Stocks purchased today :-(

Looks like I should start reading my own posts. Even after posting the previous mail about why to buy stocks , I ended up buying a couple of them today. And to top it, this is what my astro prediction for today reads like, “

Decisions made in haste today may be regretted, so today make your decisions with much forethought and consideration. Do not choose your path hastily or you may find that your choice was a mistake. Decisions you take with the best intentions at heart will bring you fulfilment in the end.”

Although I bought stocks with price to bookvalue ratios of less than half, given the current choppy conditions you never know what might happen. From now on much more attention should be paid before any stocks are bought. I have the advantage of investing really small quantities so not much impact on me personally even if the markets were to go down from here. Bottom hunting is now of no use or so it seems now. You should get in with whatever spare cash you have keeping a long term view. Maybe I should wait till my job gets permanent which it should given the way the company has been expanding the team. But still, I should wait for the job confirmation else things can get too bad.

10 GREAT reasons to invest in the stock market RIGHT NOW!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

… and then of course –

10.

If you can think of any others, don’t be shy — drop me a line!

Wall Street Wit

Q: What is the definition of optimism?
A: An investment banker ironing five shirts on a Sunday night

Q: What is the one thing Wall St and the Olympics have in common?
A: Synchronised diving

Q: What is the difference between a pigeon and a merchant banker?
A: A pigeon can still put a deposit on a Ferrari

Q: What do you say to a hedge fund manager who can’t short-sell anything?
A: Quarter pounder with fries please

Q: How many commodities traders does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None, they don’t change bulbs; but the trading price of darkness plummets due to oversupply.

President Bush said clients shouldn’t be concerned by all these bank closings. If the bank is closed, you just use the ATM, he said.

George Bush said that he is saddened to hear about the demise of Lehman brothers… His thoughts at this time go out to their mother as losing one son is hard but losing two is a tragedy.

The problem with investment bank balance sheets is that on the left side nothing is right and on the right side nothing is left.

There are 30 billion prime numbers below 700 billion. The rest are all subprime.

Why are all MBAs going back to school? To ask for their money back.

For Geography students: What’s the capital of Iceland? Answer: About Three Pounds Fifty…

A trader: “This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife.”

What’s the difference between a guy who just lost everything in Vegas and an investment banker? A tie.

What’s the difference between a bond and a bond trader? A bond matures.

Lehman have changed their recommendation on Lehman from hold to sell.

Forty years ago I sold fifty shares of my company stock and had enough money to purchase a brand-new 1967 Ford pickup. Last week, I checked it out, and if I sold another fifty shares, I’d have enough money to buy a 1967 Ford pickup. So, the market has stablised.

Sensex swings

The sensex swings these days makes me want to get back to stocks but the lessons learned from my last foray keep me away from it. Look at this snapshot from the sensex page of Business Standard Live Markets.

Market 16_10_2008

All the broking houses are recommending buys as they were when sensex was at 16000 saying that this can fall no further. The intra day swings are interesting. Sensex at lowest levels for the year. Seems a repeating story for this year. Should stay away from the markets for a long time yet.

Himalayan Blunder

India’s 1962 loss to China.
Claims and counter claims abound about the above topic. Who was the aggressor? Who was the victim? Who was right? Who was wrong?
The issue is never looked in without nationalistic fervor attached to it.
Found a couple of books that offer to shed some more light on the issue.

Read an excellent review of John P Dalvi’s Himalayan Blunder explaining how India lost the war here. This book was banned immediately after publication, though it is now available in India from at least two publishers. Indus and Lancers.

Neville Maxwell’India’s China War sort of puts forth India as the aggressor. A review of the book can be found here and the book can be read here.

Will update this post as I come across more material.

Conversations with foreign-funded charity

Read this very interesting article about conversions.

Simcat 12

Reached half an hour late. I wished we had skipped it. Could have been a good one if we weren’t late. Always hope.

Simcat 11 results

The results are here. They are bad. But surprisingly, put relatively they are not that bad.

Simcat 11 Results

Ubuntu 8.10

The folks at ubuntu are releasing a new version 8.10.

Ubuntu Countdown

Ubuntu Coming Soon

Death Race

Watched death race yesterday. Nice mindless action. You don’t want to think while watching the movie. Jason Statham was good. Overall, an enjoyable movie with beer.