DELPHI? Are they a total loss?

Companies that have significant oil or gas reserves remain an attractive longterm play. We are seeing a plateau in prices presently, but this is temporary. Burlington Resources, BR; Exxon Mobil, XOM; Chevron Corp, CVX; and others.
Another interesting play is Gold. With the US government continuing to spend like a drunk sailor, inflation is around the corner. That along with some weakness in the dollar combine to make Gold an interesting play.
Ishares Comex Gold, symbol IAU is indexed to 1/10th ounce of gold.

I bonds will be yielding about 7% for the next six months. That's not a prediction, it's guaranteed! The rate will be announced November 1st. Buy 'em through your bank or treasury direct. Oh, and for those of you who live in high state income tax states like Oregon? No state income taxes on the interest earned... Best bond buy out there, IMHO.... Boring though, right? I mean you guys are looking to quintuple your money overnight? If so, head to Vegas...the odds are about the same.

You got that right.
When I worked for the Big Ol' Airplane Company I once said - in 1999:

"Buying stocks is like legalized gambling"

Coulda heard a pin drop. But the market did just that about 6 months later.....

So, this round of buying is fun money, on a whim.

Anyone want Tully's Coffee stock? I have privately held shares, and I'd like to sell about 1/4 of them to generate dollars. About $3.70 a share - PM me if interested.
It is a LOT of shares....

I bought 40 shares this morning at $8.29, so I lost a little already but it beats the other F shares I have at $10.20 per share. All things considered with dividends on Dec 1 paying at 0.10 per share its still a stable investment in my opinion.

OK Craig, now that I know where you're coming from...Uh, no thanks on your speculative stock, and I hope you enjoy the gambling. :)

Mmm, yup this is the only speculative stock purchase I'm thinking of....or have ever purchased. Mad money. Blackjack.

The rest is in MSFT/top rated mutual funds/that kind of stuff. Kinda conservative.

Has something to do with not having a 9-5 job.....

Buzz awhile ago is on these RFID tags...dunno who the players are tho.

I've got P/H shares in an oil exploration co. set to go public in June 06. Hope that goes for a ten bagger...Daddy needs a cup car:D

Booyah, skee-daddies

AAPL has been really good to me, but I think their run is done.

Im into a few shares of LGF, I really like the films they put out. I think they have quality stuff, hopefully SawII will give them a boost.

NUVO has a clot-buster drug coming out of FDA testing soon, its going to be a huge product for them.

Missed out on ENER, they had an awesome run.

I'm not one to give "good" advice, based on my current portfolio. But my Dad always felt in the long term that railroads would be good when oil got too high because then coal (as in oil shales) for a substitue to crude would be a good investment. Hmmm. I think I'll revisit them tomorrow.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that investing in the market is the same as going to Vegas. Now, if you want to say that putting all your money into one highly volatile stock is gambling then I would agree, but history shows that being invested in the market outperforms all other investment vehicles over time. The key is time. If you are looking to double your money overnight then head to Vegas. But it is entirely reasonable to think that you can make 15% or more in the market per year on average. Vegas is a game set up against you. In the market those people who know how to evaluate companies and (more importantly) make moves when everyone else is heading the other way make money. A lot of money. Warren Buffett kinda money.

Is there such a thing as common sense investing?

For the domestic markets, you know the baby-boomers are getting older and sicker, no shortage of customers for the health care sector. Like in health care delivery, medical equipment, and probably biomed. and pharmaceuticals. Whoever's making the inhaled insulin (Pfizer?) and that upcoming HPV vaccine, those are going to be huge.

In foreign markets, it looks like China is growing rapidly with an expanding and wealthier middle class. Wouldn't it make sense to invest there?

And how exactly does one invest in China? I went looking for funds a while ago and couldn't find anything. Most of the so-called China investments are in western or Hong Kong based companies that are just getting a foothold themselves in China.

Bro says NSC.

PGJ and FXI ETFs or if you're willing to do more research, invest in worldwide companies with a presence in China. WMT, auto companies, cellular providers???

Rick (four posts above)-

You got it. It's the philosophy I use. Vegas/stock market = the philosphy used by some co-workers in 1999, the era of intense stock speculation in stocks that were a bunch of hooey.

Check out SIFY from 1998 - 2001! A co-worker rode this from $4 to $120 and wouldn't sell.

OK, here's the list in order given (list updated on 10/31/05):

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cq?s=ESRX+BRK-a+txn+athr+intc+%20alvr+GSIC+CTRN+PSEPF.pk+AMLN+GN BT+DHI+BUD+F+PLKC.ob+hlsh.pk+dphiq.pk+BR+XOM+CVX+I AU+MSFT+AAPL+NSC+SIFY+cnp+sbux+bac&d=v1

If anyone has anymore list them and I'll add it to the list; we'll see if anyone can make any money over the next few months. (If we get more added to the list, I'll start a new thread with the list as the first post.)


(So far, I'm the winner for "the largest percentage up" with PLKC.ob SmileWavy -- of course, that could change on Monday and PLKC could be the "largest percentage down" -- such is life in the penny fast-lane.)

Buy a bunch of crap from Wal-Mart...
;)

Canadian Metals - look at INCO.

What about investing in China in the way that it was 'safe' to invest in the internet boom--infrastructure. I'm thinking along the lines of shipping companies and other support-type businesses that are China-oriented which will see growth regardless of which individual companies win or lose.

Thoughts?

Here's one: Yue Yuen. An almost pure play for Chinese manufacturing, with a bit of regional diversity in that they also operate factories in Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia and Los Angeles--so good coverage in the third world. ;)