it's an educational experience

This is a classic problem that eventually faces most successful computer platforms. The danger is not that RIM is about to collapse, but that it'll drift into in a situation where it can't afford the investments needed to succeed in the future. It's very easy for a company to accidentally cross that line, and very hard to get back across it.

~Michael Mace

S&P 500 vs. commodities and currencies

0 comments Published 11.14.2010 by dr. merkl in commodities, derivatives, stock analysis, stocks

Ever wondered what the S & P would look like if it were denominated in gold (AMEX:GLD), euros (FOREX:USDEUR), or in oil (AMEX:USO)?

Look no further:

S&P versus gold

S&P versus euros

S&P versus oil

How does this work?

Create an account with http://stocknalysis.com/ by starting at the create login page.

First, using stocknalysis.com you can track individual ETFs that track certain indexes or commodities. Pick the ETF that you want to see priced in some other denomination. For the examples above I chose the S&P 500 tracking ETF: (AMEX:SPY).

Second, select a stock/ETF that you want to price the stock/ETF from step #1 in. I chose the ever-popular gold ETF (AMEX:GLD).

Third, create an analysis by clicking the new analysis link.

Fill in the following fields

And instead of the "$" field pick any currency or any ETF that you chose in step #2.

Viola! You should now see the graph that represents ETF#1/ETF#2

Note about currencies listed in stocknalysis.com: currencies are listed as 6-character strings (e.g. EURUSD), where this represents the first currency priced in the second currency (e.g. Euro's priced in dollars). So when you want to price the S&P 500 in Euros, you need to divide:

A: S&P 500 / dollar <-- This is the SPY etf

B: Euro / dollar <-- This is the EURUSD currency pair

C = A / B

C: S&P 500 / euro <-- This is the derivative price created by stocknalysis.com

nice quote

0 comments Published 10.23.2010 by dr. merkl in quotes

You get what you reward and deserve what you tolerate.

the principle of progression

0 comments Published 6.27.2010 by dr. merkl in conformity, principle of progression, regression

My sound property lists "the principle of progression" as:

An appraisal term which states that real estate of lower value is enhanced by the proximity of higher-end properties.

Contrast this with the "principle of regression" as:

An appraisal term which states that the value of higher-end real estate can be brought down by the proximity of too many lower-end properties.

Unifying both of these principles is the "principle of conformity" which is stated as:

The idea that a house will more likely appreciate in value if its size, age, condition and style are similar to, or conform to, other houses in the neighborhood.

Analysis Name
Long Term Stability (days)
Med Term Range (days)
Signal Frequency (days)
Priced in $