So what if Google lost to Baidu in China? Let's see Baidu replicate its success in any place other than China. I give their chances somewhere between 0 and 0.000001%.
Google's wise to get out of China. It's more a business decision than an ethical one. China woos foreign multinationals with the siren song of outlandish growth and low labor costs. Actually, China's out to steal as much IP as possible to build companies to compete with the foreign companies--first domestically and then abroad. That's the true cost of doing business in China, and more and more companies are adjusting their strategies or leaving.
" ... China, where capitalism now thrives unfettered."
This statement reveals stupidity, foolishness, or ignorance (or perhaps all three). The Chinese leadership is currently hard at work constructing the next 5-year plan. The plan will be executed by state-owned enterprises that march to Beijing's orders. Very capitalistic.
Are you so deep in Tea that you've lost your common sense?
You will always win some and lose some in the market. If you focus on dividend growth stocks, you will likely win a bit more and lose a bit less. I'd take that deal.
The FHA is raising its mortgage standards, with requirements like larger down payments and higher credit scores. Normally this would be a good thing, but since the majority of buyers are first-time home buyers using FHA financing, the FHA's timing could have a pretty big impact on the still-anemic housing market. [View news story]
First time buyers should thank their lucky stars at the low rates. If they need help beyond that, they should be renting.
The suggestion that the FHA's timing could have a "pretty big impact" is laughable. The only effect is that there will be better loans.
Why Google (GOOG) increasingly considers Facebook a mortal threat: "The company that controls the traffic gets the power and the money... Social networks drive an ever increasing share of traffic on the internet, and that traffic is power and money." The threat is to Google's standing as the central internet company "that everyone gravitates around." [View news story]
I find it funny that people complain about Google's privacy issues when they voluntarily vomit everything about themselves onto Facebook.
Bank of America: Why It's Scary Being a Bank in America [View article]
Running a profitable bank is not rocket science. How hard is it for a bank to lend at a higher rate than it borrows, charge fees, do due diligence on its loans, and not overleverage?
Sensing a friendly political environment, the big banks convinced the government to allow them to run wild. Instead of acting as banks, the big banks put all their energy into lending recklessly, gaming the markets, and peddling exotic financial products. We are all reaping the consequences of three decades of poor decision-making--in Washington and at the banks.
Big banks cry at lost profits, but how real were those "profits" anyway? How can an industry of pushing paper back and forth grow from 3% of the S&P 500 in 1990 to 22% in 2006? If big banks make less money than they have in the recent past, we will all be better for it.
Over 2M iPhone 5 units have been sold thus far in China, Apple (AAPL) boasts. China Unicom's (CHU) healthy pre-order activity probably had a lot to do with this figure. Sparse crowds for the Friday launch stoked fears initial sales were light, but weather and pre-ordering requirements seem to have played a role. For reference, Apple announced in September over 5M iPhone 5 units had been sold 3 days after the device went on sale in the U.S., Japan, and 7 other locales. (PR) [View news story]
Cook didn't announce this to support the stock--they announce great sales figures regardless of whether the stock is zooming up or collapsing.
That's one of reasons I like Apple--they treat the fools on Wall Street the way they deserve to be treated.
When and Why to Buy or Sell a Stock (Part 1 of a Series) [View article]
Based on what I have read on Seeking Alpha over the last year, I am quite certain that your series will be among the best articles posted on Seeking Alpha. Thanks for sharing your work.
The ‘New Normal’ Myth Calls for Ronald Reagan 2.0 [View article]
Reagan 2.0 means more spending and more borrowing. Reagan 1.0 did not know what the words "balanced budget" meant, as deficits ballooned ever higher. During his years in office, the United States went from being the largest international creditor to the largest international debtor. Quite the legacy, eh?
People praise Reagan for lowering taxes after coming into office, but they neglect to mention that after he found that the coffers were empty, he raised taxes left and right for the rest of his presidency. Most of the taxes were regressive, of course. Who in his right mind cuts the higher marginal rates while simultaneously raising the lower marginal rates? Can we say that no one waged war on the middle class as well as Reagan?
A free trader by instinct? You do know that Reagan put in more protectionist measures of any president since Hoover, don't you?
Stop with the revisionist history and Reagan propoganda.
Moody's downgrades Greece four notches to junk status. The eurozone rescue package eliminates risk of near-term liquidity-driven default, analyst Sarah Carlson writes, but "macroeconomic and implementation risks associated with the program are substantial." Euro now +1.4% against the dollar, to $1.2254. [View news story]
Apple's R&D Numbers - Something Good Brewing, Or Something Wrong? [View article]
Apple is doing more and more in-house (designing chips for mobile devices, maps, etc.), which probably necessitates greater R&D spending.
On innovation, the only developments over the last 5-6 years in the mobile space that qualify as "innovations" are the original iPhone and the original iPad. All mobile devices since, whether by Apple or any other manufacturer, have been evolutionary rather than revolutionary products. The Surface is innovative for Microsoft's standards, but tiles and a kickstand are not, in and of themselves, "innovative."
The Decline of Google [View article]
Google's wise to get out of China. It's more a business decision than an ethical one. China woos foreign multinationals with the siren song of outlandish growth and low labor costs. Actually, China's out to steal as much IP as possible to build companies to compete with the foreign companies--first domestically and then abroad. That's the true cost of doing business in China, and more and more companies are adjusting their strategies or leaving.
Is The Perfect Storm Here? [View article]
This statement reveals stupidity, foolishness, or ignorance (or perhaps all three). The Chinese leadership is currently hard at work constructing the next 5-year plan. The plan will be executed by state-owned enterprises that march to Beijing's orders. Very capitalistic.
Are you so deep in Tea that you've lost your common sense?
Why Accomplished Dividend Growth Investors Can Ignore Price Volatility [View article]
The Case for an Imminent Correction [View article]
The FHA is raising its mortgage standards, with requirements like larger down payments and higher credit scores. Normally this would be a good thing, but since the majority of buyers are first-time home buyers using FHA financing, the FHA's timing could have a pretty big impact on the still-anemic housing market. [View news story]
The suggestion that the FHA's timing could have a "pretty big impact" is laughable. The only effect is that there will be better loans.
Why Google (GOOG) increasingly considers Facebook a mortal threat: "The company that controls the traffic gets the power and the money... Social networks drive an ever increasing share of traffic on the internet, and that traffic is power and money." The threat is to Google's standing as the central internet company "that everyone gravitates around." [View news story]
Bank of America: Why It's Scary Being a Bank in America [View article]
Sensing a friendly political environment, the big banks convinced the government to allow them to run wild. Instead of acting as banks, the big banks put all their energy into lending recklessly, gaming the markets, and peddling exotic financial products. We are all reaping the consequences of three decades of poor decision-making--in Washington and at the banks.
Big banks cry at lost profits, but how real were those "profits" anyway? How can an industry of pushing paper back and forth grow from 3% of the S&P 500 in 1990 to 22% in 2006? If big banks make less money than they have in the recent past, we will all be better for it.
Over 2M iPhone 5 units have been sold thus far in China, Apple (AAPL) boasts. China Unicom's (CHU) healthy pre-order activity probably had a lot to do with this figure. Sparse crowds for the Friday launch stoked fears initial sales were light, but weather and pre-ordering requirements seem to have played a role. For reference, Apple announced in September over 5M iPhone 5 units had been sold 3 days after the device went on sale in the U.S., Japan, and 7 other locales. (PR) [View news story]
That's one of reasons I like Apple--they treat the fools on Wall Street the way they deserve to be treated.
The 9 Elite Dividend Stocks of 2010 [View article]
Hold Your Nose and Buy BP [View article]
BP will drag it out, and will end up paying pennies on the dollar.
When have people ever been anything but speed bumps on the road to progress and growth?
When and Why to Buy or Sell a Stock (Part 1 of a Series) [View article]
The ‘New Normal’ Myth Calls for Ronald Reagan 2.0 [View article]
People praise Reagan for lowering taxes after coming into office, but they neglect to mention that after he found that the coffers were empty, he raised taxes left and right for the rest of his presidency. Most of the taxes were regressive, of course. Who in his right mind cuts the higher marginal rates while simultaneously raising the lower marginal rates? Can we say that no one waged war on the middle class as well as Reagan?
A free trader by instinct? You do know that Reagan put in more protectionist measures of any president since Hoover, don't you?
Stop with the revisionist history and Reagan propoganda.
Moody's downgrades Greece four notches to junk status. The eurozone rescue package eliminates risk of near-term liquidity-driven default, analyst Sarah Carlson writes, but "macroeconomic and implementation risks associated with the program are substantial." Euro now +1.4% against the dollar, to $1.2254. [View news story]
The Decline of Google [View article]
There are plenty of places a company can go for growth. Being in China is not absolutely necessary.
Apple's R&D Numbers - Something Good Brewing, Or Something Wrong? [View article]
On innovation, the only developments over the last 5-6 years in the mobile space that qualify as "innovations" are the original iPhone and the original iPad. All mobile devices since, whether by Apple or any other manufacturer, have been evolutionary rather than revolutionary products. The Surface is innovative for Microsoft's standards, but tiles and a kickstand are not, in and of themselves, "innovative."