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    • Mon Nov 17th 08:26 AM | Rating: +1 0
      Commented on:
      GM Must Die
      I agree. We need to protect the industry, but not GM. Otherwise, we'll be facing 'Carmageddon.'
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    • Thu Oct 30th 12:02 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Fed Watch: More Easing Expected
      The dollar offers relative safety. How else could it be firming, in the face of massive rate cuts. Foreign investors have been reading the bumper stickers, which read, "BUY AMERICAN." I would add to this, North, Central and South American, because there are some great companies to our North and to our South.

      Here's a thought! The dollar is rising, because the prices of US equities have fallen, over the past few months. The stock market is always the leading index, so that's why we are just beginning to see a bull market in the USD. The US dollar must rise inversly, as US equities fall. You own company xyz and it's fundamentals haven't changed over the past 14 months, but it's lost 67% of it's value, in USD. Obviously, since the company hasn't changed, the USD must rise in order to preserve "capital mass." Looking ahead, the stock market must rally and rally big, or we are faced with a USD that could double in value, very soon. :-)
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    • Thu Oct 30th 11:47 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Home Price Reality Check
      "If you've been in a place for years with no plans to move, haven't had the need to "tap" your home equity only to find less of it there, and don't see the need to keep track of what nearby houses sell for, you're probably not really qualified to offer an opinion on this anyway."

      Qualified, or not... This is exactly my situation. The best reason that I have for determining the value of my home, is so that I can have it reassessed, in order to reduce personal property taxes and insurance premiums. There is always a reason to remain aware of valuations.
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    • Wed Oct 22nd 13:18 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Ford, GM Choose Different Paths to Restore Profitability
      Consolodation of manufacturing, is only one part of the equation... The outmoded "New Car Dealership," is the other end of the horse.One solution, would be for dealerships to become "Factory-Authoriz... Service Centers." There needs to be a distributed network of places to take your car for service. There does NOT need to be so many places to go and see your vehicle, or pick it up. Destination charges, showroom overhead, too many salespeople and the hassle of negotiating, make this process of getting your car at the lowest possible cost, and getting it quickly, obsolete. Regional show rooms with delivery points would reduce the time and cost of delievering your new car to you, from the factory... That's what the customer really wants, isn't it?
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    • Wed Oct 22nd 02:46 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Potash Corp: Liquidity Trouble Ahead?
      Last week, it was reported that GM is increasing the number of E-85 vehicles in the mix. I realize that GM isn't producing as many cars as they were, but they appear to know something about the future of ethanol as a fuel.

      I agree with Bob'29... It was the unwinding of hedge fund positons, which caused this extraordinay drop. What else could account for that big of a drop in Potash and others, as well. This is a "synthetic" conditon. An abberation, just as the entire market is skewed, at the moment.

      If third quater earnings for POT are good, and I expect them to be very good, they will contrast other fine companies, which are reporting poor earnings. I don't think that the fundamental picture has changed that much. Some big players dumped. If the market recovers from it's "synthetic" depression, I believe that Potash will rocket! Won't the same people who dumped, be back in force, when earnings come out? What about global investors who want to "BUY AMERICAN," just like the bumper sticker says? Won't they be back looking for companies that are sound, but beaten-up by "synthethic" short-term trades. The mood of the market, government(s) actions to spike a reversal, flight to quality, renewal of ethanol as a fuel (I was surprised, by this), solid earnings, recession-resistant product, Chinese demand increasing... But in a market like this, anything is possible.
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    • Tue Oct 21st 11:07 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Expect More Misery in Earnings
      What about a stock like POT, where there was a bubble and it popped? Fundamentals seem sturdy enough. I'm not contesting your assessment of the general market, but what of the exceptions? Will this type of market value a company with strong earnings, good management and a host of other positives?
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    • Tue Oct 21st 10:48 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Must Settle - Cramer's Stop Trading! (10/20/08)
      After the drubbing that Cramer has taken, some of it deserved, he's got guts to continue on and try to prove that's he's more than just a "pretty face." If he survives, he'll come back stronger and better than version 1.0 Cramer was. I look for him to eliminate some of the "bells and whistles," but I don't want him to get carried away and turn sour. We all make mistakes, but some people learn from their mistakes, hang in there against great persecution and come back a winner! At this point, I feel that Cramer has been beaten up enough, to take a small position (LONG), in him. He was way overbought, but I see him as fairly valued at this point. I don't believe that he's going to fold, his bubble has been deflated and downside risk is minimal. If he can put a frame around this recovery, explain what's going on and not make too many outlandish predictions, I predict that Cramer will bounce back, in tandem with the market. If the market should completely collapse, then we won't need Cramer, anyway. Low risk, good value and the potential for a recovery. I don't believe that he'll be bought out, but that's something which he wouldn't mention, even if he were in talks with another network. Now is the time to buy Cramer, if you believe in him! If you wait for him to start climbing again, youll proabably miss a good part of the upside on this man. Good Luck, Cramer... Don't disappoint us, again.
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    • Tue Oct 21st 01:34 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Why Are Investors Returning to the Dollar?
      We have witnessed a "War on Poverty," which has only muliplied the number of people, living in poverty. We have seen a "War on Drugs," which has only increased the profits and violence, associated with drugs. Now, we have a "War on Terror," which is inflaming and angering masses of people, worldwide... If there was only some way, to have a "War on Wars." Every political solution, only multiplies our problems. The more extreme the effort, the greater the consequences. I hate fear, worse than I fear hatred. We must resist those, who use fear as a weapon.

      Obviously, I haven't panicked and sold my shrinking portfolio. I'm not quite sure what a treasury is, but it sounds like "the government," to me. So, I too am still grasping for falling knives... Five times, I have bought shares in POT, each time lower than the time before. I broke open my last CD, in order to handle a margin call, and to buy more POT. I like American companies, be it North American, Central American, or South American. As long as it's American, I don't discriminate, at least not by latitude. Solid companies, with great long-term outlooks and wise management teams, have a peculiar appeal to me. Potash fits the description. Earnings will be out, 10/23.
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    • Sun Oct 19th 02:32 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Why It Is Important to Start Reinvesting Now
      I learned quite a bit, here. I may take a position, in Intel... Not because you have a position, but because I agree with your argument. As I read your concluding paragraph, I was already thinking INTEL. When I saw your position, it provided a confirmation. Normally, I hesitate to follow anyone's position, and I almost made the mistake of excluding Intel, but that would be just as foolish, as blindly following. So, I wil put Intel on my mental "watch-list."... I am currently paying for a gross misjudgement, on POT. I tried to "catch a falling knife," then repeated my mistake, as I tried to average down. Now, I must hold a huge position in POT, as I redirect what's left into other areas. What have I learned, over the past 14 months? Never capitulate, but continue to invest, using the benefits of my mistakes, to direct my future investments.
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    • Sat Oct 18th 22:43 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Ford, GM Choose Different Paths to Restore Profitability
      Looks like we need to find good companies, which are willing to merge with bad companies! Forcing this, would be socialism... Doing it now, would indicate that the "bad" companies, were not as bad as we think and that the "good" companies, are not as good as they think. I think?
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    • Sat Oct 18th 22:31 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Fundamental Valuation: How Low Could We Go?
      I'm glad that I read this... I sure hope that not too many others did! :-)
      View article »
    • Fri Oct 17th 11:35 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Ford, GM Choose Different Paths to Restore Profitability
      GM has many assets, other than financial. I assume that it holds the patents for many great innovations, which can be used on future vehicles, both conventional and electric, e.g. Hughes "Heads-up Display" is a winner! Now, integrate that technology with AutoLiv's infra-red system, which detects living creatures on the roadway, ahead of you, e.g. people, deer and other 'hot' spots. Other instrumentation can be migrated onto the "Heads-up Display," as well, so that you never have to take your eyes off the road. I would leave the entertainment controls on the steering wheel, where they allow the driver to adjust the sound system, without taking their hands off the wheel. Pontiac introduced this on the 6000 STE, back in the eighties and it's a winner, too. Advanced monitoring and control systems, like these, would complement ANY brand or type of vehicle. GM could even license their sub-components to other manufacturers, creating additional revenue streams, independent of their troublesome NA Operations. If GM seeks Chapter 11 protection, that would allow them to continue the development of such systems, as well as, allow them to form joint ventures with other North American auto maufacturers, such as Tesla. Tesla is very cool, but they're far from being able to produce high volume/lower cost vehicles. GM has the experience and the plant floor space, to turn Tesla into a mass market sensation. Beautiful, efficient electric cars, at a price which everyone can afford, built right here in America. With GM's liabilities (bondholders, shareholders and retirees) facing a total loss, I'm sure that they, as well as, the UAW would jump at the chance to receive a portion of what they are owed, over time, while at the same time, renewing the American auto industry. Ford and Chrysler could also be consolodated and integrated into this American Auto Cartel, which would sell cars domestically and internationally. This is but one potential direction, which would address the future, the past and the current situation. I don't know what they're (GM) planning at the moment, since I've been "out-of-the-loop&... for 14 years, now, but something like this might be another contingency for them to consider, along with AutoLiv and Tesla.
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    • Thu Oct 16th 09:34 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Obama McCain Stock Comparison
      I'll bet that Obama passes out, when he reads my letter of "support." The devil made me do it, once again! (satire)

      Mike Sanders 9:54PMOct 15th 2008

      I am encouraged by Senator Obama's unconditional support for Israel! Too often, our federal government has tried to meddle, in the internal affairs of other nations (and our own states, for that matter!) When you offer a true gift, which comes from a pure heart, it does not come with "strings attached." I am proud to see that Senator Obama wishes to end, using our federal government resources (our tax money), to strong-arm individuals, states and other countries. As long as he writes this into our Constitution and exercises good judgement, I see no problem. Giving to Israel has always been a good cause, but Obama must realize that putting Israel first, means supporting their decisions and not using that money as either a bribe, or as extortion by threatening to withdraw it, should Israel change direction. That's what true freedom and self-less giving are all about! Let's make sure this is exactly what he intends to do, and is bound to do, before we hand over the keys to the White House, since he's our public servant and not the other way around. We will support him, for as long as he does not interfere with an individual's Constitutional rights, our State's rights, and the right of other countries to self-determination. Let's make sure that he's understands this, because I wouldn't want him to get in and then, decide to impair Liberty! :-)
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    • Wed Oct 15th 09:51 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Is It Safe?
      I agree, that the banks shouldn't be paying a dividend, at this point in time. When you are receiving "assistance" from the government, it doesn't look good, passing it through to just the banking sector. This is preferential treatment... Taxes will increase for investors in every sector, to pay for this, so investors in the banking sector should not be the only beneficairy of a "pass-thru" dividend.
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    • Wed Oct 15th 09:40 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Is It Safe?
      "What it means is that we are now, in all probability, looking at tough times reminiscent of the early 1980's, not at tough times reminiscent of the early 1930's. Did the early 1980's suck? Oh yeah."

      Hmm... I'm getting 3.3% on a large CD. I had a small CD, back then... It was 11.5% on a 6 month maturity. I will never for get that... 11.5%. :-)
      View article »
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