MARKETS,Anybody even yet?

[olds442jetaway]

Wish I could find a reason to buy it. I can’t. I don’t think the company has plans to pay the dividends in 2025 either. On the other hand, it looks like Vale is attempting a slow but steady comeback. I did pick up that one, but not quite even on it yet. So far my pick/buy on DX is a winner. Just got a real nice dividend too. 14 percent range.

[dinghy]

I don’t think the company has plans to pay the dividends in 2025 either.

Afaik they weren't far off from paying a divvy. They want their net debt below $4 billy ... er, billion. The most recent indication was 4.1 imo.

Those numbers are USD. I hate currency conversions. In a perfect world, everyone would use the ZAR.

On the other hand, it looks like Vale is attempting a slow but steady comeback. I did pick up that one, but not quite even on it yet.

I'm a little ahead now, plus divs. The Brazil market followed the textbook pattern of bottoming almost precisely at year-end, as the selling was likely intensified by tax loss considerations.

But VALE continued down and made another low around the 10th of January. It seemed ridiculous to me, so now it's one of my large positions.

[olds442jetaway]

I like Vale. I may add to it on a big market down day.

[dinghy]

I like Vale. I may add to it on a big market down day.

In theory I would like to own CSN (SID), which is vertically integrated so you get exposure to both iron and steel. Problem is, it's costly to transact because of the low share price -- currently 1.62. Percentagewise, the bid-ask spread is impactful.

Gerdau (GGB) is steel only, priced at 2.95.

I have starter positions in both of those, but VALE is my big bet.

[olds442jetaway]

Anyone have any new ideas?? I’m still gun shy buying new stuff at these levels except maybe a couple of more dividend plays. Looks like inflation may keep things down a bit for now. Insurances, taxes, groceries, housing, and on and on and in particular insurances have had brutal increases.

[dinghy]

Anyone have any new ideas??

Most of the tickers I'm monitoring this week are sell rather than buy candidates. In the buy category, I'm watching SFL which has dropped below 10 today on earnings. The dividend was affirmed yesterday at 27c quarterly.

[olds442jetaway]

Funny. I am watching SFL as well. There are a few warning signs on future earnings. Still might buy on further weakness. I did pick up some SEVN today. Nearly an 11 percent dividend.

[dinghy]

I did pick up some SEVN today.

I think my only individual stocks in real estate are JOE and KW. VNQI is +7% in the one month I've owned it, but I wish I had caught it a little earlier as I would have accumulated more. My fault for not being attentive.

VNQ (US only) is also +7% since a month ago.

[FAA]

-1.7%, -1.7%, -2.2%. Frightful Friday.

[dinghy]

Usually the really crazy stock market action is associated with bear markets, but I think the last 4 months have been a wild ride despite generally upward prices.

Last week, Newmont Mining (NEM) beat estimates by a bunch.



Since then, the stock crashed 10%. When I comment that it doesn't make sense, people will try to justify it. "They have high costs." "The BoD is woke." "Mining sucks."

Yes, but all of those facts were well-established before last week.

The stock did have a big run to start the year, and I sold shares. Now I'm in again. Gold could pull back after its big gains, but the company enjoys unprecedented profit margins.

I'm also bargain-hunting in nuclear. URNM is down 40% from its 52-week high.

The Trump trades have lost enthusiasm in 2025. YTD, internationals are up much bigger than the US.

The IWM Russell 2000 ETF is now down YTD. That would theoretically be a buy now if Trump is likely to deliver. Small-caps would benefit from (1) loosened regulations, (2) low interest rates, and (3) USA dominance because small-caps don't have international operations.

That's not my opinion, but it's possible.