Forum Moderators: buckworks
I have noticed as the gas prices here in the US have really surged in the last week, that our sales have also tanked.
Anybody else seeing a sales slow down that they feel is probably due to surging gas prices?
There are many other factors, like people taking last minute summer vacations, but with gas prices climbing so high, many people are even forgoing these last minute vacation. I'm also wondering if the spike in gas prices is also causing people to tighten their wallets for fear that it is only going to get worse in the coming months and the might need to save that extra income they have now to afford higher gas prices in the coming months.
I've been investing for decades and can certainly afford the high requirements to buy into hedge funds. (believe me, there is an element of snob appeal to being in one).
Hedge funds that are both long and short in the stock market have been around for decades. They spring up in every bear market; then die out.
Modern hedge funds that "play" everything under the sun are recent "products." From my standpoint they are doomed by high fees. Managers get a fairly small fee when the fund drops or is even, but often get 20% on the upside.
Not only is that outrageous but it encourages managers to take long shot chances. At worst, fund "families" often play the market in opposite ways to assure some of their funds do well at any time. Conflicts of interest abound.
Main street investors don't want to be in these things.
Main street investors don't want to be in these things.
Available "main street" hedge funds...
1. Insurance policies, however getting the insurance companies to pay a claim is like squeezing blood from a turnip.
2. Government safety net programs, ie; welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, etc. Which all of these are a net loss as we pay in way more in taxes than we receive in benefits if ever needed.
Now back on topic...
Yeap...sales are back up to normal now. Given all the negative pressures the economy seems very resilent. Makes you wonder how much better business would be if we didn't have to deal with terrorism, sky high energy prices, wars and rumors of wars, pestilance, famines and environmental catastrophes. Or are all these things fueling the economic engine?
It just doesn't FEEL like it.
Yeah...It just doesn't FEEL like the bottom line should be this good right now.
