Nonperforming loans (as a percentage of total loans) are growing in the eurozone periphery by a disconcerting 2.5% per year, JPMorgan says, adding that the problem appears endemic outside the eurozone core as NPLs are 25%, 19%, 13.4%, and 10% in Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal respectively. This raises questions about the impairment capacity of banks and what steps will ultimately be taken to provision against these underperformers. (Also: Spain's banks to reclassify refies, Slovenia NPLs contribute to downgrade, need to be transferred) [View news story]
What provisions will be made? - few stern words from Germany, a few street protests in these PIIGS and then the ECB will crank out Euros. Sheesh, how many times have we seen this farce have to play out?
Like probably 95% of other smart phone owners, I have a case around the phone and a screen protector on the front. The only time I see the case is when I swap the batteries in 15 seconds. At that point, I thank the stars for having a removable back cover, as opposed to plugging it into a wall for 3 hours like a iPhone.
Regarding gimmicky software, there's something called "Siri" introduced to great fanfare by Apple. How many people use it still? And I note that the same "gimmicky" software when introduced 3 years later by Apple is greeted with cries and screams of adoration. And in the fourth year Apple will be suing Samsung for the said "gimmicky" features claiming that those are Apple "innovations".
"While competitors are still working on early versions of their phones, Apple has advanced and polished their designs. "
There is a company called Samsung. Please check out the early versions of their phones called Samsung Galaxy S4. If this is what Samsung is producing while still working on the early versions of their phone, Apple should shudder when an advanced and polished Samsung version appears.
Don't look now but the hedgies are betting on Fannie FNMA.OB +6.6% and Freddie FMCC.OB +7%. WSJ says Paulson & Co. and Perry Capital (among others) are buying preferred shares on the off-chance Washington has a change of heart and decides to recapitalize the companies and sell taxpayers' stake on the open market. With the White House overwhelmingly in favor of winding down the two entities, anyone betting on profiting from a potential recap is "placing a political bet … that faces unimaginably long odds," former White House adviser Jim Parrott tells the Journal. [View news story]
I thought Fannie & Freddie bought the conforming loans originated by the banks?
Don't look now but the hedgies are betting on Fannie FNMA.OB +6.6% and Freddie FMCC.OB +7%. WSJ says Paulson & Co. and Perry Capital (among others) are buying preferred shares on the off-chance Washington has a change of heart and decides to recapitalize the companies and sell taxpayers' stake on the open market. With the White House overwhelmingly in favor of winding down the two entities, anyone betting on profiting from a potential recap is "placing a political bet … that faces unimaginably long odds," former White House adviser Jim Parrott tells the Journal. [View news story]
The odds are only long if you don't know the outcome. This tells me that the Obama white house has been bought (yet again) and shortly thereafter Fannie and Freddie will be engineered to suit the tune of those paying the piper. 2014 election expenses are coming, how better to bill the taxpayer than via Fannie and Freddie.
Starbucks (SBUX) says it will probably enter Myanmar within the next couple of years as Asia continues to be a major target for the company's future growth. If all goes according to plan, the region will pass Canada within the next couple of years to become Starbucks' second biggest market behind the U.S. [View news story]
Starbucks in Burma? Herbalife diet shakes in Ghana can't hold a candle to this.
Call it momentum or call it a short squeeze, but one way or another shares of Tesla Motors (TSLA +11.8%) are putting in their routine double-digit gain and cleared $80 before settling back. The trading puts Tesla's share price at nearly 80X 2014 earnings estimates, meaning buying the EV automaker today is a bet that its technology will be truly transformative. One company in harm's way from the Tesla juggernaut could be Toyota (TM +2.2%) if Tesla stays ahead in battery development. It's an apples-to-oranges comparison (cost), but today the Prius claims a limited driving range of 11 miles/charge compared to the Model S's range of 260 miles. [View news story]
The Problems With Ackman's Thesis On Procter & Gamble [View article]
Since Bob McDonald is not to Ackman's taste, Ron Johnson IS available...Cincinnati has Lunken Airport, very close to P&G headquarters, suitable for private jets to land and take off making the daily $41,857/hour private jet commute from San Francisco that much shorter.
Green Mountain: Starbucks Deal Hides Poor Report [View article]
Bill,
with all the cheap money, it's almost like the ibanks and hedge funds can take the stock of any heavily shorted company into a squeeze. I'm pondering whether to buy OTM calls for JCP and HLF, esp. HLF, both companies that I don't care for, in the hope that they may be the next squeezes.
YouTube Subscription Hype Is Overblown, At Least For Now [View article]
"A la carte for premium, proprietary content would help, especially if it is priced low enough to get a significant number of Third World subscribers of modest means to subscribe to a channel or two."
In the so called "Third World" countries ( a moniker many consider quite offensive) that internet usage is metered and quite expensive. And cable is usually extremely cheap.
Lululemon (LULU) is upgraded by Sterne Agee to a Buy rating and is given a fresh price target of $90 by the firm. [View news story]
Rumor on the street is that LULU is going to be target of a short presentation at the Ira Sohn. I'd be nuts to think that this upgrade on a random Wednesday morning with no other news would be an attempt to pump up the price so that some longs, who are also Sterne Agee clients, could dump thier stakes. Just could not be. Wall Street is too honest to pull stunts like that.
More Buffett/CNBC: "Bonds (AGG, BND, TLT) are priced artificially," he says, and investors in long-term paper stand to lose a terrific amount of money. It echos weekend comments where he told Omaha concert-goers, "I feel sorry for people that have clung to fixed-dollar investments." [View news story]
He mean higher taxes on "the rich", not higher taxes on the Super Rich!
Mount Kellett Capital, which has long been vocal about its displeasure with Sprint's (S +0.7%) $2.97/share deal to acquire Clearwire (CLWR +2.9%), says it has joined forces with 3 other major shareholders - Highside Capital, Glenview Capital, and Chesapeake Partners - to create a united front against Sprint's offer. Together, the shareholders own 18.2% of Clearwire's publicly-traded stock. With shares closing today at $3.37 and Dish's $3.30/share bid still on the table, investors are clearly betting on a higher deal price. (13D) (Crest Financial) [View news story]
As per CNBC, it's actually 18.2 and 8% of the stock NOT owned by sprint making it about 26% of the minority...ergo the minority shareholders can make a lot of noise, perhaps file a lawsuit, but they can't stop this. It's clear from the CLWR mgmt letter, that any lawsuit accusing the BOD and mgmt of selling out to Sprint is going to fail as mgmt and BOD have done a good job of CYA as expressed in the letter.
Nonperforming loans (as a percentage of total loans) are growing in the eurozone periphery by a disconcerting 2.5% per year, JPMorgan says, adding that the problem appears endemic outside the eurozone core as NPLs are 25%, 19%, 13.4%, and 10% in Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal respectively. This raises questions about the impairment capacity of banks and what steps will ultimately be taken to provision against these underperformers. (Also: Spain's banks to reclassify refies, Slovenia NPLs contribute to downgrade, need to be transferred) [View news story]
Apple Solved Its First Problem [View article]
Regarding gimmicky software, there's something called "Siri" introduced to great fanfare by Apple. How many people use it still? And I note that the same "gimmicky" software when introduced 3 years later by Apple is greeted with cries and screams of adoration. And in the fourth year Apple will be suing Samsung for the said "gimmicky" features claiming that those are Apple "innovations".
Apple Solved Its First Problem [View article]
Apple Solved Its First Problem [View article]
There is a company called Samsung. Please check out the early versions of their phones called Samsung Galaxy S4. If this is what Samsung is producing while still working on the early versions of their phone, Apple should shudder when an advanced and polished Samsung version appears.
Don't look now but the hedgies are betting on Fannie FNMA.OB +6.6% and Freddie FMCC.OB +7%. WSJ says Paulson & Co. and Perry Capital (among others) are buying preferred shares on the off-chance Washington has a change of heart and decides to recapitalize the companies and sell taxpayers' stake on the open market. With the White House overwhelmingly in favor of winding down the two entities, anyone betting on profiting from a potential recap is "placing a political bet … that faces unimaginably long odds," former White House adviser Jim Parrott tells the Journal. [View news story]
Don't look now but the hedgies are betting on Fannie FNMA.OB +6.6% and Freddie FMCC.OB +7%. WSJ says Paulson & Co. and Perry Capital (among others) are buying preferred shares on the off-chance Washington has a change of heart and decides to recapitalize the companies and sell taxpayers' stake on the open market. With the White House overwhelmingly in favor of winding down the two entities, anyone betting on profiting from a potential recap is "placing a political bet … that faces unimaginably long odds," former White House adviser Jim Parrott tells the Journal. [View news story]
This Is Why Netflix Will Go Bankrupt [View article]
I agree with your analysis, but here's the rub - a few hedgies like Icahn, in league with a few sell side analysts can drive Netflix to $300+.
Put options are the way to go, but have you seen the premiums?
Starbucks (SBUX) says it will probably enter Myanmar within the next couple of years as Asia continues to be a major target for the company's future growth. If all goes according to plan, the region will pass Canada within the next couple of years to become Starbucks' second biggest market behind the U.S. [View news story]
Call it momentum or call it a short squeeze, but one way or another shares of Tesla Motors (TSLA +11.8%) are putting in their routine double-digit gain and cleared $80 before settling back. The trading puts Tesla's share price at nearly 80X 2014 earnings estimates, meaning buying the EV automaker today is a bet that its technology will be truly transformative. One company in harm's way from the Tesla juggernaut could be Toyota (TM +2.2%) if Tesla stays ahead in battery development. It's an apples-to-oranges comparison (cost), but today the Prius claims a limited driving range of 11 miles/charge compared to the Model S's range of 260 miles. [View news story]
To quote John McEnroe
"You cannot be serious"
The Problems With Ackman's Thesis On Procter & Gamble [View article]
Green Mountain: Starbucks Deal Hides Poor Report [View article]
with all the cheap money, it's almost like the ibanks and hedge funds can take the stock of any heavily shorted company into a squeeze. I'm pondering whether to buy OTM calls for JCP and HLF, esp. HLF, both companies that I don't care for, in the hope that they may be the next squeezes.
YouTube Subscription Hype Is Overblown, At Least For Now [View article]
In the so called "Third World" countries ( a moniker many consider quite offensive) that internet usage is metered and quite expensive. And cable is usually extremely cheap.
Lululemon (LULU) is upgraded by Sterne Agee to a Buy rating and is given a fresh price target of $90 by the firm. [View news story]
More Buffett/CNBC: "Bonds (AGG, BND, TLT) are priced artificially," he says, and investors in long-term paper stand to lose a terrific amount of money. It echos weekend comments where he told Omaha concert-goers, "I feel sorry for people that have clung to fixed-dollar investments." [View news story]
Mount Kellett Capital, which has long been vocal about its displeasure with Sprint's (S +0.7%) $2.97/share deal to acquire Clearwire (CLWR +2.9%), says it has joined forces with 3 other major shareholders - Highside Capital, Glenview Capital, and Chesapeake Partners - to create a united front against Sprint's offer. Together, the shareholders own 18.2% of Clearwire's publicly-traded stock. With shares closing today at $3.37 and Dish's $3.30/share bid still on the table, investors are clearly betting on a higher deal price. (13D) (Crest Financial) [View news story]
Here's the link from CNBC
http://bit.ly/10eg2Tt