And the markets go down

[Ice]

That is bad timing. My annual review and pay raise landed on the same day 10% of the employees at my company were getting laid off. Needless to say, my raise was less than expected.

Its Ok with me though, I didn't really need a big pay raise and I avoided a layoff. If this economy crashes, which I pretty much accept it will, I'm prepared to weather the storm and come out unscathed. Bring it on, I say. No bailouts!

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I was looking into investing in RIM at the current time, but the more that I look at the situation the more it scares me into thinking that the worst isn't over by a long shot and it is better to catch the market on an upswing than to try and judge when it has bottomed out.

Fortune favours the bold as is oft stated.

You took the words out of my mouth. Just last week I was itching to move into RIM, and boy do I feel bad for everyone who still has it. I don't think too much about this recession rubbish, because to be honest, the US is a consumer nation, and having the latest greatest stuff is what the US economy is all about...afford it or otherwise. What I overlooked which was a huge factor with RIM and AAPL is the simple fact that the smartphone market is growing, yes, but the competition is becoming fearce in the industry. Whatever ridiculous stronghold RIM has on the smartphone market today, is inevitable to fall gradually as more competition comes in and with most major players jumping the bandwagon, no doubt Palm and Nokia will come out with some great products to eat away at RIM's market share soon. I think RIM's a great company, but I'm a little hesitant now to buy this puppy unless it hits $52 which is a little too much to ask, but I think it may hit there within the next couple quarters once the effect of decreased profit margins begins to hit home. I think tomorrow the stock will hit $59 (just a guess), as many people just have enough and bail out.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Isn't that a good thing?

No. The company takes the lowest price in the last two years and purchases the stocks at that price and you can sell immediately if you want to. So the ideal is if the stock was in the dumps somewhere between the last purchase time and the upcoming one. Worst case scenario is it is at its lowest value on the purchase day.