Money Penny

Why Banking CEOs Should Stop Complaining and Be Held Accountable

somebody needs to ask these questions to these BANKS! i screw up at my job, i pay for it, i am held accountable. So why these CEOs get scott free with million dollar pay packages.... first you take million dollars packages, and then look for excuses....

The Shallowest Generation

good though provoking and data-driven article. Author has done good job in communicating the premise of the subject.

Nucor Corporation: Dividend Stock Analysis

I will not be surprised, if it goes low 20s. It is a well run company and hence I will be a buyer.....

History Says That We'll Be Fine

People making arguments for 1929 drop (and 21yrs for recovery) forget that conditions were different. I do not see WW III anywhere ? So I agree with author, we will be just fine. Sky is still not falling. Prudent and smart investors will come out unscratched, perhaps happy.

Remember for every sell, there is somebody buying out there !! Think why the buyer is putting money in ?

India Outlook: Slowdown Ahead?

I agree with Shiv that GDP has already shown significant slow down (net of inflation). Last few years has shown that GDP growth rates is driven primarily by service sector (~72% weighted contribution) while employing less than 8% of the population. In contrast, the agriculture sector has contributed less to GDP growth rates (~10% weight contribution) while close of ~60% population depend on it. Similar gaps can be seen with infrastructure also. This imbalance cannot continue forever. There has to be reversal to mean growth rates. While one can hear in loud speaker of Indian great story, majority of the population is not benefiting from it. The consistent growth rate can be maintained if India addresses all aspects of economy (not just the service sector – primarily driven by exports). If private sector and FII investments go to industrial/service sectors, why can’t govt focus its spending on creating platform/policies for agriculture and infrastructure ?
More data on www.galatime.com/2007/.../

Revisiting the iPhone's Browsing Market Share

Another junk article. No proper research and no proper context. MOT phones for mobile web usage survey? What a joke. If such guys worked at MOT, no wonder it is in dumpster….

Does a Mobile Internet Devices Market Exist?

My definition for MID would be something like this: the actual device which is little bigger than iPhone (15% more screen area?), with a projection lens on back side. Projected area could be of laptop screen size. This device will have enough processing power to run “atleast” PIII type of processor (good enough for web browsing, emails, and perhaps limited video streams). Using the projector lens, the screen can be projected to a surface (which one?). The iPhone/N95 like device can be connected to bluetooth-based mobile keypad and/or earpiece.

I agree with DeanB that iPhone fans think it is “ultimate” device and cannot understand the context of the discussion. Apple/ATT happily milks this ignorance and attitude on iPhone fans. Although it is good piece of gadget with great interface, iPhone fans fail to realize that it is not cost-effective for the features it provides. 100bucks a month for two years + the continue urge to buy iTunes (more spending), for what ? The same can be done in other ways at much cheaper cost. Just go and look at apple balance sheet and you will release the % profit they make on these puppies. It’s money from ignorant fans…… Good luck to fans and happy losing money…..

Islamic Banking in America?

Author forgot to "highlight/emphasize" the moral/ethical aspects. Traditional banking CEOs earn millions to squander investors money. Nothing happens to them for screwing up. Oh yeah, government will bail them out.... FRE/FNM CEOs combined got 32million for 500billion screw up... same with C/MER/BS... and story goes on... hey i am not saying mistakes do not happen, but somebody needs to pay for greed and irrational self promotion at the cost of investor.. do not let them fudge numbers for bonuses... if you get bonus for good fudged profits,, why not loose when you screw ups... do these CEOs return their bonus after fraud is detected.. oh no govt will bail them out..... i hope this new banking systems, whatever they are based on do not lose their ethics..... I am willing to give them a chance over our govt promise and jackass CEOs.

A Lazy ETF Portfolio Underweighting the U.S.

Good start and good choice. I will be following the progress.

Black Swans, Real Estate and Financial Stocks

I think quant models are another set of tools in investment decision toolbox (similar to black swan thinking, it cannot be totally discounted). Now individual investors can make use of it to make informed decisions for adapting/tweaking their portfolios. Whether good or bad, it will depend on perspective !! A billionaire will not bat an eye lid for betting $1000 for 50/50 chance of doubling it. But for hourly worker this 50/50 chance is not worth the risk and ignores it. But may be at 90/10 chance for doubling will make him jump to it. It is all matter of perspective on how you use your tools. The modeling approach can be questioned (a separate topic), but relativeness remains same for calculating 50/50 or 90/10. From my perspective, I prefer continuously adapting quant models as opposed to monte carlo simulation (a separate topic of discussion).