Category: Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Federal Reserve

 

  • Why Central Banks Should Be Vague?http://t.co/iVO9s9l3il?They would b better off saying nothing, as their ability 2analyze future is poor $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Yellen and the Curse of Forward Guidance @BloombergView?http://t.co/kAWJg4vrEN?Better the Fed should shut up & let the market adjust $$ $TLT?Mar 21, 2014
  • Yellen and the Fed Go Dark?http://t.co/M70bG02KZ3?@M_C_Klein tells the truth, better the FOMC should say nothing, words don’t mean much $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Yellen Punt Prompts Panic?http://t.co/ztlpEuEGp6?Interesting to be quoted in the article above. Author liked my comment on the weather $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Essentially Yellen said monetary policy will b the same as before, only more so. But the forecasts show a faster removal of accommodation $$?Mar 19, 2014
  • Level of Central tendency of FOMC Fed Funds forecasts 2014-6, LR — 0.30%, 1.13%, 2.42%, 3.88% Change -0.04%, 0.07%, 0.25%, -0.01% $$?Mar 19, 2014
  • Level of Central tendency of forecasts for when the Fed first starts tightening Fed funds: October 2015, change from prior January 2016 $$?Mar 19, 2014
  • Level of Central tendency of FOMC PCE Inflation forecasts 2014-6, LR — 1.55%, 1.80%, 1.84%, 2.00% Change 0.04%, 0.03%, -0.03%, 0.00% $$?Mar 19, 2014
  • Level of Central tendency of FOMC Unemp forecasts 2014-6, LR — 6.21%, 5.73%, 5.41%, 5.45% Change -0.24%, -0.20%, -0.13%, -0.08% $$?Mar 19, 2014
  • Level of Central tendency of FOMC GDP forecasts 2014-6, LR — 2.81%, 3.04%, 2.76%, 2.21% Change -0.13%, -0.09%, -0.08%, -0.05% $$?Mar 19, 2014
  • Low-Wage Workers Are Finding Poverty Harder to Escape?http://t.co/RQP18XOPQA?Low Marketable Skills plus divorce or no marriage w/kids $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Fed set to roll out new low-rate pledge?http://t.co/WXYH7aiBcK?Fed spends 2much time on words, not enough on long-term efficacy of policy $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Yellen should take away the punch bowl?http://t.co/VzkzJZr83D?Fed will never do that; doesn’t like 2 take actions that point back @ them $$?Mar 18, 2014

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Rest of the World

 

  • Bloomberg Hints at Curb on Articles About China?http://t.co/q1R6Xsa8fF?Bloomberg makes its $$ by renting out terminals; wants more China biz?Mar 21, 2014
  • CPI Credibility Lasts 34 Days as Doubts Return?http://t.co/qtUNozXPnZ?Well, that was quick – guess Argentina doesn’t want 2 pay more out $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Putin?s Tools of Sabotage Beat Urgency of Ukraine Invasion?http://t.co/Yv3rRkrdnd?Putin ready 2 play a rougher game, understands politics $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Putin Is No Madman to Russians as Power Play Trumps Economy?http://t.co/hOPPmnCF5u?We shouldn’t fight over this, Crimea is Russian $$ $RSX?Mar 19, 2014
  • ?Nobody Knows Anything??http://t.co/WTlzkgXvkM?Knowledge lost as Cold War Generation gone from foreign policy: C: http://t.co/0KvkZIqlHW $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • How China’s official bank card is used to smuggle money?http://t.co/2PIMdctQu5?Between Macau Casinos & UnionPay, wealthy get $$ out of China?Mar 18, 2014
  • China to Spend More Than $162B on Shantytowns?http://t.co/l0HKesS6lr?Herding people into cities, but what will they do for work? $$ $FXI?Mar 18, 2014
  • Alibaba Confirms It Will Begin IPO Process in US?http://t.co/jkdScz12kQ?Could be valuable 4 $YHOO who owns ~24% $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • The Welsh dairy farmers who bought 320 buy-to-let properties in Sweden?http://t.co/haGuwFQXGn?Worry when it seems easy 2 make $$ in housing?Mar 18, 2014
  • Chinese Companies Caught in Yuan Riptide?http://t.co/BnKss6ZQvN?What was once viewed as “free money” proves to have a cost, panic ensues $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Musk Jab at Rival Shows US Space Reliance on Russia?http://t.co/NBun2inY5Q?Interesting how we rely on Russia 4 manned space flight $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Nigeria Overtaking South Africa Masks Poverty Trap?http://t.co/Bf2ZGIXuHl?When economy is mostly resource extraction inequality common $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Putin?s Motives Rooted in History Remain a Mystery Abroad?http://t.co/ckRcNaYgUj?Should b happy that most of Ukraine is allied w/West $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Chinese Developer Bonds Sink in Secondary Trade Amid Collapse?http://t.co/LDVrHVdptU?Test 4 Govt: how much bad credit will u bail out? $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Japan Analysts Split on Fiscal Crisis Time as Tax Looms?http://t.co/9VQPhtQaoD?Testing the limits of how much a govt can borrow b4 crisis $$?Mar 18, 2014

New Businesses

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  • Rock-Climbing Generation at Foot of US Startup Ascent?http://t.co/dQjCDlYNVL?Example of an unusual business catering to exercise wants $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Zuckerberg, Musk Invest in Vicarious?http://t.co/C5avwXQ0mi?Part of brain that sees, controls the body, understands language & does math $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Personally, I think Artificial Intelligence won’t succeed w/ that. No surprise that Vicarious is trying, though — would save lotsa time $$?Mar 21, 2014

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Finance

 

  • Credit Card Data Security Standards Don’t Guarantee Security?http://t.co/Kky2011rLb?Antiquated technology relatively ez2hack, no surprise $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Why Do High Frequency Traders Never Lose Money??http://t.co/V3CdYpzVZx?Why do auctioneers & brokers rarely lose money facilitating trades $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • How to Decide on Your Investment in Bonds?http://t.co/9ApVxQkxyG?When rates are so low you should b extra careful, stay short & hi qual $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Shadow Banking Deals Prompt SEC Plan to Cap Broker Leverage?http://t.co/6CKxLVDYT5?SEC does not go far enough, repo mkts should b ended $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • SEC to take another look at ETF regulation?http://t.co/pKPQeUvVqU?Should leveraged products & inverse products b allowed? Lousy returns $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Junk Bonds at $2T as Gundlach Pulls Back?http://t.co/CMRM6cLF6E?Markets always seem large when they are overvalued, Gundlach is right $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Seth Klarman warns of impending asset price bubble?http://t.co/oa49IEj68A?When he runs out of safe places 2 put $$ the red lights flash?Mar 18, 2014
  • ARM Loans?a Vestige of the Housing Bubble?Are Making a Comeback?http://t.co/BrrfQlDwni?True 4 wealthy & those with prime credit scores $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Buffett gets the better of everyone, version 4,762?http://t.co/uCq0dE1Uo8?Parts w/his holdings of $GHC, retires shares of $BRK.A & $BRK.B $$?Mar 15, 2014

 

Politics & Policy

 

  • Uneven Wage Gains Restrain Recovery?http://t.co/LD5h31WFxO?Article has a lot of interesting data on what jobs r available to semi-skilled $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Obama Keystone Choice Pits Donors Against At-Risk Senate?http://t.co/jCNbOFTg0w?Kind of a no-win situation 4 Obama; should ok the deal $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Young Invincibles Are Killing Obamacare?http://t.co/AcNg9p83d7?Obamacare destroys the healthcare system as healthy young people leave $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Christie Counts on Revenue Surge Not Seen in Most States?http://t.co/dfOkM7gy8V?A Reaganesqe flaw: relying on the rosy scenario w/Dems $$?Mar 20, 2014

 

Companies & Industries

 

  • Phillips 66 Considering Splitter at Sweeny Refinery?http://t.co/9g7NefuiTJ?New trend: Partial refining. Those products can b exported $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • TV Subscriptions Fall for First Time as Viewers Cut the Cord?http://t.co/M984bGpJfr?It is cheaper to not have a cable subscription $$ $SPY?Mar 21, 2014
  • A Sour Bean Sweetens Cocoa Supply?http://t.co/AsUOr8cBlM?Fascinating story of a high-yield bean that is more sour than low-yield beans $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Buffett Cuts Tax Bill, Tells Others Not 2 Complain?http://t.co/bbjxWcyy8i?If Buffett weren’t so sanctimonious on taxes this would b small $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • IBM’s Watson to help in brain cancer research?http://t.co/EozXiEIXq8?Fascinating 2c Watson sequencing DNA of cancer & suggest treatments $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • TED Winner Launches Campaign to Unmask Shell Companies?http://t.co/g7FXj6ca2I?Ambitious effort 2unmask those using shells 4 bad purposes $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Windows XP: What to Do When Microsoft Ends Its Support?http://t.co/MSKGTC0ofU?Article agrees w/my answer; get a copy of Windows 7 $$ $MSFT?Mar 20, 2014
  • Fannie Mae Wind-Down Deemed Threat to Home Recovery?http://t.co/L8Bg5wd7bz?It will be painful, but we need to delever housing $$?Mar 19, 2014

 

Other

 

  • IFRS could be stripped of accountancy watchdog role?http://t.co/zxcHHBaUcW?This would be very good. US GAAP is far superior to IFRS $$ $SPY?Mar 19, 2014
  • Bugatti-Driving 26-Year-Old Tied to Penny-Stock Website?http://t.co/p9J5FOb6kx?Of John Babikian & the misnamed AwesomePennyStocks $$ $SPY?Mar 18, 2014
  • Behind The Scenes With Dream Team, CytRx & Galena?http://t.co/xFC3DgsVT9?He gets inside firm paid/undisclosed promotions 4 $CYTR & $GALE $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Individual investors Lose Money When Using Technical Analysis?http://t.co/dVLgjWUOk8?I can hear it now, “But they’re doing TA wrong!” $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • The Hidden Rot in the Jobs Numbers?http://t.co/R0FHIrKaVt?Here’s another way 2c it: http://t.co/KtoClJngXF $$ $TLT $MACRO?Mar 18, 2014
  • Want Success? Choose the Right Parents?http://t.co/AverC5lySd?Not sure I believe it, but interesting thesis $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Pssst! Everything’s a Conspiracy?http://t.co/cFUH0dK9eo?Tough 2hold a significant conspiracy together, high incentives 2eventually reveal $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • To Make an Airplane Disappear, Start by Getting Through the Cockpit Door?http://t.co/AVcMjSG1LY?How difficult it would b2 take over a 777 $$?Mar 18, 2014

 

Wrong

 

  • Late: City vs. Country: How Where We Live Deepens the Nation’s Political Divide?http://t.co/lDKNT0bOjx?This isn’t news; no surprises here $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Wrong: ?Ring of Death? Throttles Georgia as Small Banks Close?http://t.co/g9VGMPkKx0?Lent 2 much on overvalued properties, their fault $$?Mar 20, 2014
  • Weak: Why gaining from value investing is hard?http://t.co/hGY8Xnr6p7?Value investing typically does better on other side of mkt peaks $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • If We?re Going to Take Budget Forecasts Seriously, Then This is a Good Way To Present Them?http://t.co/yk9asr52HT?Kinda naive about stats $$?Mar 18, 2014
  • Wrong: Why equities sold off despite a dovish Fed?http://t.co/pyUW8FebAB?Fed was not dovish. Yellen’s comments & Fed forecasts bearish $$?Mar 21, 2014
  • Weak: Robert Shiller On The Tech Economy?http://t.co/tvvo8uzgot?Some innovations save labor; others create demand 4labor through new svcs $$?Mar 21, 2014

 

Replies, Retweets & Comments

 

  • The bigger change was the shift in the time tightening is likely to happen. That shifted up 3 months on…?http://t.co/dIxt1tcxgB?Mar 19, 2014
  • “Interesting to be quoted in the article above. If you want to see the other things I wrote about?” David_Merkel?http://t.co/k0NyUsgTzG?$$?Mar 20, 2014
  • RT @treehcapital: Credit investors like the elves in LOTR~when they leave Middle Earth, time to pay attention “Gundlach Pulls Back” http://??Mar 20, 2014
  • @treehcapital That’s a great analogy. I’ve lightened up as well, time to do more.?Mar 20, 2014
  • We’ve been through periods like this before in human history. Inventions that save labor in an area…?http://t.co/ajY9DJwns6?Mar 21, 2014
Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Rest of the World

  • China premier warns on economic slowdown as data fans stimulus talk?http://t.co/B4uN1uP6OU?Stimulus just leads 2more overcapacity & debt $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • Teslas in California Help Bring Dirty Rain to China?http://t.co/YTBdiM77Pi?Mining graphite adds 2 Chinese air pollution $$ Ironic, huh??Mar 14, 2014
  • Deeper Ukraine Invasion Lurks in Putin’s Warnings, ?’Provocations,’ Clashes in East?http://t.co/L5GbJqx8j6?1 mistake away from major war $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • Finland Trapped in Recession as Investment Fades?http://t.co/DL9m3nGy13?Punk global economy exhausted from 2 much stimulus & debt $$ $SPY?Mar 14, 2014
  • Norway?s Oil Stimulus Nears Tipping Point as Growth Fades?http://t.co/ct5Mt8RY5i?Government economics stimulus fails; ppl have 2much debt $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • Warnings From the Ukraine Crisis?http://t.co/lcC1RDpjRv?Not being George W. Bush is not a foreign policy. Let Nobel winner get a strategy $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • US Investigators Suspect Missing Malaysia Airlines Plane Flew On?http://t.co/dhM6rlQlf1?Engine Data Suggest Flight Airborne for 5 hrs $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Treasury?s Lew Uses Mideast Toolkit to Back Ukrainian Bonds?http://t.co/QeyvWdDKZ1?Another example of ways to buy US credit with spread $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Qatar World Cup: 400 Nepalese die on nation’s building sites since bid won?http://t.co/uUY4neKHbF?Slavery is alive & sick in Qatar $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • The Malaysia Airlines Disappearance Shows Technology’s Limits?http://t.co/dWgmOKk42v?Interesting read: rare cases of disappearing planes $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Ukraine Starts Military Exercises as Russia Warns on East?http://t.co/8ZeISGvEcA?All u need is 1 significant mistake & u could have war $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • Israelis in Berlin Signal Middle Class Struggles at Home?http://t.co/mydWWz9j7M?It’s cheaper living in Berlin, forget the past, live well $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • China Strike Illustrates Shift in Labor Landscape?http://t.co/DDWIN8KLhM?Would rather work 4 a foreign firrm than Chinese firm $$ $FXI?Mar 10, 2014

 

Companies & Industries

  • $GLCH Gleacher & Co is liquidating. Looking at the price chart, it has seen better days?http://t.co/aIYv7zxrfd?$$ $SPY $TLT?Mar 14, 2014
  • IBM’s double dilemma?http://t.co/HJfljGY7Wq?If you buy back stock at levels over the company’s intrinsic value, you destroy value. $IBM $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • Even in its final days, Windows XP still looms large?http://t.co/m2VUtiTJIp?Last night friend told her hospital just upgraded to XP $$ $MSFT?Mar 14, 2014
  • BNSF pledges 2get caught up on ND ag shipments?http://t.co/XGah5Xmop6?$CNI made a similar promise in Canada recently. Coincidence? $BRK.B $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Target Missed Alarms in Epic Hack of Credit Card Data?http://t.co/lYLAWDI04m?$TGT got ample warning from $FEYE & $SYMC but ignored it $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Candy Crush Maker’s Realm Spans Across Continents?http://t.co/9dZyVNhqWp?A global firm that uses tax & regulatory haven 2 their advantage $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • ?Candy Crush? Maker Seeks Valuation Up to $7.6B?http://t.co/L1Kaf4WLjK?I would b wary here, not just the IPO, but a faddish company $$ $SPY?Mar 12, 2014
  • US Wind-Down Bill Clips $FNMA $ FMCC Shares?http://t.co/rZxsLenQk4?Would require most borrowers 2make down payments of >5%, lenders hit 2 $$?Mar 12, 2014
  • Fannie, Freddie Shares Plunge?http://t.co/XfNZ1Jv5Rv?Taxpayers should reap the reward for bailing out $FNMA & $FMCC as mtge gtees change $$?Mar 12, 2014
  • Buffett?s Berkshire Reaches $300B Market Cap?http://t.co/lqnyQ0F4sN?As he buys profiable businesses, growing retained earnings builds MC $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • Chiquita to Acquire Irish Fruit Distributor Fyffes in Stock Deal?http://t.co/MJBhJuuxM3?$CQB is no “top banana” in the fruit biz $$ $SPY?Mar 10, 2014

Market Impact

  • Corporate Cash Pushes Further Into Corporate Bonds?http://t.co/Vk9PGzrItp?Corporate finance gets urge 2b a profit center @ wrong moment $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • Bio-finance? Why high-frequency trading makes stocks flock like birds?http://t.co/UB6jzwgjla?Reasonable defense of HFT H/T: @matt_levine $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • ETFs Get $41B Erasing Stock Withdrawals on Economy?http://t.co/l1hrnCWuel?This is y I advocate low turnover strategies $$ sell low, buy high?Mar 13, 2014
  • BlackRock Junk ETFs Push Buyers to Dark Corners?http://t.co/vjydZFBFwG?Same problem exists w/index bonds not in ETFs; high short interest $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • A man and his signals @reformedbroker?http://t.co/12SiH3ZkCp?No 1 has a set of signals that can be relied upon in all market environments $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Wall Street and Casinos…Are They Similar??http://t.co/MYNALbXAJm?@howardlindzon tells us 2b prepared, understand mkts & not blame ump $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Activist Investors Put Bondholders in Crossfire?http://t.co/k1BdJx1gR6?Investment grade corps offer little2no protection frm negative M&A $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • How Market Tops Get Made?http://t.co/Saa7j6zkCQ?Good piece by @Ritholtz on technicals of market tops. For dessert: http://t.co/VIGN6jhACy $$?Mar 12, 2014
  • Stock Market Surge Bypasses Most Americans, Poll Shows?http://t.co/IJ0S2rRx8x?People don’t get stocks; worse, they think they get housing $$?Mar 12, 2014
  • Chart of the Day: No Profits, No Problem??http://t.co/HpYPLqoOKP?IPO quality is down, & many private companies want to IPO. IP-uh-oh $$ $SPY?Mar 12, 2014
  • Bull Market Rivals ?90s at Half Valuation as Demand Broadens?http://t.co/YzXZDj9HlK?Profit margins were a lot lower & corp yields higher $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • Still Corporate Cash Everywhere?http://t.co/gseGZd38Th?How much $$ is encumbered? More derivatives today, which induces some calc bias $SPY?Mar 10, 2014

 

US Politics & Policy

  • Regulators Size Up Wall Street, With Worry?http://t.co/aQolfRq0Y4?Allowing big banks to fail, while protecting depositors is a solution $$?Mar 14, 2014
  • Senate Investigation of Bush-Era Torture Erupts Into Constitutional Crisis?http://t.co/qkqkAGiP9Y?Obama-era also; what he tell CIA 2 do? $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • CFPB targets “zombie” foreclosures after Reuters report?http://t.co/RohgKncAnm?What happens when an owner walks away & bank doesn’t f/c $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • How the NSA Plans to Infect ‘Millions’ of Computers with Malware?http://t.co/N72lYfxhr9?Another reason to end the existence of NSA $$ #nonsa?Mar 13, 2014
  • Raskin Confirmed by Senate as US Treasury?s No. 2 Official?http://t.co/TvwMcqj6eI?Maybe she’ll do as much at Tsy as she did at the Fed $$?Mar 12, 2014
  • ObamaCare’s Secret Mandate Exemption?http://t.co/s6OCOdwU83?HHS quietly repeals the individual purchase rule for two more years $$ $SPY $TLT?Mar 12, 2014

Central Banking

  • Fed Sends $79.6B in Profit to Treasury?http://t.co/W313rKFj2k?That profit is taken from the pockets of savers, it is not like manna $$ $TLT?Mar 14, 2014
  • Fed Nominees Vow To Fight for Recovery?http://t.co/KjdmHILaCV?Stanley Fischer & 2 blanks in the gun; really unimpressed w/shuffle Tsy/Fed $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Yellen Job One Is Redoing Guidance Without Roiling Markets?http://t.co/2Hu8ALqIwW?Unlikely, her own work established current verbiage $$?Mar 12, 2014

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Economics

  • Your Job Taught to Machines Puts Half US Work at Risk?http://t.co/a0WSKAEIom?W/o labor-saving innovation we wouldn’t b so well off $$ $SPY?Mar 12, 2014
  • Global Debt Exceeds $100T as Governments Binge, BIS Says?http://t.co/cDgYwRUI7A?When large amts of securities get issued -> underperform $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • Where’s Economics When We Need It??http://t.co/3SMaboCeG6?Games played by obscure mathematicians explaining a world that does not exist $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • Will Housing Bloom Again This Spring?http://t.co/KEHLTIKesD?There r2 many investors looking to make $$ in housing; makes further gains hard?Mar 10, 2014

Other

  • Want a Lasting Relationship? Give Up Sex [before marriage]?http://t.co/nxSBVl2QB2?Interesting piece that supports traditional morality $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Vanishing Planes Since 1948?http://t.co/2mSC2NGByA?Interesting lost planes graphic @BloombergNews | Rare, but more common than expected $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • The Risk Behind Buffett’s Advice?http://t.co/LE6EGqinq2?Asset allocation driven by valuation & time horizon. Don’t B&H if you need the $$?Mar 10, 2014
  • Morgan Stanley, Goldman Said to Swap Fees for Deal Credit?http://t.co/dH1FwKNEsr?$$ less valuable 2 investment banks than pride $GS $MS $SPY?Mar 10, 2014

Wrong

  • Wrong: US to Be Energy Self-Sufficient by 2035: $BP?http://t.co/hr8TTFBpge?Many don’t notice how quickly production tails off w/new wells $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • Wrong: Repo Fire-Sale Plan Said Within Reach After Fed Sounds Alarm?http://t.co/Kzbgp20yRG?These r just band-aid solutions $$ $NLY $TLT $SPY?Mar 12, 2014

Retweets, Replies & Comments

  • Here’s to Martin Rimes @hitmarktrading, my 9,000th Twitter follower; thanks to all who follow me. $$?Mar 13, 2014
  • @Money_in_Stereo I’m writing an article about it tonight at Aleph Blog. This was last night’s article:?http://t.co/bjvqvgXRc5?$$ $BRK.B?Mar 13, 2014
  • @Money_in_Stereo Did anyone respond to you when you asked about the Harney Investment Trust $BRK.B ??Mar 13, 2014

 

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Rest of the World

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  • Chinese Workers at IBM Factory on Strike Amid Company Sale?http://t.co/TBE44EtSgI?Chinese workers don’t want to work 4a Chinese company $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • China Tropical Island Lures Rich Homebuyers Fleeing Smog?http://t.co/SLi78lj115?Wealthy Chinese find ways 2escape pollution others endure $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • China Banks Show Too-Connected-to-Fail Link to Loans?http://t.co/XQXaAJNNy5?Wanna join my exclusive club & make lotsa $$ Chinese Ponzi $FXI?Mar 07, 2014
  • China Attack Gives Xi Impetus to Tighten Grip on Security?http://t.co/eM021jQeQ7?No matter how unfair the Communist Party can’t look weak $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Cut Off the Russian Oligarchs and They’ll Dump Putin?http://t.co/WDCDgEXzfd?Argues that economic sanctions would do the job. EU is no go $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • US Fighters Circle Baltics as Putin Fans Fear of Russia?http://t.co/XybK3YxHDq?This is ticklish, u don’t want to accidentally start a war $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Merkel Eye 4 Russian Empress Shows Putin Ties Are Complex?http://t.co/2HP4i5xNi0?Putin speaks German, Merkel speaks Russian. Cute Couple $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • China heads for 1st corporate bond default?http://t.co/gJRnBMVwrE?1st corporate default on public debt in China since the late 1990s.$$ $FXI?Mar 06, 2014
  • Crimea Crisis Haunted by Ghosts of Bungled WWI Diplomacy?http://t.co/YjrQNqkprD?Complexity in foreign relations-> unexpected results $$ $RSX?Mar 05, 2014
  • Putin?s Push Into Crimea Shows Cheap Can Get Cheaper in Russia?http://t.co/Qwfpzw6zda?See what sanctions do 2 banking system $$?Mar 04, 2014
  • China Central Bank’s Move on Yuan Leads to More Cash Flowing Into System?http://t.co/LHIfEqUveg?Sorcerer’s apprentices find their limits $$?Mar 04, 2014
  • In Crimea’s Capital, Gratitude for a Russian Takeover?http://t.co/3HUH1N3N0h?59% Russian, many welcome Russia, as in Georgian invasion $$?Mar 03, 2014
  • Putin?s Gamble: Crimea Land Grab Will Be Met W/Western Inaction?http://t.co/TwCab9skoD?Confused article thinks sanctions will move Putin $$?Mar 03, 2014
  • Putin Crimea Grab Shows Trail of Warning Signs West Ignored?http://t.co/VmsFLmgBxG?Putin knows that the West will do nothing $$ $EFA $SPY?Mar 03, 2014
  • Oil at $100 Loss Warning Rejected by Norges Bank?http://t.co/VhPaLc4zL1?Norway is smart to leave interest rates higher, grow slower $$ $STO?Mar 03, 2014

?

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Companies & Industries

 

  • Safeway to Be Bought by Cerberus?s Albertsons?http://t.co/ivygaGRXxr?Interesting deal, definitely consolidates supermarkets $KR $SWY $WMT $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • BP Splitter Refinery Seen Skirting US Oil Export Ban?http://t.co/pTiND92WZ5?Light processing allows crude 2b exported & refined out of US $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • MIT?s Liquid Metal Stores Solar Power Until After Sundown?http://t.co/P0XlvhZL7m?New batteries needed to store energy from wind & solar $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • RadioShack?s Store Closings to Break Covenant?http://t.co/c1X5mu5erN?So $RSH pays a little $$ to break lease terms & reduce expense $SPY?Mar 07, 2014
  • Fannie’s Profits May Be Fleeting–Heard on the Street?http://t.co/lkAiXTGutW?Think $FNMA investors r wrong; belongs 2 the government now $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Amcol Hot Commodity as Bidding War Escalates?http://t.co/biRyucMyqn?Unusual bidding war 4 $ACO | Price moving up slowly “nickels & dimes” $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Behind the $100B Commodity Empire That Few Know?http://t.co/2Y1ivuWvXC?Pay a visit 2 Mercuria & c how the Crude gets traded moved stored $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Chevron pizza ‘scandal’ isn’t one in small town?http://t.co/XYPNDjI6TM?Give $CVX credit, they understood culture of Bobtown, unlike media $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • The DJIA’s 22,000 Point Mistake?http://t.co/BgX4W7y8g1?If $IBM had been in the $DJIA 1939-1979, DJIA would be a lot higher today $$ #splits?Mar 06, 2014
  • Jain feeds Buffett?s hunger?http://t.co/KKuQyWoe7e?$BRK-B Article ~5 mos old, highlights what might be a chg in U/W philosophy $$ $KIE $IAK?Mar 06, 2014
  • Sons of Ikea?s Kamprad Emerge as New Swedish Billionaires?http://t.co/WvH03xylxW?Throw enough trusts together &u can hide almost anything $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • The ever-expanding Google juggernaut?http://t.co/TgdZrWGEUM?$GOOG goes from strength2strength; it passes $XOM to have 2nd highest mkt cap $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • US Oil-Refineries Bulk Up?http://t.co/wC1kybHjuQ?Annual increase in capacity only 0.5%/yr over the next 5 yrs. Unlikely to change things $$?Mar 03, 2014
  • Wi-Fi Phone Upstarts Lure Penny Pinchers From Verizon?http://t.co/xJCplpR9TC?Get 90% of what u want for less than half the cost $$ $VZ $T?Mar 03, 2014
  • The Housing Market With Nowhere to Go (but Up)?http://t.co/3gQqi24Nes?San Fran shoots itself in the foot with building restrictions $$?Mar 03, 2014

 

Municipal Finance

 

  • Buffett Says Pension Tapeworm Means 10Yrs of Bad News?http://t.co/H8LtRrZueb?”greater electorate ignorance of governmental pension costs” $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Detroit to Pay $77M in Swaps Accord With $UBS & $BAC?http://t.co/Jjd6yFmRgw?Banks took 70% haircut, makes me think all b/ks w/swaps lose $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • The Ideologue vs. the Children?http://t.co/cvIKH9XmmM?NY mayor cares more 4 ideology than effective education; Cuomo steps in2 fill void $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • North Carolina Is a Case Study in Jobless-Benefits Cut?http://t.co/SjDG0I0BoW?Eliminate computers analyzing resumes & this problem dies $$?Mar 04, 2014
  • TARP Funds Demolish Homes in Detroit to Lift Prices?http://t.co/mqF4IKgMfN?Severely blighted areas benefit from destruction of blight $$?Mar 03, 2014
  • California’s $600B Sinkhole?http://t.co/mtTvH4ifwL?Pension liabs accrue silently as Brown & legislature dither; bigger problem later $$ $MUB?Mar 03, 2014

 

 

US Politics & Policy

 

  • Private health exchanges begin to shift behavior?http://t.co/HbChMXMXJs?People tend 2 choose less expensive plans, and then stick w/them $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Will Obama Ever Enforce His Health Law??http://t.co/zqNln7AR7b?Obama won?t stand up for the hard choices his law requires $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • SEC Can Explain Why It’s So Good at Selling Stocks?http://t.co/GIj3HzxxKS?@matt_levine perhaps it takes a thief 2 catch a thief $$ $TLT $SPY?Mar 07, 2014
  • Another Obamacare deadline moved: Non-compliant plans get 2-yr extension?http://t.co/6fc8FwM2Wu?Signature law survives by non-enforcement $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • How Presidential Budgets Became a Joke?http://t.co/uw78mnO8Wb?Interesting article on how US budget process has changed over time $$ $TLT?Mar 07, 2014
  • Supreme Court Has Some Theories on Market Efficiency?http://t.co/OBiMrmVrWs?Sadly, mkt efficiency can’t really b tested w/o a model $$ $SPY?Mar 06, 2014
  • Insurers? Obamacare Losses May Reach $5.5B in 2015?http://t.co/cEiFXV7nNp?Defective PPACA law increases medical expenses dramatically $$?Mar 06, 2014

 

Market Impact

 

  • Companies Rush to List Shares?http://t.co/FZcfw0AGkV?Initial Public Offerings Hit Pace Not Seen in Years, similar to 2005-7, <2000 $$ $SPY?Mar 07, 2014
  • Buffett Cuts Bond Allocation as $BRK-B Warns on Yields?http://t.co/1IlcxihmE7?Can c bond holdings on Sch D: Buffett Buys Boring Bonds $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • That’s a compliment to Mr. Buffett by the way. He keeps his bonds relatively safe to compensate for aggressive alloc 2 stock 4 an insurer $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • The Great Divide over Market Efficiency?http://t.co/1vls4pokmn?Purists argue ad nauseam & can’t b happy with the idea “mostly efficient” $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Old Mutual Breathes New Life Into the Multiboutique Model?http://t.co/pv0VCH6PGI?Still skeptical; $AMG is the model but $PNX failed $$ $XLF?Mar 07, 2014
  • High-Grade Firms Dive Into Debt Market?http://t.co/Kd9hxJmMSj?Whenever there is high issuance of new stocks or bonds, time 2b careful $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • Seth Klarman: Investors Downplaying Risk “Never Turns Out Well”?http://t.co/gjgSObhR9m?”Markets don’t exist simply to enrich people $$ $QQQ?Mar 07, 2014
  • Buffalo Small Cap Tech Fund Tops Ranking with 61% Return?http://t.co/KyP5qcKx9E?If u r looking 4 aggressive growth funds, many ideas here $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • How to invest like a billionaire?http://t.co/8OsYmbDUid?Billionaires build corporations; they don’t just trade stocks $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • Deleveraging Is a Drag?http://t.co/nCjzfJc4w2?Gary Shilling tells us what factors may lead interest rates to go down further, not up $$ $TLT?Mar 05, 2014
  • Buffett?s Book Pick Guides Fuss to Marks Beating Market?http://t.co/AyJROYpYov?Many investors cut their teeth on The Intelligent Investor $$?Mar 05, 2014
  • Buffett Derivatives: back in black?http://t.co/iitbAGrUFQ?Keep it simple — @WarrenBuffett won on this trade, add in the float earnings $$?Mar 05, 2014

 

Other

 

  • Fed’s Plosser Asks Central Banks to Get Back to Basics?http://t.co/wiUb3CU9qL?Slight fed funds rise helps money mkts & metal inventories $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • How the Chevron RICO Ruling Relates to Abortion Clinic Protests?http://t.co/URsJ3pAuVl?Fascinating analogy, though I think it is flawed $$?Mar 07, 2014
  • 95% of bank ATMs face end of security support?http://t.co/WOYOoiB9Kw?Bet u never knew that almost all bank ATMs use Windows XP! $$ $XLF $SPY?Mar 07, 2014
  • Food Hacks To Change The Way You Eat?http://t.co/GEAX14oDjy?Cute ideas; I may try a few of them $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • Satoshi Nakamoto’s Modest Lifestyle?http://t.co/4UZGSXmyFg?& how Leah McGrath Goodman found the Bitcoin founder http://t.co/qAY239pRZ4 $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • Women Could Have Greater Role in Church, Says Pope?http://t.co/4RcQVeWZ5Q?Making them deacons doesn’t make sense; prelude to priesthood $$?Mar 06, 2014
  • The Computer Mouse Still Roars?http://t.co/opGReEejHJ?If u want accuracy & speed, nothing beats a mouse, aside from a trackball $$ $LOGI?Mar 06, 2014

 

Wrong

?

  • Warren Buffett, Climate-Change Denier?http://t.co/A0YFEHjgzk?Buffett didn’t deny climate change; just that it had no impact on P&C ins $$?Mar 04, 2014
  • Unlikely: Buffett Power Hunt May Target Wisconsin Energy?http://t.co/kmceBMMY4T?Don’t think Buffett pays up 4 an earnings yield <6% $$ $WEC?Mar 04, 2014
  • Wrong: Insurers will destroy themselves 2nudge us in2 robot utopia?http://t.co/pjn4OUNYD3?Systems will never b that good; rates will fall $$?Mar 05, 2014
  • Wrong: The well is running dry for big oil?http://t.co/sgzsvu4tkU?Article ignores growing demand 4 crude globally, but depletion is big $$?Mar 03, 2014
  • Wrong: Vladimir Putin’s Alternate Reality?http://t.co/M1ioKfzqPg?Putin saw that the West did nothing when Georgia was invaded, he learned $$?Mar 03, 2014
  • Wrong: Debt alarmist chart.?http://t.co/uq0cC33Kel?Neglects the entitlement liabilities of the US Government. Wish he gave data source $$?Mar 03, 2014

??

Retweets, Replies & Comments

?

  • RT @footnoted: A bit of hedging in there @vitaliyk my go-to person on Russia/Ukraine situation?http://t.co/bUBvcRj2bm?Mar 05, 2014
  • @firstadopter Not worth the paper it is written on, not that Ukraine could have maintained nuclear weapons. The US is an unreliable ally.?Mar 04, 2014

?

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Bitcoin

 

  • Mt Gox: The brief reign of bitcoin’s top exchange?http://t.co/9jSwvxrzOJ?What happens when u neglect basic acctg & programming controls?Mar 01, 2014
  • Bitcoin Exchange Mt. Gox Files for Bankruptcy Protection?http://t.co/aobpHTmsYi?B wary of opaque transaction systems, clever may steal $$?Mar 01, 2014
  • Where Did the Bitcoins Go? The Mt. Gox Shutdown, Explained?http://t.co/0OkksL8TPG?Currencies can’t exist apart from legal systems $$ $BTCUSD?Feb 26, 2014
  • The Bitcoin Collective Delusion?http://t.co/t51GGmuWbw?Inevitable that gov’ts get involved in currencies & trade 4 punishment of fraud $$?Feb 26, 2014

 

Companies & Industries

 

  • Wall Street Hates JPMorgan Fee 4 $1T Junk Loans?http://t.co/laoAXelOIr?It is a private market; if the distortions r bad enuf, biz will leave?Mar 01, 2014
  • Line Builds $15B Value With Teddy Bears, Wicked Witches?http://t.co/ccGFjIVQsQ?Freemium model applied to Asian messaging, watch 4 IPO?Mar 01, 2014
  • Old Mutual Plans IPO of US Unit After Profit Increases?http://t.co/a28VUvS23r?The final reconciliation of a decade-plus of mis-investment $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • Oil Giants Sell Pipelines as Shale Strength Drives Deals?http://t.co/OBVZ66Tm5y?They expect oil prices 2rise as they c cheap oil scarcity $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • Dream of US Oil Independence Slams Against Shale Costs?http://t.co/eFRnOdt0aX?If debt funds a large part of drilling, time 2b nervous $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • $MSFT ‘s Culture Is Like ‘ $IBM Circa 1990,’ New Chairman Says?http://t.co/gzy5NzCaAX?Use MSFT Office/Windows Cash Cow 2build new biz $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • What is ‘Forbes’ worth??http://t.co/mHpDgpfkpi?The Internet chgs everything; formerly important publications get digitally hollowed out $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Rolls-Royce Drone Ships Challenge $375B Industry?http://t.co/CCC9L0rynT?Problems here r considerable- control in bad weather, piracy, etc $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • US Issues Emergency Testing Order To Crude Oil Rail Shippers?http://t.co/bU5AuY7Ixd?Reasonable precautions 4 general safety $$ $UNP $CSX?Feb 26, 2014
  • Japan Post Prepares for IPO?http://t.co/yE7k137VjT?Lotsa assets, but the Q is what can be done w/them. Fuzzy situation w/no hurry $$ $EWJ?Feb 26, 2014
  • Zuckerberg Dines With Phone Frenemies Fretting Over Profits?http://t.co/NMga2US13J?Monet 2b made in solving mobile payments problem $$ $FB?Feb 26, 2014
  • Rising Premiums May Hit Small Firms?http://t.co/nBA1wjigHP?The lies told by the administration regarding cost control r astounding $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Saudi?s Allure Undimmed for Bechtel to DaVita Amid Fallout?http://t.co/ikppxlukf3?Someone has 2 buy from the US; $DTA helps w/diabetes $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • $BAC Reaches Deal With Buffett on Preferred Stake?http://t.co/bLpgqOMJzT?Buffett gets better call protection, divs can b waived in crisis $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Woes of Megacity Driving Signal Dawn of ?Peak Car? Era?http://t.co/npHTO6NtcJ?It may take ~10 yrs, this will right itself, w/fewer cars $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Google Buses Fuel Inequality Debate as Boom Inflates Rents?http://t.co/CaQ4msqBnW?I f you can’t afford living in San Francisco, move out $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • How ARM Holdings Dominates the Chip World?http://t.co/CCFJDitgh1?$ARMH vs $INTC – 2 clever approaches that r utterly different. Who wins? $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Health Law Already Has Impact on Bottom Lines?http://t.co/o4k5u6uWgB?Fitting that health insurers r getting hosed 4 cooperating w/Obama $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Repsol Agrees to $5B Deal W/Argentina on $YPF?http://t.co/piwKwxqS70?$REP decides half a loaf is better than none, nondefaultable bonds $$?Feb 26, 2014

Rest of the World

?

  • China’s Yuan Slides Against US Dollar?http://t.co/VLBVTrLPEf?The Yuan is still a rigged market, we need 2c it float to ascertain value $$?Mar 01, 2014
  • Bulgaria?s Currency Board versus Ukraine?s Chaos?http://t.co/w1lAYExWuF?A currency that is anchored leads 2 better results in many ways $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • China’s Central Bank Engineered Yuan’s Decline?http://t.co/WmwpCa0H4L?It remains 2b seen where the yuan will trade when it freely floats $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • War Crimes Evident in South Sudan, Human Rights Watch Says?http://t.co/1AfsvPMYmG?Easiest way 2 call off dogs of war is not 2 loose them $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • Abe?s Southeast Asia Push Adds to US Ties Amid China Rift?http://t.co/3BDgdNznN4?Example of entangling alliances: Will US defend Asia? $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Ortega?s Zara Fashions Tax Avoidance by Shifting Profits to Alps?http://t.co/RGBMJ4Xmzc?Govts have an interest in unifying tax policy $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Crisis Gauge Rises to Record High as Swaps Avoided?http://t.co/hLKrltiEVk?Chinese corp spreads widening, same for their TED spread $$ $FXI?Feb 26, 2014
  • Investors Mount Attack on Norway in $20B Oil, Gas Row?http://t.co/VOPMQgMZKE?Norway becomes less predictable, may chase developers away $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Ukraine Pledges to Protect Deposits as Kiev Rally Called?http://t.co/iMGsdLODA2?Must ring hollow in Cyprus as EU moves 2 support Ukraine $$?Feb 26, 2014

?

US Politics & Policy

 

  • How ADA, a Chemical Used in Rubber, Got Into 500 Food Products?http://t.co/moZqNNco85?Just because it’s not natural doesn’t mean it’s bad $$?Mar 01, 2014
  • Federal audit calls new school lunch rules a failure?http://t.co/RyEd0JpP7j?Missing middle ground where kids get yummy nutritious food $$?Mar 01, 2014
  • Study Finds SEC Staff Sold Shares B4 Cases Made Public?http://t.co/8xRzyCfIgx?SEC staffers don’t know what 2 buy, they know what 2 sell $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • GOP Targets Hillary Clinton With Obamacare Attacks?http://t.co/QKlHYwHUeG?It is fair to ask her what she would do differently than Obama $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • Here’s How Much People Are Actually Paying for Health Insurance?http://t.co/AeC4xs3y2d?Interesting, not sure what to make of it $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • Busted State Obamacare Websites Haven?t Caught Up to Healthcare gov?http://t.co/LLee1ovP2y?OR, MA & OR r worse than Fed’l website 4 PPACA $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • What Does Eric Schneiderman Know That the Rest of Us Don’t??http://t.co/aI4Crec3EZ?Oversteps his bounds, but gets sellside firms 2 stop $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • Dave Camp: How to Fix Our Appalling Tax Code?http://t.co/lx4VM2kHNz?Complex tax codes allow the wealthy 2 eliminate taxes that poor can’t $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • When the Minimum Wage Goes Up, the Menu Price Also Rises?http://t.co/ukEWzIjoje?The pain has 2go somewhere, including reducing employment $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • America’s 10-Year Experiment in Broadband Investment Has Failed?http://t.co/hjGuuu7JA0?We need to free up competition in the “last mile” $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • How Dodd-Frank Might Kill the CLO Market?http://t.co/ztV9PMdums?& we won’t miss it, b/c securitized credit is not accounted 4 properly $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • High-Priced Hydrogen Cars to Challenge Electrics?http://t.co/3akLFwjJuG?Hydrogen is not the solution, it is just fossil fuels in disguise $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Truth About Hydrogen Power?http://t.co/McG32mWHyT?Old article, explains y hydrogen is no panacea b/c it takes fossil energy 2 produce it $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • The same is true of fusion power. The costs of creating Tritium at a scale needed to power a city would be astounding. $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • A Surprise Guest at the SEC’s Annual Gathering?http://t.co/R15fMul7CU?@mcuban shows what a measured & classy guy he can b @ SEC meeting $$?Feb 22, 2014

 

US Economics & Monetary Policy

?

  • Foreclosures Climaxing in New York-New Jersey Market: Mortgages?http://t.co/NPQeYY7Rc3?Judicial foreclosure states catching up rest of US $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Home Prices in 2013 Notch Biggest Annual Gain Since 2005?http://t.co/FjTjdA7YcU?Demand from investors pads purchases, rates higher now $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • America?s Hottest Housing Market Has Suddenly Cooled Down?http://t.co/00uIJ4gSo3?Phoenix RE rises out of ashes on speculative demand $$ $Z?Feb 26, 2014
  • March 4 Hearing for Three Fed Nominees?http://t.co/McV2Tt7p29?One bullet & 2 blanks in the gun. Stanley Fischer will bring some wisdom $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Fed Crisis Transcripts Highlight Futility of FSOC Crystal Balls?http://t.co/XComU1xA5K?Bureaucrats can’t/won’t predict disaster coming $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • The Fed knows less than average?http://t.co/cnA4nBBwU0?& http://t.co/5wG84hxPGi & http://t.co/C5y3re8ajV 2008 Transcripts show clueless $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • How to Profit from the Yellen Fed?http://t.co/4oAiBUdXDr?Yellen is core 2 the M.O. of the Fed, it’s like jazz, they make it up as they go $$?Feb 26, 2014

?

?

Market Impact

 

  • Banks Averting Bond Losses With Accounting Twist?http://t.co/VC83ByMGNC?Switching bonds from available 4 sale 2 held 2 maturity $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • The switch limits flexibility b/c u can’t change back w/o poss changing all back; also doesn’t change economics, moves losses 2 future $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Greed Turning Losers to Leaders in Russell 1000 Index?http://t.co/vpGTVXkD9t?Could this b a harbinger of a change in the markets? $$ $SPY?Feb 26, 2014
  • Outcome or process ? what investment focus succeeds over time??http://t.co/edXLqAX9pg?@Ritholtz tells us to focus on process not results $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Social psychology: Market madness?http://t.co/BtaVXAYWYZ?This is y the 1st priority of investment is risk control; can’t sleep @ night $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • 10 Value Investing Blogs You’d Be Crazy Not To Follow?http://t.co/mt8tZkGRAq?Happy 2b featured among this great group of blogs $$ Thanks!?Feb 26, 2014

 

Other Business

 

  • Harvard Brainpower Joins MIT Fueling Boston Sports Teams?

Titles?http://t.co/OZNC8wCIJi?Bright guys using math2analyze sports in Beantown $$?Feb 28, 2014

  • Big Data Comes to the Farm, Sowing Mistrust?http://t.co/ayBsxp8qAt?Farmers worry that data used to help them will b used against them too $$?Feb 28, 2014
  • Corporate Economists Are Hot Again?http://t.co/DUn5O7Idjz?An alternative would b actuaries, they r usually better at practical models $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • Dwindling Midwest High School Grads Spur College Hunt?http://t.co/iVURNV69EU?Demographics now fight against colleges, many weak will die $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • The Joy and Freedom of Working Until Death?http://t.co/wkGRoRSJIg?Find something that u enjoy doing that supports u & yours well forever $$?Feb 26, 2014

 

Medical

 

  • Dad May Join Two Moms for Disease-Free Designer Babies?http://t.co/yiXUO0sLok?Designer babies:many embryos die in order 2 produce 1 child $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Your Heart May Be Older Than You Are?http://t.co/46PbtkWQ7h?Cute way 2 get people to take care of themselves; may have false negatives $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Mystery Medical Symptoms Hit a Surprising Number of Patients?http://t.co/6DoJnAjt6w?Stress can trigger pains; this teaches stress control $$?Feb 26, 2014

?

Pimco & Bill Gross

  • Pimco’s Gross: ‘U don’t always produce productive family by sweet talking&always being inclusive’?http://t.co/sjKnhN76jh?Allianz happy w/him?Mar 01, 2014
  • Counterpoint: It?s time for Bill Gross 2 retire?http://t.co/UB1ikZhTlI?Everybody Should Get Off Bill Gross’s Back http://t.co/hbbAYRXuBN $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Inside the Showdown Atop Pimco, the World’s Biggest Bond Firm?http://t.co/kVtk8Zf5d8?Gross developed the theories guide Pimco & he stays $$?Feb 26, 2014

 

Wrong

  • Wrong: Templeton Braving China?s Housing Bubble?http://t.co/rjVSQUXoAe?China looks like Japan in 1989, or the developed world in 2007 #avoid?Mar 01, 2014
  • Wrong: NASA Scientists Discover 715 New Planets?http://t.co/6KhRpp2Y5A?Life is finely tuned on Earth +/- 10% in size of Earth -> no life $$?Feb 27, 2014
  • Wrong: Fed s Tarullo Eyes New Tools to Limit Interest Rate Risk?http://t.co/fA4l6omDVi?Dreams 2 undo effects of bad policy w/o undoing it $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Wrong: It Takes How Much Water to Grow an Almond?!?http://t.co/u8kpW7kJFj?Misses the idea that water does get reused many times: rain $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • Wrong: Can Amazon Dominate in Insurance, Too??http://t.co/zAP8GkunSx?Except 4 simple products, Insurance is too complex 4 people to pull $$?Feb 24, 2014

?

Comments, Replies & Retweets

  • @jasonzweigwsj @AlexRubalcava I wrote an article on the problems w/zero cost investing recently?http://t.co/ALu1ijgVev?”sand in the gears”?Mar 01, 2014
  • RT @AlexRubalcava: Zero commission stock trading sounds like a product tailor made to amplify investors? behavioral finance mistakes.?Mar 01, 2014
  • “Currencies & trade cannot exist in a vacuum apart from legal systems, because fraud is a crime?” ? David_Merkel?http://t.co/7fJX26SEyP?$$?Feb 26, 2014
  • ‘ @GSElevator Tattletale Exposed (He Was Not in the Goldman Elevator)?http://t.co/S1NVy13sZn?I don’t get out much, 1st I’ve heard of this $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • “Regarding First Data, many might think it quite desirable to step out of the spotlight @ $JPM &?” ? David_Merkel?http://t.co/COHGctym2A?$$?Feb 26, 2014
  • . @dpinsen The ancient retirement tripod of course?http://t.co/k06EUCbHa1?unless the modern one works. $$?Feb 26, 2014
  • @dpinsen That was icky, and more… gotta go wash my brain out… brrr.?Feb 22, 2014
Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Facebook & WhatsApp

 

  • Rags-To-Riches Tale Of How Jan Koum Built WhatsApp Into Facebook’s New $19B Baby http://t.co/bJs6kQrlMx Background on WhatsApp founders $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • WhatsApp Shows How Phone Carriers Lost Out on $33B http://t.co/3gOutvRDzK Perhaps consortium of telephone companies should have bot them $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Whatsapp and $19B http://t.co/TWI44XfTOC Explains why $FB decided 2 get into mobile, & how WhatsApp may benefit their mobile push $$ $GOOG Feb 22, 2014
  • Zuckerberg Bonded With WhatsApp CEO Over Coffee and Dinners http://t.co/EZAR7rFAsG Promise made to respect the unique culture of WhatsApp $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Facebook?s horrible, stroke-of-genius IPO @felixsalmon http://t.co/9HrdWMd0Fo Makes point that overvalued $FB stock can b currency 4deals $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • How Much Sequoia Made On WhatsApp http://t.co/SzzdcObDXJ The funny part is how Zuckerberg pranked Sequoia 10 yrs ago, & regretted it $$ $FB Feb 22, 2014
  • Facebook Investors Shrug Off Concerns About $19B Deal http://t.co/AwON4bV9tU also http://t.co/TItg9AIJfI & http://t.co/vgKAI4w1Ye $$ $FB Feb 21, 2014

 

US Politics & Policy

 

  • Companies bracing for 1-2 retirement punch http://t.co/bVBBRV1ytu Unlikely that Obama’s proposals would b enacted; hurts powerful people $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • White House to Propose New Limits on Overseas Corporate Tax Avoidance http://t.co/Me6p3WFG9U This will be difficult 2 enforce; complexity $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Gold Rush Ghost Town Bodes Ill for California Power Flow http://t.co/fpor2Toct2 Interesting article on how the drought is affecting CA $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Peggy Noonan: Whose Side Are We On? http://t.co/5l2dofDbpg We can have a “Cold War” vs those who hate democracy & human rights $$ $SPY $TLT Feb 22, 2014
  • NSA Official Warned About Threat 17 Years Before Snowden http://t.co/8utCDM2eug Warned computer system administrators had too much power $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Fannie Mae Payments to US Will Exceed Bailout http://t.co/aT1Z8jlrW0 2 bad, b/c government owns $FNMA & will keep it as a piggy bank $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • An anti-tech backlash in San Francisco http://t.co/NYsVvWZUu7 Note to politicians: don’t bite the hand that feeds u 2 support malcontents $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Good: Bumper profits threaten US ethanol support http://t.co/UVjiGT68Wr Time to free *all* energy sources from subsidies adj 4 pollution $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Bottlenecks along the Industrial Revolution http://t.co/pzxGIC8GjL There is $$ 2b made in expanding energy infrastructure in America $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • CBO Is Right: Minimum Wage Hike Can Kill Jobs http://t.co/hKL64NzpJw Suggests raising the Earned Income Tax Credit, which would add jobs $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Obama Keystone Pipeline Review Roiled by Nebraska Judge http://t.co/PiF9q1F4nE Governor & Legislature bypassed Public Services Commission $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Obamacare’s Latest Surprise for Taxpayers? http://t.co/zirjEk1cP0 @Asymmetricinfo says Obama Admin may extend risk corridors past 3 years $$ Feb 19, 2014
  • Detroiters Without Cars Seek Jobs in Vain as City Shrinks http://t.co/x76RJvkgza Cities r organic & they can die, like Detroit. Give up $$ Feb 19, 2014
  • UAW’s Devastating Defeat at a Tennessee Volkswagen Plant: 4 Blunt Points http://t.co/ISoUdA2WBZ Give workers credit 4 rejecting bad deal $$ Feb 17, 2014

 

Market Impact

 

  • Frontier-Market Funds Pour in Boosted by Fixed Currencies http://t.co/YwDTW6bccU 2 much $$ flowing into immature mkts via ETFs; avoid $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Learning From a Literary Legend: The Importance of History http://t.co/7QqQ9dkiZd Argues that 10-year stock returns will b below average $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Income As The Outcome: Reframing the 401(k) Plan http://t.co/bEWsAPSuiK Int rates fall, 401(k) bond values rise, but future income falls $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Wall Street Bond Dealers Renounce Treasuries That Lure Pimco http://t.co/uPxeIqN5uE This is a mess, &no one knows, but I remain long $TLT $$ Feb 19, 2014
  • FX Traders Facing Extinction as Computers Replace Humans http://t.co/CDqoLCjqsn True if all u r doing is matching trades not if profiting $$ Feb 19, 2014
  • Information asymmetry, bad incentives and Taibbi http://t.co/K9M8pI1vQR @izakaminska does an excellent takedown of Tabibi’s recent piece $$ Feb 15, 2014

 

Rest of the World

 

  • Japan Record Trade Gap Shows Risk of Abenomics Losing Steam http://t.co/Lfqgvay6KL High debts, trade deficit due 2 low yen, disaster $$ $FXY Feb 22, 2014
  • For Chinese, It’s Going to Cost More to Become Canadian http://t.co/OlBMh7ZpFv Pity those that want to escape China 2 Canada w/their loot $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Nigeria’s Delta Oil Thieves Scrape Out a Precarious Living http://t.co/VxknSU5t3Q Long piece shows a vignette of the troubles in Nigeria $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Foreign Investors Scoop Up New Treasuries Even as Fed Cuts Buying http://t.co/zgPmG1NIQu Weaken your currency. Help exporters. Buy US Tsys $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • India Hedging at Two-Year High as Polls Shroud Outlook http://t.co/mBfYH1HNky Fears of a minority govt have hedgers buying puts on Nifty $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Samsung Investors May Discover World of Possibilities http://t.co/8DsBUYHKDu Pity about Sarbanes-Oxley. Samsung shares used 2 trade in US $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Emerging Stocks Rise to Three-Week High on Record China Lending http://t.co/bukIP0bFPA W/China overlending already a problem, not helpful $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Invading Switzerland? Try Before 8 or After 5 http://t.co/jgBHUG6m84 The Swiss Air Force likes to have the evenings off. War can wait $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • UN warns North Korea’s Kim Jong-un w/a strongly worded letter http://t.co/AlwVjivIO4 Few things crueler than making a Mom kill own child $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Bank of Japan Surprises Markets http://t.co/BbVlwTMHVR Expands Loan Programs, Keeps Main Policy Unchanged, builds bigger debt bubble $$ $FXY Feb 21, 2014
  • Japan?s GPIF Should Own $600B of Stocks, Ito Says http://t.co/YCfIvErZfb Angling 4a nomination 2 the coveted “Putting in the top” award $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • As World’s Kids Get Fatter, Doctors Turn to the Knife http://t.co/VdTVjqXu0j Bariatric surgery on a 3-yo, as parents can’t say no re food $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • China Fund Shifts Focus Away From Energy to US, European Recovery Plays http://t.co/h10gQrGrEs CIC shifts out of power & into real estate $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Japan Growth Figures Disappoint http://t.co/FsFtS5qaA5 GDP Increase Comes in Well Below Expectations, perhaps Abe will think twice $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • China Overtakes India as Gold Consumer http://t.co/XV9WA5p8sT When your property can b confiscated by gov’t, helpful 2 have gold 2 carry $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • US to Face G-20 Pressure Over Tapering http://t.co/dLYU5cbqKd If the emerging market nations are properly financed, US $$ policy won’t harm Feb 21, 2014
  • At Asia Air Show, Plenty of Competition for Sales of Drones http://t.co/UCxNe9jQP9 Many uses 4 drones to monitor areas that r hard 2get2 $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Russians Return to Cyprus, a Favorite Tax Haven http://t.co/qxW0YkMqlK But they won’t put $$ is Cypriot banks after losing much of it b4 Feb 21, 2014
  • Billionaire Niel Trains Geeks to Fix France?s Talent Mismatch http://t.co/3jSO5yXExl Sets up a school in France that teaches programming $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Elliott vs Argentina: 3 possible resolutions @felixsalmon http://t.co/LuxIKbslsj Sovereign immunity, pari passu & bondholders? ransom $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • Europe Mending as Markets Signal Even Portuguese Get Work http://t.co/OwqyCMKeGh Less clear than it seems, but Europe is getting better $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • Sochi Olympics: Vic Wild, American-Born Snowboarder Competing For Russia, Wins Gold http://t.co/uKlhwCdHP3 Far better he got a good wife $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • What the Heck Is Going on in Venezuela? (Could the Maduro Regime Fall?) http://t.co/JknNNCQpm6 Yes, it could fall, but what will replace? $$ Feb 19, 2014
  • China Digs Itself Deeper Into Dollar Trap http://t.co/VXRPJEt5o2 Buying Dollar assets supports the cronies of the party that export $$ $FXI Feb 19, 2014
  • Asia Has Crisis to Thank for Gains in Emerging Rout http://t.co/JMyYasAild Emerging Asia, minus China, in better shape than 1997-8 $$ $FXI Feb 19, 2014
  • Swiss Fault Lines Exposed as Villagers See Risk to Postcard Life http://t.co/55NLuUb7er Urban vs rural & the “last settler” syndrome $$ $FXF Feb 17, 2014
  • Salmond Says Forcing Scotland to Drop Pound to Hurt UK http://t.co/bQEK4xwTfY Seriously doubt UK would giveup the seigniorage if Scots go $$ Feb 17, 2014
  • A Rebuke to Japanese Nationalism http://t.co/iZfr1gfeYM Japan needs 2 give up any sense that what they did in WWII was honorable $$ Feb 17, 2014
  • Indonesia Says Australian Defense of Spying Is ?Mind Boggling? http://t.co/ykT06aSaxe My, but Snowden opened many cans of worms w/leaks $$ Feb 17, 2014
  • Saudis Agree to Provide Syrian Rebels With Mobile Antiaircraft Missiles http://t.co/vRawuKKAgj Proxy war between Wahabis & Shia continues $$ Feb 15, 2014

 

Financials & Personal Finance

 

  • Wall Street Landlords Buy Bad Loans for Cheaper Homes http://t.co/hrf9Ph0RNq Color me skeptical; when investors own homes, mkt overvalued $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Energy Holdings Nears Bankruptcy After Creditor Talks Falter http://t.co/MXMolWYXSg They overpaid & the debt was huge, even Buffett lost $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Tender Offer for Insurer Divides a Boardroom http://t.co/uaNnWRYPfq $AFG ‘s offer for $NATL is more than generous, just tender yr shares $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Putting Your 401(k) on Autopilot http://t.co/Mby8Yf9iQe Would b better if we made plans where employees could buy defined benefit units $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • The growing case against ETFs http://t.co/dV8fE2563o Makes same point that Jack Bogle & I make, ETFs get traded badly by most investors $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Americans Ramp Up Borrowing http://t.co/qApFJ0KESP US Household Debt Posts Largest Quarterly Increase Since Before Recession $$ #seenthisb4 Feb 21, 2014
  • Has Small-Business Lending Really Improved? http://t.co/NujuTdfGtk Qty available may b high, but yields r steep @ nontraditional lenders $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • The Current Opportunity Set http://t.co/k1i9NS5nsD Valuation-sensitive mgrs see fewer & fewer places 2 put $$ 2 work, so cash balances grow Feb 21, 2014
  • These Wells Fargo robbers were also tellers http://t.co/ERo7JVe2X1 Comments, some think if banks r dishonest they should b stolen from $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • I, Claudius, caller of bank bonds http://t.co/tlXoiypnQV Memo 2 bond investors: if you buy an odd bond, b sure 2 read the prospectus $$ $TLT Feb 15, 2014
  • When One Spouse Saves and the Other Spends http://t.co/vtJfjX0W8P I do not get how this person can be a financial advice columnist $$ $TLT Feb 17, 2014
  • Debt-Market Chill May Leave Banks Out in the Cold–Heard on the Street http://t.co/MdpS2KOwSv No January bounceback 2 make up 4 December $$ Feb 15, 2014

Companies & Industries

 

  • 10-Gbit Google Fiber is already real, just not from $GOOG http://t.co/6d0nEU3ViN $VZ has tested it & others 2, coming 2 biz, not home $$ Feb 22, 2014
  • Charter Seen Eyeing Cox After Time Warner Loss http://t.co/S2YpktEr5x Cox family is pretty cagey; $CHTR would have 2 pay through the nose $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • ‘Candy Crush Saga’ Maker Files for an IPO http://t.co/TIUYMDKnIE Put King Digital in the “too hard” pile, hard to predict future success $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Google to Push Its Fiber Rollout on Comcast’s Turf http://t.co/qStVon4gvq $GOOG experiments, $CMCSA will have hard time competing w/fiber $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • My Goldman Sachs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (And Why I’m Grateful) http://t.co/1cJJpQzreu Toughened her up, made her more cynical $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Chevron’s Free Pizza Offer Only Feeds Public’s Distrust http://t.co/xXsFzIgqT4 It was a cheesy way 2 compensate people 4 their troubles $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • The Coal Plant an Illinois Town Couldn’t Give Away http://t.co/7tMYEXqV8u $AEE pays $DYN to take over a coal plant. Now $DYN wants 2leave $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Rarest of Rare Iridium Gains as Growth Spurs Demand http://t.co/2X7P02FFBb Cheaper than gold, Iridium is used in industrial applications $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Buffett?s Coca-Cola Complacency Warning Foretells Troubled Year http://t.co/MaoyseiN8O Listen to Buffett, his intuition is sharp $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • Steve Perlman’s Amazing Wireless Machine Is Finally Here http://t.co/BGpdOactlf If it works, it is a huge increase 4 mobile bandwidth $$ $T Feb 19, 2014
  • Actavis Agrees to Buy Forest Labs for $25 Billion http://t.co/bv6o4VtRM8 Kudos 2 @Carl_C_Icahn Quite a string of victories $FRX $ACT $IEP $$ Feb 18, 2014

 

Fed Notes

  • Fed Puts Rate Increase on the Radar http://t.co/IdvNVpEmDl Move Before 2015 Unlikely, but Minutes Suggest Some Inflation Hawks R Circling $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • The Key Passages in the Federal Reserve’s Minutes http://t.co/xUpUwu9IZZ Hawks start discussion on when the Fed Funds rate should rise $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Yellen Leads Fed Damned Every Way by Emerging Market Angst http://t.co/TApq07VklJ Can’t win b/c developed mkt $$ policy swamps EM policies Feb 21, 2014

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US Economics

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  • Worsening US Divorce Rate Points to Improving Economy http://t.co/f5He5DrfuY “We’re finally doing well, honey. Now we can afford2divorce” $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Citi’s Economic Surprise Index Hits Zero http://t.co/Z69Vy85Hfi As such, the economy is slowing & bond yields r falling. Who knew? $$ $TLT Feb 21, 2014

 

Other

 

  • ‘Downton Abbey’ Is Downright Un-American http://t.co/zGCbFHWzfY If a servant wrote book about how nice her employer was it wouldn’t sell $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Go Ahead, Let Your Kids Fail http://t.co/kHSID4NgpT Fail & bounce back -> Kids gain skills & grit @asymmetricinfo is off on her book tour $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • I Took the GMAT With No Preparation. Here’s What Happened http://t.co/hXwdxNJiub Journalist gets score good enough 2 go 2 biz school $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • Friedman and Hanke on Bitcoin http://t.co/T4bK693dJ8 But what happens when 1 party gets cheated in a Bitcoin transaction? Caveat emptor? $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • The Official Forecast of the US Government Never Saw This Winter Coming http://t.co/w3RS18QJJd We don’t understand climate well $$ $TLT $SPY Feb 19, 2014

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Wrong

  • Wrong: In Buffett We Trust as Berkshire Annual Report Lacks Disclosure http://t.co/JP3U63bhnj There is more than adequate info in the 10K $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Wrong: Cut Off Harvard to Save America http://t.co/ro9cIOe2ok When u mess w/what is a nonprofit & not, u can’t tell what will b the result $$ Feb 21, 2014
  • Wrong: Is China at Risk of a Debt Crisis? Not Really,Bank Says http://t.co/erURFnC3g1 China facing domestic banking crisis, like US 2008 $$ Feb 19, 2014

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Comments, Replies and Retweets

  • “From what I glean, Zuckerberg romanced them & told them $FB wouldn’t touch their baby. We’ll see” ? David_Merkel http://t.co/X25hjO1Fxo $$ Feb 20, 2014
  • “Well said. It is hard for China to give up forced investment and export promotion. It’s economic heroin” Merkel http://t.co/0eH1kgg0lo $$ Feb 19, 2014
  • Commented on StockTwits: This: http://t.co/D0mIcnLtIP and if I knew Spanish, could have seen it earlier:… http://t.co/lPajNQAc4w Feb 18, 2014

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Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Market Impact

 

  • Companies Squeeze 401K Plans From Facebook to JPMorgan http://t.co/2glTizHOjm This should not surprise, many companies shrink labor costs $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Wells Fargo edges back into subprime as US mortgage market thaws http://t.co/s8AJCKuzOH Isn’t a problem now, problem comes w/imitators $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Homebuyers Get Break as Loan Rates Defy Fed Tapering http://t.co/i7PdmGThdz Housing & general economy weakened, so mortgage rates fell $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Pension politics http://t.co/3NaaI61AxM @felixsalmon points out how defined benefit plans r in general better 4 workers. Mind the PBGC $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Colleges Raise Record $33.8B Exceeding US Peak in 2009 http://t.co/PRjlMrKM9i Donations always follow creation of unrealized cap gains $$ Feb 12, 2014
  • Some Lines Say Maybe the Stock Market Will Go Down http://t.co/FdkJdRT9qe @matt_levine correctly criticizes the 1928-9 $SPY graph overlay $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • 1929 Stock Market Crash Chart Is Garbage http://t.co/PyPIulerCH Unequal left & right scales make the relationship look tighter than it is $$ Feb 12, 2014
  • ?When to Ignore the Investment Experts http://t.co/K2vyHgb1gv ?When all the experts &forecasts agree ? something else is going 2 happen.? $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Comparing Economic Recoveries http://t.co/5za6QtEFKD In 1984-2006, growth was borrowed from future by increasing debt levels-> #payback $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Aluminum Lines Still Trouble the London Metal Exchange http://t.co/f5OyWC5EHC Aluminum inventories will b a prob, til short intrates rise $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Top Anecdotal Signs of a Market Bubble http://t.co/MavPhxB6vZ Good piece, like one of mine: http://t.co/bON7nJJFfk Watch the credit cycle $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Ten Stocks to Own During a Market Correction http://t.co/RzBdaNf1ff Good list. I own a few of them. $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Does trend-chasing explain financial markets? http://t.co/3Mkg4R99dx Partly. Difference between investment IRR and total return is big $$ Feb 10, 2014
  • ?Security. Safety. Stability.? http://t.co/VfKVcGgMRJ from @reformedbroker Gold is useful at certain points, but only when it is hated $$ Feb 10, 2014
  • Flows Don?t Follow Value, They Follow Performance http://t.co/9oIJ4M7HMo @reformedbroker wrote this little gem. Learn & internalize it $$ Feb 10, 2014
  • Long Term Charts 2: Western Markets Since The Middle Ages http://t.co/lsBfIot8pi Interesting charts from very messy data at Zero Hedge $$ Feb 10, 2014
  • Most Expensive Place to Find Out Who You Are http://t.co/szQfeKFZxT @jasonzweigwsj : Your reaction 2 minor crisis shows yr risk tolerance $$ Feb 10, 2014

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Companies & Industries

 

  • AIG Takes $832 Million Charge on Death Bets as Hedge Funds Gain http://t.co/JmI7hBy9MH Life settlements should b illegal $$ $MET $AIG $PRU Feb 14, 2014
  • To Stop the Coffee Apocalypse, Starbucks Buys a Farm http://t.co/CPkyVAUnsR $SBUX helps create a variety of rust resistant Arabica trees $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Former BlackRock Manager Finds Billions on Rice Energy http://t.co/aBPTo3u4Ky Few investment mgrs have operating talent; Daniel Rice does $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Buffett’s Pal Munger Heads a Very Weird Company http://t.co/ztr3XizpKM Growth of $DJCO thru investing leads 2 # of growing pains & 13F $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Here?s Why the Biggest Cable Company in the Country Thinks It Can Get Bigger http://t.co/04cdg1J9VP Feds tolerant of cable re antitrust $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Why AOL ended up spending millions on ‘distressed babies’ http://t.co/d2lWs8eJit $AOL chose 2b in healthcare biz 4 its employees & lost $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • 3 High-Yielders To Buy On The Pullback http://t.co/8SUBI1M0ut In total $SNH issues more stock than it pays in divs. Divs -> cap losses $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Who is John Thompson? A look at Microsoft’s new chairman http://t.co/W7SrXqxtwm May have right stuff to protect new CEO from meddling $$ Feb 10, 2014

 

US Politics & Policy

 

  • Runaway Drones Map Land, Film ‘Wolf,’ Knock Down People, FAA Gives Chase http://t.co/rcTnjug8w1 Drones r here 2 stay; time license them $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Teacher Tenure Put to the Test in California Lawsuit http://t.co/XP5fx6HpR3 Tenure has outlived its usefulness; older teachers can b lazy $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Lincoln’s Foreign Policy in Today’s World http://t.co/t2RELj7uRB Kept England & France from joining Civil War; otherwise pragmatic $$ $SPY Feb 15, 2014
  • What Would Lincoln Do? http://t.co/hi6n4Rb8hl A clever man w/principles, who did not cease to be pragmatic pursuing 1 main goal – Union $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Harvard Professor Attacking Google Thrives as Web Sheriff http://t.co/g1W7KXH94K At some point, lack of disclosure will blow up on him $$ Feb 14, 2014
  • The $2.2B Bird-Scorching Solar Project http://t.co/hIYWhJpUwQ Get used 2 idea: almost every form of energy imposes environmental costs $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Obamacare Damage-Control Teams Seek to Calm Complaints http://t.co/bPU95rVMxM Things r tough when u r trying to avoid media embarrassment $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Billionaire Musk Gets Brownsville to Pay for SpaceX http://t.co/eoAiygs9mq Like a football owner bargaining 2 get taxpayers buy a stadium $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Snowden Swiped Password From NSA Coworker http://t.co/1mJ5D6vGH3 & it cost him his job. Snowden denies it; NSA is Not Saying Anything $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Puerto Rico Legislators Amend Bill Calling for Bank-Deposit Shift http://t.co/fMaCvMi7ab Provincial govt’s attempt 2raid cookie jar stopd $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Obamacare Will, in Fact, Encourage Employers to Cut Jobs http://t.co/D3vaCFHOZY As the employer mandate comes into force, jobs will b cut $$ Feb 12, 2014
  • Tea Party Scorns Republicans as House Lifts Debt Ceiling http://t.co/fPohsF6Kbi t-party can b “pure” as Dems raise ceiling w/few GOP $$ $TLT Feb 12, 2014
  • A Lame Duckish Calm Falls Over the Capital http://t.co/u6bG2cg1nL Parties in DC act as if the next event is the November elections $$ $TLT Feb 12, 2014
  • Obama Rewrites ObamaCare http://t.co/Ym3CtHt3pI Another day, another lawless exemption, once again for business; WSJ bangs populist drum $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • The US Senate Again Insists on USPS Saturday Mail Delivery http://t.co/YnzmKE5Xrh 2 timid; end Wednesday & Saturday delivery $$ $UPS $FDX Feb 11, 2014
  • US firms ?paid effective tax rate of 2.2% in 2011? http://t.co/f2T5Qnrhri More than a tax haven, Ireland helps insurers shave reserves $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • No Honeymoon for Janet Yellen http://t.co/86QPfTcVE0 QE withdrawal will bite, & what will become of all the deposits? $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Please Hold Your Bernanke Applause http://t.co/DCKPttFHNU Remember, when Greenspan left, he was viewed as a success, same as BB now $$ $TLT Feb 11, 2014
  • Sounding the Tax Alarm, to Little Applause http://t.co/r9JQmmaeLB IRS stiffs whistleblowers who often lose employability 4 being a tipper $$ Feb 10, 2014

 

Rest of the World

 

  • Putin is Playing a Game of His Own http://t.co/19Arh0aJOH Not so fast. Russia has significant resources & influence in Eastern H’sphere $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Boy?s Life Hanging on 8-Hour Trip Shows Why Venezuelans Protest http://t.co/8G8CgGwGST Socialism is like a cancer that spreads til death $$ Feb 14, 2014
  • Let’s Watch Venezuela Destroy Itself http://t.co/g1Uy3zk1W3 Logical extreme of Socialism falls apart; pity that Chavez never lived 2c it $$ Feb 14, 2014
  • Chinese Join Winklevosses in L.A. Luxury Home Hedges http://t.co/TUdw4AItw8 Amazing what the wealthy will pay 4a fancy foreign retreat $$ Feb 14, 2014
  • Next crisis won?t come from the emerging markets http://t.co/Jei7oKJ8BD Argues France, Germany, Britain, Australia & Canada-> 2 much debt $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Mister Donut, Pan Am and Friendster Found Alive and Well http://t.co/vDaGi33cEN Old brands never die, they just move overseas & make $$ $SPY Feb 13, 2014
  • Bank of England points to 2015 rate rise, blurs guidance http://t.co/AWhyd8GZmd More precision than 1 can know; the world is messy $$ $FXB Feb 13, 2014
  • Italy Pays Record Low to Sell 3-Year Debt at Auction http://t.co/PWmUhXufjb Let the leverage build for the next crisis $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Fink to Mobius Touting Emerging Stocks Fails to Stem Outflow http://t.co/8PFKbOH8Lg A time 2 nibble, not a time 2 gulp $$ $EEM Be wary Feb 13, 2014
  • Greek Truckers Show Plight as Groceries Show Up Frozen http://t.co/XgAM737A7h Freeing up the labor market will work as attitudes change $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Tunisians Bolt Doors Even After New Constitution Passed http://t.co/lBhXz8iqWb Constitutions cannot create cultural change; asks 2 much $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Israel Desalination Shows California Not to Fear Drought http://t.co/BFidhnEF7S When resources r tight there are incentives 2 create tech $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • London Walkie Talkie Owners to Shield Car-Melting Beam http://t.co/76TP0u2tuT Reflective parabolic curve of building melts cars @ a spot $$ Feb 12, 2014
  • Rouhani Seeks Economic Fix as Iran Commemorates Revolution http://t.co/EDNL5WLOvB Will have to get the agreement of unelected true rulers $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Argentina to Replace Bogus Inflation Index to Mend IMF Ties http://t.co/iSzQizrgnF Argentina tries 2 find cheapest way out of this mess $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Who Should Pay for Trusts that Go Bust? http://t.co/aOXFbDltCZ If China is smart, protect depositors, but let banks & WMP holders fail $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Iceland Girds for Fight as Suit Targets Half $14B GDP http://t.co/hX6M12PZ48 Icelandic taxpayer will refuse the bill; UK will b stiffed $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Mobius Says Emerging-Market Rout Near End as Valuations Lure http://t.co/MMLjlAmN49 I dunno, a 4% earnings yield premium seems small $$ $EEM Feb 11, 2014
  • Rehabilitating Portugal http://t.co/tFy3GnIwRQ Long; Argues that a Greek-style bailout should b done, or Portugal will eventually default $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Iranian TV Shows Rare Broadcast of Band Playing Music http://t.co/jTBFNcRsHJ Christianity has always been easier on music than Islam $$ Feb 11, 2014

 

Work Trends

 

  • Sheep-Shearing Wells Fargo Banker Bridges US Income Gap http://t.co/utMe1ekmir Sells coffeemakers too; many in US work multiple jobs $$ $TLT Feb 13, 2014
  • Workers Shed Caution, in a Healthy Sign for Labor Market http://t.co/zTq0NgbO0f When workers r willing 2 quit, labor mkt is healthy $$ $TLT Feb 11, 2014

 

Practical

 

  • A Little Valentine’s Day Straight Talk http://stks.co/j0I6p Sage counsel 2 younger women if they want to get married: start early $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • The Sex Question Readers Want Answered Most http://t.co/kRhYIgwI2Z Even Long-Married Happy Couples Ask, ‘How Can We Have Sex More Often?’ $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Ten Ways You’re Probably Leaving Money on the Table http://t.co/KkjetkJsp9 Simple list of ways to save money for avg upper-middle class $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Why Mom’s Time Is Different From Dad’s Time http://t.co/0Xr4IMsFfs Husbands, u can win if u reduce chaos for your overburdened wives $$ Feb 11, 2014

 

Other

 

  • US Scores Fusion-Power Breakthrough http://t.co/h6wDtXHcVj Bad news is Tritium very expensive @ $100K per gram; takes much energy 2 make $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • If Ocean Heat Pump Switches On, Expect to Feel It http://t.co/FlsYni5c62 Speculative; we don’t understand climate or hurricanes well $$ Feb 11, 2014
  • Who is Steven Reisman? Meet Hip-Hop VIPs’ Favorite Lawyer, The Man With The $2 Bills http://t.co/B3v87YDWrt Weird. Very, very weird $$ $SPY Feb 11, 2014
  • What Really Happened to Flappy Bird? http://t.co/3IiBxSIhYx Beware the success u wish 4? Also: http://t.co/ld6A2XaiKs Still a puzzle $$ $SPY Feb 11, 2014

 

Wrong, etc.

?

  • Skeptical: Blackstone-Fueled Single-Family Home Boom Lifts Chicago http://t.co/sETcWifBGx In past hi levels of investor ownership bearish $$ Feb 15, 2014
  • Wrong: Pros Panic, Retail Investors Stay Cool on Emerging Markets http://t.co/QXXpOcqKYw Too short a period time to judge $$ Feb 14, 2014
  • Wrong: Social norms: The indignity of no work http://t.co/6isHJo9fkw New technologies will create new jobs & make the whole world better $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • Wrong: Warren Buffett is laughing at you for selling http://t.co/S5LFS3jUk5 Poorly thought-out piece glues 2unrelated ideas together $$ $EEM Feb 13, 2014
  • Wrong: The #1 High-Yield Investment Of America’s Elite http://t.co/FUVyBblQpZ Spammy article that talks about REITs as if they r a secret $$ Feb 11, 2014

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Replies, Retweets & Comments

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  • 10 miles west of Baltimore, MD, we got ~15 inches of snow over the last last 2 days. #snow #weather #pax $$ Feb 14, 2014
  • “I made this comment six months ago: http://t.co/a82j8TRxm1… & then, I tipped the SEC. ?” ? David_Merkel http://t.co/gthPe5eQoA $$ $DJCO Feb 13, 2014
  • “Administrative Services Only” plus individual stop loss protection is in general the smart way2?” ? David_Merkel http://t.co/fPV6fQo1i1 $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • “This is a common confusion in statistics — you can have a high correlation and a low beta. Second?” ? Merkel http://t.co/sa6PLqEhdU $$ Feb 13, 2014
  • RT @Pawelmorski: Scary parallel my foot. http://t.co/omyovAKQaX Feb 12, 2014
  • @davidgaffen that would only be a temporary fix. I wrote this 3.5 yrs ago on the topic: http://t.co/q3lbyELN9d The internet eats USPS Feb 11, 2014
  • @quakkelaar I miss you too. If you are ever near Baltimore/DC, let me know; we can get together, brother. Last few years have been hard Feb 11, 2014
  • RT @ReformedBroker: Please explain how the wording of this investment advertisement on the Washington Post site could be legal: http://t.co? Feb 10, 2014
  • ‘ @quakkelaar Hail old friend. Yes, same old mistakes, b/c those wishing to retire are making the money sweat, until it rebels on them $$ Feb 09, 2014

?

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

?Note: this is the 100th weekly edition of sorted weekly tweets.

Market Impact

?

  • Standing Out from the Crowd: Measuring Crowding in Quantitative Strategies http://t.co/MRjZ8d8GGL Overinvestment in strategy precedes losses Feb 08, 2014
  • Does Fair Value Accounting Contribute to Market Price Volatility? An Experimental Approach http://t.co/YQqQPrwMwr Short answer: no $$ $XLF Feb 08, 2014
  • The Deeper Causes of the Financial Crisis: Mortgages Alone Cannot Explain It http://t.co/0P7fMrQWKn But they were the leading cause $$ $XLF Feb 08, 2014
  • Contagion Rejected as Biggest Bond Buyers Double Down on Junk http://t.co/5wm1k4Ghlw Makes me think the correction will b another crisis $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Hedge Funds Preparing for $1T Property Bill http://t.co/RRQN992uat Key Q: Will they limit their risks prior to the next commercl RE bust? $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Apollo Credit Twice Size of LBOs Shows Private-Equity Shift http://t.co/J69eh3TPTn Not a good sign, nonstandard lenders r fragile $$ $APO Feb 07, 2014
  • Five Pointers on Floating-Rate Funds http://t.co/sV6JtizBlN Don’t chase performance, rates may not rise, nor yields, adds credit risk $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Inverse VIX Fund Gets Record Cash on Calm Market Bet http://t.co/YSHGpON0DE Be careful to not hold it long $$ $VXX http://t.co/qGCycKbPsX Feb 05, 2014
  • World’s cheapest stock markets: Where are shares cheap? http://t.co/3Uvq1HZfSF Gives u a rough idea as 2 where values may b found $$ $SPY Feb 04, 2014
  • Gundlach Shows Why Betting Against Treasuries Is a Fool?s Game http://t.co/R0s4wQLcbu Interesting that he is in long Tsys $$ FD: + $TLT Feb 03, 2014
  • Monday?s Selloff, by the Numbers http://t.co/LseNtCUEXz That’s 2 large >2% down days in less than 2 weeks $$ $SPY Feb 03, 2014

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Companies & Industries

 

  • Big Pizza Chains Use Web to Slice Out Bigger Market Share http://t.co/C6xQeSWmlr Easier 4 large chains 2 implement online ordering $$ $PZZA Feb 08, 2014
  • SodaStream?s New Mainstream Rivals: Coke and Green Mountain http://t.co/zOkwpBpOiK All the more reason 4 $PEP 2 buy $SODA $$ Feb 07, 2014
  • Why Discount Airlines Draw Fewer Complaints (Hint: It’s Not Better Service) http://t.co/a8rzqrf0DU Friendlier attitudes r better service $$ Feb 07, 2014
  • Satyajit Das: The Truth About Bank Earnings http://t.co/9FzkPbbyIm Bank earnings r lower quality; getting harder to increase them $$ $XLF Feb 05, 2014
  • Experts testify on true cost of Target breach http://t.co/FGVRFBvc6K Magnetic stripes will go away, & chips &/or PINs will appear $$ $TGT Feb 05, 2014
  • Apple Quietly Builds New Networks http://t.co/bncx84P4RW $AAPL certainly has spare $$ to throw at it, enhancing service quality $NFLX $GOOG Feb 04, 2014
  • H-P Finds Accounting Errors at Autonomy Unit http://t.co/9cQFBamwpI We knew it was a dumb deal at the time, now $HPQ shows just how dumb $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Prophet of No Profit: How Jeff Bezos won the faith of Wall Street. http://t.co/eaZmKgfnir Moats, operating leverage, pricing power $$ $AMZN Feb 01, 2014
  • Ask Buffett what he would be willing 2pay 4 $AMZN — after all, it has significant moats. I think he would put it in the “too hard” pile $$ Feb 01, 2014

 

Rest of the World

 

  • China, the Death Star of Emerging Markets http://t.co/zFmo0RkXva @williampesek points at financial bubble in China; what will make it pop $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Scandal Tests Chinese President’s Standing With Military http://t.co/cHGvLtROFE Corruption is a major issue 4 China, between Party & Army $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Saudi Twitter Debate as Citizens Criticize Government http://t.co/quwkxpkHDX Social media allows criticism tht would not b done in public $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • China Savers? Penchant for Property Magnifies Bust Danger http://t.co/yrfDYQK5KH Anytime a single investment strategy dominates -> worry $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Pimco?s Bill Gross Says He Avoids China ?Mystery Meat? http://t.co/My6P5x1jE0 Great phrase as we do not know much about indebted China $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Sao Paulo Biggest Water-Supply System May Run Dry Within 45 Days http://t.co/fEcioInfjX Many water systems r near their limits globally $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Emerging Stocks Drop to 5-Month Low Led by China as Ruble Gains http://t.co/aWgDSdVBUt Not all emerging mkts r equal, some financed wrong $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Japan Sees Worst Developed-Stock Rout as Nikkei 225 Drops http://t.co/UQDhX1a3XL Current mkt reveals weak underlying fundamentals $$ $FXY Feb 04, 2014
  • Dad Can?t Buy Daughter Shoes as Argentine Currency Falls http://t.co/WTnUn1Okf0 ?Do you know how I feel buying my daughter used shoes?? $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Argentina Scrambles To Raise $10B, Avoid Reserve Collapse; BONARs Bidless http://t.co/Xx4t0dFqCk Only hold hard assets in Silverland $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • EM rout? Or Intervention Sunday? http://t.co/d54Qjj4X2S Difficult to tell what Developed Mkt policymakers will do, they r strapped @ home $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Argentina Bust Lures Investors After 200 Years of Defaults http://t.co/YoWjotidcp Invest in the hard stuff, land does not depreciate $$ $IRS Feb 04, 2014
  • Emerging-Market Rout Seen Enduring on Low Real Rates http://t.co/RTxP6GjMVw Funding structures of some emerging markets fall, $$ goes 2 $TLT Feb 04, 2014
  • Canadian Oil Rises as California Ships in Record Amount by Rail http://t.co/CKvu4BEqJl Retweet after me: Pipelines r cleaner & safer $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Analysis: Emerging markets outlook not rosy, but valuations tempt http://t.co/hADIRvUK5g This may b a time 2nibble, not a time 2gulp $$ $EEM Feb 04, 2014

 

US Politics & Policy

?

  • AOL is leading the way to make 401(k)s worse for everyone http://t.co/AnlQ1Ud6Ds Meh; new employers will compensate workers that lose $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • ‘Six Californias’ plan difficult but doable, assessment shows http://t.co/nuw3S6rLVl Ideas like this come & go in a fragmented California $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • No, CBO did not say Obamacare will kill 2M jobs http://t.co/RHsSai7rwv Rather, will discourage 2M from working full-time; big deal $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Ex-NSA Chief Details Snowden’s Hiring at Agency, Booz Allen http://t.co/EWRuqlViXW Snowden set back US intelligence by 20+ yrs. Good. $$ Feb 06, 2014
  • The Tyranny and Lethargy of the Times Editorial Page http://t.co/hbW20h6Vjn Inside baseball, picture sums up story http://t.co/USlMTh4Bm0 $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Puerto Rico Has Credit Rating Cut One Step 2Junk by S&P http://t.co/4Av3ftwL8q also http://t.co/QkwCnXQdcy Well-deserved, default coming $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Going on 30, Living With Mom and Dad http://t.co/Wo4YB74mKo Part is being slow 2 marry, then education, poor career choices, motivation $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Crop Insurers Win as Congress is Poised to Pass Farm Law http://t.co/rFNrEDhYkZ If we can’t reduce ag subsidies when ag is healthy… $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Obamacare Wonks Flunk Data Analysis http://t.co/Ss2Tc3q2e9 You can show lots of savings if u show your winners & hide your losers $$ $SPY Feb 04, 2014
  • CBO: Obamacare Will Lead To 2M Fewer Workers In Labor Force By 2017 http://t.co/OsCrQOUORb Unintended consequences; fix this, break that $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Fed Presidents Say Stock Decline Unlikely to Derail QE Taper http://t.co/pdoloENc9L In the short-run true, but if the decline persists… $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • Investment Manager Explains Why 99.5% Of Americans Can Never Win http://t.co/MqngZy7zZW Tax code is cockeyed, wealthy can avoid taxation $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • How Feds? Double Standard Enables Bad Bankers http://t.co/AGok7eeqdU Simple: little bankers get prosecuted; big banks get fined $$ $BNK $XLF Feb 04, 2014
  • Early Drive for Hillary Clinton Unsettles Democrats http://t.co/Hb3lJnpnr6 Some Worry It Will Siphon $$ from Candidates in Midterm Elections Feb 04, 2014
  • You Can Thank or Blame Richard Stanger for Writing 401(k) http://t.co/wX38lGA4m4 Many important laws r accidental; killed DB pensions $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • ISM Miss Is Ugly All Around http://t.co/Px97nGSccl I’ve been arguing that the economy is weaker than it looks 4 a while; here’s a clue $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • US Banks Ease Loan Standards in Fed Survey as Demand Rises http://t.co/etkDJPLLhN Can inflation b far behind if this persists? $$ $TLT $TIP Feb 04, 2014
  • California Dries Up as Brown Pushes $15B Tunnel http://t.co/r4boO9Tzzo If u don’t allocate water economically, becomes a political fight $$ Feb 04, 2014

?

Other

 

  • Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients http://t.co/fxmxkLJKbS My longer review: http://t.co/lOqexXT7RO $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Why I Did Not Go To Jail http://t.co/4EtyFFyTyg @bhorowitz good read on the importance of proper company, legal, & incentives structure $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Daniel Suarez Sees Into the Future http://t.co/kkLkxcmvnv ‘Influx’ may propel sci-fi writer in2 void left by Tom Clancy &Michael Crichton $$ Feb 08, 2014
  • Why Melted Cheese Does the Trick http://t.co/ZACj1EaWKB Creaminess enhances the textures and flavors of other foods $$ $KFT $DF Feb 06, 2014
  • Deadly New Bird Flu Strain Spawned by Virus Behind H5N1 http://t.co/b0fLG89fkg This is overblown. People die from the flu each year $$ $SPY Feb 05, 2014
  • Young Bankers Seek ?Good Yield? With Their Own Nonprofits http://t.co/gJZVwJ5lse Wealthy & powerful like 2b thought benefactors $$ Lk 22:25 Feb 04, 2014
  • How the Seattle Seahawks solved Peyton Manning http://t.co/0P0kiHnddI Even if u r not into football, interesting 4 understanding strategy $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Super Bowl Safety Is Blow for Broncos and Las Vegas Sportsbooks http://t.co/2vXpm4IRbl The odds r interesting to read 4 unusual bets $$ $SPY Feb 04, 2014
  • Microsoft Adds Momentum to ?Open Science? |http://t.co/Ar6WCDKNug Understand that scientists r not neutral observers; they have 2 publish $$ Feb 04, 2014
  • Carney leaving CNBC for WSJ?s ?Heard on the Street? |http://t.co/dRNtplkOQB @carney gets a significant promotion! Congrats! $$ $SPY $TLT $GE Feb 01, 2014

 

Other Economics

 

  • Free Checking Is Disappearing Perk http://t.co/pZwsA0u3sl Smaller banks often offer better deals than big banks on checking $$ $XLF $SPY Feb 08, 2014
  • More Men in Prime Working Ages Don’t Have Jobs http://t.co/YmAjNcQrc5 1 of the qualitative factors that show how punk the economy is $$ $SPY Feb 08, 2014
  • An International Gold Standard Beats The Rule Of The Governing Elite http://t.co/GoTHUVusXK Old, makes point gold standard was better $$ Feb 05, 2014

 

Wrong

  • Wrong: High unemployment putting the ECB in isolation http://t.co/wlBQOP7JqM Loose monetary policy doesn’t lower L-T unemployment $$ #global Feb 08, 2014
  • Wrong: America The Startup http://t.co/C0Rax7KPJP Worth a read, but the writer does not really understand the Pilgrims or the Puritans $$ Feb 04, 2014

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Retweets, Replies, & Comments

  • @HistoryInPix Cemented the creation of the graphical user interface, buggy in prior versions, aside from pricey Macintosh ghetto Feb 06, 2014
  • ‘ @catofwallstreet the credit cards will have chips, not us- already have these in Europe. Also, consider amillenialism or postmillenialism. Feb 05, 2014
  • RT @PUMPSandDUMPS: This fan says it all http://t.co/MryfT9l04a #pennystocks Feb 05, 2014
  • Ice falling, branches too, west of Baltimore — kind of pretty $$ #weather Feb 05, 2014
  • @DavidSchawel The difference between dollar-weighted & Time-weighted returns is crucial but few get that. Good tweet on $DBLTX $$ Feb 05, 2014
  • RT @DavidSchawel: Retail psychology: chasing performance, then puking the bottom & missing the bounce-DBLTX Fund assets vs adjusted NAV htt? Feb 05, 2014
  • RT @cate_long: Cheers! “@carney: Thanks everyone! Very excited to be joining the @wsjheard team! Some details here http://t.co/sjLSyTMIEH Feb 01, 2014
  • @dpinsen not all, but a majority Feb 01, 2014

 

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

The Volatility Machine, or, Developed Markets Sneeze and Emerging Markets Catch a Cold

 

  • Record Cash Leaves Emerging Market ETFs on Lira Drop http://t.co/KSVS4qlrGb Sold mine b4 the 1st Fed taper; China’s fin’l sys vulnerable $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Calm Broken in Markets Amid Concern of Emerging Contagion http://t.co/VnMtRrqXgs Emerging mkts decoupling from developed mkts wrong way $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Basci No Rebel as Elections to Dictate Turkish Rate Moves http://t.co/EFVGB1LbMD Raise rates to defend the lira, watch exporters sag $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Rajan Warns of Policy Breakdown as Emerging Markets Fall http://t.co/zW9QR49nRu Good guy, but fighting from a weak position $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Argentina 105% Stock Return Proves Illusory as Peso Sinks http://t.co/4T0LdDhPM7 Make high returns in Arg pesos, but what can they buy? $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Fragile-Five Selloff Cuts Rupee Issues to ?07 Low http://t.co/7anEAHc6Qd Volatility machine feeds tightening policy to weakest emerg mkts $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • The Price of Argentina’s Devaluation http://t.co/WwCrpf8urI More devaluation 2 come, black market price of $$ 50% above official price $IRS Jan 30, 2014
  • China Bank Regulator Said to Issue Alert on Coal Loans http://t.co/9w51A1v6RS Wealth management products embed significant credit risks $$ Jan 26, 2014
  • Fernandez Ditches Argentina for Cuba Summit Amid Crisis http://t.co/3nH9dIC0vT May what happened to Khrushchev happen to Fernandez $$ $IRS Jan 26, 2014

 

Companies & Industries

 

  • Amazon?s Boundless Spending Tested as Sales Growth Slows http://t.co/HPMVaVRDpV & http://t.co/ByiTZvlPLj $AMZN needs to raise its prices $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • How IKEA Protects the Environment and Sofa Margins http://t.co/x1rGegBzm5 IKEA is a very clever company that sells furniture cheaply $$ $FBN Jan 30, 2014
  • Walmart Expands Same-Day Grocery Delivery Test to Denver http://t.co/YrsuV006Zs Will b interesting 2c if this works profitably $$ $WMY $KR Jan 29, 2014
  • Billionaires Fuming Over Market Selloff That Sinks Magnit http://t.co/ZD1uUx0J0M Never confuse trading value w/intrinsic value $$ $SPY $TLT Jan 29, 2014
  • Branson?s Butanol Heading to U.S. as Ethanol Substitute http://t.co/8JAturnMXg I’ve been waiting for this; this is big & good. $$ $SPY $XLE Jan 29, 2014
  • Ethanol Exporters Search for a Port http://t.co/h9oUb7aRne Key Problem: Industry’s Distribution Network, Built Around Domestic Market $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Apple’s $160B Mystery http://t.co/emZzU9mJ4d It is a mystery. What could you buy for $160B that would yield something like 10%? $AAPL $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • With a Shortage of STEM Graduates, Accenture Hopes to Grab Them Early http://t.co/lH3cam3h9U Clever idea by $ACN getting real thinkers $$ Jan 26, 2014

?

Financial Sector

?

  • Mortgage Volumes Hit Five Year Low http://t.co/IdgUULArJf Once policy accommodation ebbs, the housing mkt normalizes. 2 many houses $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Futures industry: A story of crisis and opportunity http://t.co/CGShQoC93M Interesting history of how the Chicago futures exchanges grew $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Sudden Swings in HSBC, Diageo Spur Trading Error Concern http://t.co/1Krn50FkYx “Fat fingers” can be a problem in computerized markets $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Wall Street Attracts Chop Shops 20 Years After ?Wolf? http://t.co/qkYgenUF49 This isn’t as large as it used 2b. Now more fraud online $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Companies Shift Strategies as Pension Funding Improves http://t.co/MhGhBFABc6 Smart to immunize pension liabilities when fully funded $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Friday Was a 90/90 Day and What It Means?http://t.co/lhm2LQeWN0 @Ritholtz tells us there has been a sea change & this is a correction $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Delinquent Debt Seized by Lehman Alum Seeing Recovery http://t.co/SsbGLA5Lh2 Hedgefund doesn’t own homes, but owns debt interest on homes $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • The Hidden Risks of Bank Loan Funds http://t.co/AEe7kicHul A good piece by the estimable @davidschawel . U might need 2play defense $$ $BKLN Jan 29, 2014
  • How the Safe Havens Stack Up http://t.co/csOSokPPWR For now nothing beats long US Treasury bonds FD: Long $TLT Jan 29, 2014
  • SEC Accuses Legg Mason of Some Accidental Fraud http://t.co/5Gl2I0B0S9 Given the complexity of law, much fraud is boring $$ $LM $SPY $MDY Jan 29, 2014
  • Puzzle for CFOs: Fixed or Floating-Rate Debt? http://t.co/vWxLEq6k8d Here’s the easy answer, do half fixed & half floating. Easy. $$ $BKLN Jan 29, 2014
  • Mary Jo White Wants SEC to ?Rethink? Corporate Disclosures http://t.co/VFLKGGnTfM Overthinking it; many people don’t read risk factors $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • BlackRock?s Fink Warns of ?Too Much Optimism? in Markets http://t.co/lkZYCY32HQ Fink is on target, vs the wishful thinking of bureaucrats $$ Jan 26, 2014
  • Former Phone Psychic Fit Right in as a Quant Trader http://t.co/Eq8iyYE2Tv Very weird. Making money by selling illusions can b profitable $$ Jan 26, 2014
  • Gold Mint Runs Overtime in Race to Meet World Coin Demand http://t.co/R7tjxZfTU3 Notable demand 4 physical gold amid falling prices $$ $GLD Jan 25, 2014
  • Is Momentum on Your Side? http://t.co/x0Z3r64Lix This strategy works well, if u can handle the volatility. 2007-2008 flameout. $$ $SPY $MDY Jan 25, 2014
  • How to Fine-Tune Your 401(k) Account http://t.co/0Q6N5NG0JP Worth a read if u have a 401(k). Consolidate, review allocations & savings % $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • That last article is one reason interest rates should remain LOW. Retiring baby boomers turning assets into streams of income. $$ $TLT $TBT Jan 25, 2014
  • Two Words: Private Equity http://t.co/E485SlKnn1 Private equity is still a risk asset, and goes through booms & busts, stick w/quality $$ Jan 25, 2014

?

US Politics & Policy

 

  • Christie Knew About Lane Closings on Bridge, Ex-Ally Says http://t.co/2YLuAOewGb If true, Chris Christie is toast, in the US & New Jersey $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Meanwhile, Back in America… http://t.co/J8LsjPtWNw It feels more like grief, Like the loss of something you never thought you’d lose $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • The Republican Presidential Contender Everyone?s Overlooking http://t.co/FVMViawn5b I find John Kasich 2b unlikely, but so are the others $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Only the Foolish Pay the 45% Estate Tax http://t.co/bnMuQp6P55 @ritholtz tells truth on estate tax, rewards accntnts, lawyers, actuaries $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Minimum Wage Laws Kill Jobs http://t.co/Rfc8Ef174z Sad but true. From first principles this should be obvious 2 all $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • The Unspoken Reason Obama Can’t Raise the Minimum Wage http://t.co/WlqxZtBxK3 Public opinion does not think poverty is important $$ $SPY Jan 29, 2014
  • No Babies, No Stimulus http://t.co/4995BoqbER @asymmetricinfo says it well; if your population gets older, policy should be more austere $$ Jan 26, 2014
  • How the U.S. Helped Win World War I http://t.co/X4nLdNHZcj Intensified our bad habit of meddling in conflicts that are not ours $$ Jan 25, 2014

Rest of the World

 

  • For Europe?s Youth, Minimum Wages Mean Minimal Employment http://t.co/T9ZfsM8oGu Youth unemployment is higher in nations w/minimum wages $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • El Nino May Return as Models Signal Warming of Pacific Ocean http://t.co/YAbrSpm3Tx El Nino – the adult version of the boogeyman $$ $SPY Jan 29, 2014
  • Snowden Nominated by Norway Lawmakers for Nobel Peace Prize http://t.co/PShW1dmpv9 Well deserved. He ruined his life 4 the good of all $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Slop-Bucket Reality for Aboriginals Missing Canada Boom http://t.co/pNftiUwjsZ Tribal cultures tend to fail in a capitalistic world $$ $SPY Jan 29, 2014
  • Japan Beyond Tokyo Luring BlackRock With Overseas Money http://t.co/r2YOyDyvMw Abenomics will fail, & Japan will b the first casualty $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • South Sudan Military Says Rebels Breach Cease-fire http://t.co/1YYa7rLVi7 After separating from the North, tribal animosities dominate $$ Jan 25, 2014

 

Other

 

  • Food Festival Pageants Open Up Competitions to Attract Candidates http://t.co/8Zcv61Znor Offering larger scholarships to food ambassadors $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Why National Football League players go from rich to broke http://t.co/oIsMpnxgis Injuries shorten careers & fancy living depletes the $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Super Bowl Prostitution Digitally Mapped by Data Trackers http://t.co/ivD5pKBVBM Wonder how many female slaves they can help to free? $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • The Employee of the Month Has a Battery http://t.co/zrmb0TgqS1 Minimum wage hikes r accelerating trend toward automation & fewer workers $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Bitcoin Figure Is Accused of Conspiring to Launder Money http://t.co/MuFqZLMABH Governments care if u r trading w/evil people $$ $TLT $SPY Jan 29, 2014
  • Infertility, Diabetes, Obesity and the Mystery of PCOS http://t.co/tylcTdjKET Messy. Overweight & Diabetes correlated with infertility $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • How You Might Be Tracked for Ads in a Post-Cookie World http://t.co/cYhBKa5oS7 Worth a read. After all, you want to protect your privacy $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Frigid Super Bowl Recalls Ref in Wet Suit With Few Penalties http://t.co/k9EeVc1WI3 When u r struggling 2 survive, few penalties issued $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Burning Question: Does Rinsing Fruit Make a Difference? http://t.co/Xr4lNk8lCq If organic, YES! If not organic, yes. $$ #microorganisms Jan 29, 2014
  • 4 things to know about Warren Buffett adviser http://t.co/jRlt81kULk Tracy Britt Cool is slow beginning of more centralized operations $$ Jan 28, 2014
  • Pregnant Texas Woman, Marlise Mu?oz, Removed From Life Support http://t.co/esBxk1xLdz Many people would have adopted the child $$ Jan 27, 2014
  • Maryland Shopping Mall Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, Police Say http://t.co/FGcrU7q3sn Biggest Mall near me. I’ve shopped at the Sears there $$ Jan 25, 2014

 

Wrong

  • Wrong: China PMI Ascends as Global Barometer With Market Sway http://t.co/gSD8QQewZy Should examine China’s financial system soundness $$ Feb 01, 2014
  • Dumb: Obama Announces New Retirement Accounts http://t.co/E20AA2F3vX Providing investment options 2 those who don’t invest is a waste $$ Jan 30, 2014
  • Weak arg: Congress Has Never Allowed Unemployment Insurance Extensions 2Expire With Long-Term Unemployment So High http://t.co/2IVPLXTDKr $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Wrong: Obama Offering Retirement-Savings Plan for Workers http://t.co/jpOEBTeT66 Getting poor people 2 invest in Treasuries is criminal $$ Jan 29, 2014
  • Wrong: Yellen Faces Test Bernanke Failed: Ease Bubbles http://t.co/ys4I4iOFWy That is not her inclination; she will inflate bubbles $$ $SPY Jan 29, 2014
  • Wrong: Senator Schumer pushes plan to undercut tea party http://t.co/cpN3PQKBid Far better to end gerrymandering http://t.co/uQx2ZdtSlF $$ Jan 27, 2014
  • Wrong: What?s Behind the Emerging-Market Meltdown http://t.co/FoG5yOAUpW Kooky Keynesian prescriptions: ruin long-run 2 help short-run $$ Jan 26, 2014

?

Comments, Replies & Retweets

  • Reading: Whatever happened to the feature which allowed us to customize news sources for stock portfolios? http://t.co/8sdnIF0FeS $$ $YHOO Feb 01, 2014
  • Whatever happened to the feature which allowed us to customize news sources for stock portfolios? http://t.co/vnmO5Hlhnt #YahooAnswers $$ Jan 31, 2014
  • Commented on StockTwits: Clever, thanks. http://t.co/YweRBtoTe8 Jan 29, 2014
  • RT @Pawelmorski: Financial media basically rubbish at covering EM. Jan 29, 2014
  • Commented on StockTwits: The word was “tend” not “must? http://t.co/r11cBZsTRp Jan 29, 2014
  • @TTownsend4969 Blessed are you, Tina Townsend. May you always be grateful for the work that Jesus has done in you. Jan 29, 2014
  • RT @M_C_Klein: .@mark_dow on EM: “Don?t try and fight the old school and their anachronistic biases. They are bigger than you are.” http://? Jan 28, 2014
  • @pdacosta @bySamRo Grateful I exited my closed-end EM funds in November prior to the first taper. Michael Pettis’ volatility machine runs $$ Jan 26, 2014
  • RT @StephenKing: Memo to Justin Bieber: For the young celeb, life is a banquet of free food. What they don’t tell you is that you are often? Jan 26, 2014

?

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Emerging Markets Submerge

 

  • Argentina to Ease Currency Controls After Devaluation http://t.co/pnDs7kHHDb Argentina finally does something smart that will stabilize $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Contagion Spreads in Emerging Markets as Crises Grow http://t.co/8tQg0o3wEA The Volatility Machine amplifies the tightening of the Fed $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Traders watching for signs to see if this sell off is the big one http://t.co/EujnhyTV3z Feels like Shanghai Feb2007, market up&then died $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Stocks Slide Toward Biggest Weekly Drop Since May http://t.co/AJ8JGDmZNl Volatility Machine kicks in, as emerging markets get hammered $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • China Moves to Avert Shadow Lender’s Default http://t.co/X6UnupKats China wants 2 avoid defaults, but what will they do when too big? $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • China Trust Products Gone Awry Evoke Soros Crisis Echoes http://t.co/sMEaYwiS61 Really sounds like China has a lot of Ponzi schemes going $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • China-Dumps-Dollars Hoax Not So Funny http://t.co/nvNpEgGK42 Remember the mercantilists lost. The neomercantilistic Chinese will lose big $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Argentine Default Chaos Relived as Blackouts Follow Looting http://t.co/EW7kZrzbOa & Argentine Peso Drops http://t.co/nD9qMSJxla A mess $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Fool’s Gold: Behind Nu Skin’s Chinese Subculture http://t.co/FiwozVHn6y What does the party think about a business that sounds cult-like? $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Rousseff Debuts at Davos to Assure Investors She Had Spurned http://t.co/YTr84l0eTg Shortly after Dilma elected, I sold Brazilian stocks $$ Jan 22, 2014

 

Energy

 

  • You can?t be sure of Shell ? or shale http://t.co/5n1PLW2msn Behemoth oil companies are like utilities &pay good dividends, meh cap gains $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Steady oil market at risk from sabotage, instability http://t.co/zHMkSoGlsD This is normal 4 the oil market; no reason to worry $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Dunno: Polar Pig Deserves Little Blame for Propane Shortage? http://t.co/ehK6qV9cRl I think corporations & individuals should stockpile $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Quoting Bible, using Joseph stockpiling grain in Egypt, neglects an interpretation rule: u can’t get doctrine from a historical passage $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Energy is gradually decoupling from economic growth http://t.co/gn09N1yIJH What is really meant is that we continue to get more efficient $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Valero forecasts 4Q results above expectations http://t.co/NIOthsoMsl Well run company has a surprise beat FD: + $VLO $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • European businesses rushing to find Iran bonanza http://t.co/2258VWxDG9 Greed of businesses overcoming ideology of political allies $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Megaprojects a megaheadache for oil bosses http://t.co/X3IXqYAVDa Big projects almost always tend to lose $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • How America?s Fracking Boom Helps 2Boost Treasuries Demand http://t.co/lyAXsrmTUo Funny, but when we ran deficits, foreigners bot r bonds $$ Jan 22, 2014

 

Market Impact

  • Gundlach Counting Rotting Homes Makes Subprime Bear http://t.co/SXM2uwxd0Z Gundlach moves on anticipating a bearish housing situation $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • One in Three Audits Fail, PCAOB Chief Auditor Says http://t.co/FCZMp7tGfF No surprise. Some accounting requires intelligence of actuaries $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • How to invest in the hottest stock sectors http://t.co/ZIaKwXmdma I’ve written about this b4. It works, but it flames out occasionally $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • 6 reasons your investments stink http://t.co/4NfbdyIMsm Good asset allocation considers time horizon, & asset class relative valuations $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • 6 flawed rules of personal finance http://t.co/nO5kOsmVsb Generally right, except you shouldn’t spend >4% of your lump sum per year $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Hard-to-Sell Junk Debt Lures Oaktree to JPMorgan http://t.co/MyJdNpw4Fo I respect Marks; there r no absolute values 2b had in junk debt $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • The mountain without Mohamed http://t.co/joadD6Wp2D Pimco is a “quant shop” which grew too large for the markets that it exploits $$ $TLT Jan 24, 2014
  • Goldman Stocks Strategist Fends Off ?Barrage? After Valuation Call http://t.co/nNCz1syP8m No one ever gets popular opposing a boom. $$ $SPY Jan 24, 2014
  • Bubbles as a deflationary escape chute http://t.co/hiDhyar3aD There are simpler & safer ways to run economic policy. Regulate banks hard $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Pressure mounts for corporates? cash piles to be put to work http://t.co/WBdUF52rz2 1 corporation’s cash is another corps short-term debt $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Floating Notes Debut in US as Cash Chases Fewer Securities http://t.co/9On051rHUu This will be good 4 money market funds in the short-run $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Why IBM Should Stop Buying Its Stock http://t.co/1gsVe7tLpS If you have highest price in the Dow Jones Industrial Avg u get more scrutiny $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Buffett Makes Millions Selling 500:1 Monkey-Linked Derivs http://t.co/6juOLsh2m3 @matt_levine Wrote about this 2 http://t.co/D3sirU5yWN $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Buffett Backs $1B NCAA Hoops Tournament Prize http://t.co/MLvgHtx7NX Almost no way that Buffett can lose here; perfect bracket impossible $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • US Bank Risk Guidelines Would ?Accelerate? Enforcement http://t.co/DaeYf9zoje I’m not sure this will work, but it will bulk up compliance $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • CFOs Use Face Time, Plant Tours to Court Shareholders http://t.co/7CHts6TqdO This isn’t new, but it is wise to build goodwill w/investors $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Why earnings could grow http://t.co/Zmwatc3v87 h/t: @ritholtz rising profitability, overseas biz, wise cap allocation, reasonable val’ns $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Why ‘Peak-Earnings Models’ Are Nonsense http://t.co/Sa3uAci0pj Let’s see where actual unadjusted earnings are, & see if they are growing $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Pimco CEO El-Erian Resigns http://t.co/Bl05w8h5Tn U have 2 remember that Pimco is a “quant shop.” They follow their models, not people $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Gold-Price Banks Meet Amid Regulatory Pressure http://t.co/2W5hTdfKpm Post-LIBOR probe it’s in their interest to solve it quietly if poss $$ Jan 22, 2014

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Rest of the World

 

  • Iceland Traps Hedge Funds in Refusal to Discuss Bank Claims http://t.co/kVUcp2fXvf Iceland delays claims from the crisis, cares 4 people $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Merger Bonanza Hits Finland as Economic Pain Becomes Asset http://t.co/FXCOFmQABx Finnish assets r cheap, & other firms buy them up $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Sochi Security Slalom Shows Terror Risk With Putin on Guard http://t.co/ij243mnvCN Russia will try hard, but will they prevent terrorism? $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Investors Seek Yields in Europe, but Analysts Warn of Risk http://t.co/a3eXCJjgqc Seek a margin of safety & don’t reach 4 yield anywhere $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Europe, Facing Economic Pain, May Ease Climate Rules http://t.co/2aK9oLpKg6 What a hoot! The Eurocrats turn their back on global warming $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • West Explores Plan B for Forces in Afghanistan http://t.co/9cKJcmzbyt If Afghans don’t want the US, we should leave; fractious place $$ $TLT Jan 24, 2014
  • Can Rising Property Values Spur Wary Japanese to Spend? http://t.co/fsrr5ArGtP Dangerous game, at the end 2much debt & 2 little cash flow $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Do the Math in Bid to Enter Workforce http://t.co/afrV0U0fd4 Think of Dark Ages where 25% were supported by others $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Olympics host Sochi remains a volatile region http://t.co/B8gwlvHrOR A great test 4 Russia; how well can u protect a perfect target $$ $SPY Jan 22, 2014
  • Abe Eyes Land-Price Reflation to Spur Construction Boom http://t.co/1QMMntydBq But Abe thinks he will succeed in creating property bubble $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Pimco Dropping Linkers Calls Time on Abenomics Inflation Target http://t.co/r37SBu12G5 Pimco doesn’t believe Abenomics will inflate much $$ Jan 22, 2014

 

Companies & Industries


?? Fed May Protect Warren Buffett as a National Treasure http://t.co/zTdv5t6tTz Unlike most, Buffett has more than enough cash 2 survive $$ Jan 25, 2014

  • T-Mobile Answers Call of Underbanked as Banks Fail to Pick Up http://t.co/sAl7vhJJlP New cheap way 2do payments w/o a bank account $$ $TMUS Jan 24, 2014
  • eBay CEO Says Icahn PayPal Spinoff Makes No Sense http://t.co/4bKyeBMODa Then rename the company Paypal,& spin off $EBAY . $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • What Bankers Need to Know About the Target Breach http://t.co/L6XXJaFmVY Detailed; explains how credit data captured, stored & sent $$ $TGT Jan 24, 2014
  • Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann on Being a Dad &Running a Company http://t.co/exLTi0CLyi The “Glass Ceiiing” Means u care about your family $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Madoff Haunts Yeshiva as University Slides to Junk http://t.co/ZbNeoudT1k Wise 2 avoid board conflicts where board member invests 4 board $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Diamond Foods CFO on Recovering From a Crisis http://t.co/aVFn9zioB9 America offers unlimited second chances, but clean things up or else $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Dan Loeb’s Third Point Discloses Stake in Dow Chemical http://t.co/2RuMuNEKjK Separate petrochemicals from specialty chemicals $$ $DOW #easy Jan 22, 2014
  • Buffett Leans on 29-Year-Old Cool to Oversee Problems http://t.co/NfABsLkBzD The start of a gradual centralization of $BRK-B businesses $$ Jan 21, 2014

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US Politics & Policy

 

  • Thrill of Obama Home Visits Fades for Americans Cited at Events http://t.co/x0aWw6ddia Change seems like spare change or loose change now $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Why Uncle Sam Can’t Guarantee College Grads a Job http://t.co/oM0htsJcLk College is debauchery, not job preparation; end the subsidies $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Tor Anonymity Software vs. the National Security Agency http://t.co/mhBGgZPZyS Very cool, let TOR hide private communications from Gov’t $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • The Sleepiness of a Hollow Legend http://t.co/d2NRpymDBP Peggy Noonan on State of the Union Address. I never listen to them; not worth it $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • Davos pusillanimity watch, LGBT rights edition http://t.co/5BkuxGdANL vs Romans 1:28-32 http://t.co/jFOUPLWLgF Jan 24, 2014
  • Resolved: Obamacare Is Now Beyond Rescue http://t.co/SXiG685Z2r Idea is most of the improvements won’t survive the necessary cost cuts $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • NSA?s Spying on Phone Calls Illegal: US Privacy Board http://t.co/ZStT1WAiwT Should not be written off; this aids a healthy debate $$ $SPY Jan 24, 2014

 

US Healthcare

 

  • More Women Seeking Medical Help to Get Pregnant http://t.co/8ICRmFNKx3 Natural result of delaying marriage, or not marrying at all $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Where Have All the Uninsured Gone? http://t.co/0jlpsHORUj They don’t want insurance. They will take their risks & pay as they need to $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • How Qualified Is Your Doctor? http://t.co/XkAxYmjsA6 Hard 2 tell, is certification busy work or real testing? $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Circumcision Coverage Comes Into Focus http://t.co/rZ24KWxvGb One of those issues where if someone has a view, it tends 2b polarized $$ Jan 22, 2014

 

Other

 

  • How Real is Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’? Stephen Wolfram and Peter Norvig Weigh In http://t.co/IgJG3bdrYr AI will not get self referential ideas $$ Jan 25, 2014
  • New York Officials Arrest Man in Lufthansa Heist http://t.co/toMAGIz5ck It took 35 years, but finally an arrest 4 the ’78 heist & others $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Card-Theft Software Grew in Internet’s Dark Alleys http://t.co/cvTgCMC0lA The losses occurred from Target missing hacks of credit cards $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Give the guy a second chance. Yes he blew it once b4, but he is smart and now knows what the limitations r http://t.co/6Fbp1jc6EJ $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Can a Disgraced Trader Get a Job in Academia? http://t.co/qjoP4duPQL He deserves a second chance; that is what makes America great $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Vital Signs: More Households Don?t Own a Car http://t.co/HBlc8L9z1V More options available 4 getting around & owning a car is costly $$ Jan 22, 2014
  • Top employers for flexible and work-at-home jobs http://t.co/UGz6F2XMae Home work getting more common, challenges managing the dispersed $$ Jan 21, 2014

Wrong

  • Wrong: This 100-year-old idea could end San Francisco?s class war http://t.co/Wtxk7wwsvH Sorry, land tax would get passed to renters $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Dunno: Don’t Care About Deficits? Vote Republican http://t.co/1BKNS2m80j The t-party cares about deficits & they r growing in the GOP $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • Wrong: Huge cash pile puts recovery in hands of the few http://t.co/8rRHHFpZJN Most of the cash collateralizes derivatives, etc. Not free $$ Jan 24, 2014

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Comments, Replies, Retweets

  • Roddy Boyd finds alleged Ponzi schemer http://t.co/GRBY0dqLqv What a guy, Roddy Boyd. $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • @footnoted @theofrancis @BoydRoddy His skills r considerable, as r his ethics. $$ Jan 24, 2014
  • @pmarca I’ve said that, but less colorfully; the market reflects all information acted upon, including errors. $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • @maoxian Good point, will have to consider that. But board should not have members investing for them $$ Jan 23, 2014
  • Wrong: UBS Tells Davos Leverage Ratio Over-Reliance Threatens Stability http://t.co/DZ5gfHmXXK After a crisis from overleveraged banks? $$ Jan 22, 2014

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Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Posted on by David Merkel

Rest of the World

 

  • Iraq Is New Schism for Saudis in Strained Alliance With West http://t.co/WiNnlXIhzI This piles on top of Iran & Syria; Sunni-Shi’a divide $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Hollande Deplores Magazine Splash of Affair With Actress http://t.co/xVSPTk9f3r Many enjoy scandals, even if they say nothing is wrong $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Surprise drop in euro zone inflation shows deflation risk http://t.co/BE8iIa4ENn Economic conditions are so weak, should we b surprised $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Area Evacuated After Fiery Derailment in Canada http://t.co/fYOHtW5ZOy Pipelines are environmentally safer; send the memo to Obama $$ $XLE Jan 09, 2014
  • South Sudan Peace Talks Falter http://t.co/OVw1hj1fuM Africa is essentially tribal, which does not mix well w/democracy, most of the time $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Good News and Bad News About Global Inequality http://t.co/t01kegmAL3 Many non-economic indicators show inequality is declining $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Rich Danes Face Benefit Cuts as Universal Welfare Abandoned http://t.co/6k9Y0HJukb Non-universal entitlements tend2get viewed as welfare $$ Jan 08, 2014
  • Bond Tab for Biggest Economies Seen at $7.43T in ?14 http://t.co/Zq3VTSJAKi The debts will roll over, the only question is the yield $$ $TLT Jan 06, 2014
  • Euro Jobless Scourge Seen Defying Leaders? Growth Pledge http://t.co/32L7Hx2qsQ 12%+ unemployment &little improvement, makes US look good $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • Dirtiest Coal?s Rebirth in Europe Flattens Medieval Towns http://t.co/w6KWbpzzLr Trading nuclear power for lignite seems a bad trade $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • Shadow Banking Risks Exposed by Local Debt Audit http://t.co/KzlEW24cbH The problem is that it is tough to count all the opaque debts $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • China?s Runaway Train Is Running Out of Track http://t.co/IAHF6JCUta! The Chinese debt bubble nears its demise, what will Chinese govt do $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • South Sudan Peace Talks Start as Army Pushes Back Rebel Assault http://t.co/aqwnwYxEhX Hard to have peace talks while pushing back rebels $$ Jan 05, 2014

 

Companies & Industries

 

  • Who Wins, Who Loses if the U.S. Starts Exporting Oil? http://t.co/vN2BTl7kwE Missed the effect on the commodity petrochemical industry $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Dish Seeks to End $2.2B Bid for LightSquared Asset http://t.co/VjxnNgBsTV Ergen wants to end the deal b/c LightSquared missed milestones $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Target Data Breach Much Worse Than First Thought http://t.co/GnaR3VwHeu 70M customers had home & email addresses & phone #s stolen $TGT $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Intel Has Its Eyes Fixed on Networking http://t.co/AGlmAad3rY Intel thinks they have 4 openings 4 networks to aid the telecom companies $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Lenovo Dominated Worst-Ever World PC Market in 2013 http://t.co/GhmqSwuIGf Lenovo has the lead in a big but shrinking business $$ $HPQ $SPT Jan 11, 2014
  • IBM Doubles Down on Watson http://t.co/op7SD7gIiS Watson is a genius, but it takes lots of effort to make the four areas of strength work $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Wells Fargo Creates SWAT Team to Keep Loans In-House http://t.co/xxyrsqJcr6 Putting loans on the balance sheet? How quaint. $$ FD: + $WFC Jan 09, 2014
  • Americans Are Eating More Velveeta, and Now There’s Not Enough http://t.co/1fqq5dxvgC As a cook, contemplating this makes me queasy $$ $KFT Jan 08, 2014
  • How Companies Face Up to Human Trafficking Risk http://t.co/qE4zzQ8bve Very difficult to get all slave labor out of int’l supply chains $$ Jan 08, 2014
  • Why business schools charge so much and pay their teachers so little http://t.co/dBepTcQ2ba They’re amoral bastards w/a profit motive $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Bank of America ramps up credit card loans http://t.co/UXRDzeM4Xp If the big banks r starting to open the lending spigots — inflation? $$ Jan 08, 2014

 

US Politics & Policy

 

  • Taxes Have Congress Avoiding Roads Bill as Money Runs Low http://t.co/x2UDQbheq7 Let the states prioritize their road construction/repair $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • What Liberals Don?t Get About Single Payer http://t.co/MaQQZQh2kM Insurers a small part of costs, Drugs, Medical equipment & Doctors big $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Christie and the IRS http://t.co/dWHZskMLHU Contrast the Governor’s contrition with Obama’s lack thereof; tho if Christie lied he is dead $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • HARP: How the Mortgage Program Has Panned Out http://t.co/ZDN94uFdsg It does leave the taxpayer w/a contingent liability 4 defaults $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Puerto Ricans Flock North Away From Battered Economy http://t.co/LhchTMo3Q0 Self-reinforcing cycle as better off Puerto Ricans come to US $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • How the War on Poverty Was Lost http://t.co/uujlzrRkDp Goal was give fellow citizens a fair chance to develop their own capacities $$ #fail Jan 11, 2014
  • Chris Christie Is Not a Bully. These Guys Were http://t.co/pxYg6RBYCs John Adams, RFK, LBJ, Andrew Jackson, Nixon hurt political enemies $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Millionaires’ Club: For First Time, Most Lawmakers are Worth $1 Million-Plus http://t.co/PMBoM3NyJA A million ain’t worth what it used 2b $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Clickable Consent at Risk in Internet Privacy Lawsuits http://t.co/KFghV2XJ4s How much do u give away accepting information use policy? $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Poverty level under Obama breaks 50-year record http://t.co/87feDKj7SN Be sure & give Congress, Bureaucracy & the Federal Reserve blame 2 $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • How Not to Regulate http://t.co/isrkmSd0l4 Good regulations r holistic & ignore special pleading from politically connected entities $$ $SPY Jan 08, 2014
  • Congress Makes NASA Finish Useless $350 Million Structure http://t.co/QlvScdhRab If we can’t make easy cuts, hard cuts will never b made $$ Jan 08, 2014
  • Cull the Stupid Tax Breaks http://t.co/j2UWBPZkwe Mostly we need to eliminate tax breaks that are not generally available to all business $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • Study Shows Fracking Is Bad for Babies http://t.co/i8KWfQpO5t Studies shouldn’t be released until peer review complete; statistics abuse $$ Jan 05, 2014
  • Darrell Issa’s Mischievous Postal Reform Bill http://t.co/YtisT8Yjey Eliminates Saturday delivery to restore COLAs for military retirees $$ Jan 05, 2014

 

US Economics

 

  • Is Jobless Rate Really Falling? http://t.co/pF2yH72N2B I find it dubious that falling labor participation rate is due to natural reasons $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Payrolls Rise Less Than Forecast; US Jobless Rate at 6.7% http://t.co/ux3LHxbobh We need to have a different H/L #, U-3 is 2 unreliable $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Highlights From the December Jobs Report http://t.co/3ZGjwho4Pv The December civilian labor force participation rate was a low 62.8% $$ $TLT Jan 11, 2014
  • Best Year Since 2007, Even Better 2014 http://t.co/CKxqxhYHbd Still haven’t made it back to 2000-2007 levels, projects better 2014 $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • What Do You Call 12,000 Economists Trudging Through Snow? http://t.co/xX7zlqcMne Not enough snow 😉 $$ Jan 05, 2014
  • Arthur Laffer Interview http://t.co/pKFx0aTPFV Difficult 2 deal w/a paradigm shift; inflation not realistic during deleveraging $$ Jan 04, 2014

 

Market Impact

 

  • When Does A Bubble Spell Trouble? http://t.co/pq9hFV9ywz Many transformative technologies get overvalued b4 producing real cash returns $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Looking for Alternatives to Bonds http://t.co/2n1ehNPQgu Until negative part of the credit cycle bites it works; keep one eye on the exit $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Skagen Says Ignore Wall Street, Bet on Emerging Markets http://t.co/pYIwqoL7kD Alternative POV, but emerging mkts do bad amid $$ tightening Jan 11, 2014
  • 10 Reasons the Gold Bugs Lost Their Shirts http://t.co/MroSlPib0A @ritholtz writes a great piece on investing in an mistitled article $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Older Americans Shun Retirement at 65 for Risky Startups http://t.co/cvhiw8zRZC I’ve run into these in PE, the desperation can be felt $$ Jan 08, 2014
  • Bull Market Has Years Left for Shaoul on S&P 500 Values http://t.co/pOWNFznDSG Argument is that breadth leads to long market rallies $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • Wall Street’s Reading List http://t.co/jvhIzbPtLC Great list, but add in Michael Pettis’ The Great Rebalancing http://t.co/C4jKcrUNHV $$ Jan 06, 2014

 

Other

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  • Marriage Makes You Rich and Stupid http://t.co/9mIBOTCz44 Another factor here is that the productivity of stay-at-home spouse isn’t taxed $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • The Open-Office Trap http://t.co/nnjZnr8ycb Open offices promote distraction, which reduces productivity; it takes courage to resist it $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • To Stop Procrastinating, Look to Science of Mood Repair http://t.co/Ruw3YnrcvW Just get started, avoid a pity party, look to the future $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Website helps students find freelance gigs, avoid unpaid internships http://t.co/NYbdKlHHJs Interesting stuff, sent it to my college kids $$ Jan 08, 2014
  • Payout May Come for an ABA Team That Is Long Gone http://t.co/qs8Fb6yl8v Half Billion comes 37 years later 2 owners of marginal ABA team $$ Jan 08, 2014
  • Frigid Air Threatens Coldest US Weather in Two Decades http://t.co/7xtE649g4l Things are extra cold in the Northern Hemisphere on average $$ Jan 06, 2014
  • Noah?s Ark Risks Collapse Without Bond Buyers by February http://t.co/0eBaSP8x1I It would be sad to see Noah’s Ark underwater 😉 $$ Jan 05, 2014
  • The Scandal Bowl: Tar Heels Football, Academic Fraud, and Implicit Racism http://t.co/J2CERTqxYa Phony classes &grades 4 football players $$ Jan 05, 2014

 

Information Security

 

  • Security Experts Pull Out of RSA Conference in NSA Protest http://t.co/Cyk8yREEVU & they should, y support those who compromise security? $$ Jan 11, 2014
  • Is the NSA spying on Congress? http://t.co/FIeYlyIVUV Not long, worth a read; NSA responses to Sanders and Grayson indicate yes. $$ Jan 04, 2014

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Wrong

  • Wrong: Federal Probe Targets Banks Over Bonds http://t.co/ODCDpENNQo Vacuous, the bond market requires that you research what u buy $$ $AGG Jan 09, 2014
  • Wrong: Why great CEOs ignore their stock price http://t.co/MrxV9cKI6N Great CEOs use their stock price to guide buybacks & acquisitions $$ Jan 09, 2014
  • Wrong: Is China Losing Hong Kong? http://t.co/ZOtl520jK9 I don’t think the Party cares much over whether those in Hong Kong are happy $$ Jan 06, 2014

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Comments, Replies & Retweets

  • RT @MacFarlaneNews: EPIC FAILURE- U.S. Navy accidentally sends reporter its strategy memo for dodging his FOIA request cc: @gregorykorte ht? Jan 08, 2014
  • RT @OracleofWallSt: @MatthewPhillips Myth: companies investing more cash in buybacks and not reinvesting. This chart debunks this view. htt? Jan 08, 2014
  • @hblodget @MatthewPhillips How much of the cash is collateral for derivatives, and other lending agreements? Different world today. Jan 08, 2014
  • @Mr_Berman Brainy, and cool-looking for his era. We all age. 🙂 Jan 07, 2014
  • I review more books than the above personalities. I nominate The Great Rebalancing by Michael Pettis…. http://t.co/4zknuYQS16 Jan 06, 2014
  • Bitcoin, like a promoted penny stock, is easily manipulated, because there is little intrinsic value http://t.co/5qyxzDVU68 Jan 06, 2014
  • The big question is when deleveraging stops, and individuals and banks start borrowing… http://t.co/ZQLyY5kc4L Jan 04, 2014

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