right after the election, the market sold off again.

So, there may be some optimism for a change leading up to the swearing in, but I believe it is more hope than anything else. I don't believe any plan put forth by Obama will change much in the next 6-12 months. The damage is done.

 

[McDuck]

If you remember, there was a rally in late October as it became more apparent that Obama was going to win the election.

I have a different POV on that. The month prior to the election, BHO's %lead over Bush was similar to Kerry's %lead in 2004. Therefore, business people thought that McCain would pull it out on election day. Then the market dropped 10% in the 2 days after the election.

 

[poolman]

I have a different POV on that. The month prior to the election, BHO's %lead over Bush was similar to Kerry's %lead in 2004. Therefore, business people thought that McCain would pull it out on election day. Then the market dropped 10% in the 2 days after the election.

I think we will have 1 Major rally day between 1/12 - 1/16 .

Congress will pull out all the stops this coming week. Watch the

News and see. News News News..... Breaking News....

 

[McDuck]

Tom, What do you think about a person staying 100% F-fund for the rest of the month? Would being 100% G-fund be better? I have used my 2 IFTs. Thanks.

 

[tsptalk]

I like the G fund better right now. How about 50/50 G/F?

 

[McDuck]

Tom, You're looking cool by jumping in/making 3% and getting out before today. Way to go! 2009 may be your year.

 

[tsptalk]

That never happens to me. Maybe my luck has changed.

Also, the ebbchart helped me avoid today, or I would have probably stayed in stocks until Monday, the 1st.

 

[Frixxxx]

Tom,

On the main page you show the "I" Fund +1.66% for this week!

What numbers are you using because I show a loss last week!

 

[tsptalk]

The TSP website has the I fund closing at 12.555 on Friday Jan 30th, and 12.3497 on Friday Jan 23rd. Is that not correct?

 

[Frixxxx]

I came up with +1.64 not +1.66

 

[tsptalk]

This is how excel figures it using this formula...

(12.555 - 12.3497) / 12.3497 = 1.6624%

How'd you get 1.64%?

 

[hessian]

Hi Tom,
Disturbing article below.

Mostly a question, but also for everyone, a caution:
1) Regarding article below - Anyone posting videos (eg., YouTube), .gifs, etc, to this website - is there protection against malicious links being mistakenly posted here/this website?

2) *Be on guard/on lookout, on your computer!
Data Scams Have Kicked into High Gear as Markets Tumble.
Cybercriminals have launched a massive new wave of Internet-based schemes to steal personal data and carry out financial scams in an effort to take advantage of the fear and confusion created by tumbling financial markets, security specialists say. The schemes — often involving online promotions touting fake computer virus protection, get-rich scams and funny or lurid videos — already were rising last fall when financial markets took a dive. With consumers around the world panicking, the number of scams on the Web soared.
The number of malicious programs circulating on the Internet tripled to more than 31,000 a day in mid-September, coinciding with the sudden collapse of the U.S. financial sector, according to Panda Security, an Internet security firm.
It wasn't a coincidence, says Ryan Sherstobitoff, chief corporate evangelist at Panda.
"The criminal economy is closely interrelated with our own economy," he says. "Criminal organizations closely watch market performance and adapt as needed to ensure maximum profit."
Among those caught in the most recent barrage of scams was Justin Terrazas, 27, a beverage merchandiser from Seattle. He clicked on a Web link that infected his MacBook Pro laptop with a data-stealing program. Not realizing the laptop was compromised, Terrazas later typed his Bank of America debit card number and PIN to pay his Verizon cellphone bill online. The data-stealer swiftly siphoned his information. [more...]
USA Today - January 29
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2009-01-28-hackers-data-scams_N.htm

 

[tsptalk]

There is no software protection that I am aware of, that will stop someone from posting a bad link, but we do have some protection in place that can keep a lot of spammers from being able to create accounts.

 

[Frixxxx]

This is how excel figures it using this formula...

(12.555 - 12.3497) / 12.3497 = 1.6624%

How'd you get 1.64%?

Lysdexia - you know...where the fingers and the brain just can't meet up....SORRY!

You are right...1.66

 

[tsptalk]

No problem. Someone has to keep me on my toes.

 

[budnipper1]

There is no software protection that I am aware of, that will stop someone from posting a bad link, but we do have some protection in place that can keep a lot of spammers from being able to create accounts.

Hi Tom,
Disturbing article below.
Mostly a question, but also for everyone, a caution:
1) Regarding article below - Anyone posting videos (eg., YouTube), .gifs, etc, to this website - is there protection against malicious links being mistakenly posted here/this website?
2) *Be on guard/on lookout, on your computer!
Data Scams Have Kicked into High Gear as Markets Tumble.
Cybercriminals have launched a massive new wave of Internet-based schemes to steal personal data and carry out financial scams in an effort to take advantage of the fear and confusion created by tumbling financial markets, security specialists say. The schemes — often involving online promotions touting fake computer virus protection, get-rich scams and funny or lurid videos — already were rising last fall when financial markets took a dive. With consumers around the world panicking, the number of scams on the Web soared.
The number of malicious programs circulating on the Internet tripled to more than 31,000 a day in mid-September, coinciding with the sudden collapse of the U.S. financial sector, according to Panda Security, an Internet security firm.
It wasn't a coincidence, says Ryan Sherstobitoff, chief corporate evangelist at Panda.
"The criminal economy is closely interrelated with our own economy," he says. "Criminal organizations closely watch market performance and adapt as needed to ensure maximum profit."
Among those caught in the most recent barrage of scams was Justin Terrazas, 27, a beverage merchandiser from Seattle. He clicked on a Web link that infected his MacBook Pro laptop with a data-stealing program. Not realizing the laptop was compromised, Terrazas later typed his Bank of America debit card number and PIN to pay his Verizon cellphone bill online. The data-stealer swiftly siphoned his information. [more...]
USA Today - January 29
[URL]http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2009-01-28-hackers-data-scams_N.htm[/URL]

This site is like any other "unsecured" site, which means "enter at your own risk". I'm no expert, but there are a few things I make a habit of doing to protect myself online.

1. The experts always warn not to ever click on a url link unless you trust the person who provided the link. That's good advice, IMO, since I'm the suspicious type anyway. But, you can do a simple right-click on a link and see if the url in the properties window matches the url in the link.

2. When I download ANY thing, I always choose the save to desktop option rather than the "open" tab. That allows me to tell my anti-virus prog. to run a scan on the file before I let it run on the computer.

3. Every day, before I first click on the web, I run a manual update check on the anti-virus prog., even though it's set for auto-updating. See...I don't even trust my own program.:laugh:

So far, I've managed to avoid any major viral infections, and most trojan attacks. Spybot and the other spyware defenses built into XP have done a good job with that. The bottom line is that we, the individual users are the ones responsible for avoiding hacker attacks. Just keep your guard up and be safe.

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