trader_murf

9 Comments

    • Middle Class Retail Sales Point to Continued Weakness [view article]
      Love your article as always. Just a personal and not particularly researched comment about unemployment. The Feds approved a 13 week extension in UIB for anyone whose benefits expired before May 2007 and is currently unemployed. It seems to require state by state approval. The extension was approved here in NYS by Gov. Patterson for the week of July 13th I think it was. I looked at an article about the most recent unemployment stats and Alaska and RI approved the extension for the week of July 19th (?). Anyway the point is I think there is far more unemployment out there that will gradually show up in the numbers. I don't know if these 13 week extensions are considered "new" or "ongoing" claims. A 13 week extension can be a lifesaver but no replacement for employment. In any event none of this looks good for retailers or the economy. Also it is laughable that there are still politicians and pundits debating if there will be a recession. Aug 08 12:53 PM
    • Starbucks on Sale (Part I) [view article]
      I want to believe in this stock, I really do. I gradually took a position earlier in the year and held it for a bit. I listened to Q2 conference call and it seemed more like motivational speaking from the late 1980's than anything solid to get the company back on track. I mean retrain the 20-somethings to pay attention to the customer and make a cup of coffee - duh. Then I was particularly disillusioned after being with 2 friends and not being able to get a seat in a SBUX in NYC. NO, it wasn't that the place was loaded with customers the tables were taken up with laptops, some empty beverage containers and at least one apparently homeless person. We went to a nearby SBUX about a block away. Counter service was okay, we were able to get seats but had to clear the dirty table we were finally able to get. The tables and floor were generally dirty, if there was any management there was no evidence of such. The final turning point was when SBUX was still hiring and an extremely competent, experienced but older (50's) friend of mind went on a cattle call interview. The interviewer was apparently clueless and when SBUX was hiring there was absolutely age bias against older workers. Well great, clueless motivational management, prejudice against hiring experienced workers, filthy tables, seats taken up with laptops and empty cups. I sold my entire position for a modest profit at $18.40. Hiring, firing, high prices, giving stuff away, this company doesn't know which end is up. I have not listened to the Q3 conference call. If this thing turns around I don't think it will be any time soon, rather I think it will be dead money especially in this economy. If I were in it I would definitely check the charts and see where support/resistance is. I haven't looked at it in a while but if there is nothing underneath I wouldn't hang around at this time. Aug 02 06:01 PM
    • Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [view article]
      Yes I absolutely love the summary and read each day, thanks for the above comment to remind me to say thank you! It just puts everything together in one place. Great. Jul 24 09:22 AM
    • Big Lots, Wal-Mart and Costco: 3 Musketeers of the Pooring of America [view article]
      I have been looking at Costco here but it seems to have resistance somewhere between 74.47 and 75. Looks like it could go back to 70 or even 67.85 before going higher. I found the comment about increasing costs of Chinese imports interesting and something to consider. In any event I think it is time for me to get a membership to shop there even if I don't buy the stock. Thanks for the article. Jul 05 07:27 PM
    • What Was Left Out of the Jobs Report [view article]
      Good analysis, what I have figured intuitively and from my experience. And hey, kmne68 guess you still have a job, don't need to watch dollars spent in the supermarket, were long oil, with impeccable timing in Ag and materials and are now short everything else! Well, duck and cover and good luck to all! Jul 05 07:02 PM
    • Three Reasons Boeing Looks Powerful [view article]
      I agree with analysis. Unfortunately when the stampede is under way it is tough to go against the crowd. Like fatcat above altho I started to scale in far below the top I've been thrown off horses less painful than this ride. But I think the thesis holds. The real key seems to be the price of oil, even a modest temporary pullback could give BA a nice bump enough to scale back position. I do miss the buy and hold and just pulling profits off stuff days! Jun 27 09:58 AM
    • Why Today Is Different From the Inflationary 1970s [view article]
      Inflation? What inflation? Certain things are cheaper relatively speaking like electronics and clothing. A recent trip to Kohl's had many household items buy one get one free. I recently bought designer jeans for the same price as a roasting chicken. Only a slight exaggeration. Now if I could just eat the jeans... or run my car on the buy one get one free dish towels... Jun 16 11:38 PM
    • Why Tax Credits for Health Insurance Won't Work [view article]
      Interesting article. I worked in health care for decades and the system is absolutely broken on all sides. The idea of a tax credit for health insurance is a joke like a band aid for a hemorrhage. I was fortunate enough to have an individual health insurance policy during my years working as an independent contractor and now through my partner's former employer. However, here in New York City if, and it is a big if, you could even find a policy $5000 might cover 2 to 3 months of health insurance for two people. If you are in your 50's and have had so much as a hang nail you are uninsurable. I have seen many of my otherwise middle class and by the way middle aged friends lose jobs, eventually lose COBRA and have no insurance. It simply doesn't exist at any price. Tax credit is just another way for Washington fat cats to pretend like they are doing something to help middle and working class Americans with this health care disgrace. Also it isn't like health care should be free but there should be some way that people who have put into this society for 30 or 40 working years can purchase affordable insurance and in this country a $5000 tax credit is meaningless at least here in New York. Jun 16 12:08 AM
    • Lies, Damn Lies and the Unemployment Rate [view article]
      Very thoughtful article, I have reasoned these things through myself over the years having spent many years at one time in my life as an independent contractor in healthcare and was myself never considered unemployed nor eligible for unemployment benefits when I wasn't able to get work. Also I have quite a number of friends in their mid to late 50's age group laid off from corporate jobs in the past couple of years who are completely unable to find any work full or part time for any salary and I mean nothing. Ageism is alive and well. Ask any 55 year old interviewed by a 20-something doing the hiring. Some are "lucky" enough to have a pension at maybe half of what it would have been had they been allowed to work another 5 or 6 years to full pension age. Great to be considered "retired" but the truth is there isn't enough pension to cover increasing utility, food, healthcare, insurance, gas and other basic necessities, a part-time job is not a time filling luxury but a necessity. After 6 months of unemployment benefits none of us 50-somethings that nobody wants to hire are counted in unemployment stats. But then the politicians can complain about the burden we will be on the social security system in a few years. I have many years of work experience and totally agree with the above post that employees are regarded as disposable, replaceable commodities. And for anyone who believes the published government stats on anything, well, I got 3 great candidates for President... Apr 03 12:52 AM
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