Our catalyst today is the payroll data at 8:30 am. Not much to say, other than for short term trades I remain flexible to trade either side, and if you're a long term investor (1 year+), save your money! Until the action heats up, I won't lean one way or the other...

The Bank of England just made a "surprise" move, and lowered rates by 1.5%, a full point more than expected. As the central banks desperately try to reflate, in the face of market forces, I remain flexible to trade either side. Traders married to just one side cannot know whether the light at the end of the tunnel is enlightenment...

It's surprising that Paulson and company didn't see this coming, or perhaps more disturbing, they chose to do it anyway. My bet is on the latter, as even the foolish housing speculators have figured out how to game the system. The simple fact is that our "leaders" know we are deflating...

Here's another guy whose opinions I'm always sure to listen to, Marc Faber, via Bloomberg. Pay special attention to the end of the interview on his outlook for the US balance sheet and how it ends. Over the years, I've observed who is consistently correct, and who's full of hot air...

Regardless of whether a new bailout bill passes, Americans will be taxed heavily in the course of the ongoing “rescue.” Federal Chairmen Ben Bernanke all but guarantees it...

While the Feds engineer this "bailout", which it is not, we've been well served staying liquid. This "bailout" is in truth, much more like a margin call that cannot be met by banks. The government then exploits the fear...

It's possible I get some very short term setups, but I am careful of what I trade. I'm more likely to get long JPY (yen futures), rather than mess with the constantly evolving game in US equities. I know several traders that scored...

I think I was 5 years old when I learned that actions speak louder than words. The lawmakers are making it so that anybody with a brain should back away from financial markets. A second lesson learned was to never fight a battle you cannot win. I simply refuse to participate...

Investors cheered the measures as the Dow Jones soared 400 points on Friday, after having surged 410 points on Thursday. This included meteoric rises for battered finance firms like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Washington Mutual.

Should we invest heavily again now that a rally is forming?

Readers know I haven't been comfortable being long stocks for over a year. That said, I've managed to make money being long equities the last few days. It's important to note that success has nothing to do with what I traded, but how I traded...

Too often traders not only have an opinion, but become inflexible. Direction is never a definite, but rather a probability. It's easy after a good day to convince yourself you "know something". Don't get off track...

Rather than add to the confusion and re-hash the same stories, I'm writing this brief post to share how I'll handle the turmoil. First, current positions are hanging tough, so no action necessary unless stopped out of PGH...

Stocks are getting smashed again this morning. After reviewing my recent trades, I am comfortable that I executed properly and according to my system. However, I do have one regret. The one theme I have believed in most (lower equities) has been working...

Americans and their creditors should be irate once the "facts" come out on FNM and FRE. Just weeks ago the CEO's assured the markets they were adequately capitalized, now they are being forced against their wishes to hand over the keys...

After being one of the first websites/blogs to spot the FNM/FRE takeover by Uncle Sam here, I've decided to let others write about the bailout specifics. Suffice it to say, this is nothing more than an attempt to get investors...