I was a trader for many years and still am interested in markets. I started out with comic books in the 80s (still holding on), then stocks, options and currencies. In NYC I worked as an investment commercial broker dealing in the BIG properties.

I am even quoted calling the pullback of commercial real estate in NYC.

When I first left college, I devoured information on trading and markets learning techniques as well as history.  I learned early on that a market is a market, whether a tulip, a comic book, or a $200 million dollar office building.  It’s really about psychology.

There are always signs when the smart money pulls out of a market, A canary in the coal mine.  I was  discussing the lack of value in domain names on Friday and then out came the “canary in the coal mine”
Yahoo decided to sell big time domain names, according to a recent article.    Yahoo is not strapped for cash, they just know when to get out of an investment.  They know that undeveloped domains will soon be uselss.

What does this mean? This means that domain names are going to lose relevance. Between Social Search and other methodologies, we will no longer be navigating via domains.   The advent of new top level domains ( .lawyer, .web etc)  seals the deal.  Just look at the number of companies foregoing putting their own domain on advertising and opting for a facebook address.

.COMs will be the Next .BUST

This is not to be confused with domains that have existing content on them, but buying a “fresh” domain without any content JUST for the name will become useless.  .COMs will be the next .BUST .

We are learning as internet users that .COMs don’t signal trust anymore.  It’s been a fact for a long time, but belief is another matter.  It might take a few more years to completely set in, but all of those undeveloped, extra domains you (and I) have will be worthless.

Another sign to stop worrying about the technicals and start worrying about your story.