France Telecom: Very Undervalued Or Is The Dividend At Risk? [View article]
Hello, Just few comments, FTE might not be as visible in the emerging markets but is experiencing an explosive growth in Asia. Also they have been granted a license recently to operate in India. With Reliance and Air-tel struggling it is time for foreign telecom players to capture the market in India. I dont know how much of today's FTE price is driven based on overall questions on Europe and France in particular. Thanks
5 Stocks to Own Before Washington Puts a Price on Carbon [View article]
I think the best way to play the upcoming Climate legislation is by going long the Natural Gas. The best way the utilities can overcome the coal emissions is by turning to natural gas which burn efficiently than the coal. As gas prices are low currently this might be the right time to take small positions in the gas companies or big oil companies that are gobbling other gas companies..case in point..Exxon Mobil
National Grid: Utility Stock at Great Value With Big Dividend [View article]
Good Catch "b1938" . You are absolutely correct, there are no options traded for this stock as per yahoo finance or IB (Interactive Brokers). May be the Author can comment on it ?
I know we are currently stuck with so many bills going through congress, but is "NGG" an indirect play on the future climate bill in the pipeline ? As NGG plays a significant role in gas distribution in the US and UK, is there an opportunity in this stock when electric generation moves from Coal powered to Gas Powered and also on-going limitation on deep/shallow- water oil drilling ?
I would be very careful before investing in Copper thinking the demand is going through roof in China. Please read the weekend article in Financial Times article by John Dizard (March 5'th issue). Thanks
Vonage Loses Subscribers but Does Anyone Care? [View article]
Hello,
Like everybody else I have been using Vonage since 2003 and I am quite happy with Vonage. The only additional point I wanted to add was that it would be interesting to understand the Vonage Subscriber composition. Vonage is very popular with the immigrant community because by taking two lines (as long as the home country can support the internet band-width of 256KB) the subscriber can cut his overseas telephone bills to almost negligible.
So there is a catch 22, if lot of the 2.6 millions subscribers represent actually a single user ordering two lines to support his overseas family then the real number will be lower. But if they get bought out then the big Telecom companies have opportunity not in grabbing current Vonage subscribers but if they decide to start overseas operations they will also get the loyal customers overseas.
ADM: The Way to Play the Agriculture Commodities Game [View article]
Hello Jake,
Along with the bearish outlook in the commodity sector one of the biggest concern with ADM was the "ethanol bubble". With the crude oil prices down by almost 30% from its peak of $140+ few months back it seems that all "alternative energy" stocks are getting beaten down. How does this affect ADM as it was on the ethanol binge for last few years ? Does the current pricing discounts the excesses by ADM in Ethanol production in the Mid-west ?
Foster Wheeler: Best-of-Breed Stock in a Beaten Down Industry [View article]
Good Job Jim !
Even if you are wrong in the short term I think E & C business has solid long term prospects. BTW..even half of the Barron round table experts have been wrong this year on many recommendation they have given this year so age and experience is not an issue.
Lawson's Harry Debes: SaaS Industry Will Collapse in Two Years [View article]
Hello,
I think the Lawson's CEO, Mr Debes is absolutely right. I think all the major ERP/SCM/CRM vendors are saying the same thing the only difference is that Mr. Debes is a straight shooter. Based on a recent article in Financial Times (www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33c...), the SAAS business can be summed into three things >>> attracting new customers, generating subscription revenue and customer replacement. The first and last activity of this business is always a over-head on the companies balance sheet, selling a hyped product to a customer. The subcription business is driven by how much value is generated for the customer and is always a questionable issue.
With the global economy heading south and companies managing their cost to the n'th detail, I think we have a hurricane "Gustav" on the door-steps for the SAAS companies. And dont behold, even the company that pioneered the SAAS mantra (Salesforce.com) is forecasting dark clouds in Q3 and Q4' 08.
NBC's Olympics Web Strategy Came Out a Loser [View article]
Hello,
I agree with the author on the overall usefulness of the NBCOlympics.com website. There were two occasions when I tried to use the website to watch the two world events, Usain Bolts 100m world record and Michael Phelps gold medal # 8. I thought such world events would be readily available on the NBC website but after trying multiple searches and clicking on multiple web-pages I didnt find anything and I had to leave the website and wait to watch the short video on the NBC nightly news. I fully accept the fact that may be I fumbled during the online search or just not savvy to find the the clips on the NBC website.
What I do think that NBC did loose an opportunity to increase traffic to its web-site and in turn open up an additional channel for revenue making. I know for sure I would never use the NBC website for anything in near future as Olympics was the only reason I watched NBC or went to the NBC website. I guess by making the Olympic coverage available both on TV and Internet, NBC had an opportunity to generate a goodwill with the internet community and make money through the TV advertisements. Its very difficult to value goodwill but in difficult times thats what comes handy. I am not sure on the future of NBC Universal whether GE will keep it, spun it or sell it but I dont think the Olympic coverage will sway that decision in any direction.
Premier Exhibitions: The Controversy Continues [View article]
It would be nice if someone can dissect the potential value that the Titanic artifacts include in the Premier valuation. Both Mark Sellers and James Altucher (FT Wealth Reporters, Mr. Sellers has stopped writing since Spring,2008) have talked positively on this stock when the price was around $15. The stock is worth almost 1/5'th of what it used to be. Based on the quality of reporting from the referenced experts I feel confident that they know something that the markets doesnt understand.
It would be great to hear from Mr Sellers as we the FT readers really miss his Sunday wealth column. Thanks,
Currency Bundles Pegged to the Dollar [View article]
Ray,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I fully agree that there are so many factors that affect the currency markets. Hence every word of advice or hint is useful for an individual investor.
Currency Bundles Pegged to the Dollar [View article]
Hello,
First of all its a joy and pleasure to read your timely articles !
One question I have is on the latest signal from the Fed on holding the interest rates steady and probability of raising the rates in Q3/Q4 2008. The markets are already including this news in the currency valuation with dollar becoming stronger against Euro as well as the Yen. How would the strengthening dollar affect the two ETN's mentioned above and will the sky-rocketing inflation break the "Camels Back" in the emerging markets.
Dear Mr Hendon >>> I havent seen any posting related to currency trading on Seeking Alpha as detailed as yours. A posting like this definitely gives the tools and background for a small investor to explore different options in this world of PE, Hedge Funds, Institutional investors..Speculators etc.
Wrapping It Up For 2013 [View article]
France Telecom: Very Undervalued Or Is The Dividend At Risk? [View article]
Just few comments, FTE might not be as visible in the emerging markets but is experiencing an explosive growth in Asia. Also they have been granted a license recently to operate in India. With Reliance and Air-tel struggling it is time for foreign telecom players to capture the market in India. I dont know how much of today's FTE price is driven based on overall questions on Europe and France in particular. Thanks
5 Stocks to Own Before Washington Puts a Price on Carbon [View article]
National Grid: Utility Stock at Great Value With Big Dividend [View article]
I know we are currently stuck with so many bills going through congress, but is "NGG" an indirect play on the future climate bill in the pipeline ? As NGG plays a significant role in gas distribution in the US and UK, is there an opportunity in this stock when electric generation moves from Coal powered to Gas Powered and also on-going limitation on deep/shallow- water oil drilling ?
Thanks,
Desi
Can Copper Climb Higher? [View article]
Desi
Alstom, Bombardier: Rail Stocks Bound to Benefit from Stimulus [View article]
This is a good posting and very detail analysis. keep up the good work !
Desi
Vonage Loses Subscribers but Does Anyone Care? [View article]
Like everybody else I have been using Vonage since 2003 and I am quite happy with Vonage. The only additional point I wanted to add was that it would be interesting to understand the Vonage Subscriber composition. Vonage is very popular with the immigrant community because by taking two lines (as long as the home country can support the internet band-width of 256KB) the subscriber can cut his overseas telephone bills to almost negligible.
So there is a catch 22, if lot of the 2.6 millions subscribers represent actually a single user ordering two lines to support his overseas family then the real number will be lower. But if they get bought out then the big Telecom companies have opportunity not in grabbing current Vonage subscribers but if they decide to start overseas operations they will also get the loyal customers overseas.
Desi
ADM: The Way to Play the Agriculture Commodities Game [View article]
Along with the bearish outlook in the commodity sector one of the biggest concern with ADM was the "ethanol bubble". With the crude oil prices down by almost 30% from its peak of $140+ few months back it seems that all "alternative energy" stocks are getting beaten down. How does this affect ADM as it was on the ethanol binge for last few years ? Does the current pricing discounts the excesses by ADM in Ethanol production in the Mid-west ?
Thanks in advance,
Desi
Foster Wheeler: Best-of-Breed Stock in a Beaten Down Industry [View article]
Even if you are wrong in the short term I think E & C business has solid long term prospects. BTW..even half of the Barron round table experts have been wrong this year on many recommendation they have given this year so age and experience is not an issue.
Keep it up !
Lawson's Harry Debes: SaaS Industry Will Collapse in Two Years [View article]
I think the Lawson's CEO, Mr Debes is absolutely right. I think all the major ERP/SCM/CRM vendors are saying the same thing the only difference is that Mr. Debes is a straight shooter. Based on a recent article in Financial Times (www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33c...), the SAAS business can be summed into three things >>> attracting new customers, generating subscription revenue and customer replacement. The first and last activity of this business is always a over-head on the companies balance sheet, selling a hyped product to a customer. The subcription business is driven by how much value is generated for the customer and is always a questionable issue.
With the global economy heading south and companies managing their cost to the n'th detail, I think we have a hurricane "Gustav" on the door-steps for the SAAS companies. And dont behold, even the company that pioneered the SAAS mantra (Salesforce.com) is forecasting dark clouds in Q3 and Q4' 08.
NBC's Olympics Web Strategy Came Out a Loser [View article]
I agree with the author on the overall usefulness of the NBCOlympics.com website. There were two occasions when I tried to use the website to watch the two world events, Usain Bolts 100m world record and Michael Phelps gold medal # 8. I thought such world events would be readily available on the NBC website but after trying multiple searches and clicking on multiple web-pages I didnt find anything and I had to leave the website and wait to watch the short video on the NBC nightly news. I fully accept the fact that may be I fumbled during the online search or just not savvy to find the the clips on the NBC website.
What I do think that NBC did loose an opportunity to increase traffic to its web-site and in turn open up an additional channel for revenue making. I know for sure I would never use the NBC website for anything in near future as Olympics was the only reason I watched NBC or went to the NBC website. I guess by making the Olympic coverage available both on TV and Internet, NBC had an opportunity to generate a goodwill with the internet community and make money through the TV advertisements. Its very difficult to value goodwill but in difficult times thats what comes handy. I am not sure on the future of NBC Universal whether GE will keep it, spun it or sell it but I dont think the Olympic coverage will sway that decision in any direction.
Thanks !
Desi
Premier Exhibitions: The Controversy Continues [View article]
It would be great to hear from Mr Sellers as we the FT readers really miss his Sunday wealth column. Thanks,
Desi
Currency Bundles Pegged to the Dollar [View article]
Thanks for your prompt reply. I fully agree that there are so many factors that affect the currency markets. Hence every word of advice or hint is useful for an individual investor.
Thanks once again,
Desi
Currency Bundles Pegged to the Dollar [View article]
First of all its a joy and pleasure to read your timely articles !
One question I have is on the latest signal from the Fed on holding the interest rates steady and probability of raising the rates in Q3/Q4 2008. The markets are already including this news in the currency valuation with dollar becoming stronger against Euro as well as the Yen. How would the strengthening dollar affect the two ETN's mentioned above and will the sky-rocketing inflation break the "Camels Back" in the emerging markets.
Thanks,
Desi
Strategies for Currency Investors [View article]
Please keep up the good work. Thanks,
Desi