24-08-2013, 11:05 AM
(24-08-2013, 09:45 AM)weijian Wrote: [ -> ]There are already too many intelligent people speculating over FED rates of 'when and how much'. My only opinion is that my speculative capability is much lower than the median capability. This self realization made me realize that it is quite a futile exercise to 2nd guess what Helicopter Ben will be doing. Instead, i will simply just take the stance that 'when rates are already so low, the ONLY way is up!' - ie, easy way out.
IMO, there's no need to be so precise as to 'when and how much' in our forecast, even if it's humanly possible... Even if we get it right, we may not get the next part right - how it'd impact our stocks / investment. The ecosystem is just too complex, with too many players.
But, that's not to say it's a useless or futile exercise. In my case, this exercise is part of trying to at least understand the environment our companies (stocks) are operating under and being aware that it'll impact them. From there, we can make better buy / sell / hold decisions.
An example of my thinking of this FED watch,
1. Free money will start easing soon, interest rate can only go up. Interest rate is in fact already starting to go up with this expectation.
2. In the immediate term, those who're addicted to cheap funding will be hit the hardest. Highly geared ones will be hit harder with higher interest expenses. Here, we saw the run on the REITs in previous months and the fears were even extended to other stocks.
3. In the longer term, it gets more fuzzy. The fact that the tap (of free money) is going to be slowly turned off is due to the US economy getting into positive recovery mode. That ought to imply better chances of growth / turnaround for businesses in general. US$ will likely strengthen and it'll be a fine balance on their competitiveness in foreign markets. That's where our stocks analysis skillsets will be best utilised... Growth (higher profits from higher revenues) has to offset higher Debts expenses, while remaining competitive.
4. US is just part of a bigger and more complex ecosystem of the world. It's good to see one 'sick man' to be taken off 'life support' soon as it reduces one worry (of a financial collapse) but there're others (Europe & Asia) to keep us vigilant.
Having said the above, if you do have the ability to find a stock with Buffett-like qualities of huge moat, great franchise, great mgmt, great value,... there'd be lesser needs to look at any other 'distractions' like FED watching and the time will be better spent on looking for more such stocks.
The reality (for me) is.... my skill sucks... I'm more often wrong than right... I make up for it by being more aware of the operating environment and by being more decisive when I'm either wrong or the environment hits my badly selected stocks (I see them fully naked when the tide goes down)...
Quote:I believe our emotional/intellectual reservoir to be finite. I am saving up those reserves for a better day when others have exhausted theirs!
I have a different view. The day when I exhaust my 'reservoir' is the day when I become senile... IMO, it helps to delay (hopefully prevent) that day by continuously using / stimulating my brain... The side benefit is to be able to fine tune our thinking process + the regular usage keeps us alert (on our toes to better react) and do better in our investments...