The worst may be over. But don’t be surprised if the next few months aren’t as smooth as the past two for Best Buy.
Link: Opinion: Why is Best Buy is up 60% this year?
Second week’s reaction to extreme plan may see focus switch to gloomy assessment of short-term outlook for global economy
It’s extreme stuff from the Federal Reserve in two ways. First, instead of throwing a lump sum of a few hundred billon dollars at the Treasury market, the US central bank will buy $40bn of mortgage-backed securities every month.
Second, it won’t stop buying until the outlook for employment improves, implying it is prepared to tolerate a sizeable degree of inflation when recovery arrives.
What does it all mean? The Fed is clearly alarmed by the sudden stall in the US jobs market – but we have known that for months. The new ingredients may be shock at the slowdown in China’s economy and horror that the eurozone has produced only another sticking-plaster solution to its woes. This may be a case of the Fed getting its retaliation in first.
Markets initially love big props to asset prices, of course. But the second week’s reaction is usually the one to watch. Do not be surprised if the focus switches to an assessment of quite how gloomy the short-term outlook for the global economy has become. In other words, this dose of monetary medicine may not turn out to be the one that stirs revival and creates jobs; it may, yet again, just be enough to preserve stability in the face of deep global trade imbalances.
You might be surprised how the math actually adds up.
Follow this link: Where’s all that government spending really going?
Category : Stocks
NEW YORK (TheStreet) — An interesting thing happened recently that surprised me; I’m sure it surprised many investors. Shares of satellite radio giant Sirius XM went up.
How baffling, when you consider that, as predicted, CEO Mel Karmazin executed two separate sales of his options that total 7.6 million shares, at an average price of $1.83, as the graphic above shows. …
Click to view a price quote on SIRI.
Click to research the Media industry.
Continued here: Has Sirius XM Bottomed?
The following commentary comes from an independent investor or market observer as part of TheStreet’s guest contributor program, which is separate from the company’s news coverage.
NEW YORK (Bullion Bulls Canada) — As Western economies and Western societies continue to deteriorate, I find myself frequently appalled but rarely surprised. Thus it was a refreshing change to be “surprised” by this weekend’s Greek election — made even better by the fact it was a pleasant surprise.
The Western mainstream media had told us to expect the two rancid, Establishment parties in Greece (PASOK and New Democracy) to maintain their grip on power by circling the wagons and forming a Coalition of Convenience, to prevent the possibility of any real change. The script had seemingly been written.
…
Originally posted here: Greek Election: The ‘Winds of Change’
 CTV.ca |
Zimmerman bail raises issues of fairness
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel In the latest chapter of a story that continues to grip the nation, George Zimmerman was granted bail after appearing in court to address charges he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. I was surprised so many friends on my social network … Lawyer: Zimmerman may remain in jail until middle of next week Zimmerman charge will be hard to prove Zimmerman Still In Jail Despite Bond Being Set
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ office sought to clear up confusion over the government’s online surveillance bill, following comments by the minister that suggested he was surprised by some of the bill’s contents. Read more here: Opposition jumps on surveillance bill confusion Japan and Croatia are tied 1-1 after the opening day of their Davis Cup World Group first-round tie on Friday at Bourbon Beans Dome. Read more here: Japan, Croatia tied after Nishikori fails to follow Soeda’s lead Okinawa Defense Bureau chief Ro Manabe’s alleged attempts to influence the Feb. 12 Ginowan mayoral election by indirectly suggesting that ministry officials and their families vote for Atsushi Sakima over Yoichi Iha have angered, but not surprised, Okinawans, who say such interference by Tokyo in local politics is nothing new. Read more from the original source: In Okinawa, meddling seen as nothing new
While John Browett was surprised to get the call, perhaps his switch from Hemel Hempstead to California is not as jaw-dropping as it appears Dixons Retail, where the share price has fallen by three-quarters in the past four years, is perhaps not the obvious place for Apple to hunt for an executive to run its 360 shops around the world. John Browett, the ex-Tesco man who has spent that time overhauling all those Currys and PC World shops, admits himself that he was surprised to get the call. But perhaps his switch from Hemel Hempstead to California is not as jaw-dropping as it might appear. If you don’t stare too long at the share price, Dixons’ tale is one of survival in hellish trading conditions and in the midst of an online assault led by Amazon. Best Buy, the US invader, was seen off, an achievement that may have brought Browett to the notice of Apple’s bigwigs. Kesa has given up on its Comet chain by paying somebody to tow it away. And, for the first time in ages, the clouds have cleared sufficiently to see how Dixons can repay maturing debt without having to tap its shareholders again. Browett’s strategy for Currys and PC World was hardly revolutionary – get prices down to match the internet brigade and improve the quality of service. Even so, it’s remarkable that a corporate reputation for shocking service has been shed within a few years. Simon Fox of HMV, another retailer whose standing is higher than his employer’s share price, can dream again. He should have taken the ITV job when it was available a couple of years ago. But maybe somebody will yet knock on his door.
|
