I am going to present an investment portfolio to be tracked over the remaining 11 months and 7 days of 2007 (I should have done this on Jan 1, but the idea of doing a post didn't arrive at a convenient time). The hypothetical portfolio of $100,000 will be invested in exchange-traded securities and mutual funds that reflect what I believe to be an optimal portfolio construction for 2007. We will, at the end of the period, see how the portfolio tracks the broader market. Dividends will be re-invested.
So the portfolio is :
Near misses (securities I did not add, but strongly considered) : FXI, GGP, PXN
The selections represent general principles and specific predictions outlined in the previously written articles :
The Next Big Thing in Entertainment, Part I, Part 2, and especially Part 3
The Culture of Success and Stock Market Capitalization in Developing Countries
The Stock Market is Exponentially Accelerating too
I herely sign and seal this portfolio on January 23, 2007, bought at the prices today, to be examined on December 31, 2007, in relation to broader market indices.
Let's see how it turns out.
Too much into gaming, GK? ;)
Posted by: Tushar D | January 24, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Are you actually investing or just pretending?
Posted by: jeffolie | January 24, 2007 at 05:41 PM
That detail is a secret, but the purpose is to beat the broader averages by a significant margin.
Posted by: GK | January 24, 2007 at 05:46 PM
Was wondering if you had any further comments on Iraq, related to your previous postings?
Any thoughts?
Thanks so much
Posted by: Steve Kraemer | January 27, 2007 at 07:02 AM
Steve Kraemer,
Nothing new. I still feel we are on track to achieve victory in Iraq by 2008, as I had written in May of 2006.
Analyzing one good month followed by one bad month is not indicative of long-term trends.
Posted by: GK | January 27, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Another interesting ETF is PZI, an "intelligent" micro/small-cap index that re-weights among value stocks with upward price movement.
Others to look at might be PXN (nanotech index) and PHO (water resources index).
For energy-related issues, see the closed-end exchange-traded funds KYN, KED, and KYE, that invest variously in Master Limited Partnerships (collecting pipeline and storage royalties) and private energy companies -- both areas previously only the very rich could access.
Do your own due diligence of course.
Posted by: RDS | January 28, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Gaming is good. The first gaming generation (myself included) never grew out of it and newcomers are being squeezed out everyday. Plus, some of the newer games are beginning to target non traditional markets like older non gamers. There is also room for expansion of the basic technology into everything from bus driving simulation training (I saw that on a show being used in London) to police training to laparoscopic surgery practice. I suspect that some game companies will spin off companies which specialize in "custom made" simulations, training and education products. I was hearing about a professor at a Canadian University who collaborated with a textbook company to make illustrative computer animations of all the concepts in the chemistry books which the company publishes. And it only used flash. Imagine the advantage a publisher could gain by illustrating history, science, etc to make the textbooks more useful. Textbooks are already overly expensive but adding 3D interactivity via regular gaming graphics engines would be much cheaper than making a full video game and then the cost of replication virtually free.
All of the possible uses for gaming technology are far beyond my ability to dream up.
As for Iraq, the outcome will be written as a defeat by the makers of history (i.e. yellow journalists) no matter what happens. If, in 2008 the US pulls out all its forces and the democratic government is not overthrown violently and a peaceful and fair election is held (something which is possible but not exclusively necessary for "victory") the media will still find street crime to report on as a "continuing spiral of violence" and the last US troops leaving will be filmed with the voice of Brian Williams describing the "poignant sight of fleeing American failures".
I wish, but do not expect, that Bush would spend the last couple years overthrowing Iran's craptocracy. If he does I will forgive him all his past missteps and have his ugly mug tattooed on my back. (Offer void if Iran does something so stupid that even the French or the UN support the act against them.)
Posted by: Chuck | February 02, 2007 at 08:14 PM
By this:
(something which is possible but not exclusively necessary for "victory")
I am referring to the leaving of US troops. An overthrow or suspension of democracy would count as a failure or at least as not a victory in my book.
Just to be clear.
Posted by: Chuck | February 02, 2007 at 08:18 PM
GK,
Would enjoy speaking or discussing the Iraq future with you via telephone.
My telephone number is
917 374 4897
Thanks
Posted by: Steve Kraemer | February 07, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Steve,
I appreciate the invite.
Two things - I have not decided on when or if I would reveal my identity, and I would like discussions to benefit all readers. Thus, I would like to have this discussion on the blog, after I do a big new Iraq post (which I will in the next few days). We can discuss these subjects there.
So hold the thought for a bit.. I look forward to the discussion.
Posted by: GK | February 07, 2007 at 02:18 PM
You should consider greater exposure to large cap stocks - small caps have a historically low risk premium relative to large -
You post interesting perspectives, I hope you keep it up for a long time.
Posted by: rr | February 24, 2007 at 11:30 PM
rr,
Perhaps. I just find that small cap values tend to do well.
I do have about 40% of this portfolio in large caps. 20% in Indian large caps, and 20% in gaming. Admittedly, this is not a very good diversification within large caps itself, hence the small-cap indices.
Let's see how this does aver 12 months have passed.
Posted by: GK | February 25, 2007 at 10:25 AM