Is This The Start Of The Collapse For Internet Darling Stocks?
Michael Lombardi | May 18, 2014 02:29AM ET
If you want to see what happens when irrationality over a stock comes to an end, check out this chart of Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN).
In 2013, Amazon.com stock went up 63%. So far this year, the stock has collapsed 25% as investors realize converting growing revenues into corporate earnings for Internet-based stocks on key stock indices is not an easy task.
Mind you, Amazon.com isn’t the only tech stock on the key stock indices that is getting hit. Other tech stocks are under pressure, too, as evidenced by the Nasdaq being down for the year.
But despite stocks being overvalued—and some very big-name Internet stocks on the key stock indices coming down in price—investors continue to buy.
In the first three months of this year, the long-term stock mutual funds saw inflows of $54.13 billion. (Source: “Historical Flow Data,” Investment Company Institute web site, last accessed May 12, 2014.) April’s monthly figures aren’t available just yet, but from weekly data, we estimate another $10.0 billion worth of long-term stock mutual funds were bought in April.
And they are buying stocks with borrowed money. As of March, margin debt on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) stood at a record $450.2 billion, up 19% from March of 2013. (Source: New York Stock Exchange web site, last accessed May 12, 2014.)
But this is what I find most interesting…
Even though investors have borrowed more money than any other time in history to buy stocks, most key stock indices are flat for the year. Among the key stock indices, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up marginally, while both the NASDAQ and Russel 2000 are down.
Earlier this week, I wrote about how I felt investors were getting ready to lose their money on stocks again (see here ). While I can’t predict the exact turning point of the key stock indices and when they will start to head southward, I can tell we are getting closer to a massive sell-off each passing day. Amazon.com’s fall from grace is just the beginning.
Disclaimer: There is no magic formula to getting rich. Success in investment vehicles with the best prospects for price appreciation can only be achieved through proper and rigorous research and analysis. The opinions in this e-newsletter are just that, opinions of the authors. Information contained herein, while believed to be correct, is not guaranteed as accurate. Warning: Investing often involves high risks and you can lose a lot of money. Please do not invest with money you cannot afford to lose.
Get The News You Want
Original post
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.