why do I invest in silver? This sums it up pretty well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb1n1X0Oqdw&feature=player_embedded#
thats because they dont want us to have bullets when they take us over………….what a bunch of dummies,,,,, dont they know that we are feared so much because other countries know that everybody is toting a pistol
No, the only reason the gm papers were trading for so high was b/c it's now a collector's item as the company went bankrupt and so those papers are now worthless. thus, people are banking that those gm papers will be worth something for collectors. it also helps that companies don't issue paper shares anymore as everything is done on book entry basis. so, the amount of actual paper shares in the market must be pretty low. i believe the only way to get the papers is to actually ask for paper receipt when you purchase a stock - but i don't think many brokerages allow this as an option anymore. when gm reemerges from bankruptcy, new shares will be issued.
An Old Collectors' Experience My experience has been that if you properly "invest" in "Moderns", on average, if greed isn't your primary controlling influence, you can realize a better return than any of the multiplicity of other "investments" offered to the general public. I've consistently realized a strong double digit return on selected PM coins which don't require purchase or sale through "greedy" dealers. I recently sold a strong 5 figure sum to a respectable dealer, who pays all fees, and operates on less than a 5% "spread". I've found coin collecting to be just that, and not an investment, as coin collectors are still trying to purchase century old PM coins for less than their "melt value". I have a very large "collection/accumulation" of virtually all PM U.S. coins, with maaany completed sets, but their value has increased less than bullion, because many were acquired at greater premiums than today, because of speculators (e.g. Hunt Brothers). My experience has been that if you are buying with the "majority", you are collecting, and not investing. Just a successful "Old Mans" experience.:smile
TD Ameritrade, Etrade, Scott trade all charge $40 for stock certificate delivery. Sine the certificates isn't delivered as such to the broker, it would involve expenses and the fees are fair I believe. The only stock certificates I have physically been "given" at no charge was in a former local bank ( NASDAQ). I have never had a need for them in over 30 years of trading, in fact they are a delay pain when you have to redeem them, sometimes taking several weeks, and you are at the whim of the market. If I make a financial decision, I want to transact it within minutes at least if the market is open. My biggest fear for the common PM investor is that they might buy into the conspiracy and crazy talk ( as Cloudsweeper99 says) and go way overboard at a time when there is still much uncertainty and volatility in ALL of the markets. PM is no certainty either. Sure have PM investments, but balance it ( even with Cash) to a reasonable proportion. I decided to buy a stock 2 days ago, and I could have bought 5X more than I did, but I wanted to stay a certain percentage in cash, and I didn't feel it was appropriate to use margin with the high volatility. It has gone up about 12% since then, bringing another decision soon on it. DO I lament I didn't buy more? No, because there was a chance it would have gone down 12% instead. Invest as you wish, and remember for every buyer there is a seller, so each transaction , you have a 50% chance of being the right decision. IMO. Jim
Very good, concise writeup DG! :thumb: Say, Cloud, what do you make of the Mint not lowering prices the past week? Could it be they "knew" PM prices would dip prior to contract expiration and head back up afterward? ...and just didn't want to take it in the shorts?