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A Report From the San Francisco Money Show
I attended the Woodstock of investment conferences last week, the San Francisco Money Show, which offered an entertaining three ring circus of traders, foreign exchange models, options platforms, newsletters, cruises, video broadcasts, and more.
The cavernous Marriott Marquis hotel and convention center South of Market on 4th Street was absolutely bubbling with new ideas. You couldn’t walk five feet without tripping over a great investment theme, and information overload was the problem of the day. There was a plethora of celebrity speakers, including Elaine Garzarelli, John Mauldin, and Think or Swim founder, Tom Sosnoff.
There really is no corner of the financial markets that was not well represented by market makers, analysts, technology providers, and investors-- thousands of them. With the soaring level of US government debt scaring the daylights out of everyone, the precious metals dealers were there in force.
Of course, the hard asset crowd was everywhere, and you could not swing a dead cat without hitting a miner looking for new funding. Never mind that the barbaric relic went up for all the wrong reasons. The dollars they’re making are still just as good at the bar. The only thing missing from the show was the long predicted hyper inflation. Want to prospect in the Ivory Coast? No problem.
I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of major corporate sponsors there to promote their own shares, like Darden Restaurants, Proctor and Gamble, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, Vale, and Nidec, several of which are great investments. A variety of oil service companies were also well represented. A “green” section offered a look at wind, solar, and geothermal energy providers.
I took the opportunity to talk with companies about everything from the latest drilling costs, long term food prices, and the true cost of geothermal, to the clever play in gold coins (go for those struck at the San Francisco Mint). I was constantly amused every few minutes by attendees who, seeing my nametag, asked to have a photo taken with the one and only Mad Hedge Fund Trader, and to sign their program.
After I make my fortune, there was even a booth extolling the virtues of retiring on the beach in Costa Rica or Belize. It was a great opportunity to chat with the end investors who ultimately drive all these markets. All in all, it was a weekend well invested. For a calendar of future events, which are free, go to www.MoneyShow.com.
To see the data, charts, and graphs that support this research piece, as well as more iconoclastic and out-of-consensus analysis, please visit me at www.madhedgefundtrader.com . There, you will find the conventional wisdom mercilessly flailed and tortured daily, and my last two years of research reports available for free. You can also listen to me on Hedge Fund Radio by clicking on “This Week on Hedge Fund Radio” in the upper right corner of my home page.
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Need second part of the report. What did you learn about the miners? Should we buy some silver miners on Monday? Get to work, mad guy, and produce us some something practical.
Did (your ego) see me there? I was outside hawking K-Y to the comers and goers. Made a fortune assuaging entry/exit (preference) wounds.
Did the foreign exchange models include Doutzen Kroes? Some eastern European beauties? How about a Eurasian knockout? Did they wear bikinis or monokinis? Who did we exchange for them? The aged like, Brinkley, Ireland, Klum and Imam?
Lucky you.
Read on another site that traffic was down noticeably..??..'Volume precedes price'...
+ 1
I went to the Las Vegas Money Show earlier this year and it was pretty much the same atmosphere, with the added attraction of Caesar's Palace thrown in.
Had a lively conversation with Tom Sosnoff as well, in addition to sevral others (including a lady at the book stall) who jumped when she saw the name tag "Laughing Swordfish", as well as my custom-made polo shirt with the "laughing swordfish" emblem.
These shows are free (as are the related Trader's Expo shows) and I recommend dropping in if you can. Lots of hucksterism - especially among the always well-staffed PM crowd - but a lot of good ideas and many personalities we discuss here every day.
But remember - the first rule of Zero Hedge is that we don't talk about Zero Hedge..