Over the last couple years I have set aside a little to try and time the market with a little margin money (very minor amount, like 5% of portfolio value). I would buy during a setback and sell after a good run up. I made a little money doing it but every time I bought back in it was always at a higher price than the previous sell. LOL. In a bull market, I would have been better off just to hold the position. Maybe in a bear market I would have done better but I doubt it. I'm just not a trader. Don't have the right temperament or attention span. I like how Warren Buffet described his investing style and I think it fits me: "slothful, bordering on lazy".

I hated it when I got out of PSLV the other day and may yet regret it. I fully intended to hold that position for a minimum of 5 years and maybe much longer as I legged in. I just could not see any reason for a physical backed fund to remain at a 25% premium to physical so I bailed and moved to other assets. It will cost me tax wise. In closed end funds I try not to buy in at a very big premium or preferably none. I see CEF went negative the other day when things were off. Closed end funds can be bad for a short term investor/speculators health if they do not watch the premiums getting in and out but can be an advantage also for someone that is aware of it.

John