MikeyLV

Platinum: The Undiscovered Gold?

The Kitco pool is also a good way to play metals.

Williams Coal Seam Gas Royalty Trust: Income You Can Believe In

Reserves are not that important... this from the 2007 annual report (2008 not available):
The Trust will be terminated on December 31, 2012 or earlier if certain events occur.

So you have 3-1/2 years. Looks like reserves will cover that.

Ford's Debt Settlement Is a Good Start

Too bad this won't work well at all. Let's take an example: The second bond on the list (7.45% GLOBLS due July 16, 2031). That bond is the underlying for KVU (CorTS II, Ford Motor Co., 8.00% Certificates) that trade as KVU (which folks think are going to give them a $7.50 payout each (30% of $25 face), or perhaps a little less. KVU is up from yesterday's close at $3.25, today's open at $3.49 and now sits at 4.50 for the last trade. There is no bid and an ask of $5.15. Volume is over half a million (average is just under 13,000).
A winfall you say? I say not. In order for KVU holders to take advantage of the tender offer which will be passed through and issued today (I just got off the phone with the trustee), 100% of holders would have to agree. One person with one share of KVU saying no is all it takes for this to not happen.
Granted, not all of the underlying bonds are part of KVU, but there will be some upset KVU owners in a week or so when Ford's tender is decreased.
However, if those folks sell off, not wanting to hold for the long term on Ford, it might be the opportunity to pick up some KVU on the cheap. KVU pays $2/year (semi-annual) dividend and has a face value of $25 on 7/16/2031. All that has to happen to get the $25 at maturity and the $44 in dividends (a total of $69) on a $5 or so investment (1380% or 62% a year) is for Ford to survive until 7/16/2031.
Place your bets.

Ford Sales: Dropping by Half

"Interesting that even with gas prices down substantially from this time last year, Ford (F) truck sales are a particularly weak portion of the results."

Are you joking? High gas prices were a catalist for lower big vehicle sales, but lower gas prices won't increase sales. Not when the avergae concumer is afraid of being laid off and not being able to pay their mortgage.

The problem is the press hyping the job loses which are primarily financial-industry and unskilled (no 4-year degree).

Do the math: Half of all Americans are afraid of getting a pink slip, Unemployment might go to 10%.

I will admit that a lot of companies are taking advantage of the economic situation to get rid of dead wood and say they are becoming more competitive, bbut 50% vs. 10%.

It's not gas prices or lack of credit, it's pure fear. When we have a few cycles of job loss rates declining, that will be the start of consumer confidence (read: less fear).

Don't Bet on China Recovering from Recession Anytime Soon

So an interesting question is: What is the better investment vehicle... FXI or a Jan 2011 FXI at the money LEAP option to leverage any gain? So, how long should your bet be?

'Buy American' Stimulus Provision - Three Ways to Capitalize

Barron's just said ENER won't have the income of before and basically downgraded.

BioMS Shares Get Hammered After Latest Trial Results Miss Mark

OK, let's make sure we talking apples to apples. BOMSF.PK is the US equiv of MS.TO. So one trades in US dollars and the other in Canadian dollars. On monday, BOMSF.PK rose about 25% while MS.TO dropped 5.4%.

Value: BOMSF.PK: US$ 1.825
Value: MS.TO: CAD$ 2.27 (US$1.83)

The US version did not see the recovery that the Canadian version saw on Friday.

Anxious Advanced Micro Devices

Intel has a vested interest in AMD's survival. Other wise they will be viewed as a monopoly.

Oil: A Slippery Slope Ahead?

I wonder if a long term thinking oil company might just buy up a company like BQI for the future. It would seem that now is a good time for something like this to happen.

Cramer's Picks - Is GM Lehman's Twin? (11/14/08)

Crammer is an ass and an ass with a very short term memory. "Cramer says he never believed he would recommend AMD." Really? On August 13th regarding AMD he said “The stock can be bought. I think it could go to $7 or $8 before investors have to sell it.”

Want to make money? "King of the Hill" was right on its parody of Crammer on Nov 16. He says buy, selll. He says sell, buy.

Ford, GM on the Chopping Block?

It's not about American pride. I have always bought American cars. My first was a used Chvy Citation, then a new Ford Taurus, then a new Jeep Grand Cherokee. My next will be an SUV. While I love my Jeep, it has had reliability problems. Do I want to buy American? Yes. But I also want reliability, and that might mean a Toyota Highlander or 4Runner.

The reliability of American cars has gotten better, but in this car class the Toyota is better than the Jeep. And this just makes me angry.

You know what would make me buy a Jeep instead of a Toyota? Simple (and I thought this a year ago when Bill Ford started doing his reliability commercials for Ford), don't charge me for your best, longest mileage and time no deductable extended warranty... just give it to me. Show me that you, as the car builder, have such faith in your product that you are willing to stand behind it for years and miles down the road.

How is a buyer supposed to feel when buying a $30,000 vehicle when the salesman then tries to sell a $1,200 extended warranty becasue you'll need it?

Ford, GM on the Chopping Block?

I have always wondered what would be best for the US economy:
Buying a Ford made outside the US
or
Buying a Toyota made in the US

Gold Futures' Dirty Secret (Part I)

Here's what my wife asked me: Why is gold so cheap if no one can get any?

Platinum, Palladium Set to Skyrocket

How much lower will demand be once less cars (and less gasoline cars) are manufactured?

Tel Offshore Trust: Solid 15% From American Based Oil

"Solid" my ass.