Al Quaeda buys gold stocks

[rodden]

Quote from Pabst:

The fact that no U.S. airliners have been blown up this year is evidence of Al Quaeda's longs in AMR.

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe they've been short the whole industry since they caused airline operating expenses to skyrocket 9/11.

There is no economic wall around the free world - and how can any government agency track billions of transactions every day, given that half of them take place outside the U.S. and friends' jurisdiction?


Means. Motive. Opportunity. Who needs iron-clad proof?

Al Qaeda's trading our markets.

 

[rodden]

Quote from Cammin71:

It's a theory and a good one at that. I think the spike and Al-Q could very well be linked.

Whew! At last - hold off the dogs while I take a break.

 

[dgabriel]

Quote from rodden:



I

I am practicing what I preach and will soon be switching to longer-term long on golds (from intra-day shorts); I believe that Al Qaeda will inevitably bring more of its violence to America and that the markets will react negatively, even if the general economic recovery is strong.

Bin Laden has stated that his strategy is to bring down America's economic infrastructure. He has no hope of succeeding, but the mere presence - in America - of such a menace will depress the markets..and raise the price of gold.

So you will be trading in direct sympathy with Al Queda and Bin Laden. You are preparing to reap financial benefit from more acts of terror.

Sounds rotten, rodden.

 

[rodden]

Quote from dgabriel:



So you will be trading in direct sympathy with Al Queda and Bin Laden. You are preparing to reap financial benefit from more acts of terror.

Sounds rotten, rodden.

Just hoping to survive.

By the way is that gabriel as in Gabriel - the angel? Shouldn't you be playing a harp somewhere instead of trying to beat people for their pension money?

Oh - excuse me, your holiness - of course you only "invest"; you never trade.

 

[Rearden Metal]

Quote from dgabriel:



So you will be trading in direct sympathy with Al Queda and Bin Laden. You are preparing to reap financial benefit from more acts of terror.

Sounds rotten, rodden.

C'mon...there's nothing immoral about doing one's job (speculating) correctly. Better to trade according to objective facts than to ignore terrorism- which certainly does move the markets.

I doubt Al Quaeda was buying golds at yesterdays close, but certainly a trader needs to factor these murderers into any macro plays. I hope all Al-Quaeda would just shrivel up and die, never to be heard from again...but since that is not our present reality, one must trade accordingly.

 

[rodden]

Quote from Rearden Metal:



C'mon...there's nothing immoral about doing one's job (speculating) correctly. Better to trade according to objective facts than to ignore terrorism- which certainly does move the markets.

I doubt Al Quaeda was buying golds at yesterdays close, but certainly a trader needs to factor these murderers into any macro plays. I hope all Al-Quaeda would just shrivel up and die, never to be heard from again...but since that is not our present reality, one must trade accordingly.

Well put, RM.

 

[limitdown]

Quote from rodden:

No matter what your interpretation of a set of events, your conclusions are based on a basic human need to find meaning in all things. Whether you accept an hypothesis or not is a function of your own world-view. All interpretations are subjective - because even the most supposedly impersonal judgements are based on filtered information.

Al Quaeda has declared that its intent is to undermine the economies of the U.S. and its allies. Surely one as sophisticated as yourself accepts the probability that Al Quaeda plays the markets - especially given their unique position to affect those markets.

Also, when considering any system composed largely of unknowable elements, all viewpoints are equally narrow - including yours.

I took the attempt at quantifying those thoughts. Let's see your attempt.

Chasifina did an excellent job at that in the comment just above yours. Here it is just for clarity:

chasinfla Elite Member Registered: May 2002 Posts: 2749 11-20-03 09:57 AM

if the markets don't tip the hands of the players involved, then a whole lot of traders who have made a whole lot of money over a whole lot of years have been just plain lucky. And the odds certainly don't favor that hypothesis.

It's axiomatic that positions are revealed in market activity.

It is also very likely that terrorists, who don't shy away from attempting to manipulate governments, wouldn't shy away from attempts to manipulate markets for effect and profit.

 

[rodden]

Quote from limitdown:



I took the attempt at quantifying those thoughts. Let's see your attempt.

Chasifina did an excellent job at that in the comment just above yours. Here it is just for clarity:

chasinfla Elite Member Registered: May 2002 Posts: 2749 11-20-03 09:57 AM

if the markets don't tip the hands of the players involved, then a whole lot of traders who have made a whole lot of money over a whole lot of years have been just plain lucky. And the odds certainly don't favor that hypothesis.

It's axiomatic that positions are revealed in market activity.

It is also very likely that terrorists, who don't shy away from attempting to manipulate governments, wouldn't shy away from attempts to manipulate markets for effect and profit.

Yes, Chasinfla said it well, but I'm a trifle miffed that you characterize my own communication as an "attempt" at expressing myself.

Oh, well - in any case, thanks for the input. Have a profitable day.

 

[rodden]

Quote from dgabriel:

I don't think anyone doubts that there is an arm of the govt. that investigates the markets to finds clues about possible nefarious speculation. But your thread is entitled "Al Queda buys GOld Stocks" like you are reporting a fact. If you have some solid inside information, call the Pentagon or MI5 and give them the leads.

Otherwise, you know know nothing.

Actually - in this particular communication you are right.

A belated acknowledgement that I should have conceded your point - and I promise not to indulge in immoderate thread titles any more.

Apologies to you and to all.