My sentiments exactly, Paul!

Paul:
Expertise these days has turned into caution as markets may not be as free and fair as they were before computers.
Technical analysis can be good as it can show where we have been and possible trends as to where we are going. What is somewhat variable is the validity of the data being distributed into the system making the “input” to technicals not as reliable as it once was making historical data and therefore projections prone to being influenced by false input at all points including the present. That creates unexpected consequences.
We have also noted that historical/traditional fundamentals can be seemingly ignored by electronic interference in the data process.
There is also a current issue highlighted by “Save Canadian Mining” group to correct lack of Regulatory action either by Government functions or basic fiduciary duties of Brokerage activities in preventing illegal trading issues such as Naked Short Selling, spoofing, etc. The Southern District of New York recently ruled on a Naked Shorting Case that responsibility falls on the Broker/Brokerage firm to prevent corrupt activities within their control and be liable for them.
So the issues are great in the mining space and they are beginning to act against questionable activities that have little to do with markets and everything to do with theft.
We all hope that when Wall Street realizes that certain ways of doing business become unprofitable and possibly career ending, We all can get back to feeling more comfortable with the “fairness” in order to make some educated and profitable projections. In the meantime, read everything you can about a potential investment, decide what level of risk or de-risking your comfortable with and over time you will develop trust in various sources that seek as much fact and truth as possible in a system that is intervened in by those that seek unfair advantage as an agenda.

If I was a beginner now knowing what I now know I would stay mostly away from the junior resource sector and concentrate on the large cap stocks, like Barrick, Newmont, and Agnico Eagle. When we enter a gold bull you will see juniors jump like crazy but if you don’t understand human psychology, you will lose money, 95% of all investors fall into this category. The large caps will probably give you a 300-400% return with very little downside if you buy in now but you still must know when to sell. They too will go down when the market turns. You can’t hold any stock for a long period of time, all stocks are meant to be traded and that is what most investors don’t understand. If you hold stocks the “nifty fifty” would still be around and none of them have survived and that will be true of the “magnificent seven”. Many years ago, I worked at Sears when they were a big retailer in their day. They did exactly what Amazon is doing now only they didn’t stay with their business model and transition to computer ordering from warehouses. Amazon will not survive either something maybe a change in management or an inability to adapt to newer technology will take them out by somehow who has a better business plan. You as an investor cannot become complacent or you will lose your money. This is a dangerous game, it is gambling, don’t ever forget the risks. DT