October 2010 Trading

October represented another good month.  I was able to realize a few gains  to make it my fifth best month to date in terms of dollar gains.  But I was also able to buy into a few new positions at the end of the month. 

I've rolled over several CDs over the last few months and had a few callable CDs called, so I'm only 58% invested and a bit more cash heavy than at the first of the month.  So I'm pretty well positioned for any post election change.  If the market heads downward, I'll be able to buy in in a big way.  If it goes up, I should be able to do a lot of profit taking.  So I'm looking forward to Tuesday! 

There were three sales this month. Each realized 12-13%:

• Universal Corporation - Held two months, but I held on long enough to be eligible for a dividend payable in November.
• The Buckle, Inc. - Held 4 months
• Nokia Corporation (ADR) - Held 4 months

Current holdings and unrealized gains/losses are as follows. Note that I also included the gain/loss from recent months to demonstrate trends. Although down from mid-month peaks, things are still positive.

• Exxon Mobil Corporation - Down 0.6% (7.6% in Sept, -11.6% in Aug, -10.7 in July and -14.7 in June) 
• Exelon Corporation - Down 9.3% (-5.4% in Sept, -9.6% in Aug, -7.1 in July and -15.7 in June).  It actually went positive earlier in the month!
• FirstEnergy Corp. - Down 2.7% (+1.8% in Sept, -3.5% in Aug, -0.4 in July and -6.9 in June) 
• TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. - Up 21.9% (-12.1% in Sept, -30.7% in Aug, -26.4 in July and -31.5 in June).  I almost took profits on this one this month.  If I would have, this would have broken all my monthly records.  Hopefully I'll be able to do this in the coming months.
• Harsco Corporation - Down 0.3% (+5.7 in Sept, -14.3% in Aug, -10.0 in July and -8.7 in June) 
• EnCana Corporation (USA) - Up 2.2% (+9.4% in Sept, -0.6% in Aug)
• Lockheed Martin Corporation - Up 2.0% (+2.0 in Sept, -1.3% in Aug)
• National Grid plc (ADR) - Up 6.4% (-4.2% in Sept, -5.5% in Aug, -9.0 in July and -17.4 in June)
• Kellog Company - Up 2.0% - New acquisition.

No dividends, But will collect Harsco and Universal divs in November.  Also several holdings going ex-div in November for collection in Nov/Dec.