Sunday, October 7, 2012

A Bit about "Feelings" and "Hedging"--what they have in common

Whenever you hear a pundit on Bloomberg news or such talk about how he or she "feels" about the market....run. Supposedly in a rational universe, where stocks are valued in an efficient manner, how one "feels" is not relevant. Usually when the pundit is opening the stock market about 8:30am central time he feels good about the stocks that he has a position in. Period. That for the record is "self interest" and what follows from his mouth is "self promotion"---yes ditto for those stocks that he has in his charitable trust. How does that relate to "Hedging" or buying calls or puts in the futures market, or buying "bear etf's" to hedge a stock position, or even buying gold. When to buy? When is the time? Now let's talke about "feelings". When you are at a bar and have had two wonderful Guiness, or even two Manhattans, not bar whiskey of course, but the best, you feel...wonderful...What you should be thinking of is who is going to drive home---instead you are thinking of other things....getting your mind to focus on hedging the risk means you have to worry about the ride home. The feeling is the trigger to hedge. The feeling after those two drinks is what the feeling is like...do not forget it. Further....hedging is like insurance...if you get someone to drive you home...which is a hedge...you do not have to worry about a DUI. When you have the bear hedge, you may lose in the insurance, but you will win if the market tanks....so keep the eyes on the donut...the investment...and plan on winning with the hedge only if disaster strikes....When and if you begin trading and gambling with the hedge....you are headed for high blood pressure or worse...make a note of it.