Tuesday, January 31, 2006
ADVFN - Stocks A-Z
ADVFN - Stocks A-Z
Stock tip - find a stock that's trading in Tokyo and US. Follow the stock on Tokyo and identify mirroring trends in US. Trade the US stock with a crystal ball written in Japanese.
Stock tip - find a stock that's trading in Tokyo and US. Follow the stock on Tokyo and identify mirroring trends in US. Trade the US stock with a crystal ball written in Japanese.
Monday, January 30, 2006
WhisperNumber.com / Market Sentiment LLC
WhisperNumber.com / Market Sentiment LLC
This is really cool. Market surveys from the analysts and the common web surfer.
This is really cool. Market surveys from the analysts and the common web surfer.
AMG Data Services - Flows: Jan 25
AMG Data Services - Flows: Jan 25: "# Largest ETF Inflows:
$690 Mil to the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock fund;
$284 Mil to the Select Sector SPDRs Utility fund;
$137 Mil to the Select Sector SPDRs Consumer Staples fund;
$131 Mil to the iShares MSCI Emerging Market Index fund;
$121 Mil to the iShares MSCI Japan Index fund;
# Largest ETF Outflows:
-$2.319 Bil from the SPDR Trust Series I fund;
-$1.526 Bil from the Mid Cap SPDR fund;
-$1.225 Bil from the DIAMONDS fund;"
$690 Mil to the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock fund;
$284 Mil to the Select Sector SPDRs Utility fund;
$137 Mil to the Select Sector SPDRs Consumer Staples fund;
$131 Mil to the iShares MSCI Emerging Market Index fund;
$121 Mil to the iShares MSCI Japan Index fund;
# Largest ETF Outflows:
-$2.319 Bil from the SPDR Trust Series I fund;
-$1.526 Bil from the Mid Cap SPDR fund;
-$1.225 Bil from the DIAMONDS fund;"
Survivor Thestreet.com - Cramer goes long on Mark Burnett?
How many people have this in their bio?
Born in Philadelphia in 1955, Mr. Cramer has two degrees from Harvard and once lived for a short time in his car
NYO - NYTV
He lives in New Jersey, wakes at 3:45 a.m. and is worth, by his own estimate, between $50 and $100 million.
Apparently waking up at 3:45 in the morning is the key to success and wealth. Go long on thestreet.com. Up 68% this year.
Born in Philadelphia in 1955, Mr. Cramer has two degrees from Harvard and once lived for a short time in his car
NYO - NYTV
He lives in New Jersey, wakes at 3:45 a.m. and is worth, by his own estimate, between $50 and $100 million.
Apparently waking up at 3:45 in the morning is the key to success and wealth. Go long on thestreet.com. Up 68% this year.
SPWR: Key Statistics for SUNPOWER CORPORATION - Yahoo! Finance
SPWR: Key Statistics for SUNPOWER CORPORATION - Yahoo! Finance
Recommendations as a key Energy holding, something to watch.
Another one would be anything related to sugar. Sugar prices are up 92% over last year. As sugar is used in Ethanol production, and Brazil is the largest producer of sugar, this may be a good time to:
Short Krispy Kreme for increasing sugar costs.
Go long on Brazil ETF.
http://energystockblog.com/by/sector/energy/alternative-energy/
Recommendations as a key Energy holding, something to watch.
Another one would be anything related to sugar. Sugar prices are up 92% over last year. As sugar is used in Ethanol production, and Brazil is the largest producer of sugar, this may be a good time to:
Short Krispy Kreme for increasing sugar costs.
Go long on Brazil ETF.
http://energystockblog.com/by/sector/energy/alternative-energy/
ETF Investor » The Silver ETF’s Impact on Demand and Value (ETF: SLV)
ETF Investor » The Silver ETF’s Impact on Demand and Value (ETF: SLV): "This would almost certainly wipe out the entire world’s identifiable supply of above ground silver (about 550 million ounces according GFMS). Is it any wonder why the SUA (Silver User’s Association) is trying to cry “uncle” to the SEC in the hopes of putting the kibosh on the silver ETF?"
How to do the Cramer pump and dump dance
Seeking Alpha » Audience Mistakes Cramer’s Pick, Sends Unrelated Fund Up 46%
This should be done wearing a blue shirt and tie and sporting a shaven (or balding) head.
1. Place hands on head with fingers upward and palms touching temples.
2. Open mouth.
3. Scream boo-yah and buy bond funds!
This should be done wearing a blue shirt and tie and sporting a shaven (or balding) head.
1. Place hands on head with fingers upward and palms touching temples.
2. Open mouth.
3. Scream boo-yah and buy bond funds!
Stavros Niarchos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stavros Niarchos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "In 1956 Niarchos acquired the important art collection of actor Edward G. Robinson and over the years put together one of the world's most significant collections with more than one hundred Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. In 1989, he purchased Picasso's self-portrait 'Yo Picasso' for $47,850,000, plus he acquired works by Van Gogh, Goya, El Greco, and Rubens"
His grandson Stavros Niarchos III is an international playboy who has been linked with Mary-Kate Olsen and Paris Hilton.
His grandson Stavros Niarchos III is an international playboy who has been linked with Mary-Kate Olsen and Paris Hilton.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
The Internet Stock Blog » Microsoft F2Q06 (Qtr Ending Dec 31, 2005) Earnings Conference Call Transcript (MSFT)
The Internet Stock Blog » Microsoft F2Q06 (Qtr Ending Dec 31, 2005) Earnings Conference Call Transcript (MSFT)
Highlights
MS bought 7.7 billion worth of stock back & raised the dividend.
Lower than guidance Q2 2005 results.
Revenue driven by SQL
MBS grew 70% year/year
Chipping at the cash pile. (Down 5.4b (13%) from Q1)
Highlights
MS bought 7.7 billion worth of stock back & raised the dividend.
Lower than guidance Q2 2005 results.
Revenue driven by SQL
MBS grew 70% year/year
Chipping at the cash pile. (Down 5.4b (13%) from Q1)
Jeff Matthews Is Not Making This Up
Except in those days we didn’t have Excel spreadsheets: we had a centralized computer center where strange FORTRAN-literate employees created earnings models on mainframe computers, using our hand-scratched numbers.
We'd get a ream of computer paper back from the FORTRAN guys, look at pages and pages of numbers, make adjustmentss and send it back. And repeat the process any number of times, until we had a nice-looking computer-generated forecast that was basically meaningless by the time it was done.
Eventually we acquired something totally new: personal computers, which came with a cool spreadsheet program called “Lotus 1-2-3.”
What this revolutionary, time-saving device did was allow me to spend all my waking hours experimenting with complex formulas, typing in numbers, hitting the "recalc" button and playing with secretary-style formatting techniques in order to create a computer-generated forecast that was, likewise, basically meaningless by the time it was done.
Garbage in, garbage out, as they say.
We'd get a ream of computer paper back from the FORTRAN guys, look at pages and pages of numbers, make adjustmentss and send it back. And repeat the process any number of times, until we had a nice-looking computer-generated forecast that was basically meaningless by the time it was done.
Eventually we acquired something totally new: personal computers, which came with a cool spreadsheet program called “Lotus 1-2-3.”
What this revolutionary, time-saving device did was allow me to spend all my waking hours experimenting with complex formulas, typing in numbers, hitting the "recalc" button and playing with secretary-style formatting techniques in order to create a computer-generated forecast that was, likewise, basically meaningless by the time it was done.
Garbage in, garbage out, as they say.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Category:American economists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It would be nice to amalgamate the theories of all these economists into an all-predictive modelling tool. And then ask them all questions...
"Would Benjamin Graham buy this stock?"
"Would Steven Levitt name his child Dookie?"
"Would Benjamin Graham buy this stock?"
"Would Steven Levitt name his child Dookie?"
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Body language translated
Bill Cara: Over 40 million Stelco shares traded, Tues., Jan. 24, 2006, 2:40 PM: "It reeked so bad that in the courtroom, when the shareholders’ lawyer began to speak, the judge’s demeanour changed abruptly. His body posture sagged. He put his head in his hand, and then his cheek, and then his chin. Then he rubbed his chin, and then his ear, back to his forehead. He reached for his water glass several times. He rolled his eyes.
I can read body language as well as others, so during the lunch break I asked several Stelco union workers if they saw a change in body language at the moment the shareholders’ lawyer began to speak. To a person they said to me: “Of course we did.”"
Rolling his eyes! You don't need a body language specialist to tell you that he is laughing inside, and the remarks of the lawyer are really just an annoyance.
I can read body language as well as others, so during the lunch break I asked several Stelco union workers if they saw a change in body language at the moment the shareholders’ lawyer began to speak. To a person they said to me: “Of course we did.”"
Rolling his eyes! You don't need a body language specialist to tell you that he is laughing inside, and the remarks of the lawyer are really just an annoyance.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Canada's workforce just got older
Gone is the mandatory age 65 retirement. How will this affect companies with an older workforce?
McCarthy Tétrault LLP - Publications - Ontario Government Officially Puts an End to Mandatory Retirement: Changes Will Be Effective December 12, 2006: "Effective December 12, 2006 the definition of 'age' in the Code will be amended to read simply 'an age that is eighteen years or more.' As a result, the Code will generally prohibit employers from forcing employees to retire merely because they are 65 or older."
Often employers with mandatory retirement policies have decided to continue to employ a poor performing employee nearing age 65 with the knowledge that on his or her 65th birthday, the employee would be required to retire.
On benefit plan costs:
In fact, there are a variety of issues that employers should consider in relation to their benefit plans. For example, in the interest of maintaining strong employee relations, employers may consider allowing employees beyond the age of 65 to continue to participate in their benefit plans. However, the cost of providing benefits to older employees may have a significant impact on the cost of employers’ benefit plans.
On age discrimination:
Employers will also have to be cautious when dealing with older individuals in the context of hiring and performance evaluation. For example, individuals who are 65 years of age or older and are unsuccessful in their job applications may make a complaint of age discrimination against their prospective employers.
Conclusion (On GM, Ford, Stelco, and other companies with a larger, older workforce and huge pension plans. Will there be more job cuts?)
The new Act provides employers with a twelve-month ‘grace period’ in which to address the various issues that arise as a result of the end of mandatory retirement in Ontario.
McCarthy Tétrault LLP - Publications - Ontario Government Officially Puts an End to Mandatory Retirement: Changes Will Be Effective December 12, 2006: "Effective December 12, 2006 the definition of 'age' in the Code will be amended to read simply 'an age that is eighteen years or more.' As a result, the Code will generally prohibit employers from forcing employees to retire merely because they are 65 or older."
Often employers with mandatory retirement policies have decided to continue to employ a poor performing employee nearing age 65 with the knowledge that on his or her 65th birthday, the employee would be required to retire.
On benefit plan costs:
In fact, there are a variety of issues that employers should consider in relation to their benefit plans. For example, in the interest of maintaining strong employee relations, employers may consider allowing employees beyond the age of 65 to continue to participate in their benefit plans. However, the cost of providing benefits to older employees may have a significant impact on the cost of employers’ benefit plans.
On age discrimination:
Employers will also have to be cautious when dealing with older individuals in the context of hiring and performance evaluation. For example, individuals who are 65 years of age or older and are unsuccessful in their job applications may make a complaint of age discrimination against their prospective employers.
Conclusion (On GM, Ford, Stelco, and other companies with a larger, older workforce and huge pension plans. Will there be more job cuts?)
The new Act provides employers with a twelve-month ‘grace period’ in which to address the various issues that arise as a result of the end of mandatory retirement in Ontario.
McCarthy Tétrault s.r.l. - Publications - Recherche
McCarthy Tétrault s.r.l. - Publications - Recherche
This is one of the law firms involved in the Stelco case. Some interesting publications here....
This is one of the law firms involved in the Stelco case. Some interesting publications here....
Bill Cara: Stelco�s CEO was career exec of Brascan, Mon., Dec. 5, 2005, 2:57 PM
Bill Cara: Stelco�s CEO was career exec of Brascan, Mon., Dec. 5, 2005, 2:57 PM: "E&Y, under Hap Stephen, was also auditor of government spending that the Gomery Royal Commission found to be corruption on a major scale " the biggest in the history of Canada. Hap "
Bill links PM Martin with Stelco CEO Hap.
Now I’ll tell you a true story about my having crossed the Executive VP (Finance) of Noranda, which was the jewel of Brascan. He, the former Ontario govt energy minister and I were in an investment roundtable at the Toronto Press Club done for the Canadian Doctor magazine. At lunch afterward, I made the mistake of talking about possible illegal insider share buying. A screaming match ensued. Well actually, it was 100-pct one way. I was in the business exactly sixteen months – having joined after a solid accounting and consulting career – and already a leader of Corporate Canada was undressing me in public. Our host was gracious enough to put a stop to my quick demise.
Bill could (should) write a book on this stuff. Stranger than fiction...
And that’s how these things go. You decide early in your life, which road you are going to take, and you stick to it. Even when the going gets tough.
What all of us have to do is to fight conflicts of interest. There is no faster path to social equity.
Searching for social equity brings up Social Democracy in Wikipedia. Aka NDP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy
“Jim’s the dean of the whole area and certainly Bob Blair didn’t do this lightly,” says one litigator. “He sat on the commercial list many years with Jim. But I think some of this is also aimed at the bondholders in New York. Finance guys want certainty, so when the court steps in to the arena and starts removing directors on its own violation, you can’t do that. Directors are the company.
“So I think the language is also to reinforce that we have rule of law here, that we don’t have judges running the whole show. U.S. bondholders really do own the world. If they withdraw from our market, we’re screwed.”
This so reminds me of the movie Wall Street.
Plot Summary for Wall Street (1987)
Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) is a Wall Street stockbroker in early 1980's New York with a strong desire to get to the top. Working for his firm during the day, he spends his spare time working an on angle with with to approach the high-powered, extremely successful (but ruthless and greedy) broker Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). Fox finally meets with Gekko, who takes the youth under his wing and explains his philosophy that "Greed is Good". Taking the advice and working closely with Gekko, Fox soon finds himself swept into a world of "yuppies", shady business deals, the "good life", fast money, and fast women; something which is at odds with his family including his estranged father (Martin Sheen) and the blue-collared way Fox was brought up.
I never caught on to this before, but Warren Buffett's company Geico Insurance's mascot is a Gecko. I wonder if Stanley Weiser & Oliver Stone took note of that, or just liked associating a corporate raider to a lizard.
Bill links PM Martin with Stelco CEO Hap.
Now I’ll tell you a true story about my having crossed the Executive VP (Finance) of Noranda, which was the jewel of Brascan. He, the former Ontario govt energy minister and I were in an investment roundtable at the Toronto Press Club done for the Canadian Doctor magazine. At lunch afterward, I made the mistake of talking about possible illegal insider share buying. A screaming match ensued. Well actually, it was 100-pct one way. I was in the business exactly sixteen months – having joined after a solid accounting and consulting career – and already a leader of Corporate Canada was undressing me in public. Our host was gracious enough to put a stop to my quick demise.
Bill could (should) write a book on this stuff. Stranger than fiction...
And that’s how these things go. You decide early in your life, which road you are going to take, and you stick to it. Even when the going gets tough.
What all of us have to do is to fight conflicts of interest. There is no faster path to social equity.
Searching for social equity brings up Social Democracy in Wikipedia. Aka NDP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy
“Jim’s the dean of the whole area and certainly Bob Blair didn’t do this lightly,” says one litigator. “He sat on the commercial list many years with Jim. But I think some of this is also aimed at the bondholders in New York. Finance guys want certainty, so when the court steps in to the arena and starts removing directors on its own violation, you can’t do that. Directors are the company.
“So I think the language is also to reinforce that we have rule of law here, that we don’t have judges running the whole show. U.S. bondholders really do own the world. If they withdraw from our market, we’re screwed.”
This so reminds me of the movie Wall Street.
Plot Summary for Wall Street (1987)
Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) is a Wall Street stockbroker in early 1980's New York with a strong desire to get to the top. Working for his firm during the day, he spends his spare time working an on angle with with to approach the high-powered, extremely successful (but ruthless and greedy) broker Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). Fox finally meets with Gekko, who takes the youth under his wing and explains his philosophy that "Greed is Good". Taking the advice and working closely with Gekko, Fox soon finds himself swept into a world of "yuppies", shady business deals, the "good life", fast money, and fast women; something which is at odds with his family including his estranged father (Martin Sheen) and the blue-collared way Fox was brought up.
I never caught on to this before, but Warren Buffett's company Geico Insurance's mascot is a Gecko. I wonder if Stanley Weiser & Oliver Stone took note of that, or just liked associating a corporate raider to a lizard.
Canada's Election Day & Stelco - Sponsorship Ontario?
Aurora Institute - shedding light on the corporation: "That raised the possibility that Mr. Martin will have to withdraw from discussions on the issue, because Stelco is a major CSL customer. As finance minister, Mr. Martin had been required to withdraw from decisions on protecting the steel industry because of CSL's business ties with Stelco."
"How can the Prime Minister run a country when he has to run away from the cabinet table every five minutes to avoid a conflict of interest?"
"How can the Prime Minister run a country when he has to run away from the cabinet table every five minutes to avoid a conflict of interest?"
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