Rhody,
I am referring to prices. When you referred to “the actual structure of the market itself”, are you saying something can be learnt from this?
“non-predictability and randomness are not necessarily the same thing”. I agree with that. But isn’t prediction predicated on non-randomness (there must be a better word)?
Re level of knowledge, I was referring to knowledge disseminated through Reuters, Bloomberg, etc. I’ll go along with your diversity point.
Seems to me we are left with random price fluctuations reflecting a general lack of consensus from the major players. Now, how can I (anyone) make predictions on that basis.
Paul,
“Limits” certainly seems to be implied, doesn’t it?
Re the Ordinary Chinese, I doubt whether anything enters into the equation of whether to invest or not – they have excess new money, a new (to the Chinese) system of generating wealth (the stockmarket) with ease, ie no risk.
I think the point is that when the Chinese citizen is looking to invest, warning bells ring. Similar to when the proverbial taxi driver or postman starts recommending stocks.
I think the market needs to attract new companies. There is no shortage of investment bankers looking to bring the next crock of sthi to the market because they know there is a shortage of new investment opportunities.
Timm,
If a fund manager hasn’t invested all his available funds, he has uninvested funds.
“as the money supply expands asset prices will increase”. But not stock prices. How high does a p/e go, yield decline before investors back away? This was illustrated by Japanese equity market in the ‘80’s.
“How is it that the broker recommendations for any stock are all different then?” (From personal experience): Because a client of broker A can’t dump a major line without depressing the price. So he sells it to his broker below the bid, the broker sells to his clients at the offer, takes the spread and charges a commission. So to clear his book, this stock which he wouldn’t touch with a bargepole suddenly becomes the next hot performer. In the meantime, broker B, either pure agency or with flat book needs to generate business so he recommends the same stock as a “sell” (gets the comm’s on the sales) and a switch into a related stock (more comm’s). Ever heard of “churning”?
Grant.