KJP712's Comments KJP712's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/user/132569/comments A nice little jump in consumer sentiment bodes well for automobile companies, according to CNBC's Phil LeBeau. The outlook for the industry looks extremely good with fresh models from automakers (F, GM, TM, FIATY.PK, HMC, NSANY.OB, VLKAY.PK) coinciding with structural pent-up demand and the uptick in sentiment. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1032721?source=feed#comment-18944681 18944681 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:10:32 -0400 SNAP Food Stamp Participation: February 2013 http://seekingalpha.com/article/1431671/comments?source=feed#comment-18794971 18794971 Mon, 13 May 2013 23:32:38 -0400 CNBC's Jim Cramer says he's witnessing something in the market he hasn't seen in all his 34 years of investing - something that tells him this bull market is more powerful than any we've ever experienced. First, investors aren't taking profits after good news, which is usually the norm. Second, stocks aren't re-tracing to fill in any gaps after popping on good news, they just keep going higher. Lastly, even on bad news, stocks are roaring even higher. This is a "surrealist moment," Cramer says. Managers who have been taught never to chase stocks are getting killed. This is bull is "crushing even the most skilled of matadors." (Video) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1022671?source=feed#comment-18794831 18794831 Mon, 13 May 2013 23:27:50 -0400 Transocean (RIG -0.6%) releases an investor presentation ahead of its May 17 shareholder meeting, refuting Carl Icahn's claims as based on "overly simplistic and highly flawed analysis" and noting Icahn's board nominees are "captive to his misguided agenda." Icahn urges shareholders to vote against Chairman Mike Talbert, whose promise to resign if elected is "utterly absurd." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1021781?source=feed#comment-18781831 18781831 Mon, 13 May 2013 17:00:16 -0400 Doug Kass/ Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) afternoon Q&A roundup: Kass wonders if the contrast between Buffett's bathtub BofA investment and the weeks of due diligence that went into BRK's move into American Express shows The Oracle is now more interested in the game than the score. "I have every bit of the intensity, though it's not manifested in the same way," Buffett responds. Kass asks if, contrary to Buffett's aversion to short-selling, BRK would consider a $100M investment in a managed investment account at Seabreeze if the profits went to charity. Munger: "We don't like trading agony for money." Kass asks what qualifies Buffett's son to be Berkshire's next non executive chairman. "[My son] won't be running Berkshire, [just] safeguarding its culture," Buffett politely says. (WSJ, NY Times) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/999091?source=feed#comment-18467871 18467871 Sun, 05 May 2013 15:05:45 -0400 Jamie Dimon will hold a town hall-style meeting with junior bank examiners from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency next week in an effort to "answer all staff inquiries." According to WSJ, the meeting comes on the heels of an earlier meeting with senior examiners during which Dimon was told that "regulators don't trust [the firm's] management" and believe JPM simply "isn't getting the message." Scrutiny seems to be coming to a head (I, II) lately just as Dimon is set to face shareholders this month. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/998991?source=feed#comment-18433141 18433141 Sat, 04 May 2013 01:31:59 -0400 More on the big drop in jobless claims: At 324K, it's the lowest level since January 2008. The 4-week moving average fell 16K to 342,250. S&P 500 futures remain +0.5%. Treasury prices slip, TLT -0.6%, TBT +1.2% premarket. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/991541?source=feed#comment-18355431 18355431 Thu, 02 May 2013 10:37:28 -0400 James Altucher: Why The Stock Market Is A Sucker's Game Right Now (And What Stocks I Own) http://seekingalpha.com/article/1384441/comments?source=feed#comment-18313371 18313371 Wed, 01 May 2013 10:55:06 -0400 Air traffic control operations are set to return to normal by this evening after the FAA ended the staff furloughs that had caused the delay of thousands of flights since coming into effect last Sunday. The FAA's move follows Congress' passing of legislation that allowed the agency to redirect up to $253M of its airport improvement budget to fund staffing and operations. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/976271?source=feed#comment-18205451 18205451 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:41:56 -0400 Market Notes: British Pound Weighing In -- April 26 http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/306707-dr-kris/1799681-market-notes-british-pound-weighing-in-april-26?source=feed#comment-18203471 18203471 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:38:48 -0400 It's Almost May, So Go Away http://seekingalpha.com/article/1373701/comments?source=feed#comment-18114151 18114151 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:29:35 -0400 Contributing to a big reversal from early gains in Europe and in U.S. futures is a rumor Societe Generale (SCGLY.PK -4%) is in trouble. The CAC-40 (EWQ) is flat after being up about 1%. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/951841?source=feed#comment-17793441 17793441 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:44 -0400 Analysts at RBC Capital think credit downgrades for some top gold miners are a strong possibility. There's a “moderate probability” Barrick Gold (ABX -0.1%) could trigger a one-notch downgrade at $1,400 gold; at $1,300, Newmont Mining (NEM +1.9%) could get downgraded, and Kinross Gold (KGC +1.8%) could get cut right to junk status. TD Securities also offers similarly disturbing conclusions. (also) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/945631?source=feed#comment-17696701 17696701 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:56:37 -0400 March Retail Sales: -0.4% vs. +0.1% expected, +1% prior (revised). Ex-auto -0.4% vs +0.1% expected. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/939811?source=feed#comment-17569591 17569591 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:53:50 -0400 The Final March Of The WalMart Greeter http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/132569-kjp712/1558091-the-final-march-of-the-walmart-greeter?source=feed#comment-17562991 17562991 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:58:07 -0400 Dow Jones reporting Eli Lilly (LLY) to lay off around 30% of its U.S. sales force, which accounts for about 1,000 positions. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/938981?source=feed#comment-17526271 17526271 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:32:35 -0400 Portugal's Prime Minister Passos Coelho says he will not raise taxes in order to meet this year's budget target after a Constitutional Court struck down wage and pension cuts Friday (I, II). Instead, the government will seek to cut spending in other areas. An unnamed source suggested public sector employees may be paid in Treasury bills effectively "forcing them … to lend the Treasury the money the court said it couldn't cut from their paychecks." This notion was quickly dispelled by a government spokesperson.   http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/929601?source=feed#comment-17334041 17334041 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:34:54 -0400 Hit hard by a torrent of executive defections over the last 9 months, Zynga (ZNGA) is boosting the salaries of many top execs, while also providing huge cash bonus/stock grant incentives tied to the performance of Zynga's games, network, and adjusted EBITDA numbers. On the other hand, CEO/founder Mark Pincus, who still owns a giant chunk of Zynga, is lowering his salary to $1, and won't receive any bonus/equity compensation for 2013. (8-K) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/927011?source=feed#comment-17235691 17235691 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:01:25 -0400 The expropriation of wealth that happened in Cyprus will happen everywhere, warns Marc Faber. Growing wealth inequality means that the wealthy have nowhere to hide and similar events like those in Cyprus will happen in more countries around the world, including developed nations, where wealthy people will lose part of their wealth, either through expropriation or higher taxation. "You have to be prepared to lose 20 to 30%," Faber says. "I think you're lucky if you don't lose your life." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/922051?source=feed#comment-17193491 17193491 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:09:48 -0400 The expropriation of wealth that happened in Cyprus will happen everywhere, warns Marc Faber. Growing wealth inequality means that the wealthy have nowhere to hide and similar events like those in Cyprus will happen in more countries around the world, including developed nations, where wealthy people will lose part of their wealth, either through expropriation or higher taxation. "You have to be prepared to lose 20 to 30%," Faber says. "I think you're lucky if you don't lose your life." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/922051?source=feed#comment-17142601 17142601 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:13:39 -0400 Verizon (VZ) doesn't "currently have any intention to merge with or make an offer for Vodafone (VOD), whether alone or in conjunction with others," the telco announces, addressing an FT report about a possible joint bid with AT&T (T). Verizon does reiterate it "would be a willing purchaser" of Vodafone's 45% stake in Verizon Wireless, but that's pretty well-known. VOD -3.9% AH. VZ -0.8%. T -0.3%. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/921831?source=feed#comment-17142241 17142241 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:04:59 -0400 Cramer's Mad Money - 3 Cypriot Scenarios (3/27/13) http://seekingalpha.com/article/1306081/comments?source=feed#comment-17004751 17004751 Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:00:53 -0400 GM (GM) reckons it can save $200M a year by improving the resale value of its cars and therefore reduce the costs of lease deals, as monthly payments are based on the residual values of the vehicles at the end of their leases. "Residual values...are the ultimate acid test of whether the vehicle has been successful," says GM's Alan Batey. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/916591?source=feed#comment-17001781 17001781 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:46:05 -0400 Capital control decree from Cyprus via WSJ: Cashing of checks is suspended and depositors will not be able to redeem time deposit accounts before maturity. Credit card transactions are capped at €5K/person/month. €3K of cash is allowed out of the country/person/trip. From the Department of You Can't Make This Stuff Up: No restrictions on making deposits or opening new accounts. The decree is valid for 7 days. Who wants the under on that one? http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/912501?source=feed#comment-16910661 16910661 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:05:22 -0400 Cyprus Bailout Crisis Sparks Fresh Interest In Gold http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/478544-redchip/1690841-cyprus-bailout-crisis-sparks-fresh-interest-in-gold?source=feed#comment-16824521 16824521 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:48:13 -0400 Being A Man ... Being A Jerk By Charles Payne http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/448400-charles-payne/1641441-being-a-man-being-a-jerk-by-charles-payne?source=feed#comment-16176031 16176031 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:43:42 -0400 Judge Milton Tingling in New York halts the NYC ban on large-sized soda drinks, calling the measure "fraught with arbitrary and capricious consequences." For now, it's game on for vendors and beverage companies (PEP, KO, DPS) to sell sodas 32 ounces or larger. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/880591?source=feed#comment-16160791 16160791 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:29:11 -0400 It's been a long wait, but Chimera Investment (CIM) has finally filed its 2011 10-K as well as restatements for 2009 and 2010. The restatements have "no material effect on the company's (financial condition)." Chimera expects to have its 2012 Q1 report within 60 days and all subsequent reports done "as soon as practicable." Shares +1.6% AH. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/878291?source=feed#comment-16064371 16064371 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:51:51 -0500 Reuters' Jack Shafer rails against the phrase "our crumbling infrastructure" and the press' all-too uncritical acceptance that hundreds of billions or trillions of dollars needs to be spent to repair it. The doom-mongering has been going on for decades, but as the Federal Highway Administration explains, bridges can be "structurally deficient" or "functionally obsolete" and still be perfectly safe. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/833361?source=feed#comment-15185151 15185151 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:07:21 -0500 Wal-Mart (WMT -3.1%) responds to a leaked internal memo indicating February sales are weak by noting to CNBC that an executive was issuing an opinion rather than any official company data. While true, the alarm bells are still ringing. The Wal-Mart VP of finance and logistics on February: "The worst start to a month I have seen in my ~7 years with the company." Look for the topic to come up during the firm's earnings conference call on February 21. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/832331?source=feed#comment-15094511 15094511 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:09:51 -0500