Beacon Asset Managers

U.S. Generational Shift is Key to Future Consumer Spending

Thank you for your comments. We look forward to further examining this theme in the near future.
--BAM

Ireland's Demographics Point to a Strong Consumer Cycle Through 2021

Closed-end funds can generally avoid tax at the fund level by distributing at least 90% of their annual income and capital gains to shareholders in the year it is earned.

However many funds were reluctant to sell portfolio holdings in late 2008 because of the weak market to make these distributions. The Internal Revenue Service granted them leeway to avoid forcing them to sell .

So many funds limited their cash distributions in 2008, including the New Ireland Fund. Their recent announced 'bumper' dividend reflects this.

The link explaining this is below

online.wsj.com/article...

On Sep 22 05:09 PM jwarreni wrote:

> I see that IRL has declared an extra dividend of $2.76 plus a regular
> .33 payable on 1-21-10. Does anyone know what that is all about????

Oil Rallies, But We Prefer Gold

You can track NDR sentiment charts in our Seeking Alpha articles or on our web site's Blog:beaconassetmanagers.co...

For more detailed information contact Bruce Kaminsky at Ned Davis Research at 800-241-0621

Western Lithium Stands to Profit from Electric Car Stimulus

Thank you for the article. It sounds that this company is one to watch and the chart break out today suggests you are on the right track.

Disclosure: We hold the stock as a small position (0.4%) in our model Beacon Master Portfolio.

Geron's Risk-Reward Profile - Best in Biotech?

Not happy about it, especially given how slowly the FDA moves. Curious about the what this new non-clinical data might be, and wish the company was a bit more forthcoming about it.
Still believe the company has tremendous potential (most people tend to ignore its oncology efforts) and will buy more, especially if the price drops below $5.
JM of BAM

InterDigital Loses a Round but May Still Trump Nokia

Sold on the news as IDCC has traditionally been hammered down hard with every legal setback (most of which the company ultimately won). Frankly, expected the news to drive it down into the high teens, and would not be surprised to see it still go there in the next week or two, which would make it attractive again.

For the short term not especially upbeat because who knows what might happen with the ITC full commission, but for the longer-term (two-to-four years) believe IDCC will ultimately prevail and get paid for 3g by the current hold-outs


On Aug 18 10:57 AM chimpanzee-ate-my-face wrote:

> Since you are so upbeat, why aren't you long? Don't you eat your
> own cooking?

Will InterDigital Finally Get Some Respect?

And thank you for your comment. Here's to a Nokia settlement next week.....
–Beacon Asset Managers

Time to Take Profits in Emerging Markets?

We prefer EM sovereign debt at this stage rather than equities, with the exclusion of Russia debt.


On Jul 13 09:06 AM prairiedog555 wrote:

> Would you also stay away from EM or Soverign debt?

Can Wal-Mart Survive Generation Y?

Good Afternoon Carol,

Many thanks for your kind comments and please feel free to re-publish our Blog.

Best Wishes,

Logie Cassells

Beacon Asset Managers
beaconassetmanagers.com


On Jun 30 02:08 PM Carol Phillips wrote:

> I think your analysis is right on, Wal-Mart has succeeded by appealing
> to Boomers. Gen Y are also smart shoppers, but price is far from
> their only criteria. At minimum this should be a wake up call to
> Wal-Mart to get their brand 'Millennial-ready'. They are the market
> of the future. Hope you don't mind, but I have republished this post
> on my blog (something I have only done once before). If this is a
> problem, let me know and I will remove.
>
> Carol Phillips
> President, Brand Amplitude, LLC
> millennialmarketing.com

Amazon Is Wal-Mart, The Next Generation

Sorry for the layout confusion
It is interesting to note who the "Market" is backing or believes the winner is going to be.

Approx Share Price Returns to June 30th 2009

Amazon 1y:10% 2y:20% 3y:115% 4y:150% 5y:150% 10y:40%
Wal-Mart 1y:-12% 2y:0% 3y: 0% 4y:0% 5y:-10% 10y:0%

Amazon Is Wal-Mart, The Next Generation

It is interesting to note who the "Market" is backing or believes the winner is going to be.

Approx Share Price Returns to June 30th 2009
1y 2y 3y 4y 5y 10y
Amazon 10% 20% 115% 150% 150% 40%
Wal-Mart -12% 0% 0% 0% -10% 0%

Australia’s Demographics Point to Long-Term Economic Growth

Thank you for your comments. We'll be reporting on other countries in the near future.

Geron's Risk-Reward Profile - Best in Biotech?

Thank you all for your comments, and pointing out where I may have erred. I'm going to ask Seeking Alpha to correct a mistake–it is not the 50,000 or so "Americans" who suffer devastating spinal cord injuries every year. It is the roughly 50,000 to 60,000 people worldwide (11,000 to 12,000 Americans). Am also looking into the "crushing" versus "severance."
JM

[This correction has now been made - SA editors]