David Neubert

Is Citi's Vikram Pandit a Robot?

Too big to rescue. Did you make that up? It's genius.

Putting the Perception and Reality of the Financial Crisis Into Perspective

The day I realized I had lost a significant portion of my net worth (ex-MD at Lehman) in Lehman Brothers I saw a guy killed on a bicycle right outside my office. Suddenly, I wasn't so upset about my financial loss.

If Thornburg Gets Its Funding, I'll Take Preferred Over Equity

Ouch. Wrote and traded this before the deal announcement came out. Clearly the upside to the preferred is severely limited at this point.

JPMorgan and the Bogus Bear Stearns Deal

As a taxpayer putting up the guarantees for Bear Stearns and a shareholder having my money given away. I'm not happy about this. Liquidation would have been better.

Did Anyone Other Than Citigroup Have Liquidity Puts?

Good characterization of liquidity puts as "repos". How did they get those off balance sheet anyway.

Disclosure: I am long (ouch) Citigroup (C).

Taking Money Off Gaming Stocks' Table - Barron's

I've been thinking the Gambling stocks were overvalued but didn't want to short them until I saw a catalyst that would drive them down. Perhaps this Barrons article is it.

Disclosure: I have no position in LVS, WYNN or MGM. Depending on market action, I may enter a short position in one or all of them this week.

Playing With the Fire at E*Trade

I was impressed with the CEO interview yesterday on CNBC. "There is no chance we are going bankrupt." It's always good when a CEO doesn't hedge comments. Was enough to get me to buy the stock.

Disclosure: I'm long ETFC. I also trade around the position often so my next transaction could likely be a sell.

Playing With the Fire at E*Trade

I was impressed with the CEO interview yesterday on CNBC. "There is no chance we are going bankrupt." It's always good when a CEO doesn't hedge comments. Was enough to get me to buy the stock.

Disclosure: I'm long ETFC. I also trade around the position often so my next transaction could likely be a sell.

Cramer Thinks Citigroup Breakup Would Unlock Value: I Disagree

At The Panelist we aim to be complete. :-)

Why Vonage Is Doomed

If the cut their marketing budget in half they would be profitable by as much as they are losing. And I imagine the most expensive customers to obtain are exactly the same ones who leave so quickly. Amazon numbers didn't look so different for a long time. I remember thinking "back in the day" that Amazon would be profitable if they just cut their marketing.

Bristol-Myers' Board Behaved Responsibly in CEO Dolan's Departure

Amit, you're right. I should have noted that on a relative basis he didn't get away with a huge package.

Shifting Away From the U.S. and Into Asia: An ETF Play

An revaluation of the Yuan will affect all Asian currencies.

And while the YUAN isn't officially linked to the US dollar anymore the way in which it's managed by the Chinese is a defact link.

I still prefer the basket of Asian companies as my way to play Asia over specific Chinese companies. I will give up upside to gain diversification and safety.

Most ETF Managers Aren't ETF Investors Themselves

I'm guessing that as employees of a mutual fund company, managers are required to invest in the company's own funds and get special deals on their own fund investments. Why enter the market to buy an ETF through a broker and pay a brokerage fee when you can buy the open end equivalent direct from your won company for free.

Penn West's Growth Prospects Look Compelling

Nice description. Worth a look, thanks.

Ten Predictions for After the Upcoming Mid-Term Elections

1. SLB and Haliburton and other oil drillers/explorers would be a good way to play an increase in the price of oil. But the integrated oil companies are just so cheap, that even if oil drops I am getting good value. That's why I own those over the drillers.
2. I don't understand how changing the tax code would slow inflation. The US is spending like crazy to finance a huge government and war effort. Huge government spending usually results in inflation.
4. My comment is about US xenophobia not really about Chinese government policy. At least this time around economic ties are so strong that (unlike previous times in history when a new country threatens the dominance of another) the two dominant countries will be forced to work out a non-military solution to fear.
7. My point about the Democrats taking the hosue is that the market would fear economic upheval and a reversal in all the subsidies given to giant corporations. Later, everyone would realize that a gridlocked congress would not do much and things would stay status quo. That's when the market would go back up.