Weekend Favs January Twenty Nine
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
Ana Ivanovi Jessica Cauffiel Emmanuelle Vaugier Sarah Silverman Larissa Meek
Monday, January 31, 2011
Weekend Favs January Twenty Nine
From U.S. to Germany to China?BoomTown Goes Around the (Digital) World in a Week
It's a big, wide and very digital world out there and that's why I'm headed around the globe--quite literally--for the next week to see some non-Silicon Valley tech trends and more.
Asia Argento Charisma Carpenter Hilarie Burton Kelly Carlson Sara Foster
Video: Sean Parker on No Victoria's Secret Models in Silicon Valley (What?!?!)
Here is former Napster troublemaker, former Facebook consigliere and current investor, entrepreneur and movie subject Sean Parker onstage at the DLD conference in Munich, Germany, yesterday.
It was vintage Parker, who always tries to paint himself as more of a geek than the multicolored life of the digital party. In truth, he is very much both.
It was vintage Parker, who always tries to paint himself as more of a geek than the multicolored life of the digital party. In truth, he is very much both.
Danneel Harris Veronika Vaeková Eve Brittany Lee Daisy Fuentes
Chicago PMI Jumps to 20-Year High, Consumer Spending Rises
Bondsquawk submits:
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By Maulik Mody
Consumer spending increased more than forecast in December, making the last quarter the best one of 2010. Spending increased 0.7% in the last month, following a 0.3% gain in November. Personal income grew for a third month in a row, continuing to grow at 0.4%. Although income and spending continues to grow, the pace is moderate making the recovery very slow. The Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditure Core Price Index, was flat in December after advancing 0.1% in November.
However, data continues to show that manufacturing activity is gaining and is driving the recovery in the U.S., as seen in the Chicago Purchasing Manager index, which jumped two points in January to 68.8 from 66.8 in December. This is the highest level since 1988, as most components of the index came in stronger. New orders came in at 75.7, much stronger from 71.3, while employment strengthened to 64.11 from 58.4. These are reportedly the highest levels these components have reached since 1984. While production also picked up, inventories declined from 60.0 to 54.5.
The ISM-adjusted index increased to 65.6 from the high 65.0 in the previous month. The ISM manufacturing index is expected to level off a bit in January. The other regional manufacturing surveys have been mixed, with Kansas and Richmond declining, and Philly and New York increasing. The Chicago PMI index has remained the leader among the regionals, now nearly 10 points above the average of 56.1 for the four other
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Veronica Kay Mýa Natalie Imbruglia Patricia Velásquez Jennifer Morrison
Our Greatest Referral Fear
Our Greatest Referral Fear
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
Brittany Daniel Kate Moss Zhang Ziyi Nikki Reed Natasha Bedingfield
Exclusive: Former Facebook Ad Head Mike Murphy Takes Senior Advisor Role at Zynga
Mike Murphy--Facebook's first head of advertising sales, who left the social networking giant in October to take some personal time off--seems done with relaxing.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
Foxy Brown Ivana Bozilovic Cristina Dumitru Cat Power January Jones
Sunday, January 30, 2011
FDIC Bank Closings
They have been busy little buggers in 2011, havent they? > click for larger graphs
Sara Spraker Alexis Bledel Kim Kardashian China Chow Alecia Elliott
One More Time, With Feeling
Picked up a copy of the FCIC report on my way the evening before its official release� (took a shot that a local Barnes & Noble would have it out, and they did), and I’m locked in after reading only the first 50 or so pages.� The report can be downloaded in PDF here. Not [...]
Sarah Shahi Anna Paquin Diane Kruger Magdalena Wróbel Connie Nielsen
Full D@CES Interview Video: Microsoft Internet Explorer's Dean Hachamovitch
As promised, after posting highlights last week, here's the full video from an interview Walt Mossberg did with Microsoft Internet Explorer head Dean Hachamovitch at our D@CES event at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The browser chieftain talked a lot about privacy, as you can see from Hachamovitch's latest shirt motto.
The browser chieftain talked a lot about privacy, as you can see from Hachamovitch's latest shirt motto.
Rachael Leigh Cook Elisha Cuthbert Ciara Rachel Hunter Heidi Montag
Choosing the Right Dividend ETF
Charles Lewis Sizemore submits:
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The stock market hasn’t returned a single red cent in over twelve years, as measured by the S&P 500. Twelve years is a long time to go without earning a return on your investment, particularly if you are close to retirement.
With the boom years of the 1980s and 1990s now a distant memory, it is not shocking to see investors losing faith in the cult of capital gains and gravitating instead to dividend-paying stocks and ETFs.
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Windows Phone 7
As I finally migrate my entire contact database (after some serious cleaning up) from Outlook and into Google Contacts, I am sitting here thinking that Microsoft may be getting its mojo back. I'm done with their productivity suite. I left...
Avril Lavigne Bridget Moynahan Noureen DeWulf Nicollette Sheridan Amber Heard
The New Small Delivers Big Technology Insights for Small Business
From Small Business Trends
The New Small Delivers Big Technology Insights for Small Business
Ashley Tisdale Rachel Blanchard Sienna Guillory Tricia Vessey Aki Ross
Liveblogging Yahoo Q4 Earnings: "Encouraging" Is the New Black
BoomTown was looking over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, as I blogged the conference call after Yahoo released its fourth-quarter earnings after markets closed today.
It's pretty! But Yahoo's revenue growth--still, not so much. Yahoo exec, though, declared the results "encouraging."
It's pretty! But Yahoo's revenue growth--still, not so much. Yahoo exec, though, declared the results "encouraging."
Amanda Bynes Ana Ivanovi Jessica Cauffiel Emmanuelle Vaugier Sarah Silverman
Ch 18, Bailout Nation: Citigroup: Too Big to Succeed?
Bailout Nation, Chapter 18 The Year of the Bailout, Part II: Too Big to Succeed?
Jessica Paré Leelee Sobieski Teri Hatcher Lauren Bush Natalie Zea
Dylan Ratigan Steel on Wheels Town Hall 8pm
Visit msnbc.com for more videos from Dylan Ratigan and news about the economy.
Yvonne Strzechowski Rhona Mitra Kelly Rowland Danica Patrick Josie Maran
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Exclusive: Former Facebook Ad Head Mike Murphy Takes Senior Advisor Role at Zynga
Mike Murphy--Facebook's first head of advertising sales, who left the social networking giant in October to take some personal time off--seems done with relaxing.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
Cameron Richardson Chandra West Kasey Chambers Megan Ewing Kristanna Loken
5 Ways to Make Your Website Scream Local
5 Ways to Make Your Website Scream Local
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
Robin Tunney Kate Groombridge Dania Ramirez Lucy Liu LeAnn Rimes
Hudson City Bancorp: Short-Term Risk, Long-Term Opportunity?
Chuck Carnevale submits:
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Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK) is widely recognized as one of the most conservatively and best managed financial institutions in the country. Thanks to their conservative lending practices and prudent fiscal management, Hudson City Bancorp prospered through the great recession while other financial institutions faltered and even collapsed. This prudently run financial institution did not partake in any of the egregious behavior or business practices most financial institutions gluttonously gorged themselves on.
Therefore, with no exposure to subprime and/or other toxic loans or investments, Hudson City Bancorp did not need to participate in the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program. Ironically, we feel that Hudson City Bancorp is today being penalized for this good behavior by the government’s forced need to support a fractured mortgage market created by the reckless behavior of other financial institutions. US government-sponsored enterprises (GSE’s) have temporarily become formidable competition in the mortgage market. According to Hudson City Bancorp’s most recently filed quarterly report, Ronald E. Hermance, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, had this to say:
"Conditions in the mortgage market continued to produce substantial headwinds. During 2010, market interest rates were at historical lows and pushed mortgage rates below 5%. This caused prepayments and refinancing activity to increase, resulting in lower yields on our mortgage related assets. As expected, the continued low interest rate environment continued to negatively impact our net interest margin in the fourth quarter. The recent increase in longer-term market interest rates have pushed mortgage rates higher, but the continued elevated levels of employment, the weak housing market and the unprecedented level of US government-sponsored enterprises (the "GSEs") involvement in the mortgage market have impacted our ability to grow our loan portfolio as the GSEs were involved in over 90% of U.S. mortgage production."
All of the above is having what we suspect to be a short term, and hopefully short-lived negative impact on Hudson City Bancorp’s earnings growth and performance. On the other hand, we further believe that Hudson City Bancorp’s management and board are deliberately limiting and controlling growth until the situation improves. We also believe that they are hunkering down in order to protect and maintain their pristine balance sheet and capital ratios in preparation of exploiting an improving market for their products and services. Additional comments by Mr. Hermance have led us to these conclusions:
"As we look forward to market conditions that are more conducive to our business model, we're exploring the best ways to reduce interest rate risk, strengthen our balance sheet to restore traditional earnings trends and to prepare our balance sheet for future growth. We expect that this process would result in a further restructuring of our funding mix-a process we started in 2009 with the modification of putable borrowings to extend or eliminate put dates and to fund asset growth with consumer deposits. Any such restructuring will focus on the prospects for long-term overall earnings stability and growth as market and economic conditions become normalized. We believe it is important to adjust to current market conditions and prepare to capture a greater share of the residential mortgage market when conditions improve. While it is difficult to predict when that may occur, we believe that this is the time to look ahead to the 'new normal.'"
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Halle Berry Catherine Bell Tessie Santiago Jessica Simpson Mandy Moore
Do You Need to Hire This Year? Where Will You Find New Employees?
Are you planning to hire new staff in 2011? After two years of slashing staffs to the bone, many small businesses may feel it?s finally time to staff up so they can take advantage of the recovery.
But do you know where to find those workers?
The world of hiring has changed, and the Wall Street Journal recently took a look at how companies are planning to hire in the coming months. Here?s some ofRead More
From Small Business Trends
Do You Need to Hire This Year? Where Will You Find New Employees?
Cindy Taylor Halle Berry Catherine Bell Tessie Santiago Jessica Simpson
2011 Small Business Marketing Forecast
Let?s talk about 2011 marketing trends. You may be saying to yourself,
?The year has just begun–how can there be a trend already??
In November 2010, Ad-ology Research surveyed 752 small businesses owners in order to study ?their attitude toward advertising.?� This annual study gives a snapshot of small business owners? marketing plans and reveals their expected advertising expenditures for this year.� The 2011 Small Business Marketing Forecast included U.S. businesses with fewer than 100 employees (82 percent of thoseRead More
From Small Business Trends
2011 Small Business Marketing Forecast
Laura Prepon Ashley Scott Michelle Behennah Julie Benz Saira Mohan
Investments Recalibrated: Hedging Emerging Market Bets
Elliott R. Morss submits:
Note that even in 2007, U.S. investors were investing heavily offshore. And after the bank panic, Americans are investing heavily offshore again. Because of this, the private sector offset will get smaller: Americans will continue to invest offshore and foreigners will probably not buy private US securities at the rates they have in the past.
Its investments include tobacco, alcohol, defense and gambling. As can be seen from Table 5, its performance is not correlated with the market. I view it as a good secondary hedge.
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Introduction
For almost two years, I have invested in emerging market countries, both as a bet against the U.S. dollar and because their growth rates are higher and debt levels lower than the U.S., Europe, and Japan. I am a long term investor. I don’t have either the computer power or data to compete with short term traders. And for long term investors, important things don’t change quickly. But every so often, it is worth reassessing any strategy.
I also believe there is considerable merit in the random walk theory that says all information is immediately reflected in stock market prices so the results of stock market picks are pretty random[1]. But as a global economist, I derive undeserved satisfaction from infrequently reviewing the global economic situation and recalibrating my investments based on what I find.
The Global Economic Situation
According to the IMF, nothing much has changed since2009. As Table 1 shows, advanced are nations still struggling with recession, government deficits and debt while emerging nations have moved on. Ceteris paribus, this would suggest investments in emerging markets.
Table 1. – Growth, Deficit, and Debt Problems
2011 (projected) | |||
GDP Growth | Government | Government | |
Group, Country | Rate (%) | Deficit (% GDP) | Debt (% GDP) |
Advanced Economies | 2.5 | 7.1 | 101.0 |
US | 3.0 | 10.8 | 97.9 |
Euro Area | 1.5 | 4.6 | 87.1 |
Japan | 1.6 | 9.1 | 227.5 |
Emerging Economies | 6.5 | 3.2 | 36.8 |
China | 9.6 | 2.1 | 18.1 |
India | 8.4 | 9.2 | 75.2 |
Brazil | 4.5 | 3.1 | 67.5 |
South Africa | 3.4 | 5.3 | 39.5 |
Source: IMF – World Economic Outlook and Fiscal Monitor Update
In my last article, I looked at prospects for the U.S. dollar. With an unemployment rate just below 10%, there is no threat of inflation (and a consequent dollar weakening) from excessive domestic demand. Internationally, it depends on whether there will be offsets to the US trade deficit projected to grow back to $600-$700 billion as the US emerges from a recession.
There are two possible offsets: governments buying more U.S. government debt and private portfolio purchases of U.S. securities.
- On governments buying more U.S. debt - Overall, the Treasury estimates that foreign governments hold more than $4 trillion of U.S. government debt, with China holding $1.4 trillion and Japan holding $929 billion. Will they continue buying enough to offset the U.S. trade deficit? The China Daily has reported China foreign currency reserves at $2.5 trillion, of which two-thirds are already invested in U.S. government debt. I believe it is highly unlikely foreign governments can be counted on for a significant offset to the U.S. trade deficit going forward.
- Private portfolio purchases – only a few years back, private foreign investors’ purchases of US securities constituted a major offset to the U.S. trade deficit. But times have changed: their purchases have slowed down, and more importantly, as Table2 indicates, U.S. investors are purchasing foreign securities in significant amounts.
Table 2. – Private Investors’ International Transactions
(in bil. US$)
Private Investors | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 (3 qtrs.) |
US Investors | -367 | 198 | -208 | -206 |
Foreign Investors | 672 | -5 | 23 | 379 |
US Govt. Debt | 67 | 161 | 23 | 269 |
Private Securities | 605 | -166 | 0 | 109 |
Net | 306 | 193 | -185 | 173 |
Note that even in 2007, U.S. investors were investing heavily offshore. And after the bank panic, Americans are investing heavily offshore again. Because of this, the private sector offset will get smaller: Americans will continue to invest offshore and foreigners will probably not buy private US securities at the rates they have in the past.
In sum, with both offsets to the U.S. trade deficit falling, I conclude the dollar will continue to lose value and so “bets against it” are warranted. Overall, I conclude that emerging market investments still make sense, both because their economies are growing rapidly and because they are “bets against the dollar”. But I also want to offer a couple of hedges.
Hedge #1 - Real Estate
Real estate prices are falling; sales are up. I believe this the beginning of the final real estate sell-off. How can real estate be a hedge? I don’t know much about real estate, so I asked someone who does. Brad Case, Ph.D., CAIA is vice president, Research & Industry Information for NAREIT, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.
Elliott: Tell me about the real estate cycle.Brad: The commercial real estate market cycle is long, about 18 years; the last one was 17 1/2 years, give or take one quarter depending on which measure you use. REITs typically move through downturns quickly, but the last one was extraordinarily severe and lasted 25 months. That still leaves roughly 16 years of upturn, and we're now less than two years into it.Elliott: How about real estate investments?Brad: Although REITs have gained 189% from their market bottom on March 6, 2009, they're still down 22% from their pre-downturn peak on February 7, 2007. Real estate operating fundamentals (occupancy rates, rent growth, etc.) are at or just past their worst point. That means that earnings growth seems likely to be strong over the next several years as operating fundamentals improve.
Hedge #2 – Sin/Entertainment
I have written extensively about the economics of global entertainment. My findings are that we spend more on drinking, entertainment drugs, sex (prostitution/pornography), and smoking than any other entertainment categories. What is most interesting from an investment perspective is that some of these activities are highly addictive and consequently are recession resistant – cigarette smoking is the best example. Drinkers will keep drinking but can choose cheaper beverages in a recession. But there are other entertainment categories that are highly cyclical: consider gambling: in good times, gamblers take their families to gambling “resorts”; in bad times, gamblers stay home and gamble online. Consequently, Las Vegas is in dire straits while Macau, where the global recession is a faint memory, is booming.
So what do we know: sin/entertainment is not going away, and with such a mix of cyclical and non-cyclical activities, it should be a good hedge against just about anything.
Investments
- Current
My emerging market holdings are set forth in Table 3, along with their one and three-year performance. Only Korea (still down 5%) has not yet recovered all its losses from the financial meltdown. Looking over these investments, India has had a very large run-up. I am considering liquidating this position.
Table 3. – Emerging Market Investments
Performance (annualized) | Price/ | Dividend | ||
Investment Vehicle | 1-Year | 3-Year | Earnings | Yield (%) |
Korea (EWY) | 23 | -5 | 10 | 0.7 |
Latin America ((PRLAX)) | 14 | 2 | 11 | 0.7 |
Brazil (EWZ) | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3.5 |
South Africa (EZA) | 22 | 2 | 13 | 2.0 |
India ((MINDX)) | 32 | 2 | 16 | 0.5 |
China ((MCHFX)) | 21 | 1 | 16 | 0.2 |
Brazil’s stock market has not performed well. But I view it as the strongest country in the world so I will stick with it.
- Hedge #1 – Real Estate
Table 4 presents real estate options. I am not taken by the last three because of their high price/earnings ratios. FRIFX makes sense to me. With a dividend yield of 5.1% and real estate earnings expected to grow in future years, I see it as an excellent investment.
Table 4. – Real Estate Investments
Performance (annualized) | Price/ | Dividend | ||
Investment Vehicle | 1-Year | 3-Year | Earnings | Yield (%) |
Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) | 57 | 2 | 11 | 1.6 |
Fidelity Real Estate Income ((FRIFX)) | 20 | 5 | 18 | 5.1 |
REMS Real Estate Value ((HLPPX)) | 34 | 5 | 39 | n.a. |
Vanguard REIT ((VGSIX)) | 31 | -2 | 42 | 3.1 |
Cohen & Steers Realty ((CSRSX)) | 30 | 0 | 44 | 2.2 |
Brookfield is not your typical real estate development company. It invests in:
- Commercial office properties;
- Hydroelectric power generating facilities;
- Infrastructure assets - approximately $15 billion of total assets in transportation (ports, rail lines), utilities (electrical and natural gas transmission), and timberlands.
It also develops commercial and residential properties and engages in real estate finance. Over the last two years, it has been active buying up discounted properties. It has investments in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Australia and Europe.
I like the company, its mix of investments and its global reach.
- Hedge #2 – Sin/Entertainment
There is no perfect investment for this, but the Vice Fund is not bad.
Table 5. – Sin/Entertainment Investments
Performance | Price/ | Dividend | ||
Investment Vehicle | 1-Year | 3-Year | Earnings | Yield (%) |
Vice ((VICEX)) | 14 | -10 | 15 | 1.1 |
Its investments include tobacco, alcohol, defense and gambling. As can be seen from Table 5, its performance is not correlated with the market. I view it as a good secondary hedge.
I am not an investment adviser and nothing I say should be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell an asset.
[1] Burton G. Malkiel, “A Random Walk Down Main Street”: W.W. Norton.
Disclosure: I am long EWY, EWZ, EZA.
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Emerging Market Europe and the Rest of the World
John Lounsbury submits:
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The European Union, along with the U.S., is supposed to represent the heart of the developed world. Europe is now an emerging economy, as shown by the following graph from the 5 Min. Forecast:
Europe is now an emerging market and trend lines would project it is riskier than the rest of the emerging market world.
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China Chow Alecia Elliott Kat Von D Ana Paula Lemes Vanessa Simmons
If Metals Decline After a Rise in Stocks, What Would Happen If Stocks Declined?
Przemyslaw Radomski submits:
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With gold prices showing no signs of a breakout in 2011, so far, many investors have started unwinding long positions in anticipation of no further upside. The situation warrants a close scrutiny of the state of affairs. In the following part of this essay we analyze indications from the correlation matrix and technical indicators from silver and mining stocks to gauge the extent of this concern.
However, first, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that the London Bullion Market Association conducted its annual survey of leading analysts to ask them where the price for gold will go in 2011. A total of 24 contributors gave their estimates for the high, low and average price for 2011 for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. In 2011, forecast contributors predict rises for all precious metals. Their average gold forecast is U.S. $1,457, a 19.0% increase on the 2010 average price, similar to the forecast of $1,450 made by delegates at the 2010 LBMA Precious Metals Conference in Berlin last September. Analysts predict that the average silver price will be $29.88, a 48% rise on the 2010 average price. The average 2011 platinum price is forecast to rise 12.6% from the average 2010 price, to $1,813 and palladium shows no sign of slowing down with an average 2011 price prediction of $814.65, a 54.8% increase on last year’s bumper average price.
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Kim Kardashian China Chow Alecia Elliott Kat Von D Ana Paula Lemes
Where To Find Jobs As the Economy Recovers
This is a guest post by Brendan Cruickshank. Pick up any newspaper or magazine today and start reading about the economy. What you will see is not pretty. Reports are grim and it's easy to see why; the nation has been looking at unemployment... Read more
Amanda Peet Xenia Seeberg The Avatars of Second Life Daniella Alonso Gina Gershon
This Week?s Links
How the BLS is deflating its inflation statistics. The new centrism and its discontents. For some reason, I've never run across Trend Hunter. Until now. It's good. Is professionalism dead? (via Economics Roundtable) Self-control in... Read more
LeAnn Rimes Adrianne Curry Jennifer Gimenez Katie Cassidy Estella Warren
Wait for the Dip, Then Buy the Dow
Simit Patel submits:
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average, also known as DJIA or DJ-30, has recently broken past the 12,000 mark. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to take a closer look at the Dow, to see where we are at and where we might be headed.
Fundamentally, I see two primary factors worth paying attention to:
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Brooke Burns Lena Headey Ali Larter Angelina Jolie Erica Leerhsen
Friday, January 28, 2011
Here Comes Another Web IPO: LinkedIn S-1 Filing Imminent
LinkedIn, the online business networking site, is likely to file regulatory documents for an initial public offering as early as today, according to sources close to the situation.
Sources said LinkedIn is ready to submit an S-1 filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, its first step in the IPO process, and that could happen after the markets close this afternoon.
Sources said LinkedIn is ready to submit an S-1 filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, its first step in the IPO process, and that could happen after the markets close this afternoon.
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The Oil Market Holds Its Breath
Wall Street Strategies submits:
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By Conley Turner
Volatile was the primary adjective to describe oil prices in the past several days. After approaching the $92 per barrel level in the previous week, the commodity made a sharp reversal to the downside in subsequent trading sessions. Crude oil gave up over 2 percent of gains in short order as result of an array of disparate factors. Geopolitics eventually proved to be the primary reason for the recovery of much of those losses.
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Leonor Varela Joanne Montanez Michelle Obama Kerry Suseck FSU Cowgirls
Exclusive: Former Facebook Ad Head Mike Murphy Takes Senior Advisor Role at Zynga
Mike Murphy--Facebook's first head of advertising sales, who left the social networking giant in October to take some personal time off--seems done with relaxing.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
Avril Lavigne Bridget Moynahan Noureen DeWulf Nicollette Sheridan Amber Heard
Yahoo Lays Off One Percent of Staff in Front of Earnings
Yahoo, which will announce earnings later today, is also laying off another one percent of its staff, according to sources.
The layoffs of well over 100 employees are taking place across the company, although cuts are largely in the media and advertising group.
After initially declining comment, a Yahoo spokeswoman later confirmed the action.
The layoffs of well over 100 employees are taking place across the company, although cuts are largely in the media and advertising group.
After initially declining comment, a Yahoo spokeswoman later confirmed the action.
Samantha Mumba Busy Philipps Thora Birch Jennifer Garner Poppy Montgomery
No Mystery At All . . .
Jonathan Weil has a bizarrely headlined column titled “Wall Street?s Collapse to Be Mystery Forever.” Balderdash! That is a euphemism; what I really want to write would get this post blocked from Goldman Sachs, thanks to their new email nanny. Suffice it to say my linguistical first choice is a sensible investment thesis, given the [...]
Janet Jackson Georgianna Robertson Reese Witherspoon Jordana Brewster Laetitia Casta
Two Deeply Undervalued BRIC Stocks for Your Watchlist
Kapitall submits:
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This is a follow up to a list we generated a few days ago (Top 15 Most Undervalued BRIC Stocks by Analyst Target Price). In that article we identified 15 stocks from Brazil, Russia, India and China that trade at steep discounts relative to analyst target price (used as a proxy for fair value).
We know that this is a naive way of finding undervalued companies, so we decided to dig deeper. We crunched numbers on several valuation ratios, and compared the original list to industry averages.
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Molly Sims Monika Kramlik Lacey Chabert Amber Brkich Gretha Cavazzoni
Surface Detail
A myriad of details in an evolving fractal landscape. Trippy cool, dude! Surface detail from subBlue on Vimeo.
Shana Hiatt Tara Conner Drea de Matteo Trista Rehn Moon Bloodgood
Building Better Social Graphs (continued)
I've been thinking for a while now that there will not be one social graph to rule them all (Facebook) but that we will eventually have a multitude of web/mobile services in our lives, each with a social graph we...
Gina Gershon Ehrinn Cummings Sienna Miller Cindy Taylor Halle Berry
The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS INQUIRY REPORT Final Report of the National Commission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic Crisis in the United States OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT EDITION Fcic Final Report Full
Autumn Reeser Camilla Belle Blu Cantrell Jaime King Lokelani McMichael
Thursday, January 27, 2011
US Soldiers Losing Homes to Illegal Foreclosures
Here is a story to shoot your blood pressure through the roof: “While Sgt. James B. Hurley was away at war, he lost a heartbreaking battle at home. In violation of a law intended to protect active military personnel from creditors, agents of Deutsche Bank foreclosed on his small Michigan house, forcing Sergeant Hurley?s wife, [...]
Charlize Theron Eva Mendes Sarah Polley Aisha Tyler K. D. Aubert
Informatica Corporation CEO Discusses Q4 2010 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Blog Post: Entrevista MSDN: Una nube en desarrollo
- MSDN Flash: Se multiplican las organizaciones que utilizan aplicaciones y servicios en la nube �Qu� prestaciones le pedir�as a una plataforma cloud para montar all� tus aplicaciones?
Carlos Guevara: Como todo, a nivel de tecnolog�a en el mundo de hoy, los requerimientos y prestaciones que uno espera de una plataforma computacional dependen mucho de las caracter�sticas de la soluci�n a desarrollar, as� que posiblemente no exista una respuesta totalmente correcta o que aplique a todas las necesidades de los departamentos de IT de nuestra regi�n. Aun as�, hay m�ltiples consideraciones que deber�an tomarse en cuenta siempre, y yo normalmente las agrupo en cuatro categor�as diferentes que ser�an las Caracter�sticas de la plataforma en la nube, Los Niveles de Servicio y Respuesta que se ofrecen, la localizaci�n de los recursos y el Costo Beneficio de los mismos.
Posiblemente la m�s cambiante de estas categor�as es la de Caracter�sticas, por lo r�pido que se mueve la tecnolog�a en estos momentos, y por lo variado de las necesidades de los diferentes clientes. En mi experiencia algunas de estas caracter�sticas que son de suma importancia incluyen: la facilidad de desarrollar para esa plataforma, la facilidad de administraci�n y delegaci�n de los aspectos de configuraci�n de la misma, la capacidad de integraci�n a los componentes de mi infraestructura y aplicaciones de legado ? como lo son mecanismos de autenticaci�n y seguridad, y la integraci�n y exposici�n de servicios desde y hacia aplicaciones existentes internas y externas entre otras cosas.
Obviamente cuando se contratan servicios de computaci�n en la nube, uno de los principales beneficios es la garant�a de escalabilidad y disponibilidad de nuestras aplicaciones hospedadas all�, por lo que el SLA o Acuerdo de Niveles de Servicio/Respuesta, es un factor de extrema importancia. Estos acuerdos deben verse minuciosamente y deben tomarse muy en cuenta a la hora de escoger un proveedor.
Otro tema que muchas personas no toman en consideraci�n, es el lugar final donde van a residir las aplicaciones. El proveedor de servicios debe identificar sus centros de operaciones, ya que muchas veces por temas legales, o temas de accesibilidad de la informaci�n, el cliente debe poder tener opciones para escoger d�nde deben residir sus datos o aplicaciones y en cuantos lugares deben poder replicarse los mismo.
Por �ltimo, el costo siempre es un factor determinante. Especialmente cuando consideramos que uno de los m�s grandes beneficios de la computaci�n en la nube es el de poder controlar de la forma m�s granular el costo de nuestras operaciones. Mientras m�s granular sea el manejo del costo, y m�s f�cil y r�pido sea el cambiar la configuraci�n de nuestro esquema en cuanto a instancias, tama�o de las mismas y dem�s, mejor ser� el costo beneficio de la misma.
- MSDN Flash: �En qu� casos prefieres la infraestructura como servicio (IAAS) y en cu�les la plataforma (PAAS)?
CG: Este tema en realidad pareciera muy subjetivo, pero en realidad depende mucho del motivo por el cual una empresa espec�fica escoge utilizar la nube para manejar sus operaciones tecnol�gicas. Normalmente yo explico la diferencia entre IAAS y PAAS como la diferencia entre un programador de C++ y uno de .NET. El programador de C++ escoge ese lenguaje porque quiere acceso directo a la infraestructura, porque no quiere que se instalen componentes o librer�as que no le sirvan a �l y prefiere ese nivel de control para garantizar que su aplicaci�n rinde al m�ximo para su requerimiento, aunque sabe que va a tener que trabajar mucho m�s para lograr su cometido. El programador de .NET est� consciente que utiliza controles y objetos pre-hechos, que est�n orientados a dar el mejor beneficio para la mayor�a de los usuarios, pero no necesariamente optimizados a su soluci�n misma, pero esto no afecta en gran manera sus necesidades.
IAAS es un esquema de computaci�n en la nube que para algunos departamentos de IT parecer� m�s natural. Mantendr�n absoluto control de lo que se instale en sus servidores y de su manejo. Pero este nivel de control implica que no se puede reducir en gran manera la carga a su departamento de IT. El principal objetivo es reducir la cantidad de compras y facilitar los mecanismos de procuradur�a para poder crecer m�s r�pidamente, pero cada uno de estos ?crecimientos? va a implicar un alto nivel de trabajo, pruebas, etc.
Los usuarios que escojan PAAS cuentan con una soluci�n que elimina grandemente los dolores de cabeza de crecimiento. La aplicaci�n puede crecer sin gran esfuerzo por parte del departamento de infraestructura de tecnolog�a de la empresa. La escalabilidad es m�s r�pida, m�s fluida y m�s confiable.
Normalmente yo recomiendo IAAS solo para empresas que necesitan un alto nivel de control, como empresas de desarrollo de software, especialmente las que trabajan en construir aplicaciones tipo SAAS (Software as a Service) y que necesitan mucho control sobre funcionamientos espec�ficos de la infraestructura. Tambi�n se recomienda para empresas que tengan requerimientos de legado muy espec�ficos, que no est�n provistos en las soluciones PAAS normales, pero en ambos casos, es mi experiencia que son muy pocas empresas las que requieren tomar esta decisi�n.
- MSDN Flash: �Qu� herramientas recomiendas para desarrollar pensando en la nube?
CG: Existen numerosas herramientas, y en mucho dependen de tu plataforma de desarrollo favorita y el esquema de arquitectura en la nube o proveedor seleccionado. Existe una soluci�n open source llamada Cloud Tools que es muy recomendada especialmente para ciertos tipos de aplicaciones en JAVA y que funciona muy bien con Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), y Google tiene un SDK muy poderoso, aunque un poquito complejo para su soluci�n de computaci�n en la nube.
Claro que yo estoy mucho m�s parcializado a las soluciones de Microsoft, pues Visual Studio 2008 y 2010 tienen excelentes caracter�sticas para desarrollar soluciones a la nube y en particular hacia Windows Azure. Estas hacen que la programaci�n sea mucho m�s din�mica y f�cil de implementar.
Y para los que quieren empezar a programar hacia AZURE, Microsoft tiene una soluci�n llamada WebMatrix que mediante plantillas y wizards o asistentes, ayuda a crear diferentes tipos de proyectos que se pueden hospedar ya sea localmente o en Windows Azure. En realidad los ejemplos documentaci�n y soluciones que provee WebMatrix son sumamente �tiles, pr�cticos y educativos para los que est�n aprendiendo o los que quieren soluciones r�pidamente.
- MSDN Flash: A partir de la experiencia, �hay conceptos de desarrollo que no aplican para la nube?
CG: Al ponderar esta pregunta, inmediatamente vino a mi mente lo mucho que ha avanzado la tecnolog�a de computaci�n en la nube en los �ltimos tres a�os. En ese momento hubiera podido contestar con numerosos ejemplos por la falta de integraci�n de mecanismos de autenticaci�n como Active Directory, o integraci�n con modelos de arquitecturas distribuidas, que se hac�an imposibles de manejar en la nube.
Pero las empresas y en particular Microsoft han avanzado mucho, muy r�pidamente. El hecho que Microsoft haya dedicado los �ltimos dos PDCs (Professional Developer Conference) a mejoras en Windows Azure como AppFabric, han avanzado tanto la capacidad de su plataforma que no puedo considerar una soluci�n que no sea posible hacer en la nube.
El �nico factor determinante ser�an aplicaciones de legado muy antiguas que no pudieran conectarse a sistemas en la nube.
- MSDN Flash: �Cu�les son las prestaciones de Windows Azure y SQL Azure que m�s ayudan a los desarrolladores?
CG: Uno de los puntos m�s interesantes para m� acerca de Azure es su CDN (Content Delivery Network), lo cual permite que aunque mi aplicaci�n est� hospedada en la regi�n Noreste de Estados Unidos, por ejemplo, existan mecanismos para hacer CACHE DIN�MICO de datos e informaci�n de mi aplicaci�n en m�ltiples lugares alrededor del mundo, para garantizar disponibilidad y tiempo de respuesta de la aplicaci�n hospedada.
Adicionalmente, AppFabric es una de las caracter�sticas que como desarrollador m�s me orientan a escoger las soluciones de Windows Azure, pues es el ?MiddleWare? ideal para facilitar la interconexi�n de aplicativos, servicios e infraestructura como Active Directory (ADFS) a nuestras aplicaciones. AppFabric reduce la complejidad de aplicativos interconectados como nada que yo haya visto anteriormente.
Por �ltimo, la interoperabilidad de AZURE hacia productos y plataformas de m�ltiples proveedores brinda un gran valor y beneficio al desarrollador. Poder contar con optimizaciones no solo para Visual Studio y las plataformas .NET, sino tambi�n para aplicaciones en JAVA y PHP entre otras, y que todas convivan como aplicaciones nativas y de primer mundo en la plataforma es incre�blemente valioso, y m�s cuando no es necesario una gran cantidad de esfuerzo para que estos componentes se hablen entre s�.
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Which Social Media Sites Are Most Beneficial?
Coming into the New Year, we saw lots of reports that small business owners would be upping their social media spend in 2011. Reports suggested perhaps the “experimentation” days of social media were over and that businesses were beginning to treat it like a real marketing channel, with dedicated resources. To give us some insight into how small businesses are using the medium and where they?re finding success, eMarketer recently highlighted an Adology survey of 752 SMBsRead More
From Small Business Trends
Which Social Media Sites Are Most Beneficial?
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Commodity Markets Mixed as WTI-Brent Spread Widens Again
Proactive Investor submits:
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Commodity markets are trading mixed Thursday, pushed and pulled each way following Japan's S&P downgrade, the U.S. Fed's confirmation it will be continuing the $600 billion bond purchase program, and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announcement that the U.S. will see its largest budget deficit on record at around $1.5 trillion.
The crude oil market sees additional newsflow pushing prices, with the WTI and Brent spread widening once again to over $10/bbl following the weekly Department Of Energy (DoE) oil inventory stats released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) yesterday. Key to the move was yet another increase in stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma, which is the key delivery hub for Nymex West Texas Intermediate, and as such, offers an insight into near-term delivery potential and supply levels for the U.S. benchmark.
Complete Story »
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More Snow
It appears we got hit with another 10-12 inches of snow overnight. Schools are cancelled, and my trains are not running into the city yet. I need to go blow the snow off the driveway, then figure out what I am gong to do today. I was hoping to read the FCIC report, but it [...]
Kate Groombridge Dania Ramirez Lucy Liu LeAnn Rimes Adrianne Curry
Yahoo Lays Off One Percent of Staff in Front of Earnings
Yahoo, which will announce earnings later today, is also laying off another one percent of its staff, according to sources.
The layoffs of well over 100 employees are taking place across the company, although cuts are largely in the media and advertising group.
After initially declining comment, a Yahoo spokeswoman later confirmed the action.
The layoffs of well over 100 employees are taking place across the company, although cuts are largely in the media and advertising group.
After initially declining comment, a Yahoo spokeswoman later confirmed the action.
Jennifer Love Hewitt Tina Fey Gina Philips Jamie Gunns Ananda Lewis
From U.S. to Germany to China?BoomTown Goes Around the (Digital) World in a Week
It's a big, wide and very digital world out there and that's why I'm headed around the globe--quite literally--for the next week to see some non-Silicon Valley tech trends and more.
Brittany Daniel Kate Moss Zhang Ziyi Nikki Reed Natasha Bedingfield
Tesla: Despite Bullish Stance by J.P. Morgan, Investors Have Doubts
Tate Dwinnell submits:
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J.P. Morgan reiterated its Overweight rating on Tesla Motors (TSLA), giving the shares a bit of a boost. They have a one year price target of $30 (about 30% upside) and a three year target in the $40 – $50 range. They believe the majority of the investment community is underestimating the potential of the company with its power-train (used by Daimler (DDAIF.PK) and Toyota (TM)) and non power-train technologies.
The argument out of JP Morgan is certainly a valid one, particularly with Toyota and Daimler on board with the technology, but I still feel that there are better longer term investments out there. For example Nissan (NSANY) which is launching the LEAF is up 50% since July and Toyota Motors (TM) is up 20% in three months. Tesla is down nearly 40% in two months and about flat since the summer highs.
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Blog Post: Recursos de Aprendizaje: C#
Si quieres comenzar tu aprendizaje de C#, o quieres profundizar tus conocimientos en aspectos m�s avanzados, te compartimos hoy un par de recursos de gran valor. Ambos son del sitio Faculty Connection de Microsoft.
Para principiantes en C#, la p�gina Suggested Resources for Introduction to Programming with C# (Recursos sugeridos de introducci�n a la Programaci�n con C#) es un excelente punto de comienzo. Sea que conoces otro lenguaje, como Java, o que reci�n comienzas tu aprendizaje de programaci�n. Incluye hasta materiales de referencia (como libros que puedes buscar en la biblioteca de tu instituci�n educativa), hasta v�nculos a sitios como DreamSpark para que descargues todo el software que necesitas.
En cambio, si ya conoces C#, puedes aprender temas m�s avanzados, aprovechando las descargas del sitio llenas de recursos.
Aseg�rate de visitar el sitio en espa�ol para que aproveches todos los recursos para estudiantes y profesores.
Vanessa Simmons Chyler Leigh Julie Berry Lori Heuring Nicole Scherzinger
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
What Is President Obama?s Sputnik Moment and What Is His Apollo Response?
Bill Black is the author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One and an associate professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a white-collar criminologist who has spent years working on regulatory policy and fraud prevention as Executive Director of the Institute for Fraud [...]
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13 Above Average Stocks: Industry Leaders or Boat Anchors in Disguise?
Kurtis Hemmerling submits:
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The goal of this article is to find superior stocks by analyzing companies outperforming their industry in a few key areas.
In theory, these superior fundamental stocks should be great price performers when tracked over a long period of time. In practice, we need to be careful that while focusing on a few key fundamentals we do not overlook the big picture. There were free drinks and great music being played while the Titanic sank.
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Monetizing Mobile Audio
I'm going to the gym in a few minutes. I'll bring my android and stream some music while I'm on the treadmill. Maybe I'll listen to my soundcloud dropbox, or maybe I'll check out the popular tracks on hypem, or...
Salma Hayek Jennifer Scholle Tatiana Zavialova Tila Tequila Tamie Sheffield
It Finally Dawns on Henry Blodget Why Davos Is Important
The head of a large private equity firm once told me that he spends Davos in the lobby of his hotel with back-to-back appointments booked throughout his time there. For those who wonder why Davos exists–and why it costs so much–the answer lies in its limitations. Davos is simply the global power elite’s family reunion. [...]
Audrina Patridge Simone Mütherthies Carrie Underwood Rosario Dawson Tricia Helfer
Exclusive: Former Facebook Ad Head Mike Murphy Takes Senior Advisor Role at Zynga
Mike Murphy--Facebook's first head of advertising sales, who left the social networking giant in October to take some personal time off--seems done with relaxing.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
He is now taking a part-time, but significant, role at online gaming phenom Zynga to help formulate its advertising strategy.
In addition, though, Murphy is also close to formalizing an additional consulting relationship with Facebook.
Kristin Cavallari Brittany Murphy Britney Spears Amanda Swisten Scarlett Chorvat
Blog: Premier Events f�r Entwickler
�bersicht aller geplanten PSfD Developer Workshops .
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Treasury to Auction Citi Warrants
Zacks.com submits:
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The U.S. Treasury has announced its plan to auction 465.1 million of the Citigroup Inc.’s (C) warrants it holds. The warrants were received as part of the bailout provided to the troubled bank during the financial crisis.
The warrant holders have the option to buy Citi common stock at a fixed price within a specified time period. Lenders also have the right to place bids to buy back the warrants.
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Avalon Holding's Cash Flow Illusion
Sportgamma submits:
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When I began focusing on value investing I started out using a Discounted Cash Flow method to determine the future value of a security. However, the problem with DCF is that it forces you to predict and if you have a long time horizon (say ten years), only a fractional difference in growth rates or risk free rates can move valuations at light year distances.
Consider, for example, a cash flow stream that you would like to discount over ten years with 10 year treasury bonds (3.72% in this example) as a risk free return. Let's assume that the investment is returning $1 in the first year, with an (gu)estimated growth rate of 4%. With these assumptions, the net present value of the investment is $13.17. Now, suppose that the growth rate is 5%. The net present value changes with this increase of one percent to $52.02, an astronomical difference. After tinkering with this method for some time, I came to the conclusion that this forced predicting was leading me astray from finding value. I needed an alternative aproach.
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Social Customer Relationship Management with Rapportive
Do you use Google Gmail and are you looking for an easy way to keep on top of your business contacts? Consider Rapportive.
Most CRM platforms demand that you be in their dashboard or application to see details about a customer.� That means one more app to keep open on your desktop.� Rapportive aims to do away with that, at least for Gmail users, by providing you with social data in the right-hand column of your inbox.
You can seeRead More
From Small Business Trends
Social Customer Relationship Management with Rapportive
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Blog Post: Links a documentos p�blicos, gu�as, manuales, paquete de idiomas.
Marisa Tomei Shannyn Sossamon Rachael Leigh Cook Elisha Cuthbert Ciara
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