Monthly Archives: February 2011

Short sellers are the muggers of the financial industry.

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Mal Spooner

  This rant is inspired by a series of articles in the Toronto Globe & Mail examining “Stocks that are attracting lots of pessimism.”  Essentially they screened for the highest short interest ratios among Canadian and U.S. companies last week.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Has the stock market sold off enough?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Mal Spooner

It’s been a fast and furious decline of 2% to 3%, but may enough is enough.  Bonds have rallied some as (especially institutional) investors topped up – putting their equity buying on hold.  Why?  As I’ve said in earlier commentaries (scroll … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gold? Oil? Egypt? Libya? Maple Leafs?

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Mal Spooner

Well I sure didn’t expect the sell off (happening today) I was predicting last week to come so suddenly.  Although Canada’s stock market was holding its own early in the day, that’s largely because of the pop in oil prices and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Advisor Knows Best

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Mal Spooner

“When it comes to communicating with or passing judgement on your advisor’s contribution to your investment program, it’s best to avoid trying to determine whether it was you or the advisor who screwed up. Neither of you are to blame, … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Real Reason for TSX and LSE Exchange Mergers

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Mal Spooner

It was the worst of times.  Desititute farmers and unemployed labourers would travel westerly in search of better climates hoping to find work.  Many ended up in Calgary, Alberta but upon arrival would be given a free train ticket from … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Avoid those potential torpedo stocks!

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Mal Spooner

Another sector that’s quite “hot” at this time, and not likely on the radar screen of a ‘maverick investor’ is fertilizers.  The following comment on the earnings release of YAR International is an example of what I’ve been saying concerning … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stock market will be a wild “ride” this week!

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Mal Spooner

I saw this news item from Canadian Press: “The TSX finished last week little changed as earnings failed to provide lift, with investors driving share prices lower in companies as diverse as Canadian Tire Corp. (TSX:CTC), BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE), Air … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Market Angst!

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Mal Spooner

Read my previous posting for some context.  I mention that things I expected to happen last summer (while touring on the bike and writing A Maverick Investor’s Guidebook) have transpired.  Good earnings releases preceded improving economic data and markets rebounded … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Leave a comment

Lessons Learned from the Economic Crisis!

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Mal Spooner

The following is a quote from the book written last summer as I rode my Harley across the heartland of America, contemplating the lessons I learned over 30 years as a money manager: (BEGIN QUOTE) I picked two headlines published … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment