Discuss Market Comments 05/25/11

50-day EMA trouble - Stocks struggled to stay above the break even mark all day yesterday, and some late selling took the indices into the red by the close. The Dow lost 25-points....
Current Daily Market Commentary

Market Commentary for 5/25/11

 

[novice]

but I have remained stubbornly bullish, mainly because of the bearish sentiment readings, but also because I didn't want to use my last IFT in May to sell a couple of weeks ago. Doing that cost me some gains in April, but this month not selling has cost me. You have to love (sarcasm) these transfer limits. It's hard enough being a market timer, but having to consider the number of transfers you make each month makes it that much more difficult.



I'm knew I wasn't the only one in this situation but we don't normally discuss it. I have thought about getting out all along but I didn't want to miss a possible snap back rally. I mean we were coming off of the inverted head and shoulders. Now I sit here thinking shoulda, coulda, woulda.

 

[laserman]

I'm a newbie to this site and to taking charge of my TSP account so it must be my fault that things are on the down swing. I did my first EFT on Monday (100% S fund) and I'm already ready to jump the S fund ship. Losing money hand over fist! Trying to stay with the Sentiment Survey but it's getting harder day by day especially since I'm retiring July 30.

 

[Birchtree]

Laserman,

Just because you retire doesn't mean you give up. You could easily have another 30+ years ahead of you to invest and make serious money to compliment your retirement. We are in the middle innings of a secular bull market and you must stay engaged.

 

[tsptalk]

So it's your fault? I was wondering.

The best way to screw up your account is to bail on a system during a bad period. But if you need the money for retirement, 100% S is pretty aggressive. I assume you are not FERS?

 

[laserman]

Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes I'm FERS. Guess I'll stick it for now and see what the Survey looks like on Friday.

 

[Sensei]

Don't look now, but Tom is only a few posts away from 10,000! Are we going to have a party or something?

 

[tsptalk]

Actually, I passed 10,000 a while back, but I occasionally purge some of my administrator-type posts in our Moderator area. But thanks for noticing. (I do it to the mods too.:embarrest

 

[tsptalk]

Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes I'm FERS. Guess I'll stick it for now and see what the Survey looks like on Friday.

Oh, FERS, huh? Maybe you should consider something a little less aggressive like 50% S / 50% G for sentiment survey buy signals, and 100% G for sells (or 75/25, etc.)? Or use the C fund instead, etc.

The survey system is a pretty aggressive system for someone closing in on retirement. Of course no more risky than a buy and hold strategy, but like Birchtree said, you still want top grow your money after retirement. But putting it all at risk at that point is quite aggressive. Just a thought.