Pride
The recent stock market.
.
.
.
After a long decline, it was rebounding. For investors, that should have been cause for celebration. And yet—
[That orangutan meme]
At the same time, anxiety crept in. The world's markets still could not shake free of the downtrend.
Rate hikes. Debt-ceiling negotiations. The clash between Trump and the Democrats was still very much ongoing. Trump's legendary remarks kept setting new records every day. The situation showed no sign of being digested.
And yet the uptrend continued. No wonder investors could not get their bearings.
[Raging frog meme]
That was why the feeling hit so freshly. Over the past year, the KOSPI had basically gotten wrecked for whatever excuse was handy. China drops, it drops with it. America drops, it drops again. It had been a market that danced beautifully to any tune. That KOSPI had changed.
[Thumbs-up frog photo]
In theory, that was how it worked. The KOSPI falls first when the economy turns, and rises first when it improves. Any KOSPI investor had heard that common sense at least once. Judging the timing was simply never easy.
"These days they're calling the KOSPI the Bull-SPI, you know? Even while Nasdaq keeps falling, KOSPI keeps climbing!"
"The mood's shifted a bit."
Even for analysts. To the retail crowd they were prophetic seers who could foresee the future, but—
It's not that time yet, though.
In truth they were just as clueless about what came next. A sudden warm breeze in the market could only leave them flustered.
"Professor Dr. Doom said the decline still has further to go, didn't he?"
"Yes, I did say that."
—So now it's not true anymore holy crap
—Trying to flip his words again just like with Sonik-jwa
—Dr. Doom Counter-Indicator is science lol
Dr. Doom. He was the representative crash theorist. With the recent market decline he had drawn attention once again.
He appeared on economic channels. His books sold like hotcakes. He went around giving lectures here and there, living a busy daily life.
Just when I've barely recovered my reputation.
For a while he had not been able to. The confrontation with Sonik-jwa had wounded his career.
Even a girl streamer is nailing it while the analyst keeps missing tsk tsk
"Thank you for the donation, StylishFrodo! A girl streamer? Which analyst is that supposed to be?"
"……."
—Sounds like he's talking about Yoon Sora
—The one who called the market rebound this time lmao
—Girl streamer for real, girl streamer!
The aftereffects were still lingering. The moment the market bounced even a little, suspicious eyes poured in.
Looks like trust in me isn't what it used to be.
He was not unaware of what the viewers were saying. A young female broadcaster had supposedly called the rebound. That was truly admirable. Taking an interest in the economy at such a young age.
"There are a few viewers whose faith in you seems to be wavering, Professor."
"Haha, there are always people like that."
"Meaning?"
"The decline is not over yet."
It was nothing more than an elephant stepping on a mouse while walking backward. Coincidence like that would not repeat.
This might even be a good opportunity.
The recent broadcast viewers loved evaluating and comparing analysts. The clash with Sonik-jwa had happened the same way. If that had damaged his image—
"The U.S. market crashes in ten-year cycles."
"So there's a big cycle?"
"The 2000 dot-com bubble was like that, and so was the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis."
He could use it the exact same way. A suddenly flared-up issue was actually something to welcome.
I can leave a clear memory of exactly what kind of person I am.
His main job was economics professor. That knowledge was not something ordinary people could compare with. With Sonik-jwa the situation had flowed strangely. Ordinary people he could cook at his leisure.
"Coincidentally, this year marks the tenth year."
"Wow……."
"I believe the viewers now fully understand why I say another crash is coming."
"This feels like a standing-ovation moment, doesn't it?"
—2018-2008=10 years holy crap
—We're actually fucked
—So the current drop hasn't even started yet?
Logically he was ahead. The market would flow that way too. Recent Nasdaq moves were not ordinary.
A big crash is definitely coming.
At minimum it would punch through the previous low. If America went down, there was no way Korea would remain unaffected.
Fame. It was not necessarily only a good thing.
"Hoo……."
Weight came with it. No wonder Sora let out a deep sigh.
Looks like she's already supporting a lot of weight, though.
Centered around the chest area, that is. Even Sora, who walked around with two kilograms hanging on each side, had something that felt burdensome.
"I think I took broadcasting too lightly."
"Figured all you had to do was shake your ass."
"Hey."
An economics broadcast. It could never be easy. Real money was involved, after all.
No matter how rational a person is.
Lose money and their eyes go red. They could end up resenting the viewers.
"I do think my judgment is right."
"Mm."
"But there's an analyst who thinks differently, so……."
"I always think tits are right too."
"Ah, fuck."
That was why Sora had come looking for him, saying she had worries. From his perspective it was hard to understand.
Do the tits even shake?
When he gripped them tight with both hands, they felt so reassuring he could not even describe it.
"It's really stressful for me."
"But."
"I don't know how analysts handle that kind of pressure."
She had no idea at all. No—fundamentally she was mistaken.
She still thinks being an analyst is some amazing profession.
On Wall Street those kinds of analysts existed. Securities firms from all over the world lined up wanting to read their reports.
"That's because—"
"Kya!"
"—the purpose is different from the start."
"?"
In Korea you could not expect that. Being right or wrong did not matter to them in the slightest.
Keep flipping a coin long enough and you'll hit once eventually.
The reason men hit on women. Fail nine times, succeed just once, and you can still hit a home run. Analysts were the same. Nail it just once by chance and you could parade around acting like an expert.
"That's ridiculous!"
"Your tits make sense?"
"I'm being serious here, seriously!"
"I'm serious too."
Even with his grip strength there was nothing he could do. No matter how hard he kneaded them, they bounced right back as if nothing had happened.
Analysts too.
If they were wrong? Just lay low for a few months. The risk was not that high. The return when they were right was huge. People thought they were amazing and a massive number of followers appeared.
"You think they do lecture-selling and book-selling for no reason?"
"Ah."
"They do it because it all turns into money."
"That hurts, you fucking bastard!"
The reason analysts appeared on broadcasts. The reason they shouted about soaring or crashing.
It's basically a kind of gamble for their own profit.
Really, no special reason. Not because they held some great conviction or possessed outstanding analytical skill.
"Isn't that basically a scam?"
"Why? The ones who believed are the idiots."
"Who else would act like a complete psycho."
"Only psychos survive in this industry."
People who actually had that kind of ability. This industry was a place where they would never casually sell their own capital.
Only naive retail investors believe that stuff.
That was why fake experts could flourish. Because the humans who believed them offered up their money.
"Ordinary investors take damage just so those people can stay famous."
"Well, something like that."
"I don't think it should be that way."
Sora seemed to be thinking a little differently. The chest he was holding grew steadily warmer under his hands.