TM, I really think you should change your name to Mr. C . Wouldn't that name be more appropriate now with the zillions of shares you own of this bank? I told you before and I will tell you again. In a few years, you will be able to buy all of CA . It's not worth very much these days anyway, is it?
Your advice is always appreciated on the phones and everything else. I honestly do want to purchase this new EVO G4 even though I am an AAPL stock (considerable investment) holder . I have been hearing terrific things about it. The only negative I have heard is from one of my tennis buddies. He says that the battery does not last very long before it needs a charge. But this could be due to the fact that he uses this phone constantly browsing the Internet and everything else that comes with it. What is your experience so far with the battery charge life?
The battery can be challenging, but gets better after several full cycles, and there are numerous apps that can be tweaked to be less demanding, because some of them are constantly refreshing. Also, the contantly-on GPS functions can be toned down, and the constant scanning for 4G is totally unecessary unless you know you are needing and utlilizing a genuine 4G signal... it can be turned off.
Many of the functions can be controlled because of the Android OS.
Anyway, the battery lasts me most of the day if I am not constantly using the phone, but with heavy use, it requires a charge midpoint during the day, or even a couple of times. There is a more powerful third-party battery available, and there is a charger available that has a piggy-back extra battery inserted, and I am going to get that soon.
I keep a desktop charger available, and a car charger available at all times, so when I have the opportunity, I simply keep it plugged in when possible.
So, other than the challenging battery, the only other thing worth mention is that the EVO's gorgeous screen is a little harder to view in direct sunlight than would be ideal, but it's not a deal killer.
I know this phone inside and out, and can tell you anything you want to know about it.
BTW, I have changed my mind, and purchased some QLIK this morning after thinking more about it.
Why only a "measly" home run? Why not a grand slam ?
I just bought 500 more shares of QLIK at 13.20. I think AAPL's huge earnings report this afternoon (after market closes) will be a big boost for QLIK. I am obviously not a "high roller" like you and GS, but I am trying to be in the game.
Grand slam sounds even better! I'll toast to that.
Goodness, I made a paper gain of thousands more today on QLIK. This is a legitimate great stock, and I really like it. Just so you know, I bought 5,000 shares this morning at 13.11. As you remember, I originally bought shares at 12.00, but flipped them when the stock hit 13.03.
And, I've got a strong feeling Citi is going to explode to the upside next year.
I will be happy to own a percentage of California. LOL.
Holy earnings there Batman!! Wow!! AAPL's earning's report was not only good it was phenomenal. The iPhone sales alone stood at 8.4 million. A neutral number would have been about 7 million. The stock is up about $10 in the after hours trading.
Just so you know, I bought 5,000 shares this morning at 13.11.
Like I said above, you are the high roller of stock trading. I also said above that I was trying to be in the game with you and gs, but I don't think I am trying hard enough.
Charlie, You are a conservative and smart... very smart investor. And, you don't bet the farm. You were one of the few to bail out before the financial crisis hit so many... which always amazed me.
You have been brilliant with Apple, and have proved that yet again by buying even more Apple recently. It is a great company, and will eventually emerge from its recent fiasco. You said, "live or die"... well, it looks like "live"!! Good for you, my friend.
I do have a strong feeling about QLIK, or I wouldn't have bought 5,000 shares. If it dips big, I might buy more. Otherwise, I'm riding it out for the long run. This stock might double or triple, or even more.
I'm looking to upgrade to a 55" model (I have limititations as my cabinet is only 51"). I love plasma but the drawback for me is I get sun on the TV in late fall into mid winter for an hour or so and this is most annoying on Sundays for NFL games. With a 2 story family room loaded with windows and a south facing exposure there's not much (other than tinting glass which w'ont do the trick anyway) that I can do about it. If not for this I'd be a Panasonic plasma buyer for life. The new 3d plasma introduced at CES is more LED-like in brightness but falls short of the anti glare of LED. I have a Sony 52" LCD from years ago in another room but it just can't handle fast motion or deep blacks like a plasma. It's far short of todays refresh rates but it does have a great picture.
The latest rage is the upcoming Toshiba cell TV (which will be very expensive) and who knows when it arrives or what its H/W/D specs are, But it is touted as the most powerful TV that has ever been built and is in anticipation of future TV delivery technologies. The LG 9500 Infinia LED is more plasma-like as it is up to 480hz refresh rate and is thx certified and is the closest thing I am seeing to that Toshiba. My alarm guy, who puts in my home theatre, tells me it's an amazing TV, and he also loves the new Sony's.
My heart tells me go with the latest Panasonic (it's reviewed as the best TV out there and my current 50" Panasonic is fabulous). My gut tells me I'll be sorry as soon as the sun hits the screen and will make me wish I had gone LG or Sony. I'll tell you it's easier making a million dollar business decision than this. On top of that my wiife will kill me when I tell her I want to do this.
Anyone have a 2010 3D set or any experience with any of these?
Here's data on the Toshiba that's due out at some point:
I recently purchased Sony's 65" LCD for a spot in our remodeled Malibu home that requires a very bright non-glare display. Like you, the room is bright. In this case, the TV is adjacent to a southwest-facing wall of 5 panels of glass directly overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The 65" Sony LCD offers tons of brightness, surprising blacks for an LCD, and absolutely no glare whatsoever. I rejected the Panny plasma because it wasn't even close to being bright enough, and had terrible reflection and glare issues. Also, Panasonic finally fessed up to the black-level fiasco that so many consumers were complaining about... so in spite of those initial good black levels, Panasonic can't be trusted.
I rejected buying a 3D display at the time primarily because of the goofy goggles. I have read that there is an emerging technology that will eliminate them altogether, and while Toshiba's innovation is very nice, it isn't the final word by any means.
So, I am perfectly content to enjoy my Sony for now and wait until the 3D sets arrive that will not require those goofy goggles. Besides, there isn't all that much 3D content yet anyway.
If you don't mind my suggestion, I suggest you wait a little longer on the 3D, save the money, and get a terrific back-lit LCD for now. They are a bargain and offer a fantastic picture. The 3D technology will get better (and perhaps standardized) very soon, and there will be more content as well, and if things go as we hope, there won't be any need for those crazy goggles.
Kind of reminds me of when you were contemplating getting the LS600hL, but you made the smart decision to get the LS460L.
Tag, you are always a great voice of reason my friend. The brightness issue rules out the Plasma. I'll check the basic LED's. Sony only has 3D TV's this year which is what made me go down that path.
I'm with you firmly on Citi. I have 25,000 shares accumulated now. I completely missed QLIK. Let me know if you change up on Citi.
BTW - I take the new LS460L on Thursday. Test drove the A4 and loved it but told the guy I'm not a buyer till January. Now he's calling me everyday with a better deal. I told him figure out a way to absorb my mother's Camry lease with no cost to me and it's done. That shut him up. Meanwhile I recently got back in touch with a once very close college buddy (he had moved to LA and is now back here) and guess what? He's selling Audi's as he could never get a job back as an accountant.
QLIK surged in early-morning trading to a high of 14.38, then retreated.
I have decided to buy more, and just picked up another 2,000 shares when it retreated a full dollar off that 14.38 high... in other words, I have 2,000 more shares at 13.38 to add to my 5,000 shares at 13.11.
There is some risk here, as the day's low so far was already all the way down to 13.04, but I still like this stock. Should be exciting to watch and see where it goes today.
The new HC bill is raising a lot of questions about buying and selling commodities like gold coins.
Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny.
The issue is rising to the fore just as gold coin dealers are attracting attention over sales tactics.
Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand the scope of Form 1099. Currently, 1099 forms are used to track and report the miscellaneous income associated with services rendered by independent contractors or self-employed individuals.
Coin Dealers Flipping
Starting Jan. 1, 2012, Form 1099s will become a means of reporting to the Internal Revenue Service the purchases of all goods and services by small businesses and self-employed people that exceed $600 during a calendar year. Precious metals such as coins and bullion fall into this category and coin dealers have been among those most rankled by the change.
This provision, intended to mine what the IRS deems a vast reservoir of uncollected income tax, was included in the health care legislation ostensibly as a way to pay for it. The tax code tweak is expected to raise $17 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.
My understanding is gold bullion is the same as currency. Do they hope to get capitol gains tax from any increase in value of gold? I am sure most trading will go under ground for gold and silver with that provision. Or it will go to the SC to decide if it is even Constitutional.
What happens if I buy $1000 in Euros at the bank. A week later the Euro goes up and I take them back to the bank and exchange them for USD and get $1200 back. Will I be taxed on that $200 gain?
Looks like we had a pretty good day shaping up until Mr. Bernanke had to sound off on how uncertain the economy is looking ! Thanks a lot Mr. Bernanke.
Great to hear from you as always. BTW, I am not sure if you saw it but I responded to your post from a week or so ago.
I'm with TM on the 3D TV's. I am not going to purchase one until the technology figures out a way to view 3D without those stupid special glasses. I'm sure it will be here within a hear or so.
The stock market did not like what Bernanke had to say the past hour. The Dow went from a little higher to as much as at least 160 lower. It has rallied somewhat in the past few minutes. This too shall pass .
I`m sure you would normally pay a tax, but the special interests seem to get exemptions galore.....One of my peeves is the `carried interest` where the billionaires pays fifteen percent when I have to pay above forty....In the example you give I would think you would not pay a tax unless they had paperwork attached to your transaction...I think right now it is ten thousand dollar amounts..There is so much devious stuff going on, that I would imagine this is what the government is trying to catch.....If I play poker and win, I don`t report those winnings nor losses although I am supposed to....I figure over my life I break even so I don`t have a guilty conscience Tony
That's awesome. I have TM along for the ride, and that for sure make QLIK a winner. OTOH, I took your advice and loaded up on C. It's sure nice to see the gain on QLIK, but I am telling myself that this is a long term investment. I am actually hoping for a temporary drop so I can buy my remaining budgeted shares.
Overall, Bernanke has done OK. And, it's probably better that he didn't give us some sort of Obama-style spin job.
Eventually, we will get out of the rut. But, I still can't understand how this President of ours can support tax increases at a time like this.
And, politically, he would be much, much wiser to extend the tax cuts.
Perhaps he is waiting for a more effective time to do that, but somehow I don't think his grain goes the direction of tax cuts. I think he is internally geared towards tax increases. I just don't know why he is confused like that. It's a shame. I think it could be the company he keeps. Maybe he has been getting toxic advice regarding tax policy.
Tax increases make no sense right now. Just plain stupid.
He could be a hero and do the right thing, but we all know that isn't about to happen.
I personally consider it a further invasion of privacy and much worse than anything in the Homeland Security mess. Here is the situation from that report.
With spot market prices for gold at nearly $1,200 an ounce, Heller estimates that he'll be filling out between 10,000 and 20,000 tax forms per year after the new law takes effect.
Big job for the coin dealer, Right? So now I go into a coin dealer and buy a Krugerrand for my grandson to save for his future. The coin dealer says give me your address and SS number. First big No No right there. He says I have to report this as it is over $600 to the IRS and send you a 1099 at the end of the year. If that is not invasion enough, two weeks later the coin dealer is robbed and they take his computer that has hundreds of names, addresses and SS #s tied to Gold purchases. A virtual Gold Mine for a criminal to get a hold of. He steals my identity and then robs my home to get the gold I purchased. This law is Unacceptable and needs to be shot down by the SC. If not the next Congress, that is hopefully not as horrible as this one.
Do a little homework and read the latest news reports relevant to Citi. There are numerous positive reports recently, some significant... and I am convinced that as soon as the government sells off its shares at the end of the year or early next year, the stock will advance nicely. In the meantime, be glad you own shares of Citi. I really believe the reward will come.
Is that what you are getting? How's the reliability record on this model, I've heard that the GS AWD's track record is not so hot in this regard? I've heard that they are making an AWD version of the IS350 which I would like to have when my IS's lease ended. I'd like to have an LS AWD, but it's too big for the spouse since she's the primary driver of it.
From the very early morning hour futures indications, it looks as if QLIK along with most other stocks will be significantly higher today. It looks as if the market is now looking past Bernanke's comments from yesterday.
Agree. I hope it will pop some time before 2012...
It better pop before December 21, 2012 . After all, the George Norry's of the world are predicting the end of the world as we knew it at the Winter Solstice of that year due to the Myan Calendar ending . Incredible amount of BS in today's world.
How are you doing with AAPL? Looks like its really rebounded.
I'm not sure of your average share cost of AAPL, so I'm wondering if you are way ahead, or still catching up from when it declined off its highs?
QLIK sure is doing nicely, I bought a little more today when it pulled back from its high. In spite of that move, I expect it could dip the next time the market takes a big hit, so there might be another good time to buy more in the near future.
Regarding the end of the world... I think the Mayans proved to all of us that their own world came to an end a long time ago, and I don't think they correctly predicted it.
New LS is wonderful. They've added some new features and the nav is really nifty now and the voice activation of the phone is now painfully easy. I d'ont know if it's me or if iit's real but the nav screen seems bigger, is definitely brighter and friendlier in appearance and has tremendous touch functionality. In fact when you hit voice now it prompts show up on the nav screen to remind you what to say depending on what you want to use voice commands for - such as changing radio stations, stating an address for nav guidance, making a call, or other voice recognition services you can get in the car. The enform service which is the old Lexus link plus concierge service is thrown in for year 1. If you are driving you can simply access the concierge, tell them the address, location (say 5th and 42nd street in Manhattan), name of a building/poi or name of a restaurant you are going to, etc and they will download the nav guidance to your nav system for you. On the car the ride is firmer in sport setting and better than ever. Overall handling is a lot better, especially in sport, there is absolutely no wind noise - in fact this is the quietest Lexus I've ever been in, the front passenger seat auto slides on car shutdown and the back windows on both sides have a sunshade. I'm sure there are other things I haven't figured out yet in the electronics, for example the querty keyboard. Telios wheels are stunning and make the car.
Great market day. The market yesterday just totally over-reacted. I remain convinced we are headed in the right direction, but investors (I should really call them speculators because we no longer have real investing going on) want too much too soon. This is not a revenue recovery. It's a high incremental margin per dollar of revenue growth recovery in a slow revenue growth mode, given all the costs that have been squeezed out along with the efficiencies of reducing inventory, product lines and options on tiered product lines. Unemployment is going to come down eventually thru retirement of baby boomers, not any great new job creation.
How are you doing with AAPL? Looks like its really rebounded.
I'm not sure of your average share cost of AAPL, so I'm wondering if you are way ahead, or still catching up from when it declined off its highs?
Well, I am way ahead on AAPL. I first started buying it down around $190. I have added quite a lot in the upper $240's. However, it looks like I will get "killed" with my AMZN tomorrow morning. The market DID NOT like their report this afternoon. The good news there is that I only have about 500 shares. Hopefully by tomorrow morning, it will not be so bad for AMZN.
Finally, QLIK is acting wonderful. GS is THE man. At least so far .
Now you are making me jealous. The new LS sounds AWESOME!. From your description, the new Nav system and bluetooth phone integration are very user friendly. How does the ride feel on the "comfort" setting? The 2008 LS is a bit rough on small bumps on the road at that setting in my opinion. Well, I can look forward to a new one a year or so down the road.
Yes indeed. The market performed very well today. As I told TM above, the only bad news for me was that AMZN disappointed the market in a big way after the close. Oh well, you can't win them all. Besides, I am going to stick with it (AMZN).
Finally, I hope the situation with your mother is improving.
Congratulations on the new car....It`s been so long for me, I have almost forgotten the thrill I`l also be checking out the LS when the urge hits...Tony ps sure agree with you about no investors...and there is a good reason
Len, Saw your post to Charlie about your new car. A new car is a wonderful and special part of life (well... it always has been for a crazy guy like me!), so please accept my congratulations, and I sincerely wish you many miles of enjoyment. TM
Based on Thursday's closing price at $4.09, Citi is up nearly 9% for the month and 24% for the year.
However, the Treasury has just authorized the sale of another 1.5 billion shares, so we should expect a little pullback... which would be the time to buy more, of course.
GS, Charlie, I took profits on QLIK today, so I am aware that my sale affected the price... I apologize. I might buy it again when the price settles down a bit more, but I couldn't resist taking some good gains on this wildly swinging stock. I noticed how it was down today, when the market in general was up, so that partly affected my decision. Also, I want to get back to focusing on Citi, and I am considering making more trades on Citi... in and out of the market in the weeks ahead, in order to take further advantage of its price swings. TM
I might just follow you on C, how much do you think the swing would be since the avg daily volume is 3/4 of a billion shares?
Often during the day, the swings are within several cents up and down. I like the way it so often stays within a reasonably steady trading range, and doesn't frequently get "out of control".
As you already know very well, for each $100,000 "invested", an upward move of only 1 cent allows for a profit of $1,000. Of course, the opposite is also true. The strategy is to first identify that it is trading within a "range", and then buy it when it goes down a couple of cents, then sell it when it springs back up a couple of cents... and continue to do this cycle several times a day or week, as its movement allows.
Thousands can be made every day or week, depending upon the share price's movement. If the stock drops more than anticipated, then buy even more and wait until it returns another gain. If it goes up more than anticipated, well, that's not a bad thing.
"Tax increases make no sense right now. Just plain stupid."
Couldn't possibly agree more Tag, and if you read the mindset of corporate America in the link below you can see why. How Obama doesn't get this is beyond me. But jobs aren't coming back unless he says there'll be no tax increases. With tax increases being his intent, companies are simply not hiring and in fact are thinking the next level of cuts to ensure profit growth. Flexible spending is the bible in corporate America right now and unfortunately (or fortunately in an upside situation) the flex is on personnel costs. After all our internal meetings we ourselves have said we w'ont move, unless strategical tactics demand it, until Obama makes his intent more clear. This story is exactly how I thought the business profits would recover and some order return a lot faster than expected on Wall street. But the next move is Obama's. If he raises taxes a double dip becomes not only possible but likely IMO. If he stops talking that stupidity then some hiring will return, business profits will absolutely soar, the market wil easily go north of 12,000, possibly back to its all time high, and anyone with a job will feel free to spend because they'll have security and no tax increase to worry about. We have too much cash hoarding going on and the fed will have to keep everything where it is, probably to late 2011, as it is. If the government adds to hoarding money by raising taxes I see a new wave of bank tightening (lower free cash available to those that are now credit worthy) and job cuts and I can again see a Dow 8000 or lower. The funny thing here is that if Obama announces taxes will stay as is then the economy recovers much faster and he's practically a lock to get re-elected. But it goes against everything he intended to do.
I blindly just took you cent on a hundred thousand , and then figured I should have a much larger loss on the big C....Glad you corrected the mis conception Tony
I am obviously of the opinion that you definitely know what you are talking about. But isn't the consensus at this point that only those households making more than $250K per year will see a tax increase next year? I imagine that is less than 3% of the population. I realize that some here on this forum make considerably more than $250K per year and thus will be obviously affected by tax hikes. I am not sure, however, how this statistic (less than 3% of households make more than $250K per year) relates to the business world. If you are telling me that the owners/CEO's of medium to large businesses will not hire because they are concerned about their individual bottom lines since they are making way more than $250K per year, then isn't that rather selfish? After all, the vast majority of their employees will be making a hell of a lot less than $250K. What am I missing here? The corporate taxes are not going up, right? I am honestly trying to understand all this and that is why I am asking these questions without getting political. If it were a simple case of not raising taxes on any income level and the economy would boom, why would Obama want to raise taxes? The other thing is, how is the astronomical deficit going to be reduced without raising taxes? Again, I am tossing politics on the side here and just trying to get honest answers to my questions.
Changing the subject, Len, I am not sure if you had a chance to read my reply to your post above. I had a couple questions about your new LS?
As I have the C with the new MS broker, and a cost basis around four dollars seventeen cents (he doubled down correctly with the much higher cost initial purchase) , I suggested he trade it when it got to four thirty the other day...He was adamant to hold on, so I sent him a copy of your latest site about the trading ..I imagine it sore to insulted him, as he could have made such a nice commission for himself if he re purchased , even today.....
I think C will do well over time, just not as well as you....Just think with a really concentrated holding---multiple hundreds of thousands of shares----say from four to just five, a handsome profit could be had, and an even more handsome profit at say six......your F choice has also turned out to really have rung the bell, and now everyone is singing it`s praise ....Keep up the good work Tony
Also, he has surrounded himself with too many "tax and spend" folks.
HE THINKS HE IS ROBIN HOOD!... Steal from the rich and give to the poor.
He is even considering doing away with the homeowner's mortgage interest deduction!!
You would be shocked at some of his ideas and the ideas of those he keeps close company with... he is obsessed with punishing wealth and punishing success through taxation. It is backwards to the very concept and spirit of America... where free enterprise and competition are supposed to prosper.
Here is the problem with Obama's thinking... if there was a Super Bowl, and the New England Patriots were playing the New York Giants, and the Patriots were beating the Giants by a large number of touchdowns... Obama would step in and force the Patriots to give up some of their points in order to pay for the costs of running the Super Bowl, and to benefit the Giants, who he would see as less fortunate and deserving of entitlements.
In addition, if this was the way the rules were structured, the Super Bowl would be less dynamic, and therefore ticket sales would slow down, thus causing less economic activity, further reinforcing the twisted idea of having to unfairly tax the winning/successful team. Fortunately, in real life, that doesn't happen and the economic activity of the Super Bowl is huge and healthy because no one is punishing the successful team or the players that do well. In other words, placing higher punitive tax rates on successful businesses and individuals puts a damper on the economy instead of stimulating it with rewards for success.
It's really simple. If you want success, you reward success. If you want the economy to prosper, you reward prosperity. Incentives for success will work better than punishment.
Just imagine if the children in our own families were punished for great behavior instead of being rewarded for it. This is fundamental thinking that Obama does not understand. It's tragic that the POTUS is asleep at the switch with this, and that he has bought into the argument for higher taxes on the successful.
Even worse, is the fact that there is no geographic accountability... for example, I live in California, where a person making $250,000 won't achieve anywhere even close to the same lifestyle as someone living in Nebraska making the same amount of income.
The idea that "only 3%" of Americans will be affected is a total lie and a dangerous concept. Since when do we as a country decide to throw a certain percentage of our popolation into the fire?... make "them" pay. It's all too easy to blame the "rich" (instead of the truly wealthy and the government itself) and punish them. Afterall, 3% of the vote isn't a big deal, and soaking the rich sounds so good to the "average" American, but the problem is even deeper than that. Like it or not, the truth is that Obama and his merry men are hard at work looking for ways to tax all of us and businesses more and more and more and more. And, yes, particularly those that are successful, which is clearly a counterproductive concept. Take the AMT, for example... it is progressively more and more invasive, as it reaches deeper and deeper into more and more average American's tax bite. It is one of the most stealth taxes ever conceived, although it's initial intent wasn't what it has now become.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... the best taxation policy is a flat tax. It would be a FAIR policy that would produce MORE revenue for the government, and it would be neutral with regards to rewarding or punishing individuals based upon their levels of income that they have achieved. The math works with a flat tax... the more folks make, the more taxes they pay... but without punishment.
I could go on and on here, as you can see, because this is an outrage and tragedy that is about to be made even worse upon the American public, particularly those that have worked so very hard to make a successful level of income.
Doesn't look like the American dream or genuine freedom and competition any more when the government interferes so much.
I don't know why it is so hard for so many to understand that a tax cut would stimulate the economy and cause greater economic activity, and thus ultimately more tax revenue for the government.
As I have the C with the new MS broker, and a cost basis around four dollars seventeen cents (he doubled down correctly with the much higher cost initial purchase) , I suggested he trade it when it got to four thirty the other day...He was adamant to hold on, so I sent him a copy of your latest site about the trading ..I imagine it sort of insulted him, as he could have made such a nice commission for himself if he re purchased , even today.....
I think C will do well over time, just not as well as you....Just think with a really concentrated holding---multiple hundreds of thousands of shares----say from four to just five, a handsome profit could be had, and an even more handsome profit at say six......your F choice has also turned out to really have rung the bell, and now everyone is singing it`s praise ....Keep up the good work Tony
The key here is uncertainty. There are millions of small businesses in the U.S. that operate as sub chapter "S" corporations (profits flow down directly to the owner) with anywhere from 5 to maybe 50 employees. Believe it or not this sector is tradionally where a very high percentage of new jobs come from.
These companies are already dealing with the uncertainties of just how the health insurance overhaul is going to affect them, and how the financial industry overhaul is going to affect them. There is so much room for interpretation and "gotchas" buried in all these new regulations that no one really knows what to expect.....and now they are facing a huge tax increase. Plus there is still the threat of "card check"(unions) and "cap and trade".
With all these unknowns, these companies are not going to rush out and start expanding. They have responsibilities to their companies, their families, and their employees and cannot afford to make mistakes so about all they can do is wait for some of these things to shake out. We don't need more taxes, we need less spending and less waste. Thank goodness I sold my business about 5 years ago !!
The Bush tax cuts, which affect every income bracket, are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts to extend all or part of them. With the financial industry overhaul signed into law, the tax cut issue represents one of the biggest battles left for Congress this year.
If no changes are made, the expiration of the tax policy will raise the lowest 10 percent bracket to 15 percent. It will raise the 25 percent rate to 28 percent; the 28 percent rate to 31 percent; the 33 percent rate to 36 percent; and the 35 percent rate to 39.6 percent.
It would also dramatically increase the investment tax rate on dividends, lower the child tax credit from $1,000 to $500 and remove tax protections for married couples.
Will Congress cut taxes for those under $250,000 per year? Or will the middle class get the shaft?
Exctly. We fit this profile perfectly and we look for skilled $75-200K people. That's why we also meet with other like sized companies or employee profiles and no one is hiring under this admin.
Comments
I'll drink to that!!!!
Your advice is always appreciated on the phones and everything else. I honestly do want to purchase this new EVO G4 even though I am an AAPL stock (considerable investment) holder . I have been hearing terrific things about it. The only negative I have heard is from one of my tennis buddies. He says that the battery does not last very long before it needs a charge. But this could be due to the fact that he uses this phone constantly browsing the Internet and everything else that comes with it. What is your experience so far with the battery charge life?
Many of the functions can be controlled because of the Android OS.
Anyway, the battery lasts me most of the day if I am not constantly using the phone, but with heavy use, it requires a charge midpoint during the day, or even a couple of times. There is a more powerful third-party battery available, and there is a charger available that has a piggy-back extra battery inserted, and I am going to get that soon.
I keep a desktop charger available, and a car charger available at all times, so when I have the opportunity, I simply keep it plugged in when possible.
So, other than the challenging battery, the only other thing worth mention is that the EVO's gorgeous screen is a little harder to view in direct sunlight than would be ideal, but it's not a deal killer.
I know this phone inside and out, and can tell you anything you want to know about it.
BTW, I have changed my mind, and purchased some QLIK this morning after thinking more about it.
Let's hope for a home run!
TM
Why only a "measly" home run? Why not a grand slam
I just bought 500 more shares of QLIK at 13.20. I think AAPL's huge earnings report this afternoon (after market closes) will be a big boost for QLIK. I am obviously not a "high roller" like you and GS, but I am trying to be in the game.
Goodness, I made a paper gain of thousands more today on QLIK. This is a legitimate great stock, and I really like it. Just so you know, I bought 5,000 shares this morning at 13.11. As you remember, I originally bought shares at 12.00, but flipped them when the stock hit 13.03.
And, I've got a strong feeling Citi is going to explode to the upside next year.
I will be happy to own a percentage of California. LOL.
TM
Like I said above, you are the high roller of stock trading. I also said above that I was trying to be in the game with you and gs, but I don't think I am trying hard enough.
You are a conservative and smart... very smart investor. And, you don't bet the farm. You were one of the few to bail out before the financial crisis hit so many... which always amazed me.
You have been brilliant with Apple, and have proved that yet again by buying even more Apple recently. It is a great company, and will eventually emerge from its recent fiasco. You said, "live or die"... well, it looks like "live"!! Good for you, my friend.
I do have a strong feeling about QLIK, or I wouldn't have bought 5,000 shares. If it dips big, I might buy more. Otherwise, I'm riding it out for the long run. This stock might double or triple, or even more.
You, GS, and I are in this thing together!!
TM
The latest rage is the upcoming Toshiba cell TV (which will be very expensive) and who knows when it arrives or what its H/W/D specs are, But it is touted as the most powerful TV that has ever been built and is in anticipation of future TV delivery technologies. The LG 9500 Infinia LED is more plasma-like as it is up to 480hz refresh rate and is thx certified and is the closest thing I am seeing to that Toshiba. My alarm guy, who puts in my home theatre, tells me it's an amazing TV, and he also loves the new Sony's.
My heart tells me go with the latest Panasonic (it's reviewed as the best TV out there and my current 50" Panasonic is fabulous). My gut tells me I'll be sorry as soon as the sun hits the screen and will make me wish I had gone LG or Sony. I'll tell you it's easier making a million dollar business decision than this. On top of that my wiife will kill me when I tell her I want to do this.
Anyone have a 2010 3D set or any experience with any of these?
Here's data on the Toshiba that's due out at some point:
http://www.techradar.com/news/television/hdtv/7-features-that-make-toshiba-zx900- - - - - - - -cell-tv-awesome-662412
The 65" Sony LCD offers tons of brightness, surprising blacks for an LCD, and absolutely no glare whatsoever. I rejected the Panny plasma because it wasn't even close to being bright enough, and had terrible reflection and glare issues. Also, Panasonic finally fessed up to the black-level fiasco that so many consumers were complaining about... so in spite of those initial good black levels, Panasonic can't be trusted.
I rejected buying a 3D display at the time primarily because of the goofy goggles. I have read that there is an emerging technology that will eliminate them altogether, and while Toshiba's innovation is very nice, it isn't the final word by any means.
So, I am perfectly content to enjoy my Sony for now and wait until the 3D sets arrive that will not require those goofy goggles. Besides, there isn't all that much 3D content yet anyway.
If you don't mind my suggestion, I suggest you wait a little longer on the 3D, save the money, and get a terrific back-lit LCD for now. They are a bargain and offer a fantastic picture. The 3D technology will get better (and perhaps standardized) very soon, and there will be more content as well, and if things go as we hope, there won't be any need for those crazy goggles.
Kind of reminds me of when you were contemplating getting the LS600hL, but you made the smart decision to get the LS460L.
TM
I'm with you firmly on Citi. I have 25,000 shares accumulated now. I completely missed QLIK. Let me know if you change up on Citi.
BTW - I take the new LS460L on Thursday. Test drove the A4 and loved it but told the guy I'm not a buyer till January. Now he's calling me everyday with a better deal. I told him figure out a way to absorb my mother's Camry lease with no cost to me and it's done. That shut him up. Meanwhile I recently got back in touch with a once very close college buddy (he had moved to LA and is now back here) and guess what? He's selling Audi's as he could never get a job back as an accountant.
I have decided to buy more, and just picked up another 2,000 shares when it retreated a full dollar off that 14.38 high... in other words, I have 2,000 more shares at 13.38 to add to my 5,000 shares at 13.11.
There is some risk here, as the day's low so far was already all the way down to 13.04, but I still like this stock. Should be exciting to watch and see where it goes today.
TM
Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny.
The issue is rising to the fore just as gold coin dealers are attracting attention over sales tactics.
Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand the scope of Form 1099. Currently, 1099 forms are used to track and report the miscellaneous income associated with services rendered by independent contractors or self-employed individuals.
Coin Dealers Flipping
Starting Jan. 1, 2012, Form 1099s will become a means of reporting to the Internal Revenue Service the purchases of all goods and services by small businesses and self-employed people that exceed $600 during a calendar year. Precious metals such as coins and bullion fall into this category and coin dealers have been among those most rankled by the change.
This provision, intended to mine what the IRS deems a vast reservoir of uncollected income tax, was included in the health care legislation ostensibly as a way to pay for it. The tax code tweak is expected to raise $17 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/gold-coin-dealers-decry-tax-law/story?id=11211611- -
My understanding is gold bullion is the same as currency. Do they hope to get capitol gains tax from any increase in value of gold? I am sure most trading will go under ground for gold and silver with that provision. Or it will go to the SC to decide if it is even Constitutional.
What happens if I buy $1000 in Euros at the bank. A week later the Euro goes up and I take them back to the bank and exchange them for USD and get $1200 back. Will I be taxed on that $200 gain?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Great to hear from you as always. BTW, I am not sure if you saw it but I responded to your post from a week or so ago.
I'm with TM on the 3D TV's. I am not going to purchase one until the technology figures out a way to view 3D without those stupid special glasses. I'm sure it will be here within a hear or so.
The stock market did not like what Bernanke had to say the past hour. The Dow went from a little higher to as much as at least 160 lower. It has rallied somewhat in the past few minutes. This too shall pass
It's sure nice to see the gain on QLIK, but I am telling myself that this is a long term investment. I am actually hoping for a temporary drop so I can buy my remaining budgeted shares.
Do they have an AWD LS460L?
Eventually, we will get out of the rut. But, I still can't understand how this President of ours can support tax increases at a time like this.
And, politically, he would be much, much wiser to extend the tax cuts.
Perhaps he is waiting for a more effective time to do that, but somehow I don't think his grain goes the direction of tax cuts. I think he is internally geared towards tax increases. I just don't know why he is confused like that. It's a shame. I think it could be the company he keeps. Maybe he has been getting toxic advice regarding tax policy.
Tax increases make no sense right now. Just plain stupid.
He could be a hero and do the right thing, but we all know that isn't about to happen.
TM
With spot market prices for gold at nearly $1,200 an ounce, Heller estimates that he'll be filling out between 10,000 and 20,000 tax forms per year after the new law takes effect.
Big job for the coin dealer, Right? So now I go into a coin dealer and buy a Krugerrand for my grandson to save for his future. The coin dealer says give me your address and SS number. First big No No right there. He says I have to report this as it is over $600 to the IRS and send you a 1099 at the end of the year. If that is not invasion enough, two weeks later the coin dealer is robbed and they take his computer that has hundreds of names, addresses and SS #s tied to Gold purchases. A virtual Gold Mine for a criminal to get a hold of. He steals my identity and then robs my home to get the gold I purchased. This law is Unacceptable and needs to be shot down by the SC. If not the next Congress, that is hopefully not as horrible as this one.
Do a little homework and read the latest news reports relevant to Citi. There are numerous positive reports recently, some significant... and I am convinced that as soon as the government sells off its shares at the end of the year or early next year, the stock will advance nicely. In the meantime, be glad you own shares of Citi. I really believe the reward will come.
TM
I've heard that they are making an AWD version of the IS350 which I would like to have when my IS's lease ended. I'd like to have an LS AWD, but it's too big for the spouse since she's the primary driver of it.
It better pop before December 21, 2012
How are you doing with AAPL? Looks like its really rebounded.
I'm not sure of your average share cost of AAPL, so I'm wondering if you are way ahead, or still catching up from when it declined off its highs?
QLIK sure is doing nicely, I bought a little more today when it pulled back from its high. In spite of that move, I expect it could dip the next time the market takes a big hit, so there might be another good time to buy more in the near future.
Regarding the end of the world... I think the Mayans proved to all of us that their own world came to an end a long time ago, and I don't think they correctly predicted it.
TM
New LS is wonderful. They've added some new features and the nav is really nifty now and the voice activation of the phone is now painfully easy. I d'ont know if it's me or if iit's real but the nav screen seems bigger, is definitely brighter and friendlier in appearance and has tremendous touch functionality. In fact when you hit voice now it prompts show up on the nav screen to remind you what to say depending on what you want to use voice commands for - such as changing radio stations, stating an address for nav guidance, making a call, or other voice recognition services you can get in the car. The enform service which is the old Lexus link plus concierge service is thrown in for year 1. If you are driving you can simply access the concierge, tell them the address, location (say 5th and 42nd street in Manhattan), name of a building/poi or name of a restaurant you are going to, etc and they will download the nav guidance to your nav system for you. On the car the ride is firmer in sport setting and better than ever. Overall handling is a lot better, especially in sport, there is absolutely no wind noise - in fact this is the quietest Lexus I've ever been in, the front passenger seat auto slides on car shutdown and the back windows on both sides have a sunshade. I'm sure there are other things I haven't figured out yet in the electronics, for example the querty keyboard. Telios wheels are stunning and make the car.
Great market day. The market yesterday just totally over-reacted. I remain convinced we are headed in the right direction, but investors (I should really call them speculators because we no longer have real investing going on) want too much too soon. This is not a revenue recovery. It's a high incremental margin per dollar of revenue growth recovery in a slow revenue growth mode, given all the costs that have been squeezed out along with the efficiencies of reducing inventory, product lines and options on tiered product lines. Unemployment is going to come down eventually thru retirement of baby boomers, not any great new job creation.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I'm not sure of your average share cost of AAPL, so I'm wondering if you are way ahead, or still catching up from when it declined off its highs?
Well, I am way ahead on AAPL. I first started buying it down around $190. I have added quite a lot in the upper $240's. However, it looks like I will get "killed" with my AMZN tomorrow morning. The market DID NOT like their report this afternoon. The good news there is that I only have about 500 shares. Hopefully by tomorrow morning, it will not be so bad for AMZN.
Finally, QLIK is acting wonderful. GS is THE man. At least so far
Yes indeed. The market performed very well today. As I told TM above, the only bad news for me was that AMZN disappointed the market in a big way after the close. Oh well, you can't win them all. Besides, I am going to stick with it (AMZN).
Finally, I hope the situation with your mother is improving.
Saw your post to Charlie about your new car. A new car is a wonderful and special part of life (well... it always has been for a crazy guy like me!), so please accept my congratulations, and I sincerely wish you many miles of enjoyment.
TM
However, the Treasury has just authorized the sale of another 1.5 billion shares, so we should expect a little pullback... which would be the time to buy more, of course.
TM
I took profits on QLIK today, so I am aware that my sale affected the price... I apologize. I might buy it again when the price settles down a bit more, but I couldn't resist taking some good gains on this wildly swinging stock. I noticed how it was down today, when the market in general was up, so that partly affected my decision. Also, I want to get back to focusing on Citi, and I am considering making more trades on Citi... in and out of the market in the weeks ahead, in order to take further advantage of its price swings.
TM
I guess this is the get ready to buy more QLIK signal for me...
I might just follow you on C, how much do you think the swing would be since the avg daily volume is 3/4 of a billion shares?
Often during the day, the swings are within several cents up and down. I like the way it so often stays within a reasonably steady trading range, and doesn't frequently get "out of control".
As you already know very well, for each $100,000 "invested", an upward move of only 1 cent allows for a profit of $1,000. Of course, the opposite is also true. The strategy is to first identify that it is trading within a "range", and then buy it when it goes down a couple of cents, then sell it when it springs back up a couple of cents... and continue to do this cycle several times a day or week, as its movement allows.
Thousands can be made every day or week, depending upon the share price's movement. If the stock drops more than anticipated, then buy even more and wait until it returns another gain. If it goes up more than anticipated, well, that's not a bad thing.
TM
As a follow-up to my post above...
You will be interested in this... regarding "range" trading with Citigroup.
link title
TM
Also, in that original post, I made an obvious typo, by typing 1 cent instead of 1 PERcent. Sorry 'bout that chief.
TM
Couldn't possibly agree more Tag, and if you read the mindset of corporate America in the link below you can see why. How Obama doesn't get this is beyond me. But jobs aren't coming back unless he says there'll be no tax increases. With tax increases being his intent, companies are simply not hiring and in fact are thinking the next level of cuts to ensure profit growth. Flexible spending is the bible in corporate America right now and unfortunately (or fortunately in an upside situation) the flex is on personnel costs. After all our internal meetings we ourselves have said we w'ont move, unless strategical tactics demand it, until Obama makes his intent more clear. This story is exactly how I thought the business profits would recover and some order return a lot faster than expected on Wall street. But the next move is Obama's. If he raises taxes a double dip becomes not only possible but likely IMO. If he stops talking that stupidity then some hiring will return, business profits will absolutely soar, the market wil easily go north of 12,000, possibly back to its all time high, and anyone with a job will feel free to spend because they'll have security and no tax increase to worry about. We have too much cash hoarding going on and the fed will have to keep everything where it is, probably to late 2011, as it is. If the government adds to hoarding money by raising taxes I see a new wave of bank tightening (lower free cash available to those that are now credit worthy) and job cuts and I can again see a Dow 8000 or lower. The funny thing here is that if Obama announces taxes will stay as is then the economy recovers much faster and he's practically a lock to get re-elected. But it goes against everything he intended to do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/business/economy/26earnings.html?_r=1&ref=busi- - - - - - - ness
I am obviously of the opinion that you definitely know what you are talking about. But isn't the consensus at this point that only those households making more than $250K per year will see a tax increase next year? I imagine that is less than 3% of the population. I realize that some here on this forum make considerably more than $250K per year and thus will be obviously affected by tax hikes. I am not sure, however, how this statistic (less than 3% of households make more than $250K per year) relates to the business world. If you are telling me that the owners/CEO's of medium to large businesses will not hire because they are concerned about their individual bottom lines since they are making way more than $250K per year, then isn't that rather selfish? After all, the vast majority of their employees will be making a hell of a lot less than $250K. What am I missing here? The corporate taxes are not going up, right? I am honestly trying to understand all this and that is why I am asking these questions without getting political. If it were a simple case of not raising taxes on any income level and the economy would boom, why would Obama want to raise taxes? The other thing is, how is the astronomical deficit going to be reduced without raising taxes? Again, I am tossing politics on the side here and just trying to get honest answers to my questions.
Changing the subject, Len, I am not sure if you had a chance to read my reply to your post above. I had a couple questions about your new LS?
Well then, I'm glad I corrected that!
I hope you still own Citi... your patience is going to be richly rewarded!
The news on Citi continues to get better and better. Nice advance for the stock today.
I am convinced that you will double or triple you initial investment in a relatively short time period.
TM
I think C will do well over time, just not as well as you....Just think with a really concentrated holding---multiple hundreds of thousands of shares----say from four to just five, a handsome profit could be had, and an even more handsome profit at say six......your F choice has also turned out to really have rung the bell, and now everyone is singing it`s praise
It's in his nature... ideologically.
Also, he has surrounded himself with too many "tax and spend" folks.
HE THINKS HE IS ROBIN HOOD!... Steal from the rich and give to the poor.
He is even considering doing away with the homeowner's mortgage interest deduction!!
You would be shocked at some of his ideas and the ideas of those he keeps close company with... he is obsessed with punishing wealth and punishing success through taxation. It is backwards to the very concept and spirit of America... where free enterprise and competition are supposed to prosper.
Here is the problem with Obama's thinking... if there was a Super Bowl, and the New England Patriots were playing the New York Giants, and the Patriots were beating the Giants by a large number of touchdowns... Obama would step in and force the Patriots to give up some of their points in order to pay for the costs of running the Super Bowl, and to benefit the Giants, who he would see as less fortunate and deserving of entitlements.
In addition, if this was the way the rules were structured, the Super Bowl would be less dynamic, and therefore ticket sales would slow down, thus causing less economic activity, further reinforcing the twisted idea of having to unfairly tax the winning/successful team. Fortunately, in real life, that doesn't happen and the economic activity of the Super Bowl is huge and healthy because no one is punishing the successful team or the players that do well. In other words, placing higher punitive tax rates on successful businesses and individuals puts a damper on the economy instead of stimulating it with rewards for success.
It's really simple. If you want success, you reward success. If you want the economy to prosper, you reward prosperity. Incentives for success will work better than punishment.
Just imagine if the children in our own families were punished for great behavior instead of being rewarded for it. This is fundamental thinking that Obama does not understand. It's tragic that the POTUS is asleep at the switch with this, and that he has bought into the argument for higher taxes on the successful.
Even worse, is the fact that there is no geographic accountability... for example, I live in California, where a person making $250,000 won't achieve anywhere even close to the same lifestyle as someone living in Nebraska making the same amount of income.
The idea that "only 3%" of Americans will be affected is a total lie and a dangerous concept. Since when do we as a country decide to throw a certain percentage of our popolation into the fire?... make "them" pay. It's all too easy to blame the "rich" (instead of the truly wealthy and the government itself) and punish them. Afterall, 3% of the vote isn't a big deal, and soaking the rich sounds so good to the "average" American, but the problem is even deeper than that. Like it or not, the truth is that Obama and his merry men are hard at work looking for ways to tax all of us and businesses more and more and more and more. And, yes, particularly those that are successful, which is clearly a counterproductive concept. Take the AMT, for example... it is progressively more and more invasive, as it reaches deeper and deeper into more and more average American's tax bite. It is one of the most stealth taxes ever conceived, although it's initial intent wasn't what it has now become.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... the best taxation policy is a flat tax. It would be a FAIR policy that would produce MORE revenue for the government, and it would be neutral with regards to rewarding or punishing individuals based upon their levels of income that they have achieved. The math works with a flat tax... the more folks make, the more taxes they pay... but without punishment.
I could go on and on here, as you can see, because this is an outrage and tragedy that is about to be made even worse upon the American public, particularly those that have worked so very hard to make a successful level of income.
Doesn't look like the American dream or genuine freedom and competition any more when the government interferes so much.
I don't know why it is so hard for so many to understand that a tax cut would stimulate the economy and cause greater economic activity, and thus ultimately more tax revenue for the government.
TM
I think C will do well over time, just not as well as you....Just think with a really concentrated holding---multiple hundreds of thousands of shares----say from four to just five, a handsome profit could be had, and an even more handsome profit at say six......your F choice has also turned out to really have rung the bell, and now everyone is singing it`s praise
These companies are already dealing with the uncertainties of just how the health insurance overhaul is going to affect them, and how the financial industry overhaul is going to affect them. There is so much room for interpretation and "gotchas" buried in all these new regulations that no one really knows what to expect.....and now they are facing a huge tax increase. Plus there is still the threat of "card check"(unions) and "cap and trade".
With all these unknowns, these companies are not going to rush out and start expanding. They have responsibilities to their companies, their families, and their employees and cannot afford to make mistakes so about all they can do is wait for some of these things to shake out. We don't need more taxes, we need less spending and less waste. Thank goodness I sold my business about 5 years ago !!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
If no changes are made, the expiration of the tax policy will raise the lowest 10 percent bracket to 15 percent. It will raise the 25 percent rate to 28 percent; the 28 percent rate to 31 percent; the 33 percent rate to 36 percent; and the 35 percent rate to 39.6 percent.
It would also dramatically increase the investment tax rate on dividends, lower the child tax credit from $1,000 to $500 and remove tax protections for married couples.
Will Congress cut taxes for those under $250,000 per year? Or will the middle class get the shaft?