Companies & Industries

 

• Falling gas prices this Fall http://t.co/EQkgsyKoSm Pollution requirements fall, people drive less, overcomes geopolitical effects $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Wal-Mart vs Costco, Why My Critics R Wrong http://t.co/2eBuKkJ8G2 $WMT offers more variety vs $COST | thus more people lower wage rates $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Brazilian Billionaire Who Controls Your Beer, Condiments, & Whopper http://t.co/CbfdxNQLAP Long piece on Jorge Lemann $$ #Heinz $BRK.B Aug 30, 2013
• New York to Seattle Buyers Tap Brakes After Rates Rise http://t.co/uU0NS9CiCU Rising prices & mortgage rates mean loan payments 2 high $$ Aug 30, 2013
• US Bank Legal Bills Exceed $100B Bloomberg http://t.co/BklYyebbFV Just think how profitable they will be when the dust settles 😉 $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Cheap Corn Deters Buyers in US Sugar-for-Ethanol Plan http://t.co/sAYPAt1G9g Corn scarcity becomes corn glut, reinforcing sugar glut $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Why Wal-Mart Will Never Pay Like Costco http://t.co/EPVjeV0OvF $WMT has much wider diversity of products, so more workers @ lower pay $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Why Is Chicken More Expensive? Ask McDonald’s http://t.co/iU7OzuIF8f When $MCD adds a new ingredient to their menu, drives prices higher $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Xerox Can Fix Number-Switching Scanners, but Not Altered Docs http://t.co/6HfzO8IqtV Could b a lot of work 2 re-scan originals if u havem $$ Aug 27, 2013
• JPMorgan Worth 30% More If Broken Up, KBW Says http://t.co/b5eJc14Lio Pure play financial institutions always get better valuations $JPM $$ Aug 24, 2013
• Apple, Samsung, IBM, World’s Universities in Graphene Gold Rush http://t.co/riFRiMHAzN Crystalline Carbon 1 atom thick sheets are amazing $$ Aug 24, 2013
• College is like gasoline, demand for it is inelastic. Thus any subsidy gets captured by the college, & taxes get eaten by gas consumers $$ Aug 24, 2013
• The Real Reason College Costs So Much http://t.co/NJNV3Ksovg Richard Vedder explains how federal subsidies push up the price on college $$ Aug 24, 2013
• djco_corresp-031513.htm http://t.co/VwvVLv7mZi Munger’s law firm explains y $DJCO shouldn’t b viewed as an investment company. Well done! $$ Aug 24, 2013

US Politics & Policy

 

• Obama Is About 2Undermine His Mideast Doctrine http://t.co/VveJslt6LM Obama has mostly tried 2disengage US from Mideast, this reverses it $$ Aug 30, 2013
• The Rising Cost of Social Security Disability Insurance http://t.co/4sEVmFKDfc SSDI’s trust fund runs out is 2016; 2EZ 2get on disability $$ Aug 29, 2013
• And Next Year There Will Be an Eighth Budget ?Showdown? http://t.co/2nflqEZLPM Rate of budget growth slowed, but scope of govt expands $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Regulators Ease Mortgage Rules http://t.co/LuEU9uY1Hz Swiss cheese regs destroy direct incentives 4 originators 2 produce quality loans $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Regulators Back Away From Tougher Mortgage Rules http://t.co/4WQwGVNnF9 More capital needs to be held against exotic mortgage loans, good $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Obama Meets Panel Reviewing US Surveillance Programs http://t.co/kjDsoD3K7D Repeal the Patriot Act; modifications r not enough $$ Aug 28, 2013
• College Leaders Wary of Obama Plan Linking College Aid to Rank http://t.co/jw7K3X29TV Plan could hurt the very parties Obama wants 2 help $$ Aug 25, 2013
• Samantha Power on the Duty to Intervene http://t.co/B4ttOrPB3T This argues that the US should be the cop of the globe 4 the worst things $$ Aug 25, 2013

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Rest of the World

 

• Sinopec-Apache Deal Shows China’s Resource Appetite http://t.co/90Yr1G9aUN China learns how 2negotiate minority stakes in oil properties $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Hollande Draws Heat From Biz 4 Tax-Driven Pension Revamp http://t.co/62E5lKMHqr France?s tax burden is ~46% of GDP, 3rd highest in Europe $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Scandinavia?s Weakest Nation Finds Welfare Habits Too Costly http://t.co/UCNH3umT7p Denmark looks forward, realizes it must cut welfare $$ Aug 30, 2013
• The Abenomics Mirage: In Reality, Too Many Challenges? http://t.co/542B5V4JHw Japan imports on net so a lower yen doesn’t help much $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Schaeuble Snubs Greek Plea for Direct Bank Recapitalization http://t.co/lCStBdF3Qc Perhaps Greece needs 2 establish effective taxation $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Spaniards Fleeing Jobless Scourge Seek Jobs in Morocco http://t.co/pZZexcIzCY Can’t earn as much but can earn something as Spain shrinks $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Start-Ups Fill Void Left by Spain?s 26% Unemployment Rate http://t.co/9a2RqRUG6i If u can’t work 4 someone else u can work 4 yourself $$ Aug 28, 2013
• Czech Zero Percent Lending Rate Feeds Home-Buying Frenzy http://t.co/cWZ24eKjxb Bad things happen when there is seemingly free $$ available Aug 28, 2013
• Vietnam Rises as Middle Power at Defense Summit http://t.co/tHVz8Yn4SP Wants to stay neutral btw the US & China, while protecting itself $$ Aug 28, 2013
• Teachers Roil Mexico Capital http://t.co/qrQif3mpsY Maybe it’s time 2 move the capital out of Mexico City, to someplace more hospitable $$ Aug 28, 2013
• Emerging-Market Rout Intensifies on Syria Jitters http://t.co/U4upWVYVAE Jitters affect oil mkt & it spills over in to weak emerging mkts $$ Aug 28, 2013
• Fed Officials Rebuff Coordination Calls as QE Taper Looms http://t.co/kTaFgn7CwT Emerging markets whipsawed as US monetary policy shifts $$ Aug 28, 2013
• Veteran Saudi Power Player Prince Bandar Works To Build Support to Topple Assad http://t.co/cXFO7hLG9W Islamic proxy war continues $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Emerging Europe Is a Haven in Selloff http://t.co/OErr8eqJjt Hard to damage nations w/more orthodox fiscal policies, but still part of EZ $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Emerging market slump highlights Fed’s global reach http://t.co/mxmfLY6ya2 The US sneezes & the world catches cold, again $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Charlene Chu Interview with Goldman on China?s Credit Bubble http://t.co/ytHhrZYm7H Excellent Interview showing future China weakness $$ Aug 27, 2013

 

Other

 

• Scientists Shed New Light on Black Holes http://t.co/oNyfGEJKHM The speed w/which gas is pulled toward a black hole repels some entering $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Is It Evil to Send Your Kids to Private School??http://t.co/SljCeNm7qq Parents will always find ways 2keep children out of subpar schools $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Age-Related Forgetfulness Tied to Diminished Brain Protein http://t.co/fFe2U2eqQw This may have some promise in reducing dementia $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Definitive merger agreement between 2 business journalists http://t.co/Pup53ksizg Do some R&D, & create subsidiaries that will b spun off $$ Aug 30, 2013
• How Haute Vegetables R Conquering $500 Tasting Menus http://t.co/QTAxKlwm1S Borage is a well-known medicinal herb; interesting 1st course $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Six Reasons the US Will Dominate http://t.co/ZreqluzZJS Immigrants, more workers, entrepreneurship, labor flexibility, <Financing, strong $$ Aug 28, 2013
• P2P lending pulls in big investors – should you bite? http://t.co/jyg3kdaSrr Soon 2 come, a peer2peer lending closed-end fund $$ #ohno #FTL Aug 28, 2013
• Shoeshines Keep Wall Street in the Black (or Maybe Brown) http://t.co/LQNtODrhcP A unique institution stays alive on Wall Street $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Sometimes I think Federal education policy is designed to weigh down the system, making it easier 4 private & home schools 2 outperform $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Biggest Changes in a Decade Greet Students http://t.co/BIgJHbqiLN Some Teachers, Parents Push Back on New Standards “Common Core” $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Home Births on the Rise for New York Families http://t.co/MYxaaeEWua Fascinating trend, though I think the best is a midwife @ a hospital $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Midwives provides far better care than doctors w/normal deliveries, & they r cheaper. Being @ a hospital provides insurance if trouble $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Are You Ready for the Post-College SAT? http://t.co/WyscN8A7W6 College is not valuable to some employers -> a new test 2 show your smarts $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Regarding that last tweet, could testing replace college? Credentialing is important, but do we need to waste four years to credential? $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Jail Becomes Home for Husband Stuck With Lifetime Alimony http://t.co/Mb4Q8Q0PjH Debtors prison returns in a new form $$ long article Aug 27, 2013
• Muriel Siebert, First Woman to Buy Seat on NYSE, Dies at 84 http://t.co/qzeE9csU2K Used to have an account w/her firm; good company $$ Aug 27, 2013
• Ben Franklin Gets a Makeover http://t.co/Rxm3ipFY0g Ben Franklin owned slaves?! Whouda thunk it! New presentation about a complex guy $$ Aug 25, 2013
• Dishwashers Beat Clothes as US Moms Use Hand-Me-Downs http://t.co/cbcn0ENrp1 People buy things w/longer-term value, reduce luxuries $$ Aug 25, 2013

 

PPACA / Obamacare

 

• A New Kind of Insurance Head-Scratcher: Estimating Future Income http://t.co/YeW19BKNhf Incentive will b2 under-report until checked $$ Aug 30, 2013
• The Young and the Healthy http://t.co/PuODKsJBSZ One more calculator 4 Obamacare subsidies 4 young & not well-paid $$ Old win, young lose Aug 30, 2013
• Senior Discounts http://t.co/Do37iNPq7I Interesting illustrative calculator on premium subsidies under Obamacare. Incentives to earn less $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Thus PPACA will have an incentive 2 destroy working, & the exchanges will fail, as they will only attract the sick, young ppl stay away $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Also, look at this graphic http://t.co/WTV8HAcVVZ As incomes go from 25K to 55K, subsidy is lost & an implied 17% tax from the loss $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Subsidies for Older Buyers Give Health Insurers a Headache http://t.co/0eOfVj33XU Subsidies will will older poor in2 exchanges, not young $$ Aug 30, 2013

 

Harbinger Group Life Insurance IPO
?? Falcone Insurer Said to Seek $1 Billion Valuation in IPO – Bloomberg http://t.co/RoHy0ODzQu & my tart comments: http://t.co/JSu9QvtXhf $$ Aug 30, 2013

• Harbinger’s insurance unit files for $100M IPO http://t.co/72DBoMSG6C $HRG pays itself a dividend; dig the 28pp of risk factors @ the SEC $$ Aug 29, 2013

 

Market Impact

 

• Pimco Sees Taper in Worst MBS Slump Since 1999 http://t.co/UdXVCkajVo Bond market summary, particularly noting taper effect on MBS market $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Some IPOs Aim for Small Investors http://t.co/3hh47lfQ6K Keep your hand on your wallet, alternative stock distribution methods untested $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Currency Spikes at 4 PM in London Provide Rigging Clues http://t.co/fyG78r3RhI All human systems r gamed; need 2 acct 4 that w/benchmarks $$ Aug 28, 2013
• How ?black squirrels? infested Wall Street http://t.co/6CIVfJcpAF Efforts to level playing field made it more opaque & hazardous $$ #complex Aug 27, 2013
• Cyclical Stocks Looking Historically Cheap http://t.co/FomqlE3ZDq Yes, cheap. What will happen 2 cyclical earnings if the economy slows? $$ Aug 25, 2013

 

Central Banking

 

• Fed’s IG says central bank violated document rules http://t.co/YCtbIbhfAJ Issued minutes of policy meeting a day b4 the scheduled release $$ Aug 30, 2013
• Did Fed?s Forward Guidance Backfire? Paper Says Probably http://t.co/C4Ew7T2AXR The idea that clear Fed communication works is unproven $$ Aug 25, 2013
• Summers as Obama Voice of Authority Rides Car Rescue in Fed Race http://t.co/EKKOnRhvq1 Good piece on y Obama may pick Summers 4Fed Chair $$ Aug 25, 2013

 

Wrong, Etc.

• Wrong: CLO Rule Aimed to Pass Retention to Banks Won?t Work, RBS Says http://t.co/KkQQ8l2lqw Will shrink the # of issuers, that’s not bad $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Bad title: Why Is Vladimir Putin Acting So Crazy? http://t.co/ILtxIFNOSO He’s acting rationally in response to changing conditions $$ Aug 29, 2013
• Wrong:Will Obama Make the Fed Even Worse? http://t.co/YZblnIKzOe Not well argued. More about his view $$ policy is 2 tight, less about Obama Aug 27, 2013
• Sort of: The Strong Case for Optimism About US Growth http://t.co/5LJgQuli4v Except it is optimism after 5 more years of deleveraging $$ Aug 27, 2013

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Retweets, Replies & Comments

• RT @EddyElfenbein: Happy 83rd Birthday to Warren Edward Buffett @WarrenBuffett. The Dow was at 240.42 eighty-three years ago. Aug 30, 2013
• #FollowFriday Thanks @ReformedBroker @pelias01 @researchpuzzler for being top influencers in my community this week 🙂 Aug 30, 2013
• Thanks @OGMarcusC @Metalbanker for being top new followers in my community this week 🙂 | insight by http://t.co/sern3wLA13 Aug 30, 2013
• @ledbetreuters If you had your own website, & had a Google Page Rank over 5, u would get around two of those per week. Very pesky. Aug 30, 2013
• RT @azizonomics: Nobel War Prize Aug 30, 2013
• RT @ianbremmer: Knock knock. Who’s there? The international community. The international community who? Precisely. Aug 30, 2013
• RT @treehcapital: Yet another reason to love New Zealand @pkedrosky: New Zealand bans software patents http://t.co/6ah7N84QtA Aug 29, 2013
• Thanks @researchpuzzler @AndreCimini for being top engaged members in my community this week 🙂 | insight by http://t.co/sern3wLA13 Aug 26, 2013
• @alisonforns And I see the glass as 70 fewer than 140. What a wonderful world! Aug 26, 2013