Sunday Randomosity

• Mortgage rates average under 4% nationally. Although, as I mentioned in the podcast and on the blog, I haven't actually been able to find a rate under 4% in CA. I'm not calling anyone a liar here, just haven't been able to find that kind of rate yet.
• I am torn whether or not the stock market turned the corner last week and is on the next leg up (or at least back up to the top of the trading range). The volume on subsequent rally days was a bit light. But, so many folks had joined the bear camp. I think any trip down near the 1100 mark on the SP500, and I will get more aggressively long. Stay tuned. You'll read about it here if I do it!
• My fantasy team is struggling. Lost a bid for a bye-week WR, so struggling with Mike Williams and Mike Thomas in the starting roster playing against the guy with Adrian Peterson. Hello.
• Netflix now 61% off its highs. YOWCH. Well, you know why I never have invested in Netflix if you listen to the podcast and read the blog. But really, combine a lousy marketing decision this summer with competition, and it is easy to understand why the air is coming out of this balloon.
• So, for my podcasts on Audioboo, I've downloaded n-track studio for the iphone. Previously, I've used the Audioboo app. It is no frills, no intro or outro music or mixing in other tracks. I've also used VC Audio Pro, which limits you to about 7 minutes before you max out and can't email the podcast to Audioboo. Now, I have n-track studio. It has the capability to import tracks from your iTunes music library, and then edit the tracks. No email size limit that I can see. I tried a 20 minute broadcast, and it worked. Not that I'm going to talk for 20 minutes on a podcast, but nice to know I CAN!
• Down by 10 in fantasy. YIKES. still have 2 guys, he has 3.
• If you're thinking about the new iPhone 4S, and 200,000 of you have already pre-ordered, here is a comparison of the Sprint, Verizon, and ATT plans.
• A final written word today... Steve Jobs. I've been listening to the tech podcasts from the Wall Street Journal and Leo LaPorte and ... (etc). So many words spoken on the greatness and skill set of Steve Jobs. He was very much admired by everyone. I listened to Jobs' 2005 Stanford graduation speech, and it is amazing. May he rest in peace.

#112: NFL Picks; The Economy; Occupy Wall Street

#111: iPhone 4S; Market and Europe; the Deficit

Am I Eligible to Upgrade to the iPhone 4S

I just checked ATT, trying upgrade to the iPhone 4S. I have a fat gift card at the ready, so why not?

Well, I bought my iPhone 4 in July 2010.

And the answer is...

Sure. I can get the iPhone 4S 16-gig model, as long as I sign up for a 2-year contract and pay $449 plus an $18 upgrade fee.

Hahahahah. ROTF LMAO.

I'm sure I will share that story with the Verizon store sales staff in July 2011, when I buy the latest Android phone with a 4-inch screen and 4G data service.

I guess I will use the gift card on headphones. Lots of them.

TGIF - But Market Closes Lower

The stock market eased up today but still had a nice week. Is this just a pause in the downtrend or a reverse in the market?

It's kind of sad that the market is driven by what happens in Europe everyday. I suspect that will also ease as we head into earnings season. I don't think the economic news here is horrible, but it is slower than we'd all like to see.

The October Bottom

Market seasonality has favored selling in May near a rally high, and buying in September or October, near a retest of the lows.

Did you do that this week? Did you "load the boat" with stocks?

It certainly seems as if we've retested the lows and are now back in an uptrend. Does this carry through until the end of the year or beyond?

I haven't changed my portfolio allocation, and didn't buy at the retest this week. Oops! I will watch how the market performs over the next few weeks and if we venture near the lows again, I will put the sideline cash to work and move from low beta to high beta stocks.

#110: Steve Jobs Dies; A New Bull Market?