Slope of Hope Blog Posts

Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.

Tell Me Your Dream Charting Package

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0329-pchartsAs most of you know, I founded a company called Prophet whose crowning achievement was ProphetCharts, a product used to this day by traders all over the world.

There are, of course, many charting products out there – – some of them software (like MetaStock), some of them web-based (like StockCharts.com), and some of them specifically made for mobile applications.

I'd like you to consider me your Chart Fairy (I am, after all, a SF Bay Area resident) and tell me what your ideal chart package would be capable of doing. Far-out ideas are welcome. Failing that, at least tell me what charting package you use and enjoy. And – – one and all – – please click Like on any suggestions from other Slopers you like.

I appreciate it, and I look forward to reading all the comments!

Gold’s Real Price and the Investment Case for the Miners

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As the HUI index of premier gold miners continues to chop and grind its way through ongoing correction, the idea for those who understand that this unique sector of the stock market stands to gain during phases of economic contraction, is to survive. The idea is to remain strong (and by strong I mean have cash to exploit the intensifying value proposition) and be ready for opportunity, which is likely to present itself to nearly the extreme witnessed in Q4, 2008.

Now, I don't expect nominal HUI to decline to anywhere near the 150 level that was so compelling a buy in 2008, when quality explorers were selling for net cash, gold in ground for free. But as the index grinds around looking for a bottom, whether it be in the ongoing consolidation or a final washout, the opportunity should be in the same 'no brainer' territory as it was in '08.

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Happy Seventh Birthday, Slope!

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I wrote my first post for this blog on March 29, 2005, which was seven years ago today.

Looking back one year ago, I see that I did a pretty good post on our 6th birthday, so there's no need to cover old territory about how the blog was started and what I've learned in the time since then. Please read it (or re-read it) yourself. I'd like to strongly encourage you to do so, because what I said in that post rings even more true today than it did a year ago.

I will add this, however: the reason Slope is one of the longest-lived and most active financial blogs in the world is because of this community. Yes, I have enabled it through content and a superb homegrown comments system, but the community – – you – – constitutes the blood coursing through the veins of this body.

I am deeply grateful to you for your daily participation and interest in what goes on here, and for those many thousands of lurkers who don't think they can contribute to the comments stream, I would respectfully submit to you that you are wrong. Slopers are a friendly, smart group of traders, and you need not fear being perceived as anything but a brother (or sister!) in arms when you join the group.

So if you see a red bar in the upper-right corner of your screen, indicating you haven't signed in for a free account, please click "Create Account" in the upper right, and in about ten seconds you will be  part of the most bangin' group of traders on the planet. (Here's a quick primer). That way, we can enter our 8th year on Slope with you, rather than without you, and I'd greatly prefer that you join us for the ride.

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