The Stock Market and Investing

ljflx

Interesting story about the shopping mall revolution going on in Russia in today's NY Times. Within the article it says Russia has a flat tax of 13% and that people there spend more than 60% of their pre-tax income on retail items and restaurant purchases. In other words the Russian government is the polar opposite of the US. Here we have tax rates of over 50% in many cases (California now at 55%+) that is now taking more and more money out of the populations hands so that we can grow government to a mamoth unsustainable size which is still not enough for the far left. It also means that an entrepeneur should't even bother hiring anyone because any profit an employee makes them is delayed and when (and if) it comes will cost them more money in taxes than they'll take in for themselves which is why businesses are fleeing California in droves. Meanwhile Russia is growing their economy thru a policy of low taxes, exactly what the reps espouse and the population is prospering. Makes me sick at how far our country is setting itself back economically. Left to Obama and even moreso the further left liberals espoused by MSNBC, government would be the economy and the consumer would be bankrupt and totally dependent on government. Who's the socialist and who's the capitalist now?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/business/global/with-a-mall-boom-in-russia-pro- - - - - - - perty-investors-go-shopping.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

And then you have this story in which the Times acknowledges for the first time what just about all of us knew a long time ago. That the Democrats have their own tea party and they are just as nuts as the republican tea party.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/some-liberals-say-obama-squandered- - - - - - - -his-tax-leverage.html?ref=peterbaker

anthonyp

Over the years I have surmised that you are at the point where earnings are accelerating, and the American system (dream) is kicking in.....That happened for me maybe forty years ago, and after really frugal living (not denying ourselves but not overdoing it either) we really haven`t been able to accumulate a large fortune...I don`t think it is possible unless you really hit it big big, and have some sort of scheme to defer or eliminate the taxes.....Many people have utilized the leverage, and have done better than I, but I have done what I`v done the old fashioned way, and can tell you it is possible to take care of all the responsibilities, enjoy the good life, and take care of the grandchildren also--not using leverage...but it takes time

This thing about the Russians makes sense for them, and would for us also if we had a much smaller economy, and mostly everyone close to poverty...We`v got what we`v got and that has enabled many millions of people to have a much better life....I have gotten to the point where I admire the Russians as a people, and I also listen to what Putin has to say....and I must admit he makes sense about Syria...The middle east being such an unstable area and the overthrow of all the monarchs creating even more un stability .....I don`t have all the information, and that is one of the things the taxes pays for---people that do--- Good luck this New Year, and think about Pauley`s Island and Myrtle Beach as safe havens for investments Tony

fintail

Russia is a cool place, but I wouldn't exactly call it capitalist just yet. If you oppose the regime and/or don't have any connections, you're getting nowhere - kind of like in free and open China. Huge amounts of blatant in-your-face corruption, especially from ranking public sector officials. Also a dire socio-economic gap. Much less of any idea of an egalitarian meritocracy than even here. Low taxes, but no amenities. Also no foreign aid parasites nor immigration issues nor policeman of the world ideas (at least not anymore). For some things, you get what you pay for. The US has flown past a point of diminishing returns re: taxation, but Russia is in the same position, just on the other side of the fence, as they reap almost no returns. I doubt the average American from either nearly identical political side could hack it there, unless they imported some gold of their own.

Now that the cliff has been avoided and Boehner chewed out, can't wait for the debt ceiling drama just around the corner. Markets are going to be fun.

imidazol97

What's not mentioned in the MSM is important to the discussion: there's lots of pork in the fiscal cliff bill, reminiscent of the nearly trillion dollar bill passed in 2009. The Sandy Hurricane bill included pork--look up the items. All the squealing by the local politicians in the two states is understandable, but I don't think a new room in the Smithsonian belongs in the Sandy Hurricane bill, e.g.

This is symptomatic of the spending problem which hasn't even been reduced, but rather has been increased ($4 trillion over 10 years CBO). Are the markets going to react to that increased deficit spending? I don't see mention in reports by the mainstream media, but townhall, breitbart, daily caller, blaze give more facts. I see the markets going up, then lower volume, then another fall in February as the debt limit cliff is approached.

ljflx

there's lots of pork in the fiscal cliff bill

Yep. Now we know how Obama got corp execs to endorse the tax increase. $225mln to Goldman Sach's for real estate, $225mln to hollywood for movies (which I'm sure will have violence and guns), $25 mln to Nascar for a track. It goes on and on and I'm sure he gave out promise of corp tax cuts.

robr2

...there's lots of pork in the fiscal cliff bill...

Has there ever been a bill without lots of pork? It comes from both sides with every bill.

I think Thomas Jefferson buried funding for museum in Virginia in the Bill of Rights!!

imidazol97

>It comes from both sides with every bill.

I certainly agree with that.

I'd like to see the list of which congressmen put on each of the pork riders for the cliff and Sandy bills. Someone here may know how to find that info.

But I see ups and downs for the financial markets as we waddle and mud our way through the fiscal problems this year if there's no effort to actually cut any spending.

I'm most insulted by the money for Hollywood support--for actors who think they should tell us whom to vote for and tell us what our views on certain subjects should be, well, just because they are on the movie screen or on TV screens (TV programs also got support money).

ljflx

I don't see mention in reports by the mainstream media, but townhall, breitbart, daily caller, blaze give more facts.

Don't know if you've read links to Paul Krugman (an ultimate liberal who'd endorse the dems if they wanted to bring lions from the wild onto US city streets) stories I put up here (NY Times of course) but basically he thinks cutting spending is nuts and will curtail the economy and that we should instead just spend more and more because there's no end to creditors who want to lend us money and interest rates have decreased during our deficit increase as proof of this. He also says what happened in Greece and Spain can't happen here because we have our own currency and just can print whatever trillions we need if creditors have a change of heart in the future. He also says Obama can just print the money if the Congress doesn't yield on on the debt ceiling, citing national security. He has actually written this at least once every week since before the election on the NY Times op ed pages. But he's 100% for a tax increase. So I wrote him back. My question to him was that if there is an insatiable demand for our debt by foreign countries and whoever else, than why do we need a tax increase that is a small percentage of our deficit increases. Won't taking money from people who would have spent it in the economy or used it to create jobs also damage the economy just the way reduced spending would? The same people will just loan us a bit more money anyway and cut interest rates even more because there's a neverending line of people out there to finance us according to his thinking. Of course I don't expect any answer from him because there is none.

imidazol97

I don't have a link, but heard a discussion on a serious talk radio program about a few countries could go onto a gold standard for their currency. In that event, the world would flock to that currency rather than using the US Dollar as the standard. That would leave us in the cold, inflating, and worthless. Brazil was one in the list and perhaps Russia? I believe there were two others.

robr2

Yep. Now we know how Obama got corp execs to endorse the tax increase. $225mln to Goldman Sach's for real estate, $225mln to hollywood for movies (which I'm sure will have violence and guns), $25 mln to Nascar for a track. It goes on and on and I'm sure he gave out promise of corp tax cuts.

Actually every piece of "pork" in the bill was an extension of existing tax breaks and support for each extensions came from either side.

Making laws is a lot like making sausage...

ljflx

That's also what goes unsaid by the MSM. That we set us ourselves up for a different type of military strategy - currency manipulation. But again none of this matters to people like Krugman who simply say we'll just spend and then print money into oblivion.

ljflx

Nope - that's called bribery where I come from. Give me your endorsement or vote and I'll give you whatever you need. Pork is fine when we are not in insurmountable debt so comparisons to the past when we were fiscally sound does not carry any weight with me.

robr2

I'd like to see the list of which congressmen put on each of the pork riders for the cliff and Sandy bills. Someone here may know how to find that info.

I've already tried - it's not easy. It's all done in committee and all pretty much back room deals.

I'm most insulted by the money for Hollywood support--for actors who think they should tell us whom to vote for and tell us what our views on certain subjects should be, well, just because they are on the movie screen or on TV screens (TV programs also got support money).

This is the only one I have found any information on. It was supported by a Republican from Los Angeles:

"The tax break for the entertainment industry was backed by corporate behemoths such as Disney and Time Warner and GOP Rep. David Dreier of San Dimas (Los Angeles County), who chaired the powerful House Rules Committee before retiring at the end of this congressional session, according to the Sunlight Foundation."

gagrice

I'd like to see the list of which congressmen put on each of the pork riders

That is a very simple formula. It is based first on the Party in control and second on seniority in Congress. For decades Ted Stevens (r) and Robert Byrd (d) got the most pork for their states.

gagrice

You can bet Chris Dodd is in the thick of any money coming to Hollywood.

http://www.mpaa.org/about/ceo

cyclone4

Just to balance things out, here is very bearish opinion on AAPL. I think this guy is off his rocker, but there are others like him around. I will bow to this guy if he turns out to be right. I don't see how he can be.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2013/01/03/aapl-going-to-hover-but-head- ed-for-425-says-gundlach/?mod=yahoobarrons

ljflx

If he's right than half of Apple's value will be in it's cash and that would be lunacy. In effect Apple would trade at 4x earnings absent it's cash. The company just had a 26% growth quarter and the current quarter will be even greater. Many times these folks are stuck on comparisons to analysts excessive calls (which have no effect on the stocks multiple) rather than the reality of year over year growth. They also seem to expect Apple to create a new market every year which no company can ever do.

With that said my No.1 positioned investment remains the fidelity growth fund mutual which has really moved since the recession. I have never sold anything out of this fund because I've always loved its positions.

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=FDGRX+Interactive#symbol=fdgrx;range=5y;compa- re=;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;sourc- e=undefined;

I'm also big into the Franklin small cap value fund which has performed even better and of course I remain big into Apple.

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=FRVLX+Interactive#symbol=frvlx;range=5y;compa- re=;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;sourc- e=undefined;

ljflx

Charlie,

This quote from the article:

“Not because I’m a bond guy or stock guy, but because I’m a market guy. I’ve been around for a long time and I know that when something goes vertical like Apple did from $425 once the bubble pops it goes back down to the point at which it lifted off.”

So where the hell does he see a bubble in a stock that has moved solely because of its rapid earnings and cash growth (which actually exceeds earnings) both of which continue to grow at high rates vs the S&P and which has such a low multiple coupled with an out of this world Balance Sheet. Bubbles are a term for highly speculative stocks with weak earnings (or even heavy losses) and weak Balance Sheets that usually trade on rumors and hearsay to suck people in. They have much much higher multiples than Apple, on order of 8=20X Apple's multiple. This is a guy that is doing nothing but looking at charts and assuming the growth in share value has nothing to do with real world financials and earnings. He's a geek.

anthonyp

This fellow is a smart guy, with a big following....I`v had some `conservative` money with his company for a year or more, and he is rather `bearish` on everything, and has kept a large cash position in the bond portfolio....

As he says , he is a market guy, but I would take that with a grain of salt, as he really is a brilliant bond guy......

As we have discussed `on many rainy days` aapl is a quarter to quarter type of company....The earnings will be coming pretty soon, but I do think the competition is now also coming, so a conservative outlook is in order....I `believe`, but that doesn`t matter unless they deliver...Seven hundred dollars to five hundred dollars is just some sort of manipulated deal.....Tony

cyclone4

So where the hell does he see a bubble in a stock that has moved solely because of its rapid earnings and cash growth (which actually exceeds earnings) both of which continue to grow at high rates vs the S&P and which has such a low multiple coupled with an out of this world Balance Sheet. Bubbles are a term for highly speculative stocks with weak earnings (or even heavy losses) and weak Balance Sheets that usually trade on rumors and hearsay to suck people in. They have much much higher multiples than Apple, on order of 8=20X Apple's multiple. This is a guy that is doing nothing but looking at charts and assuming the growth in share value has nothing to do with real world financials and earnings. He's a geek.

Len, I'm sure you know that you are preaching to the preacher. I get infuriated when I have to listen to people like this guy but yet the folks interviewing him on CNBC do not follow up and ask him the very same questions you are asking above. I mentioned this before, but it would be fantastic if you were to appear as a guest on CNBC.

ljflx

Yeah I know. But it's just amazing how people don't look at fundamentals or financials. I bet the guy is clueless about Apple's cash position and the fact that'l be $200 a share by year end.

cyclone4

Here is a response to Mr. Gundlach:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/01/03/will-this-apple-bear-ever-be-ri- - ght.aspx

cyclone4

On days like yesterday and especially today, it makes me wonder if these Apple BEARS will be proven right. I just don't get it. How can they constantly pounce on this stock with all that it has going for it?

anthonyp

I swore I wasn`t going to respond to any more aapl stuff, as I am as flummoxed as anyone, but you Charlie are a special fellow.

A couple of years ago I remember you wishing one day that you would have a thousand shares....At that time I also started to take a position, and it declined from say four hundred the three thirty or somewhere like that .I closed the start of the position out, as I use discipline....No matter what I will sell if something goes against me.....Subsequently I have taken quick gambles on the earnings, and am right most times, but when wrong admit it...

As I follow aapl regularly, just as though I own it, I have come to realize how difficult it is to hold for the long term....Decline and look terrible for no discernible reason, the soar when reason come back...

As we approach earnings , as usual, things look bleak......You know as well as I that one day they will genuinely disappoint and that day will be a poor one for the stock....Possibly people are anticipating this report to be it.....I do think they rushed the 5 to market to stop the Gal 3, but other than that I would think they can control what they report, due to accounting gimmicks..

There is alot aapl can do in the future to head off any real swoon, they have `cannons in the closet`, and one is a good increase in the dividend.....Think about it , they have hundred + billion, and any purchase they make is usually very small...Those funds are just waiting to be deployed, and another good way would be to buy their own stock in conjunction with the div increase.......Further just the replacement market for new and improved products is enormous.....Just one positive thing after another... Tony

cyclone4

Thanks Tony! Your opinion means a lot to me. This afternoon I'm reading that some analysts are predicting that the iPhone 5 sales will be disappointing for the first quarter and this is why AAPL had a rotten day today. I can't for the life of me understand how it could be disappointing.

anthonyp

You and I know it won`t be disappointing , but there are so many different people that may expect something ridiculous , and then when that doesn`t happen it is `disappointing`....I swear the manipulation is terrible....What we have to do is consider the options world---either put or call and the `time` deviation, then the naked shorts that aren`t allowed to be naked, but are, then the mutual funds that permit the borrowing against the `pension` plans---and the list goes on and on....Seriously the electronic market makers that don`t exist when they are supposed to stabilize things , but instead are front running any order, and backing away at the first threat, are a travesty, that is allowed to go on and on...

At one point in my career I was on the floor of the NYSE when Xerox was the hot stock...It was a wonder to watch the specialist just step up to the plate and buy any and all sellers no matter the size---paint the tape---and then watch the hordes of traders -investors come to the aid of the specialist...Stuff was done with eights back then...and the stock was stopped in it`s tracks on a decline, then advance under what was huge volume....I tell you the time of the small investor is in peril. and so are many of the old Mutual Funds...
Someone will probably put out a rumor next week and aapl will have a decent rally only to be pushed back down before the earnings report, and I am going to bet the earnings are o k ---but after that I`l a leery guy

Tony

cyclone4

Tony,

I just listened to a voice reason on AAPL. I am 100% certain that this is the most manipulated stock in history. Take a look at this video from Andrew Tonner.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/01/04/even-after-todays-sell-off-appl- es-still-a-screamin.aspx

ljflx

Charlie,

Pay attention to Apple's capital expenditures once they release their financials late this month. I've said a few times they have had a big run-up in capex the last year and the question is will they keep spending at the run rate of the September quarter. If so whatever they are developing is still not ready. If they slow appreciably it means they are entering a testing phase. I would never make a claim that this company is failing to innovate in the face of that level of capex. IMO anyone that doesn't point it out either doesn't look at Balance Sheets and cash flows or wants to keep it a big secret. I'd expect any responsible person to point to it wonder what is Apple up to.

Re manipulation - A perfect strategy is to deadpam the company and then once that affects the stock bring out the chart geeks to point to technical trading to bring the stock lower. The issue here is that any company with the cash resources Apple has can then start to buy back its stock at cheaper prices. That's why I think anyone that puts a price target on the company that is 2X its cash and can make the difference up in less than 4 years is out of their mind. It opens the door to Apple's own management getting a 51% controlling interest if they want to get super agressive.

cyclone4

Here is what I believe an interesting article about Apple's cash horde and how some investors, irrationally, have abandoned the stock. I still very strongly believe that those of us that wait it out will be rewarded in a big way.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1097001-apple-s-cash-horde-is-an-asset-not-a-lia- - - bility?source=yahoo

robr2

So in the noted post, I stated that Avis offered $12.25/share for Zip Car.

Now in my news feed, I get articles - glorified press releases - that ABC Law Firm is investigating Zipcar's Board of Directors for negligence in performing their fiduciary duty claiming they accepted too low a price. These firms are basing their claim on either analysts target prices or the IPO price.

Is this common when a company is bought out? Or is it the financial ambulance chasers looking to get a couple of million to go away?

ljflx

They got a 50% premium over the share price. How on earth is that too low a price. The problem with some of these guys is they live in a world of hypothetical numbers on earnings estimates instead of the real world of numbers. My guess here is that some firms that never sold the shares from it's IPO are the ones behind this.

robr2

That's what I find appalling - a premium that big is uncommon.

Here is one of the press releases:

BALA CYNWYD, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2013-- Law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC announces that it is investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of Zipcar, Inc. (“Zipcar” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: Zip) relating to the proposed acquisition by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (“Avis”).

Under the terms of the transaction, Zipcar shareholders will receive only $12.25 in cash for each share of Zipcar stock they own. The investigation concerns possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law by the Board of Directors of Zipcar for not acting in the Company’s shareholders' best interests in connection with the sale process to Avis. The transaction may undervalue the Company and will result in a loss for many shareholders. For example Zipcar stock traded at $15.00 as recently as May 27, 2012 and $28.69 on May 10, 2011. In addition, an analyst has set a price target for Zipcar at $13.00 per share.

If you own shares of Zipcar stock and wish to discuss the legal ramifications of the proposed transaction, or have any questions, you may e-mail or call the law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC who will, without obligation or cost to you, attempt to answer your questions.

It sounds like ambulance chasing to me.

anthonyp

I`v had income producing ETF for the last four years, and was wondering if anyone had a stock or two that they thought to be worthwhile....I`m thinking of changing over as the year progresses, and I want a few interesting individual stocks.....Of course aapl is on my list....Thanks Tony

ljflx

Maybe check out some of the ones on this list. I've always liked the banks but wondered when the street would ever start buying them. They've been flying.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1100001-2013-stock-picks-11-out-of-142?source=ya- - - - hoo

cyclone4

This is a little off topic but I believe it is worth posting it here. Perhaps some will purchase Toyota stock now due to this post. Maybe if I wait a year or so, my next Lexus will have this option. This is amazing for safety.

http://m.nbcnews.com/business/lexus-unveils-car-anticipates-road-danger-1B785255- 0

anthonyp

Thanks, but that is too long a list for me....I`v followed many of the listed stock, but I`m looking for something different----a cooled down aapl----or something that treats the stockholder as it should
I just finished reading something about aapl`s secret holding list---the holding of where they invest the horde of cash.....It gave me an insight ,so sharing that, if aapl decides to just build on the hoard, they won`t want to be paying much out...sort of like us not wanting to dip into our savings or investments to buy a car :-) sort of a partial negative to me.....aapl looks like it is firming up to stay in this narrow range until earnings....I might buy some

All the electronic stuff that the car companies have, can be overdone...If Lexus has a system that sees something three hundred feet away, it can disable the car like what happened to Charlie the other day, or even worse slam on the breaks and cause a wreck.....I think I would pass on those gimmicks...

It really is getting difficult to come up with meaningful individual picks in the market....and the new tax rates are meaningful to me....more than fifty percent..and if I were to go for long term cap gains, I`d probably just loose money...Got to go for gains any way I can get them....Tony ps As I suggested a while ago JPM was a buy at the thirty five dollar decline, so if any decline like that happens again I`d be a buyer as I was....I guarantee Wells will be increasing their dividend---that`s Mr Buffets style---and other banks will follow suite ....I`m still scarred of most of them, but so what very few other options

houdini1

and the new tax rates are meaningful to me....more than fifty percent..and if I were to go for long term cap gains, I`d probably just loose money...Got to go for gains any way I can get them.

Sounds like a few solid muni bonds/funds would be tailor made for you. Wouldn't that solve your new tax rate problem?

cyclone4

I forgot to tell you folks the reason for the RX 450h totally losing acceleration while in the passing lane about 10 days ago. I talked to my dealer in DSM and they suggested that I bring the car to the local dealer here in Akron to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong. I brought the car in last Thursday morning. After a short examination, it was quickly determined that the fuel pump had gone bad. I asked them why it worked again after that terrible incident on I - 70. They said that it can do that...work sporadically.

In any case, that explains why the car suddenly died in the passing lane on a busy Interstate road. They gave me a nice 2013 ES loaner to use while they waited for the parts to arrive. I picked up the car just yesterday and everything looks fine. Both dealers told me that the fuel pump going bad is extremely unusual, but it happened on our car. Amazing, but we are thankful that nothing really serious happened while we were quickly losing acceleration.

anthonyp

Thanks ---that is a good suggestion, and one I already started (just a little) I am warned that they may modify the tax empt exclusion very shortly--the debt problem--It is un-nerving when so many changes take place so regularly..and the Fed holding down rates to zero for so long.....I don`t think anyone has any idea what is going to happen when market forces start to take effect, and rates rise....I guess a rate rise will be moderate, as there is so much money out there that there is really no place for it to go, but the tax aspect of the Municipals is likely to be reviewed....That could make them prone to decline in value, and you know the market has a tendency to over do anything, so it might be a big decline---scary--Tony ps Wish I had Tagman`s opinion---smart fellow--

cyclone4

It's been dead here for almost a week. Perhaps this will get the ball rolling again. AAPL shares have been taking a beating again today due to a Wall Street Journal article that says Apple parts for the iPhone 5 have been slashed due to diminishing demand for the 5. This sort of talk is old news as it was reported almost a month ago. Here is a very good article that does a good job of explaining what is really going on with the iPhone 5:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/01/14/how-scary-are-apples-iphone-cut- - - s.aspx

Here is another and stinging article that states the WSJ was extremely irresponsible in reporting this story:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11812352/1/something-is-terribly-wrong-just-not-w- ith-apple.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO

gagrice

WSJ must be going through some sort of transition from a legitimate Business news source to another National Enquirer. Not hard to imagine with the current ownership. It has just become another rag requiring the Reader to Beware! It went from a somewhat liberal news source to mostly sensationalism. In the Internet era I don't believe anything I read until I have checked and cross checked both Left and Right takes on the issue.

As far as Apple is concerned it is a Love/Hate relationship with progressives. They love the products and hate the company.

gagrice

A thought occurred to me while watching the ticker on Friday. The last trade on AAPL was 713,000+ shares at about $520. That is more than $371 million dollars on one trade. Suppose this person with a huge pocket full of cash slips false info to a hungry WSJ reporter. You get the negative impact on the stock Monday and buy back your shares for less and gain a few million in the process.

cyclone4

A thought occurred to me while watching the ticker on Friday. The last trade on AAPL was 713,000+ shares at about $520. That is more than $371 million dollars on one trade. Suppose this person with a huge pocket full of cash slips false info to a hungry WSJ reporter. You get the negative impact on the stock Monday and buy back your shares for less and gain a few million in the process.

This is extremely interesting. After the market closed today, AAPL was showing a high of $520. I could not understand when it reached that level today. Now I see that the high was actually $507.50. Something is rotten is the state of the trading market. Disgusting!!

anthonyp

Some very good advice....Sensationalism is what sells in England.....Tony

cyclone4

Here is a story that actually uses the word "manipulation".

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-bloggers-seem-convinced-wsj-134140681.html

gagrice

And the beat goes on.

Apple’s stock took a beating today on these reports. If you don’t smell stock manipulation here, I have a bridge to sell you.


Our seller of 713,000 shares last Friday can buy those back and pocket a cool $23 million. I see some slime ball hedge fund like Quantum playing games. They did it in 2008 with oil prices. Why not Apple in 2013? The small investor is not in a good position.

anthonyp

Silly as it sounds, I bought some more aapl today, making it a larger position in my trading account...In fact the only position....

If the next phone were to be a wider one, like the Gal 3 , of course they would cancel the narrower glass.....Maybe there is more than just manipulation going on now that the stock has declined so much......Maybe the earnings etc are worse than expected, but if not it sure won`t take but a couple of days to make a big dent in the declined stock.....That will sooth some hurt feelings...:) Tony

gagrice

Apple made the iPhone4 and then fixed it with the iPhone4s, that is still popular. They could come out with an iPhone5s very soon using a different screen. I think the stories are designed to do what they are doing. Cause chaos in the market. Hope you all do well with AAPL.

ljflx

Very good story here on how the media can spin things:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markrogowsky/2013/01/15/did-the-wsj-get-punkd-on-app- - - le-or-is-it-rotten-to-the-core/?partner=yahootix

Having all this come out ahead of earnings may prove to be incredible if earnings are high and note the growth numbers over a year ago cited in the article. Hardly goes with the story's being spun, the overlooking of all negative things on Amazon and the overplaying of Samsung Galaxy sales. What I really don't get is the extraordinary sales projections on Apple. They certainly didn't come from Apple so you have to wonder who went so high. On top of that you hardly needed high Apple earnings to support the low multiple it had even when it was at $700. The issue for me is why doesn't Apple come out and say something. Then I thought about that. If I'm Apple's CEO I ask the attorneys if the company did what it legally had to do in reporting its data. Then I sit back with $135 a share in cash and say OK guys keep driving it lower so that management can buy it out. There are many ways to head off a lower share price but Apple is not taking any of them despite having the assets to do anything it wants to. Note this article:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1113231-dear-apple-board-this-is-how-you-defend-- - - the-share-price?source=feed

Here's analyst and blogger earnings estimates for next weeks report:

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/01/15/apple-revenue-earnings-smackdown-q1-2013/- - - ?source=yahoo_quote

carnaught

Buying at this current (low) level is VERY tempting indeed.