Most of us remember growing up watching cartoons on Saturday morning.
I probably watched too much. It quite literally affected my ability to make sense of the world.
One of my favorites was The Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour that featured the antics of a homicidal supra-genius named Wile E. Coyote who was obsessed with doing harm to a vocab-challenged Road Runner - the Moby Dick to his canine Ahab.
Of course, the coyote never succeeded. He got crushed, flattened and blown up every week. But he did teach us a fascinating lesson of cartoon physics that we can apply to markets -- particularly soaring ones.
In every episode, Wile E. Coyote would invariably pursue his elusive quarry off of a cliff. At this point, it became clear to the audience that the coyote was headed for a serious fall. And the more excitable among us were prone to yell things like, "Look out!" at the TV. The coyote; however, was blissfully unaware of his circumstances. In fact, breaking multiple laws of physics, Wile E. Coyote continued to churn his feet, levitating in the same spot, indefinitely free from all harm... until he did one thing; until he looked down.
Upon looking down, the impossibility (even absurdity) of his current status became clear. The coyote would gulp, usually produce a hastily assembled placard featuring the phrase, "Bye bye!" - and fall like an anvil into the void below.
Welcome to the world of investing bubbles. Welcome to Wile E. Coyote Sydrome (TM).
We've seen it before, throughout the late 90s when people were paying 200 P/Es for stocks based on metrics such as "eyeballs" ("eyeballs" is the new "earnings"!). The admonishments of the exasperated spectators (Julian Robertson & Dr. Robert Shiller come to mind), like those of countless children on Saturday morning, were there if you cared to listen -"Look out! You're going to fall!"
The Shanghai Composite has been running off the cliff for quite some time now. (I'm not saying you can't make money there. It's hitting new highs everyday, but if a market up over 200% in 2 years isn't a bubble... what is?) And the warnings coming from land are getting louder. But the coyote never listens. And he doesn't appear to hear Mandarin any better than English. He is far too engrossed in his pursuit to pay any mind anyway. But he'll look down at some point.
In the same way that the tragic coyote defies the laws of physics, investors defy the laws of economics, running on air as the market soars... 5%... 10%... 15%... I can't wait til next week!
But then the warning cries from the cliff break through to the investor's consciousness. And one looks down. (Sell). Then another. (Sell). Then another (Sell) and -- whoosh!-- (SELL! SELL! SELL!) -- the Panic, with its sickening plunge, is on.
And you don't need a sign that says, "Bye bye!" to know it.
Wile E. Coyote Syndrome (TM) at its finest.
So how do you approach this situation? Your wisdom (and high school physics) tells you to run back to land. But it's such a rush dancing off the ledge, and that's where the money is.
For one thing, do not underestimate human greed. Do not overestimate its reciprocal fear either. (Physics also teaches us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, after all). Be prepared for both. Have cash available to pick the pieces off the ground. Anticipate the sectors to which people will flee. Run around on air for awhile, but take some profits too. Most of all, prepare yourself emotionally for the plunge, because its coming. And no one know when.
The great thing about ol' Wile E. is that when he gets smushed, flattened, and blown up, he bounces back good as new in the next clip.
Investors aren't so lucky. Raise your hand if you bought Intel at 90! (You can't see my hand, it's up.) In fact, many portfolios never bounce back.
So enjoy it while you can. Be prepared for the plunge. And you may want to consider shorting "ACME Gadgets Co." (Their rocket boosters have serious design flaws.)
I probably watched too much. It quite literally affected my ability to make sense of the world.
One of my favorites was The Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour that featured the antics of a homicidal supra-genius named Wile E. Coyote who was obsessed with doing harm to a vocab-challenged Road Runner - the Moby Dick to his canine Ahab.
Of course, the coyote never succeeded. He got crushed, flattened and blown up every week. But he did teach us a fascinating lesson of cartoon physics that we can apply to markets -- particularly soaring ones.
In every episode, Wile E. Coyote would invariably pursue his elusive quarry off of a cliff. At this point, it became clear to the audience that the coyote was headed for a serious fall. And the more excitable among us were prone to yell things like, "Look out!" at the TV. The coyote; however, was blissfully unaware of his circumstances. In fact, breaking multiple laws of physics, Wile E. Coyote continued to churn his feet, levitating in the same spot, indefinitely free from all harm... until he did one thing; until he looked down.
Upon looking down, the impossibility (even absurdity) of his current status became clear. The coyote would gulp, usually produce a hastily assembled placard featuring the phrase, "Bye bye!" - and fall like an anvil into the void below.
Welcome to the world of investing bubbles. Welcome to Wile E. Coyote Sydrome (TM).
We've seen it before, throughout the late 90s when people were paying 200 P/Es for stocks based on metrics such as "eyeballs" ("eyeballs" is the new "earnings"!). The admonishments of the exasperated spectators (Julian Robertson & Dr. Robert Shiller come to mind), like those of countless children on Saturday morning, were there if you cared to listen -"Look out! You're going to fall!"
The Shanghai Composite has been running off the cliff for quite some time now. (I'm not saying you can't make money there. It's hitting new highs everyday, but if a market up over 200% in 2 years isn't a bubble... what is?) And the warnings coming from land are getting louder. But the coyote never listens. And he doesn't appear to hear Mandarin any better than English. He is far too engrossed in his pursuit to pay any mind anyway. But he'll look down at some point.
In the same way that the tragic coyote defies the laws of physics, investors defy the laws of economics, running on air as the market soars... 5%... 10%... 15%... I can't wait til next week!
But then the warning cries from the cliff break through to the investor's consciousness. And one looks down. (Sell). Then another. (Sell). Then another (Sell) and -- whoosh!-- (SELL! SELL! SELL!) -- the Panic, with its sickening plunge, is on.
And you don't need a sign that says, "Bye bye!" to know it.
Wile E. Coyote Syndrome (TM) at its finest.
So how do you approach this situation? Your wisdom (and high school physics) tells you to run back to land. But it's such a rush dancing off the ledge, and that's where the money is.
For one thing, do not underestimate human greed. Do not overestimate its reciprocal fear either. (Physics also teaches us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, after all). Be prepared for both. Have cash available to pick the pieces off the ground. Anticipate the sectors to which people will flee. Run around on air for awhile, but take some profits too. Most of all, prepare yourself emotionally for the plunge, because its coming. And no one know when.
The great thing about ol' Wile E. is that when he gets smushed, flattened, and blown up, he bounces back good as new in the next clip.
Investors aren't so lucky. Raise your hand if you bought Intel at 90! (You can't see my hand, it's up.) In fact, many portfolios never bounce back.
So enjoy it while you can. Be prepared for the plunge. And you may want to consider shorting "ACME Gadgets Co." (Their rocket boosters have serious design flaws.)
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