Articles

The CNBC crowd knows nothing.

Congress, looking for sources of revenue, happened upon an extraordinary loophole enjoyed by the extraordinarily rich private equity and hedge fund managers, effectively allowing these managers to pay taxes on their earnings at a 15% rate. Pretty nice for people making hundreds of millions a year. While this looks like a simple fix, long overdue, there isn’t much support for it in Congress – on either side of the aisle!

I am bullish on the market, and unabashedly so. Yet, when I see someone hype everything, it starts to remind me of 1999.

Today, Rafat Ali posted in his PaidContent.org newsletter that video site Break.com received $21 million in funding. Okay, seems a bit high but maybe it’s true. He then went on to say that the site reports receiving 17 million unique visitors per month. 17 MILLION UNIQUE VISITORS. That caught my attention.

When the head of homeland security goes on TV and says we are in a period of increased risk of terrorism here in the United States people should take note. This guy is a man of understatement, and such a warning should be given real weight. America has gone to sleep again -- we have a very hard time staying focused on anything. Can you imagine the impact on the market of another big attack, not to speak of the horror for those of us who are attacked.

This article is going to seem cold, and maybe it is. But lately, as foreclosure rates have been soaring I’ve been hearing about quite a few politicians who want to help borrowers who got into their head with their mortgages. Many have ARMs and the rates on these have been increasing, making it tough for some to meet their payments. Across the country, mortgage delinquencies have been climbing sharply. The government should be bailing out these people en masse. Most knew what they were getting into and chose to ignore their situation or the market.

The markets here, abroad, and far abroad are on fire. The good times are here, and we can all participate. Just jump in, buy any stock, and your dreams will be fulfilled. Ask anyone. And, if you don’t ask, they will tell you anyway. The time is here when the clerk at Target, the gym coach at school, the aunt in Cleveland are all passing on tips too good to ignore. It is the time when you say “I can’t stand it any longer,� and jump in. Yesterday, the case was made even more compelling when Ben Stein, sitting comfortably in Frankfurt, Germany offered his list of must-have stocks and opined that “… in 10 years, you’ll regret it if you don’t buy in July 2007.�

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Those of us who believe that the Democrats will do serious harm to the American economy have been secretly betting on Fred Thompson's unannounced candidacy as the best chance for the Republicans. He was the stealth candidate whom few knew much about but who – because of his star power – had a possibility of carrying the day. Today, tucked away inside the first section of the New York Times, after first being aired on the web by the LA Times, is a piece of news that will seriously weaken his candidacy.

I'm a big believer in nuclear energy. It is a fundamental force in our universe and one that I believe humanity is destined to tap. Nuclear energy, combined with electricity transmission and hydrogen is the future. Large energy conglomerates, electric companies, and nuclear plant builders and operators stand to gain. Oil rich and Opec countries will loose.

Many individuals I've spoken with think that options are risky financial instruments. Depending on how they are used, they can be risky. But they can also be a wonderful way to control risk and profit in various kinds of market conditions. Here's some insight into the how and why. I look forward to your comments.

Three of the attempted suicide bombers from the recent Glasgow and London events were doctors.

The Iphone frenzy has passed, thankfully and finally. What does this device really mean for the wireless industry looking forward?

At your July 4 party, ask why most American colonial paper currency made reference to its valuation in Spanish pesos.

Citgo is 100% owned by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. He uses earnings from Citgo to fund his domestic and foreign policies. And, they aren’t the most progressive policies around. In fact, he is one of the world’s most scary and unattractive figures.