Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

As the financial markets imitate a yo-yo, investors turn to the experts. They examine trends, bond markets, commodities, etc., to uncover successful investment options. With computers, algorithms and fiscal acumen, they predict models which open windows into our money's future.

Despite all the technological advancements, are these experts any more insightful than the seers of yore? Is logging onto the latest stock market site a better prognosticator than reading the entrails of a pigeon?

How would the Oracle of Delphi, the Persian astrologer Al-Farabi, or Ptolemy of Alexandria guide today's investor. It may sound absurd, but look back a year, two, five, and read the economic forecasts of these modern soothsayers. Could studying the dregs of a teacup, or looking for celestial signs be any worse for the investor? 

In the end, it is all guesswork. The trappings of the modern world give modern predictions a more reliable appearance, but the future remains a mystery. At least if you rely on the offal of a sacrificial lamb to foresee your financial future, you'll have something leftover for dinner - as ever - BB

"An economist's guess is liable to be as good as anybody else's." - Will Rogers