alpha | Quiet Speculation https://www.quietspeculation.com Play More, Win More, Pay Less Mon, 17 Jan 2022 04:54:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.quietspeculation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/favicon.png alpha | Quiet Speculation https://www.quietspeculation.com 32 32 Are Reserved List Cards Rebounding Already? https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/07/are-reserved-list-cards-rebounding-already/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/07/are-reserved-list-cards-rebounding-already/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:11:06 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=98754

Sig's not sure, but it looks like certain pockets of Reserved List cards are on the rebound. This week, he takes a close look at the market and speculates as to why there may be movement in these key cards after a brief sell-off.

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Clipped Beta vs. Alpha: A Cautionary Tale https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/07/clipped-beta-vs-alpha-a-cautionary-tale/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/07/clipped-beta-vs-alpha-a-cautionary-tale/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:00:58 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=98690

Last weekend, Sig received some very unfortunate news regarding an eBay sale he made of an Alpha card. It turns out, the card may have been clipped Beta. This begs the question: how can one detect the difference? This week Sig investigates.

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My 500th (ish) MTG Finance Article: A Self-Reflection https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/07/my-500th-ish-mtg-finance-article-a-self-reflection/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/07/my-500th-ish-mtg-finance-article-a-self-reflection/#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:00:14 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=98624

Sig's records aren't perfect, but he has recently just passed his 500th MTG finance article--nearly ten years of writing! This week Sig reflects back on his MTG finance journey, the key decisions along the way, and what makes Magic the greatest game in the world.

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Modern Horizons 2 and Summer Regressions https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/06/modern-horizons-2-and-summer-regressions/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/06/modern-horizons-2-and-summer-regressions/#respond Wed, 16 Jun 2021 07:07:13 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=98410

Returning from a well-deserved vacation, Sig takes a wider look at the Magic finance landscape, examining Modern Horizons 2, Reserved List staples, and more.

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Inflation’s Impact on Your Magic Investment https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/inflations-impact-on-your-magic-investment/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/inflations-impact-on-your-magic-investment/#comments Mon, 17 May 2021 11:00:47 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=98006

Last week's inflation data created shock waves in the stock market. This piqued Sig's curiosity: does inflation also impact the Magic market? He found an article that describes the potential impact very well...oh, and that article was written in 1978!

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Defining Our Terms https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/defining-our-terms/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/defining-our-terms/#respond Wed, 12 May 2021 11:00:21 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97906

In any sort of investing, it's important to define key terms in order to make sense of and properly evaluate investment opportunities. David outlines these key terms, and how they relate to Magic.

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A Dichotomy in Old Card Prices https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/a-dichotomy-in-old-card-prices/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/a-dichotomy-in-old-card-prices/#respond Mon, 10 May 2021 11:00:59 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97990

It's no surprise some older cards have peaked and are now pulling back. What DOES surprise Sig is that some cards are back on the climb and nearing previous highs. Why the split? This week, Sig looks at the numbers.

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How Could Magic Go Mainstream? https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/how-could-magic-go-mainstream/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/05/how-could-magic-go-mainstream/#comments Mon, 03 May 2021 11:00:26 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97917

Magic broke into mainstream media, briefly, last week. Popular music artist Post Malone was sighted purchasing Magic cards at a local card shop. Is this enough to catalyze some sort of growth? This week, Sig shares his thoughts on the matter.

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What Was Once Undesirable is Now Hot https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/04/what-was-once-undesirable-is-now-hot/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/04/what-was-once-undesirable-is-now-hot/#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2021 11:00:26 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97898

This week Sig examines recent pricing trends on some of Magic's historically most overprinted and under-powered sets: Homelands, Fallen Empires, and Chronicles. Without looking, can you guess what booster boxes of these sets sell for today? The answer may surprise you!

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Shifting Focus to Beta https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/04/shifting-focus-to-beta/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/04/shifting-focus-to-beta/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:00:52 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97863

It's no secret: Alpha cards are very expensive now. There are just not very many copies to go around. But what about Beta? It's print run is larger, but relative to the player base, it's still tiny. This week Sig examines the Beta market and shares his thoughts on Beta's likely price trajectory.

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A Resurgence in the Alpha Market https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/04/a-resurgence-in-the-alpha-market/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/04/a-resurgence-in-the-alpha-market/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:00:11 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97842

Nine years ago, Sig wrote his first article describing the collectibility of Alpha rares. At the time, he had no idea just how much the Alpha market could explode. This week, he revisits the topic, updating his view on the set and sharing tips on where to buy.

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Comparing Alpha Rares with Other Collectibles https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/03/comparing-alpha-rares-with-other-collectibles/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/03/comparing-alpha-rares-with-other-collectibles/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:00:32 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97642

Less than 1,100 copies of any given Alpha rare were printed. That's a tiny number! How does it compare with chase collectibles from other hobbies? This week Sig investigates, sharing his conclusions that Alpha rares have a lot of room for growth.

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Will History Repeat Itself This Time? https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/03/will-history-repeat-itself-this-time/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/03/will-history-repeat-itself-this-time/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:00:50 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97600

"History repeats itself." We hear this phrase time and again to describe all sorts of socioeconomic phenomena. But does it apply to the Magic market this time? This week, Sig examines the market-moving forces of 2020-2021 and compares back to 2017-2018.

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Three Mantras to Taking Profits https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/03/three-mantras-to-taking-profits/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/03/three-mantras-to-taking-profits/#respond Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:00:35 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97466

As card prices continue to climb, it's OK to take profits. Really. This week, Sig shares three mantras he keeps in mind to help him overcome negative emotions associated with selling.

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Insider: Bubble of Baubles https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/02/insider-bubble-of-baubles/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/02/insider-bubble-of-baubles/#respond Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:00:38 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97330

David examines the recent movement in Reserved List rares, and outlines the telltale signs of a bubble about to pop.

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Financal Considerations When Selling High End Cards https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/02/financal-considerations-when-selling-high-end-cards/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/02/financal-considerations-when-selling-high-end-cards/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:00:06 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97389

As high-end card prices reach record highs, the temptation to sell may be climbing. But don't rush into the process without first reading this article. Sig shares the hidden costs and implications when dealing in four jand five-figure cards.

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Strategic Buylisting to Card Kingdom https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/02/strategic-buylisting-to-card-kingdom/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/02/strategic-buylisting-to-card-kingdom/#respond Mon, 15 Feb 2021 12:00:03 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97324

As Reserved List prices continue to climb, Sig is noticing some aggressive buylisting from Card Kingdom. Perhaps a little...too aggressive? This week he shares his strategy for what he's looking to sell to the vendor, citing specific examples.

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Stop and Sell Something Already https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/01/stop-and-sell-something-already/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/01/stop-and-sell-something-already/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2021 12:00:43 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97239

As many once-forgotten cards skyrocket in price, now could be a great time to consider selling. But Sig doesn't recommend selling just anything. This week he shares guidelines on how to approach this volatile, sellers' market.

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Discipline for a New Wave of Buyouts https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/01/discipline-for-a-new-wave-of-buyouts/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/01/discipline-for-a-new-wave-of-buyouts/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2021 12:00:54 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=97146

Don't Panic! This catchphrase will be important to repeat to yourself over and over again as we navigate another era of rampant buyouts. This week Sig shares a few strategies to remain disciplined in the face of soaring Magic prices.

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Insider: The Runaway CCG Hype Train https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/01/insider-the-runaway-ccg-hype-train/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2021/01/insider-the-runaway-ccg-hype-train/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2021 12:00:19 +0000 https://www.quietspeculation.com/?p=96991

Collectible Card Game finance has suddenly caught fire in the investment world, and prices of cards and boxes have skyrocketed. David examines Flesh and Blood, and lessons we can learn from CCGs of the past.

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