skwestorange

Roubini Hates Gold: Is He Wrong Again?

Don't forget that in the last couple of years Gold ETF GLD has been the culprit for rising metal prices. I recall reading that GLD has more physical gold than many (if not all) of the central governments' storage put together

Spectrum Pharma: Zevalin Has Blockbuster Potential

This chart is quite ugly. The waterfall pattern shows that the stock could hit 2 to 3 dollars before stabilizing
SK

Battery Investing for Beginners

Don Harmon: I agree some change is underway now in our society's thinking. But history suggests two things: 1) Americans will not have the desired focus for a very long time and 2) when things look better we will forget the need for EV, HEV or energy independence as we have so ably done so many times in the past. The grand culture changes of the type we seek takes a long time or John says "one baby step at a time."

You Can Spend Your Way Out of a Recession

I too am surprised to read this from McTeer whi I have always held in very high esteem. The second one "you can't borrow your way..." is not a red herring as implied. In fact the Govt needs to borrow all the money and more for many years to come to service that debt to facilitate the spending. This just don't compute. We have done great harm to the concept of inter-generational justice and forever indebted our great grand children. They cannot get out of this hole we have created for them without significant readjustment of their living standards. I agree with the commenter that said Bob you need to complete the thought and speak of the consequences.

Battery Investing for Beginners

We are talking about a culture change and it is a very very long term project. American society in general does not have the attention span required to bring about this kind of a culture change in short time -even ten years-, bar a severe event like to 1930's type depression. That may eventually happen when the food fight begins in earnest for the scarce world resources combined with the currency crisis, but it sure will be a generation or two later.

Aetna: 'Fat' Profits Nowhere to Be Found

There seems to be flaw in this argument. Usually the cost of paying out the claims, i.e., the salaries and benefits and related office costs should all be included in the claims cost. This is consistent with the cost of good sold concept. What is not included in sales and G&A. Could I request the author to review his numbers again.

Debt Growth by Sector, 1980-2009

This graph clearly shows that consumer debt which is often touted to be culprit or next crisis looming, is not the real problem. The major contributors to the financial mess are mortgage debt and debt binge by finance firms and businesses in general (excessive leverage). Pols and greedy biz community were blaming the consumer to hide their bailouts.

Loss Vegas: Short MGM

Not sure why this author thinks it is a good short now. At its current price of 13 and change, the stock is about 60%+ from its 52 week high and more than 80% down from its recent all time high. The economy world over seems to be stabilizing and so is the real estate situation in Vegas. Further, the Dubai world investment in the City center project should help strengthen the Company's finances. Objective data to support the short recommendation would be of help.

Allstate: Buy on the Dips

Wonder if you would share your opinion on ALL compared to MET?

Pundits Are Wrong: Healthcare Reform Will Increase Profits

This claim/opinion is just seems to be a misinformed fear. Many States now have for-profit and not-for-profit insurance providers competing and doing so with profit, growth and innovation. New Jersey is one such State and so are CA and WA.


On Sep 17 10:51 AM Shotei wrote:

> The only problem is "Public Option" will run those private insurance
> companies out of busness in a few years. Being forced to cover everyone
> and pre-existing conditions would be enough to close them all down
> but to also have to compete with the government that is more than
> willing to take a lose for many many years (see post office) will
> make it impossible for them to stay in busness. If your long on all
> those drug companies my advise is to run don't walk to your broker
> and sell like there's no tomorrow because there may not be.

Pundits Are Wrong: Healthcare Reform Will Increase Profits

Good review and observations from our historical experience. My one big question on this is: Is it not true that all the supposedly new entrants (they have been living in the USA) have been getting their care all along one way or another? Perhaps no preventive care, but surely on need care for illness(es) and emergencies. If this is true then are we not talking about redistribution of providers and dollar flows. So where does all the huge $ in additional revenue and profits come from?

Coventry Health Succumbs to Heavy Selling Pressure

What has changed with respect to fundamentals on CVH?

BJ Services' Take-Under

That is my point too. Since these frac wells are not profitable with gas prices below 6 or 7 dollars, demand for their services will be very muted for a long time. That is why I think competing bids are not in the cards.

BJ Services' Take-Under

No You're not the only one. But I suspect that the current glut in NG will effectively shut out any competing bids.

P&G: Get Out from Under the Hood

I suspect P&G is getting out in front the new reality as PIMCO describes it. May be it has to if it must survive what promises to be a few rough quarters till unemployment comes down. Having been great in the past we should hope they know how to make this transition without screwing up what had been their secret to success.