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Posted
Sep 11 2009, 04:12 PM
by
InvestorPlace
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
This article was written by InvestorPlace's Jim Woods.
Cash for Clunkers; you've got to admit it's a catchy phrase replete with alliterative genius. The creativity here is especially surprising, given that the name was likely concocted by a government bureaucrat. I guess it's not surprising that any government program with the word "cash" in it is going to draw some attention. I mean, who doesn't want to get some cash back from the government?
So, in honor of this paragon of government generosity, I propose that we extend the "Cash for" program to a few other sectors of the economy. I mean, why should the auto industry be the only one to benefit?
Bing: Latest on "Cash for Appliances" program
After all, if giving cash away for broken-down cars works, why not apply that same logic elsewhere? So, without further ado, let's take a look at a few sectors that could use a little government stimulus.
WARNING: Readers lacking a sense of satire may want to proceed with caution.
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Posted
Sep 09 2009, 11:38 AM
by
Minyanville
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
This article is written by Minyanville's Kristin Graham It’s only September, but retailers already have their eye on the upcoming holidays. With the disastrous 2008 shopping season in our rear-view mirror, many analysts are hopeful that the 2009 holidays will be a bit more joyous.
According to a survey by Information Resources Inc (IRI), roughly 77% of respondents said they're willing to splurge on a gift for the 2009 holidays even if times are tough. Based on its data, the market research firm stated that it's “conservatively optimistic” about holiday spending. For more on retailers, see "Retailers Go Back-to-School." As a retail analyst, it's become depressing to watch over the sector in the past year. I know it’s easy to wish for an industry-wide improvement. But to be frank, I just don’t foresee recovery anytime soon -- at least not before the holidays are over. And I think investors should be prepared for another gloomy shopping season. Bing: Retail Stocks
Right now, the economy is still in the beginning states of recuperating from a very traumatic recession. Consumer spending is usually one of the last pieces of the economy to recover. So consumers may respond to surveys saying the want to splurge and spend more. My question is whether that’s really feasible.
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Posted
Jul 06 2009, 11:16 AM
by
Anthony Mirhaydari
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
Really, how hard is it to find a job? Was June's horrid numbers, in which 467,000 people lost their jobs compared to 345,000 in May, a one-time fluke? Or does it mean that all those Wall Street economists who believe the economic recovery is starting are dead wrong?
Not to scare you, but the situation is actually worse than it seems. Over the years, the government has changed the way it counts the unemployed. An example of this is the criticized Birth-Death Model which was added in 2000. The model is designed to account for the birth and death of businesses and the resultant lag in survey data. Unfortunately, the model doesn't work that well during economic contractions (like we have now) and consistently overstates the number of jobs being created each month.
John Williams of Shadow Government Statistics specializes in removing these questionable tweaks to the government's statistical data to better align current numbers with the methodology used to gather historical data. After reviewing the data, Williams believes that "the June jobs loss likely exceeded 700,000." David Rosenberg of Gluskin Sheff notes that the fall in the number of hours worked in June (to a record low of 33 per week) is equivalent to a loss of more than 800,000 jobs.
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Posted
Apr 07 2009, 12:01 PM
by
Kim Peterson
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 Macy's (M) paid nearly $300,000 last year to drive chief executive Terry Lundgren around, according to a filing dug up by Michelle Leder for The New York Times.
The company provides a car and driver for Lundgren's business and personal use. The driver, according to the company, is a "trained security professional" for Lundgren's personal safety. Macy's defends the perk, saying it allows Lundgren to work productively during his commute in to New York City.
Oddly, the amount is more than triple the $87,000 that Macy's spent on Lundgren's tranportation in 2007, Leder writes.
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Posted
Feb 07 2008, 12:45 PM
by
Kim Peterson
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
Handset companies who do business in North America will be hit hard in a recession, Citi analyst Jim Suva said in a note this morning. Suva takes a close look at Brightpoint, Motorola, Palm and Research in Motion, and calls out the latter as the stock that could "see the greatest damage to share price." Suva writes that Research in Motion "faces double-barreled risk," according to Barron's, because of its strong presence in North America and its high P/E multiple (currently at 45.20). The stock could drop to $63 in a worst-case, global recession. RIMM shares closed today at $84.68. Embattled Palm is very exposed in North America, and Suva thinks a recession could push shares down to $3 or $4 a share. Palm closed today at $5.99.
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