-
A Short History of Stocks
Confused about where we are today? A favorite exercise is to go back to first principles to consider how we got to where we are. (That is a favorite way to find fresh insights). On the equity side, you have to go back a century or so. Equities were considered speculative endeavors, best suited for gamblers and punters. The exceptions? A handful of “Widows & Orphan” stocks, like Ma Bell, some railroads, utilities and the rare bank that was not suffering regular runs. There were no disclosure rules, insider trading was rampant, and market manipulation the norm. Trading syndicates could make or break any stock, and ... (full story)