Tuesday, October 20, 2009

An Apple A Day ...

keeps poverty away ?

I won't go that far, but no doubt the star performing company in these "crisis" times is Apple (AAPL). AAPL sells expensive consumer products. The perma-bears and pundits of gloom have been saying that "the consumer is dead" and "a new normal is here" and, as usual, "it's different this time. What does the data point - a real factual result - of AAPL say ? People want high quality, well designed products that work well. They will pay good prices for them. Period.

WSJ: "Apple Inc. continued to power through the recession as it posted a 47% quarterly profit jump as consumers continued to snap up its iPhones and Macintosh computers. The company also sounded an upbeat note for the holiday season, despite new competition in the smart-phone and PC markets. Shares of Apple surged more than 6% after the results were released, eclipsing $200. ... Apple also sold 3.1 million Macintosh computers in the quarter, up 17% from a year earlier, as it continued to gain ground on Windows-based machines. In the quarter, Apple released Snow Leopard, a major upgrade to its Mac operating system, and it said initial sales have been double that of the previous upgrade two years ago.

"Apple's strong results appear to indicate that overall consumer spending is recovering. Other technology companies have also recently posted positive earnings, including Intel Corp. and Google Inc. "This quarter really signals that we're coming out of the trough," said Gene Munster, an analyst for Piper Jaffray. "You don't see too many blow-out quarters like that, especially when you're the size of Apple." "

All those computers with Windows XP are targets for conversion to AAPL machines when they need replacement. Windows sucks so much, I've vowed to never buy another machine using Windows. I have written before that I think AAPL eventually gets 25% market share in PCs. That means plenty of growth for years.

The Sky Fund holds AAPL as one of its larger positions.

The Real

FT: "Brazil has imposed a 2 per cent tax effective from Tuesday on money entering the country to invest in equities and fixed income instruments. Direct investment in the productive economy will not be affected. The move, announced shortly before local markets closed on Monday evening, is designed to slow the appreciation of Brazil’s currency, the real, which has gained 36 per cent against the US dollar this year."

That is going to really hurt ETFs investing in emerging markets which are trading vehicles of speculators. That 2% vig on flows is a killer for frequent position adjustments. Beefers will also be hurt badly. I suppose that derivatives might permit some avoidance of it, but the firm selling the derivative might have trouble hedging the other side of the trade without paying.

I really don't like that coming from Brazil. Countries that talk big about free trade, but then impose a ham-handed tax on investors seem rather unstable. I wonder? Brazil's leaders did some stupid things on that Honduras mess, too. Perhaps those oil discoveries are causing a bit of hubris there.

Actions

I continue to check Krypto Fund after any large market moves. Soon perhaps I'll have to do some re-allocation and pay Krypto her management fee ... a dog biscuit. Sure beats paying a hedge fund manager.

I'm also monitoring positions in both 1-2-3 Fund and Fido Fund. As the prices get close to my mental targets, I'll take the sugar and move on. I don't wait for the music to stop before sitting down when I'm happy with the results. I'm not a hog. Hmm ... I wonder how that is said in French ?

French for "hog" is "le cochon" but they don't use that metaphor for greed. (btw, it's used for filth, dirt, smutty, etc.). Instead French uses "goinfre", an adjective or masculine noun. So from the unabridged dictionary, "He's a greedy pig" is "Il est un goinfre." or "C'est un vrai goinfre".

I'm not a hog -> Je ne suis pas un goinfre.

For fun: to say insultingly "you're a greedy pig" - "tu es un goinfre". BUT for "you're a dirty pig", use "le cochon" - > "tu es un cochon."

A real-time, multilingual blog !!!

Word of the Day

"Sophism" - noun [$10]
Sophism means 1. (normal usage) a false argument, especially one intended to deceive; 2. (argumentation theory) an eristic or contentious syllogism, distinguished from paralogism by intent to deceive.
Sentence: Most of the arguments raised in the debate on ObamaCare are sophisms designed for the network news or faxed "talking points".

Compare to paralogism: (Logic) 1. a fallacy; 2. illogical reasoning (especially of which the reasoner is unconscious). Paralogy is (a) the characteristic of having paralogisms inherent, or (b) a collection or grouping of paralogisms. Paralogy is a Mencken word - here's a fine quote referring to speeches given in the 1924 Republican convention: "the imbecile paralogy of the speeches." Hmm ... that could be written about convention speeches since around 1992.

76 comments:

Spin-em said...

BBD,BAK,PBR,SID,CBD,ABV,GOL

Bunkerman said...

Jeopardy Q: What are some Brazilean stocks likely to be adversely impacted by the new 2% capital inflow tax?

I wonder how ADRs are affected ?

The ADR is in the US, the shares deposited come from home country, in this case, Brazil. I guess the ADR sponsor bank would to pay that tax to get shares to deposit more shares in the ADR trust, unless there is an exemption.

Bunkerman said...

darn, guess I pulled the trigger too soon on CAT.

Sigh ...

Bud said...

so lemme get this right


cuz people are buying iphones and ipods and macs...............means we are not in a nasty resession........maybe even a depression ??? this is a company specific situation...........i would not draw any conclusions from 1 company's report

Bud said...

atta boy Bman.......you had a great call .....lock in those profits..........beefer style.........find a new watering hole


ich machte nichts my ass

mfl59 said...

Listen to this man Bunkerman....please listen...he is absolutely white hot...busting up a different bookie every night...

Bud said...

Bman it is very clear to me and more importantly to currency traders that obama and geithner and bernanke want a weak dollar.........that is the policy


what do you think is appropriate.......dollar-euro ?

Bud said...

Bman do you think china should let it's currency trade freely ??? i know they will never allow it.............but should they?

Bud said...

Bman what was your gain in CAT ?? 5 points? 10 points ??


that's a grand slam in my book.......relax

Bud said...

trhe S and p will keep goin up as long as the dollar keeps goin lower...........even a picture book guy from a state scholl has figured that out


but i don't see how this story ends with a party...........i see it ending in a funeral

Bunkerman said...

uh Bud ... AAPL is a perfect counterexample to the "new normal" and "it's different this time" screed.

AAPL proves that people have not changed behavior much, if at all.

Bunkerman said...

pts don't really matter in calls - the leverage is huge.

Bunkerman said...

The dollar is NOT at a record low vs. the euro.

From my trips to Europe to major cities, the current rate is OK, or 10% lower or higher is OK, too.

Prices in their major cities [London, Rome, Prague] were about the same similar areas of NYC.

Bud said...

that's right ace


back2back walkoff wins............ARE YOU F"NG KIDDIN ME !!!!!!!!! i love you J-Ro!!...........when you're hot.........you're hot...............lemme repeat...............back2back walkoff wins!!!!


i am murdering these guys down here.....i can't wait for thursday and friday.............that's when i collect.......they prolly at shilox today so they can pay me...........i doubt i get the full amount........."take 5k now..........i give you 10k on monday"

Bud said...

i cannot lose right now............you guys shud keep ridin me til i cool off




i will have a play for tonite...........i gotta do research..........ya'know..........matchups....lefty/righty stats.......injury report..........wind direction.......umpire strike zones...............i am ON FIRE !!!





skip bayless indeed

Bunkerman said...

No, I think letting the renminbi float could be a potential disaster.

That governmetn is a military dictatorship. Nfw rich Chinese peopel would keep their money there.

It could collapse like the Ruble did when Soviet Union cratered.

Too risky.

They should slowly adjust its value to closer to purchasing power parity in major cities (Beijing, Shanghai) to Tokyo, NYC, etc.

I don't know where it is on those terms.

mfl59 said...

Be careful Bud...what if the bookie comes with a goon or two equipped with a bat and says..."guess what, you aint getting paid"....just sayin

Bunkerman said...

I think the dollar value is not a serious policy objective.

other factors are important, like it's liquidity, tradeability, value as a paper currency in other nations, acceptance in world trade.

To borrow an old metaphor, "I would not crucify the working man on a cross of green"

That's from the famous William Jennings Bryan "Cross of Gold" speech in 1894 whan the gold standard was a huge issue.

Obama - Geitner should do a better job improving the economy and not giving out earmarks & payoffs and poor "stimulus" programs.

IF / WHEN the economy strengthen, the dollar will strengthen.

Bunkerman said...

nah .. if bookie is smart, he'll pay you. Otherwise, he's out of business.

He should have a flat book anyway.

What he should do is get some voodoo spells working on you ...

;)

Bud said...

maybe ace............these guys are scum........anythin is possible


1 guy i been dealing with for 15 years...............and i know he is LOADED............the other guy ain't that big.......i think..........we'll see..........

Bud said...

i am so hot right now...............even william h macy can't 'cool' me off right now



what movie am i talkin about ??

Bunkerman said...

hoodoo, too (a synonynm for bad luck voodoo).

Just looked up Polish for "hoodoo"

as a cause of bad luck -> Zły znak

as bad luck itself -> Zła passa

Bunkerman said...

Polish for voodoo -> wudu

(same pronounciation)

Bunkerman said...

"hog" in Polish for the sense of a greedy person is "Żarlok".

Kuba jest żarlokiem.

That should be correct, as "hog" needs to in instrumental case for being a member of a group.

Frosty said...

"you guys shud keep ridin me til i cool off"...fags should be neutered...cheney in 2012.

Frosty said...

"We have plenty of strong earnings reports to keep this market running this morning"...thx jim

Bunkerman said...

took the sugar on the ITW calls.

80+% profit on double position.

Bud said...

awesome Bman



80%............how long did that take??


'long term long only investing indeed'

Spin-em said...

Drain the Brazil pond...this behavior cant be rewarded

Bunkerman said...

a bit over a month.

Looks like I told those ITW calls an hour to soon.

Oh well.

Bunkerman said...

Sky Fund a a good bit of ITW, too.

Bunkerman said...

has

Bunkerman said...

took sugar on PG calls

75% gain - a bit over a month.

Hmm who was who told me a few years ago that one couldn't make money trading PG ?

;)

Bunkerman said...

in hindsight I can see I should have done one flip & re-buy on these calls

I remember thinking about it at the time, but as that wasn't the "Plan", I didn't want to shift mid-course.

mfl59 said...

Bunkerman what shorts are you putting out today?

Bunkerman said...

none.

I still expect more ups soon.

Bunkerman said...

after that, though, I might look for something to short.

Bunkerman said...

this seems like profti taking by beefers.

haha and this lil beefer, too.

Bud said...

what are you sayin frosty ??? ride me on my wagers you pig........


bob....tu es un cochon !!!!

Bud said...

long newyork yankees -133 for game4 up the f'ng wazoo

listen guys............i am tryin to help you............i am smokin hot right now.......i've won 8 straight bets since saturday........and like 17 of 20...........these guys cannot beat me.......i cannot lose............i am knock these motherf'n bookies into insolvency



thank me tomorrow

Bud said...

Bman a beefer?? of course he is.........he finally admits it


'only funds over 100million my ass........blah blah blah

Bud said...

great trading Bman........beefer style .........well done



je ne fais rien my ass

mfl59 said...

"Forget the loans Dad...Times are good and they are gonna stay that way"

"Lotsa guys at the track talk like that"

Bunkerman said...

haha, nope.

I as just anticipating being called that in jest.

"li'l beefer"

Bunkerman said...

I was just ...

Sheesh I type too fast.

mfl59 said...

"these guys cannot beat me.......i cannot lose............"


I may have just wet my pants...I'd better check....

Bud said...

Bman i haven't heard you opine on the galleon insider trading allegations


surely you have to be outraged and disgusted at the tactics used by the US attorney in this case......wiretaps..........and boasting about how we got them 'mafia style'


amendment4......'illegal search and seizure'.............these f'ng prosecutors are lowlife dirtbags........surely a libertarian and student of the constitution like you agrees with me

Bud said...

the obama white house cannot create any jobs..........so to dustract the populus.......they are in full war-mode against..........wall street


there will be dozens of bogus cases and perp-walks brought against wall street..........all bogus




'bread and ciscuses'

Bud said...

uhhhhhh..........not sure if 'bread and circuses' applies here


but y'all know what i'm saying

Bud said...

i am way way way more of a libertarian then the Bman in this matter


personally i feel insider trading is not a crime.........furthermore..........i believe insider info is protected under the constitution.....freedom of speech

mfl59 said...

did you go to Iowa State Law School?

Frosty said...

"i feel insider trading is not a crime........."...surprise surprise gomer pyle...large recent frauds involve jews or paki/dot heads, whatever....fire on sight, shot to kill...grand wizard fat al not ammused.

Bud said...

dot-heads


LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO



man you really are a prick

Bunkerman said...

on matters like that case, I think it's best to wait for some facts.


I don't see why wire taps on those are so objectionable, "presuming" they had probable cause. That's probable, not "possible" as some judges seem to missread teh 4th amendment.

I suspect they had an informant to get them enough toget thearrants..

But yes, prosecutors often go way too far.

Bunkerman said...

I think the grandstanding for the press in those cases goes too far.

Bunkerman said...

I think there is a lot more sleaze & white collar crime on the Street now than 15 years ago.

Bunkerman said...

trading is "speech" ... uh ...

that's a stretch.

certainly it's a form of "pursuit of happiness".

Frosty said...

"presuming" they had probable cause"...gesh bunky, you ever here of al qaeda...jihad...perhaps I can suggest a book or two...open a bunker window and allow some light in.

Bunkerman said...

insider trading isn't terrorism, frosty.

I just know of cases where judges have given warants for mere "possible" cause. It's more common than one might think.

Bunkerman said...

in this case, perhaps they got the initial leads from terrorism wiretaps.

I'm not sure what the law is on that.

mfl59 said...

Yes I saw that episode of Law and Order the other night as well Bunkerman.....

Spin-em said...

looooooooooooooooooool

ace in a very spierdalaćy mood today

Bunkerman said...

uh .. I dnever watched "Law & Order" much - I despise the lawyer part.

The only TV show I watch "sometimes" is South Park;
not even it lately.

All DVDs all the time.

I have read books about this subject, by the way.

Bunkerman said...

also, remember I worked on the Street in the 1980s.

mfl59 said...

wow Bunky I got you to swing at that....its the playoffs sir...don't go hacking at those pitches...

Bunkerman said...

uhhh true, I was swinging at anything.

Frosty said...

reading a book makes one a master...Sal's swing coach laughs...Kama Sutra, I heard that snicker Mrs B ...oopppssss...sorry Mrs B, whisper malfuntion.

Spin-em said...

you cant help it if you thik you know it all...right bunk??

Spin-em said...

that was a Joe Biden Minooka garbage pitch......looool...."sorry bunk"

Bud said...

holy smokes



vegas does read this blog ..............line moved to yankees -137............or maybe guys are following me.........just called my guys and doubled up .............i cannot lose to these scum bookies




"will this damn kid ever lose a bet"

mfl59 said...

son CC pitching on 3 days rest...did you miss that in your analysis???

Frosty said...

Bunky...may I suggest "Invest Like a Shark"...a paid subscription and a heart felt apology may garner you an autographed copy.

Spin-em said...

BIG STEIN should roll out to the mound in his "Bossmobile" and slap the dumb off Joba'sadsack face for messin up his Yankee hat like that....stop the junk..just throw heat bugman

Bunkerman said...

if some trust authority so much, maybe I'll cover this book next week: The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century (Hardcover)

top gangster & State Senate pres.

+ various congressmen, governors, etc. .. all in the tank.

Bunkerman said...

One of my favorite saysing is that one can find a Federal judge to rule anything. Just shop around.

they want promoted, too, so many either kowtow to prosecutors OR posture for the left, depending on where they think the promotion will come from..

Frosty said...

Bunky...certainly a black/shades of brown and white issue...fat al knows what ya mean...wink wink.