Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Ask Michael Burke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tommaso who wrote (92179)	9/14/2001 8:57:21 PM
From: Knighty Tin	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 132070

T, the Fed cannot buy stocks, of course. But they can make it awfully easy for firms to buy in their own stock to support prices. And, yes, Jim C. is his own handler. The saying that a man who defends himself has a fool for a lawyer may not be directly comparable, but relevant, nonetheless. The main thing I remember about Gibbon was absolutely compelling prose and a general diatribe that the Roman Empire would still be with us if it wasn't for the rotten Christians. Since the eastern half of the Roman Empire, by far the richest and most important half, lasted until the early 14th century, I would say that the decline was very slow and should be looked at for examples of longevity and not for causes of its demise. The funniest part, IMHO, was that neither The Roman Empire, Byzantium, as it was called later but not in its own day, nor The Holy Roman Empire included the city of Rome within their borders. Not that they didn't try, but the Popes were tough dudes back in those days and that was their bailiwick. Also, Voltaire's comment that the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy, nor was it Roman, nor was it an Empire, was only true in his day. Many times it considered itself very holy. And it was often a true empire. Under Frederick II, it comprised Germany, Austria, parts of France, parts of Italy, Sicily, Crete, the Kingdom of Jerusalem and a chunk of Poland. That sounds like an empire to me. Under other emperors it included Holland and Belgium, Tunisia, and sort of, Spain and Portugal. (The king of Spain and Portugal was also the Emperor, but they weren't officially part of the Empire). Man, can I ramble on about this crap. <g>

To: Tommaso who wrote (92179)	9/16/2001 8:45:13 AM
From: Freedom Fighter	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 132070

T, <<Yes, I know there are probably even people on this well-informed thread who think the Fed has bought stocks at times. << I'm not sure where I stand on this idea. I will say this though. In the last few years there were some extremely strange rallies that turned the market on a dime at some critical points. They did not look legit to me because of both the timing and strength. Others have reported futures purchases well above the asking price. I doubt it was the Fed buying stocks or futures, but I would not be surprised if there were coordinated actions by private and/or public entities - which may include phone conversations with the Fed.