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Investing! aka the TF2 hat ETF thread
posted in Off Topic
31
#31
0 Frags +

Yeah, that's what Excel is for.

Yeah, that's what Excel is for.
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#32
1 Frags +

Thanks for the knowledge Sal, that whole currency thing is interesting and making me salivate.

Thanks for the knowledge Sal, that whole currency thing is interesting and making me salivate.
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#33
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MumboCurrency markets can get extremely complicated, especially if you start working with cross rates.

I'm sure it can, however I think locking in currency for the sole purpose of buying and reselling can't be to difficult, provided you lock whoever your selling an imported product to into a fixed rate contract for a year or however long you locked your currency up for.

[quote=Mumbo]Currency markets can get extremely complicated, especially if you start working with cross rates.[/quote]

I'm sure it can, however I think locking in currency for the sole purpose of buying and reselling can't be to difficult, provided you lock whoever your selling an imported product to into a fixed rate contract for a year or however long you locked your currency up for.
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#34
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Oh also if anyone is interested in learning more about futures markets, http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Futures-Todd-Lofton/dp/0471732923/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365544911&sr=1-14&keywords=futures, is a book we make all new hires read. It gives a decent introduction to the markets, exchanges, and the different ways people use futures markets.

Oh also if anyone is interested in learning more about futures markets, http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Futures-Todd-Lofton/dp/0471732923/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365544911&sr=1-14&keywords=futures&tag=teamfortresst-20, is a book we make all new hires read. It gives a decent introduction to the markets, exchanges, and the different ways people use futures markets.
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#35
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#34 Does that book explain the carry trade? We devoted probably 2 classes to discussing how major financial institutions seem to be making abnormal profits on that.

#34 Does that book explain the carry trade? We devoted probably 2 classes to discussing how major financial institutions seem to be making abnormal profits on that.
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#36
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SalamancerSAL INVESTING POST

:O, my intro to macro-econ professor basically gave us the same advice as well

investing tips and tricks too strong

[quote=Salamancer]SAL INVESTING POST[/quote]

:O, my intro to macro-econ professor basically gave us the same advice as well

investing tips and tricks too strong
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#37
1 Frags +

What type of investment would you consider crate #40's?

What type of investment would you consider crate #40's?
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#38
2 Frags +

Sub-junk.

Sub-junk.
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#39
0 Frags +

sal I can't add you on friends, plz remove someone for me (and add me)

sal I can't add you on friends, plz remove someone for me (and add me)
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#40
6 Frags +

talk to me about bitcoins

talk to me about bitcoins
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#41
2 Frags +

Hey sal, what do you think of bitcoins?
Edit: DAMNIT PapaSmurf323 You beat me to it

Hey sal, what do you think of bitcoins?
Edit: DAMNIT PapaSmurf323 You beat me to it
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#42
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SalamancerSub-junk.

What if they rise up like the crate 30s did? Unlikely, but still possible. Definitely not a stable/safe investment though, I remember when I sold my strange huntsman for buds, and now its 6 keys.

[quote=Salamancer]Sub-junk.[/quote]
What if they rise up like the crate 30s did? Unlikely, but still possible. Definitely not a stable/safe investment though, I remember when I sold my strange huntsman for buds, and now its 6 keys.
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#43
4 Frags +

Salamancer are you the 1 percent?

Salamancer are you the 1 percent?
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#44
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bearodactylSalamancerSub-junk.What if they rise up like the crate 30s did? Unlikely, but still possible. Definitely not a stable/safe investment though, I remember when I sold my strange huntsman for buds, and now its 6 keys.

There is very little demand for any of the crate 40 stranges atm. Overall that crate was pretty shit compared to the other 2. Holiday Punch and Mantreads?

[quote=bearodactyl][quote=Salamancer]Sub-junk.[/quote]
What if they rise up like the crate 30s did? Unlikely, but still possible. Definitely not a stable/safe investment though, I remember when I sold my strange huntsman for buds, and now its 6 keys.[/quote]

There is very little demand for any of the crate 40 stranges atm. Overall that crate was pretty shit compared to the other 2. Holiday Punch and Mantreads?
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#45
4 Frags +

BUY GOLD RIGHT NOW

[b]BUY GOLD RIGHT NOW[/b]
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#46
0 Frags +

Buy strange festives and salvage crates and then sell it two years late.... profit!

Buy strange festives and salvage crates and then sell it two years late.... profit!
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#47
-1 Frags +

Bitcoins are a disaster waiting to happen. I remember coming across the concept a couple of years back during my undergrad and being absolutely delighted by the idea of an untraceable and unregulated digital currency - cash over the internet. All it's been good for so far is buying drugs online. And increasing in dollar value several times over, which would explain all the commotion and people willing to buy it. It's more of a speculative asset right now than a currency - in fact it's a pretty shitty currency because it's so volatile (and the fact that no one uses it). Pretty soon, people will realize that they're being exceptionally stupid and the bubble will pop. Some people will make a tremendous amount of real money (those who started years ago and held it already have) before that happens, but most people will lose a huge chunk of their initial investment.

Bitcoins are the equivalent of a gold standard without the gold - an essentially fixed supply of money (not fully fixed as you can still mine for it but the rate of discovery declines exponentially). I can see why that would appeal to a certain class of people (aka Glen Beck fans, libertarians etc) but it's a pretty silly idea that's become even sillier by straying away from the core reasons it came about to begin with.

tl;dr - stay away.
Source: I'm a PhD candidate in Mathematical Econ.

Bitcoins are a disaster waiting to happen. I remember coming across the concept a couple of years back during my undergrad and being absolutely delighted by the idea of an untraceable and unregulated digital currency - cash over the internet. All it's been good for so far is buying drugs online. And increasing in dollar value several times over, which would explain all the commotion and people willing to buy it. It's more of a speculative asset right now than a currency - in fact it's a pretty shitty currency because it's so volatile (and the fact that no one uses it). Pretty soon, people will realize that they're being exceptionally stupid and the bubble will pop. Some people will make a tremendous amount of real money (those who started years ago and held it already have) before that happens, but most people will lose a huge chunk of their initial investment.

Bitcoins are the equivalent of a gold standard without the gold - an essentially fixed supply of money (not fully fixed as you can still mine for it but the rate of discovery declines exponentially). I can see why that would appeal to a certain class of people (aka Glen Beck fans, libertarians etc) but it's a pretty silly idea that's become even sillier by straying away from the core reasons it came about to begin with.

tl;dr - stay away.
Source: I'm a PhD candidate in Mathematical Econ.
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#48
0 Frags +
Whatisausernamewhy bitcoin is bad.

Furthermore, once the government realizes that bitcoin can be used as untraceable currency which will be most likely used by drug cartels, there will be an intervention/ban of bitcoin.

source: I'm a level 90 paladin in the world of warcraft

In all honesty, it really is just like a fiat money in that there really is no definite source of declaring how valuable bitcoin really is, once people realizes the ramifications of using a virtual currency, it will pop. But then again, I did just read a reddit thread of a guy making $220k because he was one of the early investors and took out a 40k loan back when the currency was worth only 44$ as opposed to the mid $100 now.

[quote=Whatisausername]why bitcoin is bad.
[/quote]

Furthermore, once the government realizes that bitcoin can be used as untraceable currency which will be most likely used by drug cartels, there will be an intervention/ban of bitcoin.

source: I'm a level 90 paladin in the world of warcraft


In all honesty, it really is just like a fiat money in that there really is no definite source of declaring how valuable bitcoin really is, once people realizes the ramifications of using a virtual currency, it will pop. But then again, I did just read a reddit thread of a guy making $220k because he was one of the early investors and took out a 40k loan back when the currency was worth only 44$ as opposed to the mid $100 now.
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#49
-1 Frags +

About bitcoin - #47 explained the problems succinctly. "Stay away" is great advice right now since you'd most likely be buying near the top of a speculative bubble.

#48 Nnnnno, it's the exact opposite of a fiat currency, in that there is a fixed supply not controllable by a government and it's behaving exactly like a commodity.

#45 I realize it's a joke, but I'm pretty sure gold is in a spec bubble phase at the moment, too.

#46 Past behavior is not indicative of future results. The reason I claim sub-junk for crates is that nobody knows what will happen to TF2 in two years. It's much less predictable than stocks and bonds.

#43 I am not the 1%, but with a job in the oil industry I am doing well.

About bitcoin - #47 explained the problems succinctly. "Stay away" is great advice right now since you'd most likely be buying near the top of a speculative bubble.

#48 Nnnnno, it's the exact opposite of a fiat currency, in that there is a fixed supply not controllable by a government and it's behaving exactly like a commodity.

#45 I realize it's a joke, but I'm pretty sure gold is in a spec bubble phase at the moment, too.

#46 Past behavior is not indicative of future results. The reason I claim sub-junk for crates is that nobody knows what will happen to TF2 in two years. It's much less predictable than stocks and bonds.

#43 I am not the 1%, but with a job in the oil industry I am doing well.
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#50
0 Frags +

thats all true Sal, but whats the current price of a steaming tosslecap?

thats all true Sal, but whats the current price of a steaming tosslecap?
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#51
4 Frags +

who gives a shit

who gives a shit
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#52
0 Frags +

Who would you say has a better handle on the market between Jim Cramer and Larry Kudlow?

Who would you say has a better handle on the market between Jim Cramer and Larry Kudlow?
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#53
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I'm interested in a computer science/finance major because i want to steal money running those investing computers. any tips?

I'm interested in a computer science/finance major because i want to steal money running those investing computers. any tips?
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#54
0 Frags +

Depends on whether you mean "steal" through legitimate market activity - i.e. having a better stock valuation model - or "steal" as in outright fraud/theft.

The latter, I can't help you with.

For the former, comp sci alone won't cut it. You will probably want a Ph.D. in theoretical physics and/or statistical modeling.

Depends on whether you mean "steal" through legitimate market activity - i.e. having a better stock valuation model - or "steal" as in outright fraud/theft.

The latter, I can't help you with.

For the former, comp sci alone won't cut it. You will probably want a Ph.D. in theoretical physics and/or statistical modeling.
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#55
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#52 I don't watch either of those.

#52 I don't watch either of those.
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#56
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how does theoretical physics apply to the field? decreasing latency? and is the finance study that important or can a guy in a suit do the finance part and leave me to the computer?

how does theoretical physics apply to the field? decreasing latency? and is the finance study that important or can a guy in a suit do the finance part and leave me to the computer?
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#57
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I say physics because physicists tend to be acquainted with obscure mathematical and physical models that are sometimes useful in finance. A lot of the derivatives and futures contracts that came out of the '80s and '90s quant-jockey period of finance were dreamt up by physicists thinking to themselves "hey, we can buy this, why can't we also buy this-squared?"

I say physics because physicists tend to be acquainted with obscure mathematical and physical models that are sometimes useful in finance. A lot of the derivatives and futures contracts that came out of the '80s and '90s quant-jockey period of finance were dreamt up by physicists thinking to themselves "hey, we can buy this, why can't we also buy this-squared?"
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#58
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Finance itself is fairly important for understanding how companies are actually valued.

Finance itself is fairly important for understanding how companies are actually valued.
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#59
-1 Frags +
Salamancer#21 If you kept your stocks from 2008 they'd be roughly recovered in value by now, I believe.

Does this statement hold true even with inflation being calculated? Compared to Gold, silver, oil, and all other commodities, the value of the US dollar has Tanked (even over the last 5 years)! Sure, you would have as much money as before the recession, but would you be able to buy as much with it?

What do you think of Gold or Silver as an investment to beat inflation?
(I just read your post about that) Is it true that as long as the treasury keeps printing money and the fed keeps pumping it into the economy, the buying power of the dollar will continue to go down? QE3 is sounding more like QE infinity forever.

I have some more questions, so if you are up to it, I would really like to talk in private about my personal situation. If you aren't available I understand.

Thanks!

[quote=Salamancer]#21 If you kept your stocks from 2008 they'd be roughly recovered in value by now, I believe.
[/quote]

Does this statement hold true even with inflation being calculated? Compared to Gold, silver, oil, and all other commodities, the value of the US dollar has Tanked (even over the last 5 years)! Sure, you would have as much money as before the recession, but would you be able to buy as much with it?

[s]What do you think of Gold or Silver as an investment to beat inflation?[/s]
(I just read your post about that) Is it true that as long as the treasury keeps printing money and the fed keeps pumping it into the economy, the buying power of the dollar will continue to go down? QE3 is sounding more like QE infinity forever.


I have some more questions, so if you are up to it, I would really like to talk in private about my personal situation. If you aren't available I understand.

Thanks!
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#60
0 Frags +

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?&id=CPIAUCSL&scale=Left&range=5yrs&cosd=2008-02-01&coed=2013-02-01&line_color=%230000ff&link_values=false&line_style=Solid&mark_type=NONE&mw=4&lw=1&ost=-99999&oet=99999&mma=0&fml=a&fq=Monthly&fam=avg&fgst=lin&transformation=pch&vintage_date=2013-04-09&revision_date=2013-04-09

In what way is the value of the dollar tanking? Help me out.

Edit: Private discussions won't be happening over steam, friends list is full. You can email salamancer.tv@gmail.com I suppose.

[img]http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?&id=CPIAUCSL&scale=Left&range=5yrs&cosd=2008-02-01&coed=2013-02-01&line_color=%230000ff&link_values=false&line_style=Solid&mark_type=NONE&mw=4&lw=1&ost=-99999&oet=99999&mma=0&fml=a&fq=Monthly&fam=avg&fgst=lin&transformation=pch&vintage_date=2013-04-09&revision_date=2013-04-09[/img]

In what way is the value of the dollar tanking? Help me out.

Edit: Private discussions won't be happening over steam, friends list is full. You can email salamancer.tv@gmail.com I suppose.
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