No6

Business needs the banks and what happens if the financial sector tightens up? I just wonder how many juniors may run into cashflow problems? Also, the mining sector have to pay the increased costs of rising commodity/energy prices just like everyone else. Many may be happy to see the banks getting what they deserve, but the knock on effect to all sectors of the world economy could be disastrous when you think about it.

In the event of societal collapse, people with guns may well take it off you. Just who would you trust? Bought a dvd recently that had the Ali v Foreman fight on it. It was hot, and Foreman who was used to knocking them down in 2 rounds or less, just punched himself out of it. Ali was amazing though, but paid for it later. Quite fancy watching Sugar Ray v Les Dennis. Pro celebrity boxing, surprised Sky haven't jumped on the idea. They may get it back tomorrow.

Even the BBC have $1000 gold as a headline story. It was the no 1 most emailed story for a while earlier today. As of now. 1* Google your way to a wacky office 2* NZ dolphin rescues beached whales 3* Taylor 'made rebels eat enemies' 4* Schizophrenia memory differences 5* Gold hits $1,000 for first time http://news.bbc.co.uk/ No4 must be a story about Bernanke.

Is that the same Laffer that said this about oil? I think so. http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index....20&start=20

I think to some degree that is true, you can get taken out very quickly, unless you move your stops. With tight stops your timing has to be perfect every time or you are trying to scalp a few points. I had a 25 point stop on a trade on the DOW the other night and it was taken out in 4 minutes. A minute later the market went in my direction, but I chose not to move the stop because of the risk of further loss. Some you win, some you lose! On tight stops you will probably lose a lot unless you are quick.

Perhaps you get a gold plated plaque from the bank telling you that you are the proud owner of a Gold Standard mortgage. Northern Rock's will come with a Government guarantee no doubt.

Gold standard mortgages. Just in time for the crash. You couldn't make it up.

The Dr is on his travels at the moment (see market comments thread, March - first post). I'm sure that he will be saying hello to everyone in due course.

FP has been pretty consistant in his views as regulars here will know. Brendan ocasionally posts on here.

DOW is attempting a last hour fightback like yesterday.

Evening all, hope you have had a good day so far. I'm just about to have a look at the Dow. Seems a little poorly to me.

Welcome to all the new members. Hope you enjoy your stay. Look forward to reading your comments.

That is pretty impressive and the question of what constitutes a "core" portfolio and the best strategy to use is probably a topic worth doing in its own right.

I think when you look at prices in these areas and those who are buying they are hardly representative of the UK. Falls in the last quarter for a couple of them though. Kensington And Chelsea Average Cost: £1,118,429 Detached: £13,075,000 Semi-detached: £3,183,333 Terraced: £2,872,570 Flat: £748,102 Change in last quarter: 3.6% Change in last year: 24.9% Sales: 590 ===================== Hammersmith And Fulham Average Cost: £539,736 Detached: £0 Semi-detached: £901,621 Terraced: £891,075 Flat: £400,946 Change in last quarter: -7.5% Change in last year: 21.7% Sales: 651 ===================== City Of Westminster Average Cost: £688,467 Detached: £4,473,666 Semi-detached: £1,496,250 Terraced: £1,559,879 Flat: £616,643 Change in last quarter: -11.1% Change in last year: 20.4% Sales: 1019 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_d...ces/html/bk.stm

You never know, maybe in the future it is Iran that is the superpower! All possible timelines.

2008 as year zero? Two scientists have suggested that the latest experiments in CERN’s laboratory could rip a hole in space time that would allow more sophisticated civilisations in future years to come back in time. The CERN laboratory, the European particle physics Centre near Geneva, houses the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which will be switched on later this year, as scientists continue their research into the birth of the universe. But Russian mathematicians Irina Aref'eva and Igor Volovich have suggested that the experiment could feasibly create a window that future generations, with better technology, could exploit to revisit the past; making 2008 ‘year zero’ for time travel. New Scientist Magazine reports the news, unveiling that the LHC could create small black holes that would essentially create one end of a potential ‘time-tunnel’. http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.as...umentid=7476748

From Moneyweek Over the last week, the price of coal has soared to a new record. Thermal coal prices jumped to $116.44 a tonne at Australia's Newcastle port, which is the benchmark coal price for Asia. This represents a staggering rise of $23.09 in just a week. That’s a staggering increase of 25%...! Not only is demand very high, but the supply chain is in trouble. China’s chilly winter is playing havoc with transport and electricity shortages mean mine output is being hit. The country has therefore declared that it will not export any coal in February and March… http://www.moneyweek.com/file/41894/never-...aking-coal.html

Good link.

The Frank Barbera forecast is an interesting one. Don't fight the Fed. His argument seems to be based on the fundamentals that the market will price in recession for the metals and commodities. He suggests that if gold goes through $950 then his bearish view would change. A drop to $650 would be great for anyone wanting to buy on the dips. Same for any falls in other metals and commodities. http://www.financialsense.com/fsn/main.html

Two of the bigger players are Anglo American and Lonmin. http://www.angloamerican.co.uk/ourbusiness...esses/platinum/ http://www.lonmin.com/

I think the retail investor is spooked right now. There are many probably sitting on heavy falls, even of good stocks, and many will have day jobs where it is not possible to react to current market conditions. You wouldn't want a stock market dependant pension maturing right now would you? Perhaps there will be a flight to safety, can't go wrong in bricks and mortar. In an ironic way, if the Fed cuts by 0.50 at the end of the month and the market bounces, junior minors may then out-perform on the back of this.

To answer the question slightly differently, why would you buy any stocks in current market conditions? In the minds of many investors, stock markets falling = stocks, any stocks falling = stay away.

Hochschild Mining(HOC) Some of the Directors have been selling. Don't like to see that. I think it is due a rest, been overbought for a while. 13-Nov-07 Sell Roberto Dañino 440.00p 1,725,000 £7,590,000.16 13-Nov-07 Sell Alberto Beeck 440.00p 8,500,000 £37,400,000.81

So, is oil due a correction? BP announce today a "dreadful" 3rd quarter and now according to Saudi Arabia's oil minister, "The market is in turmoil, let's leave it at that''.

I've been following Hochschild Mining as well. FTSE 250 company which may well be the reason why they are not known (as against say Canadian and US juniors). You must be able to put this one in an ISA as well, so they are probably worth a look. Good write up below.