Being real, finally

I never think of myself as a buyer of doom. True, I once traded FAZ for a few days (a year ago), but that was faddish.

Holding VXX overnight, then holding it through the premarket jobs report — I had planned to sell prior to that — was a calculated risk. Percentages are hard to ignore in the midst of chaos, panic, surrender, et al. So many external factors, and with the market generally giving up on Apple, of all giants, there is true volatility in the market again today.

I held even though financials were positive through the opening bell. Having traded C for profits before (despite my horrendous recent track record), I didn't like that against my VXX position. But sure enough, the market gave back the early gains and was in the hole -200 points on the Dow a short while ago.

Meanwhile, VXX plowed steadily ahead, taking me to break-even (27.40), then busting through 28, 29 and 30. Each time, hitting that whole number opened a whole new pedal-to-the-metal rate of speed before some selloff, even more so when it hit 31.27. Close enough to yesterday's high of 31.54, and VXX has sold off some since. Volatility or not, profits will be taken, and I thought about taking mine.

Then I realized that 1) the FTSE is blood red, and 2) AAPL is still hobbling along below 240, sold off extra because of a lawsuit by Nokia for patent infringement. Long term, they settle out of court. Nokia ain't gonna take Apple down, though Apple could add a buyout to the proceedings just to shut them up. For now, though, it's just another excuse for weak hands to get out.

So my gain in VXX this morning offsets my loss in AAPL, all on paper, of course. But it's good to be real and serve two masters, so to speak. Finally. Dumbass chaos around the world isn't so irritating any more. Bring it on! Give me stress? Give me your money, too. Fuck you and thank you. Someone's gotta cash in on chaos.

In a few weeks from now, when there is some sense of normalcy again, I will take my gains from VXX (and maybe FAZ, UUP, EPV, NBG — yes, baklava rules — EUO and UGL) to add shares of AAPL. I might even go beserko and buy more AAPL on margin if the percentages favor an meteoric return to the stratosphere. Let's say the market squares up, regains its balance and AAPL makes a serious reversal. I'm in. I'm in big.

Fucked-up Euro or not, the new iPhone is coming soon, baby, and no protesting in the streets of Spain, Portugal or Ireland will stop that.