Can the PS3 Save Sony

"Never try to introduce the same product twice. That was the lesson from the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May. A year earlier, at E3 2005 in Los Angeles, Sony had wowed the videogame industry with demonstrations of the upcoming PlayStation 3's unprecedented graphical muscle. The machine wouldn't be available until months after Microsoft's next-gen console, the Xbox 360. Yet based on the spectacular preview, many gamers had no problem waiting for the PS3. Then, early this year, Sony dropped a bombshell: The PS3 release would be pushed back until November. So when E3 came around again this spring, everyone trooped out to the retro Hollywood lotusland of the Sony Pictures lot – only to view the same console they'd been promised the year before. Not great."

10 common misunderstandings about the GPL

The GNU General Public License (GPL) is one of the most widely used software licenses -- and, undoubtedly, the most misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding comes from hostile propaganda, but some also comes from a lack of experience in licensing issues on the part of both lawyers and lay users, and the use of standard language in conventional end-user license agreements that are unthinkingly coupled with the GPL. In all cases, the confusion is frequently based on misreadings, rumors, secondhand accounts, and what is convenient to believe.

Research Report Red Flags

"Registered representatives are inherently in a tough situation when left to choose between selling a stock in a company for which their firm has done underwriting, and doing what is ultimately best for the client. In many cases, however, this decision is mutually exclusive. Therefore, when it comes to researching stocks, brokers must pay close attention when reading a research report, rather than just relying on the ratings their firms provide. In this article, we'll provide a breakdown of what brokers should look for and give you the tools you'll need to separate the wheat from the chaff to get the best stocks for your clients."

It may be time for Warren Buffett to bail on PetroChina Co.

"It may be time for Warren Buffett to bail on PetroChina Co.

Shares of the company, Asia's largest by market value, have risen 39 percent this year, and now are among the most expensive of the world's biggest oil producers relative to earnings. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owned 1.3 percent of Beijing-based PetroChina, valued at $2.7 billion, at the end of 2005. "

Microsoft Awards $951 Million Worth of Stock

"Microsoft (MSFT - news - Cramer's Take) on Thursday handed out performance bonuses of restricted stock worth nearly $1 billion to roughly 900 senior executives."

Concerns Weigh Over Alcatel-Lucent Merger

"As French telecom-equipment giant Alcatel and U.S.-based Lucent prepare for Sept. 7 shareholder votes on a planned merger of the companies, critics are warning the merger could be a bad deal for investors."

Getting Skype Off the P

Use Skype? Millions of people do, but they typically need to have a personal computer up and running to take advantage of the phone service that can be free or low-cost. That's about to change.

Wal-Mart and Apple Battle for Turf

Bond-Fund Basics

Consider these key factors before you go bond-fund shopping.

China Techfaith Needs Long Term Faith

China Techfaith Wireless Communication Technology Ltd. (CNTF) reached $18 two months after I profiled the company in my blog and then it started a long and painful slide to current price of $7. If you remember what Benjamin Graham said “Investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike”; the stock price of CNTF dropped because the business went bad.

An Interesting Play on China's Banking Sector: Bank of East Asia

Bank of East Asia, also known as BEA, is Hong Kong's largest locally owned bank and over the past decade it has built out one of the largest non-locally owned banking networks in China with 27 branches and representative offices in 11 cities.

Joint BIS-IMF-OECD-World Bank statistics on external debt

High-level principles for business continuity

"In response to a request from the Financial Stability Forum in September 2004, the Joint Forum determined that high-level principles on business continuity would contribute beneficially to the resilience of the global financial system. A working group of the Joint Forum was established in early 2005 to develop the principles, which were published in a consultative paper in December 2005. An overview of the comments received on the consultative paper is provided in a separate document. This paper is a revised version of the December 2005 consultation draft."

Including estimates of the future in today's financial statements

"On 11-12 November 2005, the BIS held a workshop on Accounting, risk management and prudential regulation, which brought together a multi-disciplinary group of around 35 external participants including senior accounting practitioners, standard setters, finance academics, supervisors and central bank officials. The workshop programme is attached. This paper was presented at the workshop.

Abstract:

This paper explains why the question is how, not if, today's financial statements should include estimates of the future. Including such estimates is not new, but their use is increasing. This increase results primarily because standard setters believe asset and liability measures that reflect current economic conditions and up-to-date expectations of the future will result in more useful information for making economic decisions, which is the objective of financial reporting. This is why standard setters seem focused on fair value accounting. How estimates of the future are incorporated in financial statements depends on the asset and liability measurement attribute, and on financial reporting definitions of assets and liabilities. The present definitions depend on identifying past transactions or events that give rise to expected inflows or outflows of economic benefits and, for inflows, control over the expected benefits. Thus, not all expected inflows or outflows of economic benefits are recognised. Note disclosures can help users understand recognised estimates, and can provide information about unrecognised estimates. Including more estimates of the future in today's financial statements would result in an income measure that differs from today's income, but arguably provides better information for making economic decisions."

Reducing Risk With Options

"Many people mistakenly believe that options are riskier investments than stocks. This stems from the fact that most investors do not fully understand the concept of leverage. However, if used properly, options can have less risk than an equivalent position in a stock. Read on to learn how to calculate the potential risk of stock and options positions and discover how options - and the power of leverage - can work in your favor."

Savings Plans For Minors

I probably should start planning.... !

Vietnam Seeks to Grow Stock Market Value Eightfold by 2010

Just a heads up on the viet stock market

The Truth About Buffett's Tax Bill

"Berkshire is famous for being smart about minimizing its tax bill, including some moves so clever that I've written about them throughout the years. But Buffett isn't doing anything like that with his donations."

Yahoo! Holds Off on Phone Ads

Yahoo! (YHOO - news - Cramer's Take) isn't jumping on the pay-per-call ad bandwagon just yet.

Some analysts see pay-per-call as an untapped and potentially lucrative market for Web companies. The concept got a high-profile endorsement Monday when Google (GOOG - news - Cramer's Take) and eBay (YHOO - news - Cramer's Take) said they would begin testing call services next year as part of their much-discussed advertising alliance

TiVo Loss Widens

"The Alviso, Calif., company lost $6.4 million, or 7 cents a share, for the second quarter ended July 31, against the year-ago loss of $892,000, or a penny a share. Revenue rose to $52.9 million from $40.7 million a year earlier."

China's Financials Need an Overhaul

McKinsey Global Institute's director says aggressive reform of the mainland's financial system is necessary to promote sustainable growth

Baidu.com Has an Expectations Gap

"There are some wicked expectations riding on China's leading search engine player and NASDAQ phenom Baidu.com (BIDU). On July 26, after the U.S. markets closed, the Beijing-based Net concern reported that earnings nearly quadrupled to $7.3 million and revenues vaulted 175% to $24 million year-on-year. Market reaction: Baidu's share price slumped 15% to around $78.50 in after-hours trading on signs the company's future growth would just be stellar—instead of phenomenal."

China: The Next Software Center?

Leonard Liu has spent most of his career working for some of the premier tech companies in the U.S. and Taiwan. He's been a top executive at IBM (IBM) and Acer and has also been in charge of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, the world's leading semiconductor packaging company. After accumulating so much experience in the hardware business, now Liu has his sights on the software industry.

Salesforce Dives Into the Mash Pit - CRM

One sure-fire way for a tech company to generate excitement is to link up with Web search king Google (GOOG). Salesforce.com (CRM), the high-profile seller of on-demand services, hardly needs the Google glow, but it's getting it anyway. On Aug. 22, Chief Executive Marc Benioff is set to announce a new service, Salesforce for Google AdWords, that combines his company's easy-to-use interface with Google's powerful advertising engine.

Friendster: Poised for a Comeback

Comebacks can be hard to stage—though not impossible. Just ask George Foreman, Bill Clinton, or the folks at Volkswagen who resurrected the Rabbit. Investors are betting $10 million that social networking site Friendster.com can join such ranks

Google Goes for the Suite Spot - Office

"In recent months, there has been much speculation about how Google (GOOG) could attack Microsoft's (MSFT) highly profitable Office franchise, as the search giant has experimented with its own versions of word processing, spreadsheet, and other software programs. Now, Google is firing a direct shot at Microsoft Office by introducing a free, integrated suite of personal productivity applications."

Apple and HP

Younger consumers prefer online banking

Google: Doing Good in India

"Well after sunset on a Saturday evening early this month, a Boeing 767 landed at the sleepy airport in the southern Indian city of Madurai. On board was Larry Page, co-founder of Google (GOOG), and four other people from the world's most famous search engine. A quiet temple town, Madurai is hardly a high-tech hotbed the way Bangalore is, but Page wasn't in Madurai to do business. Accompanying the Google billionaire was Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org, described by the company as "the philanthropic arm of Google.""

Banks are Merging

China's New Mantra: Creditors First - new bankruptcy law

Bankruptcy in the People's Republic? And legal guarantees providing creditors with better protection than workers? In a sure sign of how China keeps on changing as it becomes a world economic player and steps beyond its workers' paradise past, Beijing passed a new corporate bankruptcy law on Aug. 27. It ensures better security for capital—and puts China's workers solidly in second place.

Foster's: The Bitter Truth

When it comes to beer and wine, few companies can match the eclecticism of Foster's Group. The Melbourne-based company is the world's No. 2 wine maker, behind only Constellation (STZ) of the U.S. Foster's' labels include wines from Australia, the U.S., and Europe such as Beringer, Lindemans, Wolf Blass, Penfolds, and Rosemount. Foster's is Australia's biggest maker of beer and is quite popular in Britain as well.

TV over mobile phones

"Aloha Partners has a big business plan for a wireless company that doesn't have any customers, much less a cellular network. Aloha Partners President Charles Townsend is about to take on chipmaker Qualcomm and wireless tower operator Crown Castle in one of the hottest areas of tech: TV over mobile phones."

Mozilla Goes Mainstream

It was the summer of 2004, and a group of 10 techies huddled together in an office in Mountain View, Calif., facing a daunting task. They had embarked on an ambitious effort to create a Web browser that could go mano-a-mano with Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

Pocket of Pain for Young Graduates

I knew I was getting paid alot less!!!! lol


"What they've experienced over the past several years is an unrelenting downdraft in wages, probably the first sustained decline for college grads since the 1970s."

BP Energy Speculation

The Commodities Futures Trading Commission is probing BP's practices. But the bigger issue may be how speculation by many is pushing up energy prices

Networking Habits

See how networking is as much a mind-set as it is a skill set? Clearly, there are many things to do that will make your networking attempts successful, but there are also a good many things to be that are equally important to this art.

Procrastination

Yay! a reason to slow down!

Coke and Chlorox have new CEOs

Bleach and household products maker Clorox Co. on Wednesday named Donald Knauss, the departing president of Coca-Cola Co.'s North American operations, as chairman and chief executive, effective October.

'Line mentality' in the markets

The fear of doing worse than average keeps people in long lines even when they are staring at evidence of a better alternative. Similarly, I suspect it is fear of doing worse than average that keeps people in index funds no matter how compelling an individual stock looks.

Quick Overview of the Chinese Market week 060830

Not as much news this week, even for myself I am a little tired ... still...

Iatian Banking Bank Italy

US Wireless auction of radio frequencies

Trading Technologies to connect to SGX and launch TTNET™ Hub in Singapore

Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT) and Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) today announced that TT will connect its X_TRADER® order-entry platform to SGX. The Singapore Exchange gateway represents TT's first connection to the Asian markets, and the second Asia-Pacific market. TT expects to begin trading of SGX derivatives products on the TT platform in the fourth quarter of 2006. The SGX gateway is compatible with X_TRADER 7, the latest version of TT's popular order-entry software launched in January 2006. X_TRADER users

Sisters Blew Whistle on Katrina Claims

"Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, a prominent lawyer of tobacco litigation fame, created a stir by announcing in March that two "insiders" were helping him build cases against insurers for denying claims for Hurricane Katrina losses. Their identities remained a mystery until the day in early June when Cori and Kerri Rigsby -- employees of a company that contracted with State Farm -- told a supervisor they were cooperating with Scruggs."

man...

ConocoPhillips

Chad Orders 2 Oil Companies to Leave

and another report

On Insurance and Healthcare

Insider Trading ?

That Sony Battery

and what actually happen .. or rather a quick overview ...

More on Zune specs??

Its iPod season ....

Sign Of An Apocalypse In Private Equity? - Buying out Microsoft ?

" Could Microsoft (MSFT ) be bought out? That's precisely what the Financial Times of London recently called for. A consortium of private equity firms, the FT wrote, could cobble together the $288 billion needed -- nearly nine times more than the largest deal ever made. Why dare? "In truth," wrote the FT, "Microsoft would be worth more off the [public] market than on it.""

Who Wants Ford's British Brands? ford

"Alas, the British auto industry, what's left of it, is again on the block. With Ford Motor making so much noise about selling the furniture to keep the lights on and the water running, much activity is swirling around Jaguar, Land Rover, and Aston Martin."

The Real Deal: How to Get Funded - funding financing

The difference between a startup that succeeds and one that fails largely comes down to money. No matter how great the idea or how high the customer demand, new businesses stumble when they don't get enough financial support.

The Inside Scoop on Staffing Companies

Others :


Making Sense of Fund Mergers

Long-Term Investing vs. the Hot Product



Homebuilding Stocks: Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful

ASEAN Hopes Railway Will Be Done by 2015

I am definitely looking forward to this!!

Investors revive interest in NTL

What is NTL ??????

Universal Health Services settles Katrina claims - Insurance

Hospital chain Universal Health Services Inc on Friday said it has reached an agreement with U.S. Federal Insurance Company to settle all claims related to damage of its facilities from Hurricane Katrina.

Prudential near market timing settlement: reports - Insurance

Prudential Financial Inc. may be close to a settlement with authorities that would resolve market timing investigations as early as Monday, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

Possible deals at Ford not enough: analysts

"None of the options Ford Motor Co. may be considering -- selling off its luxury brands, creating global alliances, taking itself private -- would do much to solve the struggling automaker's basic problems, analysts said."

Billionaire goes muckraking for profit

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is digging up dirt on Corporate America and publishing it, with plans to short the stocks of target companies and make money when they go down.

The Fed has voted -– for stagflation

In failing to raise interest rates, the Federal Reserve is pushing us toward a slow growth and high inflation situation like the one that plagued the U.S. during the 1970s.


another link that purports this

How the economy weathered Katrina - Investor lessons disaster

The damage was vast, but the economy has proved surprisingly resilient in the year since the hurricane. Here's why the doomsayers were wrong, and a few lessons investors can take away.

Highlights from Chinese Education Provider New Oriental's IPO Filing

"New Oriental Education and Technology Group, China's largest provider of private education, filed an F-1 with the SEC on Tuesday. Excerpts from the prospectus are highlighted below:"

Morgan Stanley Lifts Growth Forecast for Hong Kong

"Morgan Stanley economist Denise Yang notes that there was a slowdown in growth in the Hong Kong economy from 8% in Q1 to 5.2% YoY in real terms in Q2. After upgrading forecasts for China, she has upgraded Hong Kong forecasts as well:"

Harvard Business Review

ah... you need to subscribe I think ... but for some reason the letters are viewable, so for those who want to squeeze every ounce of info this might be a good source


This seems to be the main site:

Link


I do have access to the paper form, but a web presense looks rather compelling ...

The High Cost of Cheap Chinese Labor

"Paul W. Beamish’s June 2006 Forethought article “The High Cost of Cheap Chinese Labor” correctly points out that recruiting and retaining white-collar workers in China is difficult. But his analysis of China’s HR problem is far too simplistic."

The Next Auto Invasion is Coming - From China This Time

I am looking at autos and China .... this article is a shoo in =)


"If you're old enough to remember the early 1980's, you'll remember long gas lines, and skyrocketing inflation. You'll also remember an invasion of auto manufacturers here in the States."

This is actually erm nostalgic... I studied this in university. About how the Japanese auto manufacturers came in with all the JIT stuff. But the US went through a big revamp and eventually held their own... or not depending on how you look at it .

Of Zune Apples and pods : Toshiba to build Microsoft challenge to iPod MP3 players

This is getting interesting =)

yay for creative in getting in this dogfight.


.....


"Microsoft's challenge to Apple's reigning iPod MP3 players will be built by Toshiba and allow people to "DJ" by wirelessly sharing music, US regulatory agency filings showed on Friday. "


So the Zune can DJ ??? huh?

I know my kids would love to do that


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Updates:

more news on this

Australian govt to partially sell Telstra stake for US$6b

"The Australian government announced it would proceed with an eight billion dollar (six billion US) partial float of telecoms giant Telstra this year despite the company's rock-bottom share price. "

Breaking Down The Balance Sheet

Yet another tutorial to the balance sheet, I haven't examined it yet, but if good (as most of investopedia's stuff is =)) I will permalink it.

The recent behaviour of financial market volatility

"This BIS Paper studies the behaviour of financial market volatility since 1970, with special emphasis on the evolution in recent years. Financial market volatility plays an important role in corporate investment decisions and in the willingness and ability of banks to extend credit.

This Report emphasises that the reduction in volatility seen in recent years largely represents:

* the consequence of improvements in the functioning and structure of global financial markets;
* increased market liquidity;
* the greater role of institutional investors;
* better communication between central banks and financial markets; and
* stronger company balance sheets

The study was prepared by a study group under the Chairmanship of Mr Fabio Panetta of the Bank of Italy. "

Lebanon recovery middle east opportunity

As Israeli ground troops entered Lebanon on July 19, Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based Damac Properties, the biggest privately owned developer in the Persian Gulf region, said it was proceeding with plans to build a $150 million tower in Beirut. The 27-story luxury residence, which Ivana Trump is helping to design, will include a swimming pool, restaurants and views of the Mediterranean Sea.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Biggest Accountant, Faces IRS Audit

its kinda ironic I guess...

Bernanke housing assets

"The first time Ben S. Bernanke appeared at the Federal Reserve's annual mountain retreat seven years ago, the Princeton University economist's message urging a hands-off approach to asset prices sent his reputation soaring."

Asian Stocks Post Biggest Slide in Six Weeks, Led by Toyota - expense borrowing finance

I found this interesting as the purported reasons for the fall of the indexes is attributed to the increase in interest rates.

The general consensus is that increased rates, implies increased expenses, which in the end hits the bottom line.

Bernanke Says Terror, Protectionism Risk Global Trade

"The world is benefiting from an ``unprecedented'' pace of global economic integration that may be constrained by protectionism and terrorism, said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke.

``The emergence of China, India, and the former communist- bloc countries implies that the greater part of the earth's population is now engaged, at least potentially, in the global economy,'' he said in prepared remarks to the Kansas City Fed's conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. ``International tensions and the risks of terrorism already constrain the pace of worldwide economic integration and may do so even more.'' "

Northwest in trouble but gets reprieve

"A U.S. judge temporarily blocked Northwest Airlines Corp. flight attendants from going on strike, a tactic the company said could force it out of business.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said he was delaying for ``a few days'' a decision on Northwest's appeal of a bankruptcy court ruling that would have allowed the work stoppage. The flight attendants union, which had planned strikes by its 9,300 Northwest members beginning at 10:01 p.m. New York time, said it would obey Marrero's temporary order. "

Buffy Buys yet more USG

"Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has raised again its stake in building products maker USG Corp. to 17.3 percent from 16.5 percent"

I should probably start to look at USG =) if not for profit at least for learning

The Ups And Downs Of Biotechnology

For smart traders, this sector can present an incredible area of opportunity, but for those who are not willing to do their homework, it can be a train wreck waiting to happen.

Apple to Pay $100 Million to End Creative Dispute

"`Creative was very fortunate to have been granted this early patent and we just wanted to move beyond and get back to innovating without several years of protracted litigation that would have cost as much as settlement."


Not sure if Creative is lucky one in this scenario, but yes a protracted lawsuit will hurt Creative more than Apple.

But who would have eventually laughed last had it gone all the way, given Apples recent woes, one can only wonder.

CDC Corp. Q2 Transcript

Thank you, Peter. As the Company has been continuing to evolve since our last report to our investors, I'd like to briefly review the structure and competitive positioning of China.com Inc.

We have three main lines of new media businesses in the China market: games by CDC Games; Internet portal with the URL name China.com; and mobile value-added services through CDC Mobile.

First, I'd like to draw your attention to the recent performance of CDC Games which has been particularly pleasing. As in our neighboring country, Korea, China's online gaming business has been growing exponentially over the past few years and we continue to see significant room for future growth. We're committed to further enhancing our market position and exploring new opportunities in the promising China gaming market.

Secondly, CDC Mobile provides mobile value-added services in China which is another core strategic line of business for China.com Inc. We are well positioned in China, benefiting from solid relationships with mobile network operators at the national and provincial levels. We have established national connectivity with both China Mobile and China Unicom and extensive marketing and sales networks.

Another important strategic line of business, which is our oldest business and where the Company has its roots, are our portals: www.China.com and www.HongKong.com. I'll be delving into a bit more detail about each of these business units in a moment, but first let's look at the financial highlights of China.com as a whole.

China's Energy Crisis a Golden Opportunity for Coalbed Methane Producers Like Far East Energy

China’'s growing energy crisis is one reason the price of oil, natural gas and other commodities has sustained pricing at higher levels.

China Business Summary for the week 060823

of note:



Under a business alliance considered to be the most comprehensive ever joined in by Google (GOOG), its technology will be seen as providing power for China.com’s (CHINA) online search engine. Under the agreement, the technology will be used for China.com searches for online content in English and traditional Chinese. China.com claims it was one of China’s first Internet portals. Since its founding, the firm said it had launched a group of websites designed to help global businesses access increasingly affluent consumers in China. Under the partnership, China.com and Google will cooperate regarding branding, content and advertising, according to the companies.

China's Tightening Campaign

Stephen Speaks:

"Inasmuch as China remains very much a “blended economy” -- a combination of a state- and market-directed system -- the verdict on its current tightening campaign is far from convincing."

India software icon to step down

"He was an entrepreneur in a nation dominated by family businesses and a modest-living executive in a country where the rich are known for their excess. On Sunday, when he steps down as chairman of the company he help start 25 years ago, he'll become that most rare species of Indian business leader -- the one who gives it all up."

Top value investors are farming in the DELL

"Dell’s cratering again today, down 7%, after last night’s disappointing second quarter earnings report. But there’s less than meets the eye to the reaction – it looks like the growing interest of top value fund managers like Mason Hawkins and Wally Weitz is putting a floor under the stock. Long-term investors might see the same opportunities as those smarties. In fact, today’s decline only takes the stock back down to about where it was on Monday, and still about 10% above the low it hit last month when the company “pre-announced” its second quarter disappointment."


A comparison with HP

Dell 's Woes

and this as well Link


Dell is going through a rough patch , which may be good for some ppl =D

Customizing Goals for Your Salespeople

"Achieving sales volume goals for your business is one of the biggest challenges any owner faces. Many factors beyond your control can affect that final number -- the economy, the weather, the competition. But one manageable factor is the people in direct contact with your clients -- your sales team."

Tips to Bounce Back From Business Rejection

"One of the most consistent traits among high-sales achievers is their ability to bounce back from rejection and be relentless in their pursuit of the sale. Knock me down eight times, and I'll get up nine. Here are four ways to sell through the setbacks and constant nos:"

Core of Overseas Investing - An international portfolio

"By now investors who want a diversified portfolio know they should have a core international fund, but the idea of what that core fund should look like has changed as much as Wall Street's attitude toward overseas investing."

Harrah's Entertainment - Casino Las Vegas

"Not only did the world's biggest poker tournament make the Rio the place to play poker on the Las Vegas Strip over the past month and a half, it also helped the property dominate all table game usage in Vegas."

Israel Stocks

Ways a company would reward its investors once it is mature

When I read this i just included it as an update to an earlier post.

But on further reading, I though it represented some ways a company might reward its investors once it is mature.


Different company have different ways. Cash is normally seen as opportunity and if it is not used it is a bad reflection of the management (i.e. the management has ran out of idea...)

But what if the company is saturated, i.e. it can no longer grow? Now some companies can keep growing (especially investment holdings, insurance), but what about product based companies?

Lets not talk about generic ones or ones that are still trying to find their killer app, but those that are focused on one product.

Like Microsoft , I have always stated that MS is an oddity in business, the cost is low and the price is high =) I have also stated that in many why as much as people are disparaging google for being a one trick pony, MS has been the big white elephant pony wuzzle for all time =D How else can i believe that open source will take over from Windows ;) Windows is fast running out of tricks. And any trick it can do is either done already or can be easily replicated. MS knows this. Hence the feature addons year after year. Buying of companies to incorporate technology. But it gets to a point where there is nothing to add. MS is looking for the next frontier. It has looked at video games, PDAs, IM, search and recently medical equipment, MP3/entertainment software - Zune.

Which one has it gained the dominance it had with the desktop?

Granted it is strong.


Many companies are strong =)


Microsoft is strong and matured.

This article gave some good examples of how such companies may reward you if you invested in them.

A list of good financial blogs?

Walmart

Interesting =)


"It started to become clear this week in the wider media that Wal-Mart is becoming a populist target for politicians running for office this year, and that the company and its practices might remain a bogeyman for the coming presidential election."


....


" Public demagoguery is often a buying opportunity. For one: From John Edwards' "Two Americas" to Al Gore's "People vs. the Powerful" and back, populist political campaigns usually fail. Investors probably won't be dealing with the consequences of the rhetoric."


heh... stocks are funny ... which is probably a symptom of "people are funny".

On tech stocks

A summary of the past week, had some funny reasons why stocks went up.

Dubai International Buys Travelodge for $1.3 Billion

"Dubai International Capital LLC, a private equity company owned by the Persian Gulf emirate's government, agreed to buy Travelodge Hotels Ltd. from Permira Advisers LLP for 675 million pounds ($1.3 billion) to enter the expanding U.K. budget-hotel market."


TravelLode is a U.K. budget hotel line

Collectibles and their value

I myself collect Magic the Gathering , so this article was interesting if noe a tad depressing =P


"140,000,000 B.C: A young Allosaurus missteps and finds itself mired in a sink hidden beneath the underbrush. Millions of geological ages later, an amateur paleontologist helps him out - or at least what was left of his head. In 2005, the Allosaurus' restored skull sells for the high price of $600."

Singapore Airlines suspends cargo venture in China

"Singapore Airlines has suspended the operations of its cargo venture in China after the United States imposed sanctions on the airline's Chinese partner for allegedly supplying missile components to Iran. "

Japan to invest millions in Asia trade initiative

"Japan is to announce a fund worth up to 100 million dollars for a proposed 16-nation East Asian economic partnership intended to promote regional trade."


I reread the article and wow...


"Japan's proposed partnership groups together China, South Korea, India Australia, New Zealand, Japan itself and the 10-country ASEAN.

The ambitious trade bloc would cover half the world's population. Last year the 16 nations formed the East Asia Summit, which is seen as a precursor to the partnership. "


Half the world! =D

Islamic banking booming as sector goes mainstream

Link

"Japan's decision to explore issuing Islamic bonds is the latest step forward for a booming sector that has broken out of its niche market and is being embraced by mainstream banks and businesses. "

Investopedia - couple of good links

An Alternative Covered Call: Adding A Leg

Stop Hunting With The Big Players


Technical Analysis: Introduction

Option Spreads: Introduction

China 's Central Bank Raises Lending, Deposit Rates

Link

"China raised benchmark lending and deposit rates simultaneously for the first time in two years to curb an investment boom that threatens to fan inflation and leave the nation with too many factories."

Not a Recession

Link

"On the one hand, we have sunny investment pros who think the Federal Reserve has pulled off the miracle of the century with its two-year campaign to lift interest rates: a "soft" landing for the fast-flying U.S. economy that has blunted inflation. On the other, we have skeptics who think the Fed has recklessly pushed the economy over a cliff toward a recession and botched its all-important battle with inflation."

On Retail

Link

"And if any larger truth is to be gleaned from the recent earnings season as far as retailers are concerned, it is that there is absolutely, positively no consistency. In other words: no single bellwether."

On tobacco Maven

Link


" The point is that separating tobacco companies from this most-favored strategy of tricking customers into believing some types of cigarettes ain't that bad is probably worse news for these companies long term than any one-time hit to the pocketbook. So what do I think of all these "Tobacco Companies Win, Won't Pay" headlines?"




An update on tobacco

"U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler sent tobacco stocks soaring Aug. 17 when she found the industry guilty of racketeering but imposed no financial penalties."

Of Apples and Options

Link


"In 1997, Apple Computer was in turmoil. That year also happens to mark the beginning of a period during which the company says it found "irregularities" with the granting of stock options to executives. Since options values are so closely tied to stock movements, I thought it would be useful to look at that period to recall the events that appear to have whipsawed Apple's shares that fateful year."

'Zombie' debt is hard to kill

Scary Stuff

"Rose, a Baton Rouge saleswoman, battled collection agencies for years over the bogus account. They harassed her by phone and trashed her credit report. She'd no sooner convince one that the debt wasn't hers than the account would be sold to another and the calls would start all over again."


Other stuff about Sleazy new debt-collector tactics:

Chinese Wireless | 3G Delay | transcripts | FocusMedia | Hurray! | China Medical

Link

Probably just good for getting keywords in the Chinese wireless market



But adding on possibly more useful news:
Link

"Don't expect China to issue licenses for 3G wireless networks until next year say many telecom-industry execs and analysts who had expected them to have been issued by now."


More transcripts:

This time its FocusMedia , apparently an advertising company

"Total advertising revenue from our commercial location network in the quarter was $31.1 million. During the second quarter, we continued to add new displays at desirable locations while optimizing the acquired network from Target Media, including cancellation of certain contracts with locations where rent is above our standard. As a result, the total number of LCD and PDP flat panel displays in our commercial location network in our directly operated cities has decreased to 69,446 as of June 30, 2006, from 71,230 as of March 31, 2006.

In the second quarter, we added five new regional distributors in our network. Today, our commercial location network covers over 90 cities in China, including 50 directly-owned cities and 41 regional distributors. "

Another for Hurray! Holding

Looks like a wireless content + software development provider

"Now let’s start from our Q2 2006 financial highlights. Total revenues was $18.3 million, up 10.2% quarter-over-quarter and 22.1% year-over-year exceeding previously reaffirmed guidance of $16.5 million to $17.5 million. Record wireless value-added services revenues was $16.6 million, growth of 14.5% quarter-over-quarter and growth of 23.7% year-over-year.

Software and system integration services revenues were $0.4 million, a decline of 43.0% quarter-over-quarter and 77.1% year-over-year. Recorded music revenues, which are from the Company's new music development, production and distribution business were $1.4 million. "

[update 060823]
Hurray! Holding Co., Ltd (HRAY), a provider of ringtones, ringbacktones and other wireless music-related services in China, reported Q2 2006 earnings last Thursday. CEO QD Wang and CFO Jesse Liu comment on the company's ups and downs in the last quarter in their conference call transcript:

more on Hurray!
[end update 060823]


And China Medical

Dell slumps on SEC probe

Link

"Shares of Dell Inc. fell nearly 8 percent on Friday, a day after reporting second-quarter profit fell 51 percent, and disclosing that regulators are reviewing its accounting practices."


This is of interest as Dell is being looked at and recommended alot, also Dell has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. and yet it is recommended, hence it is interestin gto see how this pans out.

As one guru investor pointed out, there is profit to be made when there is blood. mercenary but true.

MS buying back shares

Link

"Microsoft Corp. on Friday said it will have purchased about $3.8 billion worth of its shares in a tender offer this week, or less than one-quarter of the planned repurchase of up to $20 billion in stock."

The 20 billion was what MS said it would buy (or was that just a speculation?)

More news from another source but essentially the same.


An update:


Even though it seems like the buyback was a flop, it might have been a good thing? For some people at least =P

Link


"The Redmond, Wash., software giant didn't have great success with its recent Dutch auction self-tender. But some observers say that's good news for stockholders.

With investors only cashing in 155 million shares at $24.75 apiece, for a total of $3.8 billion, the company fell well below its target of repurchasing $20 billion worth of shares this month. But Microsoft duly added the $16.2 billion shortfall to its existing buyback plan -- meaning it will repurchase $36.2 billion worth of shares on the open market over the next five years. "

Good Investment Companies

Link



"We think that investment companies can make great investments. Unlike most open-ended mutual funds, investment companies benefit from significant managerial ownership and a long-term time horizon that allows equity investments to benefit from the effects of compounding. What's more, owning shares in an investment company allows investors to profit from the investment acumen of some of the best money managers around--without the exorbitant fees of many mutual and hedge funds."

Google , Hype ? or Hulk ?

Link

From businessweek:

"Rivals get the jitters when Google's nonsearch products grab headlines. But a close look shows that so far, there's not a market leader among them "


But an alternative view:
Google’s new product “stickiness” doesn’t matter


"Recently I read an article in Business Week about Google (“So Much Fanfare, So Few Hits”) and I found myself agreeing with the premise that Google certainly does release lots of new products and services — none of them as popular as their main site — but each probably gets a ton of traffic by themselves. So relative to www.google.com, they’re tiny, but when the comparison is not made, they could be huge.

But these comparisons are ultimately superfluous. Allow me to explain…"

How to Build a Great Portfolio for Your Working Years

Link


This is probably quite useful for me =D


An excerpt:


"Many of you have read my article on "Model Portfolios for Retirees" over the years. I frequently get requests for model portfolios for people who are still working. I wrote a series of articles this year for Morningstar Practical Finance that show you how to go about constructing portfolios using stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cash equivalents."

ETF - Exchange Traded Funds

Link


"ETFs can be great tools to add to your financial toolbox. They're cheap, flexible, and tax-efficient. But to benefit from what they have to offer, you must use them intelligently. That means resisting "short-termism" and avoiding the temptation to pile into the hottest performing funds."

bond fund money | market fund | Money market

Link


I really have no idea what the guy is talking about, but it sounds inportant enough for me to sticky it onto the blog so I'll remember to read it in greater detail....


"The answer lies in how you define risk. Money market investors don't risk losing money but they do risk missing out on return elsewhere. If market interest rates move lower, money market yields, which are simply a snapshot in time and no guarantee of what an investor might earn over the next year, will fall. Bond prices and bond fund returns, on the other hand, would improve if rates move lower."


[edit]

I did a quick search on google and investopedia had this to say

Direct Revenue ?

Link

The company in question is Shanda from China, but what is interesting is the talk about payment models, this intriques me and may justify a look at what Shanda actually does, not so much for the company but for its methods.

Actually given this piece of info, credit cards may be the next big thing in China ;)

Ethanol Fueled Cars Biofuel

Link

Is this the beginning of a new run?

Biofuel has been on the books for awhile, and if you have been keeping watch, many countries (particularly Asian countries with plantations to spare) have been pushing hard.

Thailand, Japan, Malaysia all have biofuel plans.

With GM coming in with the products, will biofuel rise?
Are the ethanol fueled cars the new killer apps for the biofuel world?

Stay tuned....


An excerpt:

"The debate over the viability of E85 fuel—a blend of 85% renewable ethanol and 15% gasoline—has heated up since the beginning of the year, when President Bush gave it banner treatment in his State of the Union address. Since then, all of the Big Three have committed to doubling production by 2010 of flex-fuel vehicles, cars, and trucks that can run on either E85 or regular gas."

China Techfaith Wireless Shanda Transcripts

China Techfaith Wireless

Shanda

Growth in China’s Luxury Goods Market to be Fueled by 2nd Tier Cities

Link

"Luxury product companies drool at the blooming Chinese market. Already the third largest luxury goods market in the world behind Japan and the United States, luxury mavens believe China will continue to grow as China’s emerging middle class tops 250 million by 2010. Goldman Sachs estimates that the global luxury goods market is approximately $50 billion USD with Chinese consumers accounting for 12% of worldwide sales, for a total of $6 billion USD."

Inflation - 060816

Link


Just a CPI update, but good for reading and understanding the effects of inflation, my personal consumption

Consumer Trends in China

Link


Women and children are taking bigger roles than ever before.

Email Marketing - Great Copywriting

Link

"E-mail marketers use many strategies to improve the effectiveness of their campaigns, but one area often overlooked is what fills the page--the copy you write."

The truth about startups

Link

"So many aspiring entrepreneurs dream of the numerous rewards that await them when they finally break free of the shackles of the rat race and become their own boss. But many see only the gold at the end of the rainbow--and go into it with misconceptions about what's it's really like to own their own business."

Another tech stock upcoming, mySpace

Link

"MySpace, the wildly popular but so far unprofitable News Corp. (NWS - news - Cramer's Take) Web site, will double its sales force this year.

The move will bring the sales force of MySpace, which News Corp. bought last year for $588 million, to about 30, says Michael Barrett, the chief revenue officer for News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media. The new hires have been "specifically budgeted," he says in an interview.

Bringing more advertising dollars into MySpace without alienating its more than 50 million unique visitors is going to be tricky, but it's a gamble that New York-based News Corp. needs to make. The site is the focal point of Rupert Murdoch's Web strategy -- a strategy that has been a hit with investors this year.

Last week, News Corp. unveiled the first leg of its effort to make MySpace pay off, in a $900 million ad linkup with Google (GOOG - news - Cramer's Take). "

Commodities metals good overview

Link

As always Jim Jubak give a very comprehensive overview. In this case, the metals market.

Business Times 060815 Water Energy Education Singapore

Singapore Water Solutions Alliance
Boustead Singapore's Salcon
target - 500M Middle East


Keppel Energy
Electricity demand 4.4% anually over 10 years
525M 500MWatt station this quarter

to triple power supply by 2010 2011



Presently overcapacity of 85% - cut to 38% by 2015

Senoko Power
PowerSeraya
Tuas Power


Creative cuts net loss for 4th quarter to 12.7M from 31.9M the previous year


HeuLab

education products
3 out of the box products

started with Geography + Maths
VOted best parnter of MS

Sunpower a wastewater treatment company (China)

Sunpoer got money from? -> Sinopec 70% 3 yrs ago.


Sinopec + oil and Natural gas corp (ONGC) aquire Omimex de colombia
SInopec is China's no. 2oil comp

Omimex de colombia is colombianm and is a subsidiary of Omimex Resources a US comp

Apple receives delisting warning from Nasdaq

Link

Boosting your Batting Average - Value Investing

Link


Link


Essentially it says that you should wait for the right moment,.. though of course it says more than that =)

Of Moats, margin of safety, Cash, trade less, Have less stocks

Financial Goals, Taking advantage of Mr Market

How to reach your financial goals


Taking advantage of Mr Market

Seven Ways to Simplify Your Investment Life

Link

So what on earth do smaller investors like us have to learn from a power broker like Miller? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

Quality Will Withstand

Link


An excerpt:

One of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes is, "It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked." In the early part of 2006, it seemed that many were swimming in their birthday suits in the strong economy's high tide, plowing into everything from risky commodity companies to emerging markets with abandon. Now that the markets have taken a breather since May and the tide has started to roll out, the benefits of investing in wide-moat firms have made themselves more evident.

Management - 10 Basic Negotiating Tactics plus etiquette Magazines Sales

Management - 10 Basic Negotiating Tactics
Link

An excerpt:

"I probably don't have to tell you that I don't advocate the use of tactics to take advantage of the people with whom you're negotiating. I believe that most tactics, if used judiciously, are simply tools that can expedite the negotiating process.

Tactics serve several purposes. They help you get down to the real issues being debated at the negotiating table. They can break down stalemates. And they can help you spot and protect yourself from unscrupulous negotiators."



Some interesing reminders on etiquette


On Magazines - Link


On sales

Small-Business Myths Busted

Link

An excerpt:

"So many aspiring entrepreneurs dream of the numerous rewards that await them when they finally break free of the shackles of the rat race and become their own boss. But many see only the gold at the end of the rainbow--and go into it with misconceptions about what's it's really like to own their own business. They think funding sources are just a phone call away, that they'll have time for weekly golf games and will be rolling in the dough faster than you can say "Ch-Ching.""

How to Finance an Acquisition

Why do some entrepreneurs seem to get so hung up on making their original idea work that they rarely consider growth by acquisition?

Delicious!

Delicious!

As you enjoy the decadent flavor of your grandmother's signature cheesecake or the robust tang of your dad's famous barbecue sauce, you wonder how you can bring those family recipes to the rest of the world. Can you build a business around a family recipe?

Some buys by IBM

Link

Understanding the R&D market

Link


An excerpt:

Now, suppose that in addition to the supplies, you can also provide qualified miners. This scenario is essentially what contract research organizations, or CROs, do for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Investment Versus Speculation

Link


An excerpt:

There are some insights that investors would do well to follow in order not to cross the boundaries between investment and speculation.

Robert Sacco's articles are usually pretty good... of course I have only read 1 so far =)

Contrarian Investment

Link

An excerpt:

There was a time when David Dreman, 70, the noted contrarian investor and investment chief of $17 billion Dreman Value Management, followed the crowd. It was 1969, and Dreman, then a junior analyst, watched in wonder as the shares of tiny companies with negligible earnings skyrocketed. "I invested in the stocks du jour and lost 75% of my net worth," Dreman says. "It was the only time I had an ulcer."

Singapore's Stock Investment Game!!

Link

I have no idea what it is, I have'nt tried it yet =)

Education Credit Card Debt Apple Coke monster AIDS Blackberry

Its funny =) but definitely there is money. Education!

This article really deserves a post of its own, its about how a no-limit credit is BAD.

"The problem is something called "credit utilization," which is the ratio of a cardholder's actual debt to his or her potential debt. In other words, if a consumer has a $10,000 credit limit and a $5,000 balance, the credit utilization is 50 percent. Credit utilization accounts for 30 percent of your credit score. The lower it is, the better it is for your credit score.

However, if the card has no limit, the credit-scoring company can't make the credit-utilization calculation, and that has an effect on credit scores."

More on how kids get into bad credit.

Apple is still bouncy along, up and down, currently it looks down after Stevie spoke

"The keynote address that Steve Jobs delivered Monday at Apple Computer’s (AAPL, news, msgs) annual Worldwide Developer Conference was a dud. He didn’t offer any surprises or unveil anything new related to the blockbuster iPod. Compared to last year’s big Intel (INTC, news, msgs) announcement, the speech left investors wanting."


As usual, nowadays anyways energy is going up.


Ahh... a beginner's guide to investing!

4 new video game companies are up comin!

And you though Apple was havin' it bad? Its a monster for Coke!

A little more hope for those with AIDS

Here's yet more hope.

On bad investor management. Ah shit, I'm being managed???


A little insight on the US media (print) industry

A guide for retirees.

Blackberry Hits China!!!!!

Things to remember as an investor

More of moral mores than technical or even philsophical.

My views, my blog, put a sock in it if you disagree ;)



Luke 6:

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and don't ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.

31 "As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.

32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

36 Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

Investment is a little like relationships

It never fails to tickle me that doing investing is a little like marriage and relationships.

When you have dividends or spare cash, what should you do with it?

Value in a relationship is like trust, you have cash? you have chips? You invest more in the company, just like you invest more trust in a relationship. Of course it is more risky, but thats why its called trust. We could talk all day about trust of course =) but if you trust a person who would fail you, you are like a speculator, you buy into a stock (even at inflated costs) hoping it will go up. Investing is when you expect (not hope) that you will have a higher or equal return ;) chew on that for a while. (I did'nt come up with that Buffett said that in 1992)


"There is no question that current listings and future offerings are improving in quality and thus, the thinking is there will be more stability and higher share prices extending over the long-run -- and potentially even more upside this year although high valuations may limit the extent of further gains. Somewhat ironically, it is these same new blue chip listings that have investors pulling money out of already listed shares in order to take part in IPOs."


This quote Link tickles me as well. So you are average Joe, like the rest of us, you have limited cash/juice/chips. Choose your mate wisely, dun put your money in and out. Or you will never reap the benefits of a healthy growing relationship. Your relationship takes time to grow and blossom. Always seeking new love, new faces will leave you empty, both in trust, value and cash. In investment terms you are just begging to lose money brother.

China Investment news

Too many hence I shall compile the postings. Again this is only those I am interested in =)


Global Sources 2 Quarter transcripts This article was interesting because it is a B2B media comapany, i.e. it handles tradeshows and such. It seeks to expand into Dubai (it a place of interest for me =))

I will continue to update in this post... going for breakfast now


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Big Expectations for China's Blue-chip IPOs - This article gives some insight.

notable quotes:

""Chinese households had about $1.94 trillion in bank savings at the end of June, several times the $540 billion market capitalization of the local-currency Class A share markets.""

"The decision by China's securities regulators to ban IPOs for one year until this past May and their efforts to supply the market with higher quality listings looks as if it will payoff increasingly more with time. The article mentions that over 90% of delistings and financially troubled stocks labeled as “special treatment” or ST stocks were listed before 2000. This is much more of a rarity for post-2000 listings. There are some valuation concerns in China but it seems to me that more listings in combination with an increase in market participants will develop into the “virtuous cycle” a Chinese equities analyst that was quoted mentioning in the article."

Apparently investing in offshore stocks is still limited for mainland Chinese - here China Monetory policy

More on monetory moves

A shift from print to online media? Rick Yan - CEO, 51Job speculates

2nd Quarter results for Gigamedia

China's medical device makers

China's survellience market


China's government has issued yet another warning to its 31 provinces to rein in their red-hot economies, state media said Sunday.

In particular, investment in factories, residential buildings and other fixed assets must be cooled down, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said, according to the Xinhua news agency.


SHANGHAI : The scaling back this week of Air China's planned one-billion-dollar initial public offering is a reflection of investor jitters over the market's ability to absorb a raft of new floats, analysts say.

Malaysia Ships Biodiesel to Europe

Link


an excerpt:

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi will be launching the first Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)-initiated biodiesel plant in Pasir Gudang as well as the first shipment of 60,000 tonnes of the biofuel to Europe on Aug 15,” he said after opening the MPOB workshop on Clonal and Quality Replanting Material yesterday.

Venture Capital - What you need to know

How to get em!

excerpt:

"VCs take pride in being risk-averse. They receive hundreds of business plans every month and typically consider only a handful. They are more likely to look at companies that are well known or come with strong recommendations from people they trust. Their due-diligence process often takes months and is extremely rigorous. Most companies don't make it through. To prepare, you should look at your company the way they will."


If you get em...


excerpt:

"Venture capital can be the best thing that ever happened to your company or your worst nightmare."

Failure in Business

Second Chances

What blogging means to businesses

Link

Taxing online Sales

Link

Quick Guide to Marketing

Quick Guide to marketing

4 Easy Ways to Get Advertisers on Your Site

Link


Must read for online business!!!!

Google's Friendly move into mySpace

Link

good or bad??? hmmmm

How is Levono doing?

Find out here:

Link

The power of blogging ... in China anyways =)

Link

How important is it to keep your customers happy?



" While criticizing the government online is still taboo, there are few constraints on airing grievances about corporate behavior. In thousands of Internet forums, the mainland's millions freely point out poor customer service, misleading ad campaigns, shoddy safety standards, and much more. Americans ``think the Internet in China is controlled and censored,'' says Sam Flemming, chief executive of CIC Data, a Shanghai research firm that tracks Chinese online forums and blogs. But when it comes to commenting on business, ``Chinese people are vocal and active.''"

Bookkeeping - What every business should know

Link

Coupon Marketing

Link

Working From Home !

Link

Mompreneurs!!!

The banking system in emerging economies: how much progress has been made?

Link


"Banking crises in emerging markets in the 1990s were associated with major macroeconomic disruptions: sharp increases in interest rates, large currency depreciations, output collapses and lasting declines in the supply of credit. Bank credit has since recovered in a number of countries, and there have been significant changes in banking structure, performance and risk management capacity.

Drawing on contributions by senior central bank officials from emerging market economies and staff of the Bank for International Settlements, the volume seeks to shed light on recent developments by addressing five broad topics."

Deflation causing Nationalism???

Link

As always Stephen Martin's articles usually have a more macro view. Always good to have!

Expanding the idea of value investing - must read for value investors

Link


" A common perception of the investment world divides it into value investors - those who buy undervalued stocks in the belief that the rest of the market has missed a bargain - and growth or momentum investors - who buy stocks that have gone up in the hope that that trend will continue. Value investors are typically thought of as painstaking, cautious and focused on safe and solid businesses; while growth investors are portrayed as focusing on the prospects for tomorrow's winning companies (often those just recently launched on the market.)"

Tech companies to buy?

Link

I suspect he is taking to people with more money =) erm still proceed with caution, it is tech afterall.

Fundamental Indexing

Link


An excerpt:

"...an alternative index strategy that uses revenue, book value, cash flow and dividends, as opposed to market cap to weight components...."

There is also a video, but I could'nt get the sound to work *shrug*

Interesting take on investing with respect to age

Link


Terry Savage seems to write with retirees in mind. That said she had another very interesting article I did not want to have a post on as it is specific to the US, but here it is =)


For Social Security, Timing Is Key

What are Dog Investors Strategy

Link

I never knew there was such a term =)

On oil - some background

Link

Thought it gives some nice background info

I think it is a good read with some insights if you are into the US stock markets

Five Factors that Trump Short-Term Returns - Fundamentals

Link Here

Several firms in the credit card industry look attractive.

I Want to Say One Word to You: Plastic.

Course.. the joke is sunscreen =)

On Funds - Myths

Link Here

Three Forces That Open Up China To New Investors

Link Here

An excerpt:

"The three major driving forces are the state-ownership reform, the legal system upgrade, and finally, active financial innovation. The three factors are also inter-connected and I will quickly go through them in a little more details.

First of all, the determination by the state government to publicly trade all the shares held by the state. This relates to one distinctive feature of the companies in China, that is, the dominating ownership by the state in the form of non-tradable shares in listed companies. In average, the state owns two thirds of the shares of the listed companies, in other words, twice the size of those tradable shares held by the public investors. This unique ownership structure has led to many issues such as corporate governance and distorted valuations, for which I won't get into details here. The punch line here is that in mid 2005 the government launched the largest ever reform in the market history to address this ownership issue. Because the reform aims to make all shares tradable in the public market, this process is known as the "full-flotation" reform."

More bad apples ?

Link
Link

The Art of Successful Coupon Marketing

Link

Buffet's Dollar Strategy

Link

Berkshire is going up up? 62% ... wow

Link Here

Investing in China - Some interesting reads

Link
Link
Link

China Airborne

Link Here

On Real Estate

Link Here

Good quickie on REITS and variants (at least in America) In Singapore, DBS is just getting started.

Top Legal FAQs for Inventors

Link Here

Good info

Keeping your Site FRESH

Link Here

Interesting =)

Top 10 Sales Killers

Link Here


Interesting articles =)

IBM buys software

Link Here


ust an example of bigger companies buying and then using software.... I think it is interesting because it tells you the direction of the company

Buffett also buys wallboard

Link Here

Just tracking Berkshire....


"A rights offering is when a company offers existing shareholders the chance to buy stock usually at a discount from market prices."

More bad apples -- Apple denies iTunes contravenes consumer legislation

Link Here

An excerpt:

"Norway's Consumer Council, backed by Denmark and Sweden, says the practice is illegal and wants changes to allow downloaded music to be played on any MP3 player, such as mobile phones."

The world's Largest Auto markets

Link Here

Just info i like to keep handy.. =)

The pod wars heat up! ipod goes auto!

Link Here


An excerpt:

"In the latest boost to its dominance in portable music players, Apple Computer Inc. is teaming with General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. to integrate the iPod into car audio systems."

How Retail Behaves

well .. in America at least =)


Link Here

I think this article shows how people react when something like oil prices go up... what looks shocking to the investor may actually be just a snitch to the average consumer....