Whenever I hear some market pundit who sounds like they've got all of the answers behind the current crisis in the world's financial markets, the classic Frank Zappa line "Look here brother, who you jivin' with your cozmic debris" echos in my head. Zappa's point that people should avoid simple answers to complicated questions is especially relevant today.
The world's major central banks today added more than $137 billion into the banking system, keeping today's loss in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to 31.14 points following a turbulent trading session. This seems like a temporary, albeit expensive, Band-Aid on a very large wound. The bad news is far from over.
For example, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s (NYSE: GS) Alpha Fund may be the next hedge fund to implode. So far this year, it has dropped 26%, according to Bloomberg News. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) points out that many hedge funds will see increased redemptions during August. Bloomberg also reported that many of the big buyout deals that have been announced over the past few months including TXU Corp. (NYSE: TXU) and First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) will have to be renegotiated.
Are there bargains to be had? Of course, markets act on irrational fear and irrational exuberance. But be careful, sometimes stocks are cheap for very good reason, such as exposure to subprime mortgage securities. It will pay to be selective in your bargain hunting.
Some investors also might want to consider shifting some of their assets into more conservative investments such as municipal bonds, utility stocks such as Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC) and defense companies such as Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT).
Don't overdo it, though. Over time, the market will right itself.
Meanwhile, people need to take a deep breath and exhale.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-10-2007 @ 11:46PM
Ron Nussbeck said...
Your article is right on and bigger problems are going to surface over the coming months. Taking some money off the table and then waiting for the right buy is prudent.
8-11-2007 @ 12:02PM
Tim said...
This happens every time: Too much debt. Too much speculation. Too many fibs. The 'correction' that is coming will be written about for decades to come and will lead to tighter lending regs. I sold up all my equities last month and am having real trouble finding a safe haven for my investment dollar. I suspect that I am not alone. Real estate will not be viable for about 5 years and the stock exchanges wont reach their naders till late 2008.
8-12-2007 @ 9:50PM
angie said...
PLEASE - no additional "propping up the financial sector"
Those that have perpetrated this business loss =
should deal with it on their own. We owe them nothing.
They were devils to start with, they knew what they
were doing, and now let them deal with it.
8-12-2007 @ 9:50PM
Moon bat said...
Here we go again frist it was the saving and loan , then the tech / .com mess now its sub - prime mortgages. How I am I going to be able to retire when I keep loseing all me savings, and investments??
8-13-2007 @ 8:06AM
William Martin said...
I agree with #3 Angie. I hope their sins against us will will be held against them and their children's children for years to come. There has to be a real "PAY DAY SOME DAY" and a phrase from a movie says "we're mad as hell and not going to take this anymore". Oh well.