Poor Texan's Comments Poor Texan's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/user/412521/comments George Soros and his reflexivity principle would say easy access to ample credit is a necessary condition to fuel a property bubble. So what do we make of this story - seemingly lifted from 2005 - of  packed open houses, vanishing inventory, bidding wars, and soaring prices on U.S. real estate, but with a twist: Cash buyers. Nearly 33% of L.A. homes went for all-cash in Q1; in Miami, it was 65%. "I don't know where it's coming from, and I don't care," says an agent. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1073232?source=feed#comment-19781322 19781322 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:55:15 -0400 May Nonfarm Payrolls: +175K vs. consensus +170K, 149K previous (revised from +165K). Unemployment rate 7.6% vs. consensus 7.5%, 7.5% previous. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1071232?source=feed#comment-19722692 19722692 Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:51:35 -0400 The Guardian of London has posted a copy of a "top secret" court order instructing Verizon (VZ) to provide the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) with records of all calls made within the U.S. or originating in the U.S., through July 19, 2013. The accompanying article says the order went into effect on April 25 affecting millions of Verizon customers. In the exclusive article, the Guardian says that it is likely, though unknown, that other U.S. carriers are also affected. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1067611?source=feed#comment-19662661 19662661 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:35:33 -0400 PVR Partners, L.P. Enters Consent Agreement with Pennsylvania DEP http://seekingalpha.com/news-article/6734201-pvr-partners-l-p-enters-consent-agreement-with-pennsylvania-dep?source=feed#comment-19607471 19607471 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:27:02 -0400 Economist Laurence Ball says central bankers' goal of 2% inflation is misguided, among other reasons, because it leaves them with very little ammunition to fight future recessions. But would 4% inflation hurt the economy? History suggests not. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1047331?source=feed#comment-19274961 19274961 Sun, 26 May 2013 20:56:02 -0400 Economist Laurence Ball says central bankers' goal of 2% inflation is misguided, among other reasons, because it leaves them with very little ammunition to fight future recessions. But would 4% inflation hurt the economy? History suggests not. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1047331?source=feed#comment-19274941 19274941 Sun, 26 May 2013 20:54:22 -0400 California's got a new problem: Too much money. This year's expected surplus of $1.2B-$4.4B comes three years after the state faced a deficit of nearly $60B. Governor Brown - arguing the surplus is the result of a flood of capital-gains realizations ahead of higher 2013 tax rates - wants to put the money aside. The legislature - dominated by Brown's own party - wants to spend it. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1047291?source=feed#comment-19274761 19274761 Sun, 26 May 2013 20:45:25 -0400 Apple's (AAPL) effective tax rate of 14% is just a smidgin lower than IBM at 15% and Google (GOOG) at 17%. And Apple's hardly on the lowest rung: Amazon's (AMZN) rate is just 6%, Ford's (F) 3%, and Carnival's (CCL) just 1%. In trying to untangle what S&P 500 companies pay in taxes, David Leonhardt finds top executives are exceptionally shrewd at holding tax rates down. (infographic) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1047151?source=feed#comment-19274461 19274461 Sun, 26 May 2013 20:19:19 -0400 Reuters’ Robert Campbell thinks Keystone XL (TRP) has become a victim of political posturing and says a rival plan, ETP's Trunkline, is being held to a far lower standard thanks to an incoherent U.S. environmental policy. But if a pipeline isn’t built, crude will move by more carbon intensive methods that also are susceptible to accidents. Indeed, moving oil by road or rail is no longer seen as a stopgap until pipelines are built. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1047111?source=feed#comment-19274241 19274241 Sun, 26 May 2013 20:10:04 -0400 Apple's (AAPL) effective tax rate of 14% is just a smidgin lower than IBM at 15% and Google (GOOG) at 17%. And Apple's hardly on the lowest rung: Amazon's (AMZN) rate is just 6%, Ford's (F) 3%, and Carnival's (CCL) just 1%. In trying to untangle what S&P 500 companies pay in taxes, David Leonhardt finds top executives are exceptionally shrewd at holding tax rates down. (infographic) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1047151?source=feed#comment-19247571 19247571 Sat, 25 May 2013 17:27:30 -0400 Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News http://seekingalpha.com/article/1449081/comments?source=feed#comment-19068271 19068271 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:37:43 -0400 What Inflation Means To You: Inside The Consumer Price Index http://seekingalpha.com/article/1443321/comments?source=feed#comment-18990061 18990061 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:03:14 -0400 In what has been dubbed as largely a symbolic vote, the House of Representatives did what was expected and opted to repeal the health-care overhaul law, but it's is likely be dead in Congress’s lower chamber. The vote was 229 to 195 to repeal the measure, with two Democrats voting along with the Republican majority: Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Jim Matheson of Utah. Sidenote: This is the 37th attempt to repeal the law since it was passed in March 2010. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1031371?source=feed#comment-18927231 18927231 Thu, 16 May 2013 22:28:16 -0400 In what has been dubbed as largely a symbolic vote, the House of Representatives did what was expected and opted to repeal the health-care overhaul law, but it's is likely be dead in Congress’s lower chamber. The vote was 229 to 195 to repeal the measure, with two Democrats voting along with the Republican majority: Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Jim Matheson of Utah. Sidenote: This is the 37th attempt to repeal the law since it was passed in March 2010. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1031371?source=feed#comment-18927211 18927211 Thu, 16 May 2013 22:26:25 -0400 The Good News, The Bad News And What's Very Ugly http://seekingalpha.com/article/1423631/comments?source=feed#comment-18680841 18680841
Because the Clintons, Al Gore, and Barry have shown how to get rich through politics without meaningful work.]]> Fri, 10 May 2013 13:01:09 -0400
Because the Clintons, Al Gore, and Barry have shown how to get rich through politics without meaningful work.]]> General Electric (GE +0.1%) will pay $40M to settle a lawsuit stemming from a 77% decline in the value of the company's shares over a six-month period during the financial crisis. State Universities Retirement System of Illinois claimed the company hid bad debt tied to subprime loans, an accusation GE believes is "without merit." Nonetheless, the company says it is "in the best interests of shareholders [to] avoid diverting significant resources to" the lawsuit. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/982481?source=feed#comment-18271071 18271071 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:18:12 -0400 Initial Jobless Claims: -16K to 339K vs. 350K consensus, 355K prior (revised). Continuing claims -93K to 3.00M. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/968351?source=feed#comment-18099811 18099811 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:51:55 -0400 Initial Jobless Claims: -16K to 339K vs. 350K consensus, 355K prior (revised). Continuing claims -93K to 3.00M. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/968351?source=feed#comment-18078671 18078671 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:50:17 -0400 Initial Jobless Claims: -42K to 346K vs. 388K consensus, 385K prior (revised). Continuing claims -12K to 3.08M. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/937461?source=feed#comment-17562081 17562081 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:42:19 -0400 Initial Jobless Claims: -42K to 346K vs. 388K consensus, 385K prior (revised). Continuing claims -12K to 3.08M. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/937461?source=feed#comment-17500301 17500301 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:05:19 -0400 Labor Force Participation Rate Since 1987: Some Eerie Demographic Trends http://seekingalpha.com/article/1321631/comments?source=feed#comment-17355301 17355301 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:51:32 -0400 Labor Force Participation Rate Since 1987: Some Eerie Demographic Trends http://seekingalpha.com/article/1321631/comments?source=feed#comment-17354541 17354541 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:41:00 -0400 Whom The Gods Would Destroy... http://seekingalpha.com/article/1321951/comments?source=feed#comment-17241871 17241871 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:08:31 -0400 The Justice Department's reluctance to investigate fraud at the biggest financial institutions probably lowers the value of their equity, says hedge fund guru Jim Chanos. Basing its decision on whether to prosecute in part on the systemic effect it would have on the financial system has caused a really reasonable, serious, continued undermining of trust in our markets. Wall Street executives wondering why their stock continues to lag have their answer: The public doesn't trust them because they know the government is turning a blind eye to fraud. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/927151?source=feed#comment-17240031 17240031 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:20:19 -0400 It Can Happen Here: The Confiscation Scheme Planned For U.S. And U.K. Depositors http://seekingalpha.com/article/1306931/comments?source=feed#comment-16959601 16959601 Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:40:56 -0400 It Can Happen Here: The Confiscation Scheme Planned For U.S. And U.K. Depositors http://seekingalpha.com/article/1306931/comments?source=feed#comment-16959371 16959371 Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:36:13 -0400 Musings About The Floor Under Gold And Silver Prices http://seekingalpha.com/article/1305351/comments?source=feed#comment-16913321 16913321 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:20:24 -0400 More on Housing Starts: Housing starts of 917K up a hair from January, +27.7% Y/Y. It's the fastest pace of starts since June 2008. Building permits of 946K, +4.6% from January, +33.8% Y/Y. S&P 500 futures have erased losses (happened before housing print), now +0.25%. (full report) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/896421?source=feed#comment-16497101 16497101 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:54:21 -0400 Bank of America (BAC) is the stock to own in 2013, says Meredith Whitney, calling it one of the most undervalued firms going into the stress tests. It's got value, catalysts, and momentum, she says, a very rare triple threat for a big bank. $15/share is a chip shot and the stock's a double over the next 18 months, she tells CNBC. Shares +0.8% AH. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/895201?source=feed#comment-16470611 16470611 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:21:11 -0400 Ford (F) lowered CEO Alan Mulally's compensation by 29% to $20.95M in 2012 after the car maker missed its goals for profit, cash flow and market share. Mulally's package was made up of a $2M salary, a $3.95M bonus, and $15M of stocks, options and other compensation. Despite the wage cut, Mulally is still probably the world's best paid automotive CEO. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/892671?source=feed#comment-16416171 16416171 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:29:31 -0400