HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hcy@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (hon-chi.yu)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: more options question (Summary)
Date: 17 Apr 92 21:08:38 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Apr17.181947.12605@cbnewsk.cb.att.com> lor@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (edward.lor) writes:
>In article <1992Apr17.161600.20611@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> hcy@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (hon-chi.yu) writes:
>
   ..............................................................

>Well, suppose 
>
>-- IBM is $80.75, 
>-- the option's strike price is $80,
>-- 20 contracts (2000 shares),
>-- principal of buying = $160,000,
>-- principal of selling = $161,500,
>-- commissions of buying and selling = $663.65,
>-- max. gain before commission = $1500,
>-- max. gain after commission = $836.35.

You are right, I forgot that the cost of commission decreases somewhat as a
percentage when the transaction is so big.

>
>Of course, taking into account the option premium, say, 1/16, and 
>its buying commission, the net gain is about $676.25. It's still a nice
>profit from the principal of $161.10 (the amount you pay for the option
>+ commission).
>

However, I do not think it's fair to assume such a low premium (1/16) for
a stock price of $80.  I wonder how many people would want to take the 
considerable risk and write an option for such a small amount.
Thanks for the info.


Hon Yu

>However, in this example, the stock price should be at least $80.375 before 
>you exercse it.
>
>-- 
>                                          Edward Lor
>                                          lor@cbnewsk.att.com
>
From: burgin@hatteras.cs.unc.edu (Robert Burgin)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Message for Tom@@
Keywords: Email Kicked It Back
Date: 15 Apr 92 11:41:48 GMT

Tom--

Thanks for the compliments.  My best advice on stocks right now
is to be careful.  I think that the market is overvalued and that
the first rise in interest rates (which may not come until after
the election) will set off a major bear market.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough about Cray or TMEX to advise.
I tend to look for stocks with low PE ratios, historically high
dividend yields, little debt, and good return on equity.

Good luck.
--rb
From: tucker@shiva.edsg.hac.com (George Tucker)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Long term index options
Date: 9 Apr 92 18:35:06 GMT
Reply-To: tucker@shiva.hac.com (George Tucker)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, CA

In article <jog.702781257@kpc.com> jog@kpc.com (Rajeev Jog) writes:
>tucker@shiva.edsg.hac.com (George Tucker) writes:
>
>>Every week in Barron's there are listings for long-term index options
>>(LSW for S&P500 Dec. 93, etc.).  My broker (Waterhouse) says they don't
>>exist.  Who is right?
 
>Barron's; the WSJ has them too.  I tried to get PBS to give me quotes on
>them, but they didn't know much about them, and couldn't get the quote
>unless I gave them the symbol.  

Waterhouse has an after-hours service with a bit more time to look up these
things.  Try symbols QSPX and QSPL for S&P500 Dec. 93 puts and calls.
I didn't learn which is which.

Does anyone know where to find a list of option symbols?


	George Tucker        tucker@kali.hac.com
		Just say NO to incumbents.
From: lor@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (edward.lor)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: more options question
Date: 15 Apr 92 02:17:24 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Apr14.184426.21030@cbnews.cb.att.com> ask@cbnews.cb.att.com (Arthur S. Kamlet) writes:
>The commissions will hurt you, but
>help the friendly broker who will, in fact, exercise for you if left
>to their own choice.
>
>There's sense to this.  Let's say the option is $15 in the money;
>surely you would not want the option to expire worthless!!
Another point: is it very difficult to sell a $15 in the money
option close to expiration date? Why would anybody want to buy
such an expensive option with little potential return? Say, an increase of
$1 in the stock is only an increase of 6% in the option premium.

If so, is exercising the option the only way out?

-- 
                                          Edward Lor
                                          lor@cbnewsk.att.com
                                          
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne)
Subject: Re: Windows 3.1 launch
Organization: Gotham Communications Research, Laurel, MD
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1992 13:41:05 GMT

In article <ktuoamINNaui@alhena.usc.edu> ajayshah@alhena.usc.edu (Ajay Shah) writes:
>barbon_m@eis.dofasco.ca writes:
>
>>> I was thinking this might be a good short term play since they are expected
>>> to ship over 1 million of these things within a week of lauch. How does the
>>> company rate otherwise (ie. debt load etc...)?
>
>Actually don't count on it.
>Surveys show that roughly 1 in 6 people who purchased windows 3
>actually boots his computer with it.  The marketing guys did a
>terrific job of whipping up media hysteria at the last launch.
>Presumably many buyers will be wiser the second time around.
>
>That gives us a remarkably low penetration of windows into the PC
>market, contrary to what is commonly talked of.  There are roughly 50
>million PCs in the world, roughly 10 million purchased windows, and
>roughly 1 million is booting windows.
>
Let's not just bash MS without some facts here. In 1991, $5.7E9 worth of
software was sold, an increase of about 25% over 1990. MS had more than
$1.5E9 of that total, an increase also of about 25%. Sales of Windows
applications (Total $ figure not available) were up 196% over 1990.
The above are from the Software Publisher's Association, quoted in the
3/27/92 WSJ, Page B3 and from MS's annual report.

Now, companies whose annual growth is >20% have very high stock prices,
and MS is no exception. But look at past performance. 

	April 1990	$55.00
	June  1990	$87.00

After adjustment for a 3 for 2 split,

	April 1992	$180.00

What, you mean I could have tripled my money in 2 years with Microsoft?
Yes, and what's to say you can't do it again? Growth in the PC software
market is hardly declining, and if people can tell me why it is, I would
like to know.

Robert
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: cosc4hf@menudo.uh.edu (Aditya Talwar)
Subject: Summary for Beginning Mutual Fund Search
Organization: University of Houston
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 03:15:15 GMT

Hi Investors:
A while back I had requested, the following:
--------------------------------------------------------------
|The articles on Mutual Growth Fund and Market Corrections have
|made insightful readings and given a lot of information. Thanks
|to all those who are posting. I have a question and request?
|
|Request: Can someone mail me 800 numbers of mutual growth fund companies?
|If they haven't been summarized, I will try to do that and
|post a summary (PAX, 20th Century, etc) ?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to all who responded and advised. Here is the Summary. I have
clipped names....of contributors

*****************************************************************
1.
Libraries often have investment tables on which books and magazine
specials on mutual funds reside.  Many of these have the phone
numbers you are looking for.  The most comprehensive list should
be in the Barron's quarterly mutual fund issues.
2. 
funds,mutual founders  H:     (800)525-2440  O:     (800)525-2440
funds,mutual gabelli  H:     (800)422-3554  O:     (800)422-3554
funds,mutual janus  H:     (800)525-6125  O:     (800)525-3713
funds,mutual price  H:     (800)225-5132  O:     (800)225-5132
funds,mutual schwab  H:          735-0100  O:          735-0100
funds,mutual twentieth  H:     (800)345-2021  O:     (800)345-2021
3.
Investor's Business Daily carries telephone numbers for most of the funds
it lists every day.  Check it out....
4.
pick up an issue of Money or other investor magazine. try to get hold of an 
issue that has compared a large group of funds or something.
800 numbers are listed there.
If you're looking for a specific fund, call 1-800-555-1212 and ask.
5
There's Money and Kiplinger's Personal Finance for Stage 1.
For Stage 2: Barrons and other Mutual Fund letters.
*******************************************************************
From: ask@cbnews.cb.att.com (Arthur S. Kamlet)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: JW Gant: EuroDisney. Anyone heard of them?
Date: 8 Apr 92 17:45:40 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories,  Columbus, Ohio

In article <86sK02I90fQn01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> nyp00@cd.amdahl.com (Nick Pang) writes:
>Anyone heard of JW Gant Brokers? I've been getting phonecalls from them lately.
>EuroDisney ADR and Zero Coupon Bonds is their latest. I just happen to be 
>considering both of them in my investments but I am not sure if I want to get
>it through them (I haven't checked with Schwab yet).
> 
>Any info is appreciated, either on JW Gant or EuroDisney.

Some time back I got suckered in by JWGant and I regret it.

They are Colorado firm, but have offices where many retired folks
live, like South Florida.  They have lots of dealings in small
issues in which they are one of the few market makers, and charge
large commissions in addition to the markup, and also charge
something like $25 "service/mailing" charge for every buy and sell.

Because of my bad experience with them, and their very high
commissions and "service charges" -- and some bad experiences
I had talking with an office manager, I do not recommend JWGant.

I don't know anything about the particular issues you describe.
-- 
Art Kamlet  a_s_kamlet@att.com  AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: chandrab@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (b.chandramouli)
Subject: Discount Broker Info Needed
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 04:57:46 GMT


I have been using Aufhauser and Fidelity Brokerage for my recent
trading needs. Fidelity commissions are on the higher side of my
liking. I would like to pay  closer to what Aufhauser charges.
My main problem with Aufhauser is that they require some amount of
money to be in the account before they will accept a trade request.
Like, if there is $3000 in the account, they will let you buy $5000
worth of stocks. Which deep discount broker is competitive with Aufhauser
but still allows for 5 business days to settle the account with out
any restrictions like mentioned above? Thanks.

chandra
att!acpfs!chandra
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: jp@faron.mitre.org (Jeffrey Picciotto)
Subject: Re: 401K Vesting Question
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 14:17:28 GMT

>> This is false.  The Feds impose no such restriction. [on 401(k)]
>
> Just goes to show that you shouldn't believe everything you hear.

Or read.  I was wrong.  My statement only applies to 403(b) & 401(a) accounts.
Your account manager is probably correct about the applicable 401(k) laws.
My apologies to anybody who was misled by my statement.

--jeff (mouth shut, now) picciotto
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: jmaster@intelhf.hf.intel.com (Justin Masters)
Subject: Re: JW Gant: EuroDisney. Anyone heard of them?
Reply-To: jmasters@pcocd2.intel.com
Organization: Development Tools Operation, Intel Corp., Hillsboro  OR
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 92 21:54:38 GMT

jackson@caspian.eng.hou.compaq.com (Mike Jackson) writes:

>In article <86sK02I90fQn01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> nyp00@cd.amdahl.com (Nick Pang) writes:
>>Anyone heard of JW Gant Brokers? I've been getting phonecalls from them lately.
>>EuroDisney ADR and Zero Coupon Bonds is their latest. I just happen to be 
>>considering both of them in my investments but I am not sure if I want to get
>>it through them (I haven't checked with Schwab yet).
>> 
>>Any info is appreciated, either on JW Gant or EuroDisney.

>For what it's worth, I have a poor impression of JW Gant.  They called me and sent
>'newsletters' that were so folksy as to be silly, and then actually hung up on me
>(with a degrading remark) when I replied to one phone call that I wasn't going to
>do any investing right now.  I think they must be a super-high-pressure sales org-
>anization that is just calling everyone they can find in hopes of getting orders 
>from a few.

>-Mike 

Here's my impression of JW. Gant.  They're based in Colorado (Colorado Springs?)
Someone called me from their office in Florida.  They were pressuring me to buy
from a place called Beverly Hills Fan Company.  Common sense told me not to 
go with it, but I succumbed to the high pressure.  After kicking myself in 
the rear for falling to this for one month, I closed my account.  I was really
upset about the high commission fees.

I always seemed to get ahold of the agent handling my stuff.

However,

A couple of months ago there was this liiiiittle article in the Wall Street 
Journal that said that the state of Florida was about to close JW Gant for 
their high pressure tactics and excessive commissions (this in the wake of
JW Gant trying to open another office in Florida).  They also had numerous
other allegations placed against them.

I felt bad about it from the beginning, and this article just re-affirmed it.

I'd say stay VERY FAR AWAY from them.  They always seem to have this "Hot Stock"
That's about to make it big.  Well, the stock I got into went down.  I didn't 
lose more than $300 (most in commissions).  It would have been much more had
I fallen for the whole spiel.  I've watched this stock some more, and it's 
gone nowhere but down.

Be careful of these "special deals" as they are most likely being sold to 
suckers because of a special commission from the owners of the stock.
From: tucker@shiva.edsg.hac.com (George Tucker)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: JW Gant: EuroDisney. Anyone heard of them?
Date: 10 Apr 92 17:38:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: hacgate.21197
Reply-To: tucker@shiva.hac.com (George Tucker)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, CA

I rather liked the JW Gant newsletters, but when they called back and I
said I was interested in CML Group the guy would not talk about anything
but his latest telephone hot tip.  So they lost a potential customer and
I missed doubling my money.  (BTW, the hot tip plummeted.)  Avoid them.
All these cold-call brokers seem to be the same; they want you to buy
immediately just because they say some stock will go up.  Better to throw
darts at the listings.

EuroDisney preferred has been touted by a lot of people for some time.  
It did not seem to be listed in the US, so I have not bothered to check 
on it.

	George Tucker        tucker@kali.hac.com
		Just say NO to incumbents.
From: mccrate@wdi.COM (mail account for Joe McCrate x2681)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Which companies will sell you their stock directly?
Date: 17 Apr 92 01:29:51 GMT
Organization: Western Digital - Imaging, Mtn. View, CA

AT&T does.
From: lib@cbnews.cb.att.com (Lib)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Message for Tom@@
Keywords: Email Kicked It Back
Date: 15 Apr 92 12:11:15 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <11323@borg.cs.unc.edu> burgin@hatteras.cs.unc.edu (Robert Burgin) writes:
>
>I tend to look for stocks with low PE ratios, historically high
>dividend yields, little debt, and good return on equity.

Can you suggest a few issues which fill the bill at this time?
  
Thanx.
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: sehari@iastate.edu (Babak Sehari)
Subject: Re: Windows 3.1 launch
Originator: sehari@selma.ecss.iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 21:04:45 GMT

In <1992Apr13.194603.5990@highlite.uucp> burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne) writes:

>In article <sehari.702759692@du139-201.cc.iastate.edu> sehari@iastate.edu (Babak Sehari) writes:
>>
>>However, I believe MS did not gain all that popularity by it's own virtue.  MS
>>gained most it's  popularity by closely cooperating with IBM.  As, most of 
>>you know IBM came out with the original PC. 

>So what the heck does that have to do with anything _now_? 

>>Now, with IBM beating MS and other more innovative companies such as Borland,
>>Digital Research (DRDOS), and even to some extent ATT's Unix are 
>>competing for the same piece of pie, I do not think MS could continue to 
>>increase revenue with the same peace as before.  AS a result, it just 
>>need only one quarter of not meeting the speculator's demand, i.e. it's 
>>earning growth does not match the wall street's expected earning
>>growth, to lose most of it's exaggerated value.
>>
>>Now, do not misunderstand me, I am not saying it won't be a profitable company.
>>What I am saying is the earning GROWTH might not match the previous years.

>Microsoft has a ton of products available now that weren't available last 
>year during 25% growth. Many, many products. And they just bought Fox.

>The situation will hardly reverse itself. More users enter the market every day.Existing customers update products.

>>On the same note, IBM might surprise all the wise kids this time with better
>>performance.  Unlike MS, which is in favor now, IBM is out of favor. 
>>Eventhough, the price is not still right, but when and if it hits to low  
>>60's or high 50's, it is the stock to have, at least for short term. Off 
>>course, the assumption is interest  rates stay the same or go lower.

>Sorry, but IBM is out of it as an investment company. The stock is worth less
>today (adjusted for inflation & including dividends) than it was 10 years
>ago. People who understand the computer market have only negative things to
>say about buying IBM.

>Just my opinions.

>Robert

Dear Robert,

   Do you have to make an ass of yourself, on word of some "people who 
understand computer market"?! -:) These "people" change their word every
few month. Frankly speaking, any stock would go from over bought to over sold
position several times a year.  Now, you should find out when it is over sold.

                      With highest regards,
                           Babak   Sehari.
From: brody@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Adam R. Brody )
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Computation of cost basis for shares.
Keywords: Mutual fund, Average cost basis, single_category
Date: 13 Apr 92 21:46:10 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center

sassnm@unx.sas.com (Sanjay Matange) writes:

>There is a detail about computing the Average cost basis for shares of a
>mutual find that has me confused.  I am hoping that some one of you 
>misc.invest "gurus" can clear it for me.

>I have bought and sold over the past year some shares in a mutual fund.  I am
>trying to compute the gain/loss for each sell transaction.  I am using the
>method of Average basis using the Single_category method, as per pub. 564 of
>IRS.  I am confused about a detail about computation of the basis AFTER a sale.

>Does a sale cause the basis computation to change, to take into account ONLY
>those shares that are still in the portfolio.  Or, is the basis computed
>using all shares that have been bought, regardless whether some have been
>already sold at the time of the current sale being considered?

Basically, when calculating the avg basis after a sale, you have to 
subtract from your cumulative dollar amount just like you subtract from 
your cum shares value.  The key is, your basis does not change with
the sale. 
If, before your sale, your basis was 10.  And
you sell 10 out of your 20 shares.  And you buy another 5 shares
@ 15.  Your new average basis is $(5*15)+(10*10)/(10+15).  Your
selling price does not affect your basis.
From: winstonc@aludra.usc.edu (|)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: So-called Experts and Timing ( Re: Time to invest in Japan Fund??)
Date: 13 Apr 1992 13:18:52 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: aludra.usc.edu

In article <34219@unix.SRI.COM> Ari_Kornfeld@QM.SRI.COM (Ari Kornfeld) writes:
 >
 >Satya:
 >
 >  You are a big fan of cost averaging (i've noticed it in every post of
 >your i've read).  And you are right that the best strategy is buy low
 >sell high.  However that strategy contains a big assumption:  that you
 >will reach a high (in reasonable time).
 >
 >  If you invested in a single stock that eventually went bankrupt using you
 >methods you would have invested quite a bit of money and lost it all.  Now
 >I doubt that every component of the nikkei (250?) will go bankrupt, or

Nikkei 225

 >even if one will die but it is quite likely that the market will not reach
 >its old high for several years to come.  Meanwhile you have essentially given
 >these companies a free loan.  While that's very charitable I don't think
 >that's your goal.
 >

To be precise, you don't give the companies a loan because the companies
don't get any of the money. The only money they receive is during the
initial underwriting. However, what you do do is you take a losing stock (or
group of stocks) off the hands of someone who would have otherwise kept
it. So you could say that you've given five years (if it takes that
long to break even) of risk-free interest to someone you don't even
know. 


>  As you point out, only hindsight will justify *any* investment strategy
>including cost averaging.
>

An article I read says that about half the time, putting all the money
in a certain stock at a randomly selected time beats averaging down. 
Martin Zweig doesn't like it either, because he disdains buying into
weakness.

>In article <1992Apr11.071021.17881@cs.umn.edu>, prabhak@cs.umn.edu (Satya Prabhakar) writes:
>> 
>> Definitely! Dollar-cost average AT ALL TIMES! If it makes
>> you feel any better I started dollar-cost averaging into
>> T Rowe Price's Japan Fund when the Nikkei was at 19,000.
>> Each time it drops by 500 points, I invest an additional
>> amount (half of my original investment). In a way, I feel
>> good when Nikkei drops because it gives me another chance to buy
>> into Japan at a low price.
>> 
>> >Rohit
>> 
>> Satya Prabhakar (satya@ssdc.honeywell.com)
>> 
>> 


-- 
Winston Chang		    "Truth is beauty, beauty truth;
winstonc@aludra.usc.edu	     That is all ye know on earth,
			     And all ye need to know."
From: timlee@public.btr.com
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: mutual fund indices?
Date: 12 Apr 92 04:46:43 GMT
Reply-To: timlee@btr.com (Timothy J. Lee)
Followup-To: misc.invest

met@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu writes:
|Since I realized that firm-specific data about mutual fund performances
|were so infrequent (annual, bi-annual, or at the most quarterly) I 
|started wondering whether there are any indices for mutual funds which
|are quoted on a more regular basis.

There is a Lipper Mutual Fund Averages table in Barron's, after the
open end mutual fund price listings.

Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne)
Subject: Re: Is IBM stock worth buying?
Organization: Gotham Communications Research, Laurel, MD
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1992 13:42:39 GMT

In article <1992Apr5.115247.2581@spcvxb.spc.edu> eisler_b@spcvxb.spc.edu (Barry Eisler) writes:
>/subject=Is IBM stock worth buying?
>
>Is IBM stock worth buying for long term investment? It is at a low. Does anyone 
>feel it will ever go back to the $150+ range?
>
>IBM dividends have been $1.21 the last few quarters. What other stocks have 
>consistant high dividends? 

USF&G preferred pays about 12% and it is convertible to common stock. If the
common goes up, so with the preferred.

Robert 
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: whitley@mksol.dseg.ti.com 
Subject: PrimAmerica 
Keywords: PrimAmerica
Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 21:14:35 GMT


   Has anyone had any experience with PrimAmerica?  I am mainly

   concerned with Mutual Funds.  I was told that I could earn 12%

   on Mutual Funds.  Is this reliable?


   Any Help would be appreciated.



   Regards,

   Harlan


*******************************************************************************
HLW  ***Disclaimer*** My opinions are my own and noone else can claim them.

******************************************************************************* 

Newsgroups: misc.invest