Very few things can be known for sure about the future; and even when something is known for sure, the word sure is open to interpretation. Certainly, one can be reasonably sure that the sun will rise tomorrow, though technically even that it is not 100% certain.
It is possible to be sure about the future of the stock market – perhaps not quite as sure as tomorrow’s sunrise – but sure nonetheless. As the Lobour Day holiday is upon us, and with the final trading months of the year now approaching, we may find it helpful to take some time to consider what we actually know for sure about the stock market, inasmuch as we can be sure of anything.
To determine what we know for sure regarding the final months of 2014 for the stock market, we must make a prediction. In order for that prediction – or any prediction – to have value, the accuracy of the prediction must be properly disclosed.
For example, based on centuries of historical data one can predict with nearly 100% accuracy that the sun will rise tomorrow. However, to simply state ‘The sun will rise tomorrow’, without citing a historiucal basis for the claim, and without interpreting those historical results to disclose the expected accuracy of the prediction, the statement is worthless. Anyone who has ever had to reassure a toddler that the sun will rise again knows the importance of providing a basis for the claim.
Baseless predictions about the future of the stock market are no better than baseless predictions regarding the sunrise. On the other hand, any prediction that has an edge, even if it is a small edge (for example, a 51% likelihood of being correct) can be valuable to a trader so long as the trader is aware of the expected accuracy.
This post was published at ZenTrader on August 31, 2014.
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