[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I never try to time the stock market because I admit that I don't understand it. I have always been a buy and hold investor and have done well. They say that the stock market responds to predictions of future events. If that is so, then why is the market going down now when everything that has happened with interest rates and the economy was totally predictable at least 6 months ago? Also, they say that owning stock means that you actually own part of a profitable company. So, if I own shares in McDonald's, that sells millions of hamburgers every day at a profit, why does the stock value decline when other stocks decline in a single day? Just because some stocks go down, should have no effect on the number of hamburgers that McDonald's sells that day, and the value of the company. Can one of you stock market timers explain these things?

I am definitely not a timer but the answer I would give you is that when people think the economy will decline they assume less burgers will be sold.