Rwong8200

Time to Make Saving and Investing Fashionable Again

Obama was one of those fashionable people he had a big mortgage, a home equity position and no real net worth. His book deals made his life comfortable. Saving money is a lot easier when you make a little money on your savings. Raise interest rates now.

Headless BofA

BAC is more then headless they have lost any sense of business. My personal experience makes me wonder if they can survive once off the governement nipple. They cancelled my Home Equity line of credit. I never drew on the line. When questioned I was told to submit real estate comps which I did. BAC after 40 days sent me a note saying they needed more information when I called them they advised me I was still rejected. After doing banking with BAC and Countrywide for many years I would suggest anyone take their business elsewhere. As taxpayers we are being screwed over.

Employment in Crisis

Employment is being impacted by costs of new workers. Would you hire when you don't know how much you will have to pay for health care, energy, wages and benefits? With cap & trade do you know how much electricity will cost you next years?
Jobs are listed for weeks and not filled, when you call to ask status you are being told budget has not been approved for the job. Minimum wage increases have killed the entry level jobs. No baggers, utility workers running around stores. Health Care fastest growing job market in recent years not hiring because of possible medicaid cuts. Construction is also losing jobs. Who is hiring?

What GM Can Learn from Toyota

Apologizing for poor results means little to American's. Affordable, efficient, reliable, world class products would go a long way towards improving our view of automakers.
My 1997 Ford F150 is a world class product less then $200 in repairs lifetime. It has outlived three Chrysler products in my household. If the money spent on the job bank had been devoted to quality improvement we wouldn't be where we are today.

The Dodd Plan Paradox

One person you can count on NOT to take responsibility is Chris Dodd.
Hopefully the voters of CT will take him out in 2010.

Ford, GM Set to Lead Pick-Up in Sales of Pickups

Small business buys pickup trucks. Every home service company from plumbers to roofers use small trucks. Every farm or large land owner probably owns at least one truck. Pickup trucks have been the number one vehicle sold since at least 1985. We American's make the best pickup trucks in the world bar none. They hold there value better then cars and usually last longer. In a collision the pickup usually is repairable. I believe truck sales will pickup as they are a necessity for most of the users.

Are Best Buy's Earnings a Warning?

BB has a great deal going against them the balance of the year.
Average retail price of all CE laptops, LED Tv, game consoles, navigation all falling by 15 to 20%. Digital deadline in June pulled forward millions of TV purchases. Cell Phone competition tougher and those prices are falling also. Last year $600 stimulus checks a Huge percentage were spent on CE. One year from now they should blow away comps. We are not seeing the usual nesting boom we have seen in past recessions. Finally BB has big presence in states hardest hit by the recession. Finally Amazon and internet have taken business on smaller shippable products. I sold BB position in August.

How Obama's Multifarious Plans Threaten the Economy

Too many balls in the air, no question. "It's the economy stupid" he doesn't get that. The disruptions caused by the health care program, cap & trade, more regulations, higher taxes, redistribution of income.
These are all job killers. No business is going to invest in workers until they understand what their costs are going to be. These deficits will lead to higher taxes and more inflation. How do you pay for a new entitlement when those we have are under funded. Then you stand on television and say he will pay for it with cuts on a under funded program. Mr. Newman is right, Obama should focus and fix what he can. Could use a big shot of humility.

Is Best Buy Picking Up Steam?

The CE business is going to be terrible for a while. Digital transistion pushed sales into June. Do not expect recovery for some time Oct-Nov. Laptop, Mp3, BluRay prices are all down double digits. TV prices are down 15%. No new game consoles, even some expected hit games are delayed. Price surveys show BB is very competitive.
Finally lots of money was spent on $600 stimulus last year in CE. Not there this year. Cash for Refrigerators is only $300M no significant impact there. Amazon I think is a better bet. BB has picked up CC 40% share other wise it would be dismal.

Sears' Earnings Are Wedded to Housing Market Fortunes

Sears issues were many. $42Million pension charge big part of the surprise. Inventory issues cost sales due to major takedowns in March.
Allocated goods don't automatically go to Sears as they used to. Staffing levels were cut even in Appliances so without floor coverage they lost sales. HD and Lowes + HH Gregg, PC Richards still taking share from Sears. Blue Crew advertising not driving in people to Sears. Minority customers hit harder by recession they represent 20 to 30% of Sears customers. Sears has brought back layaway, X-mas clubs, offering quicker delivery all good things. 20+ quarters of weaker sales. WM and BB continue to take business away. Only men's fashion and Lands end doing well. Domestics, small appliances weak, Tools still ok. Wishing Eddie well. We need Sears and KMart in the market.

Why American Car Manufacturers Fail

They have to ramp up production short term. Reason their are no cars on the lots. Local Ford dealership had two new cars on lot the Saturday before last week of clunkers. There are no new Focus or Malibu the few hot sellers are gone. Chrysler had none of their few high mileage autos, no production for 90 days this summer. Cash for clunkers should not have been renewed until more American high mileage vehicles were available.

Why Did We Bail Out the Banks?

We as a political group do not hold anyone responsible for what happened. Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, were chairman of the respective finance committees did they resign no they blamed Republicans. If Republican's had been in charge they would have blamed Democrats. All the members of Congress should be reponsible for something! Turn them all out in 2010.

Tata Motors: Value in India's Emerging Markets

Tata Motors reported a profit last quarter, if they can do it under the current circumstances my hats off to them. They are in the 2nd fastest growing market in the world. They just bought a world wide dealer base. Nano probably will not meet US Standards but it will for most of the world. I own Tata shares and expect to see them grow.

State Budget Woes: Are We There Yet?

How does it cost $500K to run a rest stop? They don't pay taxes? Cleaning can't really cost $1000 a week? No snow removal in Virginia?
Who are they laying off? Don't they get money from the vending machines? I bet leasing them to McDonalds would provide income for the state.

Getting the Point of High Speed Trains

It doesn't matter, we cannot get solar panels in death valley how do you expect to get high speed trains anywhere? If the government pays the costs will be outrageous. Need a TVA type partnership with a working profitable railroad (is there one) to make this work.