Stock Forex

Supply and Demand. There is a common “wish” that all things be simple. And even if complicated, at least that they be explainable and definable. Do markets move due to a supply and a demand? Yes, to an extent, but there is too much sentiment, too many desires, and far too many biases which come into play.

Market Sentiment

When you have sentimental responses to hard facts, you are bound to get a distortion. Those who believe in equilib­rium or that the market is a zero-sum game are often fooled. A fund manager may make a clever play one day, but then be hoisted on his own petard the next.

Market sentiment is a combination of multiple dynamics at work. If we were to achieve perfect knowledge, have perfect competition, and perfect responses to all this, and more importantly, if we could be detached from the game, then maybe we could pre-guess a movement. But we get nothing perfect and we are not detached. Indeed, we are a part of the course of events.

When we buy stocks, we’re part of the process that drives the stock up; when we sell, we are the opposite. The amount of stock movement depends on where the market is headed— what stage, or cycle it is in.

Influence

We, individually, have little influence, but collectively we have a lot. If we are in the game, buying a stock or many stocks, we contribute. We become part of the trend. We want safety so we go with the numbers—the “herd.”

This has never made sense to me—as most of the stock market makes no sense to me. I love “crazy!” Since I accumu­late wealth through chaos—at least, figuring out part of the chaos and capturing profits amidst it, and since I don’t have to continue in the trend, in fact I can be detached from it (as you can)—then you and I can make incredible returns.