Telstra: Is This Down Under Telecom Over the Top? [View article]
Thanks. Moody's report adds some sobering perspective. The issue of 'dividend safety' appears to be the hot spot as to whether investors buy into the new era for TLSYY or not. Thanks for posting the link.
Why I'm Concerned About a Near Term Pullback in Stock Prices [View article]
Fyi....This article (from October 15, 2010) and several since have been meant to draw attention to the "global currency war" and what I've dubbedd the "devalue-to-deter-defl... conflagration". In recent articles I have cited a recommended read of an article written by a former colleague, Yiping Huang, now at Peking University entitled:
So how to boost the economy? Harvard professor Jeffrey Miron says legalizing drugs - all drugs - would help, saving an estimated $41.3B/year on total government enforcement and producing tax revenue of $46.7B/year, assuming drugs were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco. [View news story]
A propos to this discussion: bit.ly/bIYvMR (FT editorial today: High Time to Legalise Marijuana)
3Q Earnings Scorecard: Which Sectors Are Outperforming? [View article]
Good article and interesting data. Question: Have you looked at the history of the relationship between "earnings guidance", subsequent Street analyst estimate increases for the next quarter, and then the actual next quarter results? Wondering how often the higher guidance leads to inflated expectations which in turn disappoints?
American Airlines: Cleared for Takeoff? [View article]
NOTE TO READERS: IATA September Traffic report came out today. bit.ly/ctlvOo
Lots of commentators focused on the IATA CEO's remarks that though the September data showed strength in passenger traffic, the freight numbers were well off of their peak seen in May, and he warned that the data might portend "economic turbulence" ahead.
Investors should have a look at the data. It may not appear as bleak to some as the CEO's headlines would imply. That said, there is reason for caution about the sustainability of recent strength in overall traffic. So weigh that in. But also weigh in the positives, and have a read of the transcript of AMR's recent earnings call where management went into some detail on route expansions, cost controls, etc.
It appears that many investors already opined and 'got on board'....stock was up another $0.21 (2.82%) today.
Telstra: Is This Down Under Telecom Over the Top? [View article]
Thanks for reading the article and for adding valuable comments. As you may have seen from my other recent articles, I'm overall quite cautious with regard to putting new cash to work at this time. Especially on the heels of this past weekend's G20 "un-announcement", I'm concerned about an effective invitation to currency traders to now push the outter limits of "orderly markets" and in turn be greeted with a surprise intervention which could rattle equity markets. If that happens, I have a "shopping list" ready....and at some level lower than here, TLSYY is on it. Look forward to continuing sharing thoughts on this stock as any information re the NBN or dividend would be key to the position. Thanks again.
Looking Beyond G20: Earnings, Economic Data and Geopolitical Market Movers in the Days Ahead [View article]
NOTE TO READERS: Due to formatting issues, the information in the instablog re the UK's GDP data is misaligned. The Forecast column looks correct with qq of 0.4 and yy of 2.4. The Previous column should have qq of 1.2 and yy of 1.7.
It's Not Your Father's GE ... Or Is It? [View article]
Bloomberg headline: "GE to Add 500 US Appliance Jobs, Spend $432mm" Talk about "your father's GE"! Spending money to open factories and design centers in several locations within the US, hiring US workers, making refrigerators! Why? Jeff Immelt: "This is not out of sympathy. The costs are lower and the quality is better". On an anecdotal note: Being a recent purchaser of a GE refrigerator that has had all kinds of quality control issues, this sounds like a good move....a very good move. As stated in the article above and in several since, I have had my eye on GE as being on my "I wish I owned" or "I wish I owned more of" lists. Despite today's market runup (Dow up 80), GE fell 5 cents. It continues to appear that the Street was not pleased with last week's earnings and are not yet enamored with the stock. At some price that should change....
If you have a look at the article I wrote on Petrobras a few weeks ago and in particular at the 'comments', you'll see quite a bit of investor concern over the size of the government's ownership and extent of its control. There was also concern expressed about the potential cost overruns that PBR could run into as they develop the deepwater salt flats. I've been watching it closely, obviously disappointed with its price action. And while each investor has to opine for him/herself as to the appropriateness of PBR for their unique portfolio, in my case, I'm long and for now holding on. That of course could change at any time, but at this moment, in my opinion, the gov't's role is priced in, the dividend appears quite healthy, and especially for my longer horizon view, I think it will do well. But you are correct, that there have been better ways to 'play oil' of late than PBR!
Why I'm Concerned About a Near Term Pullback in Stock Prices [View article]
Actually, some might argue that 'buy and hold' would be ok if you could come back to check results in a couple of years. But for those who have to stomach the day-to-day volatility, you're right....
It's Not Your Father's GE ... Or Is It? [View article]
Was there much in the way of earth-shaking news in today's earnings release? Don't know about 'earth-shaking', but news nonetheless.....
Bad: earnings down YY 11%, bigger provisions for the Japanese finance company indemnification, decline in sales in core industrial businesses.
Not bad: EPS beat helped by stock buybacks, despite lower sales margins rose evidencing operating efficiency, GE Cap seems to be working its way out of the woods, Japan finance co exposure seemingly covered, lots of cash for add-on acquisitions.
Stock down currently 4.8% w/ Dow down 0.4%.
Given my nearterm caution on the overall market, I'm personally not jumping in at these levels....and that could change without notice at any time.....but I'm watching closely. (Each investor should be pouring through today's announcement and evaluating his/her own entry/exit levels appropriate for his/her unique financial profile and risk tolerance).
From Nukes to Wind: Exelon Is Excellent [View article]
Looks like this is your first 'comment'....welcome aboard! Thanks for reading and commenting. I wonder if the price performance is specific to EXC or more broadly that investors have been less defensive of late in the hopes of effective QE????
That's definitely something to watch closely. On a related note, today's FT has a piece on the record high hit by iron ore, citing increased Chinese demand for steel despite efforts to curb consumption. That flies a bit in the face of the MineWeb comments quoted above that talks about headwinds for the steel industry from reduced demand. If demand does in fact stay firm, or rise, then your point re quality/price becomes that much more in focus. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Telstra: Is This Down Under Telecom Over the Top? [View article]
Moody's report adds some sobering perspective.
The issue of 'dividend safety' appears to be the hot spot as to whether investors buy into the new era for TLSYY or not. Thanks for posting the link.
Why I'm Concerned About a Near Term Pullback in Stock Prices [View article]
A Currency War the US Cannot Win (www.voxeu.org/index.ph...).
A rebuttal article written by Fred Bergsten, also recommended reading, is entitled: China's Currency and US Economy (www.voxeu.org/index.ph...)
So how to boost the economy? Harvard professor Jeffrey Miron says legalizing drugs - all drugs - would help, saving an estimated $41.3B/year on total government enforcement and producing tax revenue of $46.7B/year, assuming drugs were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco. [View news story]
Is American Airlines a Value Opportunity? [View article]
Thanks for reading the article and for the compliment.
Welcome aboard!
3Q Earnings Scorecard: Which Sectors Are Outperforming? [View article]
American Airlines: Cleared for Takeoff? [View article]
Lots of commentators focused on the IATA CEO's remarks that though the September data showed strength in passenger traffic, the freight numbers were well off of their peak seen in May, and he warned that the data might portend "economic turbulence" ahead.
Investors should have a look at the data. It may not appear as bleak to some as the CEO's headlines would imply. That said, there is reason for caution about the sustainability of recent strength in overall traffic. So weigh that in. But also weigh in the positives, and have a read of the transcript of AMR's recent earnings call where management went into some detail on route expansions, cost controls, etc.
It appears that many investors already opined and 'got on board'....stock was up another $0.21 (2.82%) today.
Telstra: Is This Down Under Telecom Over the Top? [View article]
Look forward to continuing sharing thoughts on this stock as any information re the NBN or dividend would be key to the position. Thanks again.
Looking Beyond G20: Earnings, Economic Data and Geopolitical Market Movers in the Days Ahead [View article]
The Previous column should have qq of 1.2 and yy of 1.7.
American Airlines: Cleared for Takeoff? [View article]
seekingalpha.com/artic...
It's Not Your Father's GE ... Or Is It? [View article]
Talk about "your father's GE"! Spending money to open factories and design centers in several locations within the US, hiring US workers, making refrigerators!
Why?
Jeff Immelt: "This is not out of sympathy. The costs are lower and the quality is better".
On an anecdotal note: Being a recent purchaser of a GE refrigerator that has had all kinds of quality control issues, this sounds like a good move....a very good move.
As stated in the article above and in several since, I have had my eye on GE as being on my "I wish I owned" or "I wish I owned more of" lists. Despite today's market runup (Dow up 80), GE fell 5 cents. It continues to appear that the Street was not pleased with last week's earnings and are not yet enamored with the stock. At some price that should change....
Portfolio Thoughts: Awaiting a Pullback, Avoiding Banks, Accumulating Cash [View article]
Why I'm Concerned About a Near Term Pullback in Stock Prices [View article]
It's Not Your Father's GE ... Or Is It? [View article]
Bad: earnings down YY 11%, bigger provisions for the Japanese finance company indemnification, decline in sales in core industrial businesses.
Not bad: EPS beat helped by stock buybacks, despite lower sales margins rose evidencing operating efficiency, GE Cap seems to be working its way out of the woods, Japan finance co exposure seemingly covered, lots of cash for add-on acquisitions.
Stock down currently 4.8% w/ Dow down 0.4%.
Given my nearterm caution on the overall market, I'm personally not jumping in at these levels....and that could change without notice at any time.....but I'm watching closely.
(Each investor should be pouring through today's announcement and evaluating his/her own entry/exit levels appropriate for his/her unique financial profile and risk tolerance).
From Nukes to Wind: Exelon Is Excellent [View article]
Thanks for reading and commenting.
I wonder if the price performance is specific to EXC or more broadly that investors have been less defensive of late in the hopes of effective QE????
POSCO: What About Now? [View article]
On a related note, today's FT has a piece on the record high hit by iron ore, citing increased Chinese demand for steel despite efforts to curb consumption. That flies a bit in the face of the MineWeb comments quoted above that talks about headwinds for the steel industry from reduced demand. If demand does in fact stay firm, or rise, then your point re quality/price becomes that much more in focus.
Thanks for reading and commenting!