Throughout the months of March and April, as the markets were moving up and down, Steve, my roommate, and I exchanged 125-150 emails on the subject of the market. Some of the time I would email an article that I knew Steve would disagree with, just to get a discussion going. Much of the time, I was pointing out that the markets were still too high and how more bad news was forthcoming. I complained as the markets moved positively on bad news such as increasing unemployment or companies not losing as much money as predicted. He complained the markets pulled back from earlier gains on things like housing news and the analysis of bank quarterly earnings. Eventually, this led to the following email exchange:
my roommate:“will the DOW hit 9000 this year? ill bet you $20 bucks”
me:“Just because it hits 9000 doesn’t mean it will stay at 9000. I’d be dumb to take this bet because all you have to do is hit 9000. it could go down the next day, but you could still claim victory.”
my roommate:“ok whats your bet then”
me:“My bet is that DOW will unable to sustain 9000 for an entire month during 2009. 20$.”
my roommate:“deal. dow stays above 9k for a month
remember that you are betting against the biggest badest economy in the world: the american economy. while capitalism and all these ‘stupid banks’ show how capitalism goes astray – it also adapts quickly – there is a monetary incentive to do so.”
me:“and you’re betting that the illusions created in this current market will hold up.”
As of today, the market stands at about 8360. The market has swung up as high as around 8500 recently, but nowhere near 9000. Now I realize 2009 isn’t over yet and that it is too early to claim victory, but, I don’t see the Dow making 9000 this year. I think there is going to be more bad debt writes off by the banks and more prime borrowers having problems due to job loss and declining home values. The banks in their quarterly earnings reports were increasing their provisions for bad debt. So even the banks are expecting more bad news. From time to time I will update the status of this bet.
Feel free to leave your comments or predictions for the Dow / markets in 2009.
Tim's Adventures 
it all depends on this summer. if the summer is weak, down we could go again. if the summer is weak, it will be a slow recovery. if the summer is surprisingly strong or numbers start returning to ‘normal’ then 9000 is certainly in the picture. remember 9000 is still a full 5000 below the markets high in ’07….so even 9k or 10k doesnt mean ‘things are rockin’.
so i still think we can hold 9k for a month, probably this fall.
why?
because of many reasons. 😉
besides, where else are you going to put your money? china? ha! even the chinese invest in america buddy. they know that is where all the technology and innovation comes from.
What I don’t get from this story is that this guy is your roommate, have you ever thought about talking instead of sending 125-150 emails?
For the record, I am ProShares 2x short on the S&P500 (“SDS”) at about 900. I have an auto-sell on at 820, so I am betting in your camp.
I should have been more clear…these emails were all during business hours…while we were “multi-tasking” at our places of employment…of course i talk to my roommate…:)
All I have to say is, I am not surprised that you send your roommate articles because you know he would disagree and to get a discussion going.
Thanks for posting, I very much liked your latest post. I think you should post more frequently, you obviously have natural ability for blogging!