Mioracle

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Yes, with the new tax rates, I guess we;re headed back to the nineties. Damn, the economy sure sucked then. All those rising stock values, balanced budgets and low unemployment.

Most MCain supporters exiting the way they came in: no class whatsoever.
Maybe they can take a lesson from their failed candidate himself who actually sadi something about working together to solve our problems

Too Late to Sell, but Calmer Markets May Lie Ahead

As a long time investor, I am furious over the non-passage of the bailout bill. Consequently I am on a buyers strike until this thing gets passed, and I urge all my fellow investors to do the same

Are We There Yet? Not Even Close.

So I have a question for the author: when will we be there? I mean, give us at least a guess with a timeframe

I suspect by the end of the year - but I have little data to back up my assertion.

Thoughts?

Law of Supply & Demand Is Dead for Gold & Silver

If the author's thesis is true, is this not a buying opportunity as the market eventually works out these price discrepancies and the commodity goes higher? It seems to me (what do I know, Dammit Jim I'm only a doctor) that all the conditions that caused $1k gold are still here in spades, and we'll get that cover of Time magazine spike sooner or later

Faith Doesn't Cut It - Cramer's Mad Money (8/29/08)

I thinkl the chief value of JC is getting people interested in the market in the first place. There is after all no twenty year period I am aware of that has not had stocks outperforming every other investment class.
Yes, sometimes people take losses on stocks that they buy indiscrimately, but how much damage does that cause compared to the housing bust - say, talking a single mother cocktail waitress into 'buying' a 300,000 home with an interest only mortgage due to reset in five years? (I actually saw this person last night on CNBC). Many many many people need to be bitch-slapped into unconscuisness for that; in comparison, Cramers sometimes nutty stockpicks (Krispy Kreme Donuts?????) are misdemeanors at best

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

You forgot True Religion (TRLG). Reported after hours Tuesday. Great quarter, beat expectations, guided higher - and juicy short position

Finding Value in the P/B Ratio

The assertion that ACAS has "lost control of their salary expenses" is a puzzling one to me, because their three and six month salary and SGA expenses have decreased year on year - exactly what you would expect from good managment knowing that there will be a coming cash shortfall because of the economic issues. Further, ACAS states that they hire two outside firms to value their portfolio, who value a 13% sample and have so far reported that the valuation is fair. I think the criticism that the assets of ACAS are very difficult to value fully, and hence the company trades at a discount is a fair one, but so far I see no evidence of management deliberately overvaluing or 'squinting' at value impairments, which I noticed they took this quarter
Evidently hedge funds agree as we have an enjoyable short covering rally going

Jim Chanos: A Short Seller Speaks

There is a book out called "The art of short selling" which likely makes all the points JK made in the speech, so I don't think huge amounts of time or energey need be spent in obtaining a transcript. Further, I doubt he would spill any trade secrets in an address in a public forum.
I think what we should derive is the message; Always be sceptical. And I derive a second message from this - always take profits when things are most rosy

Status Report: LifeCell - Kinetic Concepts

This is a horrendous move from the standpoint of the KCI shareholder. There are very few cost synergies as I see it - and I am a physician who uses both products. The deal is partially funded by convertible debt, thus diluting shareholder value in both the short term - institutions often short the common when releasing debt in this form - and the long term as it caps the appreciation before the conversion kicks in.
All in all, a major mistake from an overpaid and inexperienced CEO, who still thinks it's the go-go 90's of healthcare.