LOL

So....what part about the near total collapse in oil prices below $30/barrel and commodities in general do you think is "hype" and the media "making it up"?

Is the media "making it up" when it truthfully reports that the stock market has had it's worst annual opening in it's entire history, as it has to begin this year?

Or that the DOW closed down another 364 pts today?

Is the media exaggerating the collapse of the Chinese market and the PBOC's total failure to stop it?

By all means, professor, educate us.

I'm just a dumb pilot....

...but every time I read something like this RBS note, I think back to Goldman saying oil would hit $200/bbl in 2008 and other investment banks saying the Dow was going to 5000 in 2009.

I also kinda feel much of this is a self-fulfilling prophecy; bankers say "The sky is falling!" and consumers stop spending because they have been told the economy is going down...and the new drop in consumer consumption at best deepens and at worst actually precipitates the very economic drop bankers initially called.

In reality, at the beginning of 2008 West TX Intermediate (WTI) crude was trading at $85.42 and subsequently traded as high as $147.27 in July that year, a 72% gain. Goldman clients who headed the call made out like bandits (assuming they sold on the near-parabolic price rise that year, which even the most novice trading floor clerk would know to do).

And from late '07 to early '09, the DOW went from 14,198.10 to a low of 6,469.95, a 119% decline.

But heck, what the heehaw do those money-grubbers at Goldman and the other banks know, right? It's all just media hype.

Markets go up, and markets go down. It has been happening for decades. Either way, we will all be fine tomorrow.

Relax, and consider switching to decaf.

whats 100% of 14,198?

When markets are up the "Bulls" talk of how it's going higher with media attention. When markets are going down, the "bears" talk of how it's going lower with media attention.

In all cases you can buy stock in a long position, short stocks, or use options in puts and calls to make money in times of volatility. If you want to gamble, margin is available. In the end, markets have risen at roughly 8% per year. Some years are negative, some flat, some positive... Key is allocation for the long term, understanding volatility, using some of the portfolio actively for the times, and keeping some liquidity.

Invest for the future, save for the rainy day in liquid format, and take a breath.

Who knows, everything can collapse, but I'm buying with the mindset of quality positions are on sale. From a speculative aspect you can use options and/or short positions if you think the index(s) will continue lower.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh h!!!!!!

*Heavy breathing *

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh hhh!!!!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh hhh!!!!!!!

4?
filler...

Laughing out loud! Mad math skills on display as well. This is going to be an epic thread.