I know many Americans are having trouble making money in The Down Economy.
If you have been swooping mad amounts of fly girls, and following The G Manifesto to The Seventh Letter, then here is a good money making Down Economy Move for you:
Just last night, before rolling out to a “biz meeting” of sorts, I decided to clean up my crib a little. (After my “reconnaissance mission” of sorts, I planned to get a few cocktails at this local Wimpster bar, and try and swoop some West Coast Hipster Girls.
After putting away the heaters, the balclavas, the Custom Suit with my signature Cookie Monster blue interior draped over an Eames Lounge Chair and Serial Killer Biographies, I checked the my main couch (a fine example of the French, Art Déco period, if I do say myself, although I am not an aficionado).
One pair of earrings was puro ($4,000 retail approx). One watch was junk. The other was a legit girls Rolex (retail $3500 approx). (I took it all to my fence today).
Not bad. About a $12,000 haul. Give or take a G.
So if you want to make some quick dough: Check The Couch.
Side note:
Cleaning the crib also paid dividends. Although I struck out with the West Coast Hipster Girls, I got a call from a fly girl I have been trying to swoop since the 12th grade.
(Here’s hoping Roberto Delaurentis, a classy Italian guy, getting better from his hospital layover.)
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Much like 2009 we expect 2010 to be more of a traders’ market as opposed to sitting in positions for extended periods. A successful trader will need to apply fundamental research and technical research by paying attention to seasonal tendencies, examining correlations commodity to commodity, monitoring the weather and most importantly being flexible with their positions. By this I mean to perhaps scale back your position size because of the volatility, trade both futures and options, and use hedging strategies. The two principal conditions to look out for this year are who wins the argument on inflation vs. no inflation and decoupling relationships between asset classes. To keep up to speed with our ideas we encourage investors to follow in our weekly commentary or daily blog.
The substantial swings we expect to see in 2010 commodity wide will force investors to be more attentive with their portfolios. Speculators, hedgers, and producers need to recognize that with this comes excellent opportunity but much more risk. While it is unlikely that we will encounter the same type of swings this year as the previous two, one will need to bring their best game to be successful at marketing, hedging, or speculating this calendar year. The good news is that more investors are trading commodities which are quickly becoming a critical component of the global economic system and a necessary asset in your portfolio.
We are looking forward to 2010 and see many opportunities that we’ll outline here. For further explanation and to keep up on an evolving basis follow our Weekly commentaries and on our blog’s Daily thought at www.mbwealth.com. Feel free to visit and give us feedback, we are always eager to see what other traders and investors are doing.
Metals: Copper is not a market you can put a position on and forget about as swings have just become too large. Prices in the last 4 years have been under $1 and over $4. Off their lows which were established in late 08’ early 09’, prices have rocketed higher by almost 270%. At this point we say prices are too high and we would expect a set back; a trade back to $2.40- 2.60 is not out of the question. The demand out of China was one of the main driving factors in 09’ and if we were to see that pace slow one would expect a correction to ensue so pay close attention to copper earmarked to China this year. Copper continues to act as a very accurate barometer on global economic sentiment and if prices are either extreme or moving higher or lower at a swift pace do not ignore the warning signs. Gold saw record highs last year trading over $1220/ounce but after a wash out early this year we would expect new record highs. Before we would expect that to really develop we would anticipate the masses to get out of the trade and for this trade to be far less crowded. As we hinted at last year, when the markets are leaning only one way the ensuing move is generally in the opposite direction. Though we feel gold has and will continue to serve as a store for value, we expect the move higher in 2010 largely to be driven by more investors realizing that we have inflation around the corner. The 50 day moving average comes in just below $1000/ounce and at about that level serves as a 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level so that would make sense for a back off point. The closer we get to that level or if we even get below that the level, the lower one is able to buy gold and the more bullish we are. On the upside we are expecting to see a print very close to $1400/ounce this year. Silver outperformed gold in 09’ and we expect the same outcome in this calendar year. Silver failed to get back to its highs reached in early 08’ while gold hit fresh record highs, so in my eyes silver has some catching up to do. Furthermore, the gold/silver ratio that you need to be aware of as a metals trader we view to be way too wide. This spread has decreased from the wide level we saw in late 08’ of 85:1, but at the current level the spread is still at 61:1 when historically it has been closer to 30:1. The 50 day moving average in silver comes in just above $15 and though we think a loss of 18% from the current level may be a stretch, we would maintain a buy the dips mentality in silver with a price objective on the upside of $22-24 in 2010. In both gold and silver we would suggest buying the dips we see the first part of the year because if things go as planned we may not see those levels again this year. Additionally we would suggest scaling into the trades and utilizing a combination of futures and options as we expect volatility to persist.
Financials: While there are consequences if a large institution tries to move the Equity market and it is frowned upon when Central banks intervene in the currency market, I presume that when the government manipulates the bond markets we are supposed to turn a blind eye. That is what the story was in 2009 as we feel that the government controlled the flow and moved the Treasury market higher and lower as it saw fit. What should be the driving force in this market this year, is the perceived direction of interest rates and the eventual tightening which we expect to start around mid-year. The Fed may want to leave rates low for an extended period but when countries around the globe raise their rates the US cannot let the spreads widen significantly or it will suffer dreadful consequences. If we are right on stocks moving lower the flow of money may keep prices of Treasuries afloat temporally early in the year, but we suggest a short bias in Treasuries in 2010 as we expect more downside than upside potential. We see a trading range in 30-yr bonds of 124’00 to 108’00 and in 10-yr notes of 123’00 to 110’00. More than likely most of our trade recommendations in the Treasury complex will be the short end of the curve as opposed to the long end as we will be positioning clients in long dated put options and short futures in Euro-dollars to take advantage of the coming interest rate tightening. We made a similar prediction last year and hindsight tells us we were early but we continue to think risk/reward this is one of the best trades one may see in a lifetime. Let’s get real where can interest rates go from here? The key is to scale into positions and not add any substantial size until the market proves you right. We think once the Fed starts raising rates this trade could last 2-3 years. The key will be to stay with the trade, recognize this trade is not glamorous but if rates move to 7.5%-10% in the coming years this trade should reap hefty rewards. I should have known as the S&P bottomed in March 09’ at “666” that there was an uncharacteristic move to follow. The 50% appreciation got many investors back some money that was well deserved but what we should take away from a move like no other is we may be facing a crisis like no other. This should serve as a warning much like a loud horn before a devastating crash. By no stretch of the imagination do we think we’ve seen the worst; with growing unemployment, another leg down in real estate, the lack of consumer spending, mounting US debt, the rising cost of commodities and a rise in interest rates to come we Do NOT see the light at the end of the tunnel. Early this year we could see an attempt at 1175/1200 in the S&P, 11000/11250 in the Dow and 1950/2000 in the NASDAQ but we expect a sizeable correction to follow. Are we calling for a double dip, not at this point, but our downside targets are as follows: 825/875 in the S&P and 8000/8500 in the Dow, and 1400 in the NASDAQ. This market will continue be a stock pickers market and the days of buying and holding are dead. With still so many unanswered questions it is extremely difficult to predict what the right move may be. As investors we are in unchartered waters and making up the rules as we go.
For specific strategies contact us via e-mail http://www.mbwealth.com or telephone at (888) 920-9997 / 954-929-9898. For the most part investors reading this analysis want to be more hands on, however we suggest taking a look at our managed futures section and consider diversifying further via CTA’s with proven track records.
Risk Disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.
Then I remembered Poppin’ My Collar which sampled Willie Hutch’s “The Theme From The Mack”:
I had never seen the video before. But I saw some solid lessons there.
I know many people are having a tough time stacking chips in the Down Economy, and these little hustlers at the beginning of the video really show The Art of Selling.
They use a great opener, get right down to biz, offer a solution, compliment the buyer, Then Close Hard.
I really love that closing line; “So, are you gonna help us brothers out, Or What?”
Its a real universal closing line that you can almost use in any situation:
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Here are the 2nd G Manifesto Awards. The 1st G Manifesto Awards, are here: The G Manifesto Awards, The Best of 2007. I missed 2008 as I was busy swooping girls and had a little street War to contend with at the time. (Also check out the Outlook for 2008, where I was like the Nouriel Roubini of this Game s*it, of sorts).
Again, these Awards are places or things that I have been to or experienced in 2009. So don’t get itchy if your local nightclub in Cleveland doesn’t make the list.
Best Comeback City: New Orleans. My love affair with New Orleans is well documented. This year was the first year since Katrina where the swagger seemed to return. Do as a G does; visit often and drop CASH.
Best High-Action City: Tijuana, Mexico. I wouldn’t exactly call it a love affair with Tijuana, but I have spent mad time there and turned mad dollars there. The place is actually a lot safer now than the papers would lead you to believe.
Best Day Game City: Buenos Aires. The volume of fly girls for Street Game makes it hard to ignore.
Best Beach Locals: The Somali Pirates. These guys made the boys from The North Shore and The Bra Boys seem tame. They made mad dough, raged hard, protected their coast, swooped mad girls and even caused real estate bubbles in other countries. Hell, I have been seriously considering rolling down there and joining the fun. I wonder if there are some un-crowded points to be had to the brain?
Best International Restaurant: Restaurante Arzak in San Sebastian. Spain is really kicking out the best grinds right now. And Restaurante Arzak is top rank. I am frothing at the mouth thinking about it. Will be there again in May.
Best US Restaurant: Galatories. The best goddamn restaurant in America. I love how they even make President’s wait for a table.
Me?
I get top tier service.
Honorable Mention: Gramercy Tavern. I have to include this spot because of the first class treatment, pro-bono wine pours and the sweet breads. Nothing about it the meal was “so-so”, more like “fabuloso”. Additionally, I was politicking with this fly chick and digging her moves because she smooth and she choose to pay dues.
Best International Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, France. Decadence since 1928. I really like the indoor pool surrounded by tromp l’oeil murals of the Versailles gardens.
Best US Hotel: The Waldorf Towers, New York. The one bedroom Grand suites with the separate entrance are style and elegance defined. They are not cheap (about 5k), but they really do pay for themselves.
Best Fight: Juan Manuel Marquez VS Juan Diaz. Marquez proves once again how he is The G in a come from behind devastating knockout of an 80’s baby.
Most Masterful Performance: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. VS Juan Manuel Marquez.
Best Blog: Roissy in DC. I would have said The G Manifesto, but that would have seemed rigged, right? In all seriousness, Roissy kicked out gem after gem almost every day of the year and truly transcended.
Best Forum: RooshV Forum. If you like traveling and swooping fly foreign girls, then this is your forum.
Best Hip-Hop Track: I Hate My Job, Cam’ron. Nothing captured 2009 better than Cam’s “recession rap” track when most American’s were coming out with a pitiful rookerful of money.
Funny too.
Ayo I’m lookin’ for a job, ain’t nobody hiring,
Then I ask the boss, “when y’all doin’ firing?”
Great sample from Barbara Mandrell’s “Sleeping Single In A Double Bed”.
Best Break out Hip-Hop Artist: No, not Asher Roth or Drake. It’s Black Milk. “Losing Out” was enough to do it.
Best Soul Track and Album: Maxwell – Pretty Wings and BLACKsummers’night. The cat was gone for eight years. No wonder this decade was terrible. Come to think of it, anyone seen D’Angelo?
Woman of The Year: Ashley Alexandra Dupré. It is truly amazing how this girl has kept her mouth shut (so to speak) for the entire year. She deserves all the props in the world, and a shining beacon of hope for her self-absorbed peers of her generation.
Honorable Mention: Sonia Sotomayor
G of the Year: Joaquín Guzmán Loera. No one did it bigger in 2009 than “El Chapo”. Untouchable like Elliot Ness. Hell, he even came in at #701 on Forbes’ list of richest people in the world with an estimated net worth of $2 billion. A low estimate if I have ever seen one.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Sol Price, a retail magnate who three decades ago altered both the American landscape and the American way of shopping by founding Price Club, the first nationwide members-only discount warehouse, died on Monday at his home in La Jolla, Calif. He was 93.
With Robert, Mr. Price started the first Price Club in 1976 in a cavernous former airplane parts factory in an unfashionable part of San Diego. The business, which offered consumer goods as varied as tires, books and household appliances at extremely low prices, proved to be the leading edge in the multibillion-dollar influx of discount big-box stores, among them Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club.
I am a couple of days late on this story, as I was busy swooping fly girls in the Caribe, getting mad shoulder rubs, while puffing on Marlboro Gold’s.
I was deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Price’s passing, as I have some ties to the family. My heart goes out to them.
A True G, top tier biz cat, Democratic powerhouse and always gave back. And did it with Style. People’s Champ if the ever was one.
The main lesson from him: Keep overhead to an absolute minimum.
You know your G when Sam Walton bites your steez:
One of the chief beneficiaries of Mr. Price’s legacy, Sam Walton, acknowledged the debt in his 1992 memoir, “Made in America” (Doubleday, 1992; with John Huey). Mr. Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, wrote, “I guess I’ve stolen — I actually prefer the word ‘borrowed’ — as many ideas from Sol Price as from anybody else in the business.”
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com