Market beliefs

April 4, 2011

Friday was a day to fool others.  Every day is a day to fool ourselves.

Primed to know

The video gives a great example of how knowing what to expect makes the expectation come true.  The entire 13.5 minute talk is wonderful, but you can skip to about the 9 minute mark to experience the Led Zeppelin example.

Market expectations

How much of what you “know” about the market is just what you let filter through?  What you or others have told you you should see?  We abhor the vacuum of not knowing.

If the efficient market hypothesis were true, then everything you knew about the market would be illusion — the market would be entirely unpredictable. If you’ve been paying attention the last few years, then you won’t think markets are efficient.

But they are close to efficient.  Much market knowledge is just randomness with clothes on.

Epilogue

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on

from Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.

Subscribe to the Portfolio Probe blog by Email

Leave a Reply

Related posts

  • February 17, 2011

    High volatility stocks are, in general, nonsensical.  Who's to blame? The high vol gamble Theory says that investors demand higher returns for higher volatility assets.  Reality says that the [...]

  • February 4, 2011

    The Super Bowl will take place on Sunday. This is the final game for American Football (if you have to ask, then: "No, not real football"). Not only is [...]

  • February 1, 2011

    February 2nd is Groundhog Day.  If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, then he goes back into his burrow and hibernates for six more weeks.  Otherwise he predicts an early [...]