Tuesday, May 6, 2008

What's New Under the Sun ?

Not much.

French company Alstom is in a scandal regarding paying bribes for business. That's a common problem in European business. US laws lessen that for stodgy, moralistic America.

OPEC member Indonesia is a net importer of oil, mulls leaving OPEC to save costs.

US ISM non-mfg. index was reported at 52 on Monday, indicating expansion in the service sector, which is the majority of the US economy.

YHOO stock price collapses.

Energy and miners rise Monday. In my opinion the easy money is made in that sector via the price rises of the commodities. Now one must look at those companies as normal stocks with PEs, growth rates, etc., not just asset plays That applies to gold stocks, too. Earnings will determine the future price appreciation in them as I think the commodity prices will stay on a high plateau now, and the companies must manage costs and seek new output. I own DVN, CVX, FCX and CCJ in reasonable amounts - not overweights.

There is not now nor has there been a recession in the US. We have a midcycle slowdown somewhat aggravated by a rich man's panic, caused by Wall Street stupidity and greed.

No armageddon occured nor will occur from the current situations. The Fed did its historical and statutory job correctly, although a bit belatedly.

Inflation will fall this year to the Fed's "comfort zone" in both core PCE and in the headline numbers.

The Asian Co-Prosperity Zone of interlocking, self-reinforcing consumer demand-driven growth will continue to develop. This is very positive for world economic growth for years to come [... provided the Chinese communist politboro does nothing stupid militarily].

Eastern Europe will grow rapidly as the freedom of people there continues to let them create better lives for themselves. That area benefits from huge markets in Western Europe, Russia and even the Near East.

"Protect Yourself at All Times" - those instructions for boxing apply to active investing and trading. Mind your money management and position size.

Buy dips in good stocks in good groups.

OK, that's my outlook in review. Mrs. B and I travel to Rome this afternoon to see some sights and culture. Next blog will be May 15. Good luck.

Word of the Day

"Peregrinate" - verb, intrasitive [$10] and peregrination - noun [$10]
Peregrinate means to travel, journey, esp. extensively or at leisure.
Sentence: After many years of focussing on creating a sturdy base of wealth for retirement, Bunkerman hopes now to peregrinate among the major cities of Europe to experience - borrowing that 1970s psychobabble word - their culture and art in "one city" and/or "one country" vacations of approximately eight days each.

76 comments:

Bunkerman said...

I'm going to buy some SLV in the Krypto Fund this morning, after slling a bit of emerging market funds on Monday. This is another asset allocation trade, as my gold & silver holdings are still underweight, wile the emerging markets had some excess capital. I'm using a brokerage account in my SEP-IRA to be able to save taxes in the future.

Bunkerman said...

hmm ... I sold the bullion at $20, buying SLV at $16-17. More proof that passive asset allocation trades do work to incrase profits and reduce risk.

Bud said...

we are currently in a recession.......and have been in one since last year

armageddon was dodged.........for now

GS sayin oil goin to 200 within 2 years

"no inflation"

Bud said...

will the Bman be seated in luxurious first class......where the rich elite eat brie and drink chablis

or will he be stowed with the commmon man in the 'lower class' cabins

i think we all the answer to that

mfl59 said...

small business bankruptcies up 49% this qtr....personal bankruptcies up 123%...the common man is hurting...

mern said...

joe kernen on cnbc this am

"this is a soft landing????????"

he sounded rather snarky.

facts r facts. we r mired in stagflation. UBS writes off another 19 billion. TGT selling some credit card exposure. GD YR raising tire prices 8%.

seems to have all been discounted, back on MLK day. however the sell in may and stay away probably does ok this summer. we have had one helluva bounce off the MLK lows. we seem rather over bought in a lot of stuff.

if commodities and oil cant rollover after this last ramp since jan, well what difference does it make?

the govt tries to tell us to live the same way as we did last yr is about 5% more than last yr.

my personal CPI is negative in 08 becuase of a huge deduction in my homeowners. 6500 to 1800. but im not thinking with my wallet, like some do, im thinking about the 200 million white, middle class (cough), nascar loving, bible thumpin, trailer living americans.

try telling them that the PCE and core is fine. first they wont understand u. second they will break out the bible and a gun and tell u to get out of thier trailer.

bman i heard the pizza is gud in italy. let me know!

have fun

;-)

mern said...

welp im officially disgusted with both donkeys.

now just need to find some reasons not to vote for big mac and i can sit still like 2004.

Bunkerman said...

We're in business class - to be determined what that means nowadays.

mern said...

atlanta to paris in couch was probably close to hell.

get drunk, pop some pills, pass out, wake up. watch a movie, get drunk, pop pills, pass out. play some video games, get drunk, pop pills pass out. study for the 24, get drunk, pop pills, pass out.

9 hours that was like a bad acid trip. we were packed like sardines.

1st class or biz is definitely worth the extra money. even if it is more than a grand.

i think biz class just means no anal cavity search and a free glass of warm piss before take off.

;-)

Frosty said...

Bunkerman...have a great vacation.

Bunkerman said...

I just listen to great songs on my iPhone and read books. I'll probably get a few hours sleep, too. 8 hour flight.

mern said...

i liked playing the in house trivia game.

it ran the entire flight which was about 9 hours.

they also had a GPS device so u cud see where u were going. the flight wud be shorter but i guess they dont like flying over water when they absolutely have to. we tracked from atlanta up through ny, ma into canada and then made the right turn.

u gonna get your swerve on to some julie andrews?

mern said...

anyone listening to FNM and or have thoughts to y it is getting squeezed.

anyone with a FNM opinion?

Bunkerman said...

Sure ... lots of Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, WW I music, Tommy Dorsey, etc.

Bud said...

i hope frosty uses the next 10 days workin on his fundamentals

your swing is poor.....no pop

your arm is weak......no bite


that's what the minors are for


PS......or maybe he shud workout with olympic softball team? after all he is a lil' schoolgirl

Frosty said...

Bunkerman...time to join the mile high club?

Bud said...

by the time the Bman gets back.......it could be all over my girl

i love you Hillary......i'll do anythin for you

don't ever stop fighting.....i got your back


die obama die !!!!!!!


PS.....john mccain will get my money and my support if hillary is not on the ballot in november

Bud said...

julie andrews?? tommy dorsey??


huh??? who listens to that


frosty likes pat boone and ginger rogers i believe

maverick said...

enjoy Bman, my wife leaves end of month for Rome also....give us a good review

mern said...

all i want for xmas is a president who doesnt lie 24/7. who is fiscally responsible. who tells lobbyist, both gud and bad, u r fired! who appluades stem cell research. abortions up to the chix, to decide. gay marriage, who gives a rats ass? and the middle east will feature lots of glass. and whoever can get rid of the IRS, BLS and fed!

Bunkerman said...

I'm not a member of that club, frosty. Unlikely if I ever get into it ...

mern said...

Democrats, what will you do if your candidate isn't the nominee?
Not vote 15% 12549
Vote for the nominee 45% 38831
Vote for John McCain 40% 34548
Total Votes: 85928

u think that gives the GOP a big fat chubby that only a viagra cud provide?

so bud, u will let your emotions for hildog influence your vote to the point where u will support a "100 yr war" (which i think we cud win a about 15 minutes, remember glass) and no doubt that is the death sentence to many many american kids in the lower classes?

a true liberal wud vote for a lefty becuase both want out of iraq.

me i dont care. bush fucked up iraq so bad, glass is the only option that seems viable to me. imvho.

was reading some of the new book out by a general that practically ran iraq from the "mission accomplished" speech into 2006. OMFG, seriously, the white house is full of retarded, old money, donut punchers (with bible in hand).

take them to kabal and then make glass. that wud also get rid of the heroin problem too, since 98% of the worlds poppy comes from afghanistan.

i just wonder, wud cheney live, like a cockroach? most likely, yes.

mern said...

The price index for gross domestic purchases, which measures prices paid by U.S. residents,
increased 3.5 percent in the first quarter, compared with an increase of 3.7 percent in the fourth.


so according to the govt inflation went down the first 90 days of 2008, thats where the .6% came from.

and people believe that?

name this movie!

"and if i told u wolverines made gud house pets, wud u believe me?"

hint, the candy man, can.

Spin-em said...

Youre going the wrong way!!!!...Youre going to kill somebody!!!

Ahhh he's nuts... how does he know which way we're going?

Spin-em said...

These are filled with helium....very light

mern said...

lol soin knows

"those arent pillows!!!!!!!!!................ bears r looking gud this yr"

lol

mern said...

spin knows too

what a great flic.

i love martin in that, the jerk and dirty rotten scoundrels (probably his best performance)

Bunkerman said...

hmmm did real buyers come in before lunch ?

Spin-em said...

Blue moon of kentucky, keep on shining
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue
Blue moon of kentucky, keep on shining
Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue

Bud said...

what movie you guys talkin about?


dirty rotten scoundrels was awesome

Bud said...

these aren't f'ng real buyers!

i thought they didn't chase

these are my heroes.....beefers


beefers rule !!!!!!!

mfl59 said...

Bud, when you tell a story....here's an idea....have a point....it makes it so much more interesting for the listener....

there's another hint...

mern said...

LOL!!!!!!

mern said...

"honey id like u to meet dell griffin.......... oh by the way. here is a gun, so u can blow your brains out! U WILL THANK ME"

"i cud stand any insurance seminar...... for days! they wud be like how can u stand it?

"becuase ive been with dell griffin"

"shower curtain guy?"

"WOW!"

mern said...

A national CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Tuesday found that 79% of respondents - nearly 4 out of 5 - believe the economy is now in a recession. That is up from 74% of Americans in March, 66% in February and 46% just a half-year back.

DONT TELL THE GOVT ECONOMISTS! they mite explode

PCE and core within a comfort zone?

ya if your net worth is over 5 mil.

short of that, u know its all bullshit

Spin-em said...

$17 and a helluva nice watch

Well Ive gt $3 and a Casio


LMAOOO

Bud said...

did i just heckled from the cheap seats???


when minor-leagers start to bitch-slap you........it's time for a break

i'm gonna be very depressed anyway......as Hillary prolly concedes tomorrow


enjoy Bman

mfl59 said...

a casio....LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

mfl59 said...

"i'm going to have to say...goodnight"

mern said...

what a great flic!

best 10 comedies imo

1. dumb and dumber
2. badder santa (unrated version of bad santa)
3. south park movie
4. office space
5. anchorman
6. wedding crashers
7. 40 yr old virgin
8. animal house
9. there is something about mary
10.spin tap

honorable mention: planes trains and autos, dirty rotten scoundrels, vacation, xmas vacation, happiness, dogma, kingpin, dodge ball, liar liar, drowing mona, naked gun, dead man on campus, dazed and confused, elmo lost his blankie, tootsie, and the jerk. im sure im missing a few worthy of merny mention.

mern said...

oh, is scarface a comedy?

if so, that #4 on my list

there isnt a line from pacino in that movie that doesnt make me LOL

mern said...

Buona notte

mfl59 said...

A guy on bloomberg said the following..."Since there is nothing Fed policy can do about high oil and food prices, it really doesn't count as inflation"

well done sir...

Frosty said...

Mern where are you?...shaving the nut sack I guess...hate that five o'clock shadow.

mern said...

been thinking about some of the comedies i left off the list.

porkys, stripes, malibus most wanted, fletch (first one), ace ventura (first one).

come on bob, give me some oldies.

mern said...

oh yeah. dont be a menace in south central la, while drinking your juice in the hood.

GREAT FLIC!

Frosty said...

kudlow said stagflation last night...Mern, you getting all this data from his blog...you a charter member.

Frosty said...

Mern where is Bud...hildog dead...did he commit hara-kiri...those japs a funny lil' fellas.

mern said...

man i missed some gud ones

Caddyshack, what about bob, groundhog day, easy money, TRADING PLACES, tommy boy, half baked, and american pie.

i need to redo my top 10.

bud is out making posters for the 100 yr war, that he will endorse.

kudlow, who is that?

who caught doctor phil yesterday? hysterical. harvard grad who wrote a book "how to get laid in NYC" HE WAS AWESOME! but he only had 133 chixs in his data base that he scored with. but he seem pretty focused on quality, so that is pretty damn gud.

Frosty said...

stock car story on CNBC...did they just say the Mernredneck indicator...you need a raise Mern, JPM has a real gem...who is on dr phil today.

mern said...

i dont know that was just pure luck. i got home and the worden was watching it. usually that means i go into the gym and workout while watching PTI, but this guy was killing me in 5 seconds so i watched the last 30 minutes.

i didnt tell cindy but that guy is my hero. he almost made me wish i was single again. it really really isnt hard, to be a player.

i just prefer one person, but 20 yrs ago, i cud have used that book.

cindy suggested a women shud write the same book. i told her no way wud that work.

i had to explain to her, that what a women puts down in writing, on how to pick them up, never would work in the real world. becuase facts r facts. and the fact is most women dont know what they want until u tell em!

:-)

mern said...

"When I went into the bunker, I brought flowers for my daughter, and books and toys for the children, and I watched adventure videos with them while Elisabeth was cooking our favorite dish," he said.

"And then we all sat around the table and ate together."

Fritzl has been remanded in custody in the city of St Poelten. Mayer confirmed to Reuters that Fritzl's comments were authentic.



r all people with bunkers total freaks?

lol

Spin-em said...

Mussina ...4 in a rooowwwwwww....lil Nick..keep that Yankee hat and have daddy was his car with that Mets junk....Looool

mern said...

last additions: Airplane, fast times at ridgemont high, heathers, napoleon dynamite, meet the parents, MASH, and old school.

so thats 38 funny ass movies.

mfl59 said...

lmaooooooooo.....lil nick had his yankees garb on yesterday....of course he proceeded to spit up all over it as soon as I put it on him....pfffttt....

mern said...

anyone reading minyanville?

toddo layed out a complex conpsiracy theory that it wasnt bear who got bailed, but JPM.

if that is the case, i start at JPM on 6/1.

i guess short it?

d'oh

my official title is boot licker

maverick said...

Bud gone to the Hildog burial today?

mern said...

and on the 3rd day she rose again.

mfl59 said...

Bud how was Crawford? did you shake hands with the black minister sir?

Frosty said...

LMAOOOO...Bud showing off the wide stance.

mern said...

hillary wud be a lock if the entire country was like west virgina.

poor white trash, inbred, living in trailers, gun and bible in one hand, govt checks in the other.

she seems to be more delusional than cramer.

Spin-em said...

....said the man who sees Dr Melfi twice a week..looooooooool...boooyaaaaa

Spin-em said...

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains
Shenandoah river -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories gathered round her
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine
Teardrops in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

FARRRRR OUTTTTTTTT!!!

Spin-em said...

Give a f***...McCain and Huck!!!

mern said...

the headline CPI is 3.9% yoy down .1% mom.

dr melfi gonna love that one!

surprising not more on babblevision, other than santelli, question this complete and utter bull shit.

id have to vote against any ticket that contains huckabee.

may i suggest utubing SNL opening bit on the hilldog. amy poehler was quite funny becuase thats how hilldog really thinx.

mern said...

Inflation pressures eased a bit in April despite the biggest jump in food prices in 18 years.
LOL

The lower inflation reflected a flat reading for energy, which helped offset a 0.9 percent jump in food costs as prices climbed for many basic items, from bread and milk to coffee and fresh fruits.

really?!?

The unchanged reading for energy reflected a big 4.8 percent jump in natural gas prices, offset by a 2 percent decline in gasoline costs.

offset by a 2 percent decline in gasoline costs.

worth saying twice, no? ROFL

The reported drop in gasoline prices reflected the government's accounting process, which discounts expected seasonal price changes.

AH, OF COURSE! LMAOOOOOOOOOO

Since gasoline prices normally rise significantly in April, the 5.6 percent rise in prices for the month turned into a 2 percent drop after the government adjusted for normal seasonal changes.

man i wish i went to harvard, maybe i wud understand this.

So far this year, overall inflation is rising at an annual rate of 3 percent, down from a 4.1 percent increase for all of 2007. Core inflation, excluding energy and food, is up at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the first four months of this year, compared with a 2.4 percent increase for all of 2007.

OMG who would believe this?

reminds of a scene in what about bob. anna asked bob if he wanted more salad and he responds.

"PILE IT HIGH AND DEEP!"

people really believe this stuff? really???!!!!! seriously????!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spin-em said...

PILE IT HIGH AND DEEP!!....omgLMAOOOO

DR??........LEO??......MARVIN????

mern said...

IM SAILING!!!!!!!!!!

mern said...

Americans are feeling a lot more economic pain than the government's official statistics would lead you to believe, according to a growing number of experts.
They argue that figures for unemployment and inflation are being understated by the government.

Unemployment and inflation are typically added together to come up with a so-called "Misery Index."

The "Misery Index" was often cited during periods of high unemployment and inflation, such as the mid 1970s and late 1970s to early 1980s.

And some fear the economy may be approaching those levels again.

The official numbers produce a current Misery Index of only 8.9 - inflation of 3.9% plus unemployment of 5%. That's not far from the Misery Index's low of 6.1 seen in 1998.

But using the estimates on CPI and unemployment from economists skeptical of the government numbers, the Misery Index is actually in the teens. Some worry it could even approach the post-World War II record of 20.6 in 1980.

"We're looking at government numbers that are really out of whack," said Kevin Phillips, author of the book "Bad Money."

EXACTLY

the bls's alibies r shot full of holes and more than just mern is noticing.

maybe this will accelerate into an actual debate topic during the election.

"mr mccain, currently the BLS says inflation is running at 3.9%. not 1 single american agrees with this statement, how do you explain what the govt data says versus what we all know is true?"

Frosty said...

"Shit eating son-of-a-bitch! Bastard, douche-bag, twat, numb-nuts, dickhead!"

"Why are you doing this"

"Well, if I fake it, then I don't have it."

inflation ppfffttt.

Spin-em said...

Dr. Leo Marvin's a genius! Your Death Therapy cured me, you genius!


Fay...Is this hand shucked?

mern said...

bob any thoughts on the fed really bailing out JPM and not BSC?

after everything ive seen, seems real possible.

sure doesnt look like the sec or the fed gives a rats ass about whoever asked for the march strikes to be put in place more or less the 55,000 march 30's that were put on days before the blow up.

FDX misses, WFMI misses, no wage pressure.

if the PE on the S&P does not compress for stagflation, at this point, it never will!

mern said...

Is this hand shucked?


LMAOOOOOOOOOOO

kills me every time.

"what we need to do is figure a way to work around your schedule. how does monday, wednesday, friday, saturday and sunday, from 3 to 5, work for you?"


DR MARVIN "??????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


"officer could you make sure he is home by 7"

lol

mfl59 said...

"I see salt and I see pepper, but I don't see a salt substitute."

lmaoooooo

Spin-em said...

ROFLLLLL

Frosty said...

Mark..BSC the first to be frozen out, first to fall, first to fail...the fed saved the system, many would have imploaded had the fed not taken the blow tourch to the credit markets...LEH I would think, was more vulnerable than JPM.