I think we will see $50 on AKAM sometime this year.
This bull run was triggered by their deal with Netflix last week.
This bull run was triggered by their deal with Netflix last week.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Google's new approach to China
After the Chinese break in, Google has a new approach to China.
(source: Google)
Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident--albeit a significant one--was something quite different.
First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses--including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors--have been similarly targeted. We are currently in the process of notifying those companies, and we are also working with the relevant U.S. authorities.
Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves.
Third, as part of this investigation but independent of the attack on Google, we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties. These accounts have not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users' computers.
We have already used information gained from this attack to make infrastructure and architectural improvements that enhance security for Google and for our users. In terms of individual users, we would advise people to deploy reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on their computers, to install patches for their operating systems and to update their web browsers. Always be cautious when clicking on links appearing in instant messages and emails, or when asked to share personal information like passwords online. You can read more here about our cyber-security recommendations. People wanting to learn more about these kinds of attacks can read this Report to Congress (PDF) by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (see p. 163-), as well as a related analysis (PDF) prepared for the Commission, Nart Villeneuve's blog and this presentation on the GhostNet spying incident.
We have taken the unusual step of sharing information about these attacks with a broad audience not just because of the security and human rights implications of what we have unearthed, but also because this information goes to the heart of a much bigger global debate about freedom of speech. In the last two decades, China's economic reform programs and its citizens' entrepreneurial flair have lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty. Indeed, this great nation is at the heart of much economic progress and development in the world today.
We launched Google.cn in January 2006 in the belief that the benefits of increased access to information for people in China and a more open Internet outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor some results. At the time we made clear that "we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China."
These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered--combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web--have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.
The decision to review our business operations in China has been incredibly hard, and we know that it will have potentially far-reaching consequences. We want to make clear that this move was driven by our executives in the United States, without the knowledge or involvement of our employees in China who have worked incredibly hard to make Google.cn the success it is today. We are committed to working responsibly to resolve the very difficult issues raised.
(source: Google)
Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident--albeit a significant one--was something quite different.
First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses--including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors--have been similarly targeted. We are currently in the process of notifying those companies, and we are also working with the relevant U.S. authorities.
Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves.
Third, as part of this investigation but independent of the attack on Google, we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties. These accounts have not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users' computers.
We have already used information gained from this attack to make infrastructure and architectural improvements that enhance security for Google and for our users. In terms of individual users, we would advise people to deploy reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on their computers, to install patches for their operating systems and to update their web browsers. Always be cautious when clicking on links appearing in instant messages and emails, or when asked to share personal information like passwords online. You can read more here about our cyber-security recommendations. People wanting to learn more about these kinds of attacks can read this Report to Congress (PDF) by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (see p. 163-), as well as a related analysis (PDF) prepared for the Commission, Nart Villeneuve's blog and this presentation on the GhostNet spying incident.
We have taken the unusual step of sharing information about these attacks with a broad audience not just because of the security and human rights implications of what we have unearthed, but also because this information goes to the heart of a much bigger global debate about freedom of speech. In the last two decades, China's economic reform programs and its citizens' entrepreneurial flair have lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty. Indeed, this great nation is at the heart of much economic progress and development in the world today.
We launched Google.cn in January 2006 in the belief that the benefits of increased access to information for people in China and a more open Internet outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor some results. At the time we made clear that "we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China."
These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered--combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web--have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.
The decision to review our business operations in China has been incredibly hard, and we know that it will have potentially far-reaching consequences. We want to make clear that this move was driven by our executives in the United States, without the knowledge or involvement of our employees in China who have worked incredibly hard to make Google.cn the success it is today. We are committed to working responsibly to resolve the very difficult issues raised.
Never Lose Money
I mentioned Warren Buffett's amazing record not too long ago.
See the graph? That's someone who "never loses money".
Buffett: "Rule#1 is never lose money. Rule#2. is never forget Rule#1."
Sounds impractical and ridiculous to most people.
That's because there's something wrong with their own approach and that is why the rules don't resonate with them.
If your approach and methods are correct, the rules should make sense to you.
Whether you invest or trade, your account should steadily increase with time, if your stock market approach indeed follows the rule#1.
So...if you are looking for help, seek those who have some sort of stock market record, preferably public, that shows consistent increase over time.
You won't get access to people like Warren Buffett or George Soros, but there are few bloggers out there you can seek advice from (i.e. Jim Cramer, etc.).
Or, if you want to get much more bang for your buck, get my system.
St. Patrick's Day - March 17th
In 432 AD he went back to Ireland as a priest. He tried to convert the Irish people from a Pagan polytheistic religion that worshipped the sun and the moon to Christianity. He also created and taught at many schools along Ireland's west coast. One of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of teaching and spreading God's word he died on March 17th 461 AD. Soon after his death the country of Ireland decided to remember his death with a day of his own and thus St. Patrick's Day was born.
Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike. Many people, regardless of ethnic background, wear green-coloured clothing and items. Traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched, usually affectionately.
Seattle and other cities paint the traffic stripe of their parade routes green. Chicago dyes its river green and has done so since 1962 when sewer workers used green dye to check for sewer discharges and had the idea to turn the river green for St. Patrick's Day. Originally 100 pounds of vegetable dye was used to turn the river green for a whole week but now only forty pounds of dye is used and the colour only lasts for several hours. Indianapolis also dyes its main canal green. Savannah dyes its downtown city fountains green. Missouri University of Science and Technology - St Pat's Board Alumni paint 12 city blocks kelly green with mops before the annual parade. In Jamestown, New York, the Chadakoin River (a small tributary that connects Conewango Creek with its source at Chautauqua Lake) is dyed green each year.
(source: Wikipedia)
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, the cost of our manual is being drastically reduced to $197, through the link HERE. The offer expires on March 17, 2010.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Signs of Confidence in World Economy
The credit market is flowing freely again.
source:
Companies are aggressively borrowing in the debt markets once again—a sign of renewed confidence in the world economy following recent fears that struggling European countries could have difficulty financing their budget deficits.
In the U.S., bond sales by companies such as Bank of America Corp. and GMAC Financial Services are on pace to conclude their busiest week since the beginning of the year. In Europe, borrowing by companies so far in March is already more than 60% of February's totals.
"It tells us that financial liquidity is very much on the rise," said John Lonski, chief economist at Moody's Investors ...
Companies are aggressively borrowing in the debt markets once again—a sign of renewed confidence in the world economy following recent fears that struggling European countries could have difficulty financing their budget deficits.
In the U.S., bond sales by companies such as Bank of America Corp. and GMAC Financial Services are on pace to conclude their busiest week since the beginning of the year. In Europe, borrowing by companies so far in March is already more than 60% of February's totals.
"It tells us that financial liquidity is very much on the rise," said John Lonski, chief economist at Moody's Investors ...
Bank of America took her parrot
And she didn't default on her loan.
PITTSBURGH—Bank of America Corp. apologized after its local contractor entered the home of a mortgage borrower when she was away, cut off utilities, padlocked the door and confiscated her pet parrot, Luke.
Angela Iannelli, 46 years old, alleged in a lawsuit Monday that the October incident—which separated her from her 11-year-old parrot for more than a week—caused so much "emotional distress" that she needed a prescription medication for anxiety.
In her civil suit filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Ms. Iannelli said a contractor hired by Bank of America entered her house about 15 miles north of Pittsburgh in mid-October when she was away. According to the suit, in an "invasion" of the home, the contractor stopped utility services, cut water lines and electrical wiring, damaged flooring and finishings, poured antifreeze into sinks and toilets, and "stole" the parrot.
Ms. Iannelli, who owns a diner and works part-time as a bartender, said Bank of America representatives weren't helpful when she called in to protest. They first denied knowing where the parrot was, and later told her she could go to the offices of the contractor, about 80 miles away, to retrieve the bird herself. Ms. Iannelli said bank representatives also told her they were "tired" of hearing from her, hung up on her and advised her to seek help from the police....
VRX breakout
Remember this one?
That's the stock pick that got Cara Goldenberg a dinner date with Warren Buffett.
Breakout/Support at 39.
That's the stock pick that got Cara Goldenberg a dinner date with Warren Buffett.
Breakout/Support at 39.
An 80% Chance You'll Fail
The Motley Fools don't have the best returns and their stock picks aren't the best out there, but they're funny guys. And they are correct about 'day trading'. But of course, you knew that already.
(source: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2010/03/10/an-80-chance-youll-fail.aspx)
Day trading can be hard to resist. The fast-paced action, the instant gratification, and all those tales you've heard of people getting rich from minute-by-minute stock trades can all be potent lures. Unfortunately, the hard evidence suggests that most day traders end up deep in the red.
Day trading can be hard to resist. The fast-paced action, the instant gratification, and all those tales you've heard of people getting rich from minute-by-minute stock trades can all be potent lures. Unfortunately, the hard evidence suggests that most day traders end up deep in the red.
A few years ago, well-respected researchers Brad Barber and Terrance Odean teamed up with a Taiwanese team to study day trading in the active Taiwan stock market. They found that day traders were responsible for more than 20% of total volume in the market. (Earlier estimates suggest that day traders have generated around 15% of Nasdaq volume in the past.)
According to Barber and Odean, "Heavy day traders earn gross profits, but their profits are not sufficient to cover transaction costs" such as trading commissions. In starker terms, "in the typical six-month period, more than eight out of 10 day traders lose money."
A risky proposition
The researchers did find that a rather small segment of day traders do earn real profits -- but there's no guarantee that you'd be in that group if you followed suit.
The researchers did find that a rather small segment of day traders do earn real profits -- but there's no guarantee that you'd be in that group if you followed suit.
According to a 2003 research paper that studied day-trading activity, 36% of traders earned a net profit ($197,000 for the most successful one), while 64% lost money ($748,000 for the least successful one). Only 20% managed to net at least $5,000.
In short, day trading involves considerable effort and huge risks, all in exchange for the overwhelming chance that you'll lose money, or score a slim gain at best. Long-term buy-and-hold investing isn't nearly as exciting, but its rewards can be far greater.
To illustrate, I've rounded up the 20-year performance of several well-known stock names, most of which would have boosted your wealth considerably with far less risk:
Company | CAPS Rating (out of 5) | 20-Year Avg. Annual Return | $10,000 Would Turn Into |
|---|---|---|---|
Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) | **** | 14.3% | $145,700 |
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) | **** | 12.9% | $113,400 |
Deere (NYSE: DE) | **** | 12.9% | $112,300 |
ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) | ***** | 10.6% | $74,300 |
3M (NYSE: MMM) | **** | 10.3% | $71,400 |
IBM (NYSE: IBM) | **** | 9.9% | $66,000 |
Disney (NYSE: DIS) | **** | 7.5% | $42,800 |
Eastman Kodak | * | (5.1%) | $3,500 |
Data: Yahoo! Finance, Motley Fool CAPS.
As the table shows, you can fare far better seeking solid, long-term performances than chancy short-term gains. The best investors trade not over days, but over decades.
Sunpower wins a huge contract
Southern California Edison, an Edison International company, and SunPower Corp. announced today that SunPower has won a contract to provide solar technology for generating up to 200 megawatts, or 80 percent, of the solar power capacity needed for the utility’s large solar photovoltaic installation program.
During the next five years, SCE plans to install, own and operate 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity, most of it on otherwise unused large warehouse rooftops. The large one- to two-million-watt solar installations will be connected directly to neighborhood distribution circuits where the leased rooftops are located.
(source: Reuters)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Cisco claims to have revolutionary device
that will change the internet world forever.
It is being unveiled right now, alledgedly.
It is being unveiled right now, alledgedly.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Walt Disney Co.
Deutsche Bank analyst Doug Mitchelson reiterated a buy rating on shares of Walt Disney Co. (DIS) on Mar. 7.
The studio's "Alice in Wonderland," the Lewis Carroll tale re-imagined in 3-D by director Tim Burton, made $116.3 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales for over the Mar. 5-7 weekend, the sixth-biggest opening ever. The movie also set other records: the biggest debut for March and for a 3-D film, the largest opening weekend for the year, and the best-ever Imax opening, Hollywood.com Box-Office said.
In a Mar. 7 note, Mitchelson said the film grossed $210 million worldwide, leading him to a "very preliminary" ultimate profit estimate of $200 million. The analyst noted that it typically takes two to three weekends to make an accurate forecast.
"In our view, this kicks off a content recovery for Disney, which has been in an 18-month dry spell with duds like 'Bedtime Stories', 'G-Force' and 'A Christmas Carol', and overcoming tough comps against 'High School Musical'," the analyst wrote. "Looking forward, we believe Disney's line-up has as much assurance of success as the movie business allows, with films like 'Toy Story 3' (June 18) this summer, 'Cars 2' (July) and 'Pirates 4' (July) [in 2011], and two original Pixar movies in 2012, the first time 2 Pixar movies will be released in a single year".
He also noted that new studio management has "aggressively addressed costs ... including essentially shutting down Miramax". Mitchelson said he believes Disney's stock has "significant upside".
The analyst has a $39 price target on Disney shares.
(source: Businessweek)
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Greener grass
This cautionary tale has been passed around the internet a zillion times and we just saw it again:
Sometimes you can reach too far!
And when you find yourself over-extended and you're stuck in a situation that you can't get out of,
there is one thing you should always remember.......
Not everyone who shows up......
Is there to help you!!!!
Sometimes you can reach too far!
And when you find yourself over-extended and you're stuck in a situation that you can't get out of,
there is one thing you should always remember.......
Not everyone who shows up......
Is there to help you!!!!
Smallcap COWN ready to launch
I talked about COWN not too long ago.
It was just upgraded to 'buy' this morning, is what I'm reading.
The stock is poised to move to $6.50 .
Then $9.
It was just upgraded to 'buy' this morning, is what I'm reading.
The stock is poised to move to $6.50 .
Then $9.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Time to shut the bears out
All dips should be bought.
You may not even get a chance.
I said unemployment, for months and months now, would turn around fast.
Lo and behold, last Friday we start to see how fast it really is turning around.
And it will only pick up speed from this point on.
Ignore at your own peril.
Stocks I like going forward, for both fundamental and technical reasons:
VMW
CRM
AMZN
DIS
AKAM
DWA
WFC
Friday, March 5, 2010
The job market is about to turn
WASHINGTON— The U.S. economy shed fewer jobs than expected in February and the unemployment rate was steady at 9.7% despite stormy weather on the East Coast last month, which the government said may have temporarily hit payrolls and work hours.
The Labor Department, which carried out its surveys at the same time that the snowstorms battered the East Coast, said in a report Friday that nonfarm payrolls fell by 36,000 compared with a revised 26,000 drop in January.
Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires were expecting payrolls to fall by 75,000 mainly because of the severe weather. The January figure was ...
Thursday, March 4, 2010
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