Market Muses, Different Views
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Looking at financial markets and investing through a poetic lens.
LayLine Asset Management Inc
Harry J. Campbell III, CMT
5/5/26
Sell in May
(A Perennial May Market Muse, keeps popping up, originally published 4/21/15)
Sell in May and go away you’ve heard so many say,
The original saying is said to go this way.
“Sell in May and go away,
Stay away till St. Leger’s Day”.
The original verse relates to an old English horse race,
But in the USA, it’s more an agricultural case.
Fall harvest money is invested with haste,
Come spring, it’s sent back to put new crops in place.
IRA and 401k contributions now add to the investment lore,
Invested prior to May before taxes make us poor.
The money flow dries up waiting for Yom Kippur,
When investing commences, providing opportunities galore.
Making investments based on Wall Street one-liners,
Often turning good investors into whiners.
However, the verse “Sell in May” is like a canary for miners,
It’s an early warning sign for summer equity climbers.
HJC
(St Leger’s Day race is run in mid-September)
LayLine Asset Management Inc
Harry J. Campbell III, CMT
4/7/26
A.I. Oh My
(originally published 10/7/25)
A.I. is in the job beholders eye,
Not much reason to ask why,
Job uncertainty is quite high.
Many job categories will simply go bye-bye,
Relegated to where old jobs go to die.
Sentimentally, it does make one cry.
Finding entry level jobs are hard, no lie!
Job styles are changing, but to clarify,
Better jobs are on the way, oh my.
HJC
LayLine Asset Management Inc
Harry J. Campbell III, CMT
2/3/26
Tariffs
(Originally published 3/4/25, about one year ago when the tariffs were first announced)
So many questions on Tariffs.
Do they cause the economy to go adrift,
Will it drop off an avoidable cliff,
Or can Tariffs provide an economic lift.
Tariffs accentuate an international riff.
More than one country is quite miffed.
They tariff, we tariff, what’s the diff,
Is it really more than just a tiff.
Hard to say who truly gets stiffed,
Could be Tariffs are a total whiff.
Might require economy’s to make a shift,
Perhaps producing some economic gifts.
Prices, up or down, they’ll likely drift.
Through so many variables we need to sift,
To say one is certain would be amiss,
Have to collectively consider, what if.
HJC
LayLine Asset Management Inc
Harry J. Campbell III, CMT
12/2/25
Santa Claus Rally
(Originally published years ago, it’s becoming a seasonal regular)
Twas near the end of the year, and all through the street,
Not a trader was leaving, not one left their beat.
The terminal screens arranged on each desk with care,
Waiting for the Santa Claus rally to take off in a tear.
The traders were tucked tight to their sleds,
They know the positive history stored up in their heads.
With the boss pacing the floor, traders ready to spring,
All settled down to a seven-day swing.
The last five trading days each year ushers in the rally,
The first two days of January adds to the tally.
The screens blink on and off in a flash,
The Santa Claus rally often brings in some yearend cash.
HJC
LayLine Asset Management Inc
Harry J. Campbell III, CMT
11/4/25
Rate Divergence
The FED recently cut its Funds rate,
10yr Treasuries higher since that date,
Why the divergence, it doesn’t relate?
Last year provided a similar slate,
Fed Funds down, Treasuries elevate.
What’s the market trying to indicate?
It’s persistent inflation the market hates.
Market won’t let Treasury rates dissipate,
Until a Funds lowering FED capitulates.
HJC
FED (federal reserve board)
Funds refers to the FED Funds Rate
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