Charting The Carnage In The Gold, Silver And Mining Space [View article]
Here's another thought to ponder - who is buying all that gold? Answer - the privately owned central banks by the truckload (http://onforb.es/Zl9NRw) and maybe George Soros. One wonders then given the close ties between Goldman Sachs and the central banks if a massive market manipulation is under way. Perhaps it is just coincidence.
Charting The Carnage In The Gold, Silver And Mining Space [View article]
"The market is usually right and the market cannot be manipulated. All those who believe in market manipulation just don't understand how big markets are and how impossible it is for any one firm or central bank to manipulation them." It seems to me that the Hunt brothers from Texas and their consortium did just that with silver back in the 1970's. Interestingly enough they WERE convicted of conspiring to manipulate the silver market market in 1988.
There's no respite for Greece as retail sales fell 16.4% Y/Y in January, double the pace from the previous month. The grand total for retail sales contraction in Greece over the last four years: 34%.[View news story]
kmi – there is nothing wrong with ‘hopium’ and luck provided you don’t entirely rely on them for your success. Unlike yours my business interests are local. Consequently I too often encounter and smile at the indefatigable attitude of Greeks. I know many who long for the days of the consumer credit boom that is in part due to the current crisis as well as those who believed ‘exclusive representation’ would be their ticket to wealth. My wife’s sister and her husband are involved in the tourism industry and while it is not what it used to be there are niche opportunities that they have pursued to keep food on their table. Bottom line – I welcome the new ‘ballgame’ and the potential future it represents to Greece.
There's no respite for Greece as retail sales fell 16.4% Y/Y in January, double the pace from the previous month. The grand total for retail sales contraction in Greece over the last four years: 34%.[View news story]
kmi - since you do not live or work here I suppose I could say "Right back at you" but I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt. And while it is true that many well educated and hard working people have left in search of 'greener pastures' many more have stayed for their own reasons. Many of these are the very same entrepreneurs who are opening new businesses every day despite the 'insanely restrictive bureaucracy'. Most will fail yet many of those will try again and again. Many operate in the under or black economy which has always thrived in Greece (and other countries like the US where I once lived and met many self-made millionaires who sold their wares in the thriving 'flea market' industry) and will continue to do so long after the troika is through trying to destroy what's left of the legitimate economy. As to luck and the government, as Hunter Thompson once said, "In a democracy, people usually get the government they deserve, and they deserve what they get."
There's no respite for Greece as retail sales fell 16.4% Y/Y in January, double the pace from the previous month. The grand total for retail sales contraction in Greece over the last four years: 34%.[View news story]
Here's a tip regarding Greece or any country for that matter - rarely is the 'truth' written about. The 'reported' Greek economy has definitely shrunk to ridiculously (sad) levels but the black or underground economy is flourishing just fine. For those who rave about the benefits of austerity, the simple truth is that it fails to do anything to 'make an economy more competitive'. On the contrary, the majority of people - including the hard working ones - have less money so in order to survive (eat, pay their rent or mortgages, electricity, car insurance, etc.) they simply give in to tax evasion like their elected officials and the uber rich shipowners. Austerity has been a disaster for Greece and soon we will see the destruction of Cyprus. A better solution would be to punish the guilty. We all know who they are. Why isn't the troika asking for their heads on a platter (a rhetorical question if ever there was one)?
A Much Better Alternative For Cyprus [View article]
This 'idea' is quite similar to FDR's Executive Order 6102 in 1933 the result of which was the confiscation of citizens' gold to bail out the Fed. I suppose we shouldn't expect any better from career politicians whose livelihoods depend upon their bankster sponsors. At least in Cyprus, the Russian depositors will strongly influence the outcome of any Parliamentary vote. Perhaps we could/should learn from their methodology.
Asking The Important Questions About Clean Energy Fuels [View article]
Just thought it worth mentioning that people interested in using natural gas for their personal vehicles do not have to wait for the auto makers. Zivolli and BRC make conversion kits that work just fine for engines with fuel injection systems. While it is true you will sacrifice a bit of trunk space and acceleration, the savings in your monthly petrol bills not to mention the benefits to the environment are worth these minor inconveniences.
How Congress Could Fix Its Budget Woes, Permanently [View article]
"The government can pay for all the services its people need and eliminate budget crises permanently, simply by issuing the dollars to pay for them, debt-free and interest-free." Amen sister. Next time you might want to get the title of the article a bit more in line with its message, perhaps something like 'How our government could eliminate creating new debt permanently'. Here's hoping more thoughts like this are brought into a mainstream investment media outlet.
Greece might be finally turning things around, says Morgan Stanley analyst Daniele Antonucci. While the country isn't actually recovering, the huge uncertainty that was caused by fears of a Grexit and other factors, and which was destroying economic activity, has been removed. The recession is alleviating, Greece is becoming more competitive and it's almost achieved a primary surplus. [View news story]
Like kmi, I have a certain exposure to Greece, and I can tell you unequivically that Greece is no where near the point of being able to turn things around. In fact, the situation 'on the ground' is as bad as I have ever seen it (over the past 16 years) - record high unemployment, taxes, homelessness, and violent crime. Severe shortages of prescription drugs and hospital supplies to the point where people are dying because the health care system is bankrupt. Salary and pension cuts to the point where people have to choose between eating, paying their electricity bills, and paying their rent or mortgage. The courts have been on rollover strikes since the crisis began and the jails are overflowing because court hearings are continuously postponed.
On paper, Greece may have turned some theoretical corner, but ask the people of Greece how things are faring and you will get a completely different story. Bottom line - this was and remains a political crisis. The scandal surrounding the Lagarde List is the tip of the iceberg. The elected officials of this country have stolen billions from the treasury and stashed it offshore and/or used their ill begotten gains to fund elaborate lifestyles for themselves and their relatives. Like many politicians their goal is to stay in power to continue the good times while the ordinary citizen suffers. Despite the mainstream media headlines, the MPs continue to receive in income and benefits the equivalent of USD 20.000 per month yet the overwhelming majority of that is tax free. Their benefactors, the majority of whom are shipowners, continue to pay almost no income tax and the taxes they do pay on their vessels is by gross tonnage at a ridiculously low rate.
It is interesting to observe that these 'elitists' are now being targeted by what the media calls 'anarchists'. In reality, these are unemployed and homeless people who have nothing left to lose but to seek justice against those they believe are responsible for the country's and their own ill fortunes. Sadly, the violence will continue to accelerate until or unless the economy starts to grow or the government is overthrown. It is anybody's guess which will happen first.
The Long Road To A Dividend Growth Strategy [View article]
Hi Mike. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Your article gave me the opportunity to ask a few questions I have been harbouring on the subject of DRIP investing. Firstly, let me say that I firmly believe in reinvesting dividends to build wealth and generate income. In fact, many years ago as a young man in my late 20’s, I started a DRIP portfolio of several 'aristocrats' largely because of something I read in Barrons. Despite my colossal ignorance, I managed to do reasonably well over the next 10 years finally liquidating the portfolio to buy my first rental property. Thankfully, last summer, which marked the end of another decade and hopefully my interest in owing more property, I re-turned my attention to DRIP investing. Armed with what I hoped was a bit more financial wisdom, I decided to take a closer look at real returns or what many refer to annualized growth. What I learned was a bit shocking and what I want to share with you and your readers to get your and their feedback. Below is a simple table of some of the stocks you mentioned; 3 that I have purchased, 3 I considered, and 1 wildcard based on my latest investment theory.
Symbol Annualized Total Annualized Dividend Return*1 Growth*2 ABT 7,23% 12,76% CL 6,78% 9,23% JNJ 6,23% 14,27% KO 5,75% 7,69% MCD 10,15% 21,68% XOM 9,06% 6,97%
Stocks that I have purchased within the past year:
CSX 18,23% 6,34% MO 22,77% 12,87% STO 19,42% 14,20%
3 that I considered but am looking for additional insight:
ADP 2,97% 14,17% PAYX 0,90% 27,68% T 2,05% 4,94%
The wildcard:
SWZ 3,95% 30,58%
NOTE: * Stats provided by http://www.buyupside.com 1 Includes splits and dividends from April 26,2000 2 Dividends reinvested from inception date.
In short, while it is true that the aristocrats and champions do raise their dividends over time, their annualized returns vary considerably. So my first question is this – with such anaemic returns, why are AT&T and XOM considered by many to be such a good DRIP stocks? Second question – if the valuation metrics of a company look like a buy, based on the information above, should we consider companies with double digit growth in both columns growth and income stocks like MDC or MO? If the company has double digit growth in annualized returns, is it a growth stock like STO? And finally, if it has double digit growth in the annualized dividend growth, is it an income stock like JNJ or SWZ?
Thanks in advance and looking forward to your thoughts.
Greece Will Default: This Means Big Investor Opportunities [View article]
Hi and thank you for your response. I agree with your assessment of the "economic pundits" as well as the depreciation scenario but unless the structural reforms are implemented first and a new government mindset is adopted – one that mandates a balanced budget approach at least until the debt is liquidated – then I do not see any immediate benefits accorded to the working Greeks (and soon their PII counterparts) by dropping the Euro in favour of let’s call it the ‘new’ drachma. The systemic rot, incompetence, and economic and fiscal irresponsibility (similar to our own dysfunctional Congress) has to end and end soon for the recession in Greece to end, doesn’t it?
Greece Will Default: This Means Big Investor Opportunities [View article]
Interesting article but how is a return to the 'new drachma' going to change anything economically unless the Greek government changes or is forced to change by the troika its arcane judicial system and ridiculously nepotic Constitution that guarantees lifetime employment for public sector employees and immunity from prosecution for its MPs? Furthermore, if Greece remains in the EU, how will it become the investment haven you have discussed? Government spending needs be slashed dramatically and there is no political will to do so. Furthermore, the economic pundits have insisted that additional cuts in public and private sector wages as well as pensions will make the Greek economy more competitive but this has not been the case. The private sector has been collapsing under the burden of the austerity plan and the remaining viable companies have been slashing wages amid longer working hours for the remaining employees. The public sector aside from the MPs have taken salary cuts up to 50% in 2011. Today many Greeks are having to choose between eating, paying their rent or electricity bill, and/or heating their homes this winter. So while the default will make companies profitable, how will it benefit the Greek people unless the cost of living is reduced to reflect their reduced incomes?
Charting The Carnage In The Gold, Silver And Mining Space [View article]
Charting The Carnage In The Gold, Silver And Mining Space [View article]
There's no respite for Greece as retail sales fell 16.4% Y/Y in January, double the pace from the previous month. The grand total for retail sales contraction in Greece over the last four years: 34%. [View news story]
There's no respite for Greece as retail sales fell 16.4% Y/Y in January, double the pace from the previous month. The grand total for retail sales contraction in Greece over the last four years: 34%. [View news story]
There's no respite for Greece as retail sales fell 16.4% Y/Y in January, double the pace from the previous month. The grand total for retail sales contraction in Greece over the last four years: 34%. [View news story]
A Much Better Alternative For Cyprus [View article]
Asking The Important Questions About Clean Energy Fuels [View article]
How Congress Could Fix Its Budget Woes, Permanently [View article]
Greece might be finally turning things around, says Morgan Stanley analyst Daniele Antonucci. While the country isn't actually recovering, the huge uncertainty that was caused by fears of a Grexit and other factors, and which was destroying economic activity, has been removed. The recession is alleviating, Greece is becoming more competitive and it's almost achieved a primary surplus. [View news story]
On paper, Greece may have turned some theoretical corner, but ask the people of Greece how things are faring and you will get a completely different story. Bottom line - this was and remains a political crisis. The scandal surrounding the Lagarde List is the tip of the iceberg. The elected officials of this country have stolen billions from the treasury and stashed it offshore and/or used their ill begotten gains to fund elaborate lifestyles for themselves and their relatives. Like many politicians their goal is to stay in power to continue the good times while the ordinary citizen suffers. Despite the mainstream media headlines, the MPs continue to receive in income and benefits the equivalent of USD 20.000 per month yet the overwhelming majority of that is tax free. Their benefactors, the majority of whom are shipowners, continue to pay almost no income tax and the taxes they do pay on their vessels is by gross tonnage at a ridiculously low rate.
It is interesting to observe that these 'elitists' are now being targeted by what the media calls 'anarchists'. In reality, these are unemployed and homeless people who have nothing left to lose but to seek justice against those they believe are responsible for the country's and their own ill fortunes. Sadly, the violence will continue to accelerate until or unless the economy starts to grow or the government is overthrown. It is anybody's guess which will happen first.
The Long Road To A Dividend Growth Strategy [View article]
Symbol Annualized Total Annualized Dividend
Return*1 Growth*2
ABT 7,23% 12,76%
CL 6,78% 9,23%
JNJ 6,23% 14,27%
KO 5,75% 7,69%
MCD 10,15% 21,68%
XOM 9,06% 6,97%
Stocks that I have purchased within the past year:
CSX 18,23% 6,34%
MO 22,77% 12,87%
STO 19,42% 14,20%
3 that I considered but am looking for additional insight:
ADP 2,97% 14,17%
PAYX 0,90% 27,68%
T 2,05% 4,94%
The wildcard:
SWZ 3,95% 30,58%
NOTE: * Stats provided by http://www.buyupside.com
1 Includes splits and dividends from April 26,2000
2 Dividends reinvested from inception date.
In short, while it is true that the aristocrats and champions do raise their dividends over time, their annualized returns vary considerably. So my first question is this – with such anaemic returns, why are AT&T and XOM considered by many to be such a good DRIP stocks? Second question – if the valuation metrics of a company look like a buy, based on the information above, should we consider companies with double digit growth in both columns growth and income stocks like MDC or MO? If the company has double digit growth in annualized returns, is it a growth stock like STO? And finally, if it has double digit growth in the annualized dividend growth, is it an income stock like JNJ or SWZ?
Thanks in advance and looking forward to your thoughts.
Greece Will Default: This Means Big Investor Opportunities [View article]
Greece Will Default: This Means Big Investor Opportunities [View article]