Chat with Joe Ross

Chat log from: Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Live Chat with Joe starts Tuesday at 8.00 PM U.S. Central Time!

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berto welcome mr joe ross
marc joined.
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shamutooth Hey Big D, all
JoeRoss joined.
BigD s'up
mapletrader Hey Joe!
JoeRoss Hidy ho everyone
shamutooth What's up Joe
marc Evening Joe -
JoeRoss It looks like the stock market is up. The PPT at work again.
marsh Hi Joe.
marsh Yeah, the market really came back after being slammed down.
BigD What a swing the last 2 hours
shamutooth Probably not up for long. Looks to me like big bad grandpa bear has kicked back and is going to stay awhile.
JoeRoss I've got some 1515 Calls. I hope they can hang on for another 8 days.
JoeRoss Well the market is waiting to see what Bernanke says tomorrow.
JoeRoss Then it could soar or drop like a rock.
shamutooth I can almost smell his cigar and cognac
JoeRoss They are hoping for a hint at lower interest rates. But I think he will do nothing.
marsh Usually, from August to November, the market falls, sometimes historically spectacularly.
JoeRoss It can't fall soon enough for me.
BigD Once the dust settles i think its going to be shorting time.
marsh Remember 1929, 1987, 2001?
JoeRoss I can remember two of those ;)
marsh I remember 1029 from a previous life.
marsh And 1929 too!
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JoeRoss marsh is a REAL old timer
mapletrader Joe, Do you do any option sales on the electronic overnight? They seem pretty far from "fair value" as far as I have seen.
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JoeRoss maple: No I need my nights for sleep and watching TV among other things.
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BofB Hey room.
JoeRoss I've been recording some of the stuff I want to watch and so I can click through the commercials.
BigD Hey bob.
shamutooth WUZZUP BofB
zendre Hi everyone.
mapletrader That sounds fun.
JoeRoss Hi to all.
BigD I tried my hand at nights with no luck.
marc Joe, how could I get more insight into how the s/p moves against the bond market; also how gold correlates with those?
BigD I stick to the day stuff.
JoeRoss I don't think there is enough volume at night for option trading.
BigD Yup.
mapletrader Its got to be day time somewhere, and they cannot hide that volume forever!
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JoeRoss marc: The only way I can answer that is for you to do the research. I have no idea of how they relate. I've never found any consistency among them.
JoeRoss maple: It may be day time somewhere, but that doesn't mean they're interested in our markets in the U.S.
marsh With the volatility high, do you think there is an opportunity in volatility option spreads, like were popular a few years ago?
zendre I can see that the Bond market is very popular here. Is there any basic material regarding fundamentals I should read regarding Bonds?
JoeRoss marsh: High Volatility is why I've been selling options lately.
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JoeRoss zendre: All I've ever known about bonds is that when interest rates are rising or thought to be going to rise, bonds go down and vice-versa. What more do you need to know about them unless you are going to actually buy them to hold over time?
mapletrader Why is the Hang Seng or (is that the Hang Ten) unavailable for trading for me, or perhaps rather do I have to speak Mandarin to trade it? Is it electronic? What platform, clearing house will handle it? I only ask because it seems to go straight up, and down.
marsh I think IB Brokers has the Hang Seng.
JoeRoss My son-in-law buys municipal bonds to hold, so he needs to think about the long term. But otherwise, all I do with bonds besides selling options is to trade the Easy Bond Method.
shamutooth Most large lenders raised rates on option ARMS 200-400 basis points overnight. More evidence of liquidity drying up.
BofB What shamu is saying is.........
BigD And the guidelines tightened like a noose.
JoeRoss maple: Hang Seng is all electronic. All you need is software that charts it and a broker who handles it. There is no law against trading it.
marc And I'm shopping for a new mortgage.
BofB On option arm at 7.5% interest rate paid 2 pts yield, now 8% interest rate costs 2 pts....
marc Hmm. 2 years late.
BigD Bad timing.
BofB Its going to get way worse the next 2-3 months.
BigD What kind you looking for.
marc New construction owner-builder .
BigD Sorry can't help.
BofB It changed overnight from the lenders.
BigD Try 'Indymac'
marc Have-expensive and want me to have someone to hold my hand.
BofB Marc, if you can go full documentation....try Indymac for new construction.
JoeRoss If interest rates go up, that will kill the stock market. If they go down it will kill the dollar and the bond markets. So what will the FED do? They will probably do nothing except make a lot political type noise.
marc Thanks BofB
JoeRoss FED can't really control the interest rates on notes and bonds. Mortgage rates key off of the ten year notes.
BofB And the lenders will keep on tightening the guidelines for all loans as it hits the prime market loans.
netwonc When is the FED suppose to testify to congress.
BigD Tomorrow I think.
JoeRoss netwonc: We should hear tomorrow at about 1:15 PM Central time.
netwonc Thanks.
marsh


Is it naive of me to think that after being so historically low for so long, some sort of balance has to drive interest rates back up over the historical mean?
BofB Angelo Mozilo "CEO for countrywide loans", is already talking with Congress.
BigD Interesting to see how market will respond.
JoeRoss I agree, Marsh, but when?????
BigD If today is any indication, be ready to get in and out quick.
BofB Angelo is blaming every1 else even though he made $41.9 mil last year.
BigD And sold all his stocks in C-wide.
BofB We haven't seen the end yet. Lenders will be hurting even more, top PMI companies have lost 2/3 of value in their stocks.....
BigD AHM filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday.
BofB Will probably keep seeing the hit in all main indexes for the next month at least, huge volatility to keep coming.
BofB I have been in the mortgage field for 4.5 years and even the old timers haven't seen the market this bad.
BigD You mean the industry!
BofB Lending guidelines and the strictness it is reverting back to.
BofB I don't know of any lender "home mortgages" or builders "home building" which are not hurting with today's market.
marc Do you think its just a shake-out due to the sub-prime problem?
BofB Nope, hitting the prime market now.......
acman When I moved to Austin in 91, every bank changed names and I met bank presidents that went into construction after their bank closed.
BofB Greenpoint Mortgage will not do 2nd mortgages behind negative AM firsts.....
BofB National city will not do W2 stated loans any more .....
BofB Countrywide is a complete joke now.
JoeRoss acman: I remember that. You could have bought a $100K house with nothing down and 5 years interest free loan in 1990..
shamutooth acman: was that during the S&L crisis?
acman I bought 4 plex's for 28,000 that were 4400 feet and now are over 200k.
BofB We have loans killed by lenders killing appraised value "easiest way to kill a loan...even if you got full documentation with 200-300k in assets.
BigD Can't get 100% financing now.
JoeRoss I paid $126K for mine before I found out I could have gotten it for nothing :(
acman One of the 4 plexes had a note for $225k. I paid 70k for it.
JoeRoss I paid cash
BofB Texas probably has 1 of the greatest market value for homes right now.
marsh How could you have gotten it for nothing? If the bank fails, isn't the note transferred to another bank?
BofB 300k home in Tx is......
acman It was almost impossible to get a loan as the housing market was deemed so risky back then. I paid 10% interest.
BofB Ohio is worth 500k......
JoeRoss marsh: Sure, but the note was interest free for 5 years with 0 down payment.
BigD Soon it will be gov't backed loans ONLY. FHA etc.
BofB California is worth 1 mil.
marsh I see, sell it before the 5 years is up.
JoeRoss marsh: Right. I only lived there for 4 years and then moved to the Bahamas.
marsh BofB: Do you mean the average house in California is 1 mil?
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BofB Here is an example in California......
BofB 2002, house is worth 135K in California....
acman The standing joke around in Austin that people foolishly paid almost $100 per foot for houses in 1984. Those houses went to 20k and now are only 250-300 per foot but the funny thing is they are 20 years older.
JoeRoss They were selling them that way in Blockhouse Creek. The banks just wanted out from holding the land and the builders were happy to build on it. It was at the tail end of the oil depression that hit Texas.
BofB 2005 its worth 510K......
BofB Now lucky to sell for 350-400K.
BofB But the problem is the average homeowner has refinanced 3-4 times the last 4 years so he still owes 450K on a 350K house in today's market.
marsh Where does the 1 mil come in?
mapletrader 20% per year profit is not too bad, if he/she did not refinance.
BofB Foreclosures will be higher then ever before the next few years which will keep the average home prices hurting till 2009-2010.
BofB That's why all the lenders are pointing fingers everywhere but themselves.
BigD Sad to say but MANY in California are maxed out expecting appreciation, and are in for a big surprise when their rate goes adjustable. There will be A LOT of foreclosures in California in the prime market very soon.
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JoeRoss Maybe those guys from California will move to Texas so I can get my house sold :)
JoeRoss If it doesn't sell by labor day, I'm gonna rent it out. I own it free and clear.
BigD Could very well be. It might be time to invest in a couple fire sells there soon.
BofB The 1 mil came from appraisals we have done "comps use true selling values" but fire sales will keep the sales lower and lower as time goes by.
BofB One of our clients in California has 4 foreclosures on their street.
netwonc I was reading somewhere that the Texas housing market was still going pretty good compared to everywhere else.
shamutooth Joe, maybe you can just give the house to Susan for a wedding gift?
JoeRoss shamu: She doesn't want it.
BofB Here is an example of 1 of our clients in California........
BigD Texas is good but they keep us from doing mortgages in that state.
BofB Middle of 2005, house in San Diego is......
BofB 950 square feet......
BofB 4500 sq ft lot.....
BofB 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no garage and comps support $510,000.
BofB Now same house is going for around 400k and dropping.
BofB Average house in California has dropped 20% the last 2 years...that will really depress the market.
BofB Problem is 70-80% of people in California owe more then the house is worth.
acman





When I was in LAX last week from my Alaska trip, a 30ish builder was bragging about Oregon as the best place to build and sell at great profits. He was chatting to a guy in the bus between terminals. He was going to Hawaii to try to deal with his Carpal Tunnel. Glad I only own my personal house free and clear now.

BofB Oregon, Washington and TX are still strong.
acman The problem with houses is the liquidity. I get better fills at 3am on Dec 2008 corn!
marsh Places that get a lot of rain.
BofB Florida, California, Nevada, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia, Arizona are hurting really bad and they have 40-50% of all houses in the USA.
kevinj




if you chart the real estate market doubling in price for ten years of course it has to come down and if you're the greedy one that bought ten houses... well, pigs get slaughtered. Let's not forget how our government and insurance companies have been raping us making the 500 really worth 200. After all, insurance and taxes have been doubling also.
BofB All this will make the market volatile which will help the traders make $ the next few years ::huh :)
JoeRoss zendre: I saw you typing something awhile ago. Did you want to say something?
acman


There are futures contracts on the housing market. They are getting more liquid. Probably better bid/ask spreads then a Single Family and alot less commission.
BigD I LOVE BIG VOLUME AND VOLATILITY!!
zendre I would love to hear something about other markets, but I decided not to disturb the housing discussion.
acman


The ER-YM and ER-NQ spread has been terrific. I am taking profits on peaks. This downturn was one of the easiest for me to follow. Anybody else trading index spreads? I am guessing a good peak around 9am.
BigD Sorry...we got carried away.
JoeRoss zendre: We never know which way the chat will turn. Tonight it was Housing and Mortgages 101. Too bad we can't get college credit for it.
zendre Joe: no problem.
acman


Housing is simply a trade with the value of the dollar being a factor (raw material cost), interest rates, and area job growth. Liquidity and commissions are bad. it is just another commodity just like Orange Juice!
zendre acman: Do you trade these index spreads intraday?
BigD It's a big part of the the big picture.
acman zen: No, I trade on a multi-day scenario.
JoeRoss Last week it was Economics 101 ;)
BigD hehe
JoeRoss Now and then we talk about trading
BigD Anybody here an active full time daytrader?
zendre Acman: Is there a reduced margin for these index spreads?
zendre I am only part time. it cost me 40K this last week :(
marsh I day trade.
acman


Sometimes I take some intraday but usually the moves are several days. The rhythm is controlled alot by the ER so if the ER is moving up, the spreads go up at various rates.
JoeRoss I trade whenever I get the chance.
acman I think there is reduced if you do around 5 or 6. I am doing 20 sets today.
BigD I found out it pretty much has to be full time or no time (at least in my experience).
marsh Sometimes I sleep late, so I only trade half the day.
marc acman - what's ER?
BofB Joe did you see 6J-6B the past week, awesome profits.
acman Russell 2k mini.
marc Thanks.
marsh What is 6J, 6B
BofB Around $4500 profit per contract in 4 days.
JoeRoss BofB: I have two students this week, so I didn't see much of anything. It's all I can do to keep my eyes on the ES trade I'm in.
BofB Japanese yen-british pound.
acman BOB what is J-B?
JoeRoss marsh: Yen vs Pound
zendre Was that a seasonal?
marsh Yes, soon after Joe mentioned that spread, the Yen went up and the Pound went down. Very dramatic. It's been sidesways lately.
marc Joe, do you ever use hard stops in spreads?
shamutooth Marsh,what time frame do you like to daytrade in (5,15,30,60)?
acman THE JY-BP. I did that one while I was on vacation. Didn't do it since.
marsh I like 3 min, 5 min and 1000 ticks
JoeRoss Keep an eye on the Asian currencies. They have to go up.
BigD HAHA I am a 5 min guy too.
BigD What's their symbol?
JoeRoss marc: You can't use stops in spreads.
acman Which currencies other than the Yen are very liquid?
mapletrader





Joe, speaking of trading 101, if you wished to take a a long position of three units in beans, and you were using a traders trick entry what sort of risk per unit would you allow for you. --$50 per contract-less, more. Assuming you did get paid for trading, with two units would you allow any of that profit to get away from you or just literally go break even including brokerage fees?
acman In the asian currencies that is.
JoeRoss The only Asian currency you can trade in futures is the yen.
acman Joe: do think the Yuan will be trading in the next year?
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marc Joe - so if you don't use hard stops in spreads, how do you avoid getting whacked like today in feeders?
JoeRoss maple: The answer to that has too many variables. It would depend on a lot of things. I don't believe in fixed risk trading.
JoeRoss acman: You mean yuan futures?? I haven't heard of any. But I think the Chinese want to still control their currency.
mapletrader Thanks.
JoeRoss


marc: I have no idea of what happened today in feeders. I have an exit point for every spread and if that point is hit I go out the following day around the time of the close.
marc Hmm. Just like in the book!
acman Joe: that is what I was thinking. The Yuan is the big unknown.
BigD joe: do you do mostly futures or spreads?
JoeRoss marc: Just like in the book, yes!
zendre Joe: will there be somewhere a forum to discuss your TLOC video material? I think it was good and I do have some questions.
JoeRoss BigD: I do whatever looks good to me. Lately I've been doing options on futures.
marsh I'm looking at FCX07/FCU07. It's been in an up trend for a while. The big moves made it go up farther.
marc Maybe I should look in to the intensive course for hardheads?
JoeRoss zendre: I thought we already have one, but if we don't we should set one up. I will talk to Susan about it.
marsh Marc: Ha. You do have to be a hardhead to think of winning in this business.
BigD Keep us all posted on that Joe.
marc It hasn't broken yet, marsh!
JoeRoss I know how to teach dyslexia 101!
zendre That is another course :)
JoeRoss It's time to say good night. So good night all, and thanks for sharing about mortgages etc.
zendre Is there a video material too? :)))
shamutooth GN Joe, all
marc Thanks Joe See ya next time.
zendre Good morning (It is 4 Am here).
JoeRoss Yes, but you have to know how to cross your eyes to take the course.
BigD G'night.
acman




Marc: watch the spread peaks and troughs, They will move to a previous trading range, pause, then up or down. You need to be taking profits and not be greedy or they can turn. I protect myself with different markets and not too much money in one spread. Don't have a position that is a potential account killer.
berto Thank you Mr. Ross and all the participants.
netwonc See you all next week.
marc Thanks acman - much.
zendre Thanks all
mapletrader Zendre: I haven't seen it but just the books and the "live" video--well worth the penny.
acman Marc: good trading!
marc I took notes -
marc er/ym & etc
BigD c'ya later all
BofB Gnite all

Next Chat with Joe Ross:
Tuesday, August 14
, 2007
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 P.M., U.S. Central Time.


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