Courtesy of JESSE’S CAFÉ AMÉRICAIN
Buy that dip, Chip. Traders who are buying now are hoping (betting) that Palm becomes a takeover candidate.
In the 1990s I was actively involved in M&A in the tech sector, primarily around Boston and Silicon Valley. Boston was absolutely the worst place to try and make a decent acquisition, and few of them I witnessed worked out for the buyers.
In Silicon Valley things were a little more straightforward, but one had to watch their back with the omnivorous acquisitor, Cisco. The flippers were reasonably well known to the cognoscenti and a quick visit to the premises often was an easy ‘tell.’ The Sand Hill Road crowd and the other denizens of the Lion and Compass were always a treat to work with. Personally I preferred sushi in town followed by The Compass Rose at The Saint Francis, but I was an east coaster, and almost looking for light meal and a drink to take the edge off the jet lag.
I priced mature companies and start-ups, largely based on the potential of their technology and engineering talent, much more so than existing cash flows which were often negative and a key factor in playing the game.
Personally I think zero is too low a price for Palm. Maybe two dollars, with their float of 168 million shares. Maybe even four dollars if it catches a bid soon from more than one interested buyer who wishes to jump start into their space. One would have to look at their portfolio of technology and patents, and franchise players in the engineering group, and the value of your own currency, your stock, and its prospects.
Cash deals generally are a strong indicator of pure intent, and are therefore rare. One positive is that the tech market in the US is so bad that retention bonuses ought not to be such an issue, except for a handful of key engineering talent.
The problem with companies like this is that new money, particularly the venture capitalists and white knights, like to come in and obliterate the existing common shareholders. This is the ‘last man standing’ phenomenon.
If someone makes a play for Palm, it could turn into a bit of a bidding match. But for now the vultures will prefer to circle and hove. And it would not shock me if a certain broker wasn’t hammering the price with their most recent target, for any variety of purposes and headlines.
FREE PALM Stock Analysis Report Sent to Your E-mail Click Here
Tickerspy
Canaccord Leaves Palm Hanging With $0 Target
by Owen Vater
March 19thInvestors who went bargain hunting with Palm (PALM) after its brutal late-February guidance are getting hammered.
Palm shares are off by -18% today after reporting an adjusted fiscal third-quarter loss of -61 cents per share, missing analyst consensus by -19 cents. The company beat on revenue after giving analysts a warning last month. Chairman and CEO Jon Rubinstein said, “the potential for Palm remains strong,” but Canaccord Adams isn’t buying it, nailing the stock with a $0 price target, down from $4, and reiterating its Sell rating. The analyst noted that Palm has about 12 months of cash on hand with an accelerating burn rate, and the company could start to lose suppliers as its solvency comes into question.
The Palm selloff is dragging the Personal Computer and Smartphone Stocks Index by -3.7%. The Index is now trailing the S&P 500 by -13.7% over the last month, despite every other component gaining more than 2% for the period.
FREE PALM Stock Analysis Report Sent to Your E-mail Click Here
You got your brackets filled out before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament’s opening game on Thursday afternoon. Good — now sit back and enjoy the games. But if you’re looking for a good read during the numerous and lengthy time outs, we’ve got just the thing. It’s the most important investment report you will read in 2010. Forget the theoretical and hypothetical sorts of analysis that occupy so much space online. Bob Prechter gives 22 real-life examples of how deflation is beginning to spread in the U.S. economy — along with 13 charts that make the examples even clearer.
You want to know whether to prepare for inflation or deflation? This report will answer your questions. Read this excerpt to see what we mean. Oh, and try to forget that a No. 2 seed (Villanova) almost got upset in the first round and that Georgetown, a No. 3 seed, got beat by Ohio University, a 14 seed.
* * * * *
States Are Broke and Approaching Insolvency
While state “regulators” clamp down on profligate banks, the same states’ legislatures continue to blow money. For years, state governments have been spending every dime they could squeeze out of taxpayers plus all they could borrow. (The lone exception is Nebraska, which prohibits state indebtedness over $100k. Whatever Nebraska’s official position on any other issue, by this action alone it is the most enlightened state government in the union.)But now even states’ borrowing ability has run into a brick wall, because the basis of their ability to pay interest—namely, tax receipts—is evaporating. The goose—the poor, overdriven taxpayer—is dying, and the production of golden eggs, which allowed state governments to binge for the past 40 years, is falling. The only reason that states did not either default on their loans or drastically cut their spending over the past year is that the federal government sucked a trillion dollars out of the loan market and handed it to countless undeserving entities, including state governments.
“It’s hard to imagine what happens when stimulus money runs out,” says a budget expert. (USA, 10/29/09) But it is not at all hard to imagine what will happen. Conquer the Crash imagined state insolvency seven years ago. The breezy transfer of money from innocent savers to state spenders is going to end, and when it does, states will cut spending and “services” drastically. They will also default on their debts, which will be deflationary.
Elliott Wave International’s latest free report puts 2010 into perspective like no other. The Most Important Investment Report You’ll Read in 2010 is a must-read for all independent-minded investors. The 13-page report is available for free download now. Learn more here.
From Bloomberg: Federal Reserve Must Disclose Bank Bailout Records
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that the Fed must release records of the unprecedented $2 trillion U.S. loan program … The ruling upholds a decision of a lower-court judge, who in August ordered that the information be released.
…
The opinion may not be the final word in the bid for the documents, which was launched by Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, with a November 2008 lawsuit. The Fed may seek a rehearing or appeal to the full appeals court and eventually petition the U.S. Supreme Court.
It wasn’t easy to find in this sea of bulls, but there is actually a bank out there that is not full-blown bullish following the huge rally of the last month. Morgan Stanley says investors should prepare for a sell-off in the coming weeks as the market has gotten ahead of itself. Their equity analysts say the risks have risen in the near-term as sentiment swings wildly positive (see here) and risk assets run ahead of themselves.
Morgan Stanley says these two risks could overshadow the market in the coming weeks as investors adjust their portfolios to account for the large discrepancy between bulls/bears and risk assets versus lower risk assets. According to Morgan Stanley the put/call ratio represents overly bullish sentiment levels that are historically followed by sell-offs. In addition, the sign of excessive risk can be best seen in the run-up in the small cap vs. large cap ratio. Risk assets, represented by the Russell here, have surged to their highest ratio in terms of large caps in the last 12 months:
Source: Morgan Stanley
Click on graph for larger image in new window.
Total housing starts were at 575 thousand (SAAR) in February, down 5.9% from the revised January rate, and up 20% from the all time record low in April 2009 of 479 thousand (the lowest level since the Census Bureau began tracking housing starts in 1959). Starts had rebounded to 590 thousand in June, and have moved mostly sideways for nine months.
Single-family starts were at 499 thousand (SAAR) in February, down 0.6% from the revised January rate, and 40% above the record low in January and February 2009 (357 thousand). Just like for total starts, single-family starts have been at about this level for nine months.
Here is the Census Bureau report on housing Permits, Starts and Completions.
Housing Starts:
Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 575,000. This is 5.9 percent (±10.0%)* below the revised January estimate of 611,000, but is 0.2 percent (±9.8%)* above the February 2009 rate of 574,000.Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 499,000; this is 0.6 percent (±10.6%)* below the revised January figure of 502,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 58,000.
Housing Completions:
Privately-owned housing completions in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 700,000. This is 5.4 percent (±20.2%)* above the revised January estimate of 664,000, but is 15.5 percent (±13.6%) below the February 2009 rate of 828,000.Single-family housing completions in February were at a rate of 458,000; this is 4.3 percent (±13.7%)* above the revised January rate of 439,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 236,000.
This level of starts is both good news and bad news. The good news is the excess housing inventory is being absorbed – a necessary step for housing (and the economy) to recover.
The bad news is economic growth will probably be sluggish – and unemployment elevated – until residential investment picks up.
Note: on the February snow storms, starts were up in the West and Midwest, and down in the Northeast and South (includes D.C. and Virginia), so the snow probably did impact starts. Of course some builders started spec homes to beat the tax credit expiration – and that boosted starts temporarily.
TOP STORIES
Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam’s IOUs – AP
With Financial Reform Bill, a Test for Congress – NY Times
Don’t expect Greece aid details, ministers say – MarketWatch
Is China’s Politburo spoiling for a showdown with America? – Telegraph
Goldman Sachs Demands Derivatives Collateral It Won’t Dish Out – Bloomberg
Regulators shut 3 more banks for a total of 30 failures this year – AP
Real-Estate Recovery Signaled With Homebuilders – Bloomberg
US, UK top debt ratings safe for now, Moody’s says – AP
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By the end of April Tim Geithner’s Treasury has to publish a semi-annual report that will either brand China as a currency manipulator or not.
Of course, everyone knows that China — like all countries — manipulates its currency, but these things are shrouded in theater and politics and nuanced language, but the upshot is that it would apparently be a big deal if the Treasury actually made such a call.
Well, leading figures in the US are going to put as much pressure on Geithner to do so as they can.
In a fresh editorial out today, Krugman says it’s time the US began “taking on China.” That’s actually the headline of the column.
What’s most interesting about the column isn’t his call for China to let the Yuan rise in value, that’s old, but his argument that the US has nothing to fear from China.
It’s true that if China dumped its U.S. assets the value of the dollar would fall against other major currencies, such as the euro. But that would be a good thing for the United States, since it would make our goods more competitive and reduce our trade deficit. On the other hand, it would be a bad thing for China, which would suffer large losses on its dollar holdings. In short, right now America has China over a barrel, not the other way around.
Bold and refreshing!
Meanwhile, while Krugman fights the intellectual battle in the media, NY Senator Chuck Schumer is prepared to go to take action in Congress. Word is that Schumer is set to introduce legislation that would go after China over manipulation, and it may resemble a bill he proposed in 2005 to slap huge tariffs on imports. That didn’t pass, but it sent a message.
Last weeks price action unfolded just as we expected. Money poured into stocks with the focus being on small cap, banks and technology stocks. The fact that these sectors are showing strength while utilities, health care and consumer staples lag is a good sign that investors are once again taking risks in the market.
Because investors and traders are bullish on the stock market again the money flow into the safe havens like precious metals and energy has decreased. I believe this is the reason stocks moved up last week while precious metals drifted lower.
Below are weekly charts (Natural Gas, Crude Oil and the Dollar) showing what I think is most likely to happen in the next few weeks and what should fuel the fire.
Natural Gas – Weekly Chart
Natural has been out of favor for the past 3 months with most of the selling happening recently as seen on the chart. In my opinion natural gas is over sold and about ready for a bounce.
The price of NG is now trading at a key support level but until the selling momentum stops and reverses back up I would steer clear of this commodity play. Natural gas is known for taking peoples money time and time again so trade this commodity very carefully.
Crude Oil – Weekly Chart
Crude oil has been trading in a channel for several months and is now testing the upper level. If we see the US Dollar drop in the coming weeks then I expect oil to surge higher along with natural gas. If oil breaks out then I expect to see the $90 level reached within a month.
US Dollar Index – Daily Chart
The US Dollar has put in a very nice bounce/rally since the low in November 2009. Last month the dollar finally reached a key resistance level of 81. I have been talking about this major resistance level since January as the Dollar would find it difficult to break above this level.
There is a strong chance we could see 78 reached which is the measured move down. If we get follow through selling next week then I would expect 78 to be reached within 1-2 weeks and over the next few months we could very well test the 2008 low of 72.50.
Natural Gas – It’s the Season
Natural gas’ seasonal price action shows that the price tends to strengthen between February and April. So with NG at support and we are in March you can guess what I’m thinking… higher prices are where the odds are pointing.
Crude Oil – It’s the Season
It’s the same story as natural gas above….
Higher prices seem to be where the best odds are.
Energy Trading Conclusion:
As a technical analyst the above charts are pointing to higher prices in the coming weeks for natural gas and crude oil, which is exciting for us all. BUT when things are this perfect looking we must be very cautious as the market has way to suck traders into these “perfect setups” and spit us out a couple days later for a nasty loss.
Understanding how the market moves is crucial for avoiding and/or minimizing losses when trades go against us. That is why I continue to wait for my signature low risk setup before putting any money to work.
My focus is to take the least amount of trades possible each year, only focusing on the best of the best setups. My low risk setups require risk downside risk to be under 3% for the investment of choice. and the broad market needs to be showing signs of strength as well. I use several different types of analysis to confirm if a setup has a high probability of winning and those which do are the trades I take along with my subscribers.
It is very important to wait for the market to confirm a move higher before taking a position when there is this type of setup. The market could go either way quickly and jumping the gun is not a safe bet.
Chris Vermeulen
www.GoldAndOilGuy.com
By Nico Issac
- So far in 2010, the number of US bank failures has reached 25, a rate of two per week. This compares to 25 total bank failures for ALL of 2008, and three for 2007.
- The benchmark KBW Bank Index still stands 60% below its 2007 peak, while one-third of all US banks reported a net loss for 2009.
- The FDIC’s list of “problem” institutions rose from 552 to 702 from Q3 to Q4 of 2009.
- And each new day could bring a new, personally addressed letter to announce the name change of your financial institution.
Yet — no matter how grave the data gets, few people imagine the corporate banking crisis trickling down to average Joe or Jane and their lollipop-dispensing drive-through bank tellers.
It’s not naive to think that, either. The agreement is understood: Money goes into the bank as liquid capital, and comes out as a loan certificate. Practically speaking, your account balance is only as secure as the loans the bank makes with its depositors’ money. The trust in that exchange reflects two main beliefs:
1) Banks know best how to allocate their clients’ money so as to ensure the greatest risk-to-reward ratio.
2) Banks are guaranteed by the Federal government, via the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Well, as the latest report from our complimentary Club EWI service reveals — neither one is as it seems. This 15-page exclusive compiles the most groundbreaking insights from various collected works of EWI president Bob Prechter himself, including: the best-selling book Conquer the Crash and previous Elliott Wave Theorist publications. Off the top are these riveting thought-burners:
How are banks using your money? Not wisely. “At latest count, US banks report $6.942 Trillion in deposits, and $6.945 Trillion in loans. In other words, the average bank in the US has lent out 100% of its deposits.”
Where is your money going? For the most part, it’s tied up in mortgage-backed securities. Last count: One in every 418 U.S. homes have filed for foreclosure, while the rate of default on commercial mortgages doubled in Q4 of 2009. See the problem?
What about the trusted sticker in the front window of US banks assuring that the FDIC guarantees to refund depositor’s losses of up to $100,000? Well, as the Club EWI report reveals, this sticker is merely a “symbol of confidence,” NOT a certainty of it. The piece goes on to add:
“Did you know that most of the FDIC’s money comes from other banks? When the FDIC rescues weak banks by charging healthier ones higher ‘premiums,’ overall bank deposits are depleted, causing the net loan-to-deposit ratio to rise. Ultimately the federal government backs the FDIC, which sounds like a sure thing. But if tax receipts fall, the government will be hard pressed to save a large number of banks with its own diminishing supply of capital. Huge illusions can melt away in a flash if the system fails.”
Where then is a bank I can trust? Here, the Club EWI report provides a list of the Top 100 highest-rated banks in America by state based on third-quarter 2009 data. The publication also reveals the global jurisdictions that “provide wealth preservation service as opposed to interest income and daily transaction conveniences.”
- The 100 Safest U.S. Banks (2 for each state)
- Where your money goes after you make a deposit
- How your fractional-reserve bank works
- What risks you might be taking by relying on the FDIC’s guarantee
Please protect your money. Download the free 10-page “Safe Banks” report now.
Learn more about the “Safe Banks” report, and download it for free here.
The DOL reports on weekly unemployment insurance claims:
In the week ending March 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 462,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 468,000. The 4-week moving average was 475,500, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week’s revised average of 470,500.
…
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 27 was 4,558,000, an increase of 37,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,521,000.
Click on graph for larger image in new window.
This graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.
The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased this week by 5,000 to 470,500.
The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The current level of 462,000 (and 4-week average of 470,500) is still very high, and suggests continuing job losses at the beginning of March.
