Market Manipulation And Your Financial Freedom.

I sometimes write about the Boyz manipulating the market like a giant casino and you shake your head in utter disbelieve. Nowhere the manipulation was more evident than the closing market action of Friday. Instead of me writing something and doing a poor job of it, let me quote from Josh Brown of Reformed Broker:

Friday's close was the most obviously, nakedly manipulated bullshit close I've ever seen. I have no idea who is behind it but this is not what healthy, well-participated-in markets do. There are too many real players to allow for this kind of thing to be able to happen in a real market. This market we have is shady as hell. I wouldn't even comment on something like the below chart if it were a one-off, but honestly, this feels like it's all the time.

The market is devoid of width and depth, you can jerk it around pretty easily - especially if backed by an institution that borrows free money.  And in the meantime, the powers that be need it to close higher every week to prevent outflows and redemptions.

So let us start with the analysis of what the manipulators will do next. In a way the markets did what was expected of it, except perhaps crude but that I consider more of an exception than rule.  Next two weeks are going to be interesting. However do not expect any crash. As I said yesterday, the BOYZ will create some confusion and panic to buy cheap. ZH will do its best to scare folks in selling or shorting. Those who think that they can tackle this market with fundamental analysis or technical analysis alone, they are in for a rude awakening.

Regarding the long term fundamental analysis let me read the following in Bloomberg:

Bond Investor Gundlach Buys Stocks, Sees 'Kaboom' Ahead :

Then it goes on to say some more:

The co-founder and chief executive officer of DoubleLine Capital LP explains that the first phase of the coming debacle consisted of a 27-year buildup of corporate, personal and sovereign debt. That lasted until 2008, when unfettered lending finally toppled banks and pushed the global economy into a recession, spurring governments and central banks to spend trillions of dollars to stimulate growth, Bloomberg Markets reports in its January issue.

In the ominous third phase, he predicts another crisis: Deeply indebted countries and companies, which Gundlach doesn’t name, will default sometime after 2013. Central banks may forestall these defaults by pumping even more money into the economy -- at the risk of higher inflation in coming years.

Gundlach, 53, doesn’t know when the third phase will get here, but he tells his audience they need to gradually get ready for it.

“I don’t believe you’re going to get some sort of an early warning,” Gundlach, who’s also chief investment officer at Los Angeles-based DoubleLine, tells his listeners. “You should be moving now.”

For most parts, Gundlach is correct. The part I disagree is; his call to buy stocks: because when that crisis situation comes, stocks are going to be equally badly hit. There will not be any hiding place.

However, I do not want to sound like ZH and I do not believe that we are going to that bust phase right now. We still have some more time and we should use that time to make money. It is no point to short the market when it is going up even if the up movement is temporary. While traditional investment / trading tools are not going to give you the any early warning, the cycle analysis will and does give us detailed road map in the future.

It is cycle analysis which had told us that this current correction is just a correction, not a crash and has kept us focused.  While 2012 has been a huge chop for most parts without clear direction, 2013 shows very clear direction. It is much easier if we know what lies ahead.

The road to financial freedom starts with a little bit of introspection. Set out your goal. What are you expecting in terms of your investment? Are you thinking like an investor or trader? If you expect to double the money every so often with Options, you are gambling and taking huge risk. What is your risk tolerance level? Risk is the amount of money that you will lose when you are wrong. And chances are, we will be wrong most of the times. If anyone says anything else, don’t believe it. The only “Mantra” going to be risk reduction. I would love to say ‘risk elimination” but we cannot totally eliminate risk from investing or trading.  With a 10% compound rate of return, you will more than double your money in 10 years. Does it sound reasonable? If we can do that consistently, we can retire happy. Then why can’t we achieve it? Because we chase yield and compare our return with some silly bench mark or against others. We read that there are wizards out there whose trading methods gives 80% return in every trade and chase those mirages. We allow green to overcome logical reasoning.

Therefore dear readers, before the crisis moment is upon us, just do your goal setting. Where you are right now. What you want? Is that goal reasonable? How much risk you are willing to take. ( How much money you are ready to lose if you are wrong) Do these exercise seriously before you think of subscribing my or anybody’s trade/ investment ideas. Nobody can offer any magic formula. I will probably help you in preservation of capital and grow it in a reasonable manner. Sometimes I will not trade for months if I think that the environment is not right. Sometimes I will go in and out of trade quickly if I see an opportunity. Sometimes I will take a position and sit on it for months and years. Whatever it is, the magic has to start with you.

This weekend is a good time to start that exercise. Your financial freedom is in your hand. Take charge of it.