I’ve been sick for a couple of weeks, so I missed the 15^th of this month for the portfolio holdings.  So here it is as of the close of the markets on 2009-11-25:

Jason:

SBIX has dropped by 15% since the beginning (== the last month), making his $2500 now worth $2127.23.  His SEP, O, and QQQQ have gone up by  8%, 6%, and 2%, respectively.  His $10,000 has increased to $10,048.55, a gain of 0.5%.

Amal:

JASO has dropped by 4%, NOK by 2%.  DIS has gone up by 5%, though.  Her investment is worth $9839.38, a decline of 1.6%.

Joshua

IYY, following the DJIA, is up 1%; his $3000 is worth $3032.15.  The Kronur has also gone up 1% versus the dollar, and his $7000 is worth $7068.89, without considering FOREX charges.  He has $10k in cash and has obligations of $5435.65 in GLD and $5535.24 in GOOG.  His investment tots to $20,101.05 with obligations for $10,970.90, for a total $9130.15, a drop of 8.7% (!).

So,

#1, Jason:  $10048.55
#2, Amal: $9839.38
#3, Joshua: $9130.15

I think we can still sign up people, of they can choose the low person’s total to invest (that’s fair, right?)  So if you want to play, divide your investment into percentages to invest, and we’ll figure out what you own on the 15^th of next month (December 2009), based on the low score.

Should we let people move their dollars around, or should we stick to our starting choices?

All 15^th of the Month Portfolio

OK, new tradition, monthly this time.  Fantasy portfolio: you are free of debt and have $10,000 to invest.  Make it as complicated or as simple as you like, using any instrument(s) you like.  Post it here.  We’ll figure out what you own at close of the New York markets on 15th October.  Then every 15th of the month, we’ll tot up what our portfolios are worth, and in exactly one year we’ll cover all our shorts and sell everything else, and compare the cash we have.  We’ll waive transaction fees.  With me?  This is only fun if multiple people play, so please play.

The standard mcgees.org prize is a banana through the U.S. mail.  This will be awarded to the virtually-richest person on 15th October 2010.

Also, I don’t really know what I’m talking about, so I will probably lose.

My proposed portfolio:

I’d put $10,000 on account at a broker.

I’d short:

$5,000 in gold [Edit: NYSE GLD]
$5,000 in Google (GOOG)

Then use the $10,000 to buy:

$3000 in a DOW Jones index fund (say, IYY)
$7000 in Iceland Kronur currency

This is possible, right?  As I said, I don’t know what I’m talking about.

Play.  S’il vous plait, or even if it doesn’t.  I don’t want to be the only one playing; I’ll be lonely.