MARKETS,Anybody even yet?

[dinghy]

Just purchased. Is this what I was supposed to buy?

[dinghy]

Zero state income tax here, so the exemption doesn't help me.

[FAA]

Startled by the +835 Dow on Friday. War was good for business in the forties, but let's get this over with. That had to be an aberration.

[dinghy]

War was good for business in the forties

For the winners, it was good but risky. The Dow fell almost 40% from the 1939 Poland invasion to the 1942 Coral Sea battle. Dip-buyers were then rewarded with a straight up move lasting into 1946. I assume some individual stocks did much better than others.

Sometimes governments refuse to allow stock market declines. I found this chart of the German DAX:



For his first decade of power, Hitler was excellent for stocks. But around the time of Stalingrad with the market near its peak, he implemented price controls. As I understand, buying was allowed, but selling could only occur above specified levels. There must have been some indication that the market was on the verge of collapse.

Finally in 1948 normal trading resumed, at 80% lower levels.

Now here's Russia lately:



Putin finally lost patience and prohibited the stock exchange from opening today. The US-listed Russia ETFs are trading down another 20% or so. Not sure what the red line indicates, but that's probably about where the market would be if it were open.

[FAA]

It does seem that we are well positioned to withstand any economic stress from the Ukrainian crisis. Russia, not so much! Their fallout can’t come fast enough.

[olds442jetaway]

[onemoretry]

Russia, not so much! Their fallout can’t come fast enough.

As you are undoubtedly aware, I don't always agree with what you write. On this one, though, I'm 100% with you! I hope they pay big time for what they've started.

[billryan]

TIPS are paying 7 1/2% right now and may go up a bit.

Are you possibly referring to i-bonds? I thought TIPS were significantly lower than that.

You are correct. Ibonds are paying over 7, not TIPS

[dinghy]

Ibonds are paying over 7, not TIPS

Perfect, that's what I bought. I don't know enough about TIPS.

[billryan]

If you have taxes witheld from a job, you can increase the withholding and have the refund paid out in Ibonds. Up to $5,000 a year. An individual can buy up to $15,000 in total with this method, a couple can invest $25,000.