Jim Cramer's Stop Trading! Is Steve Ballmer a Diabolical Genius? (11/19/08)

Stocks discussed on Jim Cramer's Stop Trading! TV  program, Wednesday November 19.

Exxon (XOM), Apple (AAPL),Yahoo (YHOO), Microsoft (MSFT), RIMM (RIMM), New York Times (NYT), Gannett (GCI)

 

Cramer says if you want to know where the market is going, watch Exxon. If the stock is up at 3:30, there will be a late day rally 90% of the time. He says he doesn’t know a stock that is a better tell on the market except perhaps Apple. Concerning the Yahoo and Microsoft saga, Cramer says Steve Ballmer may be a diabolical genius or just a genius because “every time he opens his mouth” he knocks Yahoo’s price down. Cramer noted RIMM is up 3 points on the release of its Storm handset and he noted Gannett’s “eyebrow raising” 22% dividend compared to NYT’s 13% yield.

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Comments

[bored2tears:]

Ballmer a diabolical genius? Unless he never intended to go through with the $30+ bid for YHOO, he's more like a lucky loser.

Jerry Yang is much more befitting of the diabolical genius label. He so successfully trashed his own company that no one wants it anymore.

Or should I have called him "jerry yang?"

2008 Nov 20 08:04 AM

[Kilgore:]

Is Cramer's performance record as a hedge fund manager published anywhere?

For that matter, are the performance records of any of the "Fast Money" guys published anywhere?

It would seem to be useful info for the numbers of people who listen to these guys.

2008 Nov 20 08:25 AM

[Editrice:]

Can anyone answer kilgore's questions? I'd like to know, too!

2008 Nov 20 09:13 AM

[tigermikel:]

the WSJ has commented on it... it was nuthin to scream about! Unless you followed the advice...then you were screamin

On Nov 20 09:13 AM Editrice wrote:

> Can anyone answer kilgore's questions? I'd like to know, too!

2008 Nov 20 09:42 AM

[kotika98:]

he did well as fund manager, supposedly around 24% compounded over several years. The "Fast Money" recommendations have been looked at, and consensus is that they lose money on average. But it depends on how you count, whether you buy the minute he opens his mouth, or wait a few days like he says you should. Either way, the only people who profit are the very fast guys who can buy the second he mentions a stock and dump it a few minutes later when the crowd starts buying en mass.

2008 Nov 20 10:11 AM

[kotika98:]

you should not ever buy any stocks he mentions, or even the sectors he thinks are on fire. But you should listen and learn how he thinks - i have learned alot from him over the years, especially when he was not on TV and was putting more time and effort into his postings on TheStreet.com. Plus, anyway, there are the books which have most of his wisdom spelled out in black and white. Read it, and try to understand - many things sound obvious, but what is important is that the professionals pay attention to them and not to something else.

2008 Nov 20 10:19 AM

[bobthenoob:]

Nothing new... baldhead Cramer gayfully kneels in front of his buddy and service him any chance he gets. The only "Fast Money" anyone gets is Cramer cashing in on his minions of loser subscribers.

2008 Nov 20 10:23 AM

[Editrice:]

So there are no specific data on the individual "Fast Money" traders?

2008 Nov 20 11:54 AM

[xmichaelx:]

Editrice-
There can't possibly be specific data -- there are too many variables. If you wanted to compile it, when would you consider the sell? When he says to sell? What if he never mentions it again? When fundamentals say to sell? According to who?

I'm not a fan, but there's plenty of good info on the show if you're too lazy to read up yourself. Kotika98 is right on with his assessment.

BTW - Cramer's biggest claim to fame is being all in cash during the '87 crash - not many others can say the same. I strongly recommend his first book Confessions of a Street Addict (and none of the others).

2008 Nov 20 02:29 PM

[hedger:]

oh, it's fanny.

2008 Nov 21 05:08 AM

[Jackson999:]

Re: Fast Money traders

There are some short bio's here:
www.cnbc.com/id/174400.../

2008 Nov 21 05:57 AM

[Ebi:]

Jim Carrey or Jim Cramer?

2008 Nov 21 07:48 AM

[DJ Anderson:]

Cramer is a dipzhit. Remember when he told everyone to buy Starbucks about a year ago? And when he told investors who were selling off their stocks a few weeks ago that they were chickenzhit? Then, when he recently said if you're counting on your money in the next 5 years, to get out of the market? Nice 180 their, Jimmy-boy! Cramer along with the CNBC talking heads are nothing more than mealy-mouthed stock promoters who live by deception, not on any sound economic reality. I was surprised to see Peter Schiff on the show that put the CNBC sheep in their places yesterday. Cramer - you freaking idjut!

2008 Nov 21 11:44 AM

[Jimmy James:]

I would definitely take Peter Schiff's advise over Jim Cramer's anyday.

2008 Nov 22 08:30 AM