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To: Leonard210
can you explain what this means.

Basically, folks who sold things they don't own are being advised to buy enough to cover what they sold, before the price goes any higher. As the end of the month nears, more and more of the folks who sold what they don't own will be bidding the price up so they can cover their positions.

Now, if you or I went around selling a lot of stuff we don't own, we'd be accused of fraud. But in the financial markets, it's called shorting a position, and it's the way a bunch of the 'pros' make money.

33 posted on 12/13/2008 7:58:59 AM PST by PAR35
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To: PAR35

Another great explanation PAR35. Thanks.


42 posted on 12/13/2008 8:19:42 AM PST by Leonard210 (Tagline? We don't need no stinkin' tagliine.)
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To: PAR35
Now, if you or I went around selling a lot of stuff we don't own, we'd be accused of fraud.

Here we go again. It's not selling something you don't own, it's agreeing to provide something in the future. If you provide it as agreed, where's the fraud?

Is every producer who takes orders for his products committing fraud? You can agree to deliver a car with such-and-such options a month from now, or the grain from your harvest 6 months from now, or any of hundreds of other custom or expensive products you don't just fill a warehouse full of like off-the-shelf goods.

If the price of metals skyrockets after you already agreed on the price of the car, or if poor weather cuts your crop yield, it's a risk you took with eyes wide open and you eat the difference (just as you keep the benefits if the reverse happens).

Doom-and-gloom aside, not liking where the price of something traded between individuals voluntarily doesn't make it "fraud"...if you think you can predict where something's going there's nothing stopping you from taking a position either way and being rewarded handsomely.
49 posted on 12/13/2008 8:58:04 AM PST by BobbyT
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