J. Christoph Amberger

How Election Day Could Boost Penn National Gaming

Well Dan, looks like the folk in Maryland suprised you. The slots referendum passed (with a 59% majority!).

The Favorable Outlook for Gold

Buddy... how about you read the article? I think gold is great? Where do you get that from??? I think gold will go to $600 if not $550. Sheesh.

The Favorable Outlook for Gold

Seeking Alpha does the headlines.... I suggested merely "The Outlook for Gold". For some reason, they saw something favorable in it.

Apex Silver Mines Might Be a Promising Short Play Now

Mr. Joe Anthony: When I wrote the piece, SIL was at 1.56. It just closed at 1.19.

How's that debased currency and the bullish prospect of silver treating you?

Nation's Debt: It's Not Being Rescued, It's Being Moved Around

Wow, 1modelcitizen, you sure added value to this discussion.

Gold Price Plunges: Might as Well Hold Stocks

All chit-chat aside... with gold almost at $750... I think I really was quite on the mark... if I say so myself: www.todaysfinancialnew.../

Insiders Preparing for Major Drop in Oil Prices

Ahem... with oil near $100 yet again, would anyone like to say: Right on the money, Herr Amberger!

Okay, I do it myself!

Gold Price Plunges: Might as Well Hold Stocks

@ silveraxis: Read your comments about gold to my father over the phone. He laughed. Since he is able to operate the various Inflation Calculators, he's still waiting to break even on his 1978-1981 Krügerrand & Maple Leaf "investments". Suffice to say, he ceased being a goldbug sometime during the Kohl years in Germany.

(Wonder what he'd say about that inflation hedge quality had he bought gold in March at $1,033...)

More here: www.todaysfinancialnew...

Buying Healthcare Stocks for an Obama Presidency (Part III)

While I consider the underlying demographic trends in America bullish for a select number of medical REITs, health care and pharma stocks, I can't help but think that an Obama presidency -- undoubtedly accompanied by Democrat dominance of House and Senate -- will result in an overall strengthening of the trial lawyer lobby.

Based on the demonization of oil companies and the call for redistribution of their 8.9% margins, the public image of HMOs and pharma companies would indeed make these industries prime candidates for confiscatory tax policies and tort/malpractice lawsuits.

Would you mind addressing how a change in the political culture would affect these companies?

Fannie Drops on Freddie's Poor Earnings - Rebound Today?

Well, Muzi, the easiest for you would be just staying out of the market... would it not.

But thanks for you advice. I will take it under consideration.

Fannie Drops on Freddie's Poor Earnings - Rebound Today?

Glad the question "Rebound today?" got answered with a resounding "No!" before lunch. Sometimes, the market just sucks. Especially, when reality doesn't agree with me!

Obama Wants to 'Robin Hood' Exxon

The question at this point seems to be not if 4 more years of a Republican Administration is "good for this country". It is "whose program will prevent the United States from becoming a complete economic basket-case."

Based on Obama's platform, the question if -- at the beginning of what could be a protracted global recession -- a heavy-handed tax and confiscation policy (let's call the "windfall redistribution" by its proper name) is commendable seems easy to answer: History, for those who usually profess to be eager to "learn" from it, argues that it is not.

If a candidate campaigning on a platform of unilateral appeasement is the man to see America through an ongoing war on terror, a potential confrontation w/ Iran, an increasingly militant rivalry with China, and a Russian prime minister who just advocated that Russia needs to be "back in Cuba" is quite another matter. Obama has posed not just as anti-War but anti-military.

(Ironically, military spending has historically been the ultimate stimulus package. Just asks Messrs. Roosevelt and Reagan. Then why gripe about the $10 billion a month going into the Iraq/Afghanistan war and only piddle around with a $1,000 a year redistribution check?)

Global competition has increased not just from China and India, but from Europe: Even retro-socialist Germany and France have revamped their tax systems and lowered business taxes to BELOW the U.S. rate. (That under the Bush administration.) How attractive do you think this makes the United States as a magnet for new business. Or, vice versa, how many years can U.S. corporations afford to be headquartered (and taxable) in the U.S. -- if Dubai, Hong Kong, maybe soon Mumbai offer a better deal that pays for itself in tax savings in a quarter?

Think Halliburton is the only company that can move its taxable revenues from the U.S. jurisdiction?

I am no big fan of McCain, but clearly a market-based economy (as much as this is possible in this country) is preferable to top-down meddling from someone who apparently has no clue regarding his own finances.

And of course, in a media-created atmosphere of complete irrational, uncritical adulation of one particular candidate -- as inexperienced and isolated from real-world experience as this one -- , the ironic use of "Anointed One" is not only permissable. But right on the money.

If I say so myself.

Obama Wants to 'Robin Hood' Exxon

I'd like to point out that the accumulated sales, excise and income taxes paid by XOM already amount to roughly 300% of what the company will book as net income -- part of which already will be "redistributed" to pensioners, retirees, middle-class investors in the form of dividend (of which yet another 15% will flow back into the state's coffers.) That, dear Jonathan, is how Capitalist redistribution works. The ticket to partake costs you a bit more than 70 bucks right now -- slightly less than a bar tab after happy hour has run into the early hours.

The idea of government randomly targeting a business or industry to extort money is the opposite of that: Autocratic, totalitarian... socialist.

Royale Energy: Experts in Natural Gas - Not Marketing

I hear ya Michael -- that announcement reminded me of many Chinese companies' marketing attempts -- very subtle... maybe too subtle. Though as algore said, it could be an indication of a strong focus on performance. I'm still bullish on ROYL. Look forward to reading more of your articles on SeekingAlpha! Laura

Rex Energy: Primed to Make the Big Bucks

Hey thanks, Dave! You're a braver soul than I -- I bailed at $24 and change. Watched it continuing to rise for a while there -- hope you made a bundle!