Archive for Zach Bass
Zach Bass (a.k.a Ernie Varitimos) is Chief Bloviator of Investor in the Wilderness. He has 30 years experience as a Tech Maven, Investor and Consultant. Zach has been using Macs since their introduction in 1984, and investing in the markets just as long. His mission is to help guide all level of investors through the Apple Ecosphere and make sense of the markets. Zach's take on Apple, the markets, and life pursuits, will keep your mind tuned.
Apple Investors Get the Wilderness on the iPhone
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I have recently added podcasts to the content mix here on the Wilderness Blog. The podcast is a companion to the Apple Investor in the Wilderness blog. So, now you can get the Wilderness Blog on your iPhone or iPod Touch, or any iPod by subscribing to iTunes. Just click the subscribe link [...]
Apple Investors, Three Times is Not a Charm
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I’ve always tried to be a straight shooter, tell it like it is. And sure, I find it fun to mix a little irreverent humor in with the story, to liven it up a bit, and break down communications barriers. But I’d be hard pressed to find any humor in what I’m going [...] 20Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
The Beauty is Only Skin Deep
Is there anything in the tech world more beautiful than the new Apple MacBooks? And the beauty goes way beyond the unibody design, with it’s rock solid feel and streamlined design. And the multi-touch trackpad that doubles as a button is shear brilliance. Inside it’s a triumph of engineering, simple yet elegant, and yes, truly beautiful. Yup, the MacBook is beautiful inside and out.
19Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors are Dead, Long Live Investors
The Trader is dead, long live the Trader. This is my official proclamation now that this Bear market has finally proven to us all that it is futile to trade this market. Technical Analysis, economic reports, historical data, they all have little to no meaning while volatility is sitting above recent historical highs.
16Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors Get Feet Scorched
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Is this what it feels like to go to hell and back? Check the soles of your feet, are they scorched? Or are you one of those skeptics that’s convinced yourself that this market is going down to the 2002 lows, no matter what, and all rallies are false? I know, I know, [...] 13Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors are Going to Hell and Back
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Yup, we’ve been there before. Hoped we’d never return, but it’s in our destiny. Today’s action made certain of that. We’re going to retest those lows. Conventional wisdom says that’s how Bear markets come to a close. You go down for that initial plunge, shoot up to catch your breath, then take another [...] 12Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors Working From the Dregs
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Yesterday (Monday, November 10) morning futures were sparked from world markets being juiced on the China $600 billion plan, and we gapped up. Then the government released more details about the AIG plan, that brings the total to $150 billion! I guess at the outset [...]
Bringing Out the Chartist in the Apple Investor
Last week I produced the podcast called Technical Analysis Top Ten List, and in the prologue I said that I would cover each of the top ten in subsequent podcasts. By the way, you can subscribe to the podcast here on iTunes. Well today, I’m going to talk about charting. I’m going to cover this [...]
9Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors Struggle with Conflict and Contrast
In this episode we’ll recap the epic struggle between the Bulls and Bears. The latest battle was won by the Bulls as they fought off an attempt by the Bears to bring the markets down on Friday. I’ll examine how this struggle has been one of conflict and contrast. And on the Technical front we have two patterns competing for dominance.
8Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Bear Back Mounting
It was only two days ago that things looked a lot more crisp for Apple (AAPL). Everything on the daily charts was positive, good momentum to the upside, and a strong MACD. We were climbing the moving average mountain, as we made it well past the 20s and had the 50s in plain sight. There were definitely obstacles to overcome, but Apple was being fueled by it’s MACD and a strong positive divergence.
7Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple, Markets Say Goodbye to 20s
Although Apple started the trading session today on a down note, our favorite company rebounded and rallied into the close and plotted a bullish hammer, leaving it’s 20 Day Exponential Moving Average in the dust. The S&P and the Nasdaq followed Apple’s lead extending the distance from their 20 Day EMA as well. This was an important day for Apple and the markets, because not only did we say goodbye to the 20s, we did so with strong market internals.
5Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple, Markets Flat into Election
Apple and the markets stall before the elections, as volume sinks. Credit markets are easing as the LIBOR dropped for the 16th consecutive day, and the manufacturing index, the ISM, dropped to a 26 year low, but that didn’t seem to phase investors as much as it might have under normal market conditions, probably because volatility is pouring out of the market. And we have some near-term bullish news as there are head and shoulders forming on the 60s.
4Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Wilderness Investors Post Crash Outlook
I this episode I have to first recognize and pay homage to what was hopefully a once in a life time event, one that I wish none of us will ever have to experience again. And also recognize that it may not be over just yet. And with that I’ll share with you some good motherly advice, along with the concerns I have in last week’s rally, and why I’m optimistic for the near term.
2Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Wilderness Technical Analysis Top Ten List
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One of the queries I get frequently from Wilderness members, who are not familiar with Technical Analysis, is about terminology, and about the various disciplines within technical Analysis. I’d like to answer each and every one of those questions, but it would take several podcasts to do it. So, what I’m going to [...] 1Nov2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors, Buy Signal is On Watch the 20s
Excellent action today! Apple (AAPL) blew through its 20 Day Exponential Moving Average yesterday (wednesday Oct 29), settled back down and used it to blast off again this morning. AAPL is definitely ahead of the Tech Sector pack. If I had to pick a sector to trade right now, it wouldn’t be Tech. Energy and Commodities look much better overall, however AAPL is the shining exception!
30Oct2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
What a Difference a Day Makes - podcast
While it’s true that Apple (AAPL) is our main focus in the Wilderness, it would be fool hardy to ignore any opportunity to make some hay, especially when it’s a clean cut setup like the one that produced today’s rally. The setup wasn’t with AAPL though, no, it was with the indexes, particularly the Nasdaq.
28Oct2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
What a Difference a Day Makes
While it’s true that Apple (AAPL) is our main focus in the Wilderness, it would be fool hardy to ignore any opportunity to make some hay, especially when it’s a clean cut setup like the one that produced today’s rally. The setup wasn’t with AAPL though, no, it was with the indexes, particularly the Nasdaq.
28Oct2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
The 2002 Bear Lows Blues
Well Apple Investors, I must say that things were looking pretty tantalizing going into the close today. It looked like there might be an opportunity for a quick 1 to 2 day trade setting up. There were all kinds of confirming indicators, like positive divergences on the RSI and MACDs of most of the indexes. And although the advance-decline line wasn’t spectacular, it had gone slightly positive going into the second half of the trading session. We haven’t seen that combination for quite some time.
27Oct2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investors Nix the VIX
Apple is in a very nice position to deflect the wrath that has succumbed so many other companies. And why is that? Well it comes down to the magic triad; lots of cash, zero debt, and growing demand for its products. The only thing Apple doesn’t have going for it is dividends. But Apple more [...]
26Oct2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
Apple Investor Questions and Answers
I was originally planning on answering listener mail after each podcast episode, as the final segment of each show. And I’ll still do that, but it may not be after every show. The thing is, I get a lot of reader and listener email, so it would be too time consuming for me to do [...] 26Oct2008 | Zach Bass | Comments | Continued
