Question for the board

[sugarandspice]

Does anyone have a rough estimate on how much is in the TSP total? Is it 40-50 billion? Someone got a number? Then I have a follow up.

 

[KAPLOWD]

http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/showthread.php?t=2471

 

[sugarandspice]

Ok. 166 billion. With that at our disposal, Do you think that if a sychronized transfer into a specific fund could manipulate the share price of that fund. Even a 1 billion transfer let alone a 166 billion. Aren't we a power player? Cant we be the MM here? We are investing into stock funds that have a share price. That price is controlled by buy and sell. Is this not feasible? Illegal? Possible?

 

[Wheels]

I'm going with not feasible, illegal, and impossible. Assuming you could coordinate with 4 million people, you'd have to get them to agree.

Dave
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[Fivetears]

Do you think that if a sychronized transfer into a specific fund could manipulate the share price of that fund. Even a 1 billion transfer let alone a 166 billion. Aren't we a power player? Cant we be the MM here? We are investing into stock funds that have a share price. That price is controlled by buy and sell. Is this not feasible? Illegal? Possible?

Great idea right there, Einstein! Lets all get together as a big group & try to "Fox Uniform" the markets we all have our TSP in. You need to grab a firm hold of both your tiny ears and pull real hard; until you hear a loud POP. YOU... may even need the assistance of a three foot prybar my friend. Why do people think this stuff up?

Were you the one who spammed that Email about not buying GAS on a certain day of the year too?

"Lord, I apologize and please be with the starving pygmies down in New Guinea. Amen."

 

[TiCKed]

Great idea right there, Einstein!

For a slightly LESS sarcastic answer:

Remember that the fund share prices are NOT based on the buy and sell of the funds themselves. They're based on the value of the stocks and bonds that the funds hold.

Therefore, we would have to influence the share prices of IBM, and GE, and Microsoft, and...and....and....

In other words, our 166 billion is pretty small change in the larger scheme of things. Not feasible.

 

[mlk_man]

For a slightly LESS sarcastic answer:

I hear tell you reap what you sow.........

 

[roguewave]

Ok. 166 billion. With that at our disposal, Do you think that if a sychronized transfer into a specific fund could manipulate the share price of that fund. Even a 1 billion transfer let alone a 166 billion. Aren't we a power player? Cant we be the MM here? We are investing into stock funds that have a share price. That price is controlled by buy and sell. Is this not feasible? Illegal? Possible?

Deep thinker you are. You're actually backing into what this whole game is about, and that is, perception. Study the distribution of the $166 billion and ask yourself why it allocates in such a way.

 

[tsptalk]

Isn't this what George Soros does ?

 

[roguewave]

Tom, I'm not sure whether or not you are directing your question to yours truly but if you're asking me if how I view this continuing process as it pertains to financial markets and the economy as a whole is similar to the way that Mr. Soros applies his "Reflexivity Theory", then I would say there might be some overlap.

 

[tsptalk]

I just meant Soros can manipulate the market with the size of his trades. I don't remember the details but I believe he had a major influence in the silver market one year (or was that Buffet?)

 

[roguewave]

I just meant Soros can manipulate the market with the size of his trades. I don't remember the details but I believe he had a major influence in the silver market one year (or was that Buffet?)

I think at one time Soros had the kind of influence that you are speaking of (for a reference see the Bank of England, 1992) but I'm not so sure these days he has that kind of influence, although, I could be very wrong. As for your other comment, it was Warren Buffet who roiled the silver market with his huge acquisition of silver bullion some six or seven years ago.

 

[vectorman]

I just meant Soros can manipulate the market with the size of his trades. I don't remember the details but I believe he had a major influence in the silver market one year (or was that Buffet?)

The Hunt brothers tried to influence the silver market.

http://www.buyandhold.com/bh/en/education/history/2000/hunt_bros.html