According to Jim Cramer the markets are too wild and the only hope of making money is to buy stocks that pay dividends. The news that Italy is about to go the way of Greece is what set him off; that
and watching the indexes freely falling. I'll go contrarian by buying gingerly for as long as prices are declining.
Seán

     Stock prices continue to decline, and investors are shocked and awed by the European debacle. I don't see much opportunity for bargain-hunters, though. Well, possibly FSP, which closed today at $10.70. If its fundamentals still look good, I will to place a standing bid tomorrow for a few shares at $10.50.
Seán

     Index futures presage a grim day tomorrow and FSP looks sound enough even it it is out of favor. Tomorrow I may own a bit more of the stock and be free of all this nasty money.
Seán

     My order for FSP was quickly filled this morning. Although my bid was $10.50, the cost was $10.49. Later on it fell to $10.43, then closed at $10.51. I think it's likely to go lower still in the days ahead, so will hold out for $10.25 when I make another offer.
     Much is being made of the super-committee failing to reach agreement before the deadline, but I think today's big sell-off reflects pessimism about the Euro's future. No one expected the committee to agree and its failure has no current consequences: The automatic budget cuts won't take place until 2013.
Seán

     Index futures, worldwide, indicate stock sell-offs will be continuing tomorrow. Today's trading volume of individual issues was average, or below, with few exceptions. In true panic selling, volume would be twice the average and prices would fall two percent or more. That could happen any time now if there is no good news to offset the daily dose of gloom.
Seán

     Instead of good news we learn German bunds aren't selling. This may dishearten investors quite severely.
Seán

     Stock futures everywhere reflect the jolly spirit of the season. Doubtless tomorrow's soaring prices will leave me sitting, grumpy, on my tuffet and clinging fiercely to my wallet. I did find some jolly bargains last week when the universe imploded; mayhap I can sell some for a sudden profit and use the proceeds to buy a Kindle.
Seán

     Today's stock surged on volumes greater than average. After hours trading, however, was restrained, with little change in prices. As I write, stock futures are negative, but moving higher. On balance I expect tomorrow will be another gainer, even though there's little good news to sustain a rise. Assuredly, I'll not be buying and I have no motivation for selling, now that my Kindle's paid for.
Seán

     INTC, a company with whose stock I am well supplied, warned of gnarly near-term performance because the flooding in Thailand has stopped the manufacturing of hard drives, without which computers can't be made. Otherwise, they say, the company is in fine condition and will roar forward, once again, some time in 2012 (or, maybe, 2013) when HD's become available once more. This may be a chance to profit handsomely by buying stock in some hard disk making company based in a drier place. LaCie may pass the test, if it is traded publicly.
Seán

     Index futures everywhere, including here, are down and the Euro's fading swiftly. The sudden death of North Korea's leader. Kim Jong-Il is being taken as bad news, as well. The market should be a veritable slaughterhouse tomorrow.
Seán

     Wrong again. Stocks today were down only moderately and trading was light. Gainers predominated in after hours trading and futures are on the up side. I expect tomorrow to continue the upward trend. I'll be sitting on the sidelines in all likelihood.
Seán

    Futures decree more gains in tomorrow's markets. That really shouldn't happen. I suspect a plot by Santa Claus to take back all his presents and demand rental for their use when it comes time for January.
Seán

     I was fortunate in last year's market; even after buying large amounts of TNK prematurely and suffering paper losses for my folly, my overall portfolio had gained 28% by year's end. Of course I know the whole year's gains could easily be lost in one week if a real correction happens before I take the profits. I don't care; I like the dividends and am not impressed by fluctuations if a stock is sound.
     One exception is AA. I think I'll sell that while I am still ahead. The dividends have shrunk and it looks as if their market will be lagging for a long while.
Seán

My portfolio has suffered small losses for the last two days, giving rise to hope a correction will provide opportunities to buy. The hope seems reasonable, considering the Euro is expected to implode at any moment. On the other hand, my charts still show an upward trend. As of now I have no stock for sale and none I want to buy. This makes a perfect climate for preparing tax returns.
Seán

     A few short days of sweating bullets and my tax return is ready except for stock; the 1099 from my broker will be forthcoming on Feb. 15. No hurry anyway—no refund in sight—in fact I'll owe the government.
     Iran is growing fractious and, quite possibly, will impede deliveries of oil to our thirsty shores. If so, the price of crude will rise and, with it, the price of the stocks of oil companies with access to oil from other regions. Re-routing of the Keystone project may well proceed apace.
Seán

     Speaking of charts, I have a liking for the 10-day Simple Moving Average. When the daily price is above that line its price will probably go higher while if the daily price is below the line the stock is apt to fall some more. The line indicates that PFE is now in decline and crying to be sold since it is well above its 200-day SMA. I'm keeping it, however, because I think the lowered price reflects concern about the dearth of promising new drugs. That doesn't bother me a lot because I'm sure they'll soon come up with something. If they can't invent it, surely they can buy it!
Seán

Three times over three months I wrote a long winded note in reply on this thread. I had too much to say regarding the past year and the current trends.

But I would work on the note, ponder, and come back to it later, so much that each time I went to post it, it went in that endless cyberspace of no return.

I resolve to keep my comments shorter. At least per post, lol.