Monday Morning Quarterback: Salvation Lies Within-Minyanville

BUSINESS & MARKETS

LIFE & MONEY

VIDEO

COMMUNITY

SUBSCRIPTIONS & PRODUCTS

Monday Morning Quarterback: Salvation Lies Within

Todd Harrison Oct 12, 2008 10:00 pm

Monday Morning Quarterback: Salvation Lies Within


		To get through this we must go through this.

“Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” --Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding, The Shawshank Redemption

Someone once said we should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. In the financial system, hope isn’t a viable investment strategy but risk management will save you from the worst-case scenario.

Over the weekend—yet another abbreviated respite that screeched to a halt when Asia and U.S. equity futures opened on Sunday—the world digested the latest proposed solution to one of—if not the—worst financial crisis in history.

STOCKS
RELATED ARTICLES
ALSO BY...

The IMF started the procession by offering what Minyans have long known.

"Intensifying solvency concerns about a number of the largest U.S.-based and European financial institutions have pushed the global financial system to the brink of systemic meltdown," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF managing director.

The brink of systematic meltdown, you ask? Credit has crashed, equities had their worst week ever and the contagion has spread to every conceivable corner of the earth.

As horrific as the last six weeks—no, the last twelve months—have been, it can indeed get worse. If, how and when remain to be seen but as the big picture is made up of many smaller pictures, I’ll share my current trading posture later on in this article.

What is clear is that cumulative imbalances have been building since the turn of the century and we’re in the throes of the “prolonged period of socioeconomic malaise entirely more depressing than a recession” that we warned of in 2006.

Social mood and risk appetites shape financial markets and both seismically shifted when faith in the system and the credibility of our leaders evaporated. The denial-migration-panic continuum is coming full circle and that is perhaps a reason for optimism, if only for a trade.

To get through this, we needed to go through this and we’re going through it now.

Minyanville mapped this script for many years. As some pundits—many of whom never saw this coming—scream fire in the crowded theater, we’ve shifted our lens to identifying potential solutions, providing insight along the journey and encouraging lucidity and perspective as we digest the necessary, albeit painful, medicine.

1 of 1 (100%) didn't find this helpful
Rate this article:			(1 Vote)

more BUSINESS & MARKETS articles »

Daily Article Index �

tags:

TRANSOCEAN, ISRAEL

Comments (18)

See All Comments »

David Gondek

View Exchanges


10-13-2008, 1:47 pm
"Because of their success, envy and emnity were created in the minds of their less successful, less-Capitalist, putative equals. (3) This envy leads to armed conflict. " That's one way to look at it. Read More

Mr Bacan

View Exchanges


10-13-2008, 3:22 pm
For me Minyanville is all about a sense of community, the ability to exchange ideas, and maybe have it little FUN, even when all of this terrible stuff is happening around us. Plus, I have to admit, the attitude of the "Berries Read More

Paul Callahan

View Exchanges


10-14-2008, 8:56 pm
You know, Todd, you are my son's age. I have read a very great deal of your stuff here at Minyanville. I admire, and, I admit darkly, envy your quick intellect and remarkable market savvy. I am touched by your pieces about your g Read More

Paul Callahan

View Exchanges


10-14-2008, 10:16 pm
Hi, Dave. You wrote, "(1) Victorian England, like post-WWII America, was the biggest, most successful country and economy on the planet - in no small part, due to their (over?) reliance on the theories of free markets Read More

Paul Callahan

View Exchanges


10-15-2008, 7:23 am
You wrote: "If these are natural and expected responses of the human condition then how do we get to the point where that theoretical 'putative equal' figures out that their rightful place is to be inferior...and ACCEPT Read More


discuss this article and more on the mv exchange

Positions in WFT, RIG, OSX, QLD

Get real-time options trading ideas from Steve Smith, veteran options trader and newsletter author, plus let him show you the way to cut risk and boost your returns through the strategic use of options. Click here for a free 14 day trial to OptionSmith by Steve Smith.

Todd Harrison is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Minyanville. Prior to his current role, Mr. Harrison was President and head trader at a $400 million dollar New York-based hedge fund. Todd welcomes your comments and/or feedback at todd@minyanville.com.

The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.