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You do not get paid for knowing yesterday’s news… unless you work as a pundit! In that case you just need to go on TV and repeat what you read that morning in the Wall Street Journal or the FT. Like the “B” student in a class, you learn the conventional wisdom and repeat it. You can sound very confident – even smug – and seem right because you are describing the past. For traders and investors, yesterday’s news is history – already reflected in market prices. Unlike other aspects of life, being well-informed provides you no edge. It might even be a disadvantage. The post-hoc explanations for market moves twist theory to fit perceptions. As humans, we crave to make sense of everything; we are very creative in finding explanations. This may build a view of the world that is quite wrong. Finding an investing or trading edge requires an accurate view of the future, not the past. You can do this in several ways: Better information – possession of facts not widely known; Speed – getting news faster and drawing the right conclusions; Interpretation of data – understanding and using an indicator or technique that is not widely followed; Contrarian investing Determine the conventional wisdom Find important mistakes in the popular, oft-repeated viewpoints Consider what sectors and stocks would benefit if there is a return to reality Examples If you start asking yourself the right questions, following the points listed above, you will find some fresh ideas. Here are a few examples: Information – There are many important facts that are not widely known. Worldwide demand for energy has increased every year, more this year than last. Using energy prices as a gauge for the world economy is too pessimistic. Bank exposure to energy companies is relatively modest and reserves are much better than in 2008. If you accept this information, you can shop economically sensitive companies and banks. This information is hiding in plain sight. Speed – Good luck with this approach! You really need to have a plan in advance and jump on breaking news, beating the computer algorithms. Indicators – The page-view payoff for pessimistic news has inflated the perceived probability of a recession. Insider buying has been strong in several crucial sectors. CEO’s generally express confidence about their own business, even when less optimistic about others. The relevant data is easy to find. Contrarian Analysis – The conventional wisdom has punished biotech because of a political debate about drug prices. Oil prices are seen as hovering at a permanently depressed level. Banks are targets for political rhetoric and exposed to bad loans. Apple is too big and lacks new products. And more. Do we really believe that an aging population will not embrace the new drug discoveries? That China, India, and other countries will not need enough energy to close a 1% gap between supply and demand? That banks will not escape the political noise with more profit? Conclusion I do not expect everyone to agree with the specific trade ideas in this post, but I hope readers will consider the basic approach. If you want trading or investment profits, think for yourself and think ahead! Reading the news only helps to know what others are doing. Disclosure: I am/we are long AAPL. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Additional disclosure: I have positions in biotech, energy, cyclicals, and regional banks. Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News