RunawayTrader

Frankly, I had expected better things from this earnings season. Sure, the quarterly confessions of many companies are better, but better or not, they’re not moving the needle on my cash flow meter.

Monday may change all that. I expecting some sort of bounce-back from the Goldman Sachs fiasco and the shellacking it gave my holdings, even though the indexes are decidedly red as I write this. Tuesday is the more favorable bet since both Apple and GE report after the bell.

I hold both. And I’m expecting them, especially AAPL, to blow the numbers away. GE could melt the numbers but only move the share price 10-cents. But a good report from Apple would set the stage for a runup on Tuesday of say, 50 or more points. In preparation, I watching the reports of both and hoping to buy loads of Wynn’s Casino (WYNN) after hours since I’m betting it will zoom up to around 90 near-term Tuesday or Wednesday.

Still, since the market seems a little lackluster following that month-long rally, my eyes are wandering off to foreign shores, Icelandic displays of atmospheric ash, notwithstanding.

Free at Last

I’m the first to admit that I’ve been a pretty homebound “runaway trader” in recent months and I won’t bore you again with the reasons why. That’s embarrassing. But sometime this coming week the duties that have kept me stateside these past months will be completed and I can resume my worldwide travels.

But, where to go?

That’s a tough question since I’ve got the whole world and an unlimited timetable to choose from. Since the market will take care of my cash needs (well, it’s supposed to) I’ve created only a passel of self-imposed rules for my forthcoming foray.

1. No itinerary. I’m buying a one-way ticket, probably to Rome, and what happens after that will be anybody’s guess. I may never leave Italy. I may buy a Eurorail pass and travel the length and breadth of Europe. I might return home the next week or the next earnings season. I may take that trek up to Mt. Everest Basecamp that I had to cancel earlier. I may never come back.

2. Mix it Up. Anywhere I hang my hat is where I’ll sleep at night. Snazzy hotels, youth hostels, B & B’s, whatever. Anything but tenting out beneath an ancient aqueduct or a bridge along the Autobahn.

3. Transportation. Who cares? Buy a bike, rent a car, saddle up on a Vespa, take the train, walk, run, hop scotch on a commuter airline. I’m down for any of them.

4. Companions. I’ll be a loner but I meet others easily and wouldn’t be surprised if I am joined on parts of the route by others. The same thing happens on the Appalachian Trail. You meet somebody. You hike together for a few days or weeks; then split company. Nice to know ‘ya. Good luck when you get back to East Overshoe, Nebraska.

5. Money. The market will pay my way, although in reality, my trading profits from the first few months of the year have provided me with enough capital to take a half-dozen trips around the world. Moreover, I keep getting these emails from BootsnAll Travel with all kinds of exciting, round-the-world expeditions they’ve cooked up. And they’re cheap, too.

But, I’ve got a couple of things on my plate before I leave. The book (the one I’ve been working on) goes to the printer this week or next, and, of course, DNDN reports within two weeks. After that, Charlie is Out.

Or if you prefer: Charlie è lontano, Charlie est absent, Charlie is weg,  Charlie on poissa, Charlie är borta . . .