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bill west
19 Comments
Petrobras: Set to Become a Global Oil Major - Barron's
Lest I forget......the Iranians will get wacked by the Israeli airforce and that should make tanker navigation in the Straits of the Middle East a little interesting too......................
Petrobras: Set to Become a Global Oil Major - Barron's
LONG PBR, XOM
My Investment Philosophy and Visa
@#%^%&**()&^^&...
Apple on Steve Jobs Health Rumors: No Comment
Although he is considered critical to Apple he also has a very capable team of associates to carry on the Apple tradition if something should happen.
Maybe all the shorts will have to cover their Apple positions once the cancer myth is dispelled.
Disclosure- Long APPL
What's Up With Apple's Downturn?
The Great MasterCard - Visa Debates
The Credit Card Time Bomb Is Ticking
Perhaps you have noticed the temporary slowdown and recent minor pullbacks in both Mastercard and Visa. While a check of the popular blogs and wallowing through the assorted financial internet commentary it has become apparent that many people still believe Mastercard and Visa are tied to the often mentioned credit crisis. Discover and American Express have these problems as bill collectors. Mastercard and Visa do not. Remember MA and V are simply toll-takers in the credit economy.
What all credit card companies do have are assorted fee structures, teaser rates, and different “merchant processing percentages”. These can be dependant on many factors and won’t be discussed here in great detail.
The outcome of the Capitol Hill hearings will be as follows-
We are currently heading toward an election. The continued bloviations on credit card practices can be equated with the oil company monopoly hearings that commence every time gas goes over $3 per gallon. (The lack of exploration and refinery construction won’t be debated here) Nothing has changed in oil for the most part has it? Not too much will change in the credit card industry either.
The do- nothing politicians will get some quotations in the record and little will change in the credit card industry with the exception of the following areas-
Credit card companies will reduce or eliminate many teaser introductory rates.
Bank issued credit card qualifications will become stricter as some defaults may increase.
Credit interest rate percentage increases will require customer notification and payment or payoff options to allow the customer a chance to prevent the implementation of these penalty rates.
Terms and credit card policies will be re-written in more layman friendly language.
Secured credit card options may be used more frequently when credit worthiness is questioned.
And now of most importance to Mastercard and Visa shareholders:
The numerous bank and merchant associations will square off on Capitol Hill complaining or justifying the “processing fees” of 1 to 4 percent that are paid directly to Mastercard and Visa. Those fee structures will remain in place with some attempts at downward renegotiation for some of the largest merchants. The little merchants won’t have much bargaining power. Sorry but that’s the law of large numbers. These processing fees will simply be passed on to the consumer if necessary. Don’t forget there is always the cash price versus the credit price if you are feeling really squeezed.
However with the increasing cashless nature of society in the United States and the international consumer markets skyrocketing the credit card business is becoming fully entrenched in the world of financial transactions large and small. As the emerging markets begin to trust the credit services of their respective banking systems; the issuance and accounting practices will become trusted and fully implemented. Paying by credit also provides fraud protection and faulty product redress in many cases.
Cash will soon become simply the path of last resort for emergencies, illegal businesses, persons “living off the grid”, and tips for persons employed in the service industries.
Bottom line: Mastercard and Visa are perfectly positioned for the continued growth of the credit card industry and will provide rich rewards for persons who invest early in both these stellar companies.
Disclosure- Long MA, V, XOM
Bernanke: Markets Are Still Far from Normal
"......This would seem to be in line with what Bank of America said: that spending of bare necessities had increased overall spending on their credit card portfolio. We can just imagine that Wal-Mart, Visa (V), and Mastercard (MA) are benefiting from this. "
Apple Could Soar
Long APPL
Why Do Oil Prices Keep Rising?
Even if massive approval for exploration and refining started today it would take at least 5 to 8 years to get through the processes required now and start the oil flowing. In the meantime you have the emerging markets growing at lightning speed with the flattening of the earth taking place via the internet.
So while we sit and wring our hands fretting about $4 per gallon gas; don't worry, Europe is already paying $7 to $8 per gallon. Needless to say you won't see many Hummers or Escalades in Europe.
You can hate XOM if you like but I prefer to own it and smile everytime I fill up the suv.
Diclosures- Long XOM
Will Apple Follow in Google's Footsteps?
The Mac buzz is definitely out there, does it translate into blowout earning on Wednesday.........we'l... see....
Disclosures- Windows XP owner. Apple stock and options holder.
Is Visa Really Priceless?
Great commentary......I'm a firm believer in Visa. Yes the economy is in the tank and the consumer may be squeezed but the smaller payments being utilized by MA and V holders will continue to add to the bottomline. The European Visa issue will be resolved and this will add further to the bottomline.
Great company and business model. No financing, just fees per transaction adding up to BILLIONS of dollars at some point.
Frankly these days the higher the "nay-sayer" ratio the more interested I am in buying........!
Keep up the good work BuyV.....
Will Adobe's New Media Player Play with Users?
Will Adobe's New Media Player Play with Users?
Yeah nobody liked Firefox either......
Is Something Cooking in Microhoo's Kitchen? (Update)
Good luck to the Yahoo investors.
Disclosures- Long Google