any thoughts on PHTN. i just lucked into a 3 bucker. I bought
in mid 24s yesterday after the company mistakenly released its
bad earnings early. I though it would open down 2 or 3 and
was surprised to see the huge pop this morning. May try to go
back for seconds today

zeev. did you get back into any of the defense stocks? I'm
in NOC @ 108 and LMT @ 58. If you have the time, any comments
will be welcomed. NOC beat estimates this morning and I think
LMT reports later today or tomorrow.

ok george, we know you hate bush, now lets get back to making money.

i agree, but believe that the transformation re expensing of options, in the current fragile climate, must be done in a prudent manner to mitigate the fallout and pain. additionally
with your background, don't you agree that the structure of tech companies is somewhat different than old line companies?
should one general rule apply equally to every industry? just
a question, not an argument

cnbc now reporting on this possible "trend"

thxs for your input. if this trend spreads, I believe tech stocks will be hit the most. i think that is why the white house has been hestitant to jump on the idea. they know how it will hit silicon valley and tech. the mob mentality in washington is not capable of a rational, measured approach. the political hacks' desire to attack business for political gain will kill or injure the golden goose.

zeev, washington post just announced it will follow the lead of
KO in expensing options. What are your thoughts on the tech stocks if this voluntary trend re options continues and spreads? is it a snowball rolling downhill and gaining momentum? thnxs for your thoughts

thanks for the reply. atk earnings expected week of 8/5.
first call lowered estimates from .72 to .70 but that was before recent contract announcements. i am also concerned
about selling in the so called safe, strong and liquid stocks
- look at noc and lmt. however, it appears some agree with you
and there was some buying at the end of today. if there is a hint of iraq action it will take off and my experience has been
that once it runs, it runs hard and fast and is difficult to catch.

zeev, i like atk but am concerned by what appears to be a h&s
formation (head @ 76.93, shoulders @ 72.85 areas). if that plays out, the target is 54. i was also hesitant to jump in
when it broke below the support (last high area) of 60-62 from
last fall. if it falls to 54 to 52 range and rebounds, it may form a much larger h&s. i have played it several times before
and was surprised by its volatility for a defense stock. if we
do iraq it can turn on a dime and scream higher.
comments appreciated and thanks again.

this market is driving people to blame everyone. realmoney
(a pay site) has seen fit to post several political attack articles today by some hack named Gross. what BS! i do not desire to pay to read politcal garbage.

Zeev, I am another long time lurker who must join the chorus of thankful and admiring fans. What I appreciate the most is your method of teaching by example. Although I do engage in the tactic of riding your coattails on some trades, I value
your sharing of strategy and approach to trading in general
as much as specific data points, trends and stocks. One of your most remarkable characteristics is salvaging trades gone bad. I am learning. Late Tuesday I thought I was clever by
picking zran in the low 19s near the end of the day only to see
it plunge on Wednesday. I stayed patient and watched it fall
like a hawk and was able to load up in the mid 14s and not too long thereafter, was able to take a 2 bucker. What started
as a disaster ended up in one of my most profitable trades in
weeks. Many thanks.

I vote for (e) more and more people are losing interest. I cannot tell you how many friends, clients and acquaintances
have told me they are "out" either to cash, money market or real estate. I believe wall street and the political hacks in
Washington who secretly relish this crisis because they see it
it as an election tool, underestimate the problems of silent anger or eventual indifference to the markets by many. Your observation that things are "subdued" is on the mark. I am
an active trader and with the help of Zeev and many on this
thread have done fairly well over the past year but one factor I struggle with is the concern that as more and more people
pull out, get forced out, or lose interest, there are less players in the game and it becomes more difficult to play. I do not have any specific evidence, but the past few days it appears that mutual funds are puking up so called
big, safe stocks with reckless abandon. Some have used the analogy of being run over by elephants.