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No, It's a Terrific Time to Panic

Market prognosticators don't know what they're talking about

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 6, 2009 12:22 PM CST

(Newser) – When the Dow plunged 300 points Monday, one money manager called it “the best buying opportunity we’ve seen in years.” Joe Queenan isn’t so sure. “The best buying opportunity in years is now 14 months old,” he writes in the Los Angeles Times. As the Dow’s tumbled past 7,000, analysts have warned investors over and over not to panic. Queenan has a better plan: Panic.

Queenan panicked at 9,500. “I felt like a jerk at the time, knowing only too well that … I risked missing out on that massive, once-in-a-lifetime rally.” Worked out so well he panicked again at 7,500. “I fully expect to panic again at 6,000, probably at 5,000, and might even get in a bit of late-in-the-day panicking at 4,000.” There are times for cooler heads to prevail. These aren’t those times.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.   (AP Photo)
Specialist Glenn Carell, left, works his post on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 27, 2009
Specialist Glenn Carell, left, works his post on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 27, 2009   (AP Photo)
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How reliable are market commentators? Jon Stewart puts it in perspective.   (OneWithTheTruth)

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Dow 15,000 looks more likely than Dow 10,000. Keep the faith and stay invested. It's a wonderful buying opportunity. - Brian Wesbury, chief economist for Fine Trust Portfolios, as quoted in a Jan. 28, 2008 Wall Street Journal article entitled "The Economy Is Fine (Really)"

Months of stock liquidation and cash buildup, horrible sentiment and a bailout that could alter investor psychology have lit the fuse for an explosive rally. - James Finucane, a "veteran strategist" quoted in a March 24, 2008 Barron's article entitled "Are You Ready For Dow 20,000?"

I have come late to the panic mode, but as my father always said: No matter how bad you have been burned, it is never too late to try dousing yourself with water. Remember that, son.
- Joe Queenan

Investors have been told not to panic because no one has really lost any money until they've sold their stocks. Meanwhile, it may seem as if you've lost money. It may seem, in fact, as if you've lost half your life's savings. - Joe Queenan

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Mar 6, 2009 11:18 PM CST
What if we have a President who people thought was the Messiah and he really is not and his main guy who is supposed to fix all of this is standing around with his thumb up his ass looking at the other guys around him like, when is someone going to wake me from this bad dream. You people voted for a president who is incapable of fixing this situation, the problem is that you are still blinded by the hype to realize it until the boat is already under.
Guest
Mar 6, 2009 3:21 AM CST
We've set up a system that runs largely on "confidence" ... so I guess you/we decide...
Snowleopard
Mar 6, 2009 2:25 AM CST
If most consumers are in debt, and most businesses can only function if they get credit (debt), and the government is in debt, is it possible that we're just bankrupt and we don't know it? What if the stock exchanges are going down to zero?

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