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Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

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Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would they also circuit break on 7% increase, in order to give people time to come back from positive feelings?

Looks like it's also on increases, yes: https://www.sec.gov/oiea/investor-alerts-bulletins/investor-...

Limit-up/Limit-down applies to individual equities that are moving strongly in either direction.

The market-wide circuit breakers, which triggered this morning, only apply to declines.

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#392

In a world with zero-to-negative interest rates, unlimited margin available for the big players and a generation of boomers sold on the idea that stock appreciation (not dividends) is going to fund their retirement, what's the value of any company? Who knows? Until dividends are tax advantaged vs. capital gains, the insanity will continue. Leverage, huge risks and various shades of fraud, rather than responsible busi…

What is the best way I can contribute to making dividends tax-advantaged vs. capital gains?

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#393
post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These rules are chosen by the participants. By the owners of the property. They are not government imposed. Consider an analogy. Suppose you were a stamp collector and you wanted to run a weekly stamp exchange. You and your fellow collectors may establish rules about how the trading should happen and the agreed upon behaviors. By-laws if you will. You could of course have no rules. Or you could choose some that promo…

Sure, but I think it makes sense to say that one market is more free than another, even when neither is controlled by a government. In many cases the reasons why it's good for governments to allow free markets are also reasons why its good for private entities to allow free markets.

Free markets are about voluntary interaction. This is a group of people deciding the rules that they'll trade with voluntarily. There's no reason the hours are what they are - the market could be open 1 hour or 24 -- deciding the opening times doesn't not mean it's not a free market.

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#394
post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dont think its time to buy yet. If we have a multiple month disaster that requires quarantining most of the population the market will fall further.

Don't buy after the first big city is quarantined. Maybe after the second or third... But know you are taking an incredible risk unless you are using funds you can hold in that position for years.

[deleted]

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK people can still trade in private, just not on the NYSE. So don't worry, it's only us regular guys that get screwed. Big firms can still contact each other to make deals.

Having worked for one of the (smaller) big firms, and had a chance to watch from the sidelines and seen how days like this work: No, these circuit breakers don't screw the regular guys. They discourage the regular guys from screwing themselves. There are a lot of firms whose core business strategy is to keep a level head and take advantage of people who panic and (over)react on days like this. They get damn rich doin…

> They discourage the regular guys from screwing themselves.

If you're a little guy who believes that, say, 2019ncov is about to tear the world a new asshole, that's probably a decision you'd like to make for yourself.

I don't doubt what you're saying, but it's a matter of perspective. Sometimes the "panic" is the correct reaction. We're sitting on top of a perfect storm which is shaping up to be a massive potential black swan. And with the current circuit breakers, trading is only interrupted for something similar in concept to "the 99%".

Across all indicators, too! Oil price, US markets, international markets, t-notes, gold price, and a bunch I'm probably not aware of because I'm not a professional investor. China just shut it's economy down for two weeks. Long term outlook is rightfully poor.

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#396
post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they have circuit breakers in the other direction?

No. This is just one of several places where the laws systematically favor the bulls.

I don't know if that's a good way to look at it. It's not just "bears" selling when you have a big drop. It's people who need the money for something and are worried about liquidity.

Trading halts may or may not fix that, but that's their purpose.

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#397

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. This is just one of several places where the laws systematically favor the bulls.

You are wrong about that. See T5, T6, and H10 halts.

T5: Single Stock Trading Pause in Effect Trading has been paused by NASDAQ due to a 10% or more price move in the security in a five-minute period.

T6: Halt - Extraordinary Market Activity Trading is halted when extraordinary market activity in the security is occurring; NASDAQ determines that such extraordinary market activity is likely to have a material effect on the market for that security; and 1) NASDAQ believes that such extraordinary market activity is caused by the misuse or malfunction of an electronic quotation, communication, reporting or execution system operated by or linked to NASDAQ; or 2) after consultation with either a national securities exchange trading the security on an unlisted trading privileges basis or a non-NASDAQ FINRA facility trading the security, NASDAQ believes such extraordinary market activity is caused by the misuse or malfunction of an electronic quotation, communication, reporting or execution system operated by or linked to such national securities exchange or non- NASDAQ FINRA facility.

H10: Halt - SEC Trading Suspension The Securities and Exchange Commission has suspended trading in this stock.

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#398
post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They have existed since the crash of 1929. There were no algorithms in place then. The goal was just to force human traders caught up in the moment to take a break and stop panicking. I assume they have been tweaked since 1929, but they started with the crash back then. Edit: someone else is claiming 1987 as the start. My memory says 1929. If this matters do your own research.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/circuitbreaker.asp

Well something was put into place after 1929...

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#399

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would they also circuit break on 7% increase, in order to give people time to come back from positive feelings?

Looks like it's also on increases, yes: https://www.sec.gov/oiea/investor-alerts-bulletins/investor-...

The limits for individual stocks are up/down limits, but the market-wide halts are only for declines.

Re: Trading halted as U.S. stocks plummet

#400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, because if the market is up 50% because we humanity has discovered an immortality serum, nobody is panicking. There's no downside in great news (other than the possibility of a quick reversal thereafer...)

Piling in on the buy side because of a fear of missing out counts as panicking.

That's hardly symmetrical to the fear of losing the money that you have already invested – investors feel they have no choice but to sell before it gets worse, whereas in the rally you can always choose not to buy.
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