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<p>Last November, I compared Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW) with FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE) to see which one was <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/09/better-buy-palo-alto-networks-inc-vs-fireeye-inc.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">the better play Opens a New Window.</a> on the growing cybersecurity market. I concluded that FireEye was a slightly better pick than Palo Alto, due to its cost-cutting measures, lower valuation, and takeover potential.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Since that article was published, shares of Palo Alto have fallen 30%, while shares of FireEye have declined 8%. So while FireEye fared better than Palo Alto, both stocks would have lost you money. Therefore, it's time to take a fresh look at both stocks to see if either stock is a worthy investment at current prices.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Palo Alto Networks provides companies with next-gen firewalls, which beef up traditional firewalls with network device filtering tools. The company serves over 37,500 customers in over 150 countries, which includes 85 of theFortune 100 and half of the Global 2000.</p>
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<p>FireEye provides threat detection services, which try to intercept threats beforethey breach perimeter defenses like next-gen firewalls. The company serves over 5,000 customers in 67 countries, including nearly half of the Global 2000.</p>
<p>Both companies are considered "best in breed" players which have been granted major certifications by the U.S. government. Palo Alto's firewalls areapproved for major U.S. government agencies like the Department of Defense, and FireEye became the first cybersecurity company certified byHomeland Security in 2015.</p>
<p>Image source: FireEye.</p>
<p>Palo Alto's revenue rose 49% to $1.4 billion last year, andanalysts expect another 25% growth this year. Those numbers look robust, but the bears have noted that its growth could plateau in the near future.</p>
<p>FireEye's revenue rose15% to $714 million last year, but analysts expect just 1% growth this year. That massive slowdown was caused by two main factors. First, demand for its on-site appliances is declining. Second, FireEye's strategy of moving customers to cloud-based services generates lower initial revenues than the installation of on-site appliances.</p>
<p>FireEye's sales growth looks dismal compared to Palo Alto's, but FireEye's EV/Sales ratio of 2.8 is also much lower than Palo Alto's EV/Sales ratio of 6. FireEye has an enterprise value of just $2 billion, compared to Palo Alto's value of $9.4 billion.That lower valuation and price tag could make FireEye a much more lucrative takeover target than Palo Alto.</p>
<p>Palo Alto is profitable on a non-GAAP basis, but its GAAP losses are widening. Its non-GAAP earnings nearly doubled last year, but its non-GAAP loss widened from $165 million to $226 million. The main culprit was stock-based compensation (SBC), which gobbled up 30% of its total revenues. Analysts expect its non-GAAP earnings to grow 49% this year, but its GAAP numbers are expected to remain deep in the red.</p>
<p>FireEye wasn't profitable by either non-GAAP or GAAP metrics in 2016, but its losses narrowed by both measures. This was mainly attributed to layoffs and other cost-cutting measures implemented byCEO Kevin Mandia, who took over the top spot last June. However, SBC expenses still ate up 28% of its revenues during the year.</p>
<p>Palo Alto and FireEye face similar SBC problems because they are both based in the pricey Bay Area and their cash flows can't support higher cash salaries. This is problematic because both companies will eventually need to boost R&amp;D and marketing spending to develop new products, win new customers, and widen their moats.</p>
<p>Palo Alto and FireEye both face tough competition from bigger tech companies like Cisco and Microsoft, which can use acquisitions and bundling strategies to reduce the need for stand-alone cybersecurity providers. In response, Palo Alto and FireEye are both expanding their services into all-in-one "platforms" which add additional features to their core firewall and threat detection products.</p>
<p>FireEye's Helix bundles its network, endpoint, Threat Analytics Platform, Advanced Threat Intelligence, and FireEye Security Orchestrator together in a unified system witha single user interface. Palo Alto's Next-Generation Security Platform offersa similar suite of services. These platforms are expected to stabilize both companies' top lines with recurring revenue growth over the next few years.</p>
<p>I'm still not a buyer of either stock, because I personally believe that consistently GAAP-profitable players like CyberArk and Check Point Software are still safer plays on the cybersecurity market.</p>
<p>But if you must choose one over the other, FireEye is still the better bet, due to its lower valuation, higher takeover potential, tighter financial discipline, and the long-term growth of its Helix platform. Palo Alto's business is still growing, but I wouldn't touch it until it can narrow its GAAP losses.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Palo Alto NetworksWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=49833b65-df9b-4164-8dc8-9869b7becdbc&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Palo Alto Networks wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017</p>
<p>Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Cisco Systems. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Check Point Software Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Cisco Systems, CyberArk Software, FireEye, and Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | last november compared palo alto networks nyse panw fireeye nasdaq feye see one better play opens new window growing cybersecurity market concluded fireeye slightly better pick palo alto due costcutting measures lower valuation takeover potential continue reading since article published shares palo alto fallen 30 shares fireeye declined 8 fireeye fared better palo alto stocks would lost money therefore time take fresh look stocks see either stock worthy investment current prices image source getty images palo alto networks provides companies nextgen firewalls beef traditional firewalls network device filtering tools company serves 37500 customers 150 countries includes 85 thefortune 100 half global 2000 advertisement fireeye provides threat detection services try intercept threats beforethey breach perimeter defenses like nextgen firewalls company serves 5000 customers 67 countries including nearly half global 2000 companies considered best breed players granted major certifications us government palo altos firewalls areapproved major us government agencies like department defense fireeye became first cybersecurity company certified byhomeland security 2015 image source fireeye palo altos revenue rose 49 14 billion last year andanalysts expect another 25 growth year numbers look robust bears noted growth could plateau near future fireeyes revenue rose15 714 million last year analysts expect 1 growth year massive slowdown caused two main factors first demand onsite appliances declining second fireeyes strategy moving customers cloudbased services generates lower initial revenues installation onsite appliances fireeyes sales growth looks dismal compared palo altos fireeyes evsales ratio 28 also much lower palo altos evsales ratio 6 fireeye enterprise value 2 billion compared palo altos value 94 billionthat lower valuation price tag could make fireeye much lucrative takeover target palo alto palo alto profitable nongaap basis gaap losses widening nongaap earnings nearly doubled last year nongaap loss widened 165 million 226 million main culprit stockbased compensation sbc gobbled 30 total revenues analysts expect nongaap earnings grow 49 year gaap numbers expected remain deep red fireeye wasnt profitable either nongaap gaap metrics 2016 losses narrowed measures mainly attributed layoffs costcutting measures implemented byceo kevin mandia took top spot last june however sbc expenses still ate 28 revenues year palo alto fireeye face similar sbc problems based pricey bay area cash flows cant support higher cash salaries problematic companies eventually need boost rampd marketing spending develop new products win new customers widen moats palo alto fireeye face tough competition bigger tech companies like cisco microsoft use acquisitions bundling strategies reduce need standalone cybersecurity providers response palo alto fireeye expanding services allinone platforms add additional features core firewall threat detection products fireeyes helix bundles network endpoint threat analytics platform advanced threat intelligence fireeye security orchestrator together unified system witha single user interface palo altos nextgeneration security platform offersa similar suite services platforms expected stabilize companies top lines recurring revenue growth next years im still buyer either stock personally believe consistently gaapprofitable players like cyberark check point software still safer plays cybersecurity market must choose one fireeye still better bet due lower valuation higher takeover potential tighter financial discipline longterm growth helix platform palo altos business still growing wouldnt touch narrow gaap losses 10 stocks like better palo alto networkswhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right palo alto networks wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns april 3 2017 teresa kersten employee linkedin member motley fools board directors linkedin owned microsoft leo sun opens new window owns shares cisco systems motley fool owns shares recommends check point software technologies motley fool recommends cisco systems cyberark software fireeye palo alto networks motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 617 |
<p />
<p>With prices rising as much as 21% last August, gold looked to be bouncing back last year from the slide it has endured since 2013. Donald Trump's election put an end to that climb, though: From the election to the end of December, the price of gold fell nearly 11%.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>In the midst of this volatility, shares of Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD) climbed more than 70%. Identifying itself as a "lower-risk investment opportunity," Royal Gold operates as a royalty and streaming company, providing investors interested in gold with an alternative to gold-mining companies.Let's dig into the company's performance in 2016 and see what we can expect in 2017.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Although Royal Gold receives royalties from numerous metals, including silver, copper, lead, and zinc, the company's revenue is primarily generated from gold -- 85% in fiscal 2016. Reporting fiscal 2016 revenue of $359.8 million, Royal Gold, whose fiscal year ends on June 30, saw a 29.4% increase over the $278.0 million in revenue it reported for fiscal 2015. This performance translated to adjusted EBITDA of $259.8 million for fiscal 2016 -- a 20% increase over the $216.5 million it reported in fiscal 2015.</p>
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<p>Streamlining its portfolio, Royal Gold invested approximately $1.3 billion in stream interests during fiscal 2016. Unlike royalties, a metal stream is a purchase agreement thatprovides the right to purchase all or a portion of one ormore metals produced from a mine, at a price determined for the term of the agreement,in exchange for an upfront deposit payment.</p>
<p>Of the $1.3 billion in investments, Royal Gold acquired a gold stream on the Andacollo copper-gold mine in fiscal 2016, terminating the previously held royalty.One of the primary contributors to Royal Gold's revenue growth last year was the Andacollo mine, operated byTeck Resources Limited. In its annual report, management acknowledged that the new deal will help "offset the declining gold grade profileat the mine and is expected to provide revenue to RoyalGold for the next several decades."</p>
<p>In addition to Andacollo, Royal Gold acquired a gold and silver stream at the Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic. Closing on the $610 million transaction with Barrick Gold in September 2015, Royal Gold reported $39.7 million in revenue from Pueblo Viejo in fiscal 2016. According to management, this is just the beginning of a beautiful relationship; it expects production to extend through the next several decades.</p>
<p>Yet another highlight from last year, Royal Gold entered into a $175 million agreement with New Gold for the acquisition of a gold and silver stream at the Rainy River project in Ontario. Production at the mine is expected to begin in the middle of the calendar year, but because Royal Gold's fiscal year ends June 30, it's unclear how much -- if at all -- the stream will contribute to the company's fiscal 2017 revenue. Management estimates that Rainy River has a 14-year mine life and will "become a strong revenuecontributor when production commences."</p>
<p>Expecting to close on the transaction during either the first or second quarter of fiscal 2017, Royal Gold will amend its existing streaming agreement with Centerra Gold. Whereas Royal Gold currently has a 52.25% gold streaming interest at the Mount Milligan gold-copper mine, this will be reduced to 35%; however, Royal Gold will also obtain an 18.75% copper streaming interest in the deal. Of the 111,000 gold ounces, which it received in stream deliveries from Mount Milligan in fiscal 2016, Royal Gold sold approximately 108,800 ounces, accountingfor $125.4 million in revenue.</p>
<p>We've looked at what's behind Royal Gold and what's ahead, so let's turn our attention now to its stock.One thing to remember when evaluating companies that deal in gold is that assigning a value to an asset, like a mine, is far from cut and dried; consequently, companies may take large writedowns on their assets, resulting in skewed earnings figures. For example, Royal Gold in fiscal 2016 reported $98.6 million in impairment charges from its Phoenix Gold project. One figure that can't be manipulated, though, is cash flow, so forgoing the traditional price-to-earnings ratio,let's consider the stock in terms of its cash from operations.</p>
<p>According to Morningstar, Royal Gold is currently trading at 19 times operational cash flow -- much more attractive than the 33 it was trading at last summer. And considering the three-year average is 24.1 times operational cash flow, the current valuation seems even more enticing.</p>
<p>It seems insufficient to consider only one valuation metric, so let's also look at its price-to-sales ratio on a trailing-12-month basis. Trading at about 11 times sales, shares look reasonable in light of the fact that the stock's five-year average is 14.5, according to Morningstar.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/RGLD/price_to_cfo_ttm" type="external">RGLD Price to CFO Per Share (TTM)</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>To provide more context for the stock's valuation,let's consider it alongside its peers: Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE: FNV), Sandstorm Gold (NYSEMKT: SAND), and Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW). In terms of both operating cash flow and sales, Royal Gold seems like quite a bargain.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/RGLD/price_to_cfo_ttm" type="external">RGLD Price to CFO Per Share (TTM)</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts</a></p>
<p>Overall,considering where shares are trading today, the stock -- though not a screaming buy -- seems attractively priced.</p>
<p>Although shares of Royal Gold enjoyed quite the ride in 2016, there's no guarantee it will continue flying higher through 2017. Wall Street, however, seems to be slightly undervaluing the stock, and I wouldn't be surprised if shares rise more in the coming year -- though not as much as last year. With a diversified portfolio of 38 producing mines, Royal Gold certainlyrepresents a reasonable consideration for investors looking to gain exposure to the gold industry.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Royal Gold When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=b68c7f5d-be8b-46b1-87b0-526d8a7bf4bb&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Royal Gold wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of January 4, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/scott81236/info.aspx" type="external">Scott Levine Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Silver Wheaton. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | prices rising much 21 last august gold looked bouncing back last year slide endured since 2013 donald trumps election put end climb though election end december price gold fell nearly 11 continue reading midst volatility shares royal gold nasdaq rgld climbed 70 identifying lowerrisk investment opportunity royal gold operates royalty streaming company providing investors interested gold alternative goldmining companieslets dig companys performance 2016 see expect 2017 image source getty images although royal gold receives royalties numerous metals including silver copper lead zinc companys revenue primarily generated gold 85 fiscal 2016 reporting fiscal 2016 revenue 3598 million royal gold whose fiscal year ends june 30 saw 294 increase 2780 million revenue reported fiscal 2015 performance translated adjusted ebitda 2598 million fiscal 2016 20 increase 2165 million reported fiscal 2015 advertisement streamlining portfolio royal gold invested approximately 13 billion stream interests fiscal 2016 unlike royalties metal stream purchase agreement thatprovides right purchase portion one ormore metals produced mine price determined term agreementin exchange upfront deposit payment 13 billion investments royal gold acquired gold stream andacollo coppergold mine fiscal 2016 terminating previously held royaltyone primary contributors royal golds revenue growth last year andacollo mine operated byteck resources limited annual report management acknowledged new deal help offset declining gold grade profileat mine expected provide revenue royalgold next several decades addition andacollo royal gold acquired gold silver stream pueblo viejo mine dominican republic closing 610 million transaction barrick gold september 2015 royal gold reported 397 million revenue pueblo viejo fiscal 2016 according management beginning beautiful relationship expects production extend next several decades yet another highlight last year royal gold entered 175 million agreement new gold acquisition gold silver stream rainy river project ontario production mine expected begin middle calendar year royal golds fiscal year ends june 30 unclear much stream contribute companys fiscal 2017 revenue management estimates rainy river 14year mine life become strong revenuecontributor production commences expecting close transaction either first second quarter fiscal 2017 royal gold amend existing streaming agreement centerra gold whereas royal gold currently 5225 gold streaming interest mount milligan goldcopper mine reduced 35 however royal gold also obtain 1875 copper streaming interest deal 111000 gold ounces received stream deliveries mount milligan fiscal 2016 royal gold sold approximately 108800 ounces accountingfor 1254 million revenue weve looked whats behind royal gold whats ahead lets turn attention stockone thing remember evaluating companies deal gold assigning value asset like mine far cut dried consequently companies may take large writedowns assets resulting skewed earnings figures example royal gold fiscal 2016 reported 986 million impairment charges phoenix gold project one figure cant manipulated though cash flow forgoing traditional pricetoearnings ratiolets consider stock terms cash operations according morningstar royal gold currently trading 19 times operational cash flow much attractive 33 trading last summer considering threeyear average 241 times operational cash flow current valuation seems even enticing seems insufficient consider one valuation metric lets also look pricetosales ratio trailing12month basis trading 11 times sales shares look reasonable light fact stocks fiveyear average 145 according morningstar rgld price cfo per share ttm data ycharts opens new window provide context stocks valuationlets consider alongside peers franconevada corporation nyse fnv sandstorm gold nysemkt sand silver wheaton nyse slw terms operating cash flow sales royal gold seems like quite bargain rgld price cfo per share ttm data ycharts overallconsidering shares trading today stock though screaming buy seems attractively priced although shares royal gold enjoyed quite ride 2016 theres guarantee continue flying higher 2017 wall street however seems slightly undervaluing stock wouldnt surprised shares rise coming year though much last year diversified portfolio 38 producing mines royal gold certainlyrepresents reasonable consideration investors looking gain exposure gold industry 10 stocks like better royal gold investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right royal gold wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns january 4 2017 scott levine opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares silver wheaton motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 686 |
<p>EXCLUSIVE:</p>
<p>President Obama dispatched two separate teams of Navy commandos to carry out last week’s rescue of a merchant ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates but left the operational details and rules of engagement to military commanders, National Security Adviser James. L. Jones said Tuesday.</p>
<p>“I can tell you from a White House and presidential standpoint, there was no conflict, no gnashing of teeth, or excessive influence in trying to manage this thing,” Mr. Jones, a retired Marine Corps four-star general, told The Washington Times in an interview.</p>
<p>He and other military officials gave the most detailed account to date of how Navy SEAL forces were dispatched - first from a base in Africa and later from the United States - to carry out the mission, and how Pentagon officials communicated with the White House. They sought to dispel Internet reports that the military was delayed from taking action by indecision inside the White House.</p>
<p>“I don’t recognize” the information being circulated on the Internet, Mr. Jones said.</p>
<p>Pentagon officials said the owners of the merchant ship Maersk Alabama controlled the scene in the early hours after the hostage-taking on April 8. As soon as the Pentagon took charge on April 10 with its warship the USS Bainbridge on the scene, Mr. Obama first authorized a few Navy SEALs from a base in Africa to deploy to the Bainbridge and take necessary action. The team was flown by transport aircraft and parachuted to waters near the warship, officials said.</p>
<p>“It took awhile to get facts and then to get the military on scene,” said one senior military official, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of discussing special forces operations. “As the picture got more clear and commanders’ requests went back down the chain, the guidance was: ‘We would like a peaceful resolution. However, if Captain Phillips’ life is in danger you can take appropriate action.’ ”</p>
<p>The arrival of the first SEAL team gave the military an emergency capability if the pirates holding the ship’s captain became violent. Mr. Jones said the Pentagon requested that a second, more complete SEAL team be dispatched from the United States and Mr. Obama approved that request as well.</p>
<p>“This was, from my perspective, a textbook operation,” Mr. Jones said in the interview. “There were two things [the president] was asked to approve and he did. And the military executed flawlessly.”</p>
<p>Among the reports disputed by Pentagon officials was a widely circulated Internet critique - purportedly from an anonymous source close to the SEAL community - saying Navy SEALs missed a chance to shoot the pirates on April 10 when Richard Phillips, the captain of the hijacked freighter, jumped out of a lifeboat where he was being held in a failed escape attempt.</p>
<p>However, military officials at the Pentagon involved in the operation said Navy SEAL snipers had not arrived on board the Bainbridge at that time and therefore could not have fired on the pirates.</p>
<p>Contrary to the critical report, the president did not reject two proposed rescue attempts by U.S. forces prior to the sniper attack, Mr. Jones said.</p>
<p>Navy SEAL commandos based in Norfolk, from the Naval Development Group, part of the Naval Special Warfare Center based in Coronado, Calif., were dispatched to the region. On April 12, snipers on the team killed the three Somali pirates holding Mr. Phillips with what military officials said was a difficult, simultaneous rifle attack.</p>
<p>They fired from the fantail of the guided missile destroyer while it was towing the lifeboat to seas that were less choppy.</p>
<p>A fourth man captured during the incident, Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, was brought back to the United States and charged with piracy in federal court in New York on Tuesday. He appeared in New York with a bandaged hand, smiling at times as he was escorted by federal agents.</p>
<p>The rescue operation was delayed because of the time it took to deploy the second SEAL team of more than 20 commandos, along with boats and special equipment, from the United States to the area about 300 miles off the coast of Somalia, Pentagon officials said.</p>
<p>At the Pentagon, military officials said the rules of engagement were set by military commanders at Central Command and were more limited than combat rules because the Navy regarded the operation as countering criminal activity, namely piracy.</p>
<p>Mr. Jones said the hostage rescue was “a real-world test” for the White House National Security Council crisis system that he heads, as well as a test for the Pentagon.</p>
<p>“I think everybody played their part well and there wasn’t any overstepping on anybody’s equities,” he said. “The right questions were asked and the right actions were taken.”</p>
<p>After the rescue was over, Mr. Jones said, he called Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and asked for a postmortem on the operation. “The response I got was that everything was done professionally and calmly,” he said.</p>
<p>The president and several advisers in Washington held several secure video conferences to discuss the rescue during the five-day standoff, military officials said. No details of the conferences were made public by the officials.</p>
<p>Mr. Jones said he has firsthand experience of being on the military end of civilian involvement in a merchant ship seizure. He was a former Marine Corps officer in 1975 when his battalion was involved in the communist Khmer Rouge’s capture of the merchant ship Mayaguez at the end of the Vietnam War.</p>
<p>Fourteen Marines were killed in an assault to free the Mayaguez, whose crew had been released from the vessel earlier.</p>
<p>“I’ve been on the end of an 8,000-mile[-long] screwdriver,” he said. “I was really happy how this thing played out. All the operatives had all the top cover they needed. The risk assessment was done. The execution was spot on.”</p>
<p>Any delays in moving the forces that ultimately took action were not the result of obtaining authorization from the White House or Pentagon but the time it took to move SEALs, their vessels and other equipment from the East Coast to the Horn of Africa, a flight distance of about 7,800 miles, the senior official said.</p>
<p>The SEAL team in Norfolk is normally made up of more than 120 commandos. For the Somalia rescue, the team was trimmed down and involved more than 20 troops, including vessels.</p>
<p>The team mobilized as rapidly as possible and moved out within hours of the White House approval. The senior official said the request to use the forces was approved in a matter of hours.</p>
<p>“Once what we asked for had been approved, the long pole in the tent was getting them there,” the official said. “That took … roughly a day, to get loaded and wheels up, then aerial refueling to get them there.”</p>
<p>Vice Adm. William Gortney, commander of Navy forces in the Middle East, told reporters on Sunday that “there were standing orders that if [Mr. Phillips] was at risk and we on scene determined that he was under imminent danger, to go ahead and take decisive action.”</p>
<p>Authorities went through “a deliberate, slow deliberate process to let the negotiation process work itself out to a nonviolent end,” he said. “And unfortunately, that did not occur.”</p>
<p>A defense official said one reason for any hesitation in taking action was the less-than-successful raid on a pirated yacht in the Gulf of Aden on April 10. That raid by French military forces killed two Somali pirates and freed four hostages but led to the death of one other hostage.</p>
<p>The anonymous SEAL source stated in the Internet posting that was attributed to “some SEAL pals in Virginia Beach” that the president would not authorize the SEALs to deploy for 36 hours despite requests from the on-scene commander.</p>
<p>The senior military official said that assertion was false.</p>
<p>The posting also stated that rules of engagement imposed by the president prevented action unless the hostage’s life was in imminent danger.</p>
<p>The military official said the commander had authority to take action at all times because Mr. Phillips was being held at gunpoint, but that he was balancing his authority with Washington’s request to seek a peaceful outcome.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2009/apr/22/obama-okd-2-seal-teams-for-pirates/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 0 | exclusive president obama dispatched two separate teams navy commandos carry last weeks rescue merchant ship captain held hostage somali pirates left operational details rules engagement military commanders national security adviser james l jones said tuesday tell white house presidential standpoint conflict gnashing teeth excessive influence trying manage thing mr jones retired marine corps fourstar general told washington times interview military officials gave detailed account date navy seal forces dispatched first base africa later united states carry mission pentagon officials communicated white house sought dispel internet reports military delayed taking action indecision inside white house dont recognize information circulated internet mr jones said pentagon officials said owners merchant ship maersk alabama controlled scene early hours hostagetaking april 8 soon pentagon took charge april 10 warship uss bainbridge scene mr obama first authorized navy seals base africa deploy bainbridge take necessary action team flown transport aircraft parachuted waters near warship officials said took awhile get facts get military scene said one senior military official spoke condition anonymity sensitivity discussing special forces operations picture got clear commanders requests went back chain guidance would like peaceful resolution however captain phillips life danger take appropriate action arrival first seal team gave military emergency capability pirates holding ships captain became violent mr jones said pentagon requested second complete seal team dispatched united states mr obama approved request well perspective textbook operation mr jones said interview two things president asked approve military executed flawlessly among reports disputed pentagon officials widely circulated internet critique purportedly anonymous source close seal community saying navy seals missed chance shoot pirates april 10 richard phillips captain hijacked freighter jumped lifeboat held failed escape attempt however military officials pentagon involved operation said navy seal snipers arrived board bainbridge time therefore could fired pirates contrary critical report president reject two proposed rescue attempts us forces prior sniper attack mr jones said navy seal commandos based norfolk naval development group part naval special warfare center based coronado calif dispatched region april 12 snipers team killed three somali pirates holding mr phillips military officials said difficult simultaneous rifle attack fired fantail guided missile destroyer towing lifeboat seas less choppy fourth man captured incident abdiwali abdiqadir muse brought back united states charged piracy federal court new york tuesday appeared new york bandaged hand smiling times escorted federal agents rescue operation delayed time took deploy second seal team 20 commandos along boats special equipment united states area 300 miles coast somalia pentagon officials said pentagon military officials said rules engagement set military commanders central command limited combat rules navy regarded operation countering criminal activity namely piracy mr jones said hostage rescue realworld test white house national security council crisis system heads well test pentagon think everybody played part well wasnt overstepping anybodys equities said right questions asked right actions taken rescue mr jones said called defense secretary robert gates joint chiefs staff chairman adm mike mullen asked postmortem operation response got everything done professionally calmly said president several advisers washington held several secure video conferences discuss rescue fiveday standoff military officials said details conferences made public officials mr jones said firsthand experience military end civilian involvement merchant ship seizure former marine corps officer 1975 battalion involved communist khmer rouges capture merchant ship mayaguez end vietnam war fourteen marines killed assault free mayaguez whose crew released vessel earlier ive end 8000milelong screwdriver said really happy thing played operatives top cover needed risk assessment done execution spot delays moving forces ultimately took action result obtaining authorization white house pentagon time took move seals vessels equipment east coast horn africa flight distance 7800 miles senior official said seal team norfolk normally made 120 commandos somalia rescue team trimmed involved 20 troops including vessels team mobilized rapidly possible moved within hours white house approval senior official said request use forces approved matter hours asked approved long pole tent getting official said took roughly day get loaded wheels aerial refueling get vice adm william gortney commander navy forces middle east told reporters sunday standing orders mr phillips risk scene determined imminent danger go ahead take decisive action authorities went deliberate slow deliberate process let negotiation process work nonviolent end said unfortunately occur defense official said one reason hesitation taking action lessthansuccessful raid pirated yacht gulf aden april 10 raid french military forces killed two somali pirates freed four hostages led death one hostage anonymous seal source stated internet posting attributed seal pals virginia beach president would authorize seals deploy 36 hours despite requests onscene commander senior military official said assertion false posting also stated rules engagement imposed president prevented action unless hostages life imminent danger military official said commander authority take action times mr phillips held gunpoint balancing authority washingtons request seek peaceful outcome copyright 2018 washington times llc click reprint permission 160 | 790 |
<p>Retailers worked hard to attract shoppers to stores on Black Friday, offering in-person deals meant to counter the ease of shopping by phone on Amazon.</p>
<p>A better economy and colder weather helped, to be sure. But stores have also tried to improve the store experience and offer better service. They've also made a big push toward offering store pickup for online orders, hoping to get people to pick up more items. But they're fighting a circumstance in which online leader Amazon is the first and only stop for many shoppers.</p>
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<p>So they're getting creative with the deals.</p>
<p>Victor Moore said he arrived about two hours ahead of Best Buy's 8 a.m. opening in Nashville and scored one of the about 14 "doorbuster" deals on a 55-inch Toshiba smart TV for $280, a $220 savings. Moore said he's done some online shopping, but the allure of in-store-only deals drew him out from behind the computer.</p>
<p>"This is the first successful doorbuster that I've ever been a part of," Moore said. "I've been in lines before, but never actually got the items that I was waiting for."</p>
<p>Annette Peluffo usually avoids Black Friday and buys online. But a $250 gift card reward for buying an iPhone 8 plus at a Target store in Miami was hard to resist. She plans to use the money to buy toys for her nephews and nieces in the coming weeks. "I just came here for the iPhone. I am not going to any other store," she said.</p>
<p>Still, Black Friday isn't what it used to be. It has morphed from a single day when people got up early to score doorbusters into a whole month of deals. That has thinned out the crowds. And brick-and-mortar stores face plenty of challenges.</p>
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<p>With the jobless rate at a 17-year-low of 4.1 percent and consumer confidence stronger than a year ago, analysts project healthy sales increases for November and December. The National Retail Federation trade group expects sales for that period to at least match last year's rise of 3.6 percent and estimates online spending and other non-store sales will rise 11 to 15 percent.</p>
<p>But analysts at Bain say Amazon is expected to take half of the holiday season's sales growth.</p>
<p>Amazon said Friday that Thanksgiving continued to be one of its busiest shopping days, with orders through its app up over 50 percent from a year ago. Overall, online sales on Black Friday rose 18. 4 percent to $640 million, from a year ago, as of Friday morning, says Adobe Analytics. Thanksgiving generated a total of $2.87 billion in online spending, up 18.3 percent from a year ago, the data firm said.</p>
<p>About 69 percent of Americans, or 164 million people, intend to shop at some point during the five-day period from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, according to a survey released by the NRF. It expected Black Friday to remain the busiest day, with about 115 million people planning to shop then.</p>
<p>"The consumer still likes to go to the stores," said Charles O'Shea, Moody's lead retail analyst. "I've seen a lot of traffic. Yes. There's going to be a lot of online shopping. But I think the brick and mortar stores have done a nice job so far in attracting shoppers."</p>
<p>That's true of Karre Wagner, a 20-year-old University of Minnesota student from St. Paul, Minnesota, who was shopping at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, with her boyfriend. She bought a Blue-Ray player at the mall's Best Buy store. She says she started holiday shopping on Black Friday, but she likes to go to the mall to shop.</p>
<p>"I like to see what I'm buying. I like to touch it, feel it, know exactly what I'm getting and part of it is the experience," she said. "I mean, sitting online is fine, but there's just something about starting the holiday season with Black Friday."</p>
<p>The shift to online buying is a major factor as industry analysts watch how the nation's malls fare this holiday shopping season. The Mall of America in Minnesota says that 2,500 people were in line at the 5 a.m. opening Friday, in line with a year ago. Shoppers started queuing up as early as 5:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Jill Renslow, Mall of America's executive vice president of business development, said stores like Nordstrom, Macy's and Best Buy were crowded. She said the items that caught shoppers' attention included were voice-activated devices like Amazon Echo, nostalgic toys, clothing and shoes.</p>
<p>Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette said customer counts are higher and business was better in the North and Northeast even with fewer promotions from a year ago.</p>
<p>But much depends on whether people are buying or just looking, and if they're buying things that aren't on sale as well.</p>
<p>Chuck Boyd said he and his son arrived at 4 a.m. as one of the first five or six in line at Best Buy in Nashville to get one each of about 14 "doorbuster" deals on a 55-inch Toshiba smart TV for $280, a $220 savings. Boyd said he never goes out for Black Friday deals and prefers online shopping. But his son wanted a TV for his apartment at school, so Boyd came along to get one too.</p>
<p>"I'd much rather do online," Boyd said. "But this was the deal you could only do in the store."</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Associated Press reporters Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami, Jonathan Mattise in Nashville and Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Anne D'Innocenzio at http://www.Twitter.com/adinnocenzio</p> | true | 0 | retailers worked hard attract shoppers stores black friday offering inperson deals meant counter ease shopping phone amazon better economy colder weather helped sure stores also tried improve store experience offer better service theyve also made big push toward offering store pickup online orders hoping get people pick items theyre fighting circumstance online leader amazon first stop many shoppers continue reading theyre getting creative deals victor moore said arrived two hours ahead best buys 8 opening nashville scored one 14 doorbuster deals 55inch toshiba smart tv 280 220 savings moore said hes done online shopping allure instoreonly deals drew behind computer first successful doorbuster ive ever part moore said ive lines never actually got items waiting annette peluffo usually avoids black friday buys online 250 gift card reward buying iphone 8 plus target store miami hard resist plans use money buy toys nephews nieces coming weeks came iphone going store said still black friday isnt used morphed single day people got early score doorbusters whole month deals thinned crowds brickandmortar stores face plenty challenges advertisement jobless rate 17yearlow 41 percent consumer confidence stronger year ago analysts project healthy sales increases november december national retail federation trade group expects sales period least match last years rise 36 percent estimates online spending nonstore sales rise 11 15 percent analysts bain say amazon expected take half holiday seasons sales growth amazon said friday thanksgiving continued one busiest shopping days orders app 50 percent year ago overall online sales black friday rose 18 4 percent 640 million year ago friday morning says adobe analytics thanksgiving generated total 287 billion online spending 183 percent year ago data firm said 69 percent americans 164 million people intend shop point fiveday period thanksgiving cyber monday according survey released nrf expected black friday remain busiest day 115 million people planning shop consumer still likes go stores said charles oshea moodys lead retail analyst ive seen lot traffic yes theres going lot online shopping think brick mortar stores done nice job far attracting shoppers thats true karre wagner 20yearold university minnesota student st paul minnesota shopping mall america bloomington minnesota boyfriend bought blueray player malls best buy store says started holiday shopping black friday likes go mall shop like see im buying like touch feel know exactly im getting part experience said mean sitting online fine theres something starting holiday season black friday shift online buying major factor industry analysts watch nations malls fare holiday shopping season mall america minnesota says 2500 people line 5 opening friday line year ago shoppers started queuing early 545 pm thanksgiving jill renslow mall americas executive vice president business development said stores like nordstrom macys best buy crowded said items caught shoppers attention included voiceactivated devices like amazon echo nostalgic toys clothing shoes macys ceo jeff gennette said customer counts higher business better north northeast even fewer promotions year ago much depends whether people buying looking theyre buying things arent sale well chuck boyd said son arrived 4 one first five six line best buy nashville get one 14 doorbuster deals 55inch toshiba smart tv 280 220 savings boyd said never goes black friday deals prefers online shopping son wanted tv apartment school boyd came along get one id much rather online boyd said deal could store ____ associated press reporters adriana gomez licon miami jonathan mattise nashville jeff baenen minneapolis contributed report ___ follow anne dinnocenzio httpwwwtwittercomadinnocenzio | 564 |
<p>High-stakes negotiations to head off a government shutdown went down to the wire Thursday night after President Obama rejected a last-minute bid by House Republicans to give the rest of the government a one-week reprieve on a shutdown.</p>
<p>Mr. Obama said he would veto a House-passed bill that would fund U.S. troops through the end of fiscal year 2011 and fund the rest of government through April 15. That veto threat leaves just two options: Either all sides could agree to a full-year deal to fund all of government, or the government will shut down at midnight Friday.</p>
<p>Mr. Obama, House Speaker <a href="/topics/john-boehner/" type="external">John A. Boehner</a> and <a href="/topics/senate/" type="external">Senate</a> Majority Leader <a href="/topics/harry-reid/" type="external">Harry Reid</a> met privately twice Thursday to try to reach an agreement, but publicly engaged in a testy brinksmanship.</p>
<p>“We made some progress today. Those differences have been narrowed,” Mr. Obama announced at the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a> after another nighttime meeting, the second time the three men gathered Thursday. “There’s still a few issues that are outstanding. They’re difficult issues. They’re important to both sides.”</p>
<p>He said staffers from all sides will work throughout the night, and said he expects an answer back from <a href="/topics/harry-reid/" type="external">Mr. Reid</a> and <a href="/topics/john-boehner/" type="external">Mr. Boehner</a> “sometime early in the day” on Friday as to whether he should begin the process of shutting the government down.</p>
<p>In a joint statement, <a href="/topics/harry-reid/" type="external">Mr. Reid</a> and <a href="/topics/john-boehner/" type="external">Mr. Boehner</a> agreed the issues “have narrowed,” but said nothing more about the sticking points or the chances of success.</p>
<p>A shutdown would shutter national parks and the Smithsonian, and could halt Internal Revenue Service tax audits and processing of tax returns that are filed on paper, though electronic refunds still will be sent. Social Security and Medicare benefits will still be paid, though new applications could be delayed.</p>
<p>Administration officials said about 800,000 federal workers, about 20 percent of the total federal workforce, would be furloughed.</p>
<p>There are three moving parts to the negotiations to try to work out a long-term deal: The total dollar amount of cuts to be made from last year’s spending level, the makeup of those cuts, and what legislative add-ons, known as “policy riders,” will be included.</p>
<p>In February, the House passed a bill that cut $61 billion from 2010 spending levels, and included dozens of riders such as stopping federal funding for Planned Parenthood and halting Obama administration plans on health care and the environment.</p>
<p>The <a href="/topics/senate/" type="external">Senate</a>, meanwhile, has yet to pass a bill of its own. Last year’s Democrat-led Congress did not pass a budget or any of the annual appropriations bills for 2011, instead funding the government through a series of continuing resolutions.</p>
<p>With negotiations sputtering on a full-year bill to run through Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2011, House Republicans sought to give the sides a one-week reprieve, as has happened six times already. Mr. Obama has said that short-term funding bills must cease.</p>
<p>The Republicans wrote a bill to fund the military fully through the rest of fiscal year, while keeping other government functions funded through April 15, which they said would allow more time to strike a broader deal.</p>
<p>On Thursday, the bill passed by a 247-181 vote with 15 conservative-leaning Democrats joining most Republicans in backing it. Six conservative members of the GOP voted against the bill.</p>
<p>But just before the vote, the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a> issued a statement promising a veto.</p>
<p>“This bill is a distraction from the real work that would bring us closer to a reasonable compromise for funding the remainder of fiscal year 2011 and avert a disruptive federal government shutdown that would put the nation’s economic recovery in jeopardy,” the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a> said, arguing that the House bill “simply delays that critical final outcome.”</p>
<p>Saying that he, too, opposed the House bill, <a href="/topics/harry-reid/" type="external">Mr. Reid</a> did not schedule it for floor action in the <a href="/topics/senate/" type="external">Senate</a>.</p>
<p>Republicans said Mr. Obama’s promised veto makes a government shutdown almost impossible to avoid since, given that funding bills must originate in the House, that bill is the only one that could pass by the shutdown deadline.</p>
<p>“To have the president of the United States issue a veto threat on a bill to fund our troops is an outrage,” said House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican.</p>
<p>Lawmakers began warning constituents of the possible effects of a shutdown, including some closed federal offices.</p>
<p>Most federal employees would still be expected to report for work and would continue to earn pay, though paychecks would stop until Congress resumes funding.</p>
<p>In the shutdown negotiations, <a href="/topics/harry-reid/" type="external">Mr. Reid</a> said all sides have essentially agreed to a dollar amount in a final agreement, and said the delay is the policy provisions. He doesn’t want any of those riders included.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/john-boehner/" type="external">Mr. Boehner</a>, though, said policy riders are included in every broad spending bill and that both parties have made use of riders.</p>
<p>A 2008 Congressional Research Report recapping appropriations during the first year Democrats controlled Congress while President George W. Bush was in office said that year’s spending bills included nearly two dozen policy riders.</p>
<p>Among new riders Democrats added that year were a provision tying the Bush administration’s hands on offering new oil-shale drilling leases on public lands, and another provision blocking Mr. Bush’s EPA from following through on a proposed rule to change hazardous air-pollutant standards — similar to Republicans’ proposed limit on Mr. Obama’s EPA rules.</p>
<p>Democrats argue they’ve met Republicans halfway on spending cuts by agreeing to more than $30 billion in reductions in 2011, compared with 2010 spending levels. House Republicans’ bill cut $61 billion.</p>
<p>Both of those cut totals, while historic in real dollar terms, pale in comparison to the size of federal spending and deficits.</p>
<p>The federal government ran a deficit of $189 billion in March alone, according to preliminary estimates by the Congressional Budget Office.</p>
<p>The total deficit for the first six months of fiscal year 2011 is $830 billion, putting the government on pace for a new record.</p>
<p>Overall, government revenues are up $66 billion compared with last year, but spending is up much more — $179 billion more than the first six months of 2010. CBO says most of that was a result of changes in the way Wall Street bailout money is accounted for, and said if those accounting issues are taken away, spending is up only $15 billion over last year.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2011/apr/7/senate-leader-reid-government-headed-shutdown/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 0 | highstakes negotiations head government shutdown went wire thursday night president obama rejected lastminute bid house republicans give rest government oneweek reprieve shutdown mr obama said would veto housepassed bill would fund us troops end fiscal year 2011 fund rest government april 15 veto threat leaves two options either sides could agree fullyear deal fund government government shut midnight friday mr obama house speaker john boehner senate majority leader harry reid met privately twice thursday try reach agreement publicly engaged testy brinksmanship made progress today differences narrowed mr obama announced white house another nighttime meeting second time three men gathered thursday theres still issues outstanding theyre difficult issues theyre important sides said staffers sides work throughout night said expects answer back mr reid mr boehner sometime early day friday whether begin process shutting government joint statement mr reid mr boehner agreed issues narrowed said nothing sticking points chances success shutdown would shutter national parks smithsonian could halt internal revenue service tax audits processing tax returns filed paper though electronic refunds still sent social security medicare benefits still paid though new applications could delayed administration officials said 800000 federal workers 20 percent total federal workforce would furloughed three moving parts negotiations try work longterm deal total dollar amount cuts made last years spending level makeup cuts legislative addons known policy riders included february house passed bill cut 61 billion 2010 spending levels included dozens riders stopping federal funding planned parenthood halting obama administration plans health care environment senate meanwhile yet pass bill last years democratled congress pass budget annual appropriations bills 2011 instead funding government series continuing resolutions negotiations sputtering fullyear bill run sept 30 end fiscal year 2011 house republicans sought give sides oneweek reprieve happened six times already mr obama said shortterm funding bills must cease republicans wrote bill fund military fully rest fiscal year keeping government functions funded april 15 said would allow time strike broader deal thursday bill passed 247181 vote 15 conservativeleaning democrats joining republicans backing six conservative members gop voted bill vote white house issued statement promising veto bill distraction real work would bring us closer reasonable compromise funding remainder fiscal year 2011 avert disruptive federal government shutdown would put nations economic recovery jeopardy white house said arguing house bill simply delays critical final outcome saying opposed house bill mr reid schedule floor action senate republicans said mr obamas promised veto makes government shutdown almost impossible avoid since given funding bills must originate house bill one could pass shutdown deadline president united states issue veto threat bill fund troops outrage said house republican conference chairman jeb hensarling texas republican lawmakers began warning constituents possible effects shutdown including closed federal offices federal employees would still expected report work would continue earn pay though paychecks would stop congress resumes funding shutdown negotiations mr reid said sides essentially agreed dollar amount final agreement said delay policy provisions doesnt want riders included mr boehner though said policy riders included every broad spending bill parties made use riders 2008 congressional research report recapping appropriations first year democrats controlled congress president george w bush office said years spending bills included nearly two dozen policy riders among new riders democrats added year provision tying bush administrations hands offering new oilshale drilling leases public lands another provision blocking mr bushs epa following proposed rule change hazardous airpollutant standards similar republicans proposed limit mr obamas epa rules democrats argue theyve met republicans halfway spending cuts agreeing 30 billion reductions 2011 compared 2010 spending levels house republicans bill cut 61 billion cut totals historic real dollar terms pale comparison size federal spending deficits federal government ran deficit 189 billion march alone according preliminary estimates congressional budget office total deficit first six months fiscal year 2011 830 billion putting government pace new record overall government revenues 66 billion compared last year spending much 179 billion first six months 2010 cbo says result changes way wall street bailout money accounted said accounting issues taken away spending 15 billion last year copyright 2018 washington times llc click reprint permission 160 | 671 |
<p>K2 today unveiled its <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/roundup/353252/the-best-low-code-development-platforms" type="external">low-code development platform Opens a New Window.</a> for the next generation of applications. In advance of the Microsoft Ignite conference, the company has announced K2 Cloud, a new managed cloud service with a completely redesigned user experience (UX), advanced analytics and security features, and a host of visual workflow automation and app creation tools.</p>
<p>The veteran business app development and process automation company is also rolling out K2 Five, a new version of its flagship on-premises platform with the same modernized UX and capabilities. K2 Cloud and K2 Five will be available in the next few weeks and will have feature parity at launch, but K2 Cloud will release updates at a much faster cadence. K2 founder and CEO Adriaan van Wyk said the K2 Cloud represents some fundamental shifts in the company's software strategy.</p>
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<p>"We had to rethink our cloud platform from the ground up," said van Wyk. "The cloud has forged a new generation of user experience, a new generation of users building that experience. We came from a world where it was forms, workflows, data, and integrations. With the pieces we're shipping [this month], we're adding pretty deep analytics, cloud security, and governance."</p>
<p>K2 Cloud revamps the existing low-code toolset around eight core feature areas: analytics, flexible deployment, mobile responsiveness, point-and-click integrations, pre-built apps, security and governance, visual forms, and workflow automation. Within that, the company has also redesigned the App Wizard, K2 Workflow Designer, and K2 Workspace experiences.</p>
<p>"We've added significant new capabilities to the user interface [UI] that allow knowledge workers within an organization to build and deploy their own applications and solutions. Once you've done that, K2 can enhance those apps and add capabilities," said van Wyk. "The way we've built workflows and forms into existing data makes it easy for the non-technical people to consume that data and add integrations, analytics, and mobile, and manage the whole deployment lifecycle."</p>
<p>K2 Workspace is the platform's customizable central portal, giving you quick access to forms and folders, quick reports, and a filtered view of pending actions and tasks. The real power, however, is in the redesigned Workflow Designer, which has what K2 describes as an "infinite canvas" drag-and-drop UI plus a feature called Smart Assist that surfaces relevant data and guides users and developers on logical steps in the workflow.</p>
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<p>"We came up with what we call a 'smart object layer' that allows you to build applications in the cloud, with real-time access to on-premises data that's protected by on-premises systems. If you're happy with your data on-premises in your SAP system, then leave it there," said van Wyk.</p>
<p>The new designer supports more complex logic patterns such as looping, parallel flows, rework, serial flows, and more. K2 also provides access to its <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/56943/rest" type="external">REST Opens a New Window.</a> application programming interface (API) for workflows.</p>
<p>Van Wyk also highlighted that the K2 App Wizard and new responsive UI work across all major devices. The platform offers a selection of pre-built apps and workflows that integrate with platforms such as <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2490933,00.asp" type="external">Microsoft SharePoint Opens a New Window.</a> and <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364726,00.asp" type="external">Salesforce Opens a New Window.</a> plus role-based governance tools.</p>
<p>"We want to give you security, compliance, and peace of mind. There are always non-technical people building applications in the cloud against SAP or other cloud services," said van Wyk. "You build them once and they will automatically or intelligently modify themselves regardless of the device, be it an iPhone, Android, or desktop. You don't have to build four or five versions of the application to make it work."</p>
<p>K2 was one of the first companies to begin defining what is now the low-code development space. Between 1999 and 2001, <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/review/353388/appian" type="external">Appian Opens a New Window.</a>, K2, and <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/review/354465/outsystems" type="external">OutSystems Opens a New Window.</a> were among the pioneers that applied process automation and visual UIs to simplify the business app creation process. Van Wyk said what really makes K2 unique compared to other vendors is scale.</p>
<p>"There are good players out there in the low-code space already," said van Wyk. "We have a lot of respect for Appian and the business those guys have built. Then you've got newer platforms like <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/review/353386/microsoft-powerapps" type="external">Microsoft PowerApps Opens a New Window.</a> and Flow; [Appian] sells to 19 customers a year [according to their IPO filing], whereas we sell to hundreds of customers and are moving to a model to sell to thousands.</p>
<p>"When you do it at that scale, it's a different level of innovation," he continued. "Microsoft is a huge technology partner for us on everything from Azure to voice, but with Flow and PowerApps, it's almost as if you're comparing Duplo blocks with Lego technique."</p>
<p>Van Wyk added that K2 integrates with Microsoft Flow. To illustrate the scale of deployment he was talking about, van Wyk gave customer examples including oil and gas company Shell (which is using K2 enterprise apps to manage well deployments around the world), personal care product manufacturer Kimberly Clark, and firms Accenture and PwC (which are transitioning from on-premises systems to the cloud). All told, the company has more than 4,000 customers, including what van Wyk said is more than 30 percent of the Fortune 500.</p>
<p>"The cloud can become this massive accelerator for how a company like Kimberly Clark managed to build a thousand applications integrated with existing systems without developer resources, with us laying down the building blocks," van Wyk explained. "We have partners like Accenture, PwC, and local regional partners around the world to help carry this into market and to existing customers."</p>
<p>The most innovative aspects of K2's low-code platform will come in the next year or so as the company begins rolling out the ability for anyone to create voice-enabled apps. Imagine a drag-and-drop, form-based UI that brings artificial intelligence (AI ) and <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/article/353065/the-business-guide-to-machine-learning" type="external">machine learning Opens a New Window.</a> (ML) capabilities to everyday business users, giving them the ability to build things such as <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/article/355518/how-chatbots-can-transform-your-business" type="external">chatbots Opens a New Window.</a> directly into enterprise apps. Van Wyk said natural voice apps are K2's next major priority as the low-code space evolves.</p>
<p>"We're pushing into <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/article/354371/what-are-virtual-assistants-and-what-can-you-do-with-them" type="external">natural voice Opens a New Window.</a> and machine learning applications that companies can build with drag-and-drop in a simple way. This is something we're hoping to bring to market in the next 12 months," said van Wyk. "Not only is this a massive leap forward for customers, it's also an accelerator platform that will turn science fiction into reality in months, not years."</p>
<p>K2 Cloud will be on display from September 25-29 at Microsoft Ignite in Orlando.</p>
<p>This article <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/news/356313/k2-rebuilds-its-low-code-platform-for-the-cloud" type="external">originally appeared Opens a New Window.</a> on <a href="http://www.pcmag.com" type="external">PCMag.com Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | k2 today unveiled lowcode development platform opens new window next generation applications advance microsoft ignite conference company announced k2 cloud new managed cloud service completely redesigned user experience ux advanced analytics security features host visual workflow automation app creation tools veteran business app development process automation company also rolling k2 five new version flagship onpremises platform modernized ux capabilities k2 cloud k2 five available next weeks feature parity launch k2 cloud release updates much faster cadence k2 founder ceo adriaan van wyk said k2 cloud represents fundamental shifts companys software strategy continue reading rethink cloud platform ground said van wyk cloud forged new generation user experience new generation users building experience came world forms workflows data integrations pieces shipping month adding pretty deep analytics cloud security governance k2 cloud revamps existing lowcode toolset around eight core feature areas analytics flexible deployment mobile responsiveness pointandclick integrations prebuilt apps security governance visual forms workflow automation within company also redesigned app wizard k2 workflow designer k2 workspace experiences weve added significant new capabilities user interface ui allow knowledge workers within organization build deploy applications solutions youve done k2 enhance apps add capabilities said van wyk way weve built workflows forms existing data makes easy nontechnical people consume data add integrations analytics mobile manage whole deployment lifecycle k2 workspace platforms customizable central portal giving quick access forms folders quick reports filtered view pending actions tasks real power however redesigned workflow designer k2 describes infinite canvas draganddrop ui plus feature called smart assist surfaces relevant data guides users developers logical steps workflow advertisement came call smart object layer allows build applications cloud realtime access onpremises data thats protected onpremises systems youre happy data onpremises sap system leave said van wyk new designer supports complex logic patterns looping parallel flows rework serial flows k2 also provides access rest opens new window application programming interface api workflows van wyk also highlighted k2 app wizard new responsive ui work across major devices platform offers selection prebuilt apps workflows integrate platforms microsoft sharepoint opens new window salesforce opens new window plus rolebased governance tools want give security compliance peace mind always nontechnical people building applications cloud sap cloud services said van wyk build automatically intelligently modify regardless device iphone android desktop dont build four five versions application make work k2 one first companies begin defining lowcode development space 1999 2001 appian opens new window k2 outsystems opens new window among pioneers applied process automation visual uis simplify business app creation process van wyk said really makes k2 unique compared vendors scale good players lowcode space already said van wyk lot respect appian business guys built youve got newer platforms like microsoft powerapps opens new window flow appian sells 19 customers year according ipo filing whereas sell hundreds customers moving model sell thousands scale different level innovation continued microsoft huge technology partner us everything azure voice flow powerapps almost youre comparing duplo blocks lego technique van wyk added k2 integrates microsoft flow illustrate scale deployment talking van wyk gave customer examples including oil gas company shell using k2 enterprise apps manage well deployments around world personal care product manufacturer kimberly clark firms accenture pwc transitioning onpremises systems cloud told company 4000 customers including van wyk said 30 percent fortune 500 cloud become massive accelerator company like kimberly clark managed build thousand applications integrated existing systems without developer resources us laying building blocks van wyk explained partners like accenture pwc local regional partners around world help carry market existing customers innovative aspects k2s lowcode platform come next year company begins rolling ability anyone create voiceenabled apps imagine draganddrop formbased ui brings artificial intelligence ai machine learning opens new window ml capabilities everyday business users giving ability build things chatbots opens new window directly enterprise apps van wyk said natural voice apps k2s next major priority lowcode space evolves pushing natural voice opens new window machine learning applications companies build draganddrop simple way something hoping bring market next 12 months said van wyk massive leap forward customers also accelerator platform turn science fiction reality months years k2 cloud display september 2529 microsoft ignite orlando article originally appeared opens new window pcmagcom opens new window | 692 |
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<p>Taking the Organic Food Plunge</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Organic foods may benefit your body, but they can be a drain on your checking account. In some cases, you'll pay double for organics. That's partially because they cost more to grow, and only foods that meet the strict requirements of the National Organic Program can bear the organic seal of approval from U.S. Department of Agriculture.</p>
<p>"Organic" applies to how a food is grown. It must be grown and processed using organic farming methods and sustainable agriculture. Crops labeled organic are produced without the use of irradiation, prohibited pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge or genetically modified organisms. Organic livestock products are free of antibiotics and hormones. The animals have outdoor access and meet animal health standards.</p>
<p>Agricultural products with the "100% organic" label contain only organically produced ingredients and processing aids. Products with the "organic" label contain 95%. And processed products with the phrase "made with organic ingredients" contain at least 70%, according to the USDA.</p>
<p>Despite the higher price tag of organics, there are still some ways to ride the health-food train and have money left over for the car payment.</p>
<p>Use the EWG Shopper's Guide</p>
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<p>The Environmental Working Group Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce is a readily available list that ranks the most popular nonorganic fruits and vegetables based on their total pesticide loads. It lists the Dirty Dozen, which is the produce with the most pesticide residue, and the Clean 15, which is the produce with the least.</p>
<p>Sara Sciammacco, EWG spokeswoman, says, "The EWG Shopper's Guide can help consumers save money if they follow our recommendation to purchase organic versions of the Dirty Dozen items and buy conventional versions of the items on the Clean 15."</p>
<p>Choosing five servings of fruits and vegetables a day from the Clean 15 rather than from the Dirty Dozen can lower pesticide intake by 92%, according to EWG calculations.</p>
<p>EWG created the guide to help consumers make the healthiest choices given their financial circumstances. Consulting the EWG guide while you're grocery shopping can reduce the amount of cash spent on organics and provide a quick reference for produce selection. The guide can be found on EWG's website; a version of the guide is also available as a smartphone application.</p>
<p>Hit Your Local Farmers Market</p>
<p>Farmers markets offer some of the freshest organic produce, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy options available. And while the sticker price might occasionally be higher than grocery store organic foods, it's possible you'll get more for your money. Vendors at farmers markets generally sell in larger quantities than grocery stores.</p>
<p>You can usually get good deals on organic foods at the end of the day, when farmers are trying to get rid of their products. Buy in bulk, and freeze anything you don't use.</p>
<p>Some of the better buys are available on produce items. "Sometimes, local producers or farmers selling their organic produce will provide a special deal or discount if you buy large quantities from them," says James Parker, team leader for Whole Foods Market's Produce and Floral Global Purchasing Team.</p>
<p>Farmers markets only sell in-season produce, which brings prices down. Seasonality and competition generally keep prices low, Sciammacco says.</p>
<p>Not all products at farmers markets are certified USDA organic, so look for the label and ask producers about their growing standards before you buy.</p>
<p>Use LocalHarvest.org to find an organic farmers market near you.</p>
<p>Buy Store-Brand Organics</p>
<p>More grocery store chains are starting to carry their own store-brand organic food, which is generally cheaper than name-brand organics and comparable in quality since any product marked with the USDA organic seal has to go through the same certification process.</p>
<p>For example, Whole Foods Market offers more than 750 store-brand organic foods that range from pantry items such as flour, sugar, salt, grains and beans to oil, sauces and gourmet chocolate, according to Allison Enke, registered dietitian for exclusive and store brands at Whole Foods Market.</p>
<p>Publix Super Markets offer organic foods through its GreenWise brand, and Costco carries bulk-buy organics under its Kirkland Signature brand.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that price differences between store-brand organic foods and top-name organics will vary according to product category, your locale, where you're shopping and the season.</p>
<p>Compare organic brands and prices before you buy.</p>
<p>Don't Buy Needless Organics</p>
<p>If you're going on an organic budget, prioritizing is the name of the game. It doesn't always pay to buy organic processed foods such as chips, pasta or cookies.</p>
<p>"Processed organic foods, like cookies or frozen meals, shouldn't be confused with health foods," Sciammacco says.</p>
<p>According to the USDA, the organic label doesn't necessarily mean the product is a healthier alternative. Organic products can still contain an abundance of salt, fat and sugar.</p>
<p>You can save some cash and make more room for organic products that really make a difference such as meats, poultry, eggs, dairy and produce by cutting down on packaged foods.</p>
<p>Keep an Eye Out for Coupons</p>
<p>Coupons don't just apply to conventional food items anymore. There are now coupon options for organic foods.</p>
<p>One way to save is by visiting manufacturers' websites. Major organic brands such as Organic Valley and Earthbound Farm occasionally offer coupons on their websites. For example, as of March 8, 2012, Organic Valley was offering 50 cents off of soy creamer, yogurt and flavored half-and-half.</p>
<p>Whole Foods Market's promotion program, The Whole Deal, offered more than $50 in coupons in January, some of which were for organic brands, according to Enke. It generally offers a new set of coupons every month.</p>
<p>For a general selection of organic coupons, check out Coupon.com. It often has a few different coupons for natural and organic foods. And a quick Google search for "organic coupons" brings up a number of results.</p> | true | 0 | taking organic food plunge continue reading organic foods may benefit body drain checking account cases youll pay double organics thats partially cost grow foods meet strict requirements national organic program bear organic seal approval us department agriculture organic applies food grown must grown processed using organic farming methods sustainable agriculture crops labeled organic produced without use irradiation prohibited pesticides synthetic fertilizers sewage sludge genetically modified organisms organic livestock products free antibiotics hormones animals outdoor access meet animal health standards agricultural products 100 organic label contain organically produced ingredients processing aids products organic label contain 95 processed products phrase made organic ingredients contain least 70 according usda despite higher price tag organics still ways ride healthfood train money left car payment use ewg shoppers guide advertisement environmental working group shoppers guide pesticides produce readily available list ranks popular nonorganic fruits vegetables based total pesticide loads lists dirty dozen produce pesticide residue clean 15 produce least sara sciammacco ewg spokeswoman says ewg shoppers guide help consumers save money follow recommendation purchase organic versions dirty dozen items buy conventional versions items clean 15 choosing five servings fruits vegetables day clean 15 rather dirty dozen lower pesticide intake 92 according ewg calculations ewg created guide help consumers make healthiest choices given financial circumstances consulting ewg guide youre grocery shopping reduce amount cash spent organics provide quick reference produce selection guide found ewgs website version guide also available smartphone application hit local farmers market farmers markets offer freshest organic produce meat poultry eggs dairy options available sticker price might occasionally higher grocery store organic foods possible youll get money vendors farmers markets generally sell larger quantities grocery stores usually get good deals organic foods end day farmers trying get rid products buy bulk freeze anything dont use better buys available produce items sometimes local producers farmers selling organic produce provide special deal discount buy large quantities says james parker team leader whole foods markets produce floral global purchasing team farmers markets sell inseason produce brings prices seasonality competition generally keep prices low sciammacco says products farmers markets certified usda organic look label ask producers growing standards buy use localharvestorg find organic farmers market near buy storebrand organics grocery store chains starting carry storebrand organic food generally cheaper namebrand organics comparable quality since product marked usda organic seal go certification process example whole foods market offers 750 storebrand organic foods range pantry items flour sugar salt grains beans oil sauces gourmet chocolate according allison enke registered dietitian exclusive store brands whole foods market publix super markets offer organic foods greenwise brand costco carries bulkbuy organics kirkland signature brand keep mind price differences storebrand organic foods topname organics vary according product category locale youre shopping season compare organic brands prices buy dont buy needless organics youre going organic budget prioritizing name game doesnt always pay buy organic processed foods chips pasta cookies processed organic foods like cookies frozen meals shouldnt confused health foods sciammacco says according usda organic label doesnt necessarily mean product healthier alternative organic products still contain abundance salt fat sugar save cash make room organic products really make difference meats poultry eggs dairy produce cutting packaged foods keep eye coupons coupons dont apply conventional food items anymore coupon options organic foods one way save visiting manufacturers websites major organic brands organic valley earthbound farm occasionally offer coupons websites example march 8 2012 organic valley offering 50 cents soy creamer yogurt flavored halfandhalf whole foods markets promotion program whole deal offered 50 coupons january organic brands according enke generally offers new set coupons every month general selection organic coupons check couponcom often different coupons natural organic foods quick google search organic coupons brings number results | 610 |
<p />
<p>When you buy auto insurance you need to be prepared to answer a few questions. Some of the questions will be personal and somewhat intrusive. But the questions, and your answers, will affect how much you pay in insurance premiums.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Here are few questions (and ideal answers) that auto insurers may ask you, according to SmartMoney.com:</p>
<p>Are You Married?</p>
<p>Good Answer: Yes (at least if you're 29 or younger).Bad Answer: No.</p>
<p>In the insurance world, if you're 25 and married, you're as safe as a 50-year-old. If you're not, reach for your wallet: Young singles typically pay at least 10 percent more for car insurance than their married peers. Being freshly divorced also hurts. One Ohio insurer, Westfield, views divorced people with suspicion until two years after their divorce is final.</p>
<p>What Do You Do for a Living?</p>
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<p>Good Answer: Librarian.Bad Answer: Cellist.</p>
<p>On the theory that what you do says a lot about how you drive, Geico and other insurers keep detailed occupational data. They guard that information jealously, but a study by the Texas Public Insurance Council found 19 occupations that insurers associate with above-average risk, including social workers, professional athletes, musicians, military personnel and longshoremen. J. Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, swears he knows of one car insurer that will insure professional musicians, but only if they play classical music for a living. Rockers need not apply.</p>
<p>Do You Have Any Roommates?</p>
<p>Good Answer: No.Bad Answer: Yes, and boy can she party!</p>
<p>This is a common question asked by carriers when they're dealing with a single person who rents. The companies are attempting to ferret out those people who have roommates who might drive their car. "A woman living alone in a single-family home is a better risk than someone who's living in a group, because we're at risk if someone drives her car," explains IDS actuary Bill Kocken.</p>
<p>How Many Miles a Year Do You Drive?</p>
<p>Good Answer: Under 7,500.Bad Answer: Anything more than 15,000.</p>
<p>The answer to this question will have a big impact on your rates. Actuarial research shows that people who drive more than 7,500 miles a year, or more than about 30 miles to and from work each day, are more likely to get in accidents. That's why Allstate gives a 15 percent to 20 percent discount to people who rack up less than 7,500 miles a year. If you own two cars, you can probably get the low-mileage discount for the car you drive the least. Make sure to ask.</p>
<p>Have You Had Any At-Fault Accidents or Moving Violations in the Past Five Years?</p>
<p>Good Answer: Just one.Better Answer: None.Bad Answer: I got a speeding ticket six years ago.</p>
<p>The companies are looking to rate you for your driving history, and the penalties are stiff.</p>
<p>At State Farm, you pay a 10 percent surcharge for the first accident, 20 percent for the second if it's within three years of the first, and a stiff 50 percent for the third, again if it's within three years of the first. But if you're accident-free for nine years, State Farm gives you one "free" accident.</p>
<p>Speeding is another story. In general, companies don't like to see tickets at all. "Speeding tickets are a good indicator of future accidents," says Ken Ciak, president of American Express Property/Casualty Cos. But a company might let one ticket slide, depending on how fast you were going. Geico, for example, would rather see someone going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone than someone going 55 mph in a 25 mph zone. "We've all done 70 in a 55 zone at one time or another," says Al Ledbetter, a Geico actuary. One thing to remember is that insurers consider a five-year history. If you had a ticket -- or several tickets -- six or more years ago, you might as well keep quiet about them.</p>
<p>Have You Made Other Damage Claims Other Than an Accident?</p>
<p>Good Answer: No.Bad Answer: Only after those two break-ins.</p>
<p>Insurers are increasingly wary of people who frequently make claims for glass breakage or other small bits of vandalism to their car. And they know about every claim. Most insurance companies report to Equifax's CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) service, which keeps a database of all claims. When you apply for a new policy, a company will order a CLUE report to check out your record. Three or more qualify you as a bad risk.</p>
<p>Do You Own a Radar Detector?</p>
<p>Good Answer: No.Bad Answer: Sure! Why do you think I only have one ticket?</p>
<p>If you own a "fuzzbuster," forget about getting a policy from Geico in most states, no matter how good your driving record. Except where it is required to by law, the company won't write a policy for anyone who owns one because, explains Geico Vice Chairman Edward Utley, "radar detectors give people the excuse to speed."</p>
<p>How Much Coverage Do You Want?</p>
<p>Bad Answer: The bare minimum.Good Answer: Enough to protect my assets and my family, but hold the fancy trimmings, please.</p>
<p>Most auto policies have eight parts, but only three are mandatory in every state: liability per person, liability per accident and liability for someone else's vehicle.</p>
<p>Most states require drivers to take $20,000 to $30,000 of liability per person in an accident, with a cap of $40,000 to $60,000 per accident. But that's not enough for most people. If you have more than $100,000 in assets, you should raise your coverage to $100,000 of liability per person and $300,000 per accident, plus $100,000 for property damage. If you have over $200,000 in assets, you need an umbrella policy that covers anyone injured in your house or car up to $1 million. Chances are you don't need coverage such as medical payment, rental car insurance and emergency replacement. Such costly "bells and whistles" coverage is often redundant. And while many insurers offer these extras, many will drop you if you make a claim on such coverage after an accident.</p>
<p>More From <a href="http://www.military.com" type="external">Military.com Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.military.com/money/insurance/auto-insurance/figuring-out-auto-life-health-insurance.html" type="external">Sorting Through the Auto, Life, Health Insurance Maze Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://www.military.com/money/personal-finance/banking-and-savings/10-of-the-biggest-money-drains.html" type="external">10 of the Biggest Money Drains Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://www.military.com/money/home-ownership/financial-counseling-for-homeowner-vets.html" type="external">Financial Counseling for Vet Homeowners Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://www.military.com/money/personal-finance/banking-and-savings/five-steps-to-building-a-budget.html" type="external">Five Steps to Building a Budget Opens a New Window.</a></p> | true | 0 | buy auto insurance need prepared answer questions questions personal somewhat intrusive questions answers affect much pay insurance premiums continue reading questions ideal answers auto insurers may ask according smartmoneycom married good answer yes least youre 29 youngerbad answer insurance world youre 25 married youre safe 50yearold youre reach wallet young singles typically pay least 10 percent car insurance married peers freshly divorced also hurts one ohio insurer westfield views divorced people suspicion two years divorce final living advertisement good answer librarianbad answer cellist theory says lot drive geico insurers keep detailed occupational data guard information jealously study texas public insurance council found 19 occupations insurers associate aboveaverage risk including social workers professional athletes musicians military personnel longshoremen j robert hunter director insurance consumer federation america swears knows one car insurer insure professional musicians play classical music living rockers need apply roommates good answer nobad answer yes boy party common question asked carriers theyre dealing single person rents companies attempting ferret people roommates might drive car woman living alone singlefamily home better risk someone whos living group risk someone drives car explains ids actuary bill kocken many miles year drive good answer 7500bad answer anything 15000 answer question big impact rates actuarial research shows people drive 7500 miles year 30 miles work day likely get accidents thats allstate gives 15 percent 20 percent discount people rack less 7500 miles year two cars probably get lowmileage discount car drive least make sure ask atfault accidents moving violations past five years good answer onebetter answer nonebad answer got speeding ticket six years ago companies looking rate driving history penalties stiff state farm pay 10 percent surcharge first accident 20 percent second within three years first stiff 50 percent third within three years first youre accidentfree nine years state farm gives one free accident speeding another story general companies dont like see tickets speeding tickets good indicator future accidents says ken ciak president american express propertycasualty cos company might let one ticket slide depending fast going geico example would rather see someone going 70 mph 55 mph zone someone going 55 mph 25 mph zone weve done 70 55 zone one time another says al ledbetter geico actuary one thing remember insurers consider fiveyear history ticket several tickets six years ago might well keep quiet made damage claims accident good answer nobad answer two breakins insurers increasingly wary people frequently make claims glass breakage small bits vandalism car know every claim insurance companies report equifaxs clue comprehensive loss underwriting exchange service keeps database claims apply new policy company order clue report check record three qualify bad risk radar detector good answer nobad answer sure think one ticket fuzzbuster forget getting policy geico states matter good driving record except required law company wont write policy anyone owns one explains geico vice chairman edward utley radar detectors give people excuse speed much coverage want bad answer bare minimumgood answer enough protect assets family hold fancy trimmings please auto policies eight parts three mandatory every state liability per person liability per accident liability someone elses vehicle states require drivers take 20000 30000 liability per person accident cap 40000 60000 per accident thats enough people 100000 assets raise coverage 100000 liability per person 300000 per accident plus 100000 property damage 200000 assets need umbrella policy covers anyone injured house car 1 million chances dont need coverage medical payment rental car insurance emergency replacement costly bells whistles coverage often redundant many insurers offer extras many drop make claim coverage accident militarycom opens new window sorting auto life health insurance maze opens new window 10 biggest money drains opens new window financial counseling vet homeowners opens new window five steps building budget opens new window | 615 |
<p>Cypress Semiconductor (NASDAQ: CY) showed once again why it is one of the hottest-performing semiconductor names on the stock market with an impressive third-quarter report in late October. The semiconductor specialist <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/28/cypress-continues-to-outgrow-the-semiconductor.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">bested Wall Street expectations Opens a New Window.</a> thanks to its strategy of targeting fast-growing markets such as the Internet of Things, gaming consoles, and automotive chips.</p>
<p>The icing on the cake for Cypress was robust fourth-quarter guidance. Not surprisingly, investors cheered the company's performance and the shares soared to five-year highs. But the good news is that Cypress isn't done growing yet as it has a strong set of catalysts.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Cypress' automotive business has grown 17% so far this fiscal year on the back of content gains. The company has <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/05/cypress-semiconductor-has-growth-opportunities.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">struck partnerships Opens a New Window.</a> with big name carmakers and automotive component suppliers that include Audi, Toyota, Continental AG, Bosch, and Denso.</p>
<p>In fact, the company claims that the top eight automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are developing cars and components using Cypress' wireless connectivity solutions. These customers are now deploying more Cypress chips in their cars and components, bumping up the company's automotive business.</p>
<p>Cypress' automotive partnerships should pave the way for it to tap the growth opportunity present in this space. According to Gartner and Cypress' own internal estimates, the semiconductor content in each car can range from $300 to $1,000, driven by various applications such as infotainment systems, body electronics, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).</p>
<p>The ADAS market is expected to clock annual growth of almost 20% until 2021. Cypress doesn't want to miss this gravy train, so it has found a way to tap this market while bypassing competition from heavyweights such as NVIDIA, Intel, NXP Semiconductors, and other component makers.</p>
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<p>Instead of developing its own system-on-a-chip (SoC) platform and going head-to-head against NVIDIA's DRIVE PX platform, Cypress is supplying specialized NOR flash memory chips. These memory chips are used by component suppliers and SoC makers in their ADAS platforms. Bosch, for instance, has been using Cypress' NOR flash memory to develop its next-generation ADAS system, while Denso is deploying the same in the 2017 model year Toyota Camry.</p>
<p>In fact, Cypress' memory chips are used by half of the ADAS systems. This is great news for Cypress investors as NOR flash usage in ADAS applications is estimated to grow at 28% a year through 2021. Therefore, Cypress' automotive business can keep getting bigger as the company is following a smart strategy by partnering with the big players in this space.</p>
<p>Cypress' consumer business is its biggest source of revenue, supplying 35% of the top line. This business has been in fine form this year as the company's chips have been placed inside a variety of consumer devices ranging from <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/24/is-cypress-semiconductor-a-good-buy-going-into-q3.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Apple's new iPhones Opens a New Window.</a> to Fitbit's Ionic smartwatch and Nintendo's Switch console. In fact, Cypress claims that its consumer business is on track to deliver annual revenue growth of 35% to 40% this year.</p>
<p>Cypress is on track to log such terrific growth by supplying Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity modules to consumer electronics devices such as smartwatches and video game consoles, as well as supplying USB-C type fast-charging modules for the new iPhone. The good news for investors is that the applications of both these type of chips is set to grow remarkably.</p>
<p>The company's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo offerings will help it tap the booming growth in the Internet of Things space. Cypress is squarely aiming at the machine-to-machine connectivity market with its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo chips. Wi-Fi helps devices connect to the Internet, while Bluetooth allows devices to communicate with each other.</p>
<p>Cypress is using the combination of the two technologies to power smart-home systems and other consumer devices as mentioned above. For instance, its wireless chips are enabling smart-lighting platforms such as LEDVANCE, which uses Apple's HomeKit smart-home framework.</p>
<p>More importantly, Cypress has rolled out a new development platform that will allow product developers to create products based on Apple HomeKit. This could be a big deal for the chipmaker as Cupertino's smart-home platform is expected to gain a lot of traction thanks to the widespread deployment of Siri across 700 million devices, which could help Apple bring more users into its ecosystem, eventually helping Cypress sell more chips.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Cypress is the pioneer in USB-C technology, which is being adopted at a rapid pace because of its many benefits such as fast data transfer, fast charging, and compact design. More specifically, Cypress holds 35% market share in this space, which means that it can significantly boost its revenue as USB-C adoption is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 89% over the next four years.</p>
<p>Even though Cypress shares are trading at multiyear highs, investors can still consider buying more shares thanks to a cheap valuation and the potential of rapid earnings growth. Cypress stock has a <a href="https://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/using-the-price-to-sales-ratio-to-value-stocks.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">price-to-sales Opens a New Window.</a> (P/S) ratio of 2.4, which is significantly lower than the semiconductor industry average of 4.5. This means that new investors won't have to pay a lot to buy into this growth story.</p>
<p>What makes Cypress even more enticing is that it has delivered average annual revenue growth of 38% over the past three years, better than the industry average of just 8%. Therefore, Cypress shares continue to remain cheap even after clocking such terrific growth. Finally, analysts expect the company's bottom line to increase at over 45% annually for the next five years, making Cypress look like a value play at its current valuation.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Cypress Semiconductor When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=d1713cd7-f03c-44b7-bd6f-65082dc7bceb&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Cypress Semiconductor wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=d1713cd7-f03c-44b7-bd6f-65082dc7bceb&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TechJunk13/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Harsh Chauhan Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple, Fitbit, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Cypress Semiconductor, Intel, and NXP Semiconductors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=3fe47782-bd81-11e7-96c5-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | cypress semiconductor nasdaq cy showed one hottestperforming semiconductor names stock market impressive thirdquarter report late october semiconductor specialist bested wall street expectations opens new window thanks strategy targeting fastgrowing markets internet things gaming consoles automotive chips icing cake cypress robust fourthquarter guidance surprisingly investors cheered companys performance shares soared fiveyear highs good news cypress isnt done growing yet strong set catalysts continue reading cypress automotive business grown 17 far fiscal year back content gains company struck partnerships opens new window big name carmakers automotive component suppliers include audi toyota continental ag bosch denso fact company claims top eight automotive oems original equipment manufacturers developing cars components using cypress wireless connectivity solutions customers deploying cypress chips cars components bumping companys automotive business cypress automotive partnerships pave way tap growth opportunity present space according gartner cypress internal estimates semiconductor content car range 300 1000 driven various applications infotainment systems body electronics advanced driver assistance systems adas adas market expected clock annual growth almost 20 2021 cypress doesnt want miss gravy train found way tap market bypassing competition heavyweights nvidia intel nxp semiconductors component makers advertisement instead developing systemonachip soc platform going headtohead nvidias drive px platform cypress supplying specialized flash memory chips memory chips used component suppliers soc makers adas platforms bosch instance using cypress flash memory develop nextgeneration adas system denso deploying 2017 model year toyota camry fact cypress memory chips used half adas systems great news cypress investors flash usage adas applications estimated grow 28 year 2021 therefore cypress automotive business keep getting bigger company following smart strategy partnering big players space cypress consumer business biggest source revenue supplying 35 top line business fine form year companys chips placed inside variety consumer devices ranging apples new iphones opens new window fitbits ionic smartwatch nintendos switch console fact cypress claims consumer business track deliver annual revenue growth 35 40 year cypress track log terrific growth supplying wifi bluetooth connectivity modules consumer electronics devices smartwatches video game consoles well supplying usbc type fastcharging modules new iphone good news investors applications type chips set grow remarkably companys wifi bluetooth combo offerings help tap booming growth internet things space cypress squarely aiming machinetomachine connectivity market wifi bluetooth combo chips wifi helps devices connect internet bluetooth allows devices communicate cypress using combination two technologies power smarthome systems consumer devices mentioned instance wireless chips enabling smartlighting platforms ledvance uses apples homekit smarthome framework importantly cypress rolled new development platform allow product developers create products based apple homekit could big deal chipmaker cupertinos smarthome platform expected gain lot traction thanks widespread deployment siri across 700 million devices could help apple bring users ecosystem eventually helping cypress sell chips meanwhile cypress pioneer usbc technology adopted rapid pace many benefits fast data transfer fast charging compact design specifically cypress holds 35 market share space means significantly boost revenue usbc adoption expected increase compound annual growth rate 89 next four years even though cypress shares trading multiyear highs investors still consider buying shares thanks cheap valuation potential rapid earnings growth cypress stock pricetosales opens new window ps ratio 24 significantly lower semiconductor industry average 45 means new investors wont pay lot buy growth story makes cypress even enticing delivered average annual revenue growth 38 past three years better industry average 8 therefore cypress shares continue remain cheap even clocking terrific growth finally analysts expect companys bottom line increase 45 annually next five years making cypress look like value play current valuation 10 stocks like better cypress semiconductor investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right cypress semiconductor wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns october 9 2017 harsh chauhan opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends apple fitbit nvidia motley fool following options long january 2020 150 calls apple short january 2020 155 calls apple motley fool recommends cypress semiconductor intel nxp semiconductors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 679 |
<p>International stocks trading in New York closed mostly higher on Monday.</p>
<p>The BNY Mellon index of American depositary receipts edged up 0.1% to 149.18. The European index improved 0.1% to 139.05. The Asian index improved 0.4% to 173.01. And the emerging-markets index increased 0.1% to 322.96.</p>
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<p>Meanwhile, the Latin American index fell 1.2% to 253.19.</p>
<p>Ericsson AB (ERIC) was among those with ADRs that traded actively.</p>
<p>Ericsson's proposal to appoint Ronnie Leten as chairman, as well as the company's recent partnerships and investments into 5G, are positive steps, according to Gary Paulin, head of global equities for Northern Trust Capital Markets. Having successfully ran a large organisation like Atlas Copco, Mr. Leten's appointment to Ericsson is likely to be taken positively by markets, notwithstanding the many challenges Ericsson still face, Mr. Paulin adds. However, he cautions that another profit warning is possible and there is a "monumental" amount of work to do to release them from their past. ADRs rose 2.8% to $5.89.</p>
<p>UK medical technology business Smith &amp; Nephew PLC (SNN, SN.LN) said Monday that Chief Executive Olivier Bohuon is to retire by the end of 2018. Mr. Bohuon, 58 years old, is retiring after seven years in the post. The board is searching for a successor. ADRs closed down 1.3% at $36.14.</p>
<p>Unilever PLC (UL, ULVR.LN) pulled an online video ad for its blockbuster brand Dove and apologized after critics called the spot racist. The video, which recently appeared on Dove's U.S. Facebook page, showed a young black woman taking off a T-shirt and then morphing into a white woman, who in turn takes off her T-shirt, and turns into an Asian woman. It quickly attracted criticism on Facebook and Twitter over the weekend -- users accused the treatment of being racist and insensitive -- culminating in Unilever's decision to take the ad down. "The short video was intended to convey that Dove body wash is for every woman and be a celebration of diversity, but we got it wrong," said a Unilever spokeswoman Monday. "We apologize deeply and sincerely for the offense that it has caused and do not condone any activity or imagery that insults any audience." ADRs closed up 0.2% at $57.08.</p>
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<p>International stocks trading in New York closed down on Thursday.</p>
<p>The BNY Mellon index of American depositary receipts declined 0.3%, to 150.34. The European index eased 0.2%, to 140.22. The Asian index declined 0.4%, to 174.04. The Latin American index decreased 0.3%, to 255.89. And the emerging-markets index fell 0.5%, to 325.24.</p>
<p>China's big technology companies were among those with ADRs that traded actively.</p>
<p>HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC, HBSBA.LN, 0005.HK) on Thursday named retail head John Flint as its next chief executive, signaling continuity in the Asia-focused bank's strategy. Mr. Flint, the preferred pick of outgoing Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver, has been with the bank since joining in 1989. The naming of a new chief executive comes less than two weeks after Chairman Mark Tucker started in his new role. Mr. Tucker, HSBC's first outside chairman since the bank's founding in 1865, was tasked with finding a new chief executive after Mr. Gulliver said in March he would retire in 2018. Mr. Flint, 49 years old, will start the role in February. ADRs closed down 0.6%, at $49.23.</p>
<p>The Chinese government is pushing some of its biggest tech companies--including Weibo Corp. (WB) and a unit of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA)--to offer the state a stake in them and a direct role in corporate decisions. While the government already exerts heavy sway over businesses through regulation, a management role would give Beijing a direct hand in innovative companies that service hundreds of millions of Chinese. Weibo's ADRs fell 0.8%, to $98.86, while Alibaba fell 2.3%, to $180.53.</p>
<p>Ryanair PLC (RYAAY, RYA.LN, RY4C.DB) said Thursday it plans to refer German rival Deutsche Lufthansa AG's (DLAKY, LHA.XE) 210 million euro ($248.8 million) acquisition of parts of Air Berlin to European competition authorities. Ryanair already filed a complaint with the EU in August, after Air Berlin filed for insolvency, in order to stop a potential takeover. Ryanair says they believe the deal may result in higher prices for consumers and enable Lufthansa to control important airport takeoff and landing slots in Germany. ADRs of Ryanair closed down 1.7%, at $106.68, while Lufthansa's, which trade over the counter, rose 2%, to $29.72.</p>
<p>Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB, RDSB.LN) said Thursday that it is buying electric-vehicle-charging provider NewMotion for an undisclosed sum. NewMotion operates more than 30,000 private electric-charge points for homes and businesses in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the U.K. It also provides access to a network of more than 50,000 public charging points across 25 European countries, serving more than 100,000 registered charge cards. ADRs closed down 0.7%, at $62.40.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>October 12, 2017 17:55 ET (21:55 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | international stocks trading new york closed mostly higher monday bny mellon index american depositary receipts edged 01 14918 european index improved 01 13905 asian index improved 04 17301 emergingmarkets index increased 01 32296 continue reading meanwhile latin american index fell 12 25319 ericsson ab eric among adrs traded actively ericssons proposal appoint ronnie leten chairman well companys recent partnerships investments 5g positive steps according gary paulin head global equities northern trust capital markets successfully ran large organisation like atlas copco mr letens appointment ericsson likely taken positively markets notwithstanding many challenges ericsson still face mr paulin adds however cautions another profit warning possible monumental amount work release past adrs rose 28 589 uk medical technology business smith amp nephew plc snn snln said monday chief executive olivier bohuon retire end 2018 mr bohuon 58 years old retiring seven years post board searching successor adrs closed 13 3614 unilever plc ul ulvrln pulled online video ad blockbuster brand dove apologized critics called spot racist video recently appeared doves us facebook page showed young black woman taking tshirt morphing white woman turn takes tshirt turns asian woman quickly attracted criticism facebook twitter weekend users accused treatment racist insensitive culminating unilevers decision take ad short video intended convey dove body wash every woman celebration diversity got wrong said unilever spokeswoman monday apologize deeply sincerely offense caused condone activity imagery insults audience adrs closed 02 5708 advertisement international stocks trading new york closed thursday bny mellon index american depositary receipts declined 03 15034 european index eased 02 14022 asian index declined 04 17404 latin american index decreased 03 25589 emergingmarkets index fell 05 32524 chinas big technology companies among adrs traded actively hsbc holdings plc hsbc hbsbaln 0005hk thursday named retail head john flint next chief executive signaling continuity asiafocused banks strategy mr flint preferred pick outgoing chief executive stuart gulliver bank since joining 1989 naming new chief executive comes less two weeks chairman mark tucker started new role mr tucker hsbcs first outside chairman since banks founding 1865 tasked finding new chief executive mr gulliver said march would retire 2018 mr flint 49 years old start role february adrs closed 06 4923 chinese government pushing biggest tech companiesincluding weibo corp wb unit alibaba group holding ltd babato offer state stake direct role corporate decisions government already exerts heavy sway businesses regulation management role would give beijing direct hand innovative companies service hundreds millions chinese weibos adrs fell 08 9886 alibaba fell 23 18053 ryanair plc ryaay ryaln ry4cdb said thursday plans refer german rival deutsche lufthansa ags dlaky lhaxe 210 million euro 2488 million acquisition parts air berlin european competition authorities ryanair already filed complaint eu august air berlin filed insolvency order stop potential takeover ryanair says believe deal may result higher prices consumers enable lufthansa control important airport takeoff landing slots germany adrs ryanair closed 17 10668 lufthansas trade counter rose 2 2972 royal dutch shell plc rdsb rdsbln said thursday buying electricvehiclecharging provider newmotion undisclosed sum newmotion operates 30000 private electriccharge points homes businesses netherlands germany france uk also provides access network 50000 public charging points across 25 european countries serving 100000 registered charge cards adrs closed 07 6240 end dow jones newswires october 12 2017 1755 et 2155 gmt | 539 |
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<p>Image source: Tesla Motors.</p>
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<p>We're getting some interesting news lately about the pace of cost reductions in the lithium ion battery industry and it could bode well for new industries forming today. According to energy storage company Stem's Chief Technology Officer, battery prices have fallen a <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/stem-cto-weve-seen-battery-prices-fall-70-in-the-last-18-months" type="external">whopping 70% in the last 18 months</a>.</p>
<p>Battery prices are key to unlocking energy storage in homes, at large buildings, and at utilities that could shave peak energy costs and allow more renewable energy to hit the grid. And for electric vehicles, falling battery costs could make it attractive for millions more people to buy an EV.</p>
<p>A good baseline for energy storage battery costs is Tesla Motors' Powerwall. When the product was launched in May 2015 it cost $3,000 for a 6.4 kWh model (the 10 kWh model was soon discontinued), which was crazy low at the time. That's a cost of $469 per kWh and doesn't include key components like an inverter. But that may be a price that's already been surpassed in the market.</p>
<p>General Motors let slip late last year that battery cells (not the full pack) from LG Chem cost an "industry leading" $145 per kWh. GTM Research <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/stem-cto-weve-seen-battery-prices-fall-70-in-the-last-18-months" type="external">recently reported</a> that battery costs are in the "$200 to $250 per kilowatt-hour range" today.</p>
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<p>Maybe the 70% price reduction is realistic and maybe GM's cell costs weren't out of line with industry norms. If this trajectory keeps up, even at a slightly slower pace, the energy storage and EV business could explode in the next decade. And there's some precedent in where we may see costs go.</p>
<p>I find a lot of similarities between the growth of solar panel production 5 to10 years ago and batteries today. By 2011, the solar industry and panel sale prices collapsed because there was such high growth expectations from manufacturers and so much overcapacity that manufacturers were just trying to cover their own cash costs and keep the lights on. This created a downward spiral in both manufacturing costs and sale prices for panels. Cost reductions were an urgent priority, which often required new equipment, which mean more capacity was built, and on and on. Reducing costs and panel prices became the norm, shown by Canadian Solar saying the costs to build a solar panel have <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/09/why-falling-solar-costs-dont-lead-to-big-profits.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">fallen from an already low $1.32 per watt</a>five years ago to $0.41 today.</p>
<p>We may be in the early phases of a similar dynamic in energy storage. Tesla Motors' 35 GWh Gigafactory was built on the premise that energy storage and EV demand would explode. But others saw the same trend coming as well.</p>
<p>Recent data from theClean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Centerreport, based on data from BNEF Desktop Portal 2016, shows that 43.7 GWh of battery capacity is fully commissioned with another 11.8 GWh partially commissioned and 42.5 GWh under construction (mostly from Tesla). In all, 98.0 GWh of capacity will be available in the next few years.</p>
<p>Image source: <a href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/66086.pdf" type="external">Automotive Lithium-ion Cell Manufacturing: Regional Cost Structures and Supply Chain Considerations</a> report from the Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center.</p>
<p>What's crazy is that may leave the industry oversupplied for many years to come. The same report estimates that electric vehicle demand for lithium ion batteries won't hit today's capacity level until 2020. And by then the market may have twice as much supply as it needs.</p>
<p>Image source: <a href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/66086.pdf" type="external">Automotive Lithium-ion Cell Manufacturing: Regional Cost Structures and Supply Chain Considerations</a> report from the Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center.</p>
<p>To put these capacity numbers into perspective, 98.0 GWh of batteries would be enough to build 1.63 million Tesla Model 3s with a 60 kWh battery annually (reportedly the biggest size in a base model Model 3). Some of the additional supply could go to energy storage, but that's a tiny market with 221 MW installed in the U.S. last year.</p>
<p>There's a lot of hype around how quickly energy storage and electric vehicles could grow. But it looks like the battery capacity that would serve these markets is already growing faster than the end markets themselves. Unless there are millions of EVs built annually by 2020, I think there's going to be massive oversupply in the market.</p>
<p>That's great for companies buying batteries, like General Motors, Stem, SunPower, VW, etc. But if the solar industry is any indication, the companies making batteries will be stuck in a price war with competitors who are just trying to keep factories running. That'll lead to even more downward pressure on prices, which again is good for end product manufacturers.</p>
<p>The battery market will be fascinating to watch over the next five years, but if the adjacent solar industry is any indication, I would want to invest in companies buying batteries and putting them to work, not companies building out capacity that may see prices fall every year for the next decade.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/01/falling-battery-prices-bring-opportunities-and-pit.aspx" type="external">Falling Battery Prices Bring Opportunities and Pitfalls to EVs and Energy Storage</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFlushDraw/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Travis Hoium</a> owns shares of SunPower. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source tesla motors continue reading getting interesting news lately pace cost reductions lithium ion battery industry could bode well new industries forming today according energy storage company stems chief technology officer battery prices fallen whopping 70 last 18 months battery prices key unlocking energy storage homes large buildings utilities could shave peak energy costs allow renewable energy hit grid electric vehicles falling battery costs could make attractive millions people buy ev good baseline energy storage battery costs tesla motors powerwall product launched may 2015 cost 3000 64 kwh model 10 kwh model soon discontinued crazy low time thats cost 469 per kwh doesnt include key components like inverter may price thats already surpassed market general motors let slip late last year battery cells full pack lg chem cost industry leading 145 per kwh gtm research recently reported battery costs 200 250 per kilowatthour range today advertisement maybe 70 price reduction realistic maybe gms cell costs werent line industry norms trajectory keeps even slightly slower pace energy storage ev business could explode next decade theres precedent may see costs go find lot similarities growth solar panel production 5 to10 years ago batteries today 2011 solar industry panel sale prices collapsed high growth expectations manufacturers much overcapacity manufacturers trying cover cash costs keep lights created downward spiral manufacturing costs sale prices panels cost reductions urgent priority often required new equipment mean capacity built reducing costs panel prices became norm shown canadian solar saying costs build solar panel fallen already low 132 per wattfive years ago 041 today may early phases similar dynamic energy storage tesla motors 35 gwh gigafactory built premise energy storage ev demand would explode others saw trend coming well recent data theclean energy manufacturing analysis centerreport based data bnef desktop portal 2016 shows 437 gwh battery capacity fully commissioned another 118 gwh partially commissioned 425 gwh construction mostly tesla 980 gwh capacity available next years image source automotive lithiumion cell manufacturing regional cost structures supply chain considerations report clean energy manufacturing analysis center whats crazy may leave industry oversupplied many years come report estimates electric vehicle demand lithium ion batteries wont hit todays capacity level 2020 market may twice much supply needs image source automotive lithiumion cell manufacturing regional cost structures supply chain considerations report clean energy manufacturing analysis center put capacity numbers perspective 980 gwh batteries would enough build 163 million tesla model 3s 60 kwh battery annually reportedly biggest size base model model 3 additional supply could go energy storage thats tiny market 221 mw installed us last year theres lot hype around quickly energy storage electric vehicles could grow looks like battery capacity would serve markets already growing faster end markets unless millions evs built annually 2020 think theres going massive oversupply market thats great companies buying batteries like general motors stem sunpower vw etc solar industry indication companies making batteries stuck price war competitors trying keep factories running thatll lead even downward pressure prices good end product manufacturers battery market fascinating watch next five years adjacent solar industry indication would want invest companies buying batteries putting work companies building capacity may see prices fall every year next decade article falling battery prices bring opportunities pitfalls evs energy storage originally appeared foolcom travis hoium owns shares sunpower motley fool owns shares recommends tesla motors motley fool recommends general motors try foolish newsletter services free 30 days fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy | 590 |
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<p>A few thousand dollars, a few minutes and a decent internet connection are all it takes to source carfentanil online from multiple Chinese vendors.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Two Associated Press reporters, working independently, documented multiple offers from the companies listed below to export carfentanil, a substance so toxic it has been researched as a chemical weapon and described as a terrorist threat.</p>
<p>These are not your typical drug barons. Many come off as solicitous business owners, starting emails with "Hi, dear," and writing scrupulous follow-up notes to drum up sales. They sent price lists and photos of their merchandise, and promoted their wares, in English, on major business-to-business websites.</p>
<p>Carfentanil — whose median October price from the companies below was $3,700 a kilogram (2.2 pounds) — is banned from general use in the United States, where it is suspected in hundreds of overdoses. Fentanyl, acetylfentanyl and alpha-PVP are controlled substances in both China and the U.S. Many vendors also bragged openly about their ability to circumvent customs authorities around the world.</p>
<p>The companies' cheery let's-do-business attitude changed when the AP followed up with questions about the legality of the sales.</p>
<p>The AP did not actually order any of these products, nor test to see if they were genuine.</p>
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<p>___</p>
<p>BENTON PHARMACY CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl, to France, U.K., Europe generally.</p>
<p>The pitch: "We have fentanyl, good quality,"a saleswoman called Caroline said in an email, adding that she'd just gotten a two kilogram order.</p>
<p>Later, Caroline told the AP she was "shocked" to hear the AP had evidence of illicit substances on offer. "Our company has always respected China's relevant business regulations, our company has never sold the products you mentioned."</p>
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<p>WILLIAMS PHARMACY</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl. No destination specified.</p>
<p>The pitch: "Contraband will be professionally packaged and parcel will be enhanced with appropriate stealth measures," Williams promised in an email.</p>
<p>Asked for comment by the AP, Williams Pharmacy responded with unpublishable invective, offering no further explanation.</p>
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<p>APEX SPECIAL CHEMICAL MEDICINE TRADE CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl. No destination specified.</p>
<p>The company pulled its product listings from the Korean business-to-business platform EC21.com after being contacted by the AP, but another company called Okkijeyhhd Plc registered with EC21 on Oct. 23. It had the same contact email as Apex and an identical listing for carfentanil. Requests for comment were not returned.</p>
<p>"Carfentanil is 10000 times more potent than m.o.r.p.h.i.n.e and 5000 times more potent than pharmaceutical grade (100% pure) h.e.r.o.i.n according to the illicit drug conversion table that issued by China Food and Drug Administration," the company said in its product listings.</p>
<p>At least five other vendors, most of which registered on EC21 in October, shared a non-functional phone number with Okkijeyhhd: Ujehhdfb Plc, Theydhhhne Plc, Okegdtsgdbfn Plc, Jhdncbvn Intl and Lkdheeed Plc, which advertised a cornucopia of misspelled drugs for sale.</p>
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<p>SHIYAN FURUIYANG BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, alpha-PVP to U.S.</p>
<p>The pitch: Clients "say fentanyl is the most fantastic," a saleswoman called Susie said by email.</p>
<p>Contacted later by the AP on Skype, another saleswoman, Cathy, said, "You did such a great job to get evidence, you can just report it." Then she quickly changed her profile from a photo of a studious-looking Chinese woman holding a child to a dish of snow-white powder.</p>
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<p>JILIN TELY IMPORT AND EXPORT CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil to Canada, Australia.</p>
<p>After being named in AP's Oct. 7 article, Jilin's website vanished and the company said it had never actually produced carfentanil.</p>
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<p>HEBEI YAQIANG BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, acetylfentanyl, fentanyl to U.S, Belgium, France.</p>
<p>The pitch: "We usually ship with hiding in other products and all reached," the company said by email.</p>
<p>Contacted by the AP on a Skype chat, a woman named Lisa insisted Hebei Yaqiang only sells legal products: "if u want to buy. we can provide but if you have other purpose. am sorry. i am busy."</p>
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<p>YUNTU CHEMICAL CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, acetylfentanyl to U.S., Canada.</p>
<p>A Yuntu representative hung up the phone when contacted by the AP and did not reply to emails seeking comment. Soon after, the company's website vanished. Reached later on Skype, a company representative who called herself Mary declined to offer carfentanil again.</p>
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<p>IAMCOR BIOTECH CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl to U.S., Canada</p>
<p>The pitch: "Dear, we use our special way to send you. We ensure you can get it," a woman who identified herself as Megan said in an email</p>
<p>Told later by AP that it had evidence of offers for illicit sales, she replied, "Really? How come I don't know about this?" Then she stopped answering questions.</p>
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<p>HUNAN PROVINCE WAYNICK BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, acetylfentanyl, fentanyl to U.S.</p>
<p>Contacted by the AP, Waynick said it listed these products to "attract clients" but doesn't actually sell them. "The real products are substitutes," the company said in an email. "The substitutes are all legal products in China. You can do any investigation."</p>
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<p>SHANGHAI KAIWODUN BIOCHEMICAL CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, acetylfentanyl to U.S.</p>
<p>The company did not respond to the AP's requests for comment.</p>
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<p>SHANXI JINWEI TECHNOLOGY CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, alpha-PVP, to U.S., Belgium, Germany, Europe generally.</p>
<p>The company did not respond to requests for comment from the AP.</p>
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<p>SHANGHAI GOLDEN TIME BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil to U.K.</p>
<p>The company didn't respond to AP requests for comment.</p>
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<p>HEBEI MORUI CHEMICAL CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, a-PVP to U.S., Canada, France, Belgium.</p>
<p>Morui denied offering the products.</p>
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<p>SHANGHAI HONG TAI CHEMICAL CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil, fentanyl to U.S., France, Europe generally.</p>
<p>The company denied making the offers. "China does not produce illegal products," a representative said by email.</p>
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<p>SHANGHAI BOHUA FINE CHEMICAL CO.</p>
<p>For sale: Carfentanil to Germany, France, U.K.</p>
<p>Asked by the AP about offers to sell carfentanil, the company replied in an email, "I do not know what you're talking about."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Satter reported from Paris. Associated Press researcher Fu Ting contributed from Shanghai.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Kinetz on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ekinetz and Satter at http://twitter.com/razhael</p> | true | 0 | thousand dollars minutes decent internet connection takes source carfentanil online multiple chinese vendors continue reading two associated press reporters working independently documented multiple offers companies listed export carfentanil substance toxic researched chemical weapon described terrorist threat typical drug barons many come solicitous business owners starting emails hi dear writing scrupulous followup notes drum sales sent price lists photos merchandise promoted wares english major businesstobusiness websites carfentanil whose median october price companies 3700 kilogram 22 pounds banned general use united states suspected hundreds overdoses fentanyl acetylfentanyl alphapvp controlled substances china us many vendors also bragged openly ability circumvent customs authorities around world companies cheery letsdobusiness attitude changed ap followed questions legality sales ap actually order products test see genuine advertisement ___ benton pharmacy co sale carfentanil fentanyl france uk europe generally pitch fentanyl good qualitya saleswoman called caroline said email adding shed gotten two kilogram order later caroline told ap shocked hear ap evidence illicit substances offer company always respected chinas relevant business regulations company never sold products mentioned ___ williams pharmacy sale carfentanil fentanyl destination specified pitch contraband professionally packaged parcel enhanced appropriate stealth measures williams promised email asked comment ap williams pharmacy responded unpublishable invective offering explanation ___ apex special chemical medicine trade co sale carfentanil fentanyl destination specified company pulled product listings korean businesstobusiness platform ec21com contacted ap another company called okkijeyhhd plc registered ec21 oct 23 contact email apex identical listing carfentanil requests comment returned carfentanil 10000 times potent morphine 5000 times potent pharmaceutical grade 100 pure heroin according illicit drug conversion table issued china food drug administration company said product listings least five vendors registered ec21 october shared nonfunctional phone number okkijeyhhd ujehhdfb plc theydhhhne plc okegdtsgdbfn plc jhdncbvn intl lkdheeed plc advertised cornucopia misspelled drugs sale ___ shiyan furuiyang biological technology co sale carfentanil fentanyl acetylfentanyl alphapvp us pitch clients say fentanyl fantastic saleswoman called susie said email contacted later ap skype another saleswoman cathy said great job get evidence report quickly changed profile photo studiouslooking chinese woman holding child dish snowwhite powder ___ jilin tely import export co sale carfentanil canada australia named aps oct 7 article jilins website vanished company said never actually produced carfentanil ___ hebei yaqiang biological technology co sale carfentanil acetylfentanyl fentanyl us belgium france pitch usually ship hiding products reached company said email contacted ap skype chat woman named lisa insisted hebei yaqiang sells legal products u want buy provide purpose sorry busy ___ yuntu chemical co sale carfentanil acetylfentanyl us canada yuntu representative hung phone contacted ap reply emails seeking comment soon companys website vanished reached later skype company representative called mary declined offer carfentanil ___ iamcor biotech co sale carfentanil fentanyl us canada pitch dear use special way send ensure get woman identified megan said email told later ap evidence offers illicit sales replied really come dont know stopped answering questions ___ hunan province waynick biological technology co sale carfentanil acetylfentanyl fentanyl us contacted ap waynick said listed products attract clients doesnt actually sell real products substitutes company said email substitutes legal products china investigation ___ shanghai kaiwodun biochemical co sale carfentanil acetylfentanyl us company respond aps requests comment ___ shanxi jinwei technology co sale carfentanil fentanyl acetylfentanyl alphapvp us belgium germany europe generally company respond requests comment ap ___ shanghai golden time biological technology co sale carfentanil uk company didnt respond ap requests comment ___ hebei morui chemical co sale carfentanil fentanyl acetylfentanyl apvp us canada france belgium morui denied offering products ___ shanghai hong tai chemical co sale carfentanil fentanyl us france europe generally company denied making offers china produce illegal products representative said email ___ shanghai bohua fine chemical co sale carfentanil germany france uk asked ap offers sell carfentanil company replied email know youre talking ___ satter reported paris associated press researcher fu ting contributed shanghai ___ follow kinetz twitter httptwittercomekinetz satter httptwittercomrazhael | 640 |
<p />
<p>The compact Chevrolet Cruze sedan is new and well regarded, but inventories have swelled as more buyers choose SUVs. Image source: GeneralMotors.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>GeneralMotors(NYSE: GM)said last week that it's planning to <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/09/why-general-motors-is-cutting-2000-us-factory-jobs.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">cut third shifts at two U.S. factories Opens a New Window.</a>that make cars. The car models in question, the Cadillac ATS and CTS, and Chevrolet Cruze and Camaro, haven't been selling as quickly as GM would like, and inventories have risen sharply.</p>
<p>That wasn't really a surprise. GM is far from the only automaker to see car sales slump as more and more buyers gravitate toward SUVs. But inventories of some of those models were already way out of hand by the time GM announced the shift cuts (which won't take effect until January, by the way.)</p>
<p>And until recently, GM executives -- unlike some competitors -- were upbeat about the prospects for the U.S. market.</p>
<p>What happened here?</p>
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<p>During that third-quarter earnings call, CFO Chuck Stevens was still upbeat about the prospects for the U.S. new-vehicle market. In fact, he said that GM's production in the fourth quarter would probably be up "marginally" from its third-quarter output. That surprised analysts and many investors, who have been noting the <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/12/why-auto-investors-are-worried-about-the-united-st.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">increasing signs of a slowing U.S. new-car market Opens a New Window.</a>-- and who were well aware of rivalFord Motor Company's(NYSE: F) much more conservative outlook.</p>
<p>GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant will lose its third shift in January, GM said last week. The factory makes the Chevy Camaro and two Cadillac sedan models. Image source: General Motors.</p>
<p>If theproduction cuts are any indication, Stevens' outlook might have changed recently.</p>
<p>Inventories are measured in terms of days' supply. For most models, at most times of year, 60 days' supply is considered ideal. 90 days' worth or more is cause for concern, and over 100 is usually too much. (The exception: Full-size pickups often have higher inventories.)</p>
<p>Here's what the inventories looked like as of Nov. 1 for the cars in question:</p>
<p>Data source: Automotive News.Inventory totals are rounded to the nearest 100 vehicles.</p>
<p>Note that the total number of cars is also significant. 105 days' worth of the Cruze is a much bigger issue (in terms of total volumes) than 135 days' worth of the Cadillac CTS. Note also that the "days' supply" number will increase as the pace of sales slows.</p>
<p>But no matter how we count them, that's a lot of cars sitting on a lot of dealers' lots. GM will probably boost incentives to clear them out. The production cuts will keep the problem from getting worse, but still: Those incentives will cut into its profits on those sales.</p>
<p>It's not quite what we could expect from GM's stated approach to managing a slowing market.</p>
<p>GM executives often say that they are committed to a "disciplined" pricing strategy in the U.S.</p>
<p>"We remain absolutely committed to our disciplined retail-focused go-to-market strategy, and we have demonstrated that by managing supply and demand and through disciplined pricing," Stevens said during the company's third-quarter earnings call.</p>
<p>What does that mean? GM is saying that when sales soften, it will choose to reduce production of new vehicles rather than resorting to discounting to boost sales. The upshot is fewer vehicles sold, but the vehicles that are sold have higher prices and fatter profit margins.</p>
<p>That approach is good for a lot of different reasons, not least because it maximizes GM's profit margins. It should reward shareholders over time. But recent events have this GM shareholder wondering if that's really what the General has been doing.</p>
<p>That leads me to two questions. First, did GM wait too long before cutting production? Second, if GM did wait too long, are there other models piling up?</p>
<p>The answer to the first question is a judgment call. But we can look at inventory figures as reported by Automotive News to find an answer to the second -- and while there are several that are over 90 days, there's one that sticks out simply because, like the Cruze,the total number of cars involved is high: The Chevrolet Malibu.</p>
<p>As of Nov. 1, GM had 59,600 Malibus in inventory, a 96-day supply. That's up from 50,000, a 58-day supply, on Oct. 1 -- and suggests that the pace of sales slowed sharply last month.</p>
<p>Have sales of the critically acclaimed Chevy Malibu stalled? Inventories have jumped recently and incentives are high. Image source: General Motors.</p>
<p>The Malibu is a well-regarded product that was all-new for the 2016 model year. It should be selling well. But midsize sedans in general have been a tough sell this year. GM already has fat incentives on the Malibu, totaling almost $5,000 per car, according to J.D. Power figures obtained by The Motley Fool.</p>
<p>The highincentives are probably partly about clearing out leftover 2016 models. But it's still a lot of money, and a lot of inventory. Will the Malibu's factory -- GM's Fairfax Assembly Plant, near Kansas City -- be the next to announce a shift cut?</p>
<p>I can't help contrasting GM's experience with that of Fordhere.</p>
<p>Ford has been warning for a while that the U.S. market looked to be slowing, and that higher incentives and production cuts were likely in the second half of 2016. Here's what CFO Bob Shanks said during Ford's second-quarter earnings call in July, with emphasis added:</p>
<p>The contrast between Ford's pessimism and GM's upbeat output was cause for considerable comment among investors. Ford took some heat for it, with a few analysts wondering if the problem was that Ford couldn't keep up with its old Detroit rival.</p>
<p>But at least it was no surprise when the Blue Oval followed through on its guidance and <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/18/ford-is-idling-four-factories-what-it-means-for-in.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">cut production at five North American factories Opens a New Window.</a> in October.</p>
<p>Like many of its rivals, including Ford, GM's inventories and incentives are up. Neither is a surprise at this stage of the sales cycle. But it's a little bit of a surprise that GM might have let some of its inventories get out of hand before announcing moves to cut production -- not long after reiterating its upbeat outlook.</p>
<p>I think, in the end, CEO Mary Barra and her team are committed to following the approach they have emphasized -- to "walking their talk," as the saying goes. But it's possible that GM executives were caught off guard here -- or that some sales folks didn't get the memo.</p>
<p>It may turn out that Ford's cautious guidance wasn't pessimism, but an accurate take.</p>
<p>Forget the 2016 Election: 10 stocks we like better than General Motors Donald Trump was just elected president, and volatility is up. But here's why you should ignore the election:</p>
<p>Investing geniuses Tom and David Gardner have spent a long time beating the market no matter who's in the White House. In fact, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=424eba5e-7c26-467b-9f61-ee00cc786253&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and General Motors wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFMarlowe/info.aspx" type="external">John Rosevear Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Ford and General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Ford. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | compact chevrolet cruze sedan new well regarded inventories swelled buyers choose suvs image source generalmotors continue reading generalmotorsnyse gmsaid last week planning cut third shifts two us factories opens new windowthat make cars car models question cadillac ats cts chevrolet cruze camaro havent selling quickly gm would like inventories risen sharply wasnt really surprise gm far automaker see car sales slump buyers gravitate toward suvs inventories models already way hand time gm announced shift cuts wont take effect january way recently gm executives unlike competitors upbeat prospects us market happened advertisement thirdquarter earnings call cfo chuck stevens still upbeat prospects us newvehicle market fact said gms production fourth quarter would probably marginally thirdquarter output surprised analysts many investors noting increasing signs slowing us newcar market opens new window well aware rivalford motor companysnyse f much conservative outlook gms lansing grand river assembly plant lose third shift january gm said last week factory makes chevy camaro two cadillac sedan models image source general motors theproduction cuts indication stevens outlook might changed recently inventories measured terms days supply models times year 60 days supply considered ideal 90 days worth cause concern 100 usually much exception fullsize pickups often higher inventories heres inventories looked like nov 1 cars question data source automotive newsinventory totals rounded nearest 100 vehicles note total number cars also significant 105 days worth cruze much bigger issue terms total volumes 135 days worth cadillac cts note also days supply number increase pace sales slows matter count thats lot cars sitting lot dealers lots gm probably boost incentives clear production cuts keep problem getting worse still incentives cut profits sales quite could expect gms stated approach managing slowing market gm executives often say committed disciplined pricing strategy us remain absolutely committed disciplined retailfocused gotomarket strategy demonstrated managing supply demand disciplined pricing stevens said companys thirdquarter earnings call mean gm saying sales soften choose reduce production new vehicles rather resorting discounting boost sales upshot fewer vehicles sold vehicles sold higher prices fatter profit margins approach good lot different reasons least maximizes gms profit margins reward shareholders time recent events gm shareholder wondering thats really general leads two questions first gm wait long cutting production second gm wait long models piling answer first question judgment call look inventory figures reported automotive news find answer second several 90 days theres one sticks simply like cruzethe total number cars involved high chevrolet malibu nov 1 gm 59600 malibus inventory 96day supply thats 50000 58day supply oct 1 suggests pace sales slowed sharply last month sales critically acclaimed chevy malibu stalled inventories jumped recently incentives high image source general motors malibu wellregarded product allnew 2016 model year selling well midsize sedans general tough sell year gm already fat incentives malibu totaling almost 5000 per car according jd power figures obtained motley fool highincentives probably partly clearing leftover 2016 models still lot money lot inventory malibus factory gms fairfax assembly plant near kansas city next announce shift cut cant help contrasting gms experience fordhere ford warning us market looked slowing higher incentives production cuts likely second half 2016 heres cfo bob shanks said fords secondquarter earnings call july emphasis added contrast fords pessimism gms upbeat output cause considerable comment among investors ford took heat analysts wondering problem ford couldnt keep old detroit rival least surprise blue oval followed guidance cut production five north american factories opens new window october like many rivals including ford gms inventories incentives neither surprise stage sales cycle little bit surprise gm might let inventories get hand announcing moves cut production long reiterating upbeat outlook think end ceo mary barra team committed following approach emphasized walking talk saying goes possible gm executives caught guard sales folks didnt get memo may turn fords cautious guidance wasnt pessimism accurate take forget 2016 election 10 stocks like better general motors donald trump elected president volatility heres ignore election investing geniuses tom david gardner spent long time beating market matter whos white house fact newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe ten best stocks opens new window investors buy right general motors wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 7 2016 john rosevear opens new window owns shares ford general motors motley fool owns shares recommends ford motley fool recommends general motors try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 758 |
<p>Dow jumps more than 200 points</p>
<p>U.S. stocks rallied Tuesday, with the Dow jumping by triple-digits and the Nasdaq hitting a milestone, as investors optimism accelerated on upbeat earnings and the possibility of corporate tax cuts.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 233 points, or 1.1%, to 20,997, outperforming other benchmarks after five of its components reported quarterly results (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dow-getting-an-87-point-boost-from-earnings-led-by-caterpillar-and-3m-stock-rallies-2017-04-25), with four of them coming in ahead of forecasts.</p>
<p>"Today is one of the busiest days in terms of corporate earnings releases, with 36 companies reporting before and after the market and so far earnings have been strong," said Michael Antonelli, equity sales trader at Robert W. Baird &amp; Co.</p>
<p>"While earnings have been driving markets higher, tax cuts would drive multiple expansion and so far it looks like the market is very optimistic on tax cuts," Antonelli said.</p>
<p>(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dupont-offers-downbeat-outlook-for-current-quarter-2017-04-25)Read: Trump seeks corporate tax rate of 15% in plan (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-seeks-corporate-tax-rate-of-15-in-plan-2017-04-24)</p>
<p>Caterpillar Inc.(CAT) lifted its full-year revenue outlook (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/caterpillar-shares-soar-after-first-quarter-earnings-beat-2017-04-25) and reported better-than-expected results, sending shares up more than 7%. Fellow Dow component DuPont (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dupont-offers-downbeat-outlook-for-current-quarter-2017-04-25)(DD) rose nearly 3% after topping analyst forecasts.</p>
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<p>Fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. (MCD) gained 5.1% after it served up first-quarter earnings (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcdonalds-shares-rise-after-earnings-beat-estimates-2017-04-25) that beat expectations. Coca-Cola Co. (KO)reported a drop (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/coke-expands-cost-cuts-after-latam-weakness-2017-04-25) in its first-quarter earnings and sales, and shares were off 0.2%.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the S&amp;P 500 was up 13 points, or 0.6%, to 2,387, with eight of the main 11 sectors trading higher. Materials and financials were leading gains, up about 1%. The index is less than 10 points below its record close.</p>
<p>The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 39 points, or 0.7%, to 6,023, trading in record territory, and surpassing a psychologically important milestone of 6,000.</p>
<p>Checkout: Nasdaq hits 6,000 for first time ever-marking historic milestone (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nasdaq-hits-6000-for-the-first-time-evermarking-historic-milestone-amid-stock-market-rally-2017-04-25)</p>
<p>See: Are planets aligned for a renewed stock market rally? (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/are-planets-aligned-for-a-renewed-stock-market-rally-2017-04-24)</p>
<p>In the back of investors' minds are worries about a potential government shutdown on Saturday. But those may have eased, after Trump backed off on a demand for border-wall funding (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-backs-off-demand-for-immediate-border-wall-funding-2017-04-24) seen as blocking a deal.</p>
<p>See:Should Wall Street fear a government shutdown? (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/should-wall-street-fear-a-government-shutdown-heres-how-stocks-fared-during-past-closures-2017-04-21)</p>
<p>Economic data:U.S. house prices continued to show no signs of slowing (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-house-prices-show-no-sign-of-slowing-2017-04-25), hitting their highest in nearly three years as demand remains hot. Meanwhile, sales of newly-constructed homes (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-home-sales-roar-to-an-8-month-high-as-spring-selling-season-starts-with-a-bang-2017-04-25)rose to the highest in nearly a year in March as the housing recovery picked up steam.</p>
<p>Consumer confidence in the U.S. dipped slightly in April, but Americans are still far more optimistic than they were before the 2016 election, a survey shows.</p>
<p>Check out:After 17 years, S&amp;P 500 tech sector finally regains lost ground (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/after-17-years-sp-500-tech-sector-finally-regains-lost-ground-2017-04-24)</p>
<p>Stock movers: An long list of companies are reporting on Tuesday. In addition to the Dow stocks, results from Biogen Inc (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dupont-offers-downbeat-outlook-for-current-quarter-2017-04-25).(BIIB) lifted the biotech firm by 3.7%. Rite Aid Corp.(RAD) jumped 4.7% on an earnings beat (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rite-aid-shares-jump-after-earnings-beat-2017-04-25).</p>
<p>3M Co (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/3ms-stock-jumps-after-profit-and-sales-rise-above-expectations-2017-04-25). (MMM) shares were up 0.5% after earnings results.</p>
<p>Netflix Inc.(NFLX) shares rallied 5.8% after reporting ti struck a licensing deal with a Baidu Inc.(BIDU) subsidiary to start streaming original content into China (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/netflix-has-found-its-way-into-china-through-licensing-deal-with-baidu-unit-2017-04-25).</p>
<p>Lockheed Martin Corp.(LMT) shares fell 2.8% after the company reported lower-than-expected revenues.</p>
<p>Eli Lilly &amp; Co (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eli-lilly-swings-to-loss-on-higher-sales-cuts-2017-eps-view-2017-04-25).(LLY)swung to a first-quarter loss (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eli-lilly-swings-to-loss-on-higher-sales-cuts-2017-eps-view-2017-04-25), stemming from the drugmaker's purchase of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals Inc. Shares fell 3%.</p>
<p>Straight Path Communications Inc.(STRP) rose nearly 13% after the telecommunications company said that AT&amp;T Inc. (T) has five days to match a "superior" buyout bid it has received. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/straight-path-says-att-has-5-days-to-match-a-superior-buyout-bid-it-received-2017-04-25)</p>
<p>Tyson Foods (TSN) agreed to acquire (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tyson-foods-to-acquire-advancepierre-foods-holdings-for-42-bln-2017-04-25-7914111)AdvancePierre Foods Holdings Inc.(APFH) in a deal valued at $4.2 billion. Shares of Tyson slipped 0.6% while AdvancePierre surged 10%.</p>
<p>Read:Three infrastructure stocks to buy--regardless of Trump's spending plans (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/three-infrastructure-stocks-to-buy-regardless-of-trumps-spending-plans-2017-04-25)</p>
<p>Other markets: European stocks rose modestly (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-snag-modest-gains-after-french-election-rally-2017-04-25) after the prior day's rally, while in Asia equities rose across the board (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-stocks-build-on-gains-and-this-time-china-joins-in-2017-04-24).</p>
<p>Investors in Asia kept a close eye on tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea marked the anniversary of the founding of its military with a large live-fire exercise, as a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group docked in South Korea as planned, reported Reuters (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/north-korea-reportedly-conducts-live-fire-exercise-as-us-submarine-docks-in-the-south-2017-04-25). There had been concerns that North Korea could mark Tuesday's anniversary with another nuclear test of a long-range missile.</p>
<p>See:White House calls in all 100 senators for unusual briefing on North Korea (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/white-house-to-brief-full-senate-as-trump-calls-north-korea-real-threat-to-the-world-2017-04-24)</p>
<p>The dollar rose against the yen, but fell against the euro and British pound .</p>
<p>Oil prices (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-rises-as-bargain-hunters-snap-to-attention-2017-04-25) were relatively flat, while gold prices saw fresh losses, down 1% to $1,265.20 an ounce.</p>
<p>--Ryan Vlastelica contributed to this article.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>April 25, 2017 13:47 ET (17:47 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | dow jumps 200 points us stocks rallied tuesday dow jumping tripledigits nasdaq hitting milestone investors optimism accelerated upbeat earnings possibility corporate tax cuts continue reading dow jones industrial average rose 233 points 11 20997 outperforming benchmarks five components reported quarterly results httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydowgettingan87pointboostfromearningsledbycaterpillarand3mstockrallies20170425 four coming ahead forecasts today one busiest days terms corporate earnings releases 36 companies reporting market far earnings strong said michael antonelli equity sales trader robert w baird amp co earnings driving markets higher tax cuts would drive multiple expansion far looks like market optimistic tax cuts antonelli said httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydupontoffersdownbeatoutlookforcurrentquarter20170425read trump seeks corporate tax rate 15 plan httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytrumpseekscorporatetaxrateof15inplan20170424 caterpillar inccat lifted fullyear revenue outlook httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorycaterpillarsharessoarafterfirstquarterearningsbeat20170425 reported betterthanexpected results sending shares 7 fellow dow component dupont httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydupontoffersdownbeatoutlookforcurrentquarter20170425dd rose nearly 3 topping analyst forecasts advertisement fastfood giant mcdonalds corp mcd gained 51 served firstquarter earnings httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorymcdonaldssharesriseafterearningsbeatestimates20170425 beat expectations cocacola co koreported drop httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorycokeexpandscostcutsafterlatamweakness20170425 firstquarter earnings sales shares 02 meanwhile sampp 500 13 points 06 2387 eight main 11 sectors trading higher materials financials leading gains 1 index less 10 points record close nasdaq composite index rose 39 points 07 6023 trading record territory surpassing psychologically important milestone 6000 checkout nasdaq hits 6000 first time evermarking historic milestone httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorynasdaqhits6000forthefirsttimeevermarkinghistoricmilestoneamidstockmarketrally20170425 see planets aligned renewed stock market rally httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryareplanetsalignedforarenewedstockmarketrally20170424 back investors minds worries potential government shutdown saturday may eased trump backed demand borderwall funding httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytrumpbacksoffdemandforimmediateborderwallfunding20170424 seen blocking deal seeshould wall street fear government shutdown httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryshouldwallstreetfearagovernmentshutdownhereshowstocksfaredduringpastclosures20170421 economic dataus house prices continued show signs slowing httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryushousepricesshownosignofslowing20170425 hitting highest nearly three years demand remains hot meanwhile sales newlyconstructed homes httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorynewhomesalesroartoan8monthhighasspringsellingseasonstartswithabang20170425rose highest nearly year march housing recovery picked steam consumer confidence us dipped slightly april americans still far optimistic 2016 election survey shows check outafter 17 years sampp 500 tech sector finally regains lost ground httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryafter17yearssp500techsectorfinallyregainslostground20170424 stock movers long list companies reporting tuesday addition dow stocks results biogen inc httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydupontoffersdownbeatoutlookforcurrentquarter20170425biib lifted biotech firm 37 rite aid corprad jumped 47 earnings beat httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryriteaidsharesjumpafterearningsbeat20170425 3m co httpwwwmarketwatchcomstory3msstockjumpsafterprofitandsalesriseaboveexpectations20170425 mmm shares 05 earnings results netflix incnflx shares rallied 58 reporting ti struck licensing deal baidu incbidu subsidiary start streaming original content china httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorynetflixhasfounditswayintochinathroughlicensingdealwithbaiduunit20170425 lockheed martin corplmt shares fell 28 company reported lowerthanexpected revenues eli lilly amp co httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryelilillyswingstolossonhighersalescuts2017epsview20170425llyswung firstquarter loss httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryelilillyswingstolossonhighersalescuts2017epsview20170425 stemming drugmakers purchase colucid pharmaceuticals inc shares fell 3 straight path communications incstrp rose nearly 13 telecommunications company said atampt inc five days match superior buyout bid received httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorystraightpathsaysatthas5daystomatchasuperiorbuyoutbiditreceived20170425 tyson foods tsn agreed acquire httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytysonfoodstoacquireadvancepierrefoodsholdingsfor42bln201704257914111advancepierre foods holdings incapfh deal valued 42 billion shares tyson slipped 06 advancepierre surged 10 readthree infrastructure stocks buyregardless trumps spending plans httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorythreeinfrastructurestockstobuyregardlessoftrumpsspendingplans20170425 markets european stocks rose modestly httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryeuropeanstockssnagmodestgainsafterfrenchelectionrally20170425 prior days rally asia equities rose across board httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryasianstocksbuildongainsandthistimechinajoinsin20170424 investors asia kept close eye tensions korean peninsula north korea marked anniversary founding military large livefire exercise us aircraft carrier strike group docked south korea planned reported reuters httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorynorthkoreareportedlyconductslivefireexerciseasussubmarinedocksinthesouth20170425 concerns north korea could mark tuesdays anniversary another nuclear test longrange missile seewhite house calls 100 senators unusual briefing north korea httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorywhitehousetobrieffullsenateastrumpcallsnorthkorearealthreattotheworld20170424 dollar rose yen fell euro british pound oil prices httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryoilrisesasbargainhunterssnaptoattention20170425 relatively flat gold prices saw fresh losses 1 126520 ounce ryan vlastelica contributed article end dow jones newswires april 25 2017 1347 et 1747 gmt | 518 |
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<p>SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP) — A gunman dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside a small South Texas church, killing 26 people in an attack that claimed tight-knit neighbors and multiple family members ranging in age from 5 to 72 years old.</p>
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<p>Once the shooting started Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, there was likely "no way" for congregants to escape, said Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt Jr. Officials said about 20 others were wounded.</p>
<p>"He just walked down the center aisle, turned around and my understanding was shooting on his way back out," said Tackitt, who said the gunman also carried a handgun but that he didn't know if it was fired. Tackitt described the scene as "terrible."</p>
<p>"It's unbelievable to see children, men and women, laying there. Defenseless people," he said.</p>
<p>Tackitt told CNN on Monday morning that the gunman's former in-laws attended services at the church "from time to time" but weren't in attendance Sunday.</p>
<p>Authorities didn't identify the attacker during a news conference Sunday night. But two other officials — one a U.S. official and one in law enforcement — identified him as Devin Kelley. They spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the investigation.</p>
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<p>The U.S. official said Kelley lived in a San Antonio suburb and didn't appear to be linked to organized terrorist groups. Investigators were looking at social media posts Kelley made in the days before the attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.</p>
<p>Kelley received a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force for assaulting his spouse and child, and was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial. Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his 2014 discharge, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.</p>
<p>At the news conference, the attacker was described only as a white man in his 20s who was wearing black tactical gear and a ballistic vest when he pulled into a gas station across from the church, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio, around 11:20 a.m.</p>
<p>The gunman crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, said Freeman Martin, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, then continued firing after entering the white wood-frame building, where an 11 a.m. service was scheduled.</p>
<p>As he left, the shooter was confronted by an armed resident who "grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect," Martin said. A short time later, the suspect was found dead in his vehicle at the county line.</p>
<p>Federal agents, including ATF investigators and the FBI's evidence collection team, swarmed the small rural community of just hundreds of residents.</p>
<p>Several weapons were found inside the vehicle and Martin said it was unclear if the attacker died of a self-inflicted wound or if he was shot by the resident who confronted him. He said investigators weren't ready to discuss a possible motive.</p>
<p>Martin said 23 of the dead were found in the church, two were found outside and one died after being taken to a hospital.</p>
<p>The man who confronted Kelley had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who told KSAT TV that he was driving past the church as the shooting happened. He didn't identify the armed resident but said the man exchanged gunfire with the gunman, then asked to get in Langendorff's truck and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.</p>
<p>Langendorff said the gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. He said the other man walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn and the suspect did not move. He stayed there for at least five minutes, until police arrived.</p>
<p>"I was strictly just acting on what's the right thing to do," Langendorff said.</p>
<p>Among those killed was the church pastor's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Pomeroy. Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, were both out of town when the attack occurred, Sherri Pomeroy wrote in a text message.</p>
<p>"We lost our 14-year-old daughter today and many friends," she wrote. "Neither of us has made it back into town yet to personally see the devastation. I am at the charlotte airport trying to get home as soon as i can."</p>
<p>Church member Nick Uhlig, 34, who wasn't at Sunday's service, told the AP that his cousin, who was 8 months pregnant, and her in-laws were among those killed. He later told the Houston Chronicle that three of his cousin's children also were slain.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump, who was in Japan, called the shooting an "act of evil," later calling the gunman "a very deranged individual."</p>
<p>Sunday evening, two sheriff's vans were parked outside the gate of a cattle fence surrounding the address listed for Kelley on the rural, western outskirts of New Braunfels, north of San Antonio.</p>
<p>Ryan Albers, 16, who lives across the road, said he heard intensifying gunfire coming from that direction in recent days.</p>
<p>"It was definitely not just a shotgun or someone hunting," Albers said. "It was someone using automatic weapon fire."</p>
<p>The church has posted videos of its Sunday services on a YouTube channel, raising the possibility that the shooting was captured on video.</p>
<p>In a video of its Oct. 8 service, a congregant who spoke and read Scripture pointed to the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting a week earlier as evidence of the "wicked nature" of man. That shooting left 58 dead and more than 500 injured.</p>
<p>Gov. Greg Abbott called Sunday's attack the worst mass shooting in Texas history. It came on the eighth anniversary of a shooting at the Texas' Fort Hood, where 13 people were killed and 31 others wounded by a former U.S. Army major.</p>
<p>The previous deadliest mass shooting in Texas had been a 1991 attack in Killeen, when a mentally disturbed man crashed his pickup truck through a restaurant window at lunchtime and started shooting people, killing 23 and injuring more than 20 others.</p>
<p>The University of Texas was the site of one of the most infamous mass shootings in modern American history, when U.S. Marine sniper Charles Whitman climbed the Austin campus' clock tower in 1966 and began firing on stunned people below, killing 13 and wounding nearly three dozen others. He had killed his wife and mother before heading to the tower, one victim died a week later and medical examiners eventually attributed a 17th death to Whitman in 2001.</p>
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<p>Associated Press writers Sadie Gurman and Eric Tucker in Washington, Nomaan Merchant in Houston, Will Weissert in Austin, Diana Heidgerd in Dallas, Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles and Paul J. Weber in New Braunfels, Texas, contributed to this report.</p> | true | 0 | sutherland springs texas ap gunman dressed black tacticalstyle gear armed assault rifle opened fire inside small south texas church killing 26 people attack claimed tightknit neighbors multiple family members ranging age 5 72 years old continue reading shooting started sunday first baptist church sutherland springs likely way congregants escape said wilson county sheriff joe tackitt jr officials said 20 others wounded walked center aisle turned around understanding shooting way back said tackitt said gunman also carried handgun didnt know fired tackitt described scene terrible unbelievable see children men women laying defenseless people said tackitt told cnn monday morning gunmans former inlaws attended services church time time werent attendance sunday authorities didnt identify attacker news conference sunday night two officials one us official one law enforcement identified devin kelley spoke associated press condition anonymity werent authorized discuss investigation advertisement us official said kelley lived san antonio suburb didnt appear linked organized terrorist groups investigators looking social media posts kelley made days attack including one appeared show ar15 semiautomatic weapon kelley received bad conduct discharge air force assaulting spouse child sentenced 12 months confinement 2012 courtmartial kelley served logistics readiness holloman air force base new mexico 2010 2014 discharge air force spokeswoman ann stefanek said news conference attacker described white man 20s wearing black tactical gear ballistic vest pulled gas station across church 30 miles 4828 kilometers southeast san antonio around 1120 gunman crossed street started firing rifle church said freeman martin regional director texas department safety continued firing entering white woodframe building 11 service scheduled left shooter confronted armed resident grabbed rifle engaged suspect martin said short time later suspect found dead vehicle county line federal agents including atf investigators fbis evidence collection team swarmed small rural community hundreds residents several weapons found inside vehicle martin said unclear attacker died selfinflicted wound shot resident confronted said investigators werent ready discuss possible motive martin said 23 dead found church two found outside one died taken hospital man confronted kelley help another local resident johnnie langendorff told ksat tv driving past church shooting happened didnt identify armed resident said man exchanged gunfire gunman asked get langendorffs truck pair followed gunman drove away langendorff said gunman eventually lost control vehicle crashed said man walked vehicle gun drawn suspect move stayed least five minutes police arrived strictly acting whats right thing langendorff said among killed church pastors 14yearold daughter annabelle pomeroy pastor frank pomeroy wife sherri town attack occurred sherri pomeroy wrote text message lost 14yearold daughter today many friends wrote neither us made back town yet personally see devastation charlotte airport trying get home soon church member nick uhlig 34 wasnt sundays service told ap cousin 8 months pregnant inlaws among killed later told houston chronicle three cousins children also slain president donald trump japan called shooting act evil later calling gunman deranged individual sunday evening two sheriffs vans parked outside gate cattle fence surrounding address listed kelley rural western outskirts new braunfels north san antonio ryan albers 16 lives across road said heard intensifying gunfire coming direction recent days definitely shotgun someone hunting albers said someone using automatic weapon fire church posted videos sunday services youtube channel raising possibility shooting captured video video oct 8 service congregant spoke read scripture pointed oct 1 las vegas shooting week earlier evidence wicked nature man shooting left 58 dead 500 injured gov greg abbott called sundays attack worst mass shooting texas history came eighth anniversary shooting texas fort hood 13 people killed 31 others wounded former us army major previous deadliest mass shooting texas 1991 attack killeen mentally disturbed man crashed pickup truck restaurant window lunchtime started shooting people killing 23 injuring 20 others university texas site one infamous mass shootings modern american history us marine sniper charles whitman climbed austin campus clock tower 1966 began firing stunned people killing 13 wounding nearly three dozen others killed wife mother heading tower one victim died week later medical examiners eventually attributed 17th death whitman 2001 ___ associated press writers sadie gurman eric tucker washington nomaan merchant houston weissert austin diana heidgerd dallas michael balsamo los angeles paul j weber new braunfels texas contributed report | 687 |
<p>While no one knows if there will even be an indictment of Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown, leaked evidence <a href="" type="internal">including an autopsy report</a> raise the possibility there will be no indictment.</p>
<p>If that happens, the streets <a href="http://fox2now.com/2014/10/23/ferguson-on-edge-as-doubts-raised-over-darren-wilson-indictment/" type="external">will be on edge</a>, and it will not take much of a spark to set the city on fire worse than ever before.</p>
<p>As much tension as there is, an underreported story is the active role of “pro-Palestinian” activists who have exploited the Ferguson riots and tension this summer and fall to push their anti-Israel agenda. That anti-Israeli agenda, which involves encouraging confrontation with police in solidarity with Palestinians, is helping provide the accelerant to an already volatile situation.</p>
<p>It started with a propaganda campaign over the summer when Brown was shot. On Twitter and elsewhere, anti-Israel activists started tweeting messages of “support” for protesters in Ferguson, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11036190/Palestinians-tweet-tear-gas-advice-to-protesters-in-Ferguson.html" type="external">including advice</a> on how to deal with tear gas.</p>
<p>It was a <a href="http://mondoweiss.net/2014/10/shaking-campus-palestine" type="external">highly organized effort</a> to exploit the Ferguson tension and co-opt it into the anti-Israel cause:</p>
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<p>Tying Ferguson to Gaza is a major theme in this weekend’s <a href="http://sjpnational.org/2014-program/" type="external">national Students for Justice in Palestine conference</a> being held at Tufts University in Massachusetts.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>This type of co-opting now is a common tactic on campuses and elsewhere, including trying to compare the <a href="" type="internal">U.S.-Mexican border</a> fence to the Israeli security barrier (built after several hundred Israelis died in suicide bombings in 2002-2004) in order to forge alliances against Israel. It is a highly racialized tactic, using verbiage of colonized “brown people” versus white colonizers.</p>
<p>(Omar Barghouti, Co-Founder of BDS Movement, via Tumblr)</p>
<p>It also has involved a propaganda campaign to blame Israel for the killing of Brown because a former St.Louis County police chief three years ago attended a <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_9b614430-5679-11e0-999b-0017a4a78c22.html" type="external">one-week anti-terrorism program in Israel</a>. Presumably some Ferguson officers also have attended various training sessions routinely given in the U.S. and elsewhere to police departments, but the one-week training in Israel by someone who wasn’t even on the job when Brown was shot was enough for <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:-TQGs2o10t4J:electronicintifada.net/blogs/rania-khalek/israel-trained-police-occupy-missouri-after-killing-black-youth+&amp;cd=1&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=us" type="external">the usual suspects</a> to try to blame Israel for everything that happens in Ferguson.</p>
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<p>It also was claimed that there was an Israeli connection because both Israeli police and Ferguson police use the same type of tear gas container, made by a company in Pennsylvania. Think about that. Just because Israel buys tear gas canisters from the same American company the Ferguson police buy from somehow makes Israel responsible.</p>
<p>It defies any logic, but it is spread far and wide, including by NY Times reporter Robert Mackey:</p>
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<p>And the Israeli far-left wing <a href="http://972mag.com/photos-same-tear-gas-used-in-ferguson-and-west-bank/95699/" type="external">972 Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>That’s how anti-Israel propaganda works. Pick some irrelevant connection between Israel and someone who allegedly does something wrong, and then claim Israel is responsible for what the other person did.</p>
<p>This is not a lightly taken tactic. Several anti-Israel groups were active in the Ferguson protest weekend in October, under the “Ferguson to Israel” banner (and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Palestine2Ferguson&amp;src=hash&amp;mode=photos" type="external">Twitter hashtag</a>) including Code Pink (whose Medea Benjamin just returned from an anti-Israel conference in Tehran):</p>
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<p>Multiple anti-Israeli activists plastered their #Palestine2Ferguson photos all over social media and websites.</p>
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<p>Palestine contingent takes up the rear of the march. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestine2Ferguson?src=hash" type="external">#Palestine2Ferguson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FergusonOctober?src=hash" type="external">#FergusonOctober</a> <a href="http://t.co/ctR21bjRCh" type="external">pic.twitter.com/ctR21bjRCh</a></p>
<p>— Kristian D Bailey (@kristianbailey) <a href="https://twitter.com/kristianbailey/status/520977694734184450" type="external">October 11, 2014</a></p>
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<p />
<p>This International Solidarity movement activist, who <a href="https://twitter.com/LegInsurrection/status/492787312498343936" type="external">helped organize human shield operations</a> by activists in Gaza this summer, is among many anti-Israel activists making the comparison between Gaza and Ferguson:</p>
<p />
<p>These groups were not shy in advocating protest. Nothing wrong with that, but the Palestinian-Ferguson protest advocacy has actively encouraged confrontation, such as this <a href="https://twitter.com/iFalasteen/status/525776406983495680" type="external">Students for Justice in Palestine activist</a>:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>But there is one anti-Israel activist who actively is trying to provoke a confrontation between protesters and police, even taunting police in crowd situations about losing their guns and hoping they die.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /> (More images from US Campaign to End the Occupation Palestine2Ferguson campaign <a href="http://usceio.tumblr.com/tagged/Palestine2Ferguson" type="external">here</a>.)</p>
<p>His name is <a href="https://twitter.com/bassem_masri" type="external">Bassem Masri</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Masri presents himself as a <a href="http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2014/09/independent_journalist_in_ferguson_gets_equipment_robbed_while_sitting_in_jail.php" type="external">journalist</a>, but the mask is off.</p>
<p>(Bassem Masri at Ferguson Protest, via <a href="http://usceio.tumblr.com/image/100957861860" type="external">Tumblr</a>)</p>
<p>Masri has been touting anti-Israeli conspiracy theories while organizing Ferguson protests, via <a href="http://freebeacon.com/politics/ferguson-protesters-shut-down-cnn-broadcast-because-its-zionist/" type="external">Free Beacon</a>:</p>
<p>Language Warning</p>
<p />
<p>Angry protesters in Ferguson, Mo., shut down CNN’s live broadcast Monday night after repeatedly heckling the reporter and cameraperson for working for an organization “run by AIPAC” and “Zionists.”</p>
<p>The heckling is audible in a video filmed by protester Bassem Masri, whose Twitter profile touts the Palestinian cause and reads “long live Palestine.”</p>
<p>“You fucking lie about Ferguson; you lie about Occupy Wall Street; you lie about Palestine. You’re all run by Zionists,” one protester said. “We’re holding y’all accountable.”</p>
<p>The hecklers threatened to shut down future CNN broadcasts. “They’re an AIPAC-run agency,” Masri said. “Don’t even think that we won’t.”</p>
<p>Much more ominously, Masri appears to be directly fomenting violence, as a local Fox affiliate reports on his presence in a crowd protesting an <a href="" type="internal">unrelated shooting of Vonderitt Myers Jr.</a> in St. Louis, <a href="http://fox2now.com/2014/10/23/one-mans-protests-push-police-to-the-limit/" type="external">One man’s protests push police to the limit</a>:</p>
<p>Here`s an inside look at one of the most angry protestors, who`s lighting up social media over Ferguson and the deadly police shooting on Shaw. Fox Files investigator Chris Hayes sat down with St. Louisan Bassem Masri.</p>
<p>A crowd chants to officers, “Whose streets? Our streets. Our streets. Our streets.”</p>
<p>It was October 8, the night an off duty officer shot and killed Vonderett [sic] Myers Jr. Crowds surround officers who back away.</p>
<p>A man holding a cell phone says, ‘What the f*** you doing here bro, get the f*** out a here with your coward ass boys.’ It was Bassem Masri who said this as he streamed video that was live at the time. Masri yelled at an officer, ‘Coward straight pig out here bitch! You gotta go. Your life is in danger homie.’</p>
<p>People appear to feed off of his energy. Masri told an officer, ‘What happens when we take your gun?’ That officer then protects his gun. Another officer protecting his gun was answered with screams, ‘He has his hand on his gun!’</p>
<p>Then citizens surrounded him and chanted, ‘Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.’</p>
<p>At one point you can hear Masri tell officers, while pointing at each one, ‘I`m praying for your death and you death and your death and your death.’</p>
<p>Language Warning:</p>
<p />
<p>(added) This video, which reportedly shows Masri confronting a Ferguson police officer (one of the people with him threatens to rape the officer’s wife) demonstrates how the aggressive, in-your-face, unprovoked tactics risk escalation. Fortunately, this officer just took the verbal abuse and did not react:</p>
<p>Language Warning</p>
<p />
<p>Israel has nothing to do with whatever did or did not happen in Ferguson.</p>
<p>But anti-Israel activists rarely care about the truth, it’s all propaganda for the cause.</p>
<p>But this propaganda, and this agitation, actively is pushing for a confrontation between police and protesters in Ferguson, in which people are likely to get hurt. And the activists like Masri will be there to take the viral videos and photos.</p>
<p>And that’s the point. Just as Palestinian and supportive Western leftist activists encourage children to throw rocks at Israeli police so they can get the video of the police arresting a child, so too this is all about the photo- and video-ops.</p>
<p>And it may push Ferguson over the edge.</p>
<p>[Note: Some images were added after initial publication.]</p>
<p>[Featured Image source: <a href="https://twitter.com/iFalasteen/status/499819258373623808" type="external">@iFalastine Twitter</a>]</p> | true | 0 | one knows even indictment officer darren wilson killing michael brown leaked evidence including autopsy report raise possibility indictment happens streets edge take much spark set city fire worse ever much tension underreported story active role propalestinian activists exploited ferguson riots tension summer fall push antiisrael agenda antiisraeli agenda involves encouraging confrontation police solidarity palestinians helping provide accelerant already volatile situation started propaganda campaign summer brown shot twitter elsewhere antiisrael activists started tweeting messages support protesters ferguson including advice deal tear gas highly organized effort exploit ferguson tension coopt antiisrael cause tying ferguson gaza major theme weekends national students justice palestine conference held tufts university massachusetts type coopting common tactic campuses elsewhere including trying compare usmexican border fence israeli security barrier built several hundred israelis died suicide bombings 20022004 order forge alliances israel highly racialized tactic using verbiage colonized brown people versus white colonizers omar barghouti cofounder bds movement via tumblr also involved propaganda campaign blame israel killing brown former stlouis county police chief three years ago attended oneweek antiterrorism program israel presumably ferguson officers also attended various training sessions routinely given us elsewhere police departments oneweek training israel someone wasnt even job brown shot enough usual suspects try blame israel everything happens ferguson also claimed israeli connection israeli police ferguson police use type tear gas container made company pennsylvania think israel buys tear gas canisters american company ferguson police buy somehow makes israel responsible defies logic spread far wide including ny times reporter robert mackey israeli farleft wing 972 magazine thats antiisrael propaganda works pick irrelevant connection israel someone allegedly something wrong claim israel responsible person lightly taken tactic several antiisrael groups active ferguson protest weekend october ferguson israel banner twitter hashtag including code pink whose medea benjamin returned antiisrael conference tehran multiple antiisraeli activists plastered palestine2ferguson photos social media websites palestine contingent takes rear march palestine2ferguson fergusonoctober pictwittercomctr21bjrch kristian bailey kristianbailey october 11 2014 international solidarity movement activist helped organize human shield operations activists gaza summer among many antiisrael activists making comparison gaza ferguson groups shy advocating protest nothing wrong palestinianferguson protest advocacy actively encouraged confrontation students justice palestine activist one antiisrael activist actively trying provoke confrontation protesters police even taunting police crowd situations losing guns hoping die images us campaign end occupation palestine2ferguson campaign name bassem masri masri presents journalist mask bassem masri ferguson protest via tumblr masri touting antiisraeli conspiracy theories organizing ferguson protests via free beacon language warning angry protesters ferguson mo shut cnns live broadcast monday night repeatedly heckling reporter cameraperson working organization run aipac zionists heckling audible video filmed protester bassem masri whose twitter profile touts palestinian cause reads long live palestine fucking lie ferguson lie occupy wall street lie palestine youre run zionists one protester said holding yall accountable hecklers threatened shut future cnn broadcasts theyre aipacrun agency masri said dont even think wont much ominously masri appears directly fomenting violence local fox affiliate reports presence crowd protesting unrelated shooting vonderitt myers jr st louis one mans protests push police limit heres inside look one angry protestors whos lighting social media ferguson deadly police shooting shaw fox files investigator chris hayes sat st louisan bassem masri crowd chants officers whose streets streets streets streets october 8 night duty officer shot killed vonderett sic myers jr crowds surround officers back away man holding cell phone says f bro get f coward ass boys bassem masri said streamed video live time masri yelled officer coward straight pig bitch got ta go life danger homie people appear feed energy masri told officer happens take gun officer protects gun another officer protecting gun answered screams hand gun citizens surrounded chanted shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot one point hear masri tell officers pointing one im praying death death death death language warning added video reportedly shows masri confronting ferguson police officer one people threatens rape officers wife demonstrates aggressive inyourface unprovoked tactics risk escalation fortunately officer took verbal abuse react language warning israel nothing whatever happen ferguson antiisrael activists rarely care truth propaganda cause propaganda agitation actively pushing confrontation police protesters ferguson people likely get hurt activists like masri take viral videos photos thats point palestinian supportive western leftist activists encourage children throw rocks israeli police get video police arresting child photo videoops may push ferguson edge note images added initial publication featured image source ifalastine twitter | 719 |
<p>Frederick Douglass became a topic of discussion when President Donald Trump praised the historical figure in a speech hailing African-American History Month.</p>
<p>"Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who's done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice," Trump <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/02/politics/donald-trump-frederick-douglass/" type="external">said</a>.</p>
<p>Trump's use of the present tense to describe Douglass is what drew the media's attention, as they began asking if Trump knew that Douglass was dead. Regardless of if Trump did or not, Douglass is an important historical figure. Here are nine things you need to know about him.</p>
<p>1. Douglass was originally born as <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-douglass" type="external">Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey</a>. Douglass changed his last name to ensure he could remain free after he fled from slavery. The name "Douglass" was based off James of Douglas, the protagonist in Sir Walter Scott's poem <a href="http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/works/poetry/lady.html" type="external">Lady of the Lake</a>.</p>
<p>2. <a href="http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/frederick-douglass.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/" type="external">Douglass</a> was separated from his mother shortly after his birth and was never completely sure as to who his father was. Douglass's mother, Harriet Bailey, was a slave, and his father is believed to have been a white man; presumably a slave owner. Douglass's early years were primarily with his grandmother, Betty Bailey. He eventually left her care when he was seven years old.</p>
<p>3. Douglass <a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/narrative/section4.rhtml" type="external">learned to read and write</a> as a slave primarily through his self-determination. He was initially being taught reading and writing skills by Sophia Auld, one of his owners, until she was forced to stop doing so by her husband, Hugh Auld, as teaching blacks to read and write was illegal at that time. Undeterred, <a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/narrative/section5.rhtml" type="external">Douglass</a> received reading lessons from boys in the area and compensated them with bread. Douglass had to teach himself how to write through a myriad of ways, including holding writing contests for local boys and then using their writings to teach himself. He also scoured through copybooks from one of his slavemasters.</p>
<p>Through his studies, Douglass read The Columbian Orator, a book that featured an exchange between a slave owner and a slave on the merits of slavery. The slave wins the argument that slavery is evil; causing him to win his freedom. It is through this that Douglass learned to effectively argue against slavery; he realized that slave owners purposely kept their slaves uneducated and illiterate so they wouldn't realize the full evil and immorality of slavery and be manipulated into thinking they couldn't survive without their slave owners. This epiphany fueled his determination to one day be free.</p>
<p>4. Douglass ended up <a href="http://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-narrative-of-frederick-douglass/chapter-10" type="external">getting into a fight</a> with one of his slave masters and won. Douglass at one point was owned by Edward Covey, known as the <a href="http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/frederick-douglass.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/" type="external">"negro-breaker and slave-driver"</a> for ruthlessly breaking the will of his slaves. Douglass' resolve was shattered at first, as the brutal treatment from Covey caused Douglass to only seek relief from his wounds rather than focus on escaping or reading. However, Douglass became weary of Covey's treatment and one day fought back.</p>
<p>Covey bound Douglass's legs as he was working on something. Douglass retaliated by grabbing Covey's throat. The two fought each other for two hours, but Douglass came out on top. After that, Douglass was never on the receiving end of a whip again, and he believed it was because Covey didn't want it known that a slave had beaten him in a fight. But more importantly, the fight caused Douglass to regain his confidence and determination to be free.</p>
<p>5. Douglass finally <a href="http://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-narrative-of-frederick-douglass/chapter-11" type="external">escaped</a>. After one previous failed escape attempt with a group of slaves, Douglass eventually found freedom through the help of abolitionist journalist David Ruggles, a free black man, who permitted Douglass to reside in his boarding house and directed him to enter the caulking profession in New York. Douglass met his first wife Anna Murray there, and together they made their way to New Bedford, MA.</p>
<p>6. As a free man, Douglass became a leading figure in the abolitionist movement. Douglass first became involved in the movement after reading the Liberator, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison's newspaper. Douglass started to attend abolitionist meetings, where Garrison urged Douglass to tell people about his experiences as a slave. Consequently, Douglass gave speeches about his time as a slave, and his oratory skills helped Douglass achieve prominence. He eventually published his story in the well-known book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave and started his own abolitionist newspaper, North Star, after he split from Garrison's brand of abolitionism due to political and tactical differences. According to the <a href="http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/frederick-douglass.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/" type="external">Civil War Trust</a>, Douglass had become "the most prominent black man in the United States" when the Civil War began.</p>
<p>7. Douglass was initially skeptical of Abraham Lincoln but eventually became a strong defender and admirer of Lincoln. Douglass had thrown his support behind William Seward in the 1860 Republican presidential primary, and then supported Lincoln in the general election due to his disgust at Democratic presidential nominee Stephen Douglas. Douglass at first was concerned that Lincoln was too timid when it came to ending slavery, but was reassured that Lincoln was methodically and pragmatically working toward emancipation and was impressed by Lincoln's demeanor.</p>
<p>Here's what Douglass had to say about Lincoln in <a href="http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/library/mr-lincolns-contemporaries/frederick-douglass/" type="external">his memoirs</a>:</p>
<p>“I have often said elsewhere what I wish to repeat here, that Mr. Lincoln was not only a great president, but a great man – too great to be small in anything. In his company I was never in any way reminded of my humble origin, or of my unpopular color. While I am, as it may seem, bragging of the kind consideration which I have reason to believe that Mr. Lincoln entertained towards me, I may mention one thing more. At the door of my friend John A. Gray, where I was stopping in Washington, I found one afternoon the carriage of Secretary Dole, and a messenger from President Lincoln with an invitation for me to take tea with him at the Soldiers Home, where he then passed his nights, riding out after the business of the day was over at the Executive Mansion. Unfortunately I had an engagement to speak that evening, and having made it one of the rules of my conduct in life never to break an engagement if possible to keep it, I felt obliged to decline the honor. I have often regretted that I did not make this an exception to my general rule. Could I have known that no such opportunity could come to me again, I should have justified myself in disappointing a large audience for the sake of such a visit with Abraham Lincoln.”</p>
<p>In speeches, Douglass referred to Lincoln as "the best man, truest patriot, and wisest statesman of his time and country" and "the greatest statesman that ever presided over the destinies of this Republic."</p>
<p>8. After the Civil War, Douglass was an ardent proponent of achieving equality under the law for blacks until he died in 1895. Douglass knew that emancipation was only the first step in achieving equality, so his focus was on voting rights for blacks. He served in various government positions in Washington D.C. and even received a vote for president at the Republican National Convention in 1888, the first black man to ever have that distinction. Douglass himself was a lifelong supporter of the Republican Party; he detested the Democrat Party's affinity for slavery.</p>
<p>9. Douglass was a firm believer in the Constitution and that hard work is the key to success. One of the reasons for the split between Douglass and Garrison was their view of the Constitution. Garrison viewed it as an endorsement of slavery; Douglass viewed it as the vehicle in which to end it. In fact, Douglass hailed the Constitution as <a href="https://reason.com/archives/2006/10/01/a-glorious-liberty-document" type="external">"a glorious liberty document."</a></p>
<p>Douglass also believed in hard work over the redistribution wealth, as made evident by the <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/351396/what-frederick-douglass-stood-michael-tanner" type="external">following</a> <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/352730/frederick-douglass-self-made-man-rich-lowry" type="external">quotes</a>:</p>
<p>Douglass was a true proponent of freedom and individual liberty; an admirable and important figure in American history who needs to be recognized as a household name.</p>
<p>Follow Aaron Bandler on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/bandlersbanter" type="external">@bandlersbanter</a>.</p> | true | 0 | frederick douglass became topic discussion president donald trump praised historical figure speech hailing africanamerican history month frederick douglass example somebody whos done amazing job recognized notice trump said trumps use present tense describe douglass drew medias attention began asking trump knew douglass dead regardless trump douglass important historical figure nine things need know 1 douglass originally born frederick augustus washington bailey douglass changed last name ensure could remain free fled slavery name douglass based james douglas protagonist sir walter scotts poem lady lake 2 douglass separated mother shortly birth never completely sure father douglasss mother harriet bailey slave father believed white man presumably slave owner douglasss early years primarily grandmother betty bailey eventually left care seven years old 3 douglass learned read write slave primarily selfdetermination initially taught reading writing skills sophia auld one owners forced stop husband hugh auld teaching blacks read write illegal time undeterred douglass received reading lessons boys area compensated bread douglass teach write myriad ways including holding writing contests local boys using writings teach also scoured copybooks one slavemasters studies douglass read columbian orator book featured exchange slave owner slave merits slavery slave wins argument slavery evil causing win freedom douglass learned effectively argue slavery realized slave owners purposely kept slaves uneducated illiterate wouldnt realize full evil immorality slavery manipulated thinking couldnt survive without slave owners epiphany fueled determination one day free 4 douglass ended getting fight one slave masters douglass one point owned edward covey known negrobreaker slavedriver ruthlessly breaking slaves douglass resolve shattered first brutal treatment covey caused douglass seek relief wounds rather focus escaping reading however douglass became weary coveys treatment one day fought back covey bound douglasss legs working something douglass retaliated grabbing coveys throat two fought two hours douglass came top douglass never receiving end whip believed covey didnt want known slave beaten fight importantly fight caused douglass regain confidence determination free 5 douglass finally escaped one previous failed escape attempt group slaves douglass eventually found freedom help abolitionist journalist david ruggles free black man permitted douglass reside boarding house directed enter caulking profession new york douglass met first wife anna murray together made way new bedford 6 free man douglass became leading figure abolitionist movement douglass first became involved movement reading liberator abolitionist william lloyd garrisons newspaper douglass started attend abolitionist meetings garrison urged douglass tell people experiences slave consequently douglass gave speeches time slave oratory skills helped douglass achieve prominence eventually published story wellknown book narrative life frederick douglass american slave started abolitionist newspaper north star split garrisons brand abolitionism due political tactical differences according civil war trust douglass become prominent black man united states civil war began 7 douglass initially skeptical abraham lincoln eventually became strong defender admirer lincoln douglass thrown support behind william seward 1860 republican presidential primary supported lincoln general election due disgust democratic presidential nominee stephen douglas douglass first concerned lincoln timid came ending slavery reassured lincoln methodically pragmatically working toward emancipation impressed lincolns demeanor heres douglass say lincoln memoirs often said elsewhere wish repeat mr lincoln great president great man great small anything company never way reminded humble origin unpopular color may seem bragging kind consideration reason believe mr lincoln entertained towards may mention one thing door friend john gray stopping washington found one afternoon carriage secretary dole messenger president lincoln invitation take tea soldiers home passed nights riding business day executive mansion unfortunately engagement speak evening made one rules conduct life never break engagement possible keep felt obliged decline honor often regretted make exception general rule could known opportunity could come justified disappointing large audience sake visit abraham lincoln speeches douglass referred lincoln best man truest patriot wisest statesman time country greatest statesman ever presided destinies republic 8 civil war douglass ardent proponent achieving equality law blacks died 1895 douglass knew emancipation first step achieving equality focus voting rights blacks served various government positions washington dc even received vote president republican national convention 1888 first black man ever distinction douglass lifelong supporter republican party detested democrat partys affinity slavery 9 douglass firm believer constitution hard work key success one reasons split douglass garrison view constitution garrison viewed endorsement slavery douglass viewed vehicle end fact douglass hailed constitution glorious liberty document douglass also believed hard work redistribution wealth made evident following quotes douglass true proponent freedom individual liberty admirable important figure american history needs recognized household name follow aaron bandler twitter bandlersbanter | 729 |
<p>It's Time To Set The Record Straight</p>
<p>written by <a href="http://samgipp.com/" type="external">Dr. Sam Gipp</a> "And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. " <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?t=KJV&amp;b=Act&amp;c=12&amp;v=1&amp;x=0&amp;y=0" type="external">Acts 12:4</a></p>
<p />
<p>QUESTION: Isn't "Easter" in Acts 12:4 a mistranslation of the word "pascha" and should it be translated as "passover"?</p>
<p>ANSWER: No, "pascha" is properly translated "Easter" in Acts 12:4 as the following explanation will show. EXPLANATION: The Greek word which is translated "Easter" in Acts 12:4 is the word "pascha". This word appears twenty-nine times in the New Testament. Twenty-eight of those times the word is rendered "Passover" in reference to the night when the Lord passed over Egypt and killed all the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12:12), thus setting Israel free from four hundred years of bondage. The many opponents to the concept of having a perfect Bible have made much of this translation of "pascha". Coming to the word "Easter" in God's Authorized Bible, they seize upon it imagining that they have found proof that the Bible is not perfect. The most amazing day in human history was when Jesus showed that He had power over life, and over death! Fortunately for lovers of the word of God, they are wrong. Easter, as we know it, comes from the ancient pagan festival of Astarte. Also known as Ishtar (pronounced "Easter"). This festival has always been held late in the month of April. It was, in its original form, a celebration of the earth "regenerating" itself after the winter season. The festival involved a celebration of reproduction. For this reason the common symbols of Easter festivities were the rabbit (the same symbol as "Playboy" magazine), and the egg. Both are known for their reproductive abilities. At the center of attention was Astarte, the female deity. She is known in the Bible as the "queen of heaven" (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-25). She is the mother of Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14) who was also her husband! These perverted rituals would take place at sunrise on Easter morning (Ezekiel 8:13-16). From the references in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, we can see that the true Easter has never had any association with Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>Problem: Even though the Jewish passover was held in mid April (the fourteenth) and the pagan festival Easter was held later the same month, how do we know that Herod was referring to Easter in Acts 12:4 and not the Jewish passover? If he was referring to the passover, the translation of "pascha" as "Easter" is incorrect. If he was indeed referring to the pagan holyday (holiday) Easter, then the King James Bible (1611) must truly be the very word and words of God for it is the only Bible in print today which has the correct reading. To unravel the confusion concerning "Easter" in verse 4, we must consult our FINAL authority, THE BIBLE. The key which unlocks the puzzle is found not in verse 4, but in verse 3. (Then were the days of unleavened bread... ") To secure the answer that we seek, we must find the relationship of the passover to the days of unleavened bread. We must keep in mind that Peter was arrested during the "days of unleavened bread" (Acts 12:3). Our investigation will need to start at the first Passover. This was the night in which the LORD smote all the firstborn in Egypt. The Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb and strike its blood on the two side posts and the upper door post (Exodus 12:4, 5). Let us now see what the Bible says concerning the first passover, and the days of unleavened bread. Exodus 12:13-18: "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even." Here in Exodus 12:13 we see how the passover got its name. The LORD said that He would "pass over" all of the houses which had the blood of the lamb marking the door. After the passover (Exodus 12:13, 14), we find that seven days shall be fulfilled in which the Jews were to eat unleavened bread. These are the days of unleavened bread! In verse 18 we see that dates for the observance were April 14th through the 21st. This religious observance is stated more clearly in Numbers 28:16-18: "And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation;ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:" In verse 16 we see that the passover is only considered to be the 14th of the month. On the next morning, the 15th begins the "days of unleavened bread." Deuteronomy 16:1-8: "Observe the month of Abib (April), and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. 2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction: for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. 4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. 5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: 6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. 7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein." Here in Deuteronomy we see again that the passover is sacrificed on the first night (Deuteronomy 16:1). It is worth noting that the passover was to be celebrated in the evening (vs.6) not at sunrise (Ezekiel 8:13-16). In II Chronicles 8:13 we see that the feast of unleavened bread was one of the three Jewish feasts to be kept during the year. II Chronicles 8:13: "Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles." Whenever the passover was kept, it always preceded the feast of unleavened bread. In II Chronicles 30 some Jews who were unable to keep the passover in the first month were allowed to keep it in the second. But the dates remained the same. Ezra 6:19,22: "And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel." We see then, from studying what the BIBLE has to say concerning the subject that the order of events went as follows: 1. On the 14th of April the lamb was killed. This is the passover. No event following the 14th is ever referred to as the passover. 2. On the morning of the 15th begins the days of unleavened bread, also known as the feast of unleavened bread. It must also be noted that whenever the passover is mentioned in the New Testament, the reference is always to the meal, to be eaten on the night of April 14th not the entire week. The days of unleavened bread are NEVER referred to as the Passover. (It must be remembered that the angel of the Lord passed over Egypt on one night, not seven nights in a row. Now let us look at Acts 12:3, 4: "And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." Verse 3 shows that Peter was arrested during the days of unleavened bread (April 15-21). The Bible says: "Then were the days of unleavened bread." The passover (April 14th) had already come and gone. Herod could not possibly have been referring to the passover in his statement concerning Easter. The next Passover was a year away! But the pagan holiday of Easter was just a few days away. Remember! Herod was a pagan Roman who worshipped the "queen of heaven". He was NOT a Jew. He had no reason to keep the Jewish passover. Some might argue that he wanted to wait until after the passover for fear of upsetting the Jews. There are two grievous faults in this line of thinking. First, Peter was no longer considered a Jew. He had repudiated Judaism. The Jews would have no reason to be upset by Herod's actions. Second, he could not have been waiting until after the passover because he thought the Jews would not kill a man during a religious holiday. They had killed Jesus during passover (Matthew 26:17-19, 47). They were also excited about Herod's murder of James. Anyone knows that a mob possesses the courage to do violent acts during religious festivities, not after. In further considering Herod's position as a Roman, we must remember that the Herods were well known for celebrating (Matthew 14:6-11). In fact, in Matthew chapter 14 we see that a Herod was even willing to kill a man of God during one of his celebrations. It is elementary to see that Herod, in Acts 12, had arrested Peter during the days of unleavened bread, after the passover. The days of unleavened bread would end on the 21st of April. Shortly after that would come Herod's celebration of pagan Easter. Herod had not killed Peter during the days of unleavened bread simply because he wanted to wait until Easter. Since it is plain that both the Jews (Matthew 26:17-47) and the Romans (Matthew 14:6-11) would kill during a religious celebration, Herod's opinion seemed that he was not going to let the Jews "have all the fun." He would wait until his own pagan festival and see to it that Peter died in the excitement. Thus we see that it was God's providence which had the Spirit-filled translators of our Bible (King James) to CORRECTLY translate "pascha" as "Easter". It most certainly did not refer to the Jewish passover. In fact, to change it to "passover" would confuse the reader and make the truth of the situation unclear. <a href="javascript:;" type="external">source - The Answer Book by Dr. Samuel Gipp</a></p> QUESTION: EXPLANATION: | true | 0 | time set record straight written dr sam gipp apprehended put prison delivered four quaternions soldiers keep intending easter bring forth people acts 124 question isnt easter acts 124 mistranslation word pascha translated passover answer pascha properly translated easter acts 124 following explanation show explanation greek word translated easter acts 124 word pascha word appears twentynine times new testament twentyeight times word rendered passover reference night lord passed egypt killed firstborn egypt exodus 1212 thus setting israel free four hundred years bondage many opponents concept perfect bible made much translation pascha coming word easter gods authorized bible seize upon imagining found proof bible perfect amazing day human history jesus showed power life death fortunately lovers word god wrong easter know comes ancient pagan festival astarte also known ishtar pronounced easter festival always held late month april original form celebration earth regenerating winter season festival involved celebration reproduction reason common symbols easter festivities rabbit symbol playboy magazine egg known reproductive abilities center attention astarte female deity known bible queen heaven jeremiah 718 441725 mother tammuz ezekiel 814 also husband perverted rituals would take place sunrise easter morning ezekiel 81316 references jeremiah ezekiel see true easter never association jesus christ problem even though jewish passover held mid april fourteenth pagan festival easter held later month know herod referring easter acts 124 jewish passover referring passover translation pascha easter incorrect indeed referring pagan holyday holiday easter king james bible 1611 must truly word words god bible print today correct reading unravel confusion concerning easter verse 4 must consult final authority bible key unlocks puzzle found verse 4 verse 3 days unleavened bread secure answer seek must find relationship passover days unleavened bread must keep mind peter arrested days unleavened bread acts 123 investigation need start first passover night lord smote firstborn egypt israelites instructed kill lamb strike blood two side posts upper door post exodus 124 5 let us see bible says concerning first passover days unleavened bread exodus 121318 blood shall token upon houses ye see blood pass plague shall upon destroy smite land egypt 14 day shall unto memorial ye shall keep feast lord throughout generations ye shall keep feast ordinance ever 15 seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread even first day ye shall put away leaven houses whosoever eateth leavened bread first day seventh day soul shall cut israel 16 first day shall holy convocation manner work shall done save every man must eat may done 17 ye shall observe feast unleavened bread selfsame day brought armies land egypt therefore shall ye observe day generations ordinance ever 18 first month fourteenth day month even ye shall eat unleavened bread one twentieth day month even exodus 1213 see passover got name lord said would pass houses blood lamb marking door passover exodus 1213 14 find seven days shall fulfilled jews eat unleavened bread days unleavened bread verse 18 see dates observance april 14th 21st religious observance stated clearly numbers 281618 fourteenth day first month passover lord fifteenth day month feast seven days shall unleavened bread eaten 18 first day shall holy convocationye shall manner servile work therein verse 16 see passover considered 14th month next morning 15th begins days unleavened bread deuteronomy 1618 observe month abib april keep passover unto lord thy god month abib lord thy god brought thee forth egypt night 2 thou shalt therefore sacrifice passover unto lord thy god flock herd place lord shall choose place name 3 thou shalt eat leavened bread seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith even bread affliction thou camest forth land egypt haste thou mayest remember day thou camest forth land egypt days thy life 4 shall leavened bread seen thee thy coast seven days neither shall thing flesh thou sacrificedst first day even remain night morning 5 thou mayest sacrifice passover within thy gates lord thy god giveth thee 6 place lord thy god shall choose place name thou shalt sacrifice passover even going sun season thou camest forth egypt 7 thou shalt roast eat place lord thy god shall choose thou shalt turn morning go unto thy tents 8 six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread seventh day shall solemn assembly lord thy god thou shalt work therein deuteronomy see passover sacrificed first night deuteronomy 161 worth noting passover celebrated evening vs6 sunrise ezekiel 81316 ii chronicles 813 see feast unleavened bread one three jewish feasts kept year ii chronicles 813 even certain rate every day offering according commandment moses sabbaths new moons solemn feasts three times year even feast unleavened bread feast weeks feast tabernacles whenever passover kept always preceded feast unleavened bread ii chronicles 30 jews unable keep passover first month allowed keep second dates remained ezra 61922 children captivity kept passover upon fourteenth day first month kept feast unleavened bread seven days joy lord made joyful turned heart king assyria unto strengthen hands work house god god israel see studying bible say concerning subject order events went follows 1 14th april lamb killed passover event following 14th ever referred passover 2 morning 15th begins days unleavened bread also known feast unleavened bread must also noted whenever passover mentioned new testament reference always meal eaten night april 14th entire week days unleavened bread never referred passover must remembered angel lord passed egypt one night seven nights row let us look acts 123 4 saw pleased jews proceeded take peter also days unleavened bread apprehended put prison delivered four quaternions soldiers keep intending easter bring forth people verse 3 shows peter arrested days unleavened bread april 1521 bible says days unleavened bread passover april 14th already come gone herod could possibly referring passover statement concerning easter next passover year away pagan holiday easter days away remember herod pagan roman worshipped queen heaven jew reason keep jewish passover might argue wanted wait passover fear upsetting jews two grievous faults line thinking first peter longer considered jew repudiated judaism jews would reason upset herods actions second could waiting passover thought jews would kill man religious holiday killed jesus passover matthew 261719 47 also excited herods murder james anyone knows mob possesses courage violent acts religious festivities considering herods position roman must remember herods well known celebrating matthew 14611 fact matthew chapter 14 see herod even willing kill man god one celebrations elementary see herod acts 12 arrested peter days unleavened bread passover days unleavened bread would end 21st april shortly would come herods celebration pagan easter herod killed peter days unleavened bread simply wanted wait easter since plain jews matthew 261747 romans matthew 14611 would kill religious celebration herods opinion seemed going let jews fun would wait pagan festival see peter died excitement thus see gods providence spiritfilled translators bible king james correctly translate pascha easter certainly refer jewish passover fact change passover would confuse reader make truth situation unclear source answer book dr samuel gipp question explanation | 1,139 |
<p>For me, the difference between a good movie and a not-so good movie comes down to one very basic element. Does the story cast a spell and hold it? That is all I ask, which is why I equally enjoy "Road House " and "Citizen Kane." That doesn't mean I place both on the same pedestal. What I am saying, though, is that when it comes to the storyteller's Top Job of transporting me to a different place and time, a place where for a couple hours the stresses and frustrations of the Real World no longer exist, both Patrick Swayze and Orson Welles hit the only mark that counts, and do so with equal finesse and skill.</p>
<p>I should add, because as you read this you will wonder, that this perfectly reasonable standard of mine also applies to political films. Although Oliver Stone is wrong about everything, he is without question <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2011/01/21/top-25-left-wing-films-1-jfk-1991/" type="external">the greatest director of the nineties</a>.</p>
<p>Just take me away for a couple hours … and for the love of all that is holy, do not intrude on my vacation. It is a simple request made by a simple and, some might say, simplistic man. Whatever. Your mama. Deal. That's the rule. And it was the intermittent violation of this rule that became a real problem with "Patriot's Day," which, overall, is a fine movie that pretty much everyone will enjoy.</p>
<p>Director Peter Berg does an expert job of recreating the four unforgettable days surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon terror attack.</p>
<p>Director Peter Berg does an expert job of recreating the four unforgettable days surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon terror attack; a brutal act committed by two brothers, both Islamic extremists. Mark Wahlberg plays Boston Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders, a fictional character used to thread the primary events of the story (bombing, investigation, manhunt, and capture) together.</p>
<p>What was most impressive is that even if you know what's going to happen in this true story, there is no shortage of suspense.</p>
<p>Here are the things that popped my bubble: A stupid piece of exposition about the phantom "anti-Muslim backlash," what came off as a gratuitous shot at Fox News (an obvious bone thrown at the sweet spot of left-wing critics uncomfortable with any movie where Muslims aren't portrayed as victims of white, right-wingers who say things like, Boy, you look like of one of them-thar mooslems.); the fact that all the real-life Democrats are portrayed only in positive ways (think this would happen if they had Rs after their name?), and the last ten minutes, which devolved into defeatist, only-love-can-defeat-the-terrorists psychobabble.</p>
<p>The movie's best moment, the moment that resulted in spontaneous cheers from my audience (which almost never happens), occurred when one of the characters stops a police officer from complimenting him on his bravery with, "Just get those motherf*****s!" There are a couple of other moments like that, and they are great. But, man alive, what a buzzkill to end things with We can't prevent these attacks, so we have to hold on to our love for one another.</p>
<p>Bite me.</p>
<p>Feel free to accuse me of walking into the theater with a chip on my shoulder, but that is just not the case. This is the third film Berg and Wahlberg have made together. The first was "Lone Survivor" (2013), <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2014/05/21/lone-survivor-review-war-film-troops-allies-enemies-deserve/" type="external">which I absolutely loved</a>, the second, " <a href="" type="internal">Deepwater Horizon</a>" (2016), <a href="" type="internal">was okay</a>, and earned my praise for not beating us to death with a stupid Green message. Sorry, but I did not go in there looking for it, but what I saw, wrapped in an admittedly compelling story, was a big, glittery sign that read: DON'T BLAME OBAMA!</p>
<p>Oh, and Barry gets his moment in "Patriots Day," a hagiographic clip of one of those rare times our outgoing president actually appears to like America. On top of that, the story goes out of its way to excuse the fact that our FBI (read: The Obama Administration) had the Boston Marathon terrorists on a watch-list but, oops!, a bunch of people still died and lost their legs.</p>
<p>Under Obama, we have been hit with somewhere around a half-dozen Islamic terror attacks against our homeland. Nevertheless, in the wake of our government's failure to do what I like to call Its Primary Job, apparently I'm supposed to pay good money to sit there and be fed some touchy-feely Hollywood propaganda about how We can only win by loving one another even as these bombs no one can prevent -- so please don’t blame Barry! -- explode all around us.</p>
<p>Hey, you know what? Maybe I'm being a little hard on Berg. Remember all those World War II movies that suggested we just gather around in a group hug and wait for the Nazis to -- oh, wait, THOSE MOVIES DON'T EXIST.</p>
<p>You know what I am going to do? I am going to go ahead and say it out loud. No one else will, so I am going to come right out and tell you what I want in my War on Terror movies.</p>
<p>Bloodlust, baby.</p>
<p>Buckets of it.</p>
<p>When these savages, when these godless barbarians target women and children (Boston), their own friends and co-workers (San Bernardino), and innocent Americans just out being themselves (Orlando), I demand the following…</p>
<p>1) That the government officials who blew it be named, blamed and shamed. 2) The savages portrayed as savages. 3) Heroes portrayed as heroes. 4) No pussy-footing about the horrors of militant Islam. 5) And no matter how flowery the words, I sure as hell don't want to be told to get used to these attacks.</p>
<p>"Patriots Day" achieves numbers 2, 3, and 4 admirably.</p>
<p>And that's good.</p>
<p>It's just not good enough.</p>
<p>However you want to phrase it -- total victory, resolve, never surrender -- we are at war with pure evil, and if you are out selling a theme other than that, I question your moral literacy.</p>
<p>Follow John Nolte on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/NolteNC" type="external">@NolteNC</a></p> | true | 0 | difference good movie notso good movie comes one basic element story cast spell hold ask equally enjoy road house citizen kane doesnt mean place pedestal saying though comes storytellers top job transporting different place time place couple hours stresses frustrations real world longer exist patrick swayze orson welles hit mark counts equal finesse skill add read wonder perfectly reasonable standard mine also applies political films although oliver stone wrong everything without question greatest director nineties take away couple hours love holy intrude vacation simple request made simple might say simplistic man whatever mama deal thats rule intermittent violation rule became real problem patriots day overall fine movie pretty much everyone enjoy director peter berg expert job recreating four unforgettable days surrounding 2013 boston marathon terror attack director peter berg expert job recreating four unforgettable days surrounding 2013 boston marathon terror attack brutal act committed two brothers islamic extremists mark wahlberg plays boston police sergeant tommy saunders fictional character used thread primary events story bombing investigation manhunt capture together impressive even know whats going happen true story shortage suspense things popped bubble stupid piece exposition phantom antimuslim backlash came gratuitous shot fox news obvious bone thrown sweet spot leftwing critics uncomfortable movie muslims arent portrayed victims white rightwingers say things like boy look like one themthar mooslems fact reallife democrats portrayed positive ways think would happen rs name last ten minutes devolved defeatist onlylovecandefeattheterrorists psychobabble movies best moment moment resulted spontaneous cheers audience almost never happens occurred one characters stops police officer complimenting bravery get motherfs couple moments like great man alive buzzkill end things cant prevent attacks hold love one another bite feel free accuse walking theater chip shoulder case third film berg wahlberg made together first lone survivor 2013 absolutely loved second deepwater horizon 2016 okay earned praise beating us death stupid green message sorry go looking saw wrapped admittedly compelling story big glittery sign read dont blame obama oh barry gets moment patriots day hagiographic clip one rare times outgoing president actually appears like america top story goes way excuse fact fbi read obama administration boston marathon terrorists watchlist oops bunch people still died lost legs obama hit somewhere around halfdozen islamic terror attacks homeland nevertheless wake governments failure like call primary job apparently im supposed pay good money sit fed touchyfeely hollywood propaganda win loving one another even bombs one prevent please dont blame barry explode around us hey know maybe im little hard berg remember world war ii movies suggested gather around group hug wait nazis oh wait movies dont exist know going going go ahead say loud one else going come right tell want war terror movies bloodlust baby buckets savages godless barbarians target women children boston friends coworkers san bernardino innocent americans orlando demand following 1 government officials blew named blamed shamed 2 savages portrayed savages 3 heroes portrayed heroes 4 pussyfooting horrors militant islam 5 matter flowery words sure hell dont want told get used attacks patriots day achieves numbers 2 3 4 admirably thats good good enough however want phrase total victory resolve never surrender war pure evil selling theme question moral literacy follow john nolte twitter noltenc | 526 |
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<p>The retirement equation isn’t looking good for baby boomers right now.</p>
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<p>“Boomers have weathered many challenges in a short period of time: the financial crisis, high unemployment, rising medical costs and supporting aging parents and adult children,” says Pat O’Connell, executive vice president of the Ameriprise Advisor Group. “These events have squeezed their finances and made it difficult to save.”</p>
<p>Only 42% of workers older than 55 have saved more than $100,000 for retirement, according to Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2013 Retirement Confidence Survey. We are also living longer--with the average life expectancy into the early 80s, which means larger nest eggs to continue to make ends meet.</p>
<p>“People have to fund longer retirements with less fixed income sources like pensions, high healthcare costs and a stock market that isn’t performing like it once did—it’s a perfect storm of sorts,” says Scott Halliwell, certified financial planner at USAA.</p>
<p>While fixed income yields are low compared to historical standards, people are taking on more risk in their portfolios to help increase their savings. “That’s an OK thing to do if you understand the risk you’re taking but oftentimes, people don’t,” says Halliwell. As a general rule of thumb, investments with greater return potential also have greater loss potential.</p>
<p>The recent strength on Wall Street has many people buying equities to make up for lost time, says Dan Keady, director of financial planning at TIAA-CREF, but it’s important to have a plan and to know your goals and timeframes first.</p>
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<p>Here are expert tips to help moderate portfolio risk while still receiving solid returns.</p>
<p>Have a Long-Term Perspective</p>
<p>Since you’ll lose purchasing power if your investments earn 1% or 2% per year, Mackey McNeill, CEO of Mackey Advisors, suggests knowing the fundaments of stock indexes and how they perform over different time periods. A stock with many ups and downs within a year could trend up in the long-term, so be sure to take a longer approach. “There aren’t that many 10-year negative return periods,” says McNeill.</p>
<p>Once in retirement, Robert Stammers, director of Investor Education for the CFA Institute, recommends going into capital preservation mode and reducing your stakes in stocks to avoid losing money in wild market swings. “You have to be careful to not lose capital because you have to live on it.”</p>
<p>Despite the bullish market, O’Connell says we’re in the most difficult environment to generate income. CDs and bonds with record-low rates mean that retirees have to take more risk to generate income by choosing investments like preferred stocks, dividend paying stocks and REITS.</p>
<p>“Always run the numbers in the financial plan to help you make a decision,” says McNeill. Modeling based on an all-stock portfolio has the risk of short-term volatility and long-term purchasing power, or inflation, rather than what’s happening in the market today.</p>
<p>Be Diverse to Counteract Volatility</p>
<p>You don’t have to guess where the markets are going if you have a diversified portfolio, says Keady. “If somebody’s going to jump in and out [of the market], they probably shouldn’t invest.” The money that you invest should be in for the long-term to weather the volatility.</p>
<p>“Think about the seasons—winter is a recession and summer is an expansion,” says McNeill. Putting your portfolio in a variety of asset classes like stocks, real estate or commodities can help smooth out the volatility. Commodities can be more volatile than the S&amp;P but if you put both in your portfolio, you have less volatility overall, <a type="external" href="">she</a> says.</p>
<p>“Different assets classes don’t work the same and you can use that difference to your advantage and have less risk and volatility by mixing asset classes,” says McNeill.</p>
<p>As you look to diversify, McNeill suggests thinking about investing a portion of your portfolio in commodities, real estate, emerging markets and small caps through an ETF. Every quarter, rebalance your portfolio to your set allocation amounts,” she suggest. “If you’re going to own 5% emerging markets and they go up to 7%, you have to sell that 2%.”</p>
<p>Be Judicious About Risk</p>
<p>“Focus on the long-term period of your retirement by diversifying your investments to produce income that keeps your risk profile inside your comfort zone,” says O’Connell. Figure out whether you need to take on more risk and don’t focus only on principal volatility but also consider interest rate risk, inflation risk and longevity risk.</p>
<p>If income is your primary goal, consider a portfolio having short-term principal fluctuations. You won’t increase your overall risk tolerance if you focus on the long term and diversify investments to produce income.</p>
<p>Delay Social Security</p>
<p>Instead of taking on more risk in your portfolio, delaying Social Security may be a better option, says Keady. Having a source of lifetime income will also help to mitigate some inflation risk overtime. Consider taking more out of your portfolio or working part-time so you can delay taking Social Security until age 70.</p>
<p>Pay Off Debts</p>
<p>“If you don’t have a mortgage, it reduces the strain on our portfolio,” says McNeill. Not having any debt increases the amount of money you have for discretionary spending. If necessary, consider part-time work to pay off your mortgage sooner. “If you don’t have enough money, think about dialing your life down,” she adds.</p> | true | 0 | retirement equation isnt looking good baby boomers right continue reading boomers weathered many challenges short period time financial crisis high unemployment rising medical costs supporting aging parents adult children says pat oconnell executive vice president ameriprise advisor group events squeezed finances made difficult save 42 workers older 55 saved 100000 retirement according employee benefit research institutes 2013 retirement confidence survey also living longerwith average life expectancy early 80s means larger nest eggs continue make ends meet people fund longer retirements less fixed income sources like pensions high healthcare costs stock market isnt performing like didits perfect storm sorts says scott halliwell certified financial planner usaa fixed income yields low compared historical standards people taking risk portfolios help increase savings thats ok thing understand risk youre taking oftentimes people dont says halliwell general rule thumb investments greater return potential also greater loss potential recent strength wall street many people buying equities make lost time says dan keady director financial planning tiaacref important plan know goals timeframes first advertisement expert tips help moderate portfolio risk still receiving solid returns longterm perspective since youll lose purchasing power investments earn 1 2 per year mackey mcneill ceo mackey advisors suggests knowing fundaments stock indexes perform different time periods stock many ups downs within year could trend longterm sure take longer approach arent many 10year negative return periods says mcneill retirement robert stammers director investor education cfa institute recommends going capital preservation mode reducing stakes stocks avoid losing money wild market swings careful lose capital live despite bullish market oconnell says difficult environment generate income cds bonds recordlow rates mean retirees take risk generate income choosing investments like preferred stocks dividend paying stocks reits always run numbers financial plan help make decision says mcneill modeling based allstock portfolio risk shortterm volatility longterm purchasing power inflation rather whats happening market today diverse counteract volatility dont guess markets going diversified portfolio says keady somebodys going jump market probably shouldnt invest money invest longterm weather volatility think seasonswinter recession summer expansion says mcneill putting portfolio variety asset classes like stocks real estate commodities help smooth volatility commodities volatile sampp put portfolio less volatility overall says different assets classes dont work use difference advantage less risk volatility mixing asset classes says mcneill look diversify mcneill suggests thinking investing portion portfolio commodities real estate emerging markets small caps etf every quarter rebalance portfolio set allocation amounts suggest youre going 5 emerging markets go 7 sell 2 judicious risk focus longterm period retirement diversifying investments produce income keeps risk profile inside comfort zone says oconnell figure whether need take risk dont focus principal volatility also consider interest rate risk inflation risk longevity risk income primary goal consider portfolio shortterm principal fluctuations wont increase overall risk tolerance focus long term diversify investments produce income delay social security instead taking risk portfolio delaying social security may better option says keady source lifetime income also help mitigate inflation risk overtime consider taking portfolio working parttime delay taking social security age 70 pay debts dont mortgage reduces strain portfolio says mcneill debt increases amount money discretionary spending necessary consider parttime work pay mortgage sooner dont enough money think dialing life adds | 526 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Elon Musk has captured our imaginations by releasing plans to put humans on Mars by 2022 and establish a colony of 1 million individuals as soon as the 2060's. SpaceX seems to have worked out a lot of the logistics: fleets of up to one thousand spacecraft in Earth orbit, windows of opportunity for departing toward Mars, and even plans for establishing fuel and supply depots before humans arriv1e. What's not to get excited about?</p>
<p>Not to be outdone, Boeing (NYSE: BA) CEO Dennis Muilenburg vowed to beat SpaceX to the Red Planet, saying, "I'm convinced that the first person to step foot on Mars will arrive there riding on a Boeing rocket." While in the long run it doesn't really matter who's logo arrives first, competition will be key to establishing ourselves as a multi-planetary species. It got us to the moon, after all.</p>
<p>But egos aside, rockets aren't the most important technology -- or largest obstacle -- to our success. It's easy to obsess and focus on the visible tools a trip to Mars requires, such as rockets the length of a football field, but we won't be going anywhere without the comparatively invisible tools of biotechnology.</p>
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<p>What makes biotech essential to a successful trip and stay, however brief, on Mars? Quite a lot, actually. Let's consider the trip itself.</p>
<p>On a 200-day journey to the Red Planet, a human would be exposed to the radiation equivalent of 24 CAT scans, according to <a href="http://www.space.com/24731-mars-radiation-curiosity-rover.html" type="external">Space.com Opens a New Window.</a>. That's more than 15 times the annual radiation limit for nuclear power plant employees. While spacecraft will need to be equipped with radiation shielding to protect colonists and electronic systems, the materials are expensive and heavy -- limiting factors for interplanetary travel.</p>
<p>We may be able to greatly reduce the need for radiation shielding by engineering ourselves to withstand higher doses of radiation, which overloads our natural ability to repair DNA. Researchers recently found that human cells engineered to produce a protein found in the microscopic tardigrade, or water bear, could reduce X-ray-induced DNA damage by 40%. It's far from reality at this point, but one genetic edit could slash hundreds of billions of dollars in expenses from regularly scheduled treks to Mars. SpaceX and Boeing (and their investors) would probably be interested in that.</p>
<p>Radiation is far from the only threat to our health during interplanetary travel. Eighty percent of astronauts who participate on long-duration missions in space return to Earth with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-mysterious-syndrome-impairing-astronauts-eyesight/2016/07/09/f20fb9a6-41f1-11e6-88d0-6adee48be8bc_story.html" type="external">permanently altered vision Opens a New Window.</a>. The condition was first recognized in astronaut John Phillips, who left Earth with 20/20 vision and returned with 20/100 vision after a six-month stay on the International Space Station. Doctors discovered that the shape of his eyes changed during his mission, which was shorter than a trip to Mars, because of pressure imbalances in the skull.</p>
<p>The only known treatment involves spinal taps or drilling holes into a patient's skull and must be conducted at the onset, meaning in the zero-gravity environment of space. Aside from the logistical hurdles of performing invasive procedures in space, astronauts and future colonists -- SpaceX and Boeing customers -- would probably prefer a biological solution.</p>
<p>Getting to Mars isn't the only part of Elon Musk's plan that could be greatly aided by biology. As history has shown numerous times, sustaining a colony is more difficult than establishing one. For instance, the English colony of Roanoke was established in 1585 in what is now North Carolina. Despite multiple resupply trips, the colony was abandoned five years later, without any trace of the colonists.</p>
<p>Because of differences in orbit, the shortest trip to Mars can be made once every 26 months. That means colonists will need to fend for themselves for roughly two years. It will be awfully expensive to launch, transport, and deposit enough food, fuel, medicine, and building materials to support even 100 colonists for two years, let alone thousands or more. While some colony-building and supply missions will need to be completed ahead of the first human arrivals, Boeing and SpaceX will find their efforts much less difficult if colonists leverage biology as a manufacturing paradigm.</p>
<p>Borrowing from industrial biotech platforms here on Earth today, it's possible to send test tubes of microbes capable of producing supplies ranging from rocket fuel to polymers for 3-D printers to the metal electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. The building blocks required for these products are already in the crust and atmosphere of the Red Planet. Better yet, test tubes are cheaper to transport than are many metric tons of raw materials.</p>
<p>When discussing his plans for SpaceX to get to Mars, Musk made it clear that survival and colony-building aren't his problem, instead likening the company to the Union Pacific Railroad's role in developing the West Coast of the United States. I would argue that it is his problem. People won't be going to Mars if they won't survive the trip or stay, which makes biology, not the size of the rocket, the limiting factor. Humans made it to California without railroads, after all.</p>
<p>The good news is that engineered biology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, especially in the past several years. We really do need bigger, cheaper, and safer rockets to get to Mars. And it will take many companies and governments to fill in all of the missing pieces. But while rockets and spacecraft are cool, know this: Boeing and SpaceX aren't going anywhere without biotechnology.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBlacknGold/info.aspx" type="external">Maxx Chatsko Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxxChatsko" type="external">Follow him on Twitter Opens a New Window.</a>to keep up with developments in the engineered biology field.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading elon musk captured imaginations releasing plans put humans mars 2022 establish colony 1 million individuals soon 2060s spacex seems worked lot logistics fleets one thousand spacecraft earth orbit windows opportunity departing toward mars even plans establishing fuel supply depots humans arriv1e whats get excited outdone boeing nyse ba ceo dennis muilenburg vowed beat spacex red planet saying im convinced first person step foot mars arrive riding boeing rocket long run doesnt really matter whos logo arrives first competition key establishing multiplanetary species got us moon egos aside rockets arent important technology largest obstacle success easy obsess focus visible tools trip mars requires rockets length football field wont going anywhere without comparatively invisible tools biotechnology advertisement makes biotech essential successful trip stay however brief mars quite lot actually lets consider trip 200day journey red planet human would exposed radiation equivalent 24 cat scans according spacecom opens new window thats 15 times annual radiation limit nuclear power plant employees spacecraft need equipped radiation shielding protect colonists electronic systems materials expensive heavy limiting factors interplanetary travel may able greatly reduce need radiation shielding engineering withstand higher doses radiation overloads natural ability repair dna researchers recently found human cells engineered produce protein found microscopic tardigrade water bear could reduce xrayinduced dna damage 40 far reality point one genetic edit could slash hundreds billions dollars expenses regularly scheduled treks mars spacex boeing investors would probably interested radiation far threat health interplanetary travel eighty percent astronauts participate longduration missions space return earth permanently altered vision opens new window condition first recognized astronaut john phillips left earth 2020 vision returned 20100 vision sixmonth stay international space station doctors discovered shape eyes changed mission shorter trip mars pressure imbalances skull known treatment involves spinal taps drilling holes patients skull must conducted onset meaning zerogravity environment space aside logistical hurdles performing invasive procedures space astronauts future colonists spacex boeing customers would probably prefer biological solution getting mars isnt part elon musks plan could greatly aided biology history shown numerous times sustaining colony difficult establishing one instance english colony roanoke established 1585 north carolina despite multiple resupply trips colony abandoned five years later without trace colonists differences orbit shortest trip mars made every 26 months means colonists need fend roughly two years awfully expensive launch transport deposit enough food fuel medicine building materials support even 100 colonists two years let alone thousands colonybuilding supply missions need completed ahead first human arrivals boeing spacex find efforts much less difficult colonists leverage biology manufacturing paradigm borrowing industrial biotech platforms earth today possible send test tubes microbes capable producing supplies ranging rocket fuel polymers 3d printers metal electrodes lithiumion batteries building blocks required products already crust atmosphere red planet better yet test tubes cheaper transport many metric tons raw materials discussing plans spacex get mars musk made clear survival colonybuilding arent problem instead likening company union pacific railroads role developing west coast united states would argue problem people wont going mars wont survive trip stay makes biology size rocket limiting factor humans made california without railroads good news engineered biology advancing unprecedented pace especially past several years really need bigger cheaper safer rockets get mars take many companies governments fill missing pieces rockets spacecraft cool know boeing spacex arent going anywhere without biotechnology secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window maxx chatsko opens new window position stocks mentioned follow twitter opens new windowto keep developments engineered biology field motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 645 |
<p>Serial deal-maker Philip Frost made billions selling Ivax to Teva Pharmaceutical, but his latest company may prove to be even a bigger moneymaker. After serving as chairman at Teva following Teva's $7.4 billion acquisition of Ivax, Frost stepped down in 2013 to take the top seat at Opko Health (NASDAQ: OPK). From his CEO perch, Frost has been feverishly doing deals to turn Opko Health into a major player in diagnostics, lab services, and biopharma. With two drugs already approved and a chance for his company to become profitable next year, is Frost's Opko Health about to take a leap forward?</p>
<p>In this clip from The Motley Fool's <a href="http://www.fool.com/podcasts/industry-focus?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Industry Focus: Healthcare Opens a New Window.</a>podcast, analyst Kristine Harjes and contributor Todd Campbell discuss how Frost is turning Opko Health into a healthcare giant.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A full transcript follows the video.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2518&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>{%video%}</p>
<p>This podcast was recorded on July 27, 2016.</p>
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<p>Kristine Harjes: The third one on our list today is Phillip Frost. This is the guy that is the CEO of Opko Health. He founded it in 2007. The ticker is OPK, and they've got a market cap of around $5.4 billion.</p>
<p>Todd Campbell: Phillip Frost is definitely a "sum is greater than the parts" kind of manager. He has made billions of dollars over a lifetime career, 40, 50 years, by cobbling together different companies and then turning some into a big enough piece where he could then sell it to another company. The company that made him probably most well known to investors was Ivax, which he sold to Teva Pharmaceutical for about $7 billion back in 2006. He does have a penchant for going out and being very highly acquisitive. He's shown that he knows how to navigate the marketplace and to make money for investors. Hopefully he'll be able to do that again with Opko Health, which is a very intriguing company on its own already.</p>
<p>Harjes: They have taken a bunch of really interesting acquisitions already. Even just no more than a month ago they announced that they bought a company called Transition Therapeutics for $60 million, which is also a pretty small acquisition, but it's bringing some really interesting candidates to Opko. They're getting a little bit more beefy of a diabetes pipeline, some obesity drugs. I think there's even a mid-stage Alzheimer candidate in there. This has been called a classic Phil Frost deal by somebody that works with them, because this is what he does. He buys up these companies and he makes them better than they were. He makes them profitable.</p>
<p>Campbell: Yeah. You look at probably the biggest deal he's made for Opko so far, is last year's purchase of BioReference Labs, which is a specialty lab company. Immediately gives Opko health $1 billion roughly in sales that it can leverage. It puts the company on a path to turn profitable for the first time next year, and that of course gives it a lot more financial flexibility to be able to go out and do a lot of the deals like you just mentioned. In the past he's also orchestrated deals that have landed a fairly nice pile of late-stage pipeline, and now turning commercial, drugs. He licensed Varubi to Tesaro, which we just mentioned. That's one drug that's in his pipeline. They just won approval for a vitamin D pro hormone, which is being sold under the name Rayaldee, which Frost seems to think has a lot of potential to be a big seller.</p>
<p>Harjes: $12 billion potential.</p>
<p>Campbell: It's also got a human growth hormone drug in development with late stage data coming soon. That drug is licensed to Pfizer.</p>
<p>Harjes: Yeah, as you mentioned, this is a company that is expected to be profitable next year. They really appear to be on the cusp. They're supposedly going to have 3 FDA-approved drugs on the market by the end of 2017. We'll see what their future holds.</p>
<p>Campbell: Yeah, it's really interesting, too. You can't really look at it this way, but Frost has been around a long time. I think he's about 80 years old. I look at him and I say, "What's his goal with Opko?" If he's got a history and track record of doing M&amp;A, is it possible that he wants to turn Opko into something big relatively quickly, and then be able to turn around and sell that? I don't know. We'll have to keep an eye on it. See how these drugs roll out. See whether or not they hit the profitability targets that are being set for them next year. But this is a very intriguing company that investors ought to know about.</p>
<p>Harjes: And a very intriguing person, too, that investors ought to know about.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFAnchor/info.aspx" type="external">Kristine Harjes Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/EBCapitalMarkets/info.aspx" type="external">Todd Campbell Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | serial dealmaker philip frost made billions selling ivax teva pharmaceutical latest company may prove even bigger moneymaker serving chairman teva following tevas 74 billion acquisition ivax frost stepped 2013 take top seat opko health nasdaq opk ceo perch frost feverishly deals turn opko health major player diagnostics lab services biopharma two drugs already approved chance company become profitable next year frosts opko health take leap forward clip motley fools industry focus healthcare opens new windowpodcast analyst kristine harjes contributor todd campbell discuss frost turning opko health healthcare giant continue reading full transcript follows video secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window video podcast recorded july 27 2016 advertisement kristine harjes third one list today phillip frost guy ceo opko health founded 2007 ticker opk theyve got market cap around 54 billion todd campbell phillip frost definitely sum greater parts kind manager made billions dollars lifetime career 40 50 years cobbling together different companies turning big enough piece could sell another company company made probably well known investors ivax sold teva pharmaceutical 7 billion back 2006 penchant going highly acquisitive hes shown knows navigate marketplace make money investors hopefully hell able opko health intriguing company already harjes taken bunch really interesting acquisitions already even month ago announced bought company called transition therapeutics 60 million also pretty small acquisition bringing really interesting candidates opko theyre getting little bit beefy diabetes pipeline obesity drugs think theres even midstage alzheimer candidate called classic phil frost deal somebody works buys companies makes better makes profitable campbell yeah look probably biggest deal hes made opko far last years purchase bioreference labs specialty lab company immediately gives opko health 1 billion roughly sales leverage puts company path turn profitable first time next year course gives lot financial flexibility able go lot deals like mentioned past hes also orchestrated deals landed fairly nice pile latestage pipeline turning commercial drugs licensed varubi tesaro mentioned thats one drug thats pipeline approval vitamin pro hormone sold name rayaldee frost seems think lot potential big seller harjes 12 billion potential campbell also got human growth hormone drug development late stage data coming soon drug licensed pfizer harjes yeah mentioned company expected profitable next year really appear cusp theyre supposedly going 3 fdaapproved drugs market end 2017 well see future holds campbell yeah really interesting cant really look way frost around long time think hes 80 years old look say whats goal opko hes got history track record mampa possible wants turn opko something big relatively quickly able turn around sell dont know well keep eye see drugs roll see whether hit profitability targets set next year intriguing company investors ought know harjes intriguing person investors ought know kristine harjes opens new window position stocks mentioned todd campbell opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool recommends teva pharmaceutical industries try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 536 |
<p />
<p>Thursday, March 23, 2017, was supposed to be a big day for the Republican Party, with the House set to vote on whether to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which is also now being referred to as "Trumpcare." It's no coincidence that President Trump had been pushing hard for a vote on March 23rd. After all, it was the seventh anniversary from the date that now-former President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), best known as Obamacare, into law.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>However, that vote didn't come to pass. It became increasingly clear as the day approached that Republicans wouldn't have enough "yes" votes to pass the AHCA in the House. Thus, the vote was cancelled until a later time.</p>
<p>Image source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Flickr.</p>
<p>But just because the vote was cancelled doesn't mean that President Trump and other Republican lawmakers haven't been busy making modifications to the bill to garner more votes. After all, democracy is supposed to involve compromise. If you haven't been following the developments with Trumpcare on Capitol Hill over the past week, then you've missed four pretty big changes that were made to the AHCA.</p>
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<p>Before we dive into what's different, it'd probably be a good idea to revisit the basic tenets of the law as it was originally presented in the first week of March. Here are some of the most important provisions of the AHCA in its first version (though you can <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/07/23-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-republican-ob.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">read a more comprehensive version here Opens a New Window.</a>):</p>
<p>Perhaps the big post-reveal surprise wasn't that Democrats almost uniformly opposed it, but that certain members within the Republican Party were opposed to it. Some lawmakers voiced their concerns about the Congressional Budget Office's prediction that 24 million people would lose coverage -- many of them current Medicaid members -- by 2026. Others simply referred to this new bill as a second coming of Obamacare, and didn't believe the bill went far enough to remove the restrictions on the health insurance industry.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>With this in mind, and with Republicans looking to garner more votes, five amendments (known officially as manager's amendments) were made to the AHCA this week.</p>
<p>The bulk of the amendments came on the Medicaid side of the equation. One of the biggest involves ditching the per-capita Medicaid funding in favor of allowing states to accept block-granting of Medicaid funds instead.</p>
<p>Under per-capita funding, Medicaid dollars are doled out on a per-enrollee basis as opposed to how things are done now where states are given what they need to cover their Medicaid expenditures. With block grants, a fixed amount, which is updated annually with inflation, would be given to the states to do as they see fit for their Medicaid program. It reduces the role of the federal government in overseeing state programs, and is therefore expected to be more efficient, allowing those federal dollars to stretch farther. Either way, we're probably looking at a decline in federal money making its way to states, but block granting likely offers states far more flexibility in deciding what services to cover.</p>
<p>One of the more controversial changes, and one that more right-leaning conservatives in Congress have been pushing for, is the amendment that'll require nondisabled, nonelderly, and non-pregnant adults to work, or be involved in a work-training program, as a condition of their Medicaid coverage. States would have the right to expand these definitions a bit to include activities such as job search, community service, educational programs, or providing child care. There were some exclusions, as well, including single parents.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Another manager's amendment made this week involved pushing forward the date by which states could no longer expand their Medicaid programs. Medicaid expansion, which involved taking federal money to expand Medicaid to those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, was set to end by Jan. 1, 2020. Under this new provision, it would end this year.</p>
<p>As noted by HealthAffairs: "States could cover the ACA expansion population, however, as an optional category with their normal Medicaid match after that date [2017]. Medicaid expansion enrollees enrolled prior to the end of 2019 would retain the enhanced match after 2019 (90 percent in 2020), but only so long as they remained continuously enrolled and only in states that had expanded Medicaid by March 1, 2017."</p>
<p>It was widely expected that any amendments to the AHCA would do something for elderly Americans, because many of them are expected to be paying considerably more for their health insurance under Trumpcare. Though initial rumors during the week had suggested that Republicans were going to set aside $75 billion or so to help cover the costs to treat elderly Americans, this legislation wasn't found within the manager's amendments.</p>
<p>Instead, the manager's amendment reduced the income threshold for the deductibility of medical expenses from 10% to 5.8%. This reduction is expected to provide a net of $75 billion in tax relief to people, many of whom will be elderly Americans. Unfortunately, it doesn't help lower-income elderly Americans between ages 50 and 64 because they'll have little to no net income tax liabilities to begin with.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>The final change alters the 10 minimum essential health benefits clause which had been kept in place from Obamacare. These 10 benefits, which include emergency services, hospitalization, preventative and wellness services, and maternity and newborn care, are what keep insurance providers from placing a current lifetime spending cap on these services. According to insurance companies, the wide scope of these benefits is another reason why health insurance premiums have pushed so high.</p>
<p>Just hours ago, Republican lawmakers agreed to allow states the right to determine what a minimum essential benefit should be.</p>
<p>The upside to eliminating the essential benefit clause is it would almost assuredly lower premiums, perhaps enticing younger, healthier adults to enroll (which has been one of the biggest challenges for Obamacare). On the flip side, removing essential health benefits would allow insurers to once again set caps on maximum lifetime coverages, pushing the onus of cost, should medical care be needed, back onto the patient.</p>
<p>Long story short, we may still have weeks of debates and changes to come before a workable healthcare bill makes its way to President Trump's desk.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better thanWal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and TomGardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter theyhave run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tomjust revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/e-sa-bbn-eg?aid=8867&amp;source=isaeditxt0000476&amp;ftm_cam=sa-bbn-evergreen&amp;ftm_pit=6627&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a>for investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- theythink these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/e-sa-bbn-eg?aid=8867&amp;source=isaeditxt0000476&amp;ftm_cam=sa-bbn-evergreen&amp;ftm_pit=6627&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a>to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*StockAdvisor returns as of March 6, 2017The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | thursday march 23 2017 supposed big day republican party house set vote whether pass american health care act ahca also referred trumpcare coincidence president trump pushing hard vote march 23rd seventh anniversary date nowformer president barack obama signed affordable care act aca best known obamacare law continue reading however vote didnt come pass became increasingly clear day approached republicans wouldnt enough yes votes pass ahca house thus vote cancelled later time image source us department homeland security flickr vote cancelled doesnt mean president trump republican lawmakers havent busy making modifications bill garner votes democracy supposed involve compromise havent following developments trumpcare capitol hill past week youve missed four pretty big changes made ahca advertisement dive whats different itd probably good idea revisit basic tenets law originally presented first week march important provisions ahca first version though read comprehensive version opens new window perhaps big postreveal surprise wasnt democrats almost uniformly opposed certain members within republican party opposed lawmakers voiced concerns congressional budget offices prediction 24 million people would lose coverage many current medicaid members 2026 others simply referred new bill second coming obamacare didnt believe bill went far enough remove restrictions health insurance industry image source getty images mind republicans looking garner votes five amendments known officially managers amendments made ahca week bulk amendments came medicaid side equation one biggest involves ditching percapita medicaid funding favor allowing states accept blockgranting medicaid funds instead percapita funding medicaid dollars doled perenrollee basis opposed things done states given need cover medicaid expenditures block grants fixed amount updated annually inflation would given states see fit medicaid program reduces role federal government overseeing state programs therefore expected efficient allowing federal dollars stretch farther either way probably looking decline federal money making way states block granting likely offers states far flexibility deciding services cover one controversial changes one rightleaning conservatives congress pushing amendment thatll require nondisabled nonelderly nonpregnant adults work involved worktraining program condition medicaid coverage states would right expand definitions bit include activities job search community service educational programs providing child care exclusions well including single parents image source getty images another managers amendment made week involved pushing forward date states could longer expand medicaid programs medicaid expansion involved taking federal money expand medicaid earning 138 federal poverty level set end jan 1 2020 new provision would end year noted healthaffairs states could cover aca expansion population however optional category normal medicaid match date 2017 medicaid expansion enrollees enrolled prior end 2019 would retain enhanced match 2019 90 percent 2020 long remained continuously enrolled states expanded medicaid march 1 2017 widely expected amendments ahca would something elderly americans many expected paying considerably health insurance trumpcare though initial rumors week suggested republicans going set aside 75 billion help cover costs treat elderly americans legislation wasnt found within managers amendments instead managers amendment reduced income threshold deductibility medical expenses 10 58 reduction expected provide net 75 billion tax relief people many elderly americans unfortunately doesnt help lowerincome elderly americans ages 50 64 theyll little net income tax liabilities begin image source getty images final change alters 10 minimum essential health benefits clause kept place obamacare 10 benefits include emergency services hospitalization preventative wellness services maternity newborn care keep insurance providers placing current lifetime spending cap services according insurance companies wide scope benefits another reason health insurance premiums pushed high hours ago republican lawmakers agreed allow states right determine minimum essential benefit upside eliminating essential benefit clause would almost assuredly lower premiums perhaps enticing younger healthier adults enroll one biggest challenges obamacare flip side removing essential health benefits would allow insurers set caps maximum lifetime coverages pushing onus cost medical care needed back onto patient long story short may still weeks debates changes come workable healthcare bill makes way president trumps desk 10 stocks like better thanwalmartwhen investing geniuses david tomgardner stock tip pay listen newsletter theyhave run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tomjust revealed believe ten best stocks opens new windowfor investors buy right walmart wasnt one thats right theythink 10 stocks even better buys click opens new windowto learn picks stockadvisor returns march 6 2017the authors may position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 694 |
<p>Welcome back from Labor Day weekend... sort of. For bulls, the shortened week got off on the wrong foot, with the always iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) falling 234 points on Tuesday, Sept. 5. At one point during Tuesday's trading session, the Dow troughed at a low of minus-278.</p>
<p>What precipitated the notable move lower in the Dow? While Hurricane Harvey hangover could take a portion of the blame, most of the concern ties to the detonation of an alleged hydrogen bomb in North Korea over the weekend. It's no secret that the United States and North Korea are enemies, and a lack of recent diplomacy between both countries, coupled with strong rhetoric by Defense Secretary James Mattis and President Trump, have investors concerned that a conflict may be unavoidable. Wall Street <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/14/10-catalysts-that-could-cause-the-stock-market-to.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=024ec02e-9290-11e7-8783-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">loathes uncertainty Opens a New Window.</a>, and North Korea's weekend nuclear test created a lot of new uncertainties for the investment world to digest.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>However, fear and uncertainty should be the furthest things from your mind if you're a long-term investor. Taking North Korea's nuclear test into account, as well as yesterday's 234-point drop in the Dow, here are three important things you need to know.</p>
<p>To begin with, it isn't a good thing that North Korea has nuclear capabilities and is testing those weapons. But it's also not considered a long-term concern, according to Wall Street. Here are the six dates&#160;that North Korea is known to have tested a nuclear weapon on its soil, along with the initial reaction in the Dow based on the next business day:</p>
<p>Only within the past two years have we witnessed a decisively negative reaction to North Korea's testing its nuclear capabilities. Nevertheless, in each of the previous five instances, not counting yesterday's 234-point drop, the Dow has very quickly put any downward move in its rearview mirror.</p>
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<p>The yellow highlights in the preceding chart indicate the rough time frame when North Korea tested its nuclear weapons. At no point have these tests led to a prolonged period of weakness in the Dow or U.S. stock market as a whole.</p>
<p>In other words, stop worrying so much about Tuesday's drop in the Dow.</p>
<p>The second thing investors should pay close attention to is that while a drop of 234 points in the Dow might be larger than what we're used to in a historical sense, it was <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/09/18/the-funny-thing-about-stock-market-plunges.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=024ec02e-9290-11e7-8783-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">nothing more than a pedestrian move Opens a New Window.</a>, all things considered. A 234-point drop in the Dow only works out to a 1.07% decline in the index. Chances are that the Dow has witnessed thousands of 1% moves over its storied history spanning 121 years, meaning yesterday's move was far from special.</p>
<p>If we were to see a true "plunge" in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, we would need a percentage decline of 7% or greater just to crack the 20 worst sessions in the index of all time.&#160;Based on the closing value in the Dow before Labor Day, we're talking about a greater than 1,500-point drop. Yesterday's 234-point decline wasn't anywhere near that level – nor was it even close to the 470 points needed to make the list of the 20-largest point drops of all-time, regardless of percentage decline.</p>
<p>What investors have to realize is that the Dow has appreciated a lot over time, so larger point swings are possible and expected. A 508-point drop back in 1987 wiped more than 22% off the Dow in a single session, while today a 508-point drop would hardly make a 2.3% dent in the index. Everything is relative.</p>
<p>Lastly, investors occasionally need a good reminder of the data that backs up the buy-and-hold investment thesis. While true that not all stocks will move higher over the long run, and also true that peaks and troughs are a natural part of the economic cycle, bull markets always seem to win out over pessimism.</p>
<p>According to data from Yardeni Research, the S&amp;P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has undergone 35 stock market corrections of at least 10%, when rounded to the nearest whole number, since Jan. 1, 1950. That's about one correction an average of every two years, just to give you a rough idea of how common stock corrections are. However, each and every last one of these 35 stock market corrections has been buried by a bull-market rally. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, or in rarer cases years, to completely retrace a drop in the broad-based S&amp;P 500, but in 35 out of 35 instances that's exactly what's happened.</p>
<p>Though there are no givens when it comes to investing, you're probably not going to get closer to a surefire data point than this: Buy and hold with confidence over the long run.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than&#160;Wal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and Tom&#160;Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they&#160;have run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom&#160;just revealed what they believe are the&#160; <a href="https://www.fool.com/mms/mark/e-sa-bbn-eg?aid=8867&amp;source=isaeditxt0000476&amp;ftm_cam=sa-bbn-evergreen&amp;ftm_pit=6627&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=024ec02e-9290-11e7-8783-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;for investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- they&#160;think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fool.com/mms/mark/e-sa-bbn-eg?aid=8867&amp;source=isaeditxt0000476&amp;ftm_cam=sa-bbn-evergreen&amp;ftm_pit=6627&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=024ec02e-9290-11e7-8783-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of September 5, 2017The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=024ec02e-9290-11e7-8783-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=024ec02e-9290-11e7-8783-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | welcome back labor day weekend sort bulls shortened week got wrong foot always iconic dow jones industrial average djindices dji falling 234 points tuesday sept 5 one point tuesdays trading session dow troughed low minus278 precipitated notable move lower dow hurricane harvey hangover could take portion blame concern ties detonation alleged hydrogen bomb north korea weekend secret united states north korea enemies lack recent diplomacy countries coupled strong rhetoric defense secretary james mattis president trump investors concerned conflict may unavoidable wall street loathes uncertainty opens new window north koreas weekend nuclear test created lot new uncertainties investment world digest continue reading however fear uncertainty furthest things mind youre longterm investor taking north koreas nuclear test account well yesterdays 234point drop dow three important things need know begin isnt good thing north korea nuclear capabilities testing weapons also considered longterm concern according wall street six dates160that north korea known tested nuclear weapon soil along initial reaction dow based next business day within past two years witnessed decisively negative reaction north koreas testing nuclear capabilities nevertheless previous five instances counting yesterdays 234point drop dow quickly put downward move rearview mirror advertisement yellow highlights preceding chart indicate rough time frame north korea tested nuclear weapons point tests led prolonged period weakness dow us stock market whole words stop worrying much tuesdays drop dow second thing investors pay close attention drop 234 points dow might larger used historical sense nothing pedestrian move opens new window things considered 234point drop dow works 107 decline index chances dow witnessed thousands 1 moves storied history spanning 121 years meaning yesterdays move far special see true plunge dow jones industrial average would need percentage decline 7 greater crack 20 worst sessions index time160based closing value dow labor day talking greater 1500point drop yesterdays 234point decline wasnt anywhere near level even close 470 points needed make list 20largest point drops alltime regardless percentage decline investors realize dow appreciated lot time larger point swings possible expected 508point drop back 1987 wiped 22 dow single session today 508point drop would hardly make 23 dent index everything relative lastly investors occasionally need good reminder data backs buyandhold investment thesis true stocks move higher long run also true peaks troughs natural part economic cycle bull markets always seem win pessimism according data yardeni research sampp 500 snpindex gspc undergone 35 stock market corrections least 10 rounded nearest whole number since jan 1 1950 thats one correction average every two years give rough idea common stock corrections however every last one 35 stock market corrections buried bullmarket rally sometimes takes weeks months rarer cases years completely retrace drop broadbased sampp 500 35 35 instances thats exactly whats happened though givens comes investing youre probably going get closer surefire data point buy hold confidence long run 10 stocks like better than160walmartwhen investing geniuses david tom160gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter they160have run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom160just revealed believe the160 ten best stocks opens new window160for investors buy right walmart wasnt one thats right they160think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window160to learn picks stock advisor returns september 5 2017the authors may position stocks mentioned sean williams opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 546 |
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<p>RUSH: There’s an NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll that’s out as well. This is not to be confused with the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. This is the <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/who-s-more-likely-beat-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-or-n570766" type="external">NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll</a>. And in this poll… (interruption) Now, wait a minute here. (interruption) Wait, wait, wait just a second. Let me… (interruption) Sometimes things are more confusing than I need to be and I am on the verge of exploding here. I’ve been surrounded by incompetence the last 24 hours and I’m having trouble dealing with it.</p>
<p>Let me… (interruption) Okay. It is an NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll that was released… Is this Tuesday? Yeah, it’s Tuesday. Feels like a Friday already. So in this poll, Trump is down only by five to Mrs. Clinton. It’s funny, you know, how the gap is closing now that Trump is the presumptive nominee. And all these people on the left — well, everywhere in the establishment, too, on the Republican side — are scratching their heads. There’s degrees of disbelief or panic at every stage.</p>
<p>“The fact that Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party scares voters more than it surprises them, according to an NBC Neww/SurveyMonkey poll released Tuesday. Forty-seven percent of respondents said their reaction to Trump becoming the presumptive nominee was fear. Just 26% said they were hopeful, while another 21% said they were angry and 16% were surprised. Thirty-five percent of respondents would be scared to see Hillary Clinton win the Democratic presidential nomination…”</p>
<p>See, this is the thing. When you strip all this away, Trump is only five points behind Hillary in this. So how does this jibe anyway? Well, 47% of respondents said the reaction of Trump becoming nominee is fear; 35% of the respondents say the same thing about Hillary. So that’s a spread of 18 points. But what does that matter when Trump is only five points behind her when you strip all of this away? “Thirty-five percent of respondents would be scared to see Hillary Clinton win the Democratic presidential nomination, while 29% would be hopeful, 22% would be angry and just 7% would be surprised.</p>
<p>“The former secretary of state tops Bernie Sanders in the national poll by 12 percentage points among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters…” So I don’t know. You look at all this stuff and you realize how much of it is used to shape public opinion rather than reflect it, and it’s mind-boggling. Fred Barnes, who is the partner of William Kristol at the Weekly Standard… Bill Kristol is out there, of course, desperately trying to maintain what he believes is his control over the Republican Party by attempting to find a third-party candidate that would do well enough to deny both Hillary and Trump 270 electoral votes, and thus flow the election to the House of Representatives.</p>
<p>Fred Barnes at the Weekly Standard is a partner there. They’re partnered up over there with Kristol, and Barnes has a piece out today called, <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/hell-do-it-his-way/article/2002282" type="external">“He’ll Do It His Way.”</a> His basic thrust is: “If you’re expecting Donald Trump to change now that he’s the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, forget it. Trump says he can act presidential any time he wants to. But that time rarely comes. There’s a reason for this. Trump equates being presidential with being boring. And boring isn’t his style. Trump will give a few speeches on major issues with presidential-level trappings — teleprompters, prepared texts, invited audiences.</p>
<p>“He’s preparing one on the Supreme Court… Others are likely to focus on infrastructure and the scandals at the Veterans Administration. But that’s about it in the boring department. No effort is being drawn up to create a New Trump akin to the New Nixon a half-century ago. When Trump learned Paul Manafort, his convention chief and top adviser, had talked to Republican officials about a change in his style, he nixed the idea instantly,” and demoted Manafort and reelevated Corey Lewandowski over Manafort.</p>
<p>‘Cause Manafort was running around trying to assure everybody, “Don’t worry, this is all an act — and when we get it sewn up, you’re gonna see major transformations in Mr. Trump and you’re gonna see much more presidential behavior.” Trump heard that and blew a Trump gasket, and Manafort has been demoted (he may not look at it that way, but he has), and Corey Lewandowski has been re-elevated back to a position of prominence.</p>
<p>But he’s gonna do the formal stuff. Newt Gingrich says, yeah, look, there are gonna be some of these formal speeches. You have to. “The formal speeches, however, are quite traditional. They represent the ‘positive Trump,’ says Newt Gingrich, an unofficial adviser to the candidate. But it’s the ‘negative Trump’ that will get more attention. He is very good at ‘shrinking his opponents,’ Gingrich says.” This is a long way around this Fred Barnes trying to tell… I don’t know what his point is.</p>
<p>I think his point is, if you are afraid of Trump but hoping that this is an act and hoping he’s gonna become more substantive and hoping he’s gonna be become more presidential, forget it. He is who he is and he’s not gonna change. And I’d have to think Fred Barnes is not happy with that, being the partner of Bill Kristol at the Weekly Standard. Bill Kristol is desperately trying to hold onto his control, in his mind, of the Republican Party.</p>
<p>AP. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/anti-trump-republicans-are-planning-to-hit-him-at-the-convention-2016-5" type="external">The ever hopeful, the ever hopeful AP</a>: “A top adviser from Sen. Ted Cruz’s defunct presidential campaign wants supporters to push a conservative agenda, including limits on the bathrooms transgender people can use … at this summer’s Republican National Convention. Many Trump opponents see the Republican platform, the party’s statement of ideals and policy goals, as a place for a stand in Cleveland. The convention’s 2,472 delegates must approve the platform before formally anointing the presidential nominee.</p>
<p>“All — including those chosen to support Trump — can vote however they want on the platform. Many conservatives say they will use that vote to keep Trump from reshaping GOP dogma against abortion, for free trade and on other issues.” So the platform committee… The platform writing is where conservatives (according to the AP, now) are going to make a stand against Trump and try to hold onto the… I don’t know what. The identity of the Republican Party? My wild guess is that I don’t think Trump is going to give a rat’s rear end about the party platform.</p>
<p>I think nobody remembers what the platform is anyway, once the thing is over. And I’ll tell you. Nobody… The platform does not bind any Republican. The platform is a PR move where the party can establish what it stands for and publish it and put it out. But no candidate, no nominee is ever bound by it. And it is an insignificant part of any convention, which is why I think a big deal is being made of conservatives, whoever they are here.</p>
<p>They’re discussed as Cruz supporters, circling the wagons and doing their best to keep the party defined as whatever Trump isn’t. But Trump’s gonna look at it, my guess is, and say, “Platform, shmatform! I don’t care what it says. Let ’em have it. Let ’em do whatever they want at the platform. Get it to say whatever they want. It’s not gonna affect me. I’m gonna run around and do what I do and I’m gonna be who am, and I’m gonna propose what I propose, and I’m support what I support, whatever the platform says.”</p>
<p>‘Cause Trump’s the guy out there saying, “We don’t need unity Republican Party. We don’t need it. I don’t have to be bound by it.” Trump is basically sniffing and rejecting every playbook tradition, or pretty much every one. All these canards about party unity? I’m sure he’d love it if the party would come together, but it’s not going to he’s not gonna allow it to affect what he does if the party doesn’t. But there clearly, folks… I don’t think the right, the correct analysis of what Paul Ryan is doing has happened yet.</p>
<p>Maybe it has. I haven’t been able to check everything. But Paul Ryan immediately saying he’s not yet prepared to endorse Trump? This is battle lines being drawn over who runs the Republican Party. And I’m telling you, Paul Ryan represents the establishment, is what this is. This refusal to endorse Trump is the establishment continuing to say, “I don’t care who our nominee is. We run this party. I don’t care who the nominee is.”</p>
<p>This party’s gonna be ours, whatever happens to this nominee, win or lose, we still run the establishment, we still run this party, we still determine what’s what about this party. The conventional wisdom is that at some point Ryan’s gonna have to endorse Trump, if for no other reason, if he wins there’s gonna have to be some show of — well, if not unity, some mutual understanding.</p>
<p>I’m not sure that any conventional wisdom is applicable anymore. I think so much of what’s happening here is so unexpected and unprecedented that there are not a lot of people that know what to do with it. Everybody has their formulaic ways of applying whatever event happens day to day in politics and plugging it into previous occurrences and thus analyzing it that way, but it’s largely uncharted water here, uncharted territory where everybody is headed.</p>
<p>You know, <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2016/05/who-promoted-private-ryan/" type="external">Pat Buchanan had this column just excoriating Ryan</a>. Who the hell does he think he is? Does he not realize he just had his hat handed to him? What in the name of Sam Hill is going on? The nominee, Donald Trump, got more votes than any Republican ever, and Ryan is saying, “No, I don’t think so.” It’s not up to Trump to move to Ryan. It’s up to Ryan to move to Trump, and if Ryan doesn’t, then bye-bye Ryan. That’s Buchanan’s column. (laughing)</p>
<p>Folks, they’re applauding my analysis interpretation of the Buchanan column on the other side of the glass here. Okay. Well, anyway the battle lines are drawn, and it stands to reason the establishment types are just not going to let the will of the people break up their club. They’re just not gonna let that happen. They’re gonna do everything they can to hold on to this.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: Buchanan’s piece was titled, “Who Promoted Private Ryan?” And the subhead is: “Pat Buchanan on speaker: Losers don’t make demands, they make pleas.” They make requests. You know I said the other day in this program — Snerdley, you frowned at me — I said it’s not up on to the winner to move to the loser. The loser has to get to the program and move to the winner. You looked at me like, whoa. What do you mean it was shocking when I said that? It’s just the way of the world.</p>
<p>We shellacked the Japanese in World War II. Did they tell us the way things are gonna be at the signing ceremony? No, we told them what they were gonna have to do. We did the same thing with the Germans after World War II. It’s always the winners. That’s the reason that you get into conflict. The winner determines the rules and it’s up to the loser to accede. That’s part of surrendering and it’s part of losing. Now, you can go into exile if you want, but you don’t start making demands.</p>
<p>See, that’s kind of what’s wrong with America today. The losers are making demands. The oddballs, the kooks are the ones making the demands and the winners, you know, are turning tail and running. The winners are going, “Okay, okay, just don’t say mean things about us. Leave our kids alone.” So the losers are running the show and the losers are the left. I mean, they’re a definite minority in this country, but they’re winning everything by virtue of the actual winners and majority giving up and surrendering and caving.</p>
<p>Frankly, I’m worn out with it. This bathroom business in North Carolina, it’s a classic illustration of it. Less than one-tenth of 1% of the population, and we’re being told the Civil Rights Act of 1964 addressed it? It’s even gotten so absurd that some of the supporters of this bathroom garbage are trying to tell us that it’s in our founding documents, that transgenders were being thought of and were being considered during the construction of the Bill of Rights. It’s absurd. All of this is frankly absurd. But when you have a majority not willing to stand up for itself, you have to expect what’s happening to happen.</p>
<p>I can give you countless examples of it, of parents not doing a damn thing about it when teachers are perverting and destroying history lessons in their schools ’cause they’re afraid of what bad grades will come, what recriminations will come if they complain. The left has been winning with this stuff for a long, long time ’cause nobody wants to stand up to it. And when people do stand up to it, they are made to pay, and other people see what happens to people that stand up and say, “I don’t want that happening to me.”</p>
<p>So they slink along, trying to be unnoticed, and the steady erosion by virtue of perversion is happening to our culture, and it’s not just here. It’s happening in Europe, it’s happening all over where there is Western civilization, it’s under assault.</p> | true | 0 | rush theres nbc newssurveymonkey poll thats well confused nbcwall street journal poll nbc newssurveymonkey poll poll interruption wait minute interruption wait wait wait second let interruption sometimes things confusing need verge exploding ive surrounded incompetence last 24 hours im trouble dealing let interruption okay nbc newssurveymonkey poll released tuesday yeah tuesday feels like friday already poll trump five mrs clinton funny know gap closing trump presumptive nominee people left well everywhere establishment republican side scratching heads theres degrees disbelief panic every stage fact donald trump presumptive nominee republican party scares voters surprises according nbc newwsurveymonkey poll released tuesday fortyseven percent respondents said reaction trump becoming presumptive nominee fear 26 said hopeful another 21 said angry 16 surprised thirtyfive percent respondents would scared see hillary clinton win democratic presidential nomination see thing strip away trump five points behind hillary jibe anyway well 47 respondents said reaction trump becoming nominee fear 35 respondents say thing hillary thats spread 18 points matter trump five points behind strip away thirtyfive percent respondents would scared see hillary clinton win democratic presidential nomination 29 would hopeful 22 would angry 7 would surprised former secretary state tops bernie sanders national poll 12 percentage points among democratic democraticleaning voters dont know look stuff realize much used shape public opinion rather reflect mindboggling fred barnes partner william kristol weekly standard bill kristol course desperately trying maintain believes control republican party attempting find thirdparty candidate would well enough deny hillary trump 270 electoral votes thus flow election house representatives fred barnes weekly standard partner theyre partnered kristol barnes piece today called hell way basic thrust youre expecting donald trump change hes presumptive republican presidential nominee forget trump says act presidential time wants time rarely comes theres reason trump equates presidential boring boring isnt style trump give speeches major issues presidentiallevel trappings teleprompters prepared texts invited audiences hes preparing one supreme court others likely focus infrastructure scandals veterans administration thats boring department effort drawn create new trump akin new nixon halfcentury ago trump learned paul manafort convention chief top adviser talked republican officials change style nixed idea instantly demoted manafort reelevated corey lewandowski manafort cause manafort running around trying assure everybody dont worry act get sewn youre gon na see major transformations mr trump youre gon na see much presidential behavior trump heard blew trump gasket manafort demoted may look way corey lewandowski reelevated back position prominence hes gon na formal stuff newt gingrich says yeah look gon na formal speeches formal speeches however quite traditional represent positive trump says newt gingrich unofficial adviser candidate negative trump get attention good shrinking opponents gingrich says long way around fred barnes trying tell dont know point think point afraid trump hoping act hoping hes gon na become substantive hoping hes gon na become presidential forget hes gon na change id think fred barnes happy partner bill kristol weekly standard bill kristol desperately trying hold onto control mind republican party ap ever hopeful ever hopeful ap top adviser sen ted cruzs defunct presidential campaign wants supporters push conservative agenda including limits bathrooms transgender people use summers republican national convention many trump opponents see republican platform partys statement ideals policy goals place stand cleveland conventions 2472 delegates must approve platform formally anointing presidential nominee including chosen support trump vote however want platform many conservatives say use vote keep trump reshaping gop dogma abortion free trade issues platform committee platform writing conservatives according ap going make stand trump try hold onto dont know identity republican party wild guess dont think trump going give rats rear end party platform think nobody remembers platform anyway thing ill tell nobody platform bind republican platform pr move party establish stands publish put candidate nominee ever bound insignificant part convention think big deal made conservatives whoever theyre discussed cruz supporters circling wagons best keep party defined whatever trump isnt trumps gon na look guess say platform shmatform dont care says let em let em whatever want platform get say whatever want gon na affect im gon na run around im gon na im gon na propose propose im support support whatever platform says cause trumps guy saying dont need unity republican party dont need dont bound trump basically sniffing rejecting every playbook tradition pretty much every one canards party unity im sure hed love party would come together going hes gon na allow affect party doesnt clearly folks dont think right correct analysis paul ryan happened yet maybe havent able check everything paul ryan immediately saying hes yet prepared endorse trump battle lines drawn runs republican party im telling paul ryan represents establishment refusal endorse trump establishment continuing say dont care nominee run party dont care nominee partys gon na whatever happens nominee win lose still run establishment still run party still determine whats party conventional wisdom point ryans gon na endorse trump reason wins theres gon na show well unity mutual understanding im sure conventional wisdom applicable anymore think much whats happening unexpected unprecedented lot people know everybody formulaic ways applying whatever event happens day day politics plugging previous occurrences thus analyzing way largely uncharted water uncharted territory everybody headed know pat buchanan column excoriating ryan hell think realize hat handed name sam hill going nominee donald trump got votes republican ever ryan saying dont think trump move ryan ryan move trump ryan doesnt byebye ryan thats buchanans column laughing folks theyre applauding analysis interpretation buchanan column side glass okay well anyway battle lines drawn stands reason establishment types going let people break club theyre gon na let happen theyre gon na everything hold break transcript rush buchanans piece titled promoted private ryan subhead pat buchanan speaker losers dont make demands make pleas make requests know said day program snerdley frowned said winner move loser loser get program move winner looked like whoa mean shocking said way world shellacked japanese world war ii tell us way things gon na signing ceremony told gon na thing germans world war ii always winners thats reason get conflict winner determines rules loser accede thats part surrendering part losing go exile want dont start making demands see thats kind whats wrong america today losers making demands oddballs kooks ones making demands winners know turning tail running winners going okay okay dont say mean things us leave kids alone losers running show losers left mean theyre definite minority country theyre winning everything virtue actual winners majority giving surrendering caving frankly im worn bathroom business north carolina classic illustration less onetenth 1 population told civil rights act 1964 addressed even gotten absurd supporters bathroom garbage trying tell us founding documents transgenders thought considered construction bill rights absurd frankly absurd majority willing stand expect whats happening happen give countless examples parents damn thing teachers perverting destroying history lessons schools cause theyre afraid bad grades come recriminations come complain left winning stuff long long time cause nobody wants stand people stand made pay people see happens people stand say dont want happening slink along trying unnoticed steady erosion virtue perversion happening culture happening europe happening western civilization assault | 1,170 |
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<p>Imagine discovering your infant is one of only sixteen people ever to be diagnosed with a fatal genetic affliction for which the only shred of hope would entail a flight abroad for experimental treatment; but — rather than simply making the albeit complicated and costly trip — the highest court in the land rules your child must die.</p>
<p>This dystopian nightmare might sound like a cinematic creation, yet it’s reality for parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates, whose nine-month-old son, Charlie, suffers from mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome — a genetic condition affecting cells’ ‘powerhouses’ — inherited when both parents unknowingly carried the faulty gene.</p>
<p>Charlie has been on life support since last October, so his desperate parents sought an experimental therapy procedure in the U.S. to try to save, or at least extend, his life — and raised over £1.3 million (roughly $1.65 million) through online crowdfunding to do so.</p>
<p>Two months ago, the British Supreme Court callously <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3754263/charlie-gard-latest-news-life-support-parents-supreme-court-battle/" type="external">ruled</a> Charlie’s life support at Great Ormond Street Hospital should be withdrawn in order for him to “die with dignity” — so Gard and Yates filed an appeal in hopes of staving off their infant’s imminent demise.</p>
<p>On Thursday, the Court of Appeal shattered their aspirations of saving Charlie’s life — <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-40206045" type="external">ruling</a> there would be no trip, as prospective treatment could not possibly guarantee improvement.</p>
<p>Connie screamed and wept in anguish, and reportedly ran from the courtroom upon the reading of the decision by a panel of three judges: Lady Hale, the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Lord Kerr, and Lord Wilson.</p>
<p>“The child’s interests must prevail,” Lady Hale <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">announced</a>, stressing the rights of a child supplant those of the parents, yet coldly denying Charlie’s only prospect for life.</p>
<p>“How can they do this?” Yates <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">sobbed</a>. “They are lying. We are going to America.”</p>
<p>“We have had our parental rights stripped away as if they don’t matter at all,” Yates <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3248426/charlie-gard-latest-news-supreme-court-decision-life-support-parents-mitochondrial-depletion-syndrome/" type="external">railed</a>. “The way we have been treated by doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital has been inhuman. Our son is basically being kept as a prisoner at the hospital.”</p>
<p>Life support for Charlie will be terminated at 5 p.m. today — effectively ending his life and dashing his young parents’ dreams the child might survive if only treatment could be procured across the pond — pending an unusual appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.</p>
<p>“This is a very sad day for Charlie’s parents and family and our thoughts are with them and Charlie,” a spokesperson for the Great Ormond Street Hospital stated, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">reports</a> the Guardian.</p>
<p>“We are led by the legal process and when the time comes for a change in treatment, we will support the parents in every way that we can, aiding them through next steps. This would normally take place over at least a number of days. For now, our priority is to ensure Charlie remains well cared for and to offer our support to Charlie’s devoted parents at this distressing time.”</p>
<p>While the parents previously <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3754263/charlie-gard-latest-news-life-support-parents-supreme-court-battle/" type="external">excoriated</a> treatment by the hospital as “inhuman,” stating Charlie has been held “prisoner” to the facility’s whims, Katie Gollop QC (Queen’s Counsel) — who headed Great Ormond Street’s legal team — called the infant’s predicament “sad” but not “exceptional,” adding Gard and Yates have acted arrogantly as if “parents always know best.”</p>
<p>“The [alternative therapy in America] would take time and over the weeks and months Charlie would be forced to remain in his parlous condition: he can’t see, can’t hear, can’t cry, can’t swallow. He has a mechanism that causes his lungs to go up and down. We don’t know whether he suffers pain,” Gollop previously <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">told</a> the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>“There are children whose conditions we cannot cure and whose conditions we cannot ameliorate. It happens very often and the parents of that child don’t want to look back later and think there might have been something they could have done for this child which they left undone.”</p>
<p>Gollop noted the parents have behaved unambiguously as wards over Charlie’s fate — stealing his unutterable voice — as if their wishes supercede the rights of the infant to pass away without interference.</p>
<p>“The parents are deemed to be … the sole and only determiner of what can happen,” Gollop asserted, somehow unironically adding, “[that’s] dangerous and it’s power without end.”</p>
<p>Precisely how denying the only feasible chance at life for Charlie — and greenlighting what amounts to a tacit, cruel death sentence — could not be considered State power without end, counsel did not make immediately clear.</p>
<p>“The issue is whether the state has the power to intrude on decisions the parents have made in order to mandate that child’s death before it might come to an end,” &#160;barrister for the parents, Richard Gordon QC, had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">contended</a> in opening statements.</p>
<p>“We say there’s a boundary beyond which the state cannot simply go without the strongest justification. These are model parents trying to do all they possibly can for the benefit of their child. Their view on what is best for Charlie differs from the court.”</p>
<p>Indeed, the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-40206045" type="external">case</a> of little Charlie Gard might be the penultimate example of the Nanny State gone grievously awry — provoking delicate esoteric questions on the balance between governmental protections and the right to self-determination, with the additional complications of parental rights and consent.</p>
<p>In fact — given that pilot treatment could be had with the necessary funds and a trip overseas — to align with the court in this case, would be to affirm the State has ultimate power over life when it becomes a troublesome burden.</p>
<p>Neither Gard nor Yates have touted nucleoside bypass therapy as an absolute miracle for the brain and muscle damage associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome &#160;— Charlie will never be capable of cavorting through childhood with peers — rather, adding a simple powder to his food could improve and prolong his life.</p>
<p>But the British high court instead aligned with Great Ormond Street Hospital — as well as a hospital in Spain, through which a second opinion had been sought — in dictating the slim chance for improvement not sufficient to warrant what would be a difficult journey to the U.S.</p>
<p>Indeed, no one has claimed the trip, itself, would be inherently harmful to Charlie’s condition — meaning the court is literally denying the child’s only shot at life because treatment in America cannot unassailably ensure improvement.</p>
<p>“At the heart of the legal case is the right of relatives to have a say in how doctors treat a loved one,” Charlie da Silva, a second barrister for the family, <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3754263/charlie-gard-latest-news-life-support-parents-supreme-court-battle/" type="external">asserted</a> prior to the hearing.</p>
<p>“This case is different from others because the parents have found a reputable alternative hospital that is prepared to provide treatment. If a hospital is not prepared to carry out a particular treatment then it should not be able to prevent another hospital which is ready, willing and able to provide the treatment from doing so.”</p>
<p>Citing the draconian British law which led to this existential gordian knot, da Silva and the family’s entire legal team took the case on a pro bono basis.</p>
<p>“Unless their decision will cause or is likely to cause significant harm to their child, parents should be the final decision makers,” da Silva continued. “However, as the law currently stands as soon as a child is admitted to a hospital the parents immediately lose their parental responsibility.</p>
<p>“The doctors become the final decision makers on what is in the best interests of the child. The doctors decide what treatment the child should or should not have and in the final analysis whether the child lives or dies.”</p>
<p>Charlie’s case cleaved a rift in the U.K., highlighting extreme control by the State over the rights of parents who — for whatever reason — might not feel their child can attain paramount treatment through normal channels.</p>
<p>“There’s a hospital ready and waiting,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">lamented</a> supporter of the family, Michelle Standen, outside the court in Westminster. “It’s disgusting. Why not allow him to go? The funds are there. He’s not in pain. All the time they have been doing the court cases, they could have been treating him.”</p>
<p>Sarah Fisher, another supporter and familiar with friends of the family, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/jun/08/charlie-gard-case-goes-to-emergency-supreme-court-hearing" type="external">added</a>, “I have not seen any evidence that the doctors are right. The doctors seem to have made an early clinical decision and don’t want to back down.</p>
<p>“He’s left in limbo for five or six months. It’s not fair. We should listen to the parents in this country rather than looking down our nose at them. They are the ones who spend all their time with the child.”</p>
<p>With mere hours remaining before life support is withdrawn, Charlie — a child so new to the world he will likely never know the historic significance of his existence — will soon be forced to endure death, even as the tantalizing prospect for extended life lies just out of reach overseas.</p>
<p>Outrage over the untenable life and death of Charlie Gard demands we all examine how readily we fork over innate rights to the government — particularly in the name of protection, security, and fear.</p>
<p>Bewildered, da Silva mourned the court’s disputatious decision, stating, “That cannot possibly be right. It strikes at the core and offends the very essence of parenthood.”</p>
<p>“He deserves this chance,” Gard <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3248426/charlie-gard-latest-news-supreme-court-decision-life-support-parents-mitochondrial-depletion-syndrome/" type="external">pled</a> tearfully to the court as the hearing began.</p>
<p>Clutching Charlie’s toy monkey, the desperate father appealed to the sentiments of the court, attesting, as any loving parent would,</p>
<p>“My son is the apple of my eye and I would do anything for him.”</p>
<p>Claire Bernish is a staff writer and reporter for <a href="http://www.thedailysheeple.com/death-panel-rules-babys-life-support-must-end-even-though-parents-could-try-other-options_062017" type="external">The Daily Sheeple</a>. Wake the flock up – follow Claire’s work at our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thedailysheeple/" type="external">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDailySheeple" type="external">Twitter.</a></p>
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<p /> | true | 0 | imagine discovering infant one sixteen people ever diagnosed fatal genetic affliction shred hope would entail flight abroad experimental treatment rather simply making albeit complicated costly trip highest court land rules child must die dystopian nightmare might sound like cinematic creation yet reality parents chris gard connie yates whose ninemonthold son charlie suffers mitochondrial dna depletion syndrome genetic condition affecting cells powerhouses inherited parents unknowingly carried faulty gene charlie life support since last october desperate parents sought experimental therapy procedure us try save least extend life raised 13 million roughly 165 million online crowdfunding two months ago british supreme court callously ruled charlies life support great ormond street hospital withdrawn order die dignity gard yates filed appeal hopes staving infants imminent demise thursday court appeal shattered aspirations saving charlies life ruling would trip prospective treatment could possibly guarantee improvement connie screamed wept anguish reportedly ran courtroom upon reading decision panel three judges lady hale deputy president supreme court lord kerr lord wilson childs interests must prevail lady hale announced stressing rights child supplant parents yet coldly denying charlies prospect life yates sobbed lying going america parental rights stripped away dont matter yates railed way treated doctors great ormond street hospital inhuman son basically kept prisoner hospital life support charlie terminated 5 pm today effectively ending life dashing young parents dreams child might survive treatment could procured across pond pending unusual appeal european court human rights strasbourg sad day charlies parents family thoughts charlie spokesperson great ormond street hospital stated reports guardian led legal process time comes change treatment support parents every way aiding next steps would normally take place least number days priority ensure charlie remains well cared offer support charlies devoted parents distressing time parents previously excoriated treatment hospital inhuman stating charlie held prisoner facilitys whims katie gollop qc queens counsel headed great ormond streets legal team called infants predicament sad exceptional adding gard yates acted arrogantly parents always know best alternative therapy america would take time weeks months charlie would forced remain parlous condition cant see cant hear cant cry cant swallow mechanism causes lungs go dont know whether suffers pain gollop previously told supreme court children whose conditions cure whose conditions ameliorate happens often parents child dont want look back later think might something could done child left undone gollop noted parents behaved unambiguously wards charlies fate stealing unutterable voice wishes supercede rights infant pass away without interference parents deemed sole determiner happen gollop asserted somehow unironically adding thats dangerous power without end precisely denying feasible chance life charlie greenlighting amounts tacit cruel death sentence could considered state power without end counsel make immediately clear issue whether state power intrude decisions parents made order mandate childs death might come end 160barrister parents richard gordon qc contended opening statements say theres boundary beyond state simply go without strongest justification model parents trying possibly benefit child view best charlie differs court indeed case little charlie gard might penultimate example nanny state gone grievously awry provoking delicate esoteric questions balance governmental protections right selfdetermination additional complications parental rights consent fact given pilot treatment could necessary funds trip overseas align court case would affirm state ultimate power life becomes troublesome burden neither gard yates touted nucleoside bypass therapy absolute miracle brain muscle damage associated mitochondrial dna depletion syndrome 160 charlie never capable cavorting childhood peers rather adding simple powder food could improve prolong life british high court instead aligned great ormond street hospital well hospital spain second opinion sought dictating slim chance improvement sufficient warrant would difficult journey us indeed one claimed trip would inherently harmful charlies condition meaning court literally denying childs shot life treatment america unassailably ensure improvement heart legal case right relatives say doctors treat loved one charlie da silva second barrister family asserted prior hearing case different others parents found reputable alternative hospital prepared provide treatment hospital prepared carry particular treatment able prevent another hospital ready willing able provide treatment citing draconian british law led existential gordian knot da silva familys entire legal team took case pro bono basis unless decision cause likely cause significant harm child parents final decision makers da silva continued however law currently stands soon child admitted hospital parents immediately lose parental responsibility doctors become final decision makers best interests child doctors decide treatment child final analysis whether child lives dies charlies case cleaved rift uk highlighting extreme control state rights parents whatever reason might feel child attain paramount treatment normal channels theres hospital ready waiting lamented supporter family michelle standen outside court westminster disgusting allow go funds hes pain time court cases could treating sarah fisher another supporter familiar friends family added seen evidence doctors right doctors seem made early clinical decision dont want back hes left limbo five six months fair listen parents country rather looking nose ones spend time child mere hours remaining life support withdrawn charlie child new world likely never know historic significance existence soon forced endure death even tantalizing prospect extended life lies reach overseas outrage untenable life death charlie gard demands examine readily fork innate rights government particularly name protection security fear bewildered da silva mourned courts disputatious decision stating possibly right strikes core offends essence parenthood deserves chance gard pled tearfully court hearing began clutching charlies toy monkey desperate father appealed sentiments court attesting loving parent would son apple eye would anything claire bernish staff writer reporter daily sheeple wake flock follow claires work facebook twitter | 900 |
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<p>For several years, it looked like Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) might be past its prime. The robotic surgical system maker's stock experienced a malaise throughout much of the period between 2012 and late 2015.</p>
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<p>Now, however, Intuitive Surgical is on a roll. Its share price is up close to 20% so far in 2017. Could the best be yet to come for Intuitive? I think so.</p>
<p>Image source: Intuitive Surgical.</p>
<p>Most people think about the aging of the baby boomer generation as a key demographic trend. And it is. However, millennials (individuals born between 1981 and 1997) have surpassed baby boomers as the largest generation in the U.S.The aging of both groups should benefit Intuitive Surgical.</p>
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<p>Hysterectomy ranks as the top surgical procedure performed using Intuitive's da Vinci robotic surgical system. More than 40% of da Vinci procedures performed in the U.S. last year were hysterectomies. The average age of American women who have hysterectomies is 42. Many in the millennial generation will reach this age in only a few years.</p>
<p>Intuitive Surgical's second most performed surgical procedure is radicalprostatectomy for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. The average age of American men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer is 66. Some baby boomers have already reached the prime age for developing prostate cancer, but most aren't quite that old yet.</p>
<p>It's not just demographic trends that are working in Intuitive Surgical's favor. The company generated 71% of total revenue in 2016 from recurring sales of instruments, accessories, and services. This percentage has steadily increased in recent years.Intuitive's huge recurring revenue provides it stability and flexibility that many other companies don't enjoy.</p>
<p>While Intuitive Surgical's bread and butter is in the gynecology and urology markets, general surgery is the company's fastest-growing specialty in the U.S. Hernia repair is the most important driver of that growth for one primary reason: Intuitive has proven its value proposition for the procedure. Studies have shown that that average hospital stay for patients who underwent surgeries with da Vinci were 2.5 days shorter than others with similar readmission rates</p>
<p>One market that is still in its early stages for Intuitive is thoracic surgery. Clinical studies have shown improved outcomes for patients who underwent thoracic surgery with da Vinci compared to patients who hadopen and video-assisted thoracic surgery.</p>
<p>The more Intuitive Surgical can prove its value, the more it will sell its systems. And there are plenty of types of surgical procedures remaining for the company to address where da Vinci could potentially be better than conventional surgery.</p>
<p>Intuitive's innovation should help accomplish this goal. Enhanced imaging helps surgeons identify structures during surgery. Sensors on da Vinci instruments provide real-time feedback.The company's joint venture with Fosun Pharma to develop robotic-assisted catheter-based medical devices could also open up new doors.</p>
<p>More than 65% of da Vinci systems are installed in the U.S. As a result, Intuitive Surgical still makes most of its money here. This highlights the company's opportunity for growth in international markets.</p>
<p>Intuitive Surgical should be able to obtain significant more growth in Asia in the future. Just over 500 da Vinci systems are installed in Asian countries, but the populations (and, therefore, number of surgical procedures performed) in these nations are huge.</p>
<p>The company has experienced strong procedure growth in Japan and China. As Intuitive continues to demonstrate its value, it should be able to open up more of the Asian market.</p>
<p>While all of these factors should work to Intuitive Surgical's advantage, could they help other companies even more? So far, Intuitive hasn't faced significant competition for da Vinci. That could soon change, however.</p>
<p>Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) plans to launch its first robotic surgical system as early as next year. Its system could compete head-to-head against da Vinci in several surgical procedures. The biggest challenge for Intuitive could come from Medtronic's pricing. The big medical device company has stated that it intends to make robotic surgeries less expensive.</p>
<p>Competition from Medtronic and perhaps others could end up being a good thing for Intuitive Surgical over the long run, though. It should spur the company to innovate and prove the value for its technology even more than in the past. And if that happens, the best days for Intuitive Surgical lie ahead.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Intuitive SurgicalWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=ce0df5ec-a8c0-4b06-be3d-cb7c98c5831a&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Intuitive Surgical wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFishBiz/info.aspx" type="external">Keith Speights Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool owns shares of Medtronic. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | several years looked like intuitive surgical nasdaq isrg might past prime robotic surgical system makers stock experienced malaise throughout much period 2012 late 2015 continue reading however intuitive surgical roll share price close 20 far 2017 could best yet come intuitive think image source intuitive surgical people think aging baby boomer generation key demographic trend however millennials individuals born 1981 1997 surpassed baby boomers largest generation usthe aging groups benefit intuitive surgical advertisement hysterectomy ranks top surgical procedure performed using intuitives da vinci robotic surgical system 40 da vinci procedures performed us last year hysterectomies average age american women hysterectomies 42 many millennial generation reach age years intuitive surgicals second performed surgical procedure radicalprostatectomy patients diagnosed prostate cancer average age american men diagnosed prostate cancer 66 baby boomers already reached prime age developing prostate cancer arent quite old yet demographic trends working intuitive surgicals favor company generated 71 total revenue 2016 recurring sales instruments accessories services percentage steadily increased recent yearsintuitives huge recurring revenue provides stability flexibility many companies dont enjoy intuitive surgicals bread butter gynecology urology markets general surgery companys fastestgrowing specialty us hernia repair important driver growth one primary reason intuitive proven value proposition procedure studies shown average hospital stay patients underwent surgeries da vinci 25 days shorter others similar readmission rates one market still early stages intuitive thoracic surgery clinical studies shown improved outcomes patients underwent thoracic surgery da vinci compared patients hadopen videoassisted thoracic surgery intuitive surgical prove value sell systems plenty types surgical procedures remaining company address da vinci could potentially better conventional surgery intuitives innovation help accomplish goal enhanced imaging helps surgeons identify structures surgery sensors da vinci instruments provide realtime feedbackthe companys joint venture fosun pharma develop roboticassisted catheterbased medical devices could also open new doors 65 da vinci systems installed us result intuitive surgical still makes money highlights companys opportunity growth international markets intuitive surgical able obtain significant growth asia future 500 da vinci systems installed asian countries populations therefore number surgical procedures performed nations huge company experienced strong procedure growth japan china intuitive continues demonstrate value able open asian market factors work intuitive surgicals advantage could help companies even far intuitive hasnt faced significant competition da vinci could soon change however medtronic nyse mdt plans launch first robotic surgical system early next year system could compete headtohead da vinci several surgical procedures biggest challenge intuitive could come medtronics pricing big medical device company stated intends make robotic surgeries less expensive competition medtronic perhaps others could end good thing intuitive surgical long run though spur company innovate prove value technology even past happens best days intuitive surgical lie ahead 10 stocks like better intuitive surgicalwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right intuitive surgical wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns february 6 2017 keith speights opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends intuitive surgical motley fool owns shares medtronic motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 525 |
<p>Stock-index futures pointed to a sharp rebound for Wall Street on Monday, as Dow Jones Industrial Average futures soared more than 200 points. The gains came as investors cheered weekend news that Senate Republicans passed a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code.</p>
<p>What are stock futures doing?</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 237 points, or 1%, to 24,475, while S&amp;P 500 futures rose 16.85 points, or 0.6%, to 2,660.75. Nasdaq-100 futures jumped 32.5 points, or 0.5%, to 6,378.25.</p>
<p>On Friday, the Dow industrials fell 0.2% to 24,231.59, snapping a five-day winning streak. But the index closed off lows that saw the benchmark tumble 300 points (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tech-stocks-set-to-lead-downturn-for-us-stocks-a-day-after-dow-smashes-through-24000-2017-12-01) at one point, after news about former national security adviser Michael Flynn triggered political uncertainty.</p>
<p>Read:It's rare for the Dow to have ramped up like this--here's what typically happens next (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-rare-for-the-dow-to-have-ramped-up-like-this-heres-what-typically-happens-next-2017-12-04)</p>
<p>In that session, the S&amp;P 500 lost 0.2% to close at 2,642.22, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.4% to end at 6,847.59.</p>
<p>The Dow industrials could log a new closing record for Monday if the indicated gains come through. On Nov. 30 it closed above 24,272.35, marking its first finish ever above the 24,000 mark.</p>
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<p>What's driving the market?</p>
<p>Progress on the Republican tax plan was in the spotlight for Monday, while investors continued to watch for news of the special counsel's probe of U.S. President Donald Trump's election campaign.</p>
<p>Early Saturday, the Senate passed the Republican-sponsored tax reform proposal almost entirely along party lines (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/senate-passes-tax-bill-advancing-top-republican-priority-2017-12-02), which being viewed as a key victory for U.S. President Donald Trump. Only Democrats and Tennessee Republican Bob Corker voted against it.</p>
<p>Read:Trump celebrates tax-bill victory as opponents vent their fury via #TaxScamBill (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-celebrates-tax-bill-victory-as-opponents-vent-their-fury-via-taxscambill-2017-12-02)</p>
<p>Hopes that the Trump administration and Republicans would usher in a business-friendly tax overhaul have been cited as a driver for the stock market's record-setting streak over the past year. The House and Senate now must agree on a single tax bill before it can be sent to Trump to sign.</p>
<p>Rattling markets on Friday was news that Flynn, a former member of Trump's election team, pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators who are probing Russia's alleged interference in the U.S. election. Another factor was an ABC News report that Flynn was preparing to testify that Trump, as a presidential candidate, directed him to make contact with the Russians, though ABC News later Friday corrected that story, (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-for-4-weeks-for-erroneous-flynn-report-2017-12-03https:/www.marketwatch.com/story/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-for-4-weeks-for-erroneous-flynn-report-2017-12-03) (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-for-4-weeks-for-erroneous-flynn-report-2017-12-03https:/www.marketwatch.com/story/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-for-4-weeks-for-erroneous-flynn-report-2017-12-03)saying the contact instead came when Trump was president-elect.</p>
<p>(https://www.marketwatch.com/story/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-for-4-weeks-for-erroneous-flynn-report-2017-12-03https:/www.marketwatch.com/story/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-for-4-weeks-for-erroneous-flynn-report-2017-12-03)What are strategists saying?</p>
<p>"The market is focused on the historical tax overhaul rather than political tensions and investigations on Donald Trump. The positive trend in the U.S. stock markets could stretch to uncharted territories," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst with LCG.com, in a note to clients.</p>
<p>Read:Here's why the stock-market rally is unlikely to be derailed by Michael Flynn (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-stock-market-rally-unlikely-to-come-undone-by-flynn-news-2017-12-01)</p>
<p>"So the chances of tax cuts being placed onto Trump's desk to sign through have increased markedly, and we start this week with the process of reconciliation between both the House and Senate tax plan, while Congress is also trying to pass a continuous resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown on 8 December," said Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG Group, in a note to clients.</p>
<p>See:It's rare for the Dow to have ramped up like this--here's what typically happens next (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-rare-for-the-dow-to-have-ramped-up-like-this-heres-what-typically-happens-next-2017-12-04)</p>
<p>"Both issues should keep risk supported, and one questions what is going to really derail sentiment as we head into the final month and one that is traditionally a great breeding ground for equity appreciation," Weston added.</p>
<p>What stocks could be active?</p>
<p>Digital Power Corp.(DPW) jumped 40% in premarket after the company said its Coolisys Technologies unit launched a line of power systems for cryptocurrency mining (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/digital-powers-stock-rockets-after-line-of-cryptocurrency-power-systems-launched-2017-12-04).</p>
<p>Shares of General Cable Corp.(BGC) jumped 32% in premarket after Italy's cable maker Prysmian SpA (PRY.MI) said it would buy the cable manufacturer in a deal that values it at around $3 billion (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/prysmian-to-buy-general-cable-in-3-billion-deal-2017-12-04).</p>
<p>Shares of Aetna Inc.(AET) rose 3.4% in premarket after CVS Health Corp.(CVS) agreed to buy the U.S.'s third-largest health insurer (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cvs-to-acquire-health-insurer-aetna-in-years-biggest-deal-valued-at-69-billion-2017-12-03) for about $69 billion in cash and stock. CVS shares fell nearly 4% in premarket.</p>
<p>Read: Dialog dives 14% after saying it could lose some Apple business (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dialog-dives-14-after-saying-it-could-lose-some-apple-business-2017-12-04)</p>
<p>What's on the data docket?</p>
<p>Investors will get several big pieces of economic data this week, including the nonfarm-payroll report on Friday. On the economic front for Monday, a reading on factory orders for October is slated for release at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.</p>
<p>Read:Don't expect strong U.S. hiring to keep up in 2018 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dont-expect-strong-us-hiring-to-keep-up-in-2018-2017-12-02)</p>
<p>What are other markets doing?</p>
<p>Asian markets finished mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-markets-shrug-off-senates-approval-of-tax-bill-2017-12-03), with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rising after a string of consecutive losses. But other regional gauges, such as the Nikkei 225 index , came under pressure. European stocks were higher across the board with the German DAX 30 index surged by the most in a month (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dax-jumps-by-the-most-in-a-month-as-us-tax-progress-revs-up-european-stocks-2017-12-04), boosted by news of U.S. tax-plan progress.</p>
<p>Oil prices fell (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-slips-from-1-week-high-as-us-rig-count-rises-2017-12-04) on Monday, with crude for January down 0.9% to $57.96 a barrel. The ICE Dollar index was up (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-pushes-higher-as-investors-focus-on-tax-plan-progress-2017-12-04) 0.4% to 93.24. Gold dropped 0.5% to $1,275.90 an ounce.</p>
<p>Bitcoin came close (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bitcoin-rebounds-surges-above-11700-for-yet-another-record-2017-12-03) to the $12,000 level in Asian trading hours on Monday, but has pulled back to last trade around $11,329.17.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>December 04, 2017 08:09 ET (13:09 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | stockindex futures pointed sharp rebound wall street monday dow jones industrial average futures soared 200 points gains came investors cheered weekend news senate republicans passed sweeping overhaul us tax code stock futures continue reading futures dow jones industrial average surged 237 points 1 24475 sampp 500 futures rose 1685 points 06 266075 nasdaq100 futures jumped 325 points 05 637825 friday dow industrials fell 02 2423159 snapping fiveday winning streak index closed lows saw benchmark tumble 300 points httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytechstockssettoleaddownturnforusstocksadayafterdowsmashesthrough2400020171201 one point news former national security adviser michael flynn triggered political uncertainty readits rare dow ramped like thisheres typically happens next httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryitsrareforthedowtohaverampeduplikethishereswhattypicallyhappensnext20171204 session sampp 500 lost 02 close 264222 nasdaq composite index declined 04 end 684759 dow industrials could log new closing record monday indicated gains come nov 30 closed 2427235 marking first finish ever 24000 mark advertisement whats driving market progress republican tax plan spotlight monday investors continued watch news special counsels probe us president donald trumps election campaign early saturday senate passed republicansponsored tax reform proposal almost entirely along party lines httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorysenatepassestaxbilladvancingtoprepublicanpriority20171202 viewed key victory us president donald trump democrats tennessee republican bob corker voted readtrump celebrates taxbill victory opponents vent fury via taxscambill httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytrumpcelebratestaxbillvictoryasopponentsventtheirfuryviataxscambill20171202 hopes trump administration republicans would usher businessfriendly tax overhaul cited driver stock markets recordsetting streak past year house senate must agree single tax bill sent trump sign rattling markets friday news flynn former member trumps election team pleaded guilty lying federal investigators probing russias alleged interference us election another factor abc news report flynn preparing testify trump presidential candidate directed make contact russians though abc news later friday corrected story httpswwwmarketwatchcomstoryabcnewsreporterbrianrosssuspendedfor4weeksforerroneousflynnreport20171203httpswwwmarketwatchcomstoryabcnewsreporterbrianrosssuspendedfor4weeksforerroneousflynnreport20171203 httpswwwmarketwatchcomstoryabcnewsreporterbrianrosssuspendedfor4weeksforerroneousflynnreport20171203httpswwwmarketwatchcomstoryabcnewsreporterbrianrosssuspendedfor4weeksforerroneousflynnreport20171203saying contact instead came trump presidentelect httpswwwmarketwatchcomstoryabcnewsreporterbrianrosssuspendedfor4weeksforerroneousflynnreport20171203httpswwwmarketwatchcomstoryabcnewsreporterbrianrosssuspendedfor4weeksforerroneousflynnreport20171203what strategists saying market focused historical tax overhaul rather political tensions investigations donald trump positive trend us stock markets could stretch uncharted territories said ipek ozkardeskaya senior market analyst lcgcom note clients readheres stockmarket rally unlikely derailed michael flynn httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorywhystockmarketrallyunlikelytocomeundonebyflynnnews20171201 chances tax cuts placed onto trumps desk sign increased markedly start week process reconciliation house senate tax plan congress also trying pass continuous resolution cr avoid government shutdown 8 december said chris weston chief market strategist ig group note clients seeits rare dow ramped like thisheres typically happens next httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryitsrareforthedowtohaverampeduplikethishereswhattypicallyhappensnext20171204 issues keep risk supported one questions going really derail sentiment head final month one traditionally great breeding ground equity appreciation weston added stocks could active digital power corpdpw jumped 40 premarket company said coolisys technologies unit launched line power systems cryptocurrency mining httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydigitalpowersstockrocketsafterlineofcryptocurrencypowersystemslaunched20171204 shares general cable corpbgc jumped 32 premarket italys cable maker prysmian spa prymi said would buy cable manufacturer deal values around 3 billion httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryprysmiantobuygeneralcablein3billiondeal20171204 shares aetna incaet rose 34 premarket cvs health corpcvs agreed buy uss thirdlargest health insurer httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorycvstoacquirehealthinsureraetnainyearsbiggestdealvaluedat69billion20171203 69 billion cash stock cvs shares fell nearly 4 premarket read dialog dives 14 saying could lose apple business httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydialogdives14aftersayingitcouldlosesomeapplebusiness20171204 whats data docket investors get several big pieces economic data week including nonfarmpayroll report friday economic front monday reading factory orders october slated release 10 eastern time readdont expect strong us hiring keep 2018 httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydontexpectstrongushiringtokeepupin201820171202 markets asian markets finished mixed httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryasianmarketsshrugoffsenatesapprovaloftaxbill20171203 hong kongs hang seng index rising string consecutive losses regional gauges nikkei 225 index came pressure european stocks higher across board german dax 30 index surged month httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydaxjumpsbythemostinamonthasustaxprogressrevsupeuropeanstocks20171204 boosted news us taxplan progress oil prices fell httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryoilslipsfrom1weekhighasusrigcountrises20171204 monday crude january 09 5796 barrel ice dollar index httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydollarpusheshigherasinvestorsfocusontaxplanprogress20171204 04 9324 gold dropped 05 127590 ounce bitcoin came close httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorybitcoinreboundssurgesabove11700foryetanotherrecord20171203 12000 level asian trading hours monday pulled back last trade around 1132917 end dow jones newswires december 04 2017 0809 et 1309 gmt | 587 |
<p />
<p>Image source: Electronic Arts</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Electronic Arts' (NASDAQ: EA) Battlefield franchise will be taking a bit of a breather before its next installment, with management indicating that a sequel is at least two years away from release. The series' 2016 entry Battlefield 1 landed to great reviews and strong sales, and EA has delivered an entry in the property on a roughly annual basis, so word that a follow-up is farther out than usual points to a shift for the company.</p>
<p>The fact that a sequel to the company's Star Wars Battlefront, also a first-person-shooter, will be debuting in 2017 likely has a lot to do with the time-out for the Battlefield series, but the move might also be a reaction to a changing industry climate.</p>
<p>EA and Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) have long favored annualized installments for some of their biggest properties, and that schedule will remain the norm for sports games and certain other franchises, but a more staggered release schedule could become standard for many of gaming's core series. 2016 saw an abnormally high number of big budget games post disappointing sales, and a crowded market was likely a contributing factor. Activision's Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare reportedly sold somewhere around 50% less than the previous year's installment, EA's Titanfall 2 came up far short of expectations, and Ubisoft's Watch Dogs 2 sold poorly enough to make the viability of future entries questionable.</p>
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<p>The first-person shooter genre is especially crowded at the moment, with other franchises including Destiny, Overwatch, Doom, and a long list of smaller properties all vying for the attention of the same core demographic. Releasing a new series entry every year is one way to keep a user base engaged, so long as publishers can keep up with the demands of delivering must-have experiences, but saturation can diminish the specialness of a franchise and speed its decline.</p>
<p>While EA, Activision, and Ubisoft have favored yearly releases for many of their most important series, Take-Two Interactive(NASDAQ: TTWO) has taken the opposite approach with its marquee property Grand Theft Auto-- and to great effect. Five years passed between the release of Grand Theft Auto IV and the company's 2013 megahit Grand Theft Auto V, and the long development cycle enabled the company to ensure that the product was close to perfection upon release. A high level of quality control and attention to detail helped to make the game the series' best-selling installment ever, with roughly 70 million units shipped as of November, and paved the way for ongoing online engagement that has been hugely profitable for the company.</p>
<p>With game budgets climbing, the ability to increase a product's lifecycle through a combination of a strong core experience and downloadable content expansions can have a much bigger payoff than releasing annual sequels. This type of strategy is also employed by the Blizzard wing of Activision Blizzard, and it's a move that could have a big long-term payoff for Electronic Arts. Battlefield is one of the company's few blockbuster properties that does not depend on a license, so making sure that the franchise doesn't burn out and lose its specialness has added importance.</p>
<p>Battlefield doesn't need to take the five-year development route employed for Grand theft Auto, but the series' quality would almost certainly benefit from longer development cycles, and that could go a long way to keeping players engaged and encourage spending on virtual currency and downloadable content. With Battlefield 1 being generally regarded as a high-quality product and the game's World War I setting giving it a notable point of distinction in comparison to competition in the genre, the game could be well-suited to transitioning the series to a different release model. Downloadable content expansions are already on the way, with the first update scheduled for release in March and additional major updates likely to follow.</p>
<p>EA generates roughly $1.3 billion a year from the sale of downloadable content expansions, with roughly half of that coming from its Ultimate Team card games for the FIFA and Madden series, and comments indicate that the company is working on a similar addition to Battlefield. If Electronic Arts can keep users engaged through updates and successfully introduce a digital card game component to the series' model, investors should welcome the move to space out future releases in the franchise.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Electronic Arts When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/keithnoonan/info.aspx" type="external">Keith Noonan Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Activision Blizzard and Take-Two Interactive. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Activision Blizzard and Take-Two Interactive. The Motley Fool recommends Electronic Arts. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source electronic arts continue reading electronic arts nasdaq ea battlefield franchise taking bit breather next installment management indicating sequel least two years away release series 2016 entry battlefield 1 landed great reviews strong sales ea delivered entry property roughly annual basis word followup farther usual points shift company fact sequel companys star wars battlefront also firstpersonshooter debuting 2017 likely lot timeout battlefield series move might also reaction changing industry climate ea activision blizzard nasdaq atvi long favored annualized installments biggest properties schedule remain norm sports games certain franchises staggered release schedule could become standard many gamings core series 2016 saw abnormally high number big budget games post disappointing sales crowded market likely contributing factor activisions call duty infinite warfare reportedly sold somewhere around 50 less previous years installment eas titanfall 2 came far short expectations ubisofts watch dogs 2 sold poorly enough make viability future entries questionable advertisement firstperson shooter genre especially crowded moment franchises including destiny overwatch doom long list smaller properties vying attention core demographic releasing new series entry every year one way keep user base engaged long publishers keep demands delivering musthave experiences saturation diminish specialness franchise speed decline ea activision ubisoft favored yearly releases many important series taketwo interactivenasdaq ttwo taken opposite approach marquee property grand theft auto great effect five years passed release grand theft auto iv companys 2013 megahit grand theft auto v long development cycle enabled company ensure product close perfection upon release high level quality control attention detail helped make game series bestselling installment ever roughly 70 million units shipped november paved way ongoing online engagement hugely profitable company game budgets climbing ability increase products lifecycle combination strong core experience downloadable content expansions much bigger payoff releasing annual sequels type strategy also employed blizzard wing activision blizzard move could big longterm payoff electronic arts battlefield one companys blockbuster properties depend license making sure franchise doesnt burn lose specialness added importance battlefield doesnt need take fiveyear development route employed grand theft auto series quality would almost certainly benefit longer development cycles could go long way keeping players engaged encourage spending virtual currency downloadable content battlefield 1 generally regarded highquality product games world war setting giving notable point distinction comparison competition genre game could wellsuited transitioning series different release model downloadable content expansions already way first update scheduled release march additional major updates likely follow ea generates roughly 13 billion year sale downloadable content expansions roughly half coming ultimate team card games fifa madden series comments indicate company working similar addition battlefield electronic arts keep users engaged updates successfully introduce digital card game component series model investors welcome move space future releases franchise 10 stocks like better electronic arts investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right electronic arts wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns january 4 2017 keith noonan opens new window owns shares activision blizzard taketwo interactive motley fool owns shares recommends activision blizzard taketwo interactive motley fool recommends electronic arts motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 533 |
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<p>When the people overthrew the rule of the terrorist group on 3 July 2013 Egypt was in an enviable situation after one year of the rule of the terrorist group and after about 3 years from 25 January, 2011 was marked by chaos and deteriorating conditions in all sectors. AL-Sisi became President of Egypt after a fair presidential election based on a popular appeal to him and not because he wanted the terrible position, not at the critical time, but the people requested him and he responded to the request of the Egyptian people.</p>
<p>The President pledged to restore the Egyptian state to its flames while preserving the institutions of the state and face attempts to destroy them with the commitment of each institution in its national role for which it was established and make the fight against corruption a national trend governing the work of these institutions. Al Sisi is a man of dignity very loyal to His mother land "Egypt?. He has the desire to make a change in His country, He was so driven by his love of Egypt and its people. He wanted to take Egypt to a higher level and bring the glory days once again. He targeted the problems, directed everyone working under him. He Had a vision, timed mission, and plans that were put into action. President Al-Sisi know is a highly regarded and respected figure worldwide. Here is what Al-Sisi managed to do in a short time, breaking all the records and making the impossible possible.</p>
<p>During his tenure as defense minister, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi began to redevelop the army, training, and armament, to realize the serious dangers that the region was causing. He was able, in a short time and out of sight, to succeed in the development process at a record time.</p>
<p>Al-Sisi was not satisfied with this but took upon himself the continuation of the development of the capabilities of the armed forces after his arrival in the presidential seat. In two years he managed to jump the Egyptian army in the ranking of the strongest among the armies of the world to rank 12 while Israel ranked 16 to widen the power gap between the two armies to 4 levels. Egypt has signed a deal with Russia to buy 12 fighter jets of modern air sovereignty "Su 30 Ka", a fighter jet of the famous "Sukhoi?. In February 2015 signed an agreement with France to buy 24 aircraft "Rafal?. Also signed for the 2 Helicopter carriers "Mistral". December 2015, was the inauguration of the first modern Egyptian Submarine of the "209/1400" model. In April 2016, Alexandria Shipyard celebrated the launch of the first GOWIND warship in Egypt.</p>
<p>On August 6, 2015, Sisi inaugurated the new Suez Canal project during a record period that the world has never seen before as a national project to develop the water artery linking East to the west and to ensure Egypt's status as a vital center for trade. This project surpasses its economic revenues, which contributed tremendously to increase the national income of Egypt Encouraging exports through the disbursement of export refunds amounting to 1.9 billion pounds obtained by 1794 companies, with a value of about 33 billion pounds.</p>
<p>Developing and manufacturing industrial zones in 22 governorates for LE 75 million</p>
<p>and Encouraging local industries through issuing a republican decree to pass a law to prefer Egyptian products in government contracts. In the field of electric power, 3.6 gigs were injected into the network within the framework of the implementation of the urgent plan for reforming the electricity system.</p>
<p>In order to face unemployment, 260,000 jobs were provided in the public and private sectors, 165,000 workers were employed in irregular jobs, 2.8 million pounds were distributed as subsidies to 24,000 workers, 35.3 million pounds were distributed to workers in troubled companies and 1512 were trained for the labor market. The level of 68,000 workers was measured and g is the rehabilitation of 900 women for the labor market. Within the framework of the system of control and follow-up: 270 thousand facilities were inspected, and 60 thousand violations of labor laws.</p>
<p>one of the greatest Egyptian projects was the rehabilitation of 1.5 million acres, which consists of two parts, one through the cultivation of thousands of acres, as in the village of Amal, and the other the establishment of urban communities in those places for integrated development. According to the latest official statistics issued by the Ministry of Irrigation, 600 wells have been drilled in the project wells, along with the cultivation of several acres in the village of Amal project, which will be the first to bear fruit during the new year.</p>
<p>The administrative capital, a new administrative and economic city in the Greater Cairo area The government is considering the new administrative capital project, which will be divided by 67% for housing through the construction of 285 thousand housing units for the low-income and 15 thousand for the higher income classes to accommodate 6.5 million people in the end. The plan also includes the new capital of several projects that provide new jobs for young people, which contributes to solving the unemployment crisis.</p>
<p>The first Nuclear plant in the middle east for peaceful purposes. The Russian company Ross Atom, responsible for setting up the first nuclear plant to generate electricity in the land of Data, is keen to complete its work in the first phase of the project by establishing 4 generating units with a capacity of 4800 MW at the agreed date in 2026, indicating that the first unit will be started with a capacity of 1200 MW Days of signing the final contracts to start the implementation of the nuclear plant in preparation for delivery in 2022.</p>
<p>An Egyptian pharmaceutical company has succeeded in reaching an iron drug that treats patients with hepatitis C virus, which reduces the cost of treatment globally and significantly, according to the International Organization of Intractable Diseases, at the World Conference of liver diseases 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. He prices of the new drug, which will be produced by VARCO Pharmaceuticals, will not exceed $ 3.5 a day for about $ 1,000 now for medicines produced by a US company and international companies and will be available on the market within a year or two to replace current drugs that are expensive and force providers to Distribution of specific doses.</p>
<p>In the Petroleum sector, there is a Production of 705 thousand barrels per day of crude oil and condensates and 4800 million cubic feet of gas sold. Production of 39.6 million tons of gas, an increase of 2.7% over the forecast for 2015-2016.</p>
<p>Production of 40.4 million tons of petroleum and petrochemical products from investment companies and the public sector. Refining about 35 million tons of crude oil. Production of 17.8 tons of gold from the sugar mine worth 683 million dollars.</p>
<p>Production of 2 million tons phosphate.</p>
<p>In the Health Sector, Developed 475 specialized treatment hospitals and 2914 primary care units. Develop 12 central labs for ambulances and 500 autoclaves for mobile clinics and 10 vehicles for family planning.</p>
<p>The Education Sector Completed 869 schools with 13681 classrooms. Construction of 574 schools with 8000 classrooms started. Processing 15504 schools' computer lab.</p>
<p>10025 classrooms for the general secondary school. The completion of the construction of 72 Azharia institutes. Increase the number of envoys to 3,715 envoys. Increasing the public and private universities with 4 universities.</p>
<p>In Social Justice sector, an integrated village was built for homeless children with more than 2,000 children. Completion and development of 28 social service centers in the neediest villages. Development of 8 relief centers in cases of floods, disasters, and disasters. Development of 16 social defense complex. Establish 107 units and social management. Access to 1.5 million families benefiting from the Takaful and Dignity Program by 2018.Establishment and development of 13 vocational rehabilitation centers and offices for the disabled. Issuance of the Law on Persons with Disabilities and the Declaration on the Strategy for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities.</p>
<p>This is just a glimpse of the land of Nile rising back to its previous Glory. Throughout history, Egypt overcame all the obstacles and Egyptians took every challenge with bravery and pride. Egyptians sense of nationalism is so deep, they are looking for a brighter future and they are working hard to lead their country to the top once again. With the persistence of the Egyptians and The leadership of President Sisi Egypt will shine and the whole world will speak of its glory.</p> | true | 0 | people overthrew rule terrorist group 3 july 2013 egypt enviable situation one year rule terrorist group 3 years 25 january 2011 marked chaos deteriorating conditions sectors alsisi became president egypt fair presidential election based popular appeal wanted terrible position critical time people requested responded request egyptian people president pledged restore egyptian state flames preserving institutions state face attempts destroy commitment institution national role established make fight corruption national trend governing work institutions al sisi man dignity loyal mother land egypt desire make change country driven love egypt people wanted take egypt higher level bring glory days targeted problems directed everyone working vision timed mission plans put action president alsisi know highly regarded respected figure worldwide alsisi managed short time breaking records making impossible possible tenure defense minister general abdel fattah alsisi began redevelop army training armament realize serious dangers region causing able short time sight succeed development process record time alsisi satisfied took upon continuation development capabilities armed forces arrival presidential seat two years managed jump egyptian army ranking strongest among armies world rank 12 israel ranked 16 widen power gap two armies 4 levels egypt signed deal russia buy 12 fighter jets modern air sovereignty su 30 ka fighter jet famous sukhoi february 2015 signed agreement france buy 24 aircraft rafal also signed 2 helicopter carriers mistral december 2015 inauguration first modern egyptian submarine 2091400 model april 2016 alexandria shipyard celebrated launch first gowind warship egypt august 6 2015 sisi inaugurated new suez canal project record period world never seen national project develop water artery linking east west ensure egypts status vital center trade project surpasses economic revenues contributed tremendously increase national income egypt encouraging exports disbursement export refunds amounting 19 billion pounds obtained 1794 companies value 33 billion pounds developing manufacturing industrial zones 22 governorates le 75 million encouraging local industries issuing republican decree pass law prefer egyptian products government contracts field electric power 36 gigs injected network within framework implementation urgent plan reforming electricity system order face unemployment 260000 jobs provided public private sectors 165000 workers employed irregular jobs 28 million pounds distributed subsidies 24000 workers 353 million pounds distributed workers troubled companies 1512 trained labor market level 68000 workers measured g rehabilitation 900 women labor market within framework system control followup 270 thousand facilities inspected 60 thousand violations labor laws one greatest egyptian projects rehabilitation 15 million acres consists two parts one cultivation thousands acres village amal establishment urban communities places integrated development according latest official statistics issued ministry irrigation 600 wells drilled project wells along cultivation several acres village amal project first bear fruit new year administrative capital new administrative economic city greater cairo area government considering new administrative capital project divided 67 housing construction 285 thousand housing units lowincome 15 thousand higher income classes accommodate 65 million people end plan also includes new capital several projects provide new jobs young people contributes solving unemployment crisis first nuclear plant middle east peaceful purposes russian company ross atom responsible setting first nuclear plant generate electricity land data keen complete work first phase project establishing 4 generating units capacity 4800 mw agreed date 2026 indicating first unit started capacity 1200 mw days signing final contracts start implementation nuclear plant preparation delivery 2022 egyptian pharmaceutical company succeeded reaching iron drug treats patients hepatitis c virus reduces cost treatment globally significantly according international organization intractable diseases world conference liver diseases 2016 barcelona spain prices new drug produced varco pharmaceuticals exceed 35 day 1000 medicines produced us company international companies available market within year two replace current drugs expensive force providers distribution specific doses petroleum sector production 705 thousand barrels per day crude oil condensates 4800 million cubic feet gas sold production 396 million tons gas increase 27 forecast 20152016 production 404 million tons petroleum petrochemical products investment companies public sector refining 35 million tons crude oil production 178 tons gold sugar mine worth 683 million dollars production 2 million tons phosphate health sector developed 475 specialized treatment hospitals 2914 primary care units develop 12 central labs ambulances 500 autoclaves mobile clinics 10 vehicles family planning education sector completed 869 schools 13681 classrooms construction 574 schools 8000 classrooms started processing 15504 schools computer lab 10025 classrooms general secondary school completion construction 72 azharia institutes increase number envoys 3715 envoys increasing public private universities 4 universities social justice sector integrated village built homeless children 2000 children completion development 28 social service centers neediest villages development 8 relief centers cases floods disasters disasters development 16 social defense complex establish 107 units social management access 15 million families benefiting takaful dignity program 2018establishment development 13 vocational rehabilitation centers offices disabled issuance law persons disabilities declaration strategy protection persons disabilities glimpse land nile rising back previous glory throughout history egypt overcame obstacles egyptians took every challenge bravery pride egyptians sense nationalism deep looking brighter future working hard lead country top persistence egyptians leadership president sisi egypt shine whole world speak glory | 817 |
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<p>Buick is GM's biggest-selling retail brand in China. The Excelle GT, a cousin of the Buick Verano, is one of its best-sellers. Image source: General Motors.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>General Motors (NYSE: GM) said that its sales in China rose 18% in July, to a record 270,529 vehicles, powered by strong sales of high-profit luxury cars and SUVs.</p>
<p>GM has a series of joint ventures with local Chinese automakers, but it reports its sales results by brand rather than at the joint-venture level. Those partners include the familiar Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet brands, as well as the China-only Baojun and Wuling brands.</p>
<p>Cadillac sold 8,757 vehicles in China in July, up 90% from a year ago. Hot sellers include a China-only extended-wheelbase version of the compact ATS sedan (called the ATS-L), the new XT5 crossover, and the big XTS luxury sedan. XTS sales were up 54% from a year ago.</p>
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<p>Cadillac sales have jumped in China. A surprise hit: a unique-to-China longer-wheelbase version of the compact ATS sedan, called the ATS-L. Image source: General Motors.</p>
<p>Buick is GM's highest-volume passenger-vehicle brand in China. Its sales rose 30%, to 89,404 units, in July, led by the popular Excelle GT sedan (a sibling of the U.S.-market Verano) and the midsize Envision SUV. The Envision, which was recently launched in the United States, has been a big seller for GM in China since its debut early last year.</p>
<p>Baojun is a China-only brand of affordable passenger vehicles. Its sales jumped to 44,320 vehicles in July, up 61% from a year ago. Baojun's 730 minivan and 560 SUV have been its biggest sellers of late: Sales of the 730 were up 23% from a year ago, while sales of the 560 more than tripled, GM said.</p>
<p>Chevrolet sales fell 15% from a year ago, to 30,287. The success of Baojun has cut into Chevrolet's sales to some extent, but the brand is rallying with an all-new version of the Cruze compact sedan, its best-seller in China. GM said it sold more than 14,000 Cruzes in China in July.</p>
<p>Wuling offers a lineup of small, inexpensive vans popular with tradespeople and commercial fleets. Commercial-vehicle sales in China have lagged since the end of the country's building boom, hurting Wuling's results. But the brand's sales increased 6%, to 97,728 vehicles, in July, its second consecutive month of year-over-year growth.</p>
<p>Unlike rival Ford (NYSE: F), which has <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/03/what-fords-chief-financial-officer-said-about-its.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">lost some ground over the last year Opens a New Window.</a> to lower-cost domestic Chinese competitors, GM has managed to post steady sales gains -- in no small part because its Baojun and Wuling brands compete well with the domestic automakers.</p>
<p>GM's market share in China did fall somewhat, from 14.2% in the second quarter of 2015 to 13.3% last quarter. But its profits from China <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/21/record-profit-for-general-motors-as-ceo-barras-pla.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">have remained strong Opens a New Window.</a>. As in the U.S., a competitive lineup of profitable crossover SUVs is drawing lots of customers toGM'sshowrooms. "GM SUV deliveries [in China] almost doubled in the [second] quarter," CEO Mary Barra said during the company's earnings call last month, "and this continues to be led by two really strong products: the Baojun 560 and the Buick Envision."</p>
<p>The affordable Baojun 560 crossover SUV has been a smash hit for GM in China. Image source: General Motors.</p>
<p>Barra pointed out that sales of Cadillacs, which also carry high profit margins, have, too, been enjoying significant growth in China. Sales at GM's luxury brand were up 16% in China in the first half of the year, Barra said. The brand-new XT5 crossover appears to have accelerated that growth in July, and the upward trend could continue from here as supplies of the XT5 continue to increase.</p>
<p>For several years now, China has been a big success story for GM. Despite industrywide pricing pressure, GM's profit margin in China held strong at 9.5% in the second quarter. Those profitable SUVs (particularly the Buick Envision) and Cadillacs have helped keep margins strong as competition has intensified at the lower ends of the market -- just as Barra and her team planned.</p>
<p>One-third of the way into the third quarter, it looks like that good story is still on track.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2691&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFMarlowe/info.aspx" type="external">John Rosevear Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Ford and General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Ford. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | buick gms biggestselling retail brand china excelle gt cousin buick verano one bestsellers image source general motors continue reading general motors nyse gm said sales china rose 18 july record 270529 vehicles powered strong sales highprofit luxury cars suvs gm series joint ventures local chinese automakers reports sales results brand rather jointventure level partners include familiar cadillac buick chevrolet brands well chinaonly baojun wuling brands cadillac sold 8757 vehicles china july 90 year ago hot sellers include chinaonly extendedwheelbase version compact ats sedan called atsl new xt5 crossover big xts luxury sedan xts sales 54 year ago advertisement cadillac sales jumped china surprise hit uniquetochina longerwheelbase version compact ats sedan called atsl image source general motors buick gms highestvolume passengervehicle brand china sales rose 30 89404 units july led popular excelle gt sedan sibling usmarket verano midsize envision suv envision recently launched united states big seller gm china since debut early last year baojun chinaonly brand affordable passenger vehicles sales jumped 44320 vehicles july 61 year ago baojuns 730 minivan 560 suv biggest sellers late sales 730 23 year ago sales 560 tripled gm said chevrolet sales fell 15 year ago 30287 success baojun cut chevrolets sales extent brand rallying allnew version cruze compact sedan bestseller china gm said sold 14000 cruzes china july wuling offers lineup small inexpensive vans popular tradespeople commercial fleets commercialvehicle sales china lagged since end countrys building boom hurting wulings results brands sales increased 6 97728 vehicles july second consecutive month yearoveryear growth unlike rival ford nyse f lost ground last year opens new window lowercost domestic chinese competitors gm managed post steady sales gains small part baojun wuling brands compete well domestic automakers gms market share china fall somewhat 142 second quarter 2015 133 last quarter profits china remained strong opens new window us competitive lineup profitable crossover suvs drawing lots customers togmsshowrooms gm suv deliveries china almost doubled second quarter ceo mary barra said companys earnings call last month continues led two really strong products baojun 560 buick envision affordable baojun 560 crossover suv smash hit gm china image source general motors barra pointed sales cadillacs also carry high profit margins enjoying significant growth china sales gms luxury brand 16 china first half year barra said brandnew xt5 crossover appears accelerated growth july upward trend could continue supplies xt5 continue increase several years china big success story gm despite industrywide pricing pressure gms profit margin china held strong 95 second quarter profitable suvs particularly buick envision cadillacs helped keep margins strong competition intensified lower ends market barra team planned onethird way third quarter looks like good story still track secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window john rosevear opens new window owns shares ford general motors motley fool owns shares recommends ford motley fool recommends general motors try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 533 |
<p>Tech stocks had a very strong 2013, with names like Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) leading the charge higher.</p>
<p>But as the Federal Reserve takes its foot off the stimulus pedal and the economy looks to ramp up growth, what tech names will sparkle in 2014?</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>These are the four tech stocks Jefferies predicts will do the best next year: Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Micron (NASDAQ:MU) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).</p>
<p>Newly-independent Activision is known for its blockbuster video-game titles “World of Warcraft” and “Call of Duty.” The latter game shattered records earlier this year when it <a href="" type="internal">generated $1 billion of sales in just a one day.</a></p>
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<p>“Gamers continue to overlook anything but the biggest, baddest titles” and Activision has a “small portfolio of mega-hit games,” Jefferies analyst Brian Pitz wrote to clients this week. He set a price target of $23 on Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision.</p>
<p>One of the biggest catalysts behind the bullish bet on Activision is the company’s <a href="" type="internal">$8.2 billion move to gain independence from France’s Vivendi.</a> Pitz believes Activision has set conservative guidance around the transaction.</p>
<p>At the same time, Activision should stand to gain from the first console cycle in seven years as Sony (NYSE:SNE) and Microsoft have rolled out their PlayStation 4 and Xbox One devices.</p>
<p>Pitz also pointed out a little-noticed policy change in “World of Warcraft” that allows gamers to pay to boost their characters to a required level to play the new game. He said the move removes an obstacle that turned off subscribers.</p>
<p>If sales of next-generation consoles and Activision beat forecasts, Jefferies sees the stock climbing to as high as $25. The firm also set a downside target of $19 if there are console supply constraints and “Call of Duty” fatigue.</p>
<p>As the world’s largest chip maker, Intel continues to show off its ability to innovate better than competitors.</p>
<p>In fact, Jefferies analyst Mark Lipacis believes Intel is one of just two semiconductor makers that is “able to sustain a leading edge manufacturing capability in the Moore Stress era.” Moore’s Law, coined by an Intel co-founder, says the number of transistors that fit on an integrated circuit doubles roughly every two years.</p>
<p>This innovation has allowed Intel to drive transistor costs down, while mobile rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:TSM) is bracing for costs to rise.</p>
<p>“As a result, we expect Intel to have advantages in cost, performance, and power for the first time in mobile in 2014, which should translate to share gains in tablets and handsets,” Lipacis wrote to clients.</p>
<p>Jefferies notes that Intel shelled out around $60 billion on research and development and capital expenditures between 2011 and 2013, roughly doubling the spending of TSMC.</p>
<p>If Intel’s tablet market share ramps up quicker than expected and other factors go the company’s way, Jefferies believes the stock could rise to $38. The downside scenario’s price target of just $17 would come into play if tablet cannibalization of PC accelerates and Intel’s gross margins compress.</p>
<p>The inclusion of this Flash memory maker on the Jefferies list is noteworthy given Micron’s incredible surge in 2013. The stock is up more than 230%, making it one of the best performers on the Nasdaq 100 year-to-date.</p>
<p>But Jefferies believes the gross margin expansion that Micron has enjoyed over the past 12 months is “permanent, not cyclical, in nature.” Analyst Sundeep Bajikar sees the company’s non-GAAP gross margins surging by 2,000 basis points over the next 12 to 18 months after jumping 1,400 basis points through the first three quarters of 2013.</p>
<p>Jefferies cited structural changes in the Dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM, market which has consolidated from 24 companies in 1987 to just three that have over 90% of the market now.</p>
<p>The firm also cited Micron’s $2.5 billion acquisition of Elpida, which should help contribute to the company’s margin expansion.</p>
<p>If PC unit demand recovers, Jefferies sees Micron’s stock hitting $35, while the downside scenario calls for the Elipida effects being delayed and a price target of just $14.</p>
<p>After frustrating shareholders for years with subpar gains, Mr. Softee had a stellar 2013 with a 38% rally. The tech titan has also undergone a transformation by announcing the departure of <a href="" type="internal">longtime CEO Steve Ballmer</a>, streamlining its organization through a <a href="" type="internal">sweeping reorganization</a> and <a href="" type="internal">acquiring the devices division from Nokia</a> (NYSE:NOK) for $7.2 billion.</p>
<p>Jefferies analyst Ross MacMillan believes the reorganization “helps to highlight the value in the commercial business,” which sports higher revenue and gross margins than the consumer side of the business. For example, the firm notes that about 85% of the value of Office resides on the commercial side.</p>
<p>MacMillan also cited the move to cloud-based Office 365, which he said will allow Microsoft lower costs for consumers and small businesses and drive recurring revenue.</p>
<p>“MS Office continues to be one of the stickiest apps in the market and serves as the personal productivity standard for enterprises and consumers,” MacMillan wrote.</p>
<p>Jefferies set an upside price target of $48 on Microsoft and said this is attainable if PC market share improves and Windows gains more traction in the tablet and smartphone market.</p>
<p>On the downside, Microsoft’s stock could drop to $30 if its Surface tablet struggles and Windows 8 adoption misses the mark.</p> | true | 0 | tech stocks strong 2013 names like netflix nasdaqnflx facebook nasdaqfb leading charge higher federal reserve takes foot stimulus pedal economy looks ramp growth tech names sparkle 2014 continue reading four tech stocks jefferies predicts best next year activision blizzard nasdaqatvi intel nasdaqintc micron nasdaqmu microsoft nasdaqmsft newlyindependent activision known blockbuster videogame titles world warcraft call duty latter game shattered records earlier year generated 1 billion sales one day advertisement gamers continue overlook anything biggest baddest titles activision small portfolio megahit games jefferies analyst brian pitz wrote clients week set price target 23 santa monica califbased activision one biggest catalysts behind bullish bet activision companys 82 billion move gain independence frances vivendi pitz believes activision set conservative guidance around transaction time activision stand gain first console cycle seven years sony nysesne microsoft rolled playstation 4 xbox one devices pitz also pointed littlenoticed policy change world warcraft allows gamers pay boost characters required level play new game said move removes obstacle turned subscribers sales nextgeneration consoles activision beat forecasts jefferies sees stock climbing high 25 firm also set downside target 19 console supply constraints call duty fatigue worlds largest chip maker intel continues show ability innovate better competitors fact jefferies analyst mark lipacis believes intel one two semiconductor makers able sustain leading edge manufacturing capability moore stress era moores law coined intel cofounder says number transistors fit integrated circuit doubles roughly every two years innovation allowed intel drive transistor costs mobile rival taiwan semiconductor manufacturing co nysetsm bracing costs rise result expect intel advantages cost performance power first time mobile 2014 translate share gains tablets handsets lipacis wrote clients jefferies notes intel shelled around 60 billion research development capital expenditures 2011 2013 roughly doubling spending tsmc intels tablet market share ramps quicker expected factors go companys way jefferies believes stock could rise 38 downside scenarios price target 17 would come play tablet cannibalization pc accelerates intels gross margins compress inclusion flash memory maker jefferies list noteworthy given microns incredible surge 2013 stock 230 making one best performers nasdaq 100 yeartodate jefferies believes gross margin expansion micron enjoyed past 12 months permanent cyclical nature analyst sundeep bajikar sees companys nongaap gross margins surging 2000 basis points next 12 18 months jumping 1400 basis points first three quarters 2013 jefferies cited structural changes dynamic randomaccess memory dram market consolidated 24 companies 1987 three 90 market firm also cited microns 25 billion acquisition elpida help contribute companys margin expansion pc unit demand recovers jefferies sees microns stock hitting 35 downside scenario calls elipida effects delayed price target 14 frustrating shareholders years subpar gains mr softee stellar 2013 38 rally tech titan also undergone transformation announcing departure longtime ceo steve ballmer streamlining organization sweeping reorganization acquiring devices division nokia nysenok 72 billion jefferies analyst ross macmillan believes reorganization helps highlight value commercial business sports higher revenue gross margins consumer side business example firm notes 85 value office resides commercial side macmillan also cited move cloudbased office 365 said allow microsoft lower costs consumers small businesses drive recurring revenue ms office continues one stickiest apps market serves personal productivity standard enterprises consumers macmillan wrote jefferies set upside price target 48 microsoft said attainable pc market share improves windows gains traction tablet smartphone market downside microsofts stock could drop 30 surface tablet struggles windows 8 adoption misses mark | 550 |
<p />
<p>Image source: <a href="http://ir.netflix.com/" type="external">Netflix</a>.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A year ago, Netflix <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/05/12/5-things-netflix-ceo-reed-hastings-wants-you-to-kn.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">CEO Reed Hastings was firmly against</a> allowing his customers to download shows for later viewing. Today, rumor has it that the company is planning to launch that exact feature very soon. According to a recent Light Reading article, the downloading option should launch by the end of 2016.</p>
<p>Should Hastings change his mind about downloading -- or is Netflix better off sticking to its pure streaming model instead?</p>
<p>Let's have a look at the pros and cons.</p>
<p>The difference between downloading and streaming may seem subtle. Here's how it works.</p>
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<p>Downloading is the simpler solution. Your set-top box, mobile device, or computer sends out a request to the content provider, asking for the movie or episode you want to watch. The device then downloads the entire thing at once. With some clever engineering, you might be able to start watching before the download is complete. Either way, the file will then be stored locally and there's no need to go back to the network when you're skipping around between your favorite scenes.</p>
<p>When you're streaming a video, your favorite video-viewing device sets up a connection to Netflix's content libraries and sucks down data as needed. If you pause the show, the data flow stops until you start watching again. Fast-forward to the car chase, and your device will simply not access the video data in between. Rewinding the coronation scene with a glass of chardonnay and a box of tissues at hand? You'll be reading the same data from the network five times over -- maybe six, if there's enough wine.</p>
<p>Downloading doesn't require a constant network connection. Streaming services absolutely need an active network as long as you're watching.</p>
<p>Those are the basics. I'll cover a couple of finer wrinkles as we go.</p>
<p>The downloading method has its perks.</p>
<p>For one, many mobile data plans come with monthly caps. Once you go through that allotment, you'll either start paying exorbitant fees for additional data or simply run out of mobile networking. Under these circumstances, it makes sense to download the entire video file while you're connected to a cap-free Wi-Fi network. Once that's done, you can enjoy 127 Hours while stuck under a rock in the canyons of Utah. No network connection required!</p>
<p>And that's another upside. If your data plan is notoriously unreliable, or you plan to boldly go where no radio signal has gone before, downloading content before going out there might be your only option.</p>
<p>Amazon.com already offers a download option, albeit a limited one. Amazon Prime Video downloads only work with certain mobile devices, and even then the company must have reached an agreement with the relevant content producer. And you don't get to keep that downloaded file forever. Amazon's download licenses come with time limits (which vary from one video to the next), and you can only store a certain number of titles at any given time. Grabbing the next episode of Mozart in the Jungle for your Kindle Fire tablet may have to wait until the kids drop a couple of Wishenpoof shows from their iPads.</p>
<p>As curtailed as Amazon's video download system is, critics and vocal users often cite it when asking Netflix to launch a similar tool. If nothing else, the reasoning goes, downloads could make Netflix much more usable in markets where mobile networks just can't carry the load of a high-def video stream. That argument rings louder now that Netflix is available in pretty much every nation around the globe.</p>
<p>Finally, Hastings has in fact changed his anti-download attitude recently. Two months ago, in the first-quarter earnings call, the CEO opened the door to a download plan.</p>
<p>"We should keep an open mind on this," Hastings said. "We've been so focused on click and watch and the beauty and simplicity of streaming. But as we expand around the world where we see an uneven set of networks, it's something we should keep an open mind about."</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>So downloads are technically simpler and come with a bunch of user-friendly benefits. How come the service hasn't been running that way from day one?</p>
<p>First, streaming done right offers a cleaner user experience. With downloads, you have to plan ahead and get your ducks in a row. Hard drives and other storage spaces will eventually fill up, leading to either automatic or manual cleanup actions. It's kind of messy. In a streaming service, you click to play and that's it. As long as you have a solid network connection, there's nothing else to worry about.</p>
<p>Streaming also gives Netflix more fine-grained control of the data stream, along with more detailed usage data. The company is always digging deeper into a treasure trove of streaming actions, and baking that information into everything else. Every click on pause, rewind, stop, or fast forward goes into this data bank. The results will change your personal "watch next" recommendations, steer Netflix toward the next big-ticket content contract, and shape the service in a myriad different ways. There's less information to glean from a simple download count.</p>
<p>And of course, content producers love the tighter copyright restrictions offered in a streaming model. Without Netflix's hand-built streaming tools, it's nearly impossible to decrypt and reassemble the streaming data snippets into a watchable video. For downloaded video files, even the strongest encryption package can be cracked. The increasingly strict geographic viewing restrictions that are imposed by Netflix's content providers don't seem to matter when you can just download a movie uniquely available in the U.S., only to drive across the border and watch in in Cancun. You may have noticed that Netflix has tiered its streaming plans, limiting customers to two concurrent streams on the most popular plan with options to pay extra for five concurrent views in higher quality or pay less for a single stream in standard definition. It's unclear how effective that strategy would be when downloads are thrown into the mix.</p>
<p>No, Netflix hasn't been dragging its feet on the download idea out of spite. Anything that makes the Netflix experience less intuitive and obvious is bad for the brand. Then you have the technical wrinkles detailed above. If Reed Hastings really is heading down this road, you can bet that the company is in furious negotiations with all of its content providers to hammer out the appropriate licenses -- which probably will add to the cost of each license, too.</p>
<p>I guess it's happening, or Hastings wouldn't have left the door open for further speculation. I'm not convinced that the download option will be used a whole lot by customers with reliable networks on the go, and the tool might eventually be removed from markets of that type -- including the U.S.. It's more likely to live on in network-challenged places like East Timor or darkest Peru. Netflix is sure to figure out very quickly which markets make sense for this tool, and cut licensing costs via equally swift withdrawals from the places where it doesn't help.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/28/should-netflix-inc-let-you-download-orange-is-the.aspx" type="external">Should Netflix, Inc. Let You Download "Orange Is the New Black"?</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFZahrim/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Anders Bylund</a> owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon.com and Netflix. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source netflix continue reading year ago netflix ceo reed hastings firmly allowing customers download shows later viewing today rumor company planning launch exact feature soon according recent light reading article downloading option launch end 2016 hastings change mind downloading netflix better sticking pure streaming model instead lets look pros cons difference downloading streaming may seem subtle heres works advertisement downloading simpler solution settop box mobile device computer sends request content provider asking movie episode want watch device downloads entire thing clever engineering might able start watching download complete either way file stored locally theres need go back network youre skipping around favorite scenes youre streaming video favorite videoviewing device sets connection netflixs content libraries sucks data needed pause show data flow stops start watching fastforward car chase device simply access video data rewinding coronation scene glass chardonnay box tissues hand youll reading data network five times maybe six theres enough wine downloading doesnt require constant network connection streaming services absolutely need active network long youre watching basics ill cover couple finer wrinkles go downloading method perks one many mobile data plans come monthly caps go allotment youll either start paying exorbitant fees additional data simply run mobile networking circumstances makes sense download entire video file youre connected capfree wifi network thats done enjoy 127 hours stuck rock canyons utah network connection required thats another upside data plan notoriously unreliable plan boldly go radio signal gone downloading content going might option amazoncom already offers download option albeit limited one amazon prime video downloads work certain mobile devices even company must reached agreement relevant content producer dont get keep downloaded file forever amazons download licenses come time limits vary one video next store certain number titles given time grabbing next episode mozart jungle kindle fire tablet may wait kids drop couple wishenpoof shows ipads curtailed amazons video download system critics vocal users often cite asking netflix launch similar tool nothing else reasoning goes downloads could make netflix much usable markets mobile networks cant carry load highdef video stream argument rings louder netflix available pretty much every nation around globe finally hastings fact changed antidownload attitude recently two months ago firstquarter earnings call ceo opened door download plan keep open mind hastings said weve focused click watch beauty simplicity streaming expand around world see uneven set networks something keep open mind image source getty images downloads technically simpler come bunch userfriendly benefits come service hasnt running way day one first streaming done right offers cleaner user experience downloads plan ahead get ducks row hard drives storage spaces eventually fill leading either automatic manual cleanup actions kind messy streaming service click play thats long solid network connection theres nothing else worry streaming also gives netflix finegrained control data stream along detailed usage data company always digging deeper treasure trove streaming actions baking information everything else every click pause rewind stop fast forward goes data bank results change personal watch next recommendations steer netflix toward next bigticket content contract shape service myriad different ways theres less information glean simple download count course content producers love tighter copyright restrictions offered streaming model without netflixs handbuilt streaming tools nearly impossible decrypt reassemble streaming data snippets watchable video downloaded video files even strongest encryption package cracked increasingly strict geographic viewing restrictions imposed netflixs content providers dont seem matter download movie uniquely available us drive across border watch cancun may noticed netflix tiered streaming plans limiting customers two concurrent streams popular plan options pay extra five concurrent views higher quality pay less single stream standard definition unclear effective strategy would downloads thrown mix netflix hasnt dragging feet download idea spite anything makes netflix experience less intuitive obvious bad brand technical wrinkles detailed reed hastings really heading road bet company furious negotiations content providers hammer appropriate licenses probably add cost license guess happening hastings wouldnt left door open speculation im convinced download option used whole lot customers reliable networks go tool might eventually removed markets type including us likely live networkchallenged places like east timor darkest peru netflix sure figure quickly markets make sense tool cut licensing costs via equally swift withdrawals places doesnt help article netflix inc let download orange new black originally appeared foolcom anders bylund owns shares netflix motley fool owns shares recommends amazoncom netflix try foolish newsletter services free 30 days fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy | 745 |
<p>President <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Trump</a> ratcheted up his harsh rhetoric against <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> on Thursday, escalating a war of words with <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a> over its nuclear missile program and refusing to rule out a pre-emptive military action against the North if it carries out a threat against U.S. forces in Guam.</p>
<p>After a briefing with his national security advisers, <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> passed up several opportunities to lower the temperature in the crisis, which has jolted states across East Asia. At one point, he insisted that his threat earlier this week to deliver “fire and fury” on the regime of Kim Jong-un if it did not back down “wasn’t tough enough.”</p>
<p>“They’ve been doing this to our country for a long time, for many years,” he told reporters, referring to the North’s repeated provocations via its nuclear pursuits in the face of a slew of U.S. and international sanctions. “It’s about time that somebody stuck up for the people of this country and for the people of other countries.”</p>
<p>Speaking to reporters at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he is taking a working vacation, <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> said, “ <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> better get their act together, or they’re going to be in trouble like few nations ever have been in trouble in this world.”</p>
<p>Secretary of State <a href="/topics/rex-w-tillerson/" type="external">Rex W. Tillerson</a> this week appeared to be trying to ease fears of an imminent military clash, but the Pentagon confirmed that it is considering military solutions to the North Korean challenge.</p>
<p>Although many in Congress have slammed <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a>’s forceful language in recent days, others, including Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, have come to the president’s defense and said <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> bears the blame for escalating the crisis.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a>’s accelerated efforts to develop a miniature nuclear bomb and the missiles to deliver it as far as the U.S. mainland, in the face of stringent opposition and sanctions from the international community, have crossed a dangerous threshold over the past several weeks, prompting threats of retaliation and pre-emption from the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>.</p>
<p>Two successful tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile system in July, coupled with reports that <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a> has mastered the technology to fit a small nuclear warhead atop those missiles, prompted <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> to vow to rain “fire and fury” on the North if it did not stop threatening the U.S.</p>
<p>On Thursday, <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> went further, calling his warning to <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a> “not a dare but a statement.”</p>
<p>Despite <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a>’s tough talk, his administration continues publicly to advocate for a diplomatic solution to the burgeoning crisis on the Korean Peninsula. But infighting among various factions inside the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a> over whether the <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> problem can be resolved through negotiations or whether military action may be necessary has muddled the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>’s message to <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a>.</p>
<p>Although the U.N. Security Council voted 15-0 to impose punitive new sanctions on <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a>, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said through a spokesman that he was troubled by the belligerent tone from all sides in the confrontation.</p>
<p>U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Mr. Guterres “welcomes all initiatives that will help de-escalate the tensions and a return to diplomacy.”</p>
<p>Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters that the Pentagon has drafted a military solution to <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a>’s actions but stressed repeatedly that the Pentagon favors a peaceful resolution.</p>
<p>“The American effort is diplomatically led, has diplomatic traction and is gaining diplomatic results,” Mr. Mattis told reporters Thursday. “And I want to stay right there right now. The tragedy of war is well enough known. It does not need another characterization beyond the fact that it would be catastrophic.”</p>
<p>In Bedminster, <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> denied that his advisers were divided over how to handle a problem that has bedeviled U.S. administrations stretching back decades.</p>
<p>“To be honest, Gen. Mattis may have taken it a step beyond what I said,” <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> told reporters, adding that his administration would remain open to negotiations with <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a> if the North gives up its threatening nuclear and missile programs.</p>
<p>Military solution</p>
<p>Mr. Mattis remained largely mum on details of that military solution, which theoretically would curb <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a>’s efforts to develop a nuclear-capable ballistic missile arsenal, except to say that any military option would involve a number of regional powers in the Pacific.</p>
<p>Any war plan is complicated by the vulnerability of U.S. allies South Korea and Japan. Both are well within range of the North’s arsenal, and both house large numbers of American troops.</p>
<p>The North Korean military has responded to <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a>’s threats by saying it had completed a war plan to simultaneously launch four non-nuclear Hwasong-12 rockets that could land in the waters just off the U.S. territory of Guam, a plan that was now sitting on Kim Jong-un’s desk.</p>
<p>U.S. defense and national security officials have repeatedly touted the capabilities of the American missile defense shield over the past several weeks in the wake of <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a>’s missile tests in July. Both flew higher and farther than any other long-range missiles tested by the regime. <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> has made revamping U.S. missile defense systems a top objective for the Pentagon since taking office.</p>
<p>American commanders in July swiftly initiated a public display of military might, beginning hours after <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a>’s second successful launch of its long-range ballistic missile, culminating with a flyover by a pair of nuclear-capable U.S. bombers over the peninsula.</p>
<p>The Guam-based supersonic B-1 bombers, accompanied by a number of South Korean fighters, performed a series of low-altitude passes over a key air base near Seoul on July 30, in a mission designed as a calculated response to the North Korean missile tests, officials from U.S. Pacific Command confirmed at the time. American and South Korean forces also performed a series of live-fire drills using the U.S. missile defense weapons based in the region.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a>’s increasingly hawkish position toward <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> is based in part on evidence provided by U.S. intelligence agencies, which the president has routinely lambasted for its failures in Iraq and elsewhere. But on Thursday, <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> espoused nothing but confidence in their findings on <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a> because “it’s different intelligence.”</p>
<p>“I have Mike Pompeo,” the president said of his hand-picked CIA director. “I have great confidence in him. That doesn’t mean I had confidence in his predecessor, OK? Which I didn’t, actually.” <a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> was referring to former CIA Director John O. Brennan, with whom he has feuded.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/rex-w-tillerson/" type="external">Mr. Tillerson</a> has been the face and chief advocate of the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>’s public push for diplomacy on <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a>, touting the U.N. Security Council’s 15-0 vote this week to impose crippling economic sanctions on <a href="/topics/pyongyang/" type="external">Pyongyang</a>. Washington’s efforts to get Russia and China to back the sanctions is seen as a major diplomatic win for the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/donald-trump/" type="external">Mr. Trump</a> flatly dismissed claims of infighting within his national security team over <a href="/topics/north-korea/" type="external">North Korea</a>. “There are no mixed messages,” he said.</p>
<p>• Dave Boyer and S.A. Miller contributed to this article, which is based in part on wire service reports.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2017/aug/10/trump-fire-and-fury-talk-nkorea-wasnt-tough-enough/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 0 | president trump ratcheted harsh rhetoric north korea thursday escalating war words pyongyang nuclear missile program refusing rule preemptive military action north carries threat us forces guam briefing national security advisers mr trump passed several opportunities lower temperature crisis jolted states across east asia one point insisted threat earlier week deliver fire fury regime kim jongun back wasnt tough enough theyve country long time many years told reporters referring norths repeated provocations via nuclear pursuits face slew us international sanctions time somebody stuck people country people countries speaking reporters golf course bedminster new jersey taking working vacation mr trump said north korea better get act together theyre going trouble like nations ever trouble world secretary state rex w tillerson week appeared trying ease fears imminent military clash pentagon confirmed considering military solutions north korean challenge although many congress slammed mr trumps forceful language recent days others including sen marco rubio florida republican come presidents defense said north korea bears blame escalating crisis pyongyangs accelerated efforts develop miniature nuclear bomb missiles deliver far us mainland face stringent opposition sanctions international community crossed dangerous threshold past several weeks prompting threats retaliation preemption white house two successful tests intercontinental ballistic missile system july coupled reports pyongyang mastered technology fit small nuclear warhead atop missiles prompted mr trump vow rain fire fury north stop threatening us thursday mr trump went calling warning pyongyang dare statement despite mr trumps tough talk administration continues publicly advocate diplomatic solution burgeoning crisis korean peninsula infighting among various factions inside white house whether north korea problem resolved negotiations whether military action may necessary muddled white houses message pyongyang although un security council voted 150 impose punitive new sanctions north korea un secretarygeneral antonio guterres said spokesman troubled belligerent tone sides confrontation un spokesman stephane dujarric said mr guterres welcomes initiatives help deescalate tensions return diplomacy defense secretary james mattis told reporters pentagon drafted military solution north koreas actions stressed repeatedly pentagon favors peaceful resolution american effort diplomatically led diplomatic traction gaining diplomatic results mr mattis told reporters thursday want stay right right tragedy war well enough known need another characterization beyond fact would catastrophic bedminster mr trump denied advisers divided handle problem bedeviled us administrations stretching back decades honest gen mattis may taken step beyond said mr trump told reporters adding administration would remain open negotiations pyongyang north gives threatening nuclear missile programs military solution mr mattis remained largely mum details military solution theoretically would curb pyongyangs efforts develop nuclearcapable ballistic missile arsenal except say military option would involve number regional powers pacific war plan complicated vulnerability us allies south korea japan well within range norths arsenal house large numbers american troops north korean military responded mr trumps threats saying completed war plan simultaneously launch four nonnuclear hwasong12 rockets could land waters us territory guam plan sitting kim jonguns desk us defense national security officials repeatedly touted capabilities american missile defense shield past several weeks wake north koreas missile tests july flew higher farther longrange missiles tested regime mr trump made revamping us missile defense systems top objective pentagon since taking office american commanders july swiftly initiated public display military might beginning hours north koreas second successful launch longrange ballistic missile culminating flyover pair nuclearcapable us bombers peninsula guambased supersonic b1 bombers accompanied number south korean fighters performed series lowaltitude passes key air base near seoul july 30 mission designed calculated response north korean missile tests officials us pacific command confirmed time american south korean forces also performed series livefire drills using us missile defense weapons based region mr trumps increasingly hawkish position toward north korea based part evidence provided us intelligence agencies president routinely lambasted failures iraq elsewhere thursday mr trump espoused nothing confidence findings north korea different intelligence mike pompeo president said handpicked cia director great confidence doesnt mean confidence predecessor ok didnt actually mr trump referring former cia director john brennan feuded mr tillerson face chief advocate white houses public push diplomacy north korea touting un security councils 150 vote week impose crippling economic sanctions pyongyang washingtons efforts get russia china back sanctions seen major diplomatic win white house mr trump flatly dismissed claims infighting within national security team north korea mixed messages said dave boyer sa miller contributed article based part wire service reports copyright 2018 washington times llc click reprint permission 160 | 717 |
<p>The Latest on Republican tax overhaul legislation (all times local):</p>
<p>4:10 p.m.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The White House is praising the House Ways and Means Committee for approving the Republican Party's tax cut package.</p>
<p>Press secretary Sarah Sanders calls Thursday's party-line vote an "important step toward providing historic tax relief for the American people." The legislation now goes to the full House.</p>
<p>The House GOP proposal dramatically cuts corporate taxes, doubles the personal standard deduction, and simplifies the tax code by eliminating a host of tax breaks. Senate Republicans released their own version of the legislation Thursday.</p>
<p>After the failure of Republican efforts to repeal the Obama health care law, tax reform remains the only potential big-ticket legislative accomplishment for President Donald Trump's first year in office.</p>
<p>Sanders says the administration remains "confident" the tax bill will pass this year.</p>
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<p>___</p>
<p>3:30 p.m.</p>
<p>A House panel has approved far-reaching Republican legislation to deeply cut taxes for corporations, double the personal standard deduction and simplify the tax code.</p>
<p>The House Ways and Means Committee voted 24-16 along party lines to deliver the complex measure to the full House. It would shrink the number of income brackets from seven to four. The Republicans promote the nearly $6 trillion measure as a boon to the middle class. Democrats say it's a tax bounty for the rich.</p>
<p>Republicans are pushing to drive the legislation through Congress and get it to President Donald Trump by Christmas.</p>
<p>The bill would reduce personal taxes for many but also limit deductions for homeowners and end them for people with steep medical bills and student loans. It would increase the child tax credit.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:00 p.m.</p>
<p>Senate Republicans are joining Washington's tax debate with a proposal to slash the corporate tax rate to 20 percent and cutting the top individual rate for the wealthy by about 1 percentage point.</p>
<p>The plan unveiled Thursday differs from a companion House measure in key respects by preserving the home mortgage interest deduction, a tax credit for adoption expenses, and a deduction for people slammed by high medical expenses.</p>
<p>The measure unveiled by the Senate Finance Committee faces a vote by that panel next week and a floor vote in December.</p>
<p>The bill would create seven tax brackets for individuals with the top rate set at 38.5 percent for top earners. Every tax filer would get a $24,000 standard deduction, meaning far fewer people would itemize deductions on their returns.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>2:02 p.m.</p>
<p>House Republicans are restoring the adoption tax credit to their overhaul legislation after protests by family advocate groups and other interests.</p>
<p>The amendment to the legislation by Rep. Kevin Brady, chair of the House's tax-writing committee, proposes other complex changes to the bill nearing approval by the panel, including an array of business tax proposals which would in some cases further reduce tax rates.</p>
<p>The bill would steeply cut taxes for corporations and wealthy individuals, and double the standard deduction used by most average Americans. It retains its partial repeal of the federal deduction for state and local income and property taxes.</p>
<p>Brady's proposal comes as the Senate unveiled its version of the tax overhaul, keeping the current deduction for up to $1 million in interest paid on mortgages. The House bill reduces that to $500,000 for new home purchases.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>1:50 p.m.</p>
<p>The Senate's version of the GOP tax overhaul bill would leave a tax deduction for expenses associated with adopting children alone while providing a slightly larger per-child tax credit of $1,650 than the House measure.</p>
<p>Sen. John Hoeven also told reporters that the top tax rate for individuals, currently set at 39.6 percent, would drop to 38.5 percent under the draft Senate measure.</p>
<p>The South Dakota Republican said the measure also preserves existing clean energy tax incentives such as for electricity production from wind. It preserves a tax credit for electric cars as well.</p>
<p>The Senate bill also proposes seven tax brackets rather than the three brackets proposed under the House tax bill.</p>
<p>The House measure proposes increasing the per-child tax credit to $1,600 and making it available to a greater number of upper middle-class families.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>12:45 p.m.</p>
<p>The emerging Senate tax overhaul measure wouldn't touch the mortgage interest deduction, as a concession to the powerful real estate lobby.</p>
<p>That's according to a Senate GOP source familiar with the details on the legislation being released Thursday afternoon.</p>
<p>The move means homebuyers would still to be able to deduct interest payments on loans of up to $1 million as permitted under current law. The House bill would reduce the limit to $500,000.</p>
<p>The real estate industry warns that would hurt the housing market, especially in more affluent areas.</p>
<p>The measure also would delay a cut to in the corporate tax rate to 20 percent until 2019.</p>
<p>The GOP source was not authorized to discuss the measure before it is public and spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>3:29 a.m.</p>
<p>The Senate version of the Republicans' tax overhaul is set to be unveiled with billions in tax cuts for people and corporations, repeal of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, and a likely compression of the personal income tax brackets from seven to four.</p>
<p>The House measure, meanwhile, nears approval by the tax-writing committee after last-minute changes by its primary author.</p>
<p>The legislation pulling the attention of lawmakers in both chambers would bring the first major reshaping of the U.S. tax code in three decades.</p>
<p>Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch plans to take the wraps off the new Senate bill on Thursday. In the House, Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady was making changes before the panel votes Thursday to deliver it to the full House.</p> | true | 0 | latest republican tax overhaul legislation times local 410 pm continue reading white house praising house ways means committee approving republican partys tax cut package press secretary sarah sanders calls thursdays partyline vote important step toward providing historic tax relief american people legislation goes full house house gop proposal dramatically cuts corporate taxes doubles personal standard deduction simplifies tax code eliminating host tax breaks senate republicans released version legislation thursday failure republican efforts repeal obama health care law tax reform remains potential bigticket legislative accomplishment president donald trumps first year office sanders says administration remains confident tax bill pass year advertisement ___ 330 pm house panel approved farreaching republican legislation deeply cut taxes corporations double personal standard deduction simplify tax code house ways means committee voted 2416 along party lines deliver complex measure full house would shrink number income brackets seven four republicans promote nearly 6 trillion measure boon middle class democrats say tax bounty rich republicans pushing drive legislation congress get president donald trump christmas bill would reduce personal taxes many also limit deductions homeowners end people steep medical bills student loans would increase child tax credit ___ 300 pm senate republicans joining washingtons tax debate proposal slash corporate tax rate 20 percent cutting top individual rate wealthy 1 percentage point plan unveiled thursday differs companion house measure key respects preserving home mortgage interest deduction tax credit adoption expenses deduction people slammed high medical expenses measure unveiled senate finance committee faces vote panel next week floor vote december bill would create seven tax brackets individuals top rate set 385 percent top earners every tax filer would get 24000 standard deduction meaning far fewer people would itemize deductions returns ____ 202 pm house republicans restoring adoption tax credit overhaul legislation protests family advocate groups interests amendment legislation rep kevin brady chair houses taxwriting committee proposes complex changes bill nearing approval panel including array business tax proposals would cases reduce tax rates bill would steeply cut taxes corporations wealthy individuals double standard deduction used average americans retains partial repeal federal deduction state local income property taxes bradys proposal comes senate unveiled version tax overhaul keeping current deduction 1 million interest paid mortgages house bill reduces 500000 new home purchases ____ 150 pm senates version gop tax overhaul bill would leave tax deduction expenses associated adopting children alone providing slightly larger perchild tax credit 1650 house measure sen john hoeven also told reporters top tax rate individuals currently set 396 percent would drop 385 percent draft senate measure south dakota republican said measure also preserves existing clean energy tax incentives electricity production wind preserves tax credit electric cars well senate bill also proposes seven tax brackets rather three brackets proposed house tax bill house measure proposes increasing perchild tax credit 1600 making available greater number upper middleclass families ___ 1245 pm emerging senate tax overhaul measure wouldnt touch mortgage interest deduction concession powerful real estate lobby thats according senate gop source familiar details legislation released thursday afternoon move means homebuyers would still able deduct interest payments loans 1 million permitted current law house bill would reduce limit 500000 real estate industry warns would hurt housing market especially affluent areas measure also would delay cut corporate tax rate 20 percent 2019 gop source authorized discuss measure public spoke condition anonymity ___ 329 senate version republicans tax overhaul set unveiled billions tax cuts people corporations repeal federal deduction state local taxes likely compression personal income tax brackets seven four house measure meanwhile nears approval taxwriting committee lastminute changes primary author legislation pulling attention lawmakers chambers would bring first major reshaping us tax code three decades senate finance committee chairman orrin hatch plans take wraps new senate bill thursday house ways means committee chair kevin brady making changes panel votes thursday deliver full house | 628 |
<p />
<p>President Barack Obama sent his jobs bill to Congress Monday and proposed paying for it by eliminating $467 billion in tax breaks for richer Americans and companies, meeting immediate resistance from Republicans.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The White House objective is to put lawmakers in a tight spot: Support Obama's jobs package or risk being portrayed as doing nothing to improve the economy heading into presidential and congressional elections in November 2012.</p>
<p>The U.S. economy, the world's largest, is mired in 9.1 percent unemployment and flirting with another recession as Europe's debt woes compound fears over the global outlook. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will attend part of a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Friday in Poland.</p>
<p>Obama, who pushed through an $800 billion economic stimulus package in 2009, stepped up his campaign to sell his latest recovery proposals to American voters.</p>
<p>``This is a bill that is based on ideas from both Democrats and Republicans and this is a bill that Congress needs to pass -- no games, no politics, no delays,'' he said at a White House event before the text of his jobs legislation was sent to Congress.</p>
<p>But the Democratic president's ideas to pay for his $447 billion plan will be hard for Republicans to swallow.</p>
<p>Under pressure from anti-tax Tea Party conservatives, Republicans have fought all of Obama's previous proposals to increase taxes and were hardening their position against the new plan days after sounding conciliatory.</p>
<p>``I hope the president is not suggesting that we pay for his proposals with a massive tax increase,'' said Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives.</p>
<p>White House budget director Jack Lew outlined Obama's proposals for paying for the plan, targeting the rich and corporations as the president has in the past to no avail.</p>
<p>The biggest item would raise $400 billion by limiting deductions and exemptions on individuals who earn more than $200,000 per year and families who earn more than $250,000.</p>
<p>He proposed raising $18 billion by treating the earnings of investment fund managers as ordinary income rather than taxing it at lower capital gains rates. He would eliminate many oil and gas industry tax breaks to raise $40 billion and change corporate jet depreciation rules to bring in $3 billion.</p>
<p>REPUBLICANS PUSH BACK</p>
<p>Cooperation in Washington could be hard to find in a climate of dysfunction. A nasty battle this summer over the government's debt levels brought the country to the brink of default and led to an unprecedented U.S. credit downgrade.</p>
<p>Obama's re-election chances hinge heavily on his ability to reduce the stubbornly high unemployment rate.</p>
<p>While Republicans will not want to give Obama any help before the election, the White House hope is that they got an earful from constituents during the August recess and will now be willing to cut a deal, particularly with polls showing public happiness with Congress at less than 20 percent.</p>
<p>But Republicans were unhappy that Obama now appears to be trying to pay for his jobs plan entirely with tax increases.</p>
<p>``It would be fair to say this tax increase on job creators is the kind of proposal both parties have opposed in the past,'' said Brendan Buck, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress.</p>
<p>``We remain eager to work together on ways to support job growth but this proposal doesn't appear to have been offered in that bipartisan spirit.''</p>
<p>Beyond asking how Obama's jobs package will be paid for, Republicans also questioned some elements of the plan itself.</p>
<p>Cantor indicated the Republican-controlled House would not support ideas like construction spending and aid to cash-strapped states that were in the 2009 stimulus bill.</p>
<p>These items account for about $150 billion, or about a third, of Obama's current plan.</p>
<p>``Anything that is akin to the stimulus bill I think is not going to be acceptable to the American people,'' Cantor told reporters shortly after Obama's Rose Garden speech. ``The country cannot afford more spending like the stimulus bill.''</p>
<p>Seeking to keep up the pressure, Obama took aim at Republicans for resisting many of his economic initiatives.</p>
<p>``We can't afford these same political games, not now,'' Obama said.</p>
<p>It was not clear whether Democrats would try to move the president's jobs plan through Congress as a stand-alone bill in coming weeks or whether all or part of it could be coupled with work being done by a congressional ``super committee'' looking at new deficit-reduction steps.</p>
<p>On Sept. 19, Obama is due to unveil about $2 trillion in new government savings -- presumably spending cuts coupled with tax increases -- to help the super committee find at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions.</p>
<p>Obama's newly proposed $467 billion in tax increases likely would be part of the larger savings he is set to outline. He is proposing to pay for the short-term $447 billion jobs bill with the $467 billion in savings over 10 years.</p>
<p>A group of mostly former government officials and some business leaders urged the super committee to consider major reforms of government assistance programs and the tax code.</p>
<p>In a letter to the committee, nearly 60 executives and former Treasury officials spanning several administrations said they wanted to see large-scale cuts to stabilize the U.S. debt as a share of the economy.</p>
<p>Obama will take his jobs message on the road again this week to build support for his ideas in battleground states.</p>
<p>Obama's Tuesday visit to Ohio, Boehner's home state, and Wednesday's stop in North Carolina mark the start of trips the president is set to take to convince skeptical voters he has the right formula to get the economy going again.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | president barack obama sent jobs bill congress monday proposed paying eliminating 467 billion tax breaks richer americans companies meeting immediate resistance republicans continue reading white house objective put lawmakers tight spot support obamas jobs package risk portrayed nothing improve economy heading presidential congressional elections november 2012 us economy worlds largest mired 91 percent unemployment flirting another recession europes debt woes compound fears global outlook us treasury secretary timothy geithner attend part meeting euro zone finance ministers friday poland obama pushed 800 billion economic stimulus package 2009 stepped campaign sell latest recovery proposals american voters bill based ideas democrats republicans bill congress needs pass games politics delays said white house event text jobs legislation sent congress democratic presidents ideas pay 447 billion plan hard republicans swallow pressure antitax tea party conservatives republicans fought obamas previous proposals increase taxes hardening position new plan days sounding conciliatory hope president suggesting pay proposals massive tax increase said eric cantor 2 republican house representatives white house budget director jack lew outlined obamas proposals paying plan targeting rich corporations president past avail biggest item would raise 400 billion limiting deductions exemptions individuals earn 200000 per year families earn 250000 proposed raising 18 billion treating earnings investment fund managers ordinary income rather taxing lower capital gains rates would eliminate many oil gas industry tax breaks raise 40 billion change corporate jet depreciation rules bring 3 billion republicans push back cooperation washington could hard find climate dysfunction nasty battle summer governments debt levels brought country brink default led unprecedented us credit downgrade obamas reelection chances hinge heavily ability reduce stubbornly high unemployment rate republicans want give obama help election white house hope got earful constituents august recess willing cut deal particularly polls showing public happiness congress less 20 percent republicans unhappy obama appears trying pay jobs plan entirely tax increases would fair say tax increase job creators kind proposal parties opposed past said brendan buck spokesman house speaker john boehner top republican congress remain eager work together ways support job growth proposal doesnt appear offered bipartisan spirit beyond asking obamas jobs package paid republicans also questioned elements plan cantor indicated republicancontrolled house would support ideas like construction spending aid cashstrapped states 2009 stimulus bill items account 150 billion third obamas current plan anything akin stimulus bill think going acceptable american people cantor told reporters shortly obamas rose garden speech country afford spending like stimulus bill seeking keep pressure obama took aim republicans resisting many economic initiatives cant afford political games obama said clear whether democrats would try move presidents jobs plan congress standalone bill coming weeks whether part could coupled work done congressional super committee looking new deficitreduction steps sept 19 obama due unveil 2 trillion new government savings presumably spending cuts coupled tax increases help super committee find least 12 trillion deficit reductions obamas newly proposed 467 billion tax increases likely would part larger savings set outline proposing pay shortterm 447 billion jobs bill 467 billion savings 10 years group mostly former government officials business leaders urged super committee consider major reforms government assistance programs tax code letter committee nearly 60 executives former treasury officials spanning several administrations said wanted see largescale cuts stabilize us debt share economy obama take jobs message road week build support ideas battleground states obamas tuesday visit ohio boehners home state wednesdays stop north carolina mark start trips president set take convince skeptical voters right formula get economy going advertisement | 568 |
<p>___</p>
<p>How Facebook was able to siphon off phone call and text logs</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>News that Facebook's Android app has been collecting call and text histories is another black eye for the social media giant. One big reason it happened: Google allowed it. The company set up Android privacy permissions that were easy for app makers like Facebook to exploit. Newer Android versions make it easier for users to reject access to those logs. But not all Android phone users have access to newest versions, because carriers are slow to push out updates.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Expert says Brexit campaign used data mined from Facebook</p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — The computer expert who alleges a trove of Facebook data was improperly used to help Donald Trump's White House bid says he strongly believes the information was also used by the Brexit movement. Chris Wylie testified before a parliamentary committee in Britain on Tuesday.</p>
<p>___</p>
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<p>Tech stocks pull market sharply lower, erasing early gains</p>
<p>A steep, late-afternoon sell-off in technology companies is pulling U.S. stocks sharply lower, erasing modest gains from earlier in the day. Banks are also weighing on the market as bond yields decline. Safe-play stocks like utilities and real estate companies are holding up best. The market is coming off its best day in more than two years following a steep slide last week.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Apple aims to school rivals with new iPad, education apps</p>
<p>CHICAGO (AP) — Apple wants to play a more prominent role in education, but it isn't willing to cut prices to make the grade. The company made that point clear Tuesday when it introduced a variety of features tailored for teachers and students while keeping the price for the latest model of its cheapest iPad unchanged, even though Google has supplanted its rival as the market leader in U.S. classrooms with a low-cost line of laptop computers known as Chromebooks.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Watchdog: FBI could have tried harder to hack iPhone</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department's watchdog says FBI officials did not try as hard as possible to unlock an iPhone as part of a terrorism investigation. This was even as its director told Congress the bureau had expended its options and needed Apple's help. The Justice Department fought Apple in court to try to force it to hack the phone. The FBI later paid a third party to open the device. The agency's inspector general says communications failures among FBI officials delayed the search for a solution.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP-NORC Poll: Trump's approval rating up from historic lows</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is still unpopular with the majority of Americans according to a new survey, but his approval ratings have rebounded a bit from historic lows. Forty-two percent of those surveyed say they approve of the job he's doing. That's up seven points from a month ago. The poll, by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, indicates that at least some of the improved standing is tied to the economy, which has continued to grow steadily and add jobs.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Waymo to buy 20,000 Jaguars for robotic ride-hailing service</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Self-driving car spinoff Waymo will buy up to 20,000 electric vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover to help realize its vision for a robotic ride-hailing service. The commitment announced Tuesday marks another step in Waymo's evolution from a secret project started in Google nine years ago to a spin-off that's gearing up for an audacious attempt to reshape the transportation business. The Jaguar deal will expand upon a fleet of self-driving cars that Waymo has been building with Fiat Chrysler.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>White House denies probe into loans to Kushner company</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is denying that senior adviser Jared Kushner is under investigation by the White House Counsel's office over possible ethical or criminal violations in connection with more than $500 million in loans made last year to his family real estate company. The head of the government's ethics agency had told a Democratic House member that White House lawyers had acknowledged they "had already begun the process" of looking into possible ethics and legal issues spawned by the loans.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Heineken pulls light beer commercial after racism complaints</p>
<p>WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Heineken has removed a commercial for its light beer after some complaints that it was racist. The ad featured a bartender sliding a bottle of Heineken light past black people to a light-skinned woman. The tag line: Sometimes lighter is better. In a statement, Heineken says while the ad was referencing Heineken Light, "we missed the mark."</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Appeals court finds Google infringed on Oracle's Java</p>
<p>MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — A federal appeals court has overturned a decision in a long-running legal battle over whether Google infringed on Oracle's Java programming language to build its hugely popular mobile operating system, Android. The court said Google's use of Java was "not fair" and sent the case back to trial to determine damages.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>The Standard &amp; Poor's 500 index fell 45.93 points, or 1.7 percent, to 2,612.62. The Dow tumbled 344.89 points, or 1.4 percent, to 23,857.71.</p>
<p>Benchmark U.S. crude declined 30 cents to settle at $65.25 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, slipped a penny to close at $70.11.</p> | true | 0 | ___ facebook able siphon phone call text logs continue reading news facebooks android app collecting call text histories another black eye social media giant one big reason happened google allowed company set android privacy permissions easy app makers like facebook exploit newer android versions make easier users reject access logs android phone users access newest versions carriers slow push updates ___ expert says brexit campaign used data mined facebook london ap computer expert alleges trove facebook data improperly used help donald trumps white house bid says strongly believes information also used brexit movement chris wylie testified parliamentary committee britain tuesday ___ advertisement tech stocks pull market sharply lower erasing early gains steep lateafternoon selloff technology companies pulling us stocks sharply lower erasing modest gains earlier day banks also weighing market bond yields decline safeplay stocks like utilities real estate companies holding best market coming best day two years following steep slide last week ___ apple aims school rivals new ipad education apps chicago ap apple wants play prominent role education isnt willing cut prices make grade company made point clear tuesday introduced variety features tailored teachers students keeping price latest model cheapest ipad unchanged even though google supplanted rival market leader us classrooms lowcost line laptop computers known chromebooks ___ watchdog fbi could tried harder hack iphone washington ap justice departments watchdog says fbi officials try hard possible unlock iphone part terrorism investigation even director told congress bureau expended options needed apples help justice department fought apple court try force hack phone fbi later paid third party open device agencys inspector general says communications failures among fbi officials delayed search solution ___ apnorc poll trumps approval rating historic lows washington ap president donald trump still unpopular majority americans according new survey approval ratings rebounded bit historic lows fortytwo percent surveyed say approve job hes thats seven points month ago poll associated press norc center public affairs research indicates least improved standing tied economy continued grow steadily add jobs ___ waymo buy 20000 jaguars robotic ridehailing service new york ap selfdriving car spinoff waymo buy 20000 electric vehicles jaguar land rover help realize vision robotic ridehailing service commitment announced tuesday marks another step waymos evolution secret project started google nine years ago spinoff thats gearing audacious attempt reshape transportation business jaguar deal expand upon fleet selfdriving cars waymo building fiat chrysler ___ white house denies probe loans kushner company washington ap white house denying senior adviser jared kushner investigation white house counsels office possible ethical criminal violations connection 500 million loans made last year family real estate company head governments ethics agency told democratic house member white house lawyers acknowledged already begun process looking possible ethics legal issues spawned loans ___ heineken pulls light beer commercial racism complaints white plains ny ap heineken removed commercial light beer complaints racist ad featured bartender sliding bottle heineken light past black people lightskinned woman tag line sometimes lighter better statement heineken says ad referencing heineken light missed mark ___ appeals court finds google infringed oracles java menlo park calif ap federal appeals court overturned decision longrunning legal battle whether google infringed oracles java programming language build hugely popular mobile operating system android court said googles use java fair sent case back trial determine damages ___ standard amp poors 500 index fell 4593 points 17 percent 261262 dow tumbled 34489 points 14 percent 2385771 benchmark us crude declined 30 cents settle 6525 barrel new york mercantile exchange brent crude used price international oils slipped penny close 7011 | 582 |
<p>I spoke too soon. In the <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/05/these-3-stocks-just-raised-their-dividends.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">previous installment of this series Opens a New Window.</a>, I stated that we were about to enter a fallow post-earnings season period with fewer dividend raises.</p>
<p>Whoops. Last week we saw a fresh batch of raises, including three top names in their respective industries -- consumer-goods giant Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL), high-rolling casino operator Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN), and powerhouse chipmaker Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). Read on for the details.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Saying that Colgate-Palmolive is raising its quarterly dividend is almost like saying the grass is green. The consumer-goods megalith is one of the most regal of the <a href="https://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/what-is-a-dividend-aristocrat.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Dividend Aristocrats Opens a New Window.</a>, with an annual dividend raise streak that stretches back over 50 years. The latest in a very long line of increases will see the company lift its payout by 5% to $0.42 per share.</p>
<p>That's the good news. The bad news is the company's recent performance. In all, 2017 was a relatively weak year. Net sales inched up by only 1.7% to $15.5 billion, while adjusted net profit increased by over 4% to land at $2.5 billion. Cost-cutting and increased advertising spend were two of the key reasons for these fairly modest increases.</p>
<p>My colleague Brian Stoffel has speculated that Colgate-Palmolive's long-established <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/07/death-of-big-brands-5-safe-dividend-stocks-that-co.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">dividend might be at risk Opens a New Window.</a> because of changes in technology and the shifting tastes of consumers. I think he's got a good argument there; although the company has sufficient cash flow to keep up those dividend raises for the time being, I'm not 100% sure this is a buy-and-hold-forever income play.</p>
<p>Colgate-Palmolive's upcoming distribution is to be handed out on on May 15 to stockholders of record as of April 20. Its payout ratio is 56%, and it would yield 2.4% on the most recent closing stock price -- comfortably above the current 1.8% average yield of dividend-paying stocks on the S&amp;P 500.</p>
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<p>2018 has already been quite a year for Wynn Resorts. The company's top global region is on a serious upswing, yet its founder and namesake, <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/16/steve-wynn-is-losing-control-of-wynn-resorts.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Steve Wynn Opens a New Window.</a>, stepped down abruptly, following allegations of sexual misconduct. Nonetheless, Wynn Resorts declared a dividend increase, saying its quarterly distribution would get a hefty 50% increase to $0.75 per share.</p>
<p>These days, most of Wynn's take comes from the busy Chinese gaming enclave of Macau. After years of serious revenue declines because of a government crackdown on casino junket operators, the region has come roaring back. Its full-year 2017 take was 19% higher on a year-over-year basis, the first annual increase since 2013.</p>
<p>This propelled Wynn's revenue 44% higher to just over $6.3 billion, while adjusted net profit rose by 62% to over $560 million.</p>
<p>The loss of Steve Wynn, a towering figure in the industry, is going to sting. But the company is well primed for future growth; Macau should remain a vibrant market, while a new casino near Boston is scheduled to open its doors next year. But Wynn the company has a bright future ahead of it. Barring another government crackdown in Macau, I'd bet that the new dividend will at least be maintained for now.</p>
<p>Wynn hasn't yet set the record and payment dates for the new dividend. Regardless, it would yield 1.6% and boast a payout ratio of only 36%.</p>
<p>Qualcomm is dialing up a new quarterly dividend. The company has declared that its next payout will be $0.62 per share, a 9% increase.</p>
<p>Qualcomm is very profitable, netting $1.5 billion in profit on $6 billion in revenue in its most recently reported quarter. It's a power player in the field of chips for mobile devices, and it draws much of its revenue from technology licensing activities.</p>
<p>That's not what has driven up the stock's price over the past few months, however. In late 2017, acquisitive Asian chipmaker Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) made a play to buy out Qualcomm with a mix of cash and stock. This and a subsequent higher bid from Broadcom were rejected, but the soap opera is still playing out.</p>
<p>Complicating matters is Qualcomm's own acquisition activity. Apparently, it's about to <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/09/qualcomms-nxp-semiconductors-offer-finally-looks-l.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">land its own large takeover target Opens a New Window.</a>, auto-computing specialist NXP Semiconductors.</p>
<p>So there are deals whipsawing back and forth, and we don't yet know how the whole mess is going to settle. As for Qualcomm's internal resources, it has more than enough free cash flow to pay for this raised dividend, plus a round of share buybacks. Still, given that the company's future ownership and structure is up in the air, it's hard to gauge the viability of this new payout. Income investors should exercise caution here.</p>
<p>The new $0.62-per-share amount will, in the company's words "be effective for quarterly dividends payable after March 21, 2018." It didn't get more specific. The theoretical yield is 3.9%, while the payout ratio stands at 63%.</p>
<p>I like it when my pessimistic assumptions turn out wrong. Last week turned out to be another good one for dividend increases, after all. 2018 has been a great year for lifts so far. Let's hope that trend will last.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than QualcommWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
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<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=3e956f77-36ad-4c70-a1ad-3cbdff9ea2a5&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of March 5, 2018</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFVolkman/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Eric Volkman Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Qualcomm. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom Ltd and NXP Semiconductors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=344f25a1-58ba-47e7-adfb-d48ab089d4c2&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | spoke soon previous installment series opens new window stated enter fallow postearnings season period fewer dividend raises whoops last week saw fresh batch raises including three top names respective industries consumergoods giant colgatepalmolive nyse cl highrolling casino operator wynn resorts nasdaq wynn powerhouse chipmaker qualcomm nasdaq qcom read details continue reading saying colgatepalmolive raising quarterly dividend almost like saying grass green consumergoods megalith one regal dividend aristocrats opens new window annual dividend raise streak stretches back 50 years latest long line increases see company lift payout 5 042 per share thats good news bad news companys recent performance 2017 relatively weak year net sales inched 17 155 billion adjusted net profit increased 4 land 25 billion costcutting increased advertising spend two key reasons fairly modest increases colleague brian stoffel speculated colgatepalmolives longestablished dividend might risk opens new window changes technology shifting tastes consumers think hes got good argument although company sufficient cash flow keep dividend raises time im 100 sure buyandholdforever income play colgatepalmolives upcoming distribution handed may 15 stockholders record april 20 payout ratio 56 would yield 24 recent closing stock price comfortably current 18 average yield dividendpaying stocks sampp 500 advertisement 2018 already quite year wynn resorts companys top global region serious upswing yet founder namesake steve wynn opens new window stepped abruptly following allegations sexual misconduct nonetheless wynn resorts declared dividend increase saying quarterly distribution would get hefty 50 increase 075 per share days wynns take comes busy chinese gaming enclave macau years serious revenue declines government crackdown casino junket operators region come roaring back fullyear 2017 take 19 higher yearoveryear basis first annual increase since 2013 propelled wynns revenue 44 higher 63 billion adjusted net profit rose 62 560 million loss steve wynn towering figure industry going sting company well primed future growth macau remain vibrant market new casino near boston scheduled open doors next year wynn company bright future ahead barring another government crackdown macau id bet new dividend least maintained wynn hasnt yet set record payment dates new dividend regardless would yield 16 boast payout ratio 36 qualcomm dialing new quarterly dividend company declared next payout 062 per share 9 increase qualcomm profitable netting 15 billion profit 6 billion revenue recently reported quarter power player field chips mobile devices draws much revenue technology licensing activities thats driven stocks price past months however late 2017 acquisitive asian chipmaker broadcom nasdaq avgo made play buy qualcomm mix cash stock subsequent higher bid broadcom rejected soap opera still playing complicating matters qualcomms acquisition activity apparently land large takeover target opens new window autocomputing specialist nxp semiconductors deals whipsawing back forth dont yet know whole mess going settle qualcomms internal resources enough free cash flow pay raised dividend plus round share buybacks still given companys future ownership structure air hard gauge viability new payout income investors exercise caution new 062pershare amount companys words effective quarterly dividends payable march 21 2018 didnt get specific theoretical yield 39 payout ratio stands 63 like pessimistic assumptions turn wrong last week turned another good one dividend increases 2018 great year lifts far lets hope trend last 10 stocks like better qualcommwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right qualcomm wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns march 5 2018 eric volkman opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares qualcomm motley fool recommends broadcom ltd nxp semiconductors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 600 |
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<p>Home fire safety is an important topic. Sadly, many homeowners don't give it the attention it deserves, and that can be a deadly mistake.</p>
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<p>Deaths from fires and burns are the third-leading cause of fatal home injuries in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. &#160;In 2010, someone died in a fire in the United States every 169 minutes, and someone was injured every 30 minutes.</p>
<p>The good news is that many home fires are preventable.</p>
<p>Employing basic fire safety measures may not only save your life, it can also save you money on <a href="http://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-45242810" type="external">homeowners insurance Opens a New Window.</a>. Installing smoke detectors could net you a 5% cut on your homeowners insurance costs, and having fire extinguishers on every floor may give you another 5% reduction.</p>
<p>Ask your insurer about bigger discounts, too.&#160; For instance, installing fire-resistant siding on your home, such as metal or fiber-cement shingles and clapboards, could slash your <a href="http://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-45242810" type="external">home insurance</a> premiums by up to 20%, according to experts at The Family Handyman magazine.</p>
<p>Double-check your <a href="http://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-45242810" type="external">insurance</a> policy to learn your exact benefits. Many <a href="http://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-45242810" type="external">insurance</a> policies offer "replacement" coverage for the house itself in the event of fire, but check to see whether you have "replacement" coverage or&#160; "actual cash value" coverage for the items lost in a fire. Also, find out whether you have "loss of use" coverage, which reimburses you for living expenses incurred while your home is inhabitable.</p>
<p>Home inspectors who spend their days scouring every nook and cranny of various types of homes nationwide say the following hazards can create a firetrap in your home. They also suggest tips for reducing your level of risk.</p>
<p>1. An overstuffed attic full of boxes</p>
<p>Frank Schulte-Ladbeck is a licensed home inspector and independent consultant in Houston. He says one major problem in his region is people stuffing their attics with far too many goods. "I was in one attic where I could hardly move because the person had put so many boxes everywhere," Schulte-Ladbeck says.</p>
<p>Adding to the problem, there was a water heater in the attic and a furnace for the air conditioning system too. Such arrangements are common in places like Texas, Schulte-Ladbeck says, where temperatures even in early November can climb into the 80s. But if the heating system ever ignited for any reason, "all of those boxes and materials in the attic just become instant fuel for the fire," he says.</p>
<p>To reduce this risk, purge unnecessary items from your attic, clearing things away from heating units or other equipment.</p>
<p>2. Problem&#160; windows in basements and bedrooms</p>
<p>Problem windows are another common fire trap Schulte-Ladbeck encounters. He mainly finds these in the basements of &#160;older homes built in the 1960s or earlier If your home has a bedroom in the basement and a fire occurs in the middle of the night and blocks access to an upstairs exit, your only choice would be to get out through a basement window.</p>
<p>"But many basement windows are higher off the ground, inaccessible and too small for people to fit through," Schulte-Ladbeck says.</p>
<p>Another problem, he says, are windows painted shut or double-paned windows that have a second window on the outside that doesn't stay open.</p>
<p>In a fire emergency, such windows could prove fatal.</p>
<p>The International Residential Code requires that all bedrooms (including those in basements) have at least one "egress" window. That's a window large enough to allow people to escape in the event of a fire, or to allow a fully equipped firefighter to enter from the outside.</p>
<p>3. Improperly installed heating equipment</p>
<p>Bill Kibbel is vice president of Tri-County Inspection Company in Pennsylvania. He constantly warns homeowners and prospective homebuyers about dangerous heating equipment in the basements of many homes he inspects.</p>
<p>"The number one issue that's overlooked all the time is venting of heating equipment," says Kibbel. "Many times the vent pipe that connects the heating system to the chimney is way too close to combustible materials." The materials in question are typically wood - such as a floor joist or a wall that's adjacent to the heating unit.</p>
<p>"If there's a piece of wood nearby, the constant heating up of that wood can ultimately cause it to ignite," Kibbel explains. He says the problem is "common" in older buildings.</p>
<p>Another furnace fire hazard: dirty filters. It's important to regularly check your furnace filter and replace it with a clean one.</p>
<p>"I'd say that 55% to 60% of older homes I inspect have heating equipment incorrectly installed," says Kibbel. "Most people aren't aware of it and unfortunately, heating contractors as a general rule don't seem to notice it when they're installing or servicing heating units."</p>
<p>4. Fireplace hazards</p>
<p>Another common problem, Kibbel says, is the lack of proper floor protection in front of many home fireplaces. Ideally, you should have a stone or brick hearth extension that extends out between 14 and 16 inches into the room, Kibbel recommends.</p>
<p>But a lot of older homes have hearth extensions that span only 8 to 10 inches.</p>
<p>Consequently, many older homes are more susceptible to fire when "popping fires send embers from the fireplace onto the floor, igniting a wood floor or carpeting," says Kibbel.</p>
<p>The solution: Install an adequately sized hearth extension or extend one that is too small.</p>
<p>5. Faulty smoke alarms and drained batteries</p>
<p>Frank Ross, a certified home inspector and owner and operator of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection of Southwest Utah, says an easy way to avoid a disastrous fire scenario is to keep your smoke alarms and batteries functional and up to date.</p>
<p>"Unfortunately, when smoke alarm batteries start chirping at 3 o'clock in the morning, most people just get up and take them out and toss the smoke alarm to the side," never bothering to replace them, says Ross.</p>
<p>If a smoke alarm is older than 7 to 9 years old, it's time to get a new one, he adds.</p>
<p>The original article can be found at Insurance.com: <a href="http://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance/coverage/home-fire-hazards-firetrap-prevention.html?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-45242810" type="external">5 signs your house is a firetrap Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | home fire safety important topic sadly many homeowners dont give attention deserves deadly mistake continue reading deaths fires burns thirdleading cause fatal home injuries america according centers disease control prevention 160in 2010 someone died fire united states every 169 minutes someone injured every 30 minutes good news many home fires preventable employing basic fire safety measures may save life also save money homeowners insurance opens new window installing smoke detectors could net 5 cut homeowners insurance costs fire extinguishers every floor may give another 5 reduction ask insurer bigger discounts too160 instance installing fireresistant siding home metal fibercement shingles clapboards could slash home insurance premiums 20 according experts family handyman magazine doublecheck insurance policy learn exact benefits many insurance policies offer replacement coverage house event fire check see whether replacement coverage or160 actual cash value coverage items lost fire also find whether loss use coverage reimburses living expenses incurred home inhabitable home inspectors spend days scouring every nook cranny various types homes nationwide say following hazards create firetrap home also suggest tips reducing level risk 1 overstuffed attic full boxes frank schulteladbeck licensed home inspector independent consultant houston says one major problem region people stuffing attics far many goods one attic could hardly move person put many boxes everywhere schulteladbeck says adding problem water heater attic furnace air conditioning system arrangements common places like texas schulteladbeck says temperatures even early november climb 80s heating system ever ignited reason boxes materials attic become instant fuel fire says reduce risk purge unnecessary items attic clearing things away heating units equipment 2 problem160 windows basements bedrooms problem windows another common fire trap schulteladbeck encounters mainly finds basements 160older homes built 1960s earlier home bedroom basement fire occurs middle night blocks access upstairs exit choice would get basement window many basement windows higher ground inaccessible small people fit schulteladbeck says another problem says windows painted shut doublepaned windows second window outside doesnt stay open fire emergency windows could prove fatal international residential code requires bedrooms including basements least one egress window thats window large enough allow people escape event fire allow fully equipped firefighter enter outside 3 improperly installed heating equipment bill kibbel vice president tricounty inspection company pennsylvania constantly warns homeowners prospective homebuyers dangerous heating equipment basements many homes inspects number one issue thats overlooked time venting heating equipment says kibbel many times vent pipe connects heating system chimney way close combustible materials materials question typically wood floor joist wall thats adjacent heating unit theres piece wood nearby constant heating wood ultimately cause ignite kibbel explains says problem common older buildings another furnace fire hazard dirty filters important regularly check furnace filter replace clean one id say 55 60 older homes inspect heating equipment incorrectly installed says kibbel people arent aware unfortunately heating contractors general rule dont seem notice theyre installing servicing heating units 4 fireplace hazards another common problem kibbel says lack proper floor protection front many home fireplaces ideally stone brick hearth extension extends 14 16 inches room kibbel recommends lot older homes hearth extensions span 8 10 inches consequently many older homes susceptible fire popping fires send embers fireplace onto floor igniting wood floor carpeting says kibbel solution install adequately sized hearth extension extend one small 5 faulty smoke alarms drained batteries frank ross certified home inspector owner operator pillar post professional home inspection southwest utah says easy way avoid disastrous fire scenario keep smoke alarms batteries functional date unfortunately smoke alarm batteries start chirping 3 oclock morning people get take toss smoke alarm side never bothering replace says ross smoke alarm older 7 9 years old time get new one adds original article found insurancecom 5 signs house firetrap opens new window advertisement | 614 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Today, moving toward retiringis more complicated than it was in prior years, and comes with a thousand decisions."Retirement looks very different for people today than it did 50 years ago. People are living longer, and their families sometimes live across the country or even across the globe," said Aaron Hatch, CFP and co-founder of <a href="http://www.wovencapital.net/" type="external">Woven Capital Opens a New Window.</a>, a fee-only <a href="https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/22-financial-planning-experts-important-retirement-planning-advice/" type="external">financial planning Opens a New Window.</a> and investment management firm.</p>
<p>Some people want to travel the world when they retire, whereas others are content to plant a garden or work on their golf game. No matter how grand or modest your retirement plans are, you'll want to make sure that your finances, your significant other, and your emotional state are ready for the transition into your golden years. Here are five ways to test if your retirement plans match your retirement dreams.</p>
<p>Before you stop working, you should determine the income you can live on. One of the best ways to know if you have planned well financially for retirement is to actually live it, said Ed Gjertsen II, vice president of Mack Investment Securities and chairman of the <a href="https://www.onefpa.org/" type="external">Financial Planning Association Opens a New Window.</a>. Gjertsen recommended creating a retirement spending plan and taking a retirement test drive by trying to live on those projected expenses for a couple of months.</p>
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<p><a href="https://steverepak.com/" type="external">Steve Repak Opens a New Window.</a>, certified financial planner and author of 6-Week Money Challenge for Your Personal Finances, said that you shouldn't wait too long to take your retirement for a trial run. A year or two before you plan to retire, test drive your retirement for a set amount of months.</p>
<p>Calculate your Social Security benefits and take into account any pension income or retirement savings you expect to receive during retirement, and see if that money will last for the entire year.If you find that you'll be cutting it close each monthor that you can't live on your planned income, you have two choices:</p>
<p>After your test drive, you might find that you have to adjust your retirement spending plan."We can create a terrific financial plan -- then life happens," said Gjertsen. "What most don't realize is that we are not being nickeled and dimed to our financial detriment, but fived and tenned instead. Cell phones, internet, cable, and a myriad of other <a href="https://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/10-ways-cut-500-off-monthly-bills/" type="external">monthly expenses Opens a New Window.</a> all create a drain on pocketbooks and portfolios."</p>
<p>Be brutally honest with yourself about what is a want and what is a need, and focus on how much you are spending."Retirees, like anyone else, need to decide what is important to them and sometimes that means compromising or altering their plan," said Hatch.</p>
<p>Gjetsen said that the most challenging element for retirees is healthcare costs, because they are very difficult to fully and adequately plan for.To better figure out your financial plan for this, first understand what is covered by your Medicare Parts A and B, and Medigap policies."This is a complicated area but is critical inmaking sure you carry proper health insurance," Gjetsen said.</p>
<p>Even when you know your health insurance coverage, you should have a plan for the unexpected. If your mortgage is paid off, one suggestion is to get a home equity line of credit before retiring."This is for emergency purposes only as a potentially cheaper cost of funds when compared to a <a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/signs-millennials-better-money/" type="external">credit card Opens a New Window.</a>," said Gjetsen.</p>
<p>Repak suggested having 18 to 24 months' worth of your non-discretionary spending to be in emergency funds savings."For example, if your monthly non-discretionary spending is $1,000, you should have at least $18,000 to $24,000 in savings separate from the money you have in your retirement accounts," Repak said.The emergency fund money should be in a bank account which is FDIC insured and readily available with no penalties if you need to make a withdrawal.</p>
<p>One of the major questions Gjertsen asks in pre-retirement discussions is whether both spouses are ready to retire."The retiring spouse usually answers 'yes' emphatically -- when in fact, I was asking the question of the other spouse," Gjertsen said.</p>
<p>Retirement can be a difficult transition; for couples with just one person getting ready to retire soon, boththe retiree and the non-retiring spouse have to make adjustments."It's difficult when one spouse wants to retire and we show that it may create financial challenges down the road," said Gjertsen.</p>
<p>Couples in which both or one of the parties are <a href="https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/28-retirement-mistakes-people-make/" type="external">preparing for retirement Opens a New Window.</a> should avoid the all-or-none kind of thinking that retirement can trigger. Instead, they should work toward a third solution that's a compromise and acceptable to both individuals.</p>
<p>"The key here is communication and expectations management prior to and during the first few years in retirement for the first spouse," said Gjertsen.</p>
<p>"I don't know many retired people who just sit inside all day watching television," said Repak.Instead, they're traveling, volunteering, pursuing hobbies, or even working part time. The problem for retirees isn't finding something to do; rather, the problem is that retirees often overcommit themselves.</p>
<p>"I find that a lot of people have a hard time retiring," said Hatch. "In our culture, many people self-identify with the work that they do and that becomes their identity.So when people retire, they have to recalibrate who they are. No longer is the person Dan the Teacher or Jennifer the Doctor, so they have to redefine who they want to be."</p>
<p>Hatch suggested that you do another kind of retirement test drive if you are worried that you'll be bored during retirement."I suggest that they don't plan a vacation, but rather, just stay home and pretend that they are retired," Hatch said. "If they can't wait to get back to work at the end of the two weeks, I suggest that they think about alternatives, like moving to a part-time schedule."</p>
<p>This article originally appeared at <a href="https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/5-ways-test-financial-retirement-readiness/" type="external">GoBankingRates Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/07/10/5-ways-to-test-your-retirement-readiness.aspx" type="external">5 Ways to Test Your Retirement Readiness Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p>Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading today moving toward retiringis complicated prior years comes thousand decisionsretirement looks different people today 50 years ago people living longer families sometimes live across country even across globe said aaron hatch cfp cofounder woven capital opens new window feeonly financial planning opens new window investment management firm people want travel world retire whereas others content plant garden work golf game matter grand modest retirement plans youll want make sure finances significant emotional state ready transition golden years five ways test retirement plans match retirement dreams stop working determine income live one best ways know planned well financially retirement actually live said ed gjertsen ii vice president mack investment securities chairman financial planning association opens new window gjertsen recommended creating retirement spending plan taking retirement test drive trying live projected expenses couple months advertisement steve repak opens new window certified financial planner author 6week money challenge personal finances said shouldnt wait long take retirement trial run year two plan retire test drive retirement set amount months calculate social security benefits take account pension income retirement savings expect receive retirement see money last entire yearif find youll cutting close monthor cant live planned income two choices test drive might find adjust retirement spending planwe create terrific financial plan life happens said gjertsen dont realize nickeled dimed financial detriment fived tenned instead cell phones internet cable myriad monthly expenses opens new window create drain pocketbooks portfolios brutally honest want need focus much spendingretirees like anyone else need decide important sometimes means compromising altering plan said hatch gjetsen said challenging element retirees healthcare costs difficult fully adequately plan forto better figure financial plan first understand covered medicare parts b medigap policiesthis complicated area critical inmaking sure carry proper health insurance gjetsen said even know health insurance coverage plan unexpected mortgage paid one suggestion get home equity line credit retiringthis emergency purposes potentially cheaper cost funds compared credit card opens new window said gjetsen repak suggested 18 24 months worth nondiscretionary spending emergency funds savingsfor example monthly nondiscretionary spending 1000 least 18000 24000 savings separate money retirement accounts repak saidthe emergency fund money bank account fdic insured readily available penalties need make withdrawal one major questions gjertsen asks preretirement discussions whether spouses ready retirethe retiring spouse usually answers yes emphatically fact asking question spouse gjertsen said retirement difficult transition couples one person getting ready retire soon boththe retiree nonretiring spouse make adjustmentsits difficult one spouse wants retire show may create financial challenges road said gjertsen couples one parties preparing retirement opens new window avoid allornone kind thinking retirement trigger instead work toward third solution thats compromise acceptable individuals key communication expectations management prior first years retirement first spouse said gjertsen dont know many retired people sit inside day watching television said repakinstead theyre traveling volunteering pursuing hobbies even working part time problem retirees isnt finding something rather problem retirees often overcommit find lot people hard time retiring said hatch culture many people selfidentify work becomes identityso people retire recalibrate longer person dan teacher jennifer doctor redefine want hatch suggested another kind retirement test drive worried youll bored retirementi suggest dont plan vacation rather stay home pretend retired hatch said cant wait get back work end two weeks suggest think alternatives like moving parttime schedule article originally appeared gobankingrates opens new window article 5 ways test retirement readiness opens new window originally appeared foolcom try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 612 |
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<p>When Amazon.com(NASDAQ: AMZN) bought video game streaming siteTwitch for $1.1 billion two years ago, many analysts were puzzled by the acquisition. Twitch had plenty of loyal broadcasters and viewers, but it was unclear how the site would be integrated into Amazon's sprawling ecosystem.</p>
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<p>However, Amazon recently revealed its plan with Twitch Prime, a free Twitch membership for Amazon Prime customers that includes all the benefits ofthe $8.99 per month "Twitch Turbo" membership. Those benefits include ad-free viewing, exclusive access to special chat emojis and badges, 60 days of past video storage, game discounts, and free in-game goods. Twitch Prime also includes one free channel subscription, which previously cost $4.99, every month.</p>
<p>Image source: Google Play.</p>
<p>Considering that Amazon Prime costs $99 per year or $10.99 monthly, the Prime bundle is a generous deal for Twitch users, since it adds a full Prime package with discounts, free two-day shipping, video streaming, e-books from the lending library, cloud storage for photos, and other perks.Current Twitch Turbo users can also upgrade their memberships to Twitch Prime. New users, however, can only sign up for Twitch Prime in areas covered by Amazon Prime.</p>
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<p>Twitch has nearly 100 million monthly viewers andover one million broadcasters. The average viewer watches 106 minutes of gameplay every day. While Twitch's figures are tinycompared to Alphabet's YouTube, which claims to have "over a billion" users, it's still the world's most popular site for streaming video games.</p>
<p>Amazon doesn't disclose its Prime membership numbers, butresearch firm CIRP estimated that the platform had 63 million U.S. members in July -- an increase of 19 million from a year ago and accounting for over half of its customer base. CIRP claims that the average Prime shopper spent about $1,200 on the site last year, compared to just $500 for non-members.</p>
<p>Image source: Amazon.</p>
<p>That stunning difference explains why Amazon is eager to recruit more Prime customers. The company is offering free 30-day trials, special deals with its annual Prime Day sale, and aggressively expanding into homes with Kindle tablets, Dash buttons, <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/22/instant-analysis-amazoncom-incs-first-dash-powered.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">DRS-enabled Opens a New Window.</a> appliances, Echo smart speakers, and Fire TV set-top boxes.</p>
<p>Simply put, Amazon wants to take over your digital life, and absorbing the world's biggest game streaming site complements that effort. There will definitely be an overlap between Twitch Turbo and Prime members, but Amazon will also likely convert many non-Prime Turbo members to Prime -- although it's unclear exactly how many of Twitch's 100 million monthly viewers are Turbo subscribers.</p>
<p>Doing so won't generate much more revenue for Amazon, since it was already receiving the Twitch Turbo fees, but those new members might spend more money across other parts of Amazon's ecosystem.</p>
<p>Moreover, merging the Twitch and Prime worlds will also support Amazon's video game publishing efforts. Back in 2012, the company launched aninternal game development studio, Amazon Game Studios. In 2014, it beefed up that unit by acquiring Double Helix Games, the developer of Killer Instinct on the Xbox One and theStrider reboot.</p>
<p>Amazon Game Studios recently unveiled its first games with "built for Twitch" integration. These new games, including the multiplayer brawler Breakaway, feature customized real-time stat overlays, invitations for followers to join matches, notifications of matches, and new ways for broadcasters to interact with followers via polls and loyalty points that are redeemable for in-game rewards.</p>
<p>Breakaway. Image source: Amazon Game Studios.</p>
<p>These new games indicate that Amazon is serious about tying together its games on Kindle tablets, Fire TV, PCs, and other Twitch-compatible mediums onto a single platform. If these efforts succeed, "built for Twitch" games could soon be listed alongside free shipping, discounts, and video streaming as one of Prime's top perks.</p>
<p>Amazon established an early lead in the video game streaming market by taking over Twitch, but Facebookand Google are expanding into the space with the hopes of building their own stakes in this fast-growing market. Research firm Newzoo estimates that the e-sports market could grow from $325 million in 2015 to $1.1 billion by 2019.</p>
<p>Back in June, Facebook <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/10/facebook-and-activision-blizzard-partner-to-stream.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">partnered with Opens a New Window.</a>Activision Blizzardto stream Overwatch, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, and World of Warcraft game sessions on Facebook Live. Gamers could log on to those games with their Facebook accounts and simply push a "Go Live" button to stream live feeds directly to their News Feeds. Google launched YouTube Gaming, a dedicated streaming platform forgamers, last August.</p>
<p>Both Facebook and YouTube have formidable user bases, but it's unclear if either company can overtake Twitch's first-mover advantage in the market. Moreover, Amazon's seamless integration of Twitch into its Prime ecosystem could considerably widen its moat against both late arrivals in the lucrative e-sports market.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2668&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Amazon.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Activision Blizzard, Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon.com, and Facebook. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | amazoncomnasdaq amzn bought video game streaming sitetwitch 11 billion two years ago many analysts puzzled acquisition twitch plenty loyal broadcasters viewers unclear site would integrated amazons sprawling ecosystem continue reading however amazon recently revealed plan twitch prime free twitch membership amazon prime customers includes benefits ofthe 899 per month twitch turbo membership benefits include adfree viewing exclusive access special chat emojis badges 60 days past video storage game discounts free ingame goods twitch prime also includes one free channel subscription previously cost 499 every month image source google play considering amazon prime costs 99 per year 1099 monthly prime bundle generous deal twitch users since adds full prime package discounts free twoday shipping video streaming ebooks lending library cloud storage photos perkscurrent twitch turbo users also upgrade memberships twitch prime new users however sign twitch prime areas covered amazon prime advertisement twitch nearly 100 million monthly viewers andover one million broadcasters average viewer watches 106 minutes gameplay every day twitchs figures tinycompared alphabets youtube claims billion users still worlds popular site streaming video games amazon doesnt disclose prime membership numbers butresearch firm cirp estimated platform 63 million us members july increase 19 million year ago accounting half customer base cirp claims average prime shopper spent 1200 site last year compared 500 nonmembers image source amazon stunning difference explains amazon eager recruit prime customers company offering free 30day trials special deals annual prime day sale aggressively expanding homes kindle tablets dash buttons drsenabled opens new window appliances echo smart speakers fire tv settop boxes simply put amazon wants take digital life absorbing worlds biggest game streaming site complements effort definitely overlap twitch turbo prime members amazon also likely convert many nonprime turbo members prime although unclear exactly many twitchs 100 million monthly viewers turbo subscribers wont generate much revenue amazon since already receiving twitch turbo fees new members might spend money across parts amazons ecosystem moreover merging twitch prime worlds also support amazons video game publishing efforts back 2012 company launched aninternal game development studio amazon game studios 2014 beefed unit acquiring double helix games developer killer instinct xbox one thestrider reboot amazon game studios recently unveiled first games built twitch integration new games including multiplayer brawler breakaway feature customized realtime stat overlays invitations followers join matches notifications matches new ways broadcasters interact followers via polls loyalty points redeemable ingame rewards breakaway image source amazon game studios new games indicate amazon serious tying together games kindle tablets fire tv pcs twitchcompatible mediums onto single platform efforts succeed built twitch games could soon listed alongside free shipping discounts video streaming one primes top perks amazon established early lead video game streaming market taking twitch facebookand google expanding space hopes building stakes fastgrowing market research firm newzoo estimates esports market could grow 325 million 2015 11 billion 2019 back june facebook partnered opens new windowactivision blizzardto stream overwatch hearthstone heroes warcraft world warcraft game sessions facebook live gamers could log games facebook accounts simply push go live button stream live feeds directly news feeds google launched youtube gaming dedicated streaming platform forgamers last august facebook youtube formidable user bases unclear either company overtake twitchs firstmover advantage market moreover amazons seamless integration twitch prime ecosystem could considerably widen moat late arrivals lucrative esports market secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window suzanne frey executive alphabet member motley fools board directors leo sun opens new window owns shares amazoncom motley fool owns shares recommends activision blizzard alphabet shares alphabet c shares amazoncom facebook try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 647 |
<p />
<p>Frontier has added cable customers by buying them, but broadband may be more important to its future. Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR) has been in the midst of a major upheaval.</p>
<p>The company spent $10.54 billion buying Verizon's(NYSE: VZ) former wireline customers in California, Texas, and Florida. That more or less doubled its size giving it3.3 million new voice connections, 2.1 million added broadband connections, and another 1.2 million FiOS video subscribers.</p>
<p>It was a difficult transition -- one of the biggest ever switches of its kind -- but now Frontier has owned its new markets and customers since April. CEO Daniel McCarthy spoke at the recent Goldman Sachs <a href="https://cc.talkpoint.com/gold006/092016a_js/?entity=50_1HMSP2G" type="external">Communacopia 2016 event Opens a New Window.</a> (free registration required), where he updated the audience on how the acquisition was going and shared his thoughts about the future.</p>
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<p>"We're two months, I'm sorry two quarters, almost into the integration of the two properties and there's a lot of things at this point that I think are going quite well," he said. "When I look at the normal return to operations, whether that's around service orders, trouble tickets, how customers are interacting with our centers, all that's going really, really well."</p>
<p>He noted there were "still some challenges" around bringing some of its culture to the newly acquired properties. That includes on-shoring (bringing to the United States from overseas) some of its call centers. He also said that he expected better results when it comes to signing up new customers.</p>
<p>"We're still seeing a ramp on some of our marketing," he said. "We started the marketing in July and saw a lot of headwinds in the summer. We're expecting to see a lot more improvement based on seasonality as we get into the fourth quarter."</p>
<p>Frontier, like the rest of the cable and internet industry, can't control customers signups, but it can manage the bottom line. That's especially important for a company that has taken on billions in debt to finance the Verizon purchase.</p>
<p>"We're laser-focused on financials," McCarthy said, noting that the company expected to deliver about $1 billion in EBIDA. "And when you look at Q4 it should be sequentially better than that."He reconfirmed that the company plans to deliver over $4 billion from an EBIDA perspective in 2017.</p>
<p>Earlier in September, Frontier made a change at CFO with John Jureller stepping down to be replaced with R. Perley McBride. McCarthy explained that the move was in consultation with Jureller and it was done in part because his skill set was suited for the mergers and acquisitions the company had spent the last three years on, but may not have been as good a fit for the changed work needed from the position going forward.</p>
<p>"We both decided it was the right time to make a change," he said. "I was looking for a CFO who really was very operational, someone who understood telecom intimately, who could bring a view externally to us, but still wasn't going to be a long ramp as far as intimacy with Frontier."</p>
<p>That brought him to McBride, who spent much of the first half of his two-decade career at Frontier before leaving for top roles at companies, including his most recent stint as CFO at Cable &amp; Wireless Communications Plc.</p>
<p>"Perley McBride is the perfect person for us," the CEO said, explaining that during his previous tenure at the company he was extremely involved in the "nitty-gritty" of Frontier's finances. "He brings an intimacy with our systems and our processes, and with the people, most of the management team still knows Perley. He's as close to an internal candidate as you can find bringing in an external candidate."</p>
<p>Frontier plans to upgrade over 1.5 million homes to faster broadband in the next year, which will bring about 40% of the company's footprint to 50 Mbps service. That makes sense because the internet side of the market has been steadily growing while pay television has been shrinking.</p>
<p>"We're seeing the sweet spot being between 20 and 50 (Mbps)," said McCarthy. He noted that customer demand for bandwidth tends to be related to how many devices they have in their homes. "You have concurrent video streams that might be happening, but we see customers at a 20 meg or 25 meg service that are perfectly happy."</p>
<p>McCarthy added that most sales have been in the higher speed buckets, which is why the company plans to add to its capacity. In many cases, he noted, the improvements are being made in markets where Verizon had stopped improving service.</p>
<p>"We're picking very dense areas where we can go in with very low capex and transform the market," he added.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2667&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Dankline/info.aspx" type="external">Daniel Kline Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. He no longer believes any company when it comes to internet speeds. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | frontier added cable customers buying broadband may important future image source getty images continue reading frontier communications nasdaq ftr midst major upheaval company spent 1054 billion buying verizonsnyse vz former wireline customers california texas florida less doubled size giving it33 million new voice connections 21 million added broadband connections another 12 million fios video subscribers difficult transition one biggest ever switches kind frontier owned new markets customers since april ceo daniel mccarthy spoke recent goldman sachs communacopia 2016 event opens new window free registration required updated audience acquisition going shared thoughts future advertisement two months im sorry two quarters almost integration two properties theres lot things point think going quite well said look normal return operations whether thats around service orders trouble tickets customers interacting centers thats going really really well noted still challenges around bringing culture newly acquired properties includes onshoring bringing united states overseas call centers also said expected better results comes signing new customers still seeing ramp marketing said started marketing july saw lot headwinds summer expecting see lot improvement based seasonality get fourth quarter frontier like rest cable internet industry cant control customers signups manage bottom line thats especially important company taken billions debt finance verizon purchase laserfocused financials mccarthy said noting company expected deliver 1 billion ebida look q4 sequentially better thathe reconfirmed company plans deliver 4 billion ebida perspective 2017 earlier september frontier made change cfo john jureller stepping replaced r perley mcbride mccarthy explained move consultation jureller done part skill set suited mergers acquisitions company spent last three years may good fit changed work needed position going forward decided right time make change said looking cfo really operational someone understood telecom intimately could bring view externally us still wasnt going long ramp far intimacy frontier brought mcbride spent much first half twodecade career frontier leaving top roles companies including recent stint cfo cable amp wireless communications plc perley mcbride perfect person us ceo said explaining previous tenure company extremely involved nittygritty frontiers finances brings intimacy systems processes people management team still knows perley hes close internal candidate find bringing external candidate frontier plans upgrade 15 million homes faster broadband next year bring 40 companys footprint 50 mbps service makes sense internet side market steadily growing pay television shrinking seeing sweet spot 20 50 mbps said mccarthy noted customer demand bandwidth tends related many devices homes concurrent video streams might happening see customers 20 meg 25 meg service perfectly happy mccarthy added sales higher speed buckets company plans add capacity many cases noted improvements made markets verizon stopped improving service picking dense areas go low capex transform market added secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window daniel kline opens new window position stocks mentioned longer believes company comes internet speeds motley fool recommends verizon communications try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 530 |
<p>In last week’s blog, " <a href="http://community.tradeking.com/members/tk-all-star/blogs/94426-it-seems-so-right-%E2%80%93-but-it-goes-so-wrong" type="external">It Seems So Right – But It Goes So Wrong Opens a New Window.</a>," I shared an idea as to why a trade that looks like the ideal trade can be derailed by a trend in a larger timeframe. This week I have another reason why trades can sometimes look really good and turn out really bad. The indices! I have mentioned previously that at</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thewizard.com/bkch" type="external">The Wizard Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>1. Trading with the trend is the safest way to trade</p>
<p>Understanding that trading with the trend is the safest way to trade is a huge step towards becoming a successful trader</p>
<p>2. Trading Breakouts gives the greatest upside potential</p>
<p>Let’s concentrate on concept number one for this blog. When we say that trading with the trend can be the safest way to trade, most traders are not aware of how deep that statement goes. Every stock that is traded on the exchanges is subject to trend in all different timeframes. For day traders there can be trends in a one minute chart, a five minute chart, a thirty minute chart and so on. For the day traders it is important to use the trend from a larger timeframe as a compass for the directional movement of the stock in general, and use a shorter timeframe to navigate the ins and outs of the actual trade. When a day trader does this he will find that when he or she enters a trade in the same direction as the larger timeframes trend, the runs will be longer and stronger.</p>
<p>So, what if you are not a day trader? What if your trades run for days and not minutes? Actually, the same types of rules apply. Take SWK as an example. (SWK is not a recommendation – only an example for the topic of this blog.) The daily trend looks great and it is showing a nice breakout.</p>
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<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7931/1.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>But if we take a look at the weekly chart to make sure our compass is heading in the right direction we see that the trend looks good, but there is a point of resistance not too far away. The resistance level on the weekly chart is just below $76.00. This would be an area where we need to be aware there could be a retracement or a reversal on the horizon. Notice on the daily chart above,</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thewizard.com/bkch" type="external">The Wizard</a></p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7934/2.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>If you are wondering why the weekly chart is showing different signals than the daily chart it is because The Wizard provides signals for both, short term traders (daily signals) and long term traders (weekly signals).</p>
<p>Now back to the original point of this blog – the indices. SWK is part of the S&amp;P 500. Before entering a position on this stock it is going to be important that we take a look at S&amp;P 500 chart to make sure that we are on the same course that the overall market is tracking. Below you can see that they daily charts are very similar.</p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7937/3.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>And in the screen shot below you can see that the weekly charts are almost identical as well.</p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7940/4.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>The S&amp;P appears to be nearing a possible resistance level, just as SWK seems to be doing. This tells me that the strength of the index that SWK is trading in likely has a direct bearing on how well it performs. You may have heard the expression, "A rising tide lifts all boats." You might be surprised at how true that really is. The signals are still bullish but extra caution should be exercised if a trader was going to enter a position that looks like our example.</p>
<p>As a rule,&#160;it is critical that you stay focused on what the indices are doing. At <a href="http://www.thewizard.com/bkch" type="external">The Wizard</a> we believe this so strongly we are currently making our "Market Trends" indicator available for free to anyone who wishes to have it (the registration button is in the top right corner of the web site).</p>
<p>Market Trends overview -</p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7943/5.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>By clicking on the indicators you will be given a history of where the trends have been and where they are currently for the…</p>
<p>Long Term:</p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7949/6.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>Short Term:</p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7952/7.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>And the 10 Day History:</p>
<p><a href="http://community.tradeking.com/upload/0002/7955/8.jpg" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>Again, knowing the trend of the overall market can be just as critical as knowing the trend of the stock you are trading. I would encourage all of you to download this free tool. Just <a href="http://thewizard.com/bkch" type="external">click here Opens a New Window.</a> and go to the web site and register for this free tool at the top of the site.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Chris Irvin</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thewizard.com/bkch" type="external">The Wizard</a></p>
<p />
<p>TradeKing selects and defines as All-Stars certain independent market commentators who are recognized industry personalities and experienced traders and who provide timely commentary via the TradeKing All-Star blog at <a href="http://community.tradeking.com/members/tk-all-star/blogs" type="external">http://community.tradeking.com/members/tk-all-star/blogs Opens a New Window.</a>. Each All-Star commentator’s bio, related qualifications and disclosure as to their relationship with TradeKing can be found on the All-Star blog roster, available at <a href="http://community.tradeking.com/members/tk-all-star/details" type="external">http://community.tradeking.com/members/tk-all-star/details Opens a New Window.</a>. The selection of All-Stars commentators is solely based on the quality and style of the content provided. TradeKing does not measure, endorse, or monitor the performance or correctness of any statement or recommendation made by independent All-Stars commentators on TradeKing.com. Supporting documentation for any claims made in this post will be supplied upon request by the author of the post, Chris Irvin, who is solely responsible for the views expressed here. Send a private message to All-Stars using the link below the profile image.</p>
<p>Chris Irvin maintains a marketing relationship with TradeKing.</p>
<p>Any strategies discussed and examples using actual securities and price data are for educational and illustrative purposes only and do not imply a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell a particular security or to engage in any particular investment strategy. In reading content in the Trader Network, you may gain ideas about when, where, and how to invest your money. Although you may discover new ideas or rationale that may be compelling, you must ultimately decide whether or not to put your own money at risk. Consider the following when making an investment decision: your financial and tax situation, your risk profile, and transaction costs.</p> | true | 0 | last weeks blog seems right goes wrong opens new window shared idea trade looks like ideal trade derailed trend larger timeframe week another reason trades sometimes look really good turn really bad indices mentioned previously wizard opens new window continue reading 1 trading trend safest way trade understanding trading trend safest way trade huge step towards becoming successful trader 2 trading breakouts gives greatest upside potential lets concentrate concept number one blog say trading trend safest way trade traders aware deep statement goes every stock traded exchanges subject trend different timeframes day traders trends one minute chart five minute chart thirty minute chart day traders important use trend larger timeframe compass directional movement stock general use shorter timeframe navigate ins outs actual trade day trader find enters trade direction larger timeframes trend runs longer stronger day trader trades run days minutes actually types rules apply take swk example swk recommendation example topic blog daily trend looks great showing nice breakout advertisement opens new windowbut take look weekly chart make sure compass heading right direction see trend looks good point resistance far away resistance level weekly chart 7600 would area need aware could retracement reversal horizon notice daily chart wizard opens new windowif wondering weekly chart showing different signals daily chart wizard provides signals short term traders daily signals long term traders weekly signals back original point blog indices swk part sampp 500 entering position stock going important take look sampp 500 chart make sure course overall market tracking see daily charts similar opens new windowand screen shot see weekly charts almost identical well opens new windowthe sampp appears nearing possible resistance level swk seems tells strength index swk trading likely direct bearing well performs may heard expression rising tide lifts boats might surprised true really signals still bullish extra caution exercised trader going enter position looks like example rule160it critical stay focused indices wizard believe strongly currently making market trends indicator available free anyone wishes registration button top right corner web site market trends overview opens new windowby clicking indicators given history trends currently long term opens new windowshort term opens new windowand 10 day history opens new windowagain knowing trend overall market critical knowing trend stock trading would encourage download free tool click opens new window go web site register free tool top site regards chris irvin wizard tradeking selects defines allstars certain independent market commentators recognized industry personalities experienced traders provide timely commentary via tradeking allstar blog httpcommunitytradekingcommemberstkallstarblogs opens new window allstar commentators bio related qualifications disclosure relationship tradeking found allstar blog roster available httpcommunitytradekingcommemberstkallstardetails opens new window selection allstars commentators solely based quality style content provided tradeking measure endorse monitor performance correctness statement recommendation made independent allstars commentators tradekingcom supporting documentation claims made post supplied upon request author post chris irvin solely responsible views expressed send private message allstars using link profile image chris irvin maintains marketing relationship tradeking strategies discussed examples using actual securities price data educational illustrative purposes imply recommendation solicitation buy sell particular security engage particular investment strategy reading content trader network may gain ideas invest money although may discover new ideas rationale may compelling must ultimately decide whether put money risk consider following making investment decision financial tax situation risk profile transaction costs | 540 |
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<p>Image source: Bilfinger SE/ <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bilfinger/14074154115/in/photolist-nrFHFz-qJpm9i-c2BR4Y-bQ4HYZ-54cBPr-oNbxtH-nEgux8-nEgegr-nkZsMj-hpj13h-oRjqUq-7UjBan-cE76Ss-oKtd57-7UnUru-bxxCXp-7dMLuE-3kx5SE-a5sKoM-6zNHHJ-dCVFqn-dD269o-9qLWuP-79LMXR-eyUbhg-dCnySN-nCu36D-fRXUP-oiza2C-doCEUB-7rwdK9-4EjNgb-x6AQj-6BLTUK-79zW3r-ogJucs-7dML9y-c5eSsE-7dMKAj-7dMKTN-aTLg28-nMS6ui-7yZNxX-4gg92u-4itxik-67y5cs-eD2P2Q-gwmN7H-hjjLg6-5jtt6f" type="external">Flickr Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Last August, engineered biology conglomerate Intrexon and domestic energy leader Dominion Resources announced an exclusive agreement to "explore the potential" for cheap natural gas to be converted into isobutanol, a next-generation fuel blendstock. The partnership seeks to combine core strengths of each company. Specially, it offers a way for Dominion Resources to diversify and monetize its vast natural gas reserves in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions, while Intrexon will have the potential to create tremendous value from applied biology.</p>
<p>Intrexon has kept investors excited about the potential for its methanotrophic platform (that's biology-speak for "using methane as a cellular energy source"), which, arguably, it has positioned as its second most important project, afterits widely followed tools forcombating the Zika virus. The intrigue is onlygrowing stronger after a recent announcement that the pilot plant for the technology is finally operational. While there's a long way to go before the natural gas-to-fuels platform contributes to the top line -- the company is eyeing commercialization in 2018 at the earliest -- investors are right to keep a close eye on developments. Here's what you need to know.</p>
<p>Research into the topic can go off the rails pretty quickly for individual investors. "Methanotrophic" probably isn't part of your daily vocabulary, while simply looking for information about isobutanol can get confusing if articles or specs don't specify which of the four versions of butanol is being discussed.</p>
<p>Let's begin from square one. The idea being explored by Intrexon and Dominion Resources is relatively simple: Feed methane found in natural gas to engineered microbes that churn out isobutanol. Here, methane replaces the sugars from agricultural crops that are traditionally used by industrial biotech platforms as the carbon source for their microbes.</p>
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<p>While this may sound like crazy science fiction, gas-eating bacteria were among the first organisms to bust onto the scene on Earth -- beating media-friendly algae by nearly 1.7 billion years. Other companies such as LanzaTech and Industrial Microbes are developing gaseous carbon platforms and technologies, so Intrexon isn't alone in its approach.</p>
<p>Acetogens and methanogens use carbon gases instead of sugars. Image source: <a href="http://www.lanzatech.com/innovation/technical-overview/" type="external">LanzaTech Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Intrexon and Dominion Resources are interested in isobutanol's potential as a next-generation fuel blendstock. Why? It's a better renewable fuel than ethanol in almost every category that matters (except, of course, production capacity). Here's a head-to-head comparison between the first- and second-generation fuels:</p>
<p>Sounds like a slam dunk, right? Well, isobutanol is a better renewable fuel blendstock than ethanol, but it faces its own set of challenges.</p>
<p>If you thought navigating the term "biobutanol" was confusing, consider the minefield of state and federal regulations. Although certain federal regulations currently approve isobutanol for blend rates of up to 16%, safety testing is still under way, and companies with over $50 million in annual revenue are <a href="http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/emerging_biobutanol.html" type="external">not allowed to sell it Opens a New Window.</a>thanks to a tiny provision in the Clean Air Act (makes sense). There is also <a href="https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/approved-pathways-renewable-fuel" type="external">no approved isobutanol manufacturing pathway Opens a New Window.</a> that qualifies for subsidies under the Renewable Fuel Standard, which is necessary to give refiners incentive to use the renewable blendstock. In other words, Intrexon and Dominion Resources will have to:</p>
<p>There's still a question as to whether or not Intrexon's isobutanol will even be considered renewable, since the ultimate feedstock is a fossil fuel. Either way, these approval processes can require years of testing and paperwork from multiple agencies and industrial partners. It also requires the company to be operating at a substantially larger scale than its current pilot plant supports, which is an obstacle in itself. The scale-up of a methane-to-isobutanol bioprocess has some serious technical obstacles that have yet to be overcome. Thermodynamics may very well keep Intrexon from realizing its vision. I'll explore each of these hurdles in more detail in a future article.</p>
<p>Luckily, Intrexon and Dominion Resources are hardly the only game in town -- and that's actually great news for investors. BPand DuPonthave been investing in renewable isobutanol since 2004, which led to the formation of a 50-50 joint venture, called Butamax, in 2009. The pair have been operating at pilot scale since 2008 and opened a demonstration-scale facility in 2010, although they're taking a more traditional approach by using agricultural sugars and "standard" fermentation. Butamax has been instrumental in pushing regulators to consider renewable isobutanol as a gasoline blendstock, which will allow Intrexon to piggyback on those efforts. In the end, I wouldn't be surprised to see the quartet join forces and lobby the EPA on isobutanol.</p>
<p>Isobutanol certainly has its advantages over the current king of renewable fuels: ethanol. But commercialization of Intrexon's technology still faces significant regulatory and technical hurdles. Therefore, despite the internal target of 2018, I would be surprised if Intrexon has commercial operations by the end of the decade. Assuming the company can successfully scale its platform, however, the potential for isobutanol is vast once regulatory pathways open up. After all, America grew into a world-leading producer of ethanol and biodiesel virtually overnight once incentives were in place across the supply chain. For now, let's wait to see if Intrexon moves beyond pilot scale.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/24/why-intrexon-and-dominion-resources-are-excited-ab.aspx" type="external">Why Intrexon and Dominion Resources Are Excited About Natural Gas-to-Fuels Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBlacknGold/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Maxx Chatsko Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. Follow him on Twitter to keep up with developments in the engineered biology field.The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Resources. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source bilfinger se flickr opens new window continue reading last august engineered biology conglomerate intrexon domestic energy leader dominion resources announced exclusive agreement explore potential cheap natural gas converted isobutanol nextgeneration fuel blendstock partnership seeks combine core strengths company specially offers way dominion resources diversify monetize vast natural gas reserves marcellus utica shale regions intrexon potential create tremendous value applied biology intrexon kept investors excited potential methanotrophic platform thats biologyspeak using methane cellular energy source arguably positioned second important project afterits widely followed tools forcombating zika virus intrigue onlygrowing stronger recent announcement pilot plant technology finally operational theres long way go natural gastofuels platform contributes top line company eyeing commercialization 2018 earliest investors right keep close eye developments heres need know research topic go rails pretty quickly individual investors methanotrophic probably isnt part daily vocabulary simply looking information isobutanol get confusing articles specs dont specify four versions butanol discussed lets begin square one idea explored intrexon dominion resources relatively simple feed methane found natural gas engineered microbes churn isobutanol methane replaces sugars agricultural crops traditionally used industrial biotech platforms carbon source microbes advertisement may sound like crazy science fiction gaseating bacteria among first organisms bust onto scene earth beating mediafriendly algae nearly 17 billion years companies lanzatech industrial microbes developing gaseous carbon platforms technologies intrexon isnt alone approach acetogens methanogens use carbon gases instead sugars image source lanzatech opens new window intrexon dominion resources interested isobutanols potential nextgeneration fuel blendstock better renewable fuel ethanol almost every category matters except course production capacity heres headtohead comparison first secondgeneration fuels sounds like slam dunk right well isobutanol better renewable fuel blendstock ethanol faces set challenges thought navigating term biobutanol confusing consider minefield state federal regulations although certain federal regulations currently approve isobutanol blend rates 16 safety testing still way companies 50 million annual revenue allowed sell opens new windowthanks tiny provision clean air act makes sense also approved isobutanol manufacturing pathway opens new window qualifies subsidies renewable fuel standard necessary give refiners incentive use renewable blendstock words intrexon dominion resources theres still question whether intrexons isobutanol even considered renewable since ultimate feedstock fossil fuel either way approval processes require years testing paperwork multiple agencies industrial partners also requires company operating substantially larger scale current pilot plant supports obstacle scaleup methanetoisobutanol bioprocess serious technical obstacles yet overcome thermodynamics may well keep intrexon realizing vision ill explore hurdles detail future article luckily intrexon dominion resources hardly game town thats actually great news investors bpand duponthave investing renewable isobutanol since 2004 led formation 5050 joint venture called butamax 2009 pair operating pilot scale since 2008 opened demonstrationscale facility 2010 although theyre taking traditional approach using agricultural sugars standard fermentation butamax instrumental pushing regulators consider renewable isobutanol gasoline blendstock allow intrexon piggyback efforts end wouldnt surprised see quartet join forces lobby epa isobutanol isobutanol certainly advantages current king renewable fuels ethanol commercialization intrexons technology still faces significant regulatory technical hurdles therefore despite internal target 2018 would surprised intrexon commercial operations end decade assuming company successfully scale platform however potential isobutanol vast regulatory pathways open america grew worldleading producer ethanol biodiesel virtually overnight incentives place across supply chain lets wait see intrexon moves beyond pilot scale article intrexon dominion resources excited natural gastofuels opens new window originally appeared foolcom maxx chatsko opens new window position stocks mentioned follow twitter keep developments engineered biology fieldthe motley fool recommends dominion resources try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 611 |
<p>Flooding investors with a variety of emotions, earnings season can often leave investors feeling excited, relieved, or confused -- and overwhelmed. And, in the case of a company missing analysts' estimates or coming up short of management's guidance, investors may even find themselves doubting their convictions, wondering if they should start to look for new opportunities.</p>
<p>Having recently released its second quarter earning, American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) may have left some investors frustrated -- even fearful. For one, the company reported sales of $844 million, which was below analysts' estimates of $863 million. The company also reported diluted earnings per share of $0.73, dropping from the $0.77 which it reported during the same period last year and falling short of the $0.80 which analysts had anticipated. Should investors consider jumping ship? <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/25/losing-sleep-over-your-portfolio-consider-these-3.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=3c808530-8277-11e7-8bac-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Absolutely not Opens a New Window.</a>. This is one water utility which finds itself in anything but deep water.</p>
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<p>During the earnings presentation, management claimed that the year-over-year decline in earnings was not a surprise and does not indicate any missteps in the company's operations. According to management, favorable weather conditions and a contract settlement positively affected the company's EPS by $0.02 and $0.01, respectively, in Q2 2016; moreover, in the recently completed quarter, lower capital upgrades in the company's Military Services Group and a New York tax adjustment each adversely impacted EPS by $0.02.</p>
<p>Proving its confidence that the rest of the year will see smooth sailing, management --crediting several factors -- affirmed annual EPS guidance of $2.98 to $3.08 during its earnings presentation. For one thing, it anticipates growth from the regulated businesses segment in the second half of the year, stemming from the addition of about 34,000 customers from pending acquisitions. In the market-based businesses segment, management sees Keystone Clearwater contributing to earnings thanks to increased activity from a backlog of projects.</p>
<p>Expanding our perspective beyond the quarterly earnings and fiscal 2017 guidance, we find that there are plenty of other reasons why investors can sleep soundly. For example, the company is financially fit. In addition to growing its top line at a greater clip than its peers over the past five years, it has increased its operating cash flow at a superior rate.</p>
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<p>The most geographically diverse water utility, American Water Works is not susceptible to adverse local weather phenomena like some of its competitors. In fiscal 2016, for example, New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- the company's two largest regulated business markets -- accounted for 25% and 22%, respectively, of total operating revenue. Its closest competitor by market cap, Aqua America&#160;(NYSE: WTR), on the other hand, reported that Pennsylvania accounted for 52% of operating revenue in fiscal 2016.&#160;American States Water (NYSE: AWR)&#160;illustrates the danger posed by a lack of geographical diversity most clearly: California, which suffered severely from a recent drought, is the only state in which it operates in the regulated market.</p>
<p>Besides the income and cash-flow statements, American Water Works' balance sheet is another source of reassurance. The company maintains investment-grade credit ratings of "A3" and "A" from&#160;Moody's&#160;and Standard &amp; Poor's, respectively.</p>
<p>Oftentimes, it's the steady dividends that attract investors to utility stocks. And American Water Works, offering one of the best <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/08/19/5-top-dividend-stocks-in-water.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=3c808530-8277-11e7-8bac-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">dividends Opens a New Window.</a> among water stocks, is no different. Raising its payout by 22% over the past three years, management has demonstrated a clear commitment to returning cash to shareholders. But has this come at the expense of the company falling into a precarious position.?</p>
<p>No, not at all. Compared to its peers, American Water Works has consistently maintained a lower payout ratio, suggesting that management is increasing the dividend in a circumspect manner. This bodes well for investors moving forward. In fact, management has provided insight into its dividend policy.&#160;In a recent investor presentation, management forecast&#160;a 7% to 10% EPS compound annual growth rate from the $2.64 that it reported in fiscal 2015 through 2021.</p>
<p>Moving forward, investors should monitor American Water Works' commitment to its growth-through-acquisition strategy; failure to pursue this strategy effectively may compromise the company's ability to achieve its EPS guidance through 2021. Growth, of course, shouldn't come at the expense of the company's financial health, so investors can also keep an eye on the company's credit rating while watching the payout ratio as the dividend rises.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than American Water WorksWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6a67912d-f111-4b22-a7f9-10aed43d8937&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=3c808530-8277-11e7-8bac-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and American Water Works wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of August 1, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/scott81236/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=3c808530-8277-11e7-8bac-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Scott Levine Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Moody's. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=3c808530-8277-11e7-8bac-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | flooding investors variety emotions earnings season often leave investors feeling excited relieved confused overwhelmed case company missing analysts estimates coming short managements guidance investors may even find doubting convictions wondering start look new opportunities recently released second quarter earning american water works nyse awk may left investors frustrated even fearful one company reported sales 844 million analysts estimates 863 million company also reported diluted earnings per share 073 dropping 077 reported period last year falling short 080 analysts anticipated investors consider jumping ship absolutely opens new window one water utility finds anything deep water continue reading earnings presentation management claimed yearoveryear decline earnings surprise indicate missteps companys operations according management favorable weather conditions contract settlement positively affected companys eps 002 001 respectively q2 2016 moreover recently completed quarter lower capital upgrades companys military services group new york tax adjustment adversely impacted eps 002 proving confidence rest year see smooth sailing management crediting several factors affirmed annual eps guidance 298 308 earnings presentation one thing anticipates growth regulated businesses segment second half year stemming addition 34000 customers pending acquisitions marketbased businesses segment management sees keystone clearwater contributing earnings thanks increased activity backlog projects expanding perspective beyond quarterly earnings fiscal 2017 guidance find plenty reasons investors sleep soundly example company financially fit addition growing top line greater clip peers past five years increased operating cash flow superior rate advertisement geographically diverse water utility american water works susceptible adverse local weather phenomena like competitors fiscal 2016 example new jersey pennsylvania companys two largest regulated business markets accounted 25 22 respectively total operating revenue closest competitor market cap aqua america160nyse wtr hand reported pennsylvania accounted 52 operating revenue fiscal 2016160american states water nyse awr160illustrates danger posed lack geographical diversity clearly california suffered severely recent drought state operates regulated market besides income cashflow statements american water works balance sheet another source reassurance company maintains investmentgrade credit ratings a3 from160moodys160and standard amp poors respectively oftentimes steady dividends attract investors utility stocks american water works offering one best dividends opens new window among water stocks different raising payout 22 past three years management demonstrated clear commitment returning cash shareholders come expense company falling precarious position compared peers american water works consistently maintained lower payout ratio suggesting management increasing dividend circumspect manner bodes well investors moving forward fact management provided insight dividend policy160in recent investor presentation management forecast160a 7 10 eps compound annual growth rate 264 reported fiscal 2015 2021 moving forward investors monitor american water works commitment growththroughacquisition strategy failure pursue strategy effectively may compromise companys ability achieve eps guidance 2021 growth course shouldnt come expense companys financial health investors also keep eye companys credit rating watching payout ratio dividend rises 10 stocks like better american water workswhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right american water works wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns august 1 2017 scott levine opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends moodys motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 528 |
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<p>Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that gun rights activists could act to stop Democratic rival Hillary Clinton from nominating liberal U.S. Supreme Court justices, igniting yet another fire storm of criticism just as he sought to steer clear of controversy.</p>
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<p>"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks," Trump said at a rally. "Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know," he continued.</p>
<p>The U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear firearms.</p>
<p>Before the remark, Trump had been emphasizing his case against Clinton, who is leading in national opinion polls in the race for the Nov. 8 election. Some in the audience in North Carolina who were seated behind Trump could be seen wincing when he made the comment.</p>
<p>Clinton's campaign called the remark "dangerous."</p>
<p>"A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way,” it said.</p>
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<p>When asked to clarify what Trump meant, his campaign said he was referring to getting supporters of the Second Amendment to rally votes for Trump in the election.</p>
<p>"It’s called the power of unification – 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power," the Trump campaign said in its statement.</p>
<p>Immediately after Trump made his comment, many on social media accused him of effectively calling for Clinton’s assassination. In just three hours, 2nd amendment became the top trending topic on Twitter, with more than 60,000 posts mentioning the term.</p>
<p>Introducing Trump later at another rally in North Carolina, in Fayetteville, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani accused the news media of taking the remark out of context to help Clinton get elected.</p>
<p>"What he meant by that was you have the power to vote against her," Giuliani said to cheers. "You have the power to speak against her. You know why? Because you're Americans."</p>
<p>"It proves that most of the press is in the tank for Hillary Clinton," he added. "They are doing everything they can to destroy Donald Trump."</p>
<p>The U.S. Secret Service, which provides security details for both Trump and Clinton and rarely comments on political matters, when asked for a response on Trump, said: “The Secret Service is aware of the comment."</p>
<p>Trump later told Fox News Channel's "Hannity" program that “nobody in that room" thought he meant anything other than to rally support against Clinton.</p>
<p>"This is a strong powerful movement, the Second Amendment," Trump said. "Hillary wants to take your guns away. She wants to leave you unprotected in your home. This is a tremendous political movement."</p>
<p>By day's end, Trump was drawing criticism on several fronts, another chapter in a campaign marked by bitterness and partisanship.</p>
<p>Michael Hayden, a former CIA director who on Monday was among 50 Republican national security experts to denounce Trump in a letter, said on CNN, "You’re not just responsible for what you say. You are responsible for what people hear.”</p>
<p>U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a liberal firebrand who loves tweaking Trump, tweeted that the Republican nominee "makes death threats because he's a pathetic coward who can’t handle the fact that he’s losing to a girl."</p>
<p>Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway fought back in a tweet of her own, calling Warren a "disgrace."</p>
<p>GUN RIGHTS AN ISSUE</p>
<p>Gun rights, which have long stirred strong emotions in America, have been a particularly potent issue in the 2016 presidential campaign as violence has convulsed some U.S. cities.</p>
<p>Trump has planted himself firmly on the side of gun owners with a "law and order" campaign. Before his remark about Clinton on Tuesday, he had said Islamic State militants who killed 130 people in France last year could have been stopped if some of the victims had been armed.</p>
<p>The Clinton campaign has challenged Trump when in the past he has accused her of planning to abolish the Second Amendment if elected president. Clinton, in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, said, "I'm not here to repeal the Second Amendment," saying she wanted "common-sense reforms" to gun laws.</p>
<p>Tuesday's speech came on the heels of a discordant week on the campaign trail for Trump, a businessman seeking his first public office. He came under fire from within his party for belatedly endorsing fellow Republicans in re-election races and a prolonged clash with the parents of fallen Muslim American Army captain Humayun Khan.</p>
<p>On Monday, Trump seemed to be heeding Republican advice to stick to a message of criticizing Clinton and other Democrats while putting forward economic policy proposals in a speech in Detroit.</p>
<p>Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, asked if he believed Trump was inciting violence toward Clinton, told NBC’s Philadelphia affiliate: “Of course not. No."</p>
<p>But Democrats called Trump's remarks another sign of a candidate unfit for the White House.</p>
<p>“Don’t treat this as a political misstep. It’s an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy &amp; crisis," U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, said in a tweet.</p>
<p>Overall sentiment on social media posts on Trump's remarks was more negative than positive, at a ratio of 2.5 to 1, according to the social media analytics firm Zoomph. #ProtectHillary was also one of the top trending hashtags on Twitter.</p>
<p>The 50 prominent national security officials said in their letter on Monday that Trump would be "the most reckless president in American history."</p>
<p>"He appears to lack basic knowledge about and belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws and U.S. institutions, including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent judiciary," their statement said.</p>
<p>(Additional reporting and writing by Alana Wise in Washington and Angela Moon in New York; Editing by Howard Goller and Leslie Adler)</p> | true | 0 | republican presidential nominee donald trump suggested tuesday gun rights activists could act stop democratic rival hillary clinton nominating liberal us supreme court justices igniting yet another fire storm criticism sought steer clear controversy continue reading gets pick judges nothing folks trump said rally although second amendment people maybe dont know continued us constitutions second amendment guarantees right bear firearms remark trump emphasizing case clinton leading national opinion polls race nov 8 election audience north carolina seated behind trump could seen wincing made comment clintons campaign called remark dangerous person seeking president united states suggest violence way said advertisement asked clarify trump meant campaign said referring getting supporters second amendment rally votes trump election called power unification 2nd amendment people amazing spirit tremendously unified gives great political power trump campaign said statement immediately trump made comment many social media accused effectively calling clintons assassination three hours 2nd amendment became top trending topic twitter 60000 posts mentioning term introducing trump later another rally north carolina fayetteville former new york mayor rudy giuliani accused news media taking remark context help clinton get elected meant power vote giuliani said cheers power speak know youre americans proves press tank hillary clinton added everything destroy donald trump us secret service provides security details trump clinton rarely comments political matters asked response trump said secret service aware comment trump later told fox news channels hannity program nobody room thought meant anything rally support clinton strong powerful movement second amendment trump said hillary wants take guns away wants leave unprotected home tremendous political movement days end trump drawing criticism several fronts another chapter campaign marked bitterness partisanship michael hayden former cia director monday among 50 republican national security experts denounce trump letter said cnn youre responsible say responsible people hear us senator elizabeth warren liberal firebrand loves tweaking trump tweeted republican nominee makes death threats hes pathetic coward cant handle fact hes losing girl trump senior adviser kellyanne conway fought back tweet calling warren disgrace gun rights issue gun rights long stirred strong emotions america particularly potent issue 2016 presidential campaign violence convulsed us cities trump planted firmly side gun owners law order campaign remark clinton tuesday said islamic state militants killed 130 people france last year could stopped victims armed clinton campaign challenged trump past accused planning abolish second amendment elected president clinton acceptance speech democratic national convention said im repeal second amendment saying wanted commonsense reforms gun laws tuesdays speech came heels discordant week campaign trail trump businessman seeking first public office came fire within party belatedly endorsing fellow republicans reelection races prolonged clash parents fallen muslim american army captain humayun khan monday trump seemed heeding republican advice stick message criticizing clinton democrats putting forward economic policy proposals speech detroit trumps vice presidential running mate mike pence asked believed trump inciting violence toward clinton told nbcs philadelphia affiliate course democrats called trumps remarks another sign candidate unfit white house dont treat political misstep assassination threat seriously upping possibility national tragedy amp crisis us senator chris murphy democrat said tweet overall sentiment social media posts trumps remarks negative positive ratio 25 1 according social media analytics firm zoomph protecthillary also one top trending hashtags twitter 50 prominent national security officials said letter monday trump would reckless president american history appears lack basic knowledge belief us constitution us laws us institutions including religious tolerance freedom press independent judiciary statement said additional reporting writing alana wise washington angela moon new york editing howard goller leslie adler | 577 |
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<p>It's never fun to admit you're wrong, but anyone who has been involved in the markets for years knows that, much like in baseball, failure is more common than success. Last year, my <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/09/5-biotech-predictions-for-2016.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">5 Biotech Predictions for 2016 Opens a New Window.</a>, was filled with failure, including a doozy of a prediction that GW Pharmaceuticals plc(NASDAQ: GWPH) shares would slide (spoiler alert: they soared). Here are my biggest prediction gaffes in 2016, and a couple I got right, more or less.</p>
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>My first mistake was underestimating enthusiasm for Epidiolex, a promising anti-epilepsy drug derived from a purified chemical cannabinoid (CBD) found in marijuana. GW Pharmaceuticals reported three successful trials of Epidiolex last year in tough-to-treat epilepsy, and as a result, shares returned a whopping 61% in 2016. That makes my prediction that ongoing marijuana legalization would take the luster off this company's shares incredibly wrong.</p>
<p>Yes, I guessed correctly that marijuana legalization momentum would lead to more states <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/16/marijuana-mania-grips-the-nation-as-voters-overwhe.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">adopting pro-marijuana stances Opens a New Window.</a>, but I was absolutely incorrect in extrapolating that greater availability of heavy CBD strains in marijuana dispensaries would make investors question how much of the market Epidiolex could ultimately capture.</p>
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<p>I also predicted that investors would realize they were under-valuing clinical stage drug developer Portola Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PTLA), and send its shares higher.</p>
<p>As a refresher, Portola Pharmaceuticals entered 2016 expectingan FDA decision on AndexXa, which, if approved, would be the first reversal agent available for factor Xa anticoagulants that are rapidly displacing warfarin. Investors also came into last year hoping for positive phase 3 trial results for betrixaban, a factor Xa therapy Portola Pharmaceuticals is developing for use in acute, medically ill patients.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the year was a bust for the company, and its investors.</p>
<p>In March, management <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/24/portola-pharmaceuticals-betrixaban-misses-mark-but.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">reported Opens a New Window.</a> betrixaban failed a primary endpoint for statistical significance, but succeeded in treating the entire population of trial participants. The toss-up cast a shadow over betrixaban's potential to eventually win an FDA green light, causing shares to tumble.</p>
<p>Then, in August, management delivered more bad news when it <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/18/is-it-game-over-after-portolas-fda-rejection.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">reported Opens a New Window.</a> it had received a complete response letter (CRL) from the FDA on AndexXa. The FDA's CRL requested additional insight into AndexXa's manufacturing, and its efficacy and safety in drugs other than Xarelto and Eliquis, before it will render a decision.</p>
<p>That one-two combination punch caused Portola Pharmaceuticals' investors (including me) to lose 56% in 2016.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>After Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Martin Shkreli pulled back the curtain on sky-high drug price increases, I predicted biotech stocks 2016 performance would trail big pharmaceuticals performance, because big pharma stocks are more diversified, less reliant on high-priced medicines, and they've embraced cost-cutting, and dividend increases.</p>
<p>While I was right to think that biotech stocks would struggle, pharmaceuticals, as a whole, didn't do a heck of a lot better. One pharmaceutical stock I highlighted, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), did manage to eek out a 4.4% gain in 2016, but overall, the industry was mostly a miss. For instance, the VanEck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF's17.8% loss outperformed the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF's21.4% loss, but the SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETFlost 23.2%.</p>
<p>I did a bit better with my prediction that safety risks could emerge as CAR-T trials expand to include more patients. This summer, Juno Therapeutics' lead CAR-T candidate, JCAR015, was temporarily halted following patient deaths due to brain swelling, and the program was <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/12/07/why-juno-therapeutics-crashed-193-in-november.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">halted again this fall Opens a New Window.</a>, when additional deaths occurred because of the same risk.</p>
<p>But, the flip-side of my argument was that CAR-T risks would shift investor interest to other next-generation cancer fighting approaches, including NantKwest'snatural killer cell approach and then, soon-to-IPOEditas' CRISPR/Cas approach.</p>
<p>CRISPR/Cas did catch a lot of attention in 2016, but it was more due to ongoing patent disputes than anything else, and shares of CRISPR/Cas companies, including Editas fell last year. Meanwhile, NantKwest continues to work on its natural killer cell pipeline, but its shares got clobbered last year, as investors abandoned clinical-stage companies altogether.</p>
<p>I also thought we could get one step closer to a new Alzheimer's therapy in 2016, and in some ways we moved forward.</p>
<p>In December, Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/12/10/is-biogens-aducanumab-a-game-changing-alzheimers-d.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">reported Opens a New Window.</a> updated phase 1b results for aducanumab showing that, at the 54-week mark, there was a statistically significant reduction of amyloid plaque compared to placebo, anda slowing in disease progression versus placebo.</p>
<p>Undeniably, that's good news. But we're still years away from getting late stage trial results that could confirm aducanumab's efficacy, validate its safety, or get this drug across the FDA finish line.</p>
<p>Alternatively,Eli Lilly &amp; Co. <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/11/23/eli-lillys-alzheimers-drug-is-a-bust.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">reported Opens a New Window.</a> less inspiring results, when in November, management announced that its Alzheimer's disease drug, solanezumab, failed to improve cognition in Alzheimer's disease patients, and that it would shut-down its development.</p>
<p>GW Pharmaceuticals plans to file Epidiolex for approval in the first half of this year, and depending on the timing, it appears that GW Pharmaceuticals will be in a holding pattern until late 2017 or early 2018, when an FDA decision would be likely.</p>
<p>Meanwhile,the FDA recently accepted Portola Pharmaceuticals' betrixaban for accelerated review, and a go/no-go is on tap for June 2017. Similarly, AndexXa could finally get the FDA OK this year, too. Unquestionably, if the FDA grants a green light on both drugs, it would be welcome news to shareholders.</p>
<p>In Alzheimer's disease, we'll get data todigest from Axovant this year, and in CAR-T, the first CAR-T could win an FDA go ahead in 2017, assuming, of course, thatKite Pharmaexecutes on plans to file KTE-C19 for approval in Q1.</p>
<p>Overall, I'd love to take a mulligan on these 2016 predictions, but since I can't, I'll need to remind myself that investing is a long-term proposition, and that diversification -- as always -- is critical, particularly in biotech.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Biogen When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=18905220-54a1-407b-82a0-656be227b0e8&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Biogen wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=18905220-54a1-407b-82a0-656be227b0e8&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of Nov. 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/EBCapitalMarkets/info.aspx" type="external">Todd Campbell Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Pfizer and Portola Pharmaceuticals.Todd owns E.B. Capital Markets, LLC. E.B. Capital's clients may have positions in the companies mentioned.Like this article? Follow him onTwitter where he goes by the handle <a href="https://twitter.com/ebcapital" type="external">@ebcapital Opens a New Window.</a>to see more articles like this.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Biogen and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Juno Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | never fun admit youre wrong anyone involved markets years knows much like baseball failure common success last year 5 biotech predictions 2016 opens new window filled failure including doozy prediction gw pharmaceuticals plcnasdaq gwph shares would slide spoiler alert soared biggest prediction gaffes 2016 couple got right less continue reading image source getty images first mistake underestimating enthusiasm epidiolex promising antiepilepsy drug derived purified chemical cannabinoid cbd found marijuana gw pharmaceuticals reported three successful trials epidiolex last year toughtotreat epilepsy result shares returned whopping 61 2016 makes prediction ongoing marijuana legalization would take luster companys shares incredibly wrong yes guessed correctly marijuana legalization momentum would lead states adopting promarijuana stances opens new window absolutely incorrect extrapolating greater availability heavy cbd strains marijuana dispensaries would make investors question much market epidiolex could ultimately capture advertisement also predicted investors would realize undervaluing clinical stage drug developer portola pharmaceuticals nasdaq ptla send shares higher refresher portola pharmaceuticals entered 2016 expectingan fda decision andexxa approved would first reversal agent available factor xa anticoagulants rapidly displacing warfarin investors also came last year hoping positive phase 3 trial results betrixaban factor xa therapy portola pharmaceuticals developing use acute medically ill patients unfortunately year bust company investors march management reported opens new window betrixaban failed primary endpoint statistical significance succeeded treating entire population trial participants tossup cast shadow betrixabans potential eventually win fda green light causing shares tumble august management delivered bad news reported opens new window received complete response letter crl fda andexxa fdas crl requested additional insight andexxas manufacturing efficacy safety drugs xarelto eliquis render decision onetwo combination punch caused portola pharmaceuticals investors including lose 56 2016 image source getty images valeant pharmaceuticals martin shkreli pulled back curtain skyhigh drug price increases predicted biotech stocks 2016 performance would trail big pharmaceuticals performance big pharma stocks diversified less reliant highpriced medicines theyve embraced costcutting dividend increases right think biotech stocks would struggle pharmaceuticals whole didnt heck lot better one pharmaceutical stock highlighted pfizer nyse pfe manage eek 44 gain 2016 overall industry mostly miss instance vaneck vectors pharmaceutical etfs178 loss outperformed ishares nasdaq biotechnology etfs214 loss spdr sampp pharmaceuticals etflost 232 bit better prediction safety risks could emerge cart trials expand include patients summer juno therapeutics lead cart candidate jcar015 temporarily halted following patient deaths due brain swelling program halted fall opens new window additional deaths occurred risk flipside argument cart risks would shift investor interest nextgeneration cancer fighting approaches including nantkwestsnatural killer cell approach soontoipoeditas crisprcas approach crisprcas catch lot attention 2016 due ongoing patent disputes anything else shares crisprcas companies including editas fell last year meanwhile nantkwest continues work natural killer cell pipeline shares got clobbered last year investors abandoned clinicalstage companies altogether also thought could get one step closer new alzheimers therapy 2016 ways moved forward december biogen nasdaq biib reported opens new window updated phase 1b results aducanumab showing 54week mark statistically significant reduction amyloid plaque compared placebo anda slowing disease progression versus placebo undeniably thats good news still years away getting late stage trial results could confirm aducanumabs efficacy validate safety get drug across fda finish line alternativelyeli lilly amp co reported opens new window less inspiring results november management announced alzheimers disease drug solanezumab failed improve cognition alzheimers disease patients would shutdown development gw pharmaceuticals plans file epidiolex approval first half year depending timing appears gw pharmaceuticals holding pattern late 2017 early 2018 fda decision would likely meanwhilethe fda recently accepted portola pharmaceuticals betrixaban accelerated review gonogo tap june 2017 similarly andexxa could finally get fda ok year unquestionably fda grants green light drugs would welcome news shareholders alzheimers disease well get data todigest axovant year cart first cart could win fda go ahead 2017 assuming course thatkite pharmaexecutes plans file ktec19 approval q1 overall id love take mulligan 2016 predictions since cant ill need remind investing longterm proposition diversification always critical particularly biotech 10 stocks like better biogen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right biogen wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns nov 7 2016 todd campbell opens new window owns shares pfizer portola pharmaceuticalstodd owns eb capital markets llc eb capitals clients may positions companies mentionedlike article follow ontwitter goes handle ebcapital opens new windowto see articles like motley fool owns shares recommends biogen valeant pharmaceuticals motley fool recommends juno therapeutics motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 757 |
<p>Wall Street futures point to a lower open</p>
<p>-- Technology shares gain in Asia</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>-- Europe markets fall ahead of ECB minutes</p>
<p>The week's equities rebound slowed Thursday, as global benchmarks were mixed following the release of central-bank minutes in the U.S. and Europe.</p>
<p>The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 0.2% after a brief upward swing, while futures signaled the S&amp;P 500 will open 0.2% lower.</p>
<p>The European Central Bank said in its minutes from its last meeting that inflation still needed to show "convincing signs of a pickup."</p>
<p>Minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's July meeting were also on the minds of global investors Thursday after it showed disagreement over the timeline for future interest-rate increases in the U.S.</p>
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<p>Despite the divisions in the Fed minutes, they still showed agreement over the central bank's plan to soon begin winding down its balance sheet.</p>
<p>"Now that the economy is in a good place with healthy growth and a labor market, the Fed's taken the view the 10-year yield should be a little bit higher," said Mike Bell, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management.</p>
<p>The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose to 2.243% Thursday from 2.224% Wednesday, according to data from Tradeweb.</p>
<p>In U.S. premarket trading, Cisco Systems Inc. fell 2.5%. The technology company was one of the worst performers after reporting that its revenue fell.</p>
<p>In Asia, technology-heavy markets in Taiwan and South Korea advanced. Samsung Electronics climbed 1.8% and some Taiwanese tech stocks made similar advances.</p>
<p>The region's biggest tech company, Tencent, rose 1.9% following stronger-than-expected second-quarter results. Even so, sliding financial and property stocks kept Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng pressured, down 0.2%.</p>
<p>Along with geopolitical concerns, the prospect of monetary tightening in developed markets has been a factor in cooling foreign buying of Asian stocks, said Khoon Goh, ANZ's head of Asia research, noting that foreigners have pulled a net $2.8 billion from the region's equity markets, excluding China, this month.</p>
<p>The dollar softened overnight as the market digested the Fed minutes, a decline that continued during Asian trading. The WSJ Dollar Index, which measures the dollar against a basket of currencies, on Thursday was up 0.2%.</p>
<p>The dollar's earlier decline pressured stocks in Japan, with the Nikkei down 0.1%.</p>
<p>Concerns about a stronger yen's impact on Japan's exporters -- a major part of the country's economy -- send exporters' stocks and often the broader market lower when the currency records even moderate gains. But data out Thursday showed Japan's July exports were up 13% from a year earlier, the eighth straight monthly increase.</p>
<p>--Kenan Machado contributed to this article.</p>
<p>Write to Ese Erheriene at ese.erheriene@wsj.com</p>
<p>U.S. stocks retreated broadly Thursday, with retail and technology companies suffering some of the biggest losses.</p>
<p>All 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down in recent trading, as were the 11 major sectors of the S&amp;P 500.</p>
<p>The Dow industrials declined 179 points, or 0.8%, to 21846, while the S&amp;P 500 shed 1%. The Nasdaq Composite was down 1.3%.</p>
<p>Wall Street's "fear gauge," the CBOE Volatility Index, jumped 23%.</p>
<p>Major U.S. stock indexes were on track for their biggest declines since last Thursday, when a spate of weak earnings and tensions with North Korea roiled markets around the world.</p>
<p>A day after some retailers helped U.S. stocks bounce back, brick-and-mortar stores were once again contributing to broader market declines.</p>
<p>Victoria's Secret parent L Brands was one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&amp;P 500, falling 6% after the company cut its forecast for the remainder of the year. Big-box retailer Wal-Mart Stores declined nearly 2% after the company reported lower profit on higher same-store sales.</p>
<p>Mark Stoeckle, chief executive and senior portfolio manager of Adams Funds, said his firm owns shares of the retailer and believes its sales growth amid the industry's broader struggles makes it attractive.</p>
<p>The pullback "could be a good opportunity for people who don't own Wal-Mart," said Mr. Stoeckle.</p>
<p>His firm also weighed adding to its Cisco Systems position in a meeting Thursday morning, but executives felt it was competing against companies that showed better growth, he said. "Doing OK in an environment where you got too many opportunities isn't good enough," Mr. Stoeckle added.</p>
<p>Shares of Cisco shed 4.3% after the company said revenue fell last quarter.</p>
<p>NetApp fell roughly 6% after the company issued sales guidance that fell on the low end of analyst projections, even though it beat quarterly earnings expectations.</p>
<p>When shares fall after companies top projections, that could suggest some pockets of the market have reached a peak, some investors said.</p>
<p>"When good news isn't rewarded, that tends to give you pause," said Michael Scanlon, a portfolio manager at Manulife Asset Management.</p>
<p>As U.S. stocks retreated, investments considered to be relatively safe stores of value, such as U.S. Treasurys and gold, were up.</p>
<p>The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.203%, according to Tradeweb, from 2.224% Wednesday. Yields fall as bond prices rise.</p>
<p>Gold for August delivery gained 0.7%, to $1,286.40 an ounce.</p>
<p>Elsewhere around the world, stocks were mixed following the release of central-bank minutes in the U.S. and Europe.</p>
<p>The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.6% after a brief upward swing.</p>
<p>Minutes from the European Central Bank's latest meeting suggested the central bank is wary of pulling back too soon on its large bond-buying program, especially as inflation isn't yet at its target.</p>
<p>The Federal Reserve minutes, released Wednesday, showed disagreement over the timeline for future interest-rate increases in the U.S.</p>
<p>An earlier decline in the dollar pressured stocks in Japan, with the Nikkei Stock Average falling 0.1%.</p>
<p>Write to Michael Wursthorn at Michael.Wursthorn@wsj.com and Justin Yang at Justin.Yang@wsj.com</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>August 17, 2017 15:13 ET (19:13 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | wall street futures point lower open technology shares gain asia continue reading europe markets fall ahead ecb minutes weeks equities rebound slowed thursday global benchmarks mixed following release centralbank minutes us europe stoxx europe 600 02 brief upward swing futures signaled sampp 500 open 02 lower european central bank said minutes last meeting inflation still needed show convincing signs pickup minutes us federal reserves july meeting also minds global investors thursday showed disagreement timeline future interestrate increases us advertisement despite divisions fed minutes still showed agreement central banks plan soon begin winding balance sheet economy good place healthy growth labor market feds taken view 10year yield little bit higher said mike bell global market strategist jpmorgan asset management yield us 10year treasury yield rose 2243 thursday 2224 wednesday according data tradeweb us premarket trading cisco systems inc fell 25 technology company one worst performers reporting revenue fell asia technologyheavy markets taiwan south korea advanced samsung electronics climbed 18 taiwanese tech stocks made similar advances regions biggest tech company tencent rose 19 following strongerthanexpected secondquarter results even sliding financial property stocks kept hong kongs benchmark hang seng pressured 02 along geopolitical concerns prospect monetary tightening developed markets factor cooling foreign buying asian stocks said khoon goh anzs head asia research noting foreigners pulled net 28 billion regions equity markets excluding china month dollar softened overnight market digested fed minutes decline continued asian trading wsj dollar index measures dollar basket currencies thursday 02 dollars earlier decline pressured stocks japan nikkei 01 concerns stronger yens impact japans exporters major part countrys economy send exporters stocks often broader market lower currency records even moderate gains data thursday showed japans july exports 13 year earlier eighth straight monthly increase kenan machado contributed article write ese erheriene eseerherienewsjcom us stocks retreated broadly thursday retail technology companies suffering biggest losses 30 companies dow jones industrial average recent trading 11 major sectors sampp 500 dow industrials declined 179 points 08 21846 sampp 500 shed 1 nasdaq composite 13 wall streets fear gauge cboe volatility index jumped 23 major us stock indexes track biggest declines since last thursday spate weak earnings tensions north korea roiled markets around world day retailers helped us stocks bounce back brickandmortar stores contributing broader market declines victorias secret parent l brands one worstperforming stocks sampp 500 falling 6 company cut forecast remainder year bigbox retailer walmart stores declined nearly 2 company reported lower profit higher samestore sales mark stoeckle chief executive senior portfolio manager adams funds said firm owns shares retailer believes sales growth amid industrys broader struggles makes attractive pullback could good opportunity people dont walmart said mr stoeckle firm also weighed adding cisco systems position meeting thursday morning executives felt competing companies showed better growth said ok environment got many opportunities isnt good enough mr stoeckle added shares cisco shed 43 company said revenue fell last quarter netapp fell roughly 6 company issued sales guidance fell low end analyst projections even though beat quarterly earnings expectations shares fall companies top projections could suggest pockets market reached peak investors said good news isnt rewarded tends give pause said michael scanlon portfolio manager manulife asset management us stocks retreated investments considered relatively safe stores value us treasurys gold yield 10year treasury note fell 2203 according tradeweb 2224 wednesday yields fall bond prices rise gold august delivery gained 07 128640 ounce elsewhere around world stocks mixed following release centralbank minutes us europe stoxx europe 600 fell 06 brief upward swing minutes european central banks latest meeting suggested central bank wary pulling back soon large bondbuying program especially inflation isnt yet target federal reserve minutes released wednesday showed disagreement timeline future interestrate increases us earlier decline dollar pressured stocks japan nikkei stock average falling 01 write michael wursthorn michaelwursthornwsjcom justin yang justinyangwsjcom end dow jones newswires august 17 2017 1513 et 1913 gmt | 637 |
<p>ANALYSIS/OPINION:</p>
<p><a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a>, or rather its parent company Alphabet, got used to dominating <a href="/topics/washington/" type="external">Washington</a> under President <a href="/topics/barack-obama/" type="external">Barack Obama</a>’s rule. Perhaps, that’s why they’d like to see President Donald Trump impeached.</p>
<p>“Some of us may need to adopt Pence 2017 bumper stickers,” <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a>’s cofounder Sergey Brin joked at a company sponsored anti-Trump protest — the biggest demonstration from a Silicon Valley corporation this week — in response to Mr. Trump’s controversial immigration executive order.</p>
<p>More than 2,000 <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> employees attended the protest on Monday, with it becoming a trending topic on Twitter with the hashtag #GooglersUnite. The rally came 24 hours after <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> donated $2 million to the ACLU and Immigrant Legal Resource Center, to help fight Mr. Trump’s executive order, which was matched by $2 million in donations from <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> employees.</p>
<p>The week prior, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> lawyers flooded the California office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, demanding she oppose Sen. Jeff Sessions’ confirmation as attorney general.</p>
<p>After investing millions ingraining itself within the Obama White House, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> is suddenly on the outside looking in with the Trump administration — and it clearly has <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> rattled — protesting Mr. Trump in private, and then publicly trying to cozy up with him the next.</p>
<p>Eric Schmidt, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a>’s former CEO and chair of Alphabet, has traveled to Trump Tower a least twice to meet with the president and his team, but hasn’t made any real progress.</p>
<p>Maybe that’s because last week — before Mr. Trump signed his immigration order — Mr. Schmidt told <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> employees that the Trump administration is “going to do these evil things as they’ve done in the immigration area and perhaps some others.”</p>
<p><a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a>’s corporate mantra is “don’t be evil.”</p>
<p>And yet, like any firm, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> needs to make money, and it’s benefited from peddling soft influence in the nation’s capital. Now that a new sheriff is in town, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> needs to at least pretend to play nice — or all be lost.</p>
<p>Alphabet cut ties with the Podesta Group, the Democratic-leaning lobbying arm run by John Podesta, the brother of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, Bloomberg News reported. It’s also sponsored GOP outreach parties in <a href="/topics/washington/" type="external">Washington</a>, working with the conservative The Independent Journal Review to connect with conservative lawmakers, The New York Times detailed.</p>
<p>In a lengthy Forbes profile on Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushnar, Mr. Schmidt lavished on the praise, saying Mr. Kushnar was “the biggest surprise of the 2016 election,” and that “best I can tell, he actually ran the campaign and did it with essentially no resources.”</p>
<p>But, coming from a man who Mrs. Clinton has described as her “longtime friend,” who helped design her campaign’s voter targeting software, and from a company that was accused of rigging its search results to favor Mrs. Clinton throughout the 2016 contest, all of that may be too much for the Trump team.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> has denied it ever manipulated its “autocomplete” function to steer users toward a search for “Hillary Clinton crime reform” when searching “Hillary Clinton crimes,” and “Hillary Clinton India” instead of “Hillary Clinton indictment.”</p>
<p>Still, there’s no doubt, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a>’s culture — and profits — were deeply rooted within the Obama administration, and would continue under Mrs. Clinton.</p>
<p>When <a href="/topics/barack-obama/" type="external">Mr. Obama</a> looked to open Cuba, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> was there offering to expand internet access. It also jumped into save the blundering healthcare.gov website, and capitalized on providing its fiber into low-income urban neighborhoods. When <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> was the target of a Federal Trade Commission investigation for anti-competitive practices, the government closed the case without any charges — although similar ones have been made overseas and are ongoing.</p>
<p>Megan Smith, a former <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> vice president, was Mr. Obama’s chief technology officer, with the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit watchdog organization, identifying 258 more instances of so-called revolving door activity between <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> and the <a href="/topics/washington/" type="external">Washington</a> establishment. Johanna Shelton, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a>’s director of public policy, visited <a href="/topics/barack-obama/" type="external">Obama</a>’s White House more than any other corporate lobbyist, the watchdog found.</p>
<p>Before Mr. Obama took office, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> spent almost no money trying to peddle political influence, now it’s a behemoth. It spent more than $15 million in lobbying in 2016, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, compared with $2.8 million in 2008. During Mr. Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> employees were the second-largest source of donations by any single U.S. company, with Microsoft being number one.</p>
<p>At the Federal Communications Commission, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> seemed to have free reign. It’s currently looking to get into the cable set-top box business, as well as get spectrum — that was reserved for broadcast companies — to offer Wi-Fi services.</p>
<p>“It seems that whatever <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> wants, <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> gets from [the FCC],” a broadcast industry lobbyist told TV Newscheck last year. Another one added: “What’s frustrating is this gut reaction among regulators that if <a href="/topics/google/" type="external">Google</a> says something, it’s good, but if a traditional media company says something, it’s questionable.”</p>
<p>Well, all of that may be ending.</p>
<p>•&#160;Kelly Riddell is a columnist for The Washington Times.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/xGjXcUKYsKxMeCUl1" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 0 | analysisopinion google rather parent company alphabet got used dominating washington president barack obamas rule perhaps thats theyd like see president donald trump impeached us may need adopt pence 2017 bumper stickers googles cofounder sergey brin joked company sponsored antitrump protest biggest demonstration silicon valley corporation week response mr trumps controversial immigration executive order 2000 google employees attended protest monday becoming trending topic twitter hashtag googlersunite rally came 24 hours google donated 2 million aclu immigrant legal resource center help fight mr trumps executive order matched 2 million donations google employees week prior google lawyers flooded california office sen dianne feinstein demanding oppose sen jeff sessions confirmation attorney general investing millions ingraining within obama white house google suddenly outside looking trump administration clearly google rattled protesting mr trump private publicly trying cozy next eric schmidt googles former ceo chair alphabet traveled trump tower least twice meet president team hasnt made real progress maybe thats last week mr trump signed immigration order mr schmidt told google employees trump administration going evil things theyve done immigration area perhaps others googles corporate mantra dont evil yet like firm google needs make money benefited peddling soft influence nations capital new sheriff town google needs least pretend play nice lost alphabet cut ties podesta group democraticleaning lobbying arm run john podesta brother hillary clintons campaign chairman bloomberg news reported also sponsored gop outreach parties washington working conservative independent journal review connect conservative lawmakers new york times detailed lengthy forbes profile mr trumps soninlaw jared kushnar mr schmidt lavished praise saying mr kushnar biggest surprise 2016 election best tell actually ran campaign essentially resources coming man mrs clinton described longtime friend helped design campaigns voter targeting software company accused rigging search results favor mrs clinton throughout 2016 contest may much trump team google denied ever manipulated autocomplete function steer users toward search hillary clinton crime reform searching hillary clinton crimes hillary clinton india instead hillary clinton indictment still theres doubt googles culture profits deeply rooted within obama administration would continue mrs clinton mr obama looked open cuba google offering expand internet access also jumped save blundering healthcaregov website capitalized providing fiber lowincome urban neighborhoods google target federal trade commission investigation anticompetitive practices government closed case without charges although similar ones made overseas ongoing megan smith former google vice president mr obamas chief technology officer campaign accountability nonprofit watchdog organization identifying 258 instances socalled revolving door activity google washington establishment johanna shelton googles director public policy visited obamas white house corporate lobbyist watchdog found mr obama took office google spent almost money trying peddle political influence behemoth spent 15 million lobbying 2016 according center responsive politics compared 28 million 2008 mr obamas 2012 reelection campaign google employees secondlargest source donations single us company microsoft number one federal communications commission google seemed free reign currently looking get cable settop box business well get spectrum reserved broadcast companies offer wifi services seems whatever google wants google gets fcc broadcast industry lobbyist told tv newscheck last year another one added whats frustrating gut reaction among regulators google says something good traditional media company says something questionable well may ending 160kelly riddell columnist washington times copyright 2018 washington times llc click reprint permission 160 | 532 |
<p />
<p>With the oil and gas industry waking back up after a long slumber, investors are likely looking to add some energy stocks to their portfolios. With so many options out there, though, it can be hard to pick the right one.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>So, we asked two of our energy contributors to highlight a couple of oil and gas stocks on their own radars. The two they selected were EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG) and Transocean (NYSE: RIG). Here's a quick run-down on why each is a stock worth buying this year.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx" type="external">Matt DiLallo Opens a New Window.</a> (EOG Resources): The oil market appears to be improving, which has oil companies getting back to work drilling wells. However, while most producers are focused on growing production to capture higher prices, EOG Resources'focus is on earning the best returns it can in any market environment. To reach that goal, EOG set a high hurdle rate, which is that a drilling location mustachieve a 30% after-tax rate of return at $40 oil before it considers using that site to fuel growth.</p>
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<p>While this initially eliminated a large swath of drillable inventory, it forced the company to get creative to improve returns. For example, EOG found that drilling longer horizontal wells can significantly improve results, so it started strategically acquiringadjacent acreage. Meanwhile, it tested innovative well completion designs using more sand, which has also improved returns. As a result, its inventory of premium wells has increased significantly over the past year so that it now has more than a decade of locations it can use to drive growth going forward.</p>
<p>It is such a bountiful resource position that the company projects it can increase its production by a 15% compound annual rate through 2020 while living within cash flow at just $50 oil. Meanwhile, if crude averages $60 per barrel, it can accelerate its growth rate up to 25% compounded annually. Those growth rates blow the competition out of the water, with most rivals needing crude north of $55 per barrel to come close to delivering double-digit annual output growth within cash flow.</p>
<p>Because of this flexibility, EOG Resources offers investors the best of both worlds for the current environment, making it the perfect oil stock to buy this year. Not only can it thrive if prices meander along in 2017 by delivering exceptional returns and substantial growth at lower prices, but it has the ability to ramp up growth and returns quickly should prices start running up, giving investors the ability to capture that upside.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFDirtyBird/info.aspx" type="external">Tyler Crowe Opens a New Window.</a> (Transocean):For investors who want an opportunity to buy a stock in oil and gas now with hopes of a little longer-term payoff, I think Transocean is the stock worth looking at.</p>
<p>From a business standpoint, it's a solid, well-run company in a part of the industry that's still feeling the pinch. Oil and gas producers -- the ones that hire Transocean's rigs -- have still been a little gun-shy about spending big on offshore development. Part of that is because the price of oil hasn't risen enough to justify the higher costs related to these kinds of developments, but another reason is that shale drilling in the U.S. is taking a lot of those capital spending dollars as of late. The faster returns on shale are allowing companies to quickly take advantage of rising oil prices and put some much needed cash in their coffers.</p>
<p>While shale's role in the global oil market is fairly well cemented, it alone won't be enough to meet the needs of growing global demand and replace the decline at existing reserves. When this happens, producers will turn to the offshore market again and look to rent out Transocean's rigs.</p>
<p>It also helps Transocean's case that it has completely transformed its fleet in recent years. It has gone from owning one of the oldest fleet of rigs to owning a huge fleet of new, high-specification rigs capable of handling the most challenging drilling work. It also helps that it was able to do this fleet turnover without completely blowing up its balance sheet. Based on management's perspectives, it has plenty of cash on hand and available liquidity to see it through at least a few more years of market weakness.</p>
<p>Image source: Transcoean investor presentation.</p>
<p>The other component that makes Transocean an attractive investment is that its stock price is so cheap today. At a price to tangible book value of just 0.3 times, that is a great price to pay in 2017 in anticipation of a market turnaround.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than EOG Resources When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6d961878-af52-431b-9ee9-895b85f8c30e&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now...and EOG Resources wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6d961878-af52-431b-9ee9-895b85f8c30e&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of January 4, 2017.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx" type="external">Matt DiLallo</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFDirtyBird/info.aspx" type="external">Tyler Crowe</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of EOG Resources. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | oil gas industry waking back long slumber investors likely looking add energy stocks portfolios many options though hard pick right one continue reading asked two energy contributors highlight couple oil gas stocks radars two selected eog resources nyse eog transocean nyse rig heres quick rundown stock worth buying year image source getty images matt dilallo opens new window eog resources oil market appears improving oil companies getting back work drilling wells however producers focused growing production capture higher prices eog resourcesfocus earning best returns market environment reach goal eog set high hurdle rate drilling location mustachieve 30 aftertax rate return 40 oil considers using site fuel growth advertisement initially eliminated large swath drillable inventory forced company get creative improve returns example eog found drilling longer horizontal wells significantly improve results started strategically acquiringadjacent acreage meanwhile tested innovative well completion designs using sand also improved returns result inventory premium wells increased significantly past year decade locations use drive growth going forward bountiful resource position company projects increase production 15 compound annual rate 2020 living within cash flow 50 oil meanwhile crude averages 60 per barrel accelerate growth rate 25 compounded annually growth rates blow competition water rivals needing crude north 55 per barrel come close delivering doubledigit annual output growth within cash flow flexibility eog resources offers investors best worlds current environment making perfect oil stock buy year thrive prices meander along 2017 delivering exceptional returns substantial growth lower prices ability ramp growth returns quickly prices start running giving investors ability capture upside tyler crowe opens new window transoceanfor investors want opportunity buy stock oil gas hopes little longerterm payoff think transocean stock worth looking business standpoint solid wellrun company part industry thats still feeling pinch oil gas producers ones hire transoceans rigs still little gunshy spending big offshore development part price oil hasnt risen enough justify higher costs related kinds developments another reason shale drilling us taking lot capital spending dollars late faster returns shale allowing companies quickly take advantage rising oil prices put much needed cash coffers shales role global oil market fairly well cemented alone wont enough meet needs growing global demand replace decline existing reserves happens producers turn offshore market look rent transoceans rigs also helps transoceans case completely transformed fleet recent years gone owning one oldest fleet rigs owning huge fleet new highspecification rigs capable handling challenging drilling work also helps able fleet turnover without completely blowing balance sheet based managements perspectives plenty cash hand available liquidity see least years market weakness image source transcoean investor presentation component makes transocean attractive investment stock price cheap today price tangible book value 03 times great price pay 2017 anticipation market turnaround 10 stocks like better eog resources investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right nowand eog resources wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns january 4 2017 matt dilallo position stocks mentioned tyler crowe position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares eog resources motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 528 |
<p>After an 11-month legal face-off, <a href="" type="internal">Microsoft</a> and European antitrust officials yesterday <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142360/EU_accepts_Microsoft_deal_on_browser_choice" type="external">signed off on the ballot screen concept Opens a New Window.</a> that will give Windows users a chance to download rivals' browsers.</p>
<p>It was a hard and winding road.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Ever since European regulators slapped <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9137060/Microsoft_Update_Latest_news_features_reviews_opinions_and_more" type="external">Microsoft Opens a New Window.</a> with antitrust charges in January 2009, forcing the company to provide a so-called "ballot screen" to users has been the EU's strategy. Microsoft, however, resisted fiercely, going so far as to temporarily <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9134280/Microsoft_caves_to_EU_antitrust_pressure_over_IE" type="external">dump Internet Explorer (IE) from Windows 7 Opens a New Window.</a> , in the hope that the move would appease the people in Brussels.</p>
<p>It didn't. So after what the <a href="" type="internal">European Commission</a> called "extensive discussions," <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135894/Microsoft_offers_choice_of_browsers_in_Windows_7_to_satisfy_EU" type="external">Microsoft caved yet again Opens a New Window.</a> , putting forward a proposal that many of its competitors saw as flawed at best, self-serving at worst. That proposal went through two more drafts before the EU was satisfied.</p>
<p>But now that the battle's over and the ink has dried, how will the ballot screen work? That's what we're here to answer.</p>
<p>What's Microsoft promised? Microsoft has agreed to provide a "ballot screen" to most European customers that will offer links to downloads of rival browsers. Antitrust regulators in the European Commission have been high on that idea for nearly a year now.</p>
<p>From the commission's point of view, Microsoft's bundling of Internet Explorer (IE) with Windows has been an abuse of its dominant position in the operating system market. In January, the commission said <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9126299/EU_Microsoft_shields_IE_from_competition" type="external">Microsoft "shields" IE Opens a New Window.</a> from competition; it wanted the company to make it easier for users -- some whom may not even realize that there are alternatives to IE -- to download and install browsers like Firefox, <a href="" type="internal">Chrome</a>, Safari, Opera and others.</p>
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<p>How will it work? According to the Commitments document that was the basis of the agreement between Microsoft and the EU ( <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/eu-msft/docs/Microsoft%20Commitments.doc" type="external">download Word document Opens a New Window.</a> ), users who have IE as their default browser will see the ballot screen the first time they log on after the screen is distributed (more on that in a moment).</p>
<p>The ballot screen will include two links -- one reading "Install," the other "Information" -- under each browser's logo. The install link will take the user to "a vendor-managed distribution server, which, upon the user's confirmation, can directly download the installation package of the selected Web browser," according to the Commitments. The informational link will lead to the browser maker's site for more details about the application and other installation options.</p>
<p>How many browsers will be on the ballot? Twelve altogether, but just five on the first page.</p>
<p>The first five are <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9137163/Apple_Update" type="external">Apple Opens a New Window.</a> 's Safari, <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136345/Google_Update" type="external">Google Opens a New Window.</a> 's Chrome, Microsoft's IE, Mozilla's Firefox and Opera. On a second screen, the ballot will list <a href="" type="internal">AOL</a>, Maxthon, K-Meleon, Flock, Avant Browser, Sleipnir and SlimBrowser.</p>
<p>You're not alone if you think "huh?" after seeing that list; some of the browsers in the second tier might be unfamiliar to even the most passionate browser aficionados. Sleipnir, for example, is a Japanese browser with an estimated 100,000 users, best noted for being able to render pages using either Microsoft's Trident engine -- the same one used in IE -- or Mozilla's Gecko.</p>
<p>Who decides what browsers are on the ballot? The ballot will list the top 12 browsers as determined by three metrics sources: U.S.-based comScore and Net Applications, and Ireland's StatCounter. Every six months, the browsers' overall rankings will be determined by the arithmetic mean of the data sources' rankings. A browser must be included in at least two of the three sources; those with rankings in all three will drop the lowest ranking before the mean is calculated.</p>
<p>To get a ballot spot, a browser must run on <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9119998/Continuing_Coverage_Microsoft_Windows_7_Vista_Reloaded" type="external">Windows 7 Opens a New Window.</a> .</p>
<p>In what order will the ballot list the browsers? Last summer, Microsoft proposed that browsers be listed alphabetically, left to right, by the maker's name, a plan that would have put (Apple's) Safari in the preferred spot.</p>
<p>Rivals quickly bashed that idea. An interface designer at Mozilla slammed the design as unfair, saying it <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139428/Apple_gets_best_spot_in_EU_browser_ballot_screen_Mozilla_says" type="external">gave Safari the best spot Opens a New Window.</a> on the ballot, ironic since Apple's browser has the fewest Windows users of any of the top five candidates. Opera's chief technology officer later added his criticism, noting that, "We could call ourselves AAA Browser Maker and get the first spot."</p>
<p>Microsoft's competitors got what they wanted: The ballot screen randomizes the order of the browsers -- both the five on the first page, as well as the seven remaining browsers -- each time it's displayed.</p>
<p>Will the ballot be displayed in an IE window? Not quite.</p>
<p>Although that was Microsoft's original idea, rivals objected to the additional attention that would give IE, so the ballot will instead be displayed in a browser frame that is marked as IE only in the title bar and in URL address bar with a small IE-style logo.</p>
<p>Will IE disappear from the PC if you pick a different browser? No, not unless in Windows 7 you <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9129150/Microsoft_confirms_IE8_kill_switch_in_Windows_7" type="external">manually turn IE8 off Opens a New Window.</a> .</p>
<p>In all other instances, IE remains on the machine if you choose one or more rival browsers. The Start and All Programs menus retain IE, for example. However, once the ballot launches, the IE icon will be automatically "unpinned" from the Windows task bar, and remain unpinned unless the user manually adds it back.</p>
<p>Who will see the browser ballot screen? Only users running Windows who live in one of the 30 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) will get the ballot. The EEA is composed of the 27 <a href="" type="internal">European Union</a> members, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.</p>
<p>Although Opera, the Norwegian browser developer that sparked the antitrust investigation with its December 2007 complaint, earlier this year urged Microsoft to unilaterally <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135919/Opera_wants_Microsoft_to_offer_browser_ballot_screen_worldwide" type="external">offer the ballot worldwide Opens a New Window.</a> , that's not going to happen.</p>
<p>According to Microsoft spokesman Kevin Kutz, his company has no plans to offer the ballot outside the EEA.</p>
<p>Will all Windows users in Europe see the ballot? Not quite. Microsoft agreed to push the ballot to machines running Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.</p>
<p>How will Microsoft get us the ballot? Microsoft will push the ballot screen via Windows Update.</p>
<p>Windows XP users will receive the screen as a "High Priority" non-security update, while Vista and Windows 7 users will see it pitched as an "Important" update. In all cases, the ballot screen will automatically be downloaded and installed on PCs that have opted for automatic updates through Windows Update.</p>
<p>Speaking of Windows Update, Microsoft also promised that it would not use the update service to offer any new version of IE to European users unless IE is turned on. (Only Windows 7 offers users the option of disabling IE.)</p>
<p>Mozilla paid special attention to that provision when it applauded the agreement. "Mozilla is most pleased with the core principles Microsoft will be adopting that protect the choices a person has already made," said <a href="http://www.idg.com/www/rd.nsf/rd?readform&amp;u=http://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2009/12/16/european-commission-microsoft-settlement/" type="external">Mitchell Baker Opens a New Window.</a> , former CEO of Mozilla Corp. and currently the chairman of the Mozilla Foundation. "Once a person has chosen an alternative browser, IE should not keep reappearing," Baker added in an entry to her blog Wednesday.</p>
<p>When will Microsoft start offering the ballot screen? Microsoft has pledged to kick off the ballot screen by sending it as a Windows Update starting no later than March 17, 2010, 13 weeks from the agreement's signing on Wednesday. It may take another two months -- until mid-May -- for all Windows XP and Vista users to receive the ballot update, however.</p>
<p>Future versions of Windows, which are also must abide by the five-year agreement, will have a ballot screen update ready to roll when the new operating system launches.</p>
<p>At no point will Microsoft "slipstream" the ballot into a production version of Windows -- say, Windows 7 Service Pack 1, or Windows 8. The ballot will always be delivered as a Windows Update item.</p>
<p>Does Microsoft have to regularly report the status of the ballot screen to EU antitrust officials? Yes.</p>
<p>Within six months -- by mid-June, 2010 -- Microsoft must submit a detailed report to the European Commission "on the implementation of these Commitments." After that, Microsoft must file a report every December that outlines progress, brings up any difficulties, forwards any complaints by third parties and notes the uptake of the ballot screen by users.</p>
<p>Microsoft must also make changes to the ballot at the request of the commission.</p>
<p>Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld . Follow Gregg on <a href="" type="internal">Twitter</a> @gkeizer , send e-mail at gkeizer@ix.netcom.com or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed .</p>
<p>More from IDG:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142416/FAQ_How_the_IE_ballot_screen_works" type="external">Original story Opens a New Window.</a></p> | true | 0 | 11month legal faceoff microsoft european antitrust officials yesterday signed ballot screen concept opens new window give windows users chance download rivals browsers hard winding road continue reading ever since european regulators slapped microsoft opens new window antitrust charges january 2009 forcing company provide socalled ballot screen users eus strategy microsoft however resisted fiercely going far temporarily dump internet explorer ie windows 7 opens new window hope move would appease people brussels didnt european commission called extensive discussions microsoft caved yet opens new window putting forward proposal many competitors saw flawed best selfserving worst proposal went two drafts eu satisfied battles ink dried ballot screen work thats answer whats microsoft promised microsoft agreed provide ballot screen european customers offer links downloads rival browsers antitrust regulators european commission high idea nearly year commissions point view microsofts bundling internet explorer ie windows abuse dominant position operating system market january commission said microsoft shields ie opens new window competition wanted company make easier users may even realize alternatives ie download install browsers like firefox chrome safari opera others advertisement work according commitments document basis agreement microsoft eu download word document opens new window users ie default browser see ballot screen first time log screen distributed moment ballot screen include two links one reading install information browsers logo install link take user vendormanaged distribution server upon users confirmation directly download installation package selected web browser according commitments informational link lead browser makers site details application installation options many browsers ballot twelve altogether five first page first five apple opens new window safari google opens new window chrome microsofts ie mozillas firefox opera second screen ballot list aol maxthon kmeleon flock avant browser sleipnir slimbrowser youre alone think huh seeing list browsers second tier might unfamiliar even passionate browser aficionados sleipnir example japanese browser estimated 100000 users best noted able render pages using either microsofts trident engine one used ie mozillas gecko decides browsers ballot ballot list top 12 browsers determined three metrics sources usbased comscore net applications irelands statcounter every six months browsers overall rankings determined arithmetic mean data sources rankings browser must included least two three sources rankings three drop lowest ranking mean calculated get ballot spot browser must run windows 7 opens new window order ballot list browsers last summer microsoft proposed browsers listed alphabetically left right makers name plan would put apples safari preferred spot rivals quickly bashed idea interface designer mozilla slammed design unfair saying gave safari best spot opens new window ballot ironic since apples browser fewest windows users top five candidates operas chief technology officer later added criticism noting could call aaa browser maker get first spot microsofts competitors got wanted ballot screen randomizes order browsers five first page well seven remaining browsers time displayed ballot displayed ie window quite although microsofts original idea rivals objected additional attention would give ie ballot instead displayed browser frame marked ie title bar url address bar small iestyle logo ie disappear pc pick different browser unless windows 7 manually turn ie8 opens new window instances ie remains machine choose one rival browsers start programs menus retain ie example however ballot launches ie icon automatically unpinned windows task bar remain unpinned unless user manually adds back see browser ballot screen users running windows live one 30 countries european economic area eea get ballot eea composed 27 european union members well iceland liechtenstein norway although opera norwegian browser developer sparked antitrust investigation december 2007 complaint earlier year urged microsoft unilaterally offer ballot worldwide opens new window thats going happen according microsoft spokesman kevin kutz company plans offer ballot outside eea windows users europe see ballot quite microsoft agreed push ballot machines running windows xp vista windows 7 microsoft get us ballot microsoft push ballot screen via windows update windows xp users receive screen high priority nonsecurity update vista windows 7 users see pitched important update cases ballot screen automatically downloaded installed pcs opted automatic updates windows update speaking windows update microsoft also promised would use update service offer new version ie european users unless ie turned windows 7 offers users option disabling ie mozilla paid special attention provision applauded agreement mozilla pleased core principles microsoft adopting protect choices person already made said mitchell baker opens new window former ceo mozilla corp currently chairman mozilla foundation person chosen alternative browser ie keep reappearing baker added entry blog wednesday microsoft start offering ballot screen microsoft pledged kick ballot screen sending windows update starting later march 17 2010 13 weeks agreements signing wednesday may take another two months midmay windows xp vista users receive ballot update however future versions windows also must abide fiveyear agreement ballot screen update ready roll new operating system launches point microsoft slipstream ballot production version windows say windows 7 service pack 1 windows 8 ballot always delivered windows update item microsoft regularly report status ballot screen eu antitrust officials yes within six months midjune 2010 microsoft must submit detailed report european commission implementation commitments microsoft must file report every december outlines progress brings difficulties forwards complaints third parties notes uptake ballot screen users microsoft must also make changes ballot request commission gregg keizer covers microsoft security issues apple web browsers general technology breaking news computerworld follow gregg twitter gkeizer send email gkeizerixnetcomcom subscribe greggs rss feed idg original story opens new window | 880 |
<p />
<p>The Sirens in Greek mythology were dangerously devious creatures similar to mermaids that lured sailors close to shore to be shipwrecked.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>They also sparked Starbucks’ (NASDAQ:SBUX) twin-tailed mermaid logo that is now renowned across the globe, helping to attract millions of people to the high-end coffee shop daily and devouring them with the café’s ambiance.</p>
<p>Logos are the heart, mind and soul of a company’s brand. For the lucky ones, whether it’s a word, color, picture or phrase (think Nike’s “Just Do It”), the logo might even be an emotional token to the customer, evoking a heightened sense of brand loyalty.</p>
<p>That’s one reason why customers often respond with initial rejection, perhaps even outcry, when companies undergo major logo changes. In some cases, like Tropicana, the backlash can be so overwhelming it prompts the company to revert back to its old ways.</p>
<p>“Whenever there’s a new logo rollout half the people freak out,” said Steve Douglas, founder of Logo Factory.</p>
<p>So, why do it? In the successful cases, like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Starbucks, logo changes can provide a key to a fresh new start.</p>
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<p>“A logo change is always a great way to control-alt-delete when it comes to customer perception of a brand,” said Keith Rogers, an independent consultant who helps build brands and is currently consulting several startups.</p>
<p>Starbucks, for example, not only switched around its colors when it unleashed a new logo in March 2011, it also famously dropped “Starbucks Coffee” from the image, giving it the ability to diversify beyond coffee should it choose to do so.</p>
<p>Transforming the brand allows companies to refresh their image, move into new markets, create a new image or simply just shake things up, Douglas said.</p>
<p>“A logo can get dated over the years -- if a design was created a long time ago different design sensibilities come into play,” he said.</p>
<p>Apple may have maintained its half-bitten apple logo over the years, however its color changes – today it boasts a sleek silver one – have changed over time to meet the changing tastes of consumers.</p>
<p>It's important to remember, however, that changing a logo too many times can send mixed, almost “schizophrenic” signals, Douglas said. It could also lead to wasteful spending as the company is constantly updating its inventory – from pens and paperweights to pricey headquarter signs or paint jobs.</p>
<p>Usually, though, logo changes carry lengthy, well-thought-out back stories. Take American Airlines as an example. The carrier, whose parent is analyzing a potential merger with U.S. Airways (NYSE:LCC), unveiled last week its first new logo since 1968.</p>
<p>See the picture carousel above for an evolution of American’s logo</p>
<p>The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier dropped the traditional eagle and double “A” from its logo and instead adopted a sleeker, more modern image while maintaining the patriotic red, white and blue colors that have become so identifiable with the airline’s name and brand.</p>
<p>The carrier said the work to develop a “fresh, new brand” began nearly two years ago when American placed the largest aircraft order in history of 460 Boeing (NYSE:BA) planes. It is hoping the change shows customers just how much it has evolved through its court-supervised overhaul.</p>
<p>The logo, an American spokesperson said, is designed to symbolize its “passion for progress” and marks the “next step” of its journey as it becomes a "new American." The company unveiled the logo just weeks before the first two aircraft of the massive July 2011 order are expected to enter service.</p>
<p>American's modern design – as well as its silver-clad jets painted with rigid-looking American flags on the tail – makes the airline's fleet look newer and safer while evoking a sense of patriotism.</p>
<p>“American Airlines’ image has been damaged,” Rogers said, and this is one way to help mend the blemished brand. “This makes the fleet look newer, so even if it’s the same old planes, you feel safer,” he said.</p>
<p>At the same time, its simplicity and modern design gives the airline greater branding options should it combine with US Airways.</p>
<p>Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) in many ways revolutionized logos when it launched in 1997 with just one simply-typed word in four primary colors. Since setting the stage, several companies, especially those in the tech world, have similarly simplified their logos.</p>
<p>Taking a page from that playbook, eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) did just that in October when it unveiled a more mature-looking logo, dropping the silly font and funky alignment for the first time in 18 years.</p>
<p>Today it’s “not how much you can cram into a design but how much you can communicate with how little you put in,” Rogers said, who has previously done branding work with Starbucks.</p>
<p>EBay said the changes better reflect “the new eBay” and its evolution as a marketplace while symbolizing a “dynamic future.” The logo, which still boasts the same four colors on its web site, honors the company’s heritage, a spokesperson said, but expresses a more modern design to match today’s “more contemporary and consistent shopping experience” and eBay’s “leading role” in the “future of shopping.”</p>
<p>“Changing our logo was not a decision we made lightly,” she said. “We recognize people feel a special connection to our previous logo, but too often it reminded people only of what eBay was, and not what eBay is today: a modern global marketplace.”</p>
<p>Of course, not everyone always agrees. Douglas said the eBay logo “lost a lot of its character” when it matured. However, in eBay’s case, it is trying to change the way people view and perceive its brand, so perhaps that’s a good thing.</p> | true | 0 | sirens greek mythology dangerously devious creatures similar mermaids lured sailors close shore shipwrecked continue reading also sparked starbucks nasdaqsbux twintailed mermaid logo renowned across globe helping attract millions people highend coffee shop daily devouring cafés ambiance logos heart mind soul companys brand lucky ones whether word color picture phrase think nikes logo might even emotional token customer evoking heightened sense brand loyalty thats one reason customers often respond initial rejection perhaps even outcry companies undergo major logo changes cases like tropicana backlash overwhelming prompts company revert back old ways whenever theres new logo rollout half people freak said steve douglas founder logo factory successful cases like apple nasdaqaapl starbucks logo changes provide key fresh new start advertisement logo change always great way controlaltdelete comes customer perception brand said keith rogers independent consultant helps build brands currently consulting several startups starbucks example switched around colors unleashed new logo march 2011 also famously dropped starbucks coffee image giving ability diversify beyond coffee choose transforming brand allows companies refresh image move new markets create new image simply shake things douglas said logo get dated years design created long time ago different design sensibilities come play said apple may maintained halfbitten apple logo years however color changes today boasts sleek silver one changed time meet changing tastes consumers important remember however changing logo many times send mixed almost schizophrenic signals douglas said could also lead wasteful spending company constantly updating inventory pens paperweights pricey headquarter signs paint jobs usually though logo changes carry lengthy wellthoughtout back stories take american airlines example carrier whose parent analyzing potential merger us airways nyselcc unveiled last week first new logo since 1968 see picture carousel evolution americans logo fort worth texasbased carrier dropped traditional eagle double logo instead adopted sleeker modern image maintaining patriotic red white blue colors become identifiable airlines name brand carrier said work develop fresh new brand began nearly two years ago american placed largest aircraft order history 460 boeing nyseba planes hoping change shows customers much evolved courtsupervised overhaul logo american spokesperson said designed symbolize passion progress marks next step journey becomes new american company unveiled logo weeks first two aircraft massive july 2011 order expected enter service americans modern design well silverclad jets painted rigidlooking american flags tail makes airlines fleet look newer safer evoking sense patriotism american airlines image damaged rogers said one way help mend blemished brand makes fleet look newer even old planes feel safer said time simplicity modern design gives airline greater branding options combine us airways google nasdaqgoog many ways revolutionized logos launched 1997 one simplytyped word four primary colors since setting stage several companies especially tech world similarly simplified logos taking page playbook ebay nasdaqebay october unveiled maturelooking logo dropping silly font funky alignment first time 18 years today much cram design much communicate little put rogers said previously done branding work starbucks ebay said changes better reflect new ebay evolution marketplace symbolizing dynamic future logo still boasts four colors web site honors companys heritage spokesperson said expresses modern design match todays contemporary consistent shopping experience ebays leading role future shopping changing logo decision made lightly said recognize people feel special connection previous logo often reminded people ebay ebay today modern global marketplace course everyone always agrees douglas said ebay logo lost lot character matured however ebays case trying change way people view perceive brand perhaps thats good thing | 562 |
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<p>Earning a college diploma will help students’ employment prospects, but it doesn’t guarantee success in the workplace. Experts say that both colleges and students share responsibility when it comes to ensuring their preparedness for success in the workplace.</p>
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<p><a href="http://millennialbranding.com/2013/06/the-future-of-education/" type="external">A recent study Opens a New Window.</a> by Gen Y research and consulting firm <a href="http://millennialbranding.com/2013/06/the-future-of-education/" type="external">Millennial Branding</a> and <a href="http://www.internships.com/" type="external">Internships.com Opens a New Window.</a> shows that 25% of students feel unprepared for the working world and 69% of students believe that it’s both their college’s and their own responsibility&#160; to make sure they’re ready.</p>
<p>In many industries, an undergraduate degree is essential to be considered for an entry-level position and is the bare minimum when it comes to what employers require from candidates, according to Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding&#160;and author of&#160; <a href="http://danschawbel.com/promote-yourself" type="external">Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>“We’re finding that 67% of students believe that an internship is most important when developing business skills compared with a college class [at] only 12%,” he says. “There’s a significant difference and what it shows is work experience trumps education every time and that’s what employers are looking for, so that needs to be part of your college experience.”</p>
<p>To prepare grads for the working world, here’s how experts say both colleges and students can better use their resources to increase hiring opportunities.</p>
<p>Build a Stronger Connection with the Career Center</p>
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<p>Universities are providing invaluable career resources through their curriculum and campus activities, yet there is often a disconnect when it comes to the career center, says Jeff Livingston, senior vice president of education policy at&#160; <a href="http://www.mheducation.com/" type="external">McGraw-Hill Education Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>“The career center is not thought of as an integral part of the university, but an offshoot of the university,” he says. “The fact that it is still possible within the culture of an extremely expensive university having never visited the career center means that there is a cultural problem.”</p>
<p>Schawbel suggests colleges create a mandatory career course to help students get acquainted with career services throughout their four years.</p>
<p>“It needs to be a career seminar: this is what you need to be doing, we are career services, we will be there for you and here are the resources that we have at our disposal, come in and see us,” he says. “Otherwise you maybe hear about career services, you go see them when you need a resume checkup--they need to play a bigger role.”</p>
<p>With a plethora of services offered, it’s up to students to take advantage of opportunities to seek out guidance and advice for their ultimate goal of landing a job, explains Emily Kissane, policy and research analyst for education solutions company&#160; <a href="http://www.hobsons.com/" type="external">Hobsons Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>“Use it as the springboard to explore internship, volunteer and other employment opportunities to gain experience and work references,” she says. “Resume writing, job searching, interviewing, and salary negotiations are daunting to the uninitiated--attend career center workshops to gain insights.”</p>
<p>Create Better Alumni Networking Opportunities</p>
<p>Engaging with alumni and bringing them to campus to network with current students is one of the best assets colleges have, yet many schools fail to stay adequately connected, says Schawbel.</p>
<p>“They need to put so much more emphasis on alumni, not just for donations, but to help the students so that it increases the probability that those students get jobs, which helps the school even more,” he says. “It’s not walking in and saying ‘check my resume for spelling errors’, it’s ‘who you know at this company in this position that might be able to help me or I might be able to learn from?’”</p>
<p>However, students should take the initiative to reach out to former students in their field to create genuine professional networking connections, says Shawnice Meador, director of Career Management &amp; Leadership Development for <a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/" type="external">MBA@UNC Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>“For schools that don’t have an active alumni network, students can locate alumni on LinkedIn simply by using the ‘Network - Find Alumni’ feature and input the information they are looking for to find alumni that meet their geographical, field of expertise, or employer criteria,” she says.</p>
<p>Integrate More Working Life Situations in the Classroom</p>
<p>The experts recommend that schools go beyond giving notes in the lecture hall and show students what types of real-life situations and projects they may be faced with in the working world.</p>
<p>“If colleges are unable to invite executives to the school, professors can bring the students to the executives’ work environments through company immersion experiences,” says Meador. “After learning a topic like supply chain management in the classroom, the class can visit a relevant local company and participate in a tour of the supply chain processes as well as hear first-hand from the employees about how supply chain theory directly relates to practice in the workplace.”</p>
<p>Finding ways to integrate emphasis on soft skills can help grads hone their abilities to work in teams and communicate effectively with others, often at the top of employers’ lists when seeking out candidates.</p>
<p>“The first thing that a college can do is identify those soft skills that they want each graduate to leave with and then restructure the curriculum in the way of teaching and learning in order to incorporate those skills into the process,” says Livingston. “Finally, they need to help their students be fluent in describing how they have cultivated those skills to employers.”</p> | true | 0 | earning college diploma help students employment prospects doesnt guarantee success workplace experts say colleges students share responsibility comes ensuring preparedness success workplace continue reading recent study opens new window gen research consulting firm millennial branding internshipscom opens new window shows 25 students feel unprepared working world 69 students believe colleges responsibility160 make sure theyre ready many industries undergraduate degree essential considered entrylevel position bare minimum comes employers require candidates according dan schawbel founder millennial branding160and author of160 promote new rules career success opens new window finding 67 students believe internship important developing business skills compared college class 12 says theres significant difference shows work experience trumps education every time thats employers looking needs part college experience prepare grads working world heres experts say colleges students better use resources increase hiring opportunities build stronger connection career center advertisement universities providing invaluable career resources curriculum campus activities yet often disconnect comes career center says jeff livingston senior vice president education policy at160 mcgrawhill education opens new window career center thought integral part university offshoot university says fact still possible within culture extremely expensive university never visited career center means cultural problem schawbel suggests colleges create mandatory career course help students get acquainted career services throughout four years needs career seminar need career services resources disposal come see us says otherwise maybe hear career services go see need resume checkupthey need play bigger role plethora services offered students take advantage opportunities seek guidance advice ultimate goal landing job explains emily kissane policy research analyst education solutions company160 hobsons opens new window use springboard explore internship volunteer employment opportunities gain experience work references says resume writing job searching interviewing salary negotiations daunting uninitiatedattend career center workshops gain insights create better alumni networking opportunities engaging alumni bringing campus network current students one best assets colleges yet many schools fail stay adequately connected says schawbel need put much emphasis alumni donations help students increases probability students get jobs helps school even says walking saying check resume spelling errors know company position might able help might able learn however students take initiative reach former students field create genuine professional networking connections says shawnice meador director career management amp leadership development mbaunc opens new window schools dont active alumni network students locate alumni linkedin simply using network find alumni feature input information looking find alumni meet geographical field expertise employer criteria says integrate working life situations classroom experts recommend schools go beyond giving notes lecture hall show students types reallife situations projects may faced working world colleges unable invite executives school professors bring students executives work environments company immersion experiences says meador learning topic like supply chain management classroom class visit relevant local company participate tour supply chain processes well hear firsthand employees supply chain theory directly relates practice workplace finding ways integrate emphasis soft skills help grads hone abilities work teams communicate effectively others often top employers lists seeking candidates first thing college identify soft skills want graduate leave restructure curriculum way teaching learning order incorporate skills process says livingston finally need help students fluent describing cultivated skills employers | 512 |
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<p>Man walking into a stylized house. Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>On the life decision scale, buying a house is often closer to marriage than it is to the purchase of a car. It can be one of the best decisions you make or something you bitterly curse forevermore.</p>
<p>And like marriage, the rent vs. buy decision is unique to the individual, requires you to try to predict your life for the next few decades, and depends on too many factors to summarize in one article.</p>
<p>But fortunately, with housing there are five fairly simple numbers we can look at to help suss out when buying a home is clearly a bad financial idea.I've rank-ordered them, starting with...</p>
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<p>The first and important metric to check is whether you can afford it. Duh, right? But believe it or not, too many people mess this up. Instead of thoughtfully considering what they can afford for themselves, they go with whatever their banker tells them they're approved for. Or blindly buy something comparable to a friend or rival. Big mistake!</p>
<p>What you'll mostly see online and from bankers is a rule of thumb to keep your housing costs below 30% of your gross income -- basically, what your employer reports on your W-2.</p>
<p>Let's say your job pays you $50,000 a year, or $4,167 a month, and you expect to make at least that much in future years. Using 30%, that means your monthly mortgage and any home equity loans (or rent if you don't own), taxes, insurance, condo or homeowners' association fees, and utilities should add up to $1,250 or less.</p>
<p>For perspective, about half of renters and a third of homeowners with a mortgage fail to get to 30% or less.But please don't use "Tommy's mom let him spend 50% of his earnings on a condo" as an excuse to overspend -- remember, WAY too many people are pretty darn awful with their money. That's why the majority of folks who receive Social Security depend on it as their primary source of income -- as opposed to income from savings.</p>
<p>So if you value your financial independence, get as far under 30% as possible. Under 20% is a tough goal in many housing markets, but if you can achieve that with a 30-year fixed mortgage, you're probably in really good shape unless your income takes an unexpected hit.</p>
<p>Looking at it another way, here's your gut check: How much of your gross income are you saving?</p>
<p>The average American saves less than 5% of gross income. The median is likely much worse given that 41% of people don't even have a $500 emergency fund and that the millennial generation as a whole has a negative savings rate(!).</p>
<p>What should you be saving? At a bare bones minimum, 10% of your gross income (ideally not including principal payments on your mortgage). A gold star if you can get to 20%. Using that $50,000 a year income, 10% puts you at $416 a month and 20% puts you at $833 a month.</p>
<p>If you're buying a house that has you saving less than 10%, you're either paying too much for the house or you need to reassess other expenses like transportation, vacations, food, child care, etc. Alternatively, you can think about how you can increase your income without proportionally increasing your expenses. That could include sharing the house with a renter.</p>
<p>Rules of thumb necessarily abstract away from your personal situation. A single person in their 20's is treated the same as a couple in their 40's with three kids. And there will always be compelling-sounding, I'm-a-special-flower excuses to put off saving till tomorrow. Regardless, though, living below your means should be an always-on phenomenon and the 10% savings minimum holds. That's even more so the longer you wait.</p>
<p>While your housing costs as a percentage of your income helps you figure out if you're spending too much on housing, it doesn't tell you whether you should be renting or buying.</p>
<p>The price-to-rent ratio helps here.</p>
<p>Simply take the price of the house you're looking at and divide it by what you could rent it for on an annual basis (Sites like <a href="http://www.zillow.com/" type="external">Zillow Opens a New Window.</a> can help you get a ballpark estimate quickly).</p>
<p>If a house costs $200,000 to buy and you could rent it for $12,000 annually ($1,000 a month), the price-to-rent ratio is 16.7.</p>
<p>Put another way, it would take 16.7 years' worth of rent to buy the house in cash today.</p>
<p>I used this example because monetarily that 16.7 figure is roughly the indifference point between renting and buying. When you get much lower than 16.7, buying becomes more attractive. When you get much higher than 16.7, renting becomes more attractive.</p>
<p>Don't get too carried away with the decimal places, though. There are many more financial and non-financial factors to consider, so 18.2 doesn't mean an automatic rent and 13.7 isn't an automatic buy. But at some point, the numbers get compelling. For instance, at 10 times rent, I'd be very tilted toward buying. At 25 times rent, I'd be very biased toward renting.</p>
<p>What might surprise you is the variability of the price-to-rent ratio, both across the nation and within metropolitan areas.</p>
<p><a href="https://smartasset.com/mortgage/price-to-rent-ratio-in-us-cities" type="external">SmartAsset Opens a New Window.</a> recently compiled the ratio by U.S. city. San Francisco tops the list at an otherworldly average of 45.9, over seven times higher than Detroit at 6.3.</p>
<p>If you live in high price-to-rent cities like San Francisco, New York, or my home area of Washington, DC, extreme caution is warranted if you choose to buy. Fortunately, even in these areas, there's a lot of variability. In these "sellers' markets," you may have to use bargain hunting tactics -- trolling less desirable areas, foreclosures, extreme patience -- just to get to a somewhat reasonable price. Or you may be better off renting. Nothing wrong with that... and don't let anyone socially pressure you otherwise.</p>
<p>Mortgage is just a fancy name for debt -- usually the largest debt we'll take on in our lives. Fortunately, the larger the down payment, the less scary that debt becomes for both you and your lender.</p>
<p>That's why lenders require you to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) of up to around 1.5% of the shortfall per year until your skin in the game (i.e. equity) reaches 20%.</p>
<p>Not paying that extra fee alone is reason enough to put down a 20% down payment. But also remember that you're committing to 360 months of payments, so saving up 20% of the price of the house helps ensure you have the discipline to see it through, is a check against buying beyond your means, and is just a smart, conservative thing to do.</p>
<p>In fact, in an ideal scenario, you save at least 30% of the price of the house -- 20% for the down payment and 10% as a cushion against unexpected expenses. A leaking roof or an unexpected electrical problem can eat into that cushion quickly.</p>
<p>On a $200,000 house, that means saving $40,000 for a down payment and an additional $20,000 as a cushion beyond your regular emergency fund.</p>
<p>If you think a 20% down payment plus a 10% emergency cushion is too onerous, consider that in the early 1900's, down payments of 50% were commonplace.That's $100,000 on a $200,000 house.</p>
<p>I'll end this section with one real-world consideration that muddies the waters a bit. Folks who have a hard time saving for a down payment probably are poor savers in general. Those are also people who are <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/09/22/rent-vs-buy-why-buying-a-house-wins.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">often saved in retirement by the home equity Opens a New Window.</a> they've built up for decades.</p>
<p>What this means from a practical standpoint for folks who have a hard time saving is that if you limit your housing costs to a low percentage of your income and ensure that your price-to-rent ratio is also low, it may make sense for you to buy with a lower-than-recommended down payment. You'll want to make darn sure that you have a good 10% emergency cushion in any case, though. It doesn't do any good to "buy" a house only to have the bank take it back from you in a few years.</p>
<p>The longer you stay in a house, the more advantageous it is versus renting.</p>
<p>If you stay the full term, you're locking in your mortgage payment against 30 years' worth of inflation.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, every time you sell a house, you're paying agents something on the order of 6% of the house price and then another 2% to 5% in closing costs.Not to mention any moving costs and potential double mortgage payments during the transition.</p>
<p>All-in, we're talking something in the neighborhood of 10%, so $20,000 on a $200,000 house. That's roughly as much as a late-model used car, five to 10 fantastic vacations, or maxing out your 401(k) for a year.</p>
<p>Also, on a 30-year fixed mortgage, you're mostly paying interest in the early years. When you get a new mortgage or refinance, you reset the timeline.</p>
<p>For these reasons, a lot of people use five years as the minimum you'd want to stay in a house you buy. That's not an awful rule of thumb, but I'd likely push for an even longer time period.</p>
<p>Let's say a couple I'm friends with is in the market for a house. Let's say further that they know for a fact they are going to sell the house in five years -- either because it's a starter home or otherwise. Unless the price-to-rent ratio is amazingly low, I'd ask them to really think about whether the costs, risks, and pain of owning a house are worth it versus just saving up more money to buy when they're ready to fully commit.</p>
<p>At 10 years, I get much more bullish on buying.</p>
<p>There is an exception and a caveat, though.</p>
<p>The exception: If you are willing and able to rent out your house to cover your mortgage, insurance, taxes, homeowner fees, maintenance, and any property management costs, it could make sense to buy at five years or even fewer.</p>
<p>The caveat: We're all pretty bad at predicting our futures, even five or 10 years hence. Just be as honest as possible with yourself based on your history and really consider worst-case scenarios.</p>
<p>Here's one a lot of people don't consider. For obvious reasons, lenders give lower interest rates to people who have a strong history of paying back what they owe. On a mortgage, the difference can currently be as much as 1.5%.</p>
<p>On a $200,000 house with 20% down, that means someone with a credit score of 740 or higher (850 maximum) could save about $140 a month versus someone with a low-but-approvable credit score.$140 a month may or may not sound like a lot to you, but that's a whopping $50,000 discount over the life of a 30-year mortgage.</p>
<p>For that reason, it may make sense to delay a home purchase until you can get your credit score to 740 or above. On a more game theory note, if you've had poor credit in the past, you may want to prove to yourself that you can handle a mortgage. Living with foreclosure constantly hanging over your head isn't the American Dream.</p>
<p>Could you come out ahead buying a house that costs you 50% of your gross income, that's 30 times a comparable annual rent, and that sports a 5% down payment? Absolutely. And you could win a million-dollar game of Russian roulette, too.</p>
<p>But I wouldn't advise it.</p>
<p>Getting safely on the right side of each of the five numbers we've discussed above -- especially the first two -- will get you far in disaster-proofing your housing decision.</p>
<p>I wish you all the best as you weigh the options. If any of the above helped you in your housing decision or if anything above could be better, I'd love to hear from you <a href="https://twitter.com/anandchokkavelu" type="external">on Twitter Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
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<p>If you're wondering, <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBomb/info.aspx" type="external">Anand Chokkavelu, CFA Opens a New Window.</a>has owned a house for over a decade and counts it as one of his best financial decisions.Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | man walking stylized house image source getty images continue reading life decision scale buying house often closer marriage purchase car one best decisions make something bitterly curse forevermore like marriage rent vs buy decision unique individual requires try predict life next decades depends many factors summarize one article fortunately housing five fairly simple numbers look help suss buying home clearly bad financial ideaive rankordered starting advertisement first important metric check whether afford duh right believe many people mess instead thoughtfully considering afford go whatever banker tells theyre approved blindly buy something comparable friend rival big mistake youll mostly see online bankers rule thumb keep housing costs 30 gross income basically employer reports w2 lets say job pays 50000 year 4167 month expect make least much future years using 30 means monthly mortgage home equity loans rent dont taxes insurance condo homeowners association fees utilities add 1250 less perspective half renters third homeowners mortgage fail get 30 lessbut please dont use tommys mom let spend 50 earnings condo excuse overspend remember way many people pretty darn awful money thats majority folks receive social security depend primary source income opposed income savings value financial independence get far 30 possible 20 tough goal many housing markets achieve 30year fixed mortgage youre probably really good shape unless income takes unexpected hit looking another way heres gut check much gross income saving average american saves less 5 gross income median likely much worse given 41 people dont even 500 emergency fund millennial generation whole negative savings rate saving bare bones minimum 10 gross income ideally including principal payments mortgage gold star get 20 using 50000 year income 10 puts 416 month 20 puts 833 month youre buying house saving less 10 youre either paying much house need reassess expenses like transportation vacations food child care etc alternatively think increase income without proportionally increasing expenses could include sharing house renter rules thumb necessarily abstract away personal situation single person 20s treated couple 40s three kids always compellingsounding imaspecialflower excuses put saving till tomorrow regardless though living means alwayson phenomenon 10 savings minimum holds thats even longer wait housing costs percentage income helps figure youre spending much housing doesnt tell whether renting buying pricetorent ratio helps simply take price house youre looking divide could rent annual basis sites like zillow opens new window help get ballpark estimate quickly house costs 200000 buy could rent 12000 annually 1000 month pricetorent ratio 167 put another way would take 167 years worth rent buy house cash today used example monetarily 167 figure roughly indifference point renting buying get much lower 167 buying becomes attractive get much higher 167 renting becomes attractive dont get carried away decimal places though many financial nonfinancial factors consider 182 doesnt mean automatic rent 137 isnt automatic buy point numbers get compelling instance 10 times rent id tilted toward buying 25 times rent id biased toward renting might surprise variability pricetorent ratio across nation within metropolitan areas smartasset opens new window recently compiled ratio us city san francisco tops list otherworldly average 459 seven times higher detroit 63 live high pricetorent cities like san francisco new york home area washington dc extreme caution warranted choose buy fortunately even areas theres lot variability sellers markets may use bargain hunting tactics trolling less desirable areas foreclosures extreme patience get somewhat reasonable price may better renting nothing wrong dont let anyone socially pressure otherwise mortgage fancy name debt usually largest debt well take lives fortunately larger payment less scary debt becomes lender thats lenders require pay private mortgage insurance pmi around 15 shortfall per year skin game ie equity reaches 20 paying extra fee alone reason enough put 20 payment also remember youre committing 360 months payments saving 20 price house helps ensure discipline see check buying beyond means smart conservative thing fact ideal scenario save least 30 price house 20 payment 10 cushion unexpected expenses leaking roof unexpected electrical problem eat cushion quickly 200000 house means saving 40000 payment additional 20000 cushion beyond regular emergency fund think 20 payment plus 10 emergency cushion onerous consider early 1900s payments 50 commonplacethats 100000 200000 house ill end section one realworld consideration muddies waters bit folks hard time saving payment probably poor savers general also people often saved retirement home equity opens new window theyve built decades means practical standpoint folks hard time saving limit housing costs low percentage income ensure pricetorent ratio also low may make sense buy lowerthanrecommended payment youll want make darn sure good 10 emergency cushion case though doesnt good buy house bank take back years longer stay house advantageous versus renting stay full term youre locking mortgage payment 30 years worth inflation meanwhile every time sell house youre paying agents something order 6 house price another 2 5 closing costsnot mention moving costs potential double mortgage payments transition allin talking something neighborhood 10 20000 200000 house thats roughly much latemodel used car five 10 fantastic vacations maxing 401k year also 30year fixed mortgage youre mostly paying interest early years get new mortgage refinance reset timeline reasons lot people use five years minimum youd want stay house buy thats awful rule thumb id likely push even longer time period lets say couple im friends market house lets say know fact going sell house five years either starter home otherwise unless pricetorent ratio amazingly low id ask really think whether costs risks pain owning house worth versus saving money buy theyre ready fully commit 10 years get much bullish buying exception caveat though exception willing able rent house cover mortgage insurance taxes homeowner fees maintenance property management costs could make sense buy five years even fewer caveat pretty bad predicting futures even five 10 years hence honest possible based history really consider worstcase scenarios heres one lot people dont consider obvious reasons lenders give lower interest rates people strong history paying back owe mortgage difference currently much 15 200000 house 20 means someone credit score 740 higher 850 maximum could save 140 month versus someone lowbutapprovable credit score140 month may may sound like lot thats whopping 50000 discount life 30year mortgage reason may make sense delay home purchase get credit score 740 game theory note youve poor credit past may want prove handle mortgage living foreclosure constantly hanging head isnt american dream could come ahead buying house costs 50 gross income thats 30 times comparable annual rent sports 5 payment absolutely could win milliondollar game russian roulette wouldnt advise getting safely right side five numbers weve discussed especially first two get far disasterproofing housing decision wish best weigh options helped housing decision anything could better id love hear twitter opens new window secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window youre wondering anand chokkavelu cfa opens new windowhas owned house decade counts one best financial decisionstry foolish newsletter services free 30 days fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 1,192 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Since 2012, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) has been quietly pioneering an entirely new scientific field: bioelectronic medicines. The basic idea is to buildminiaturized implantable devices that could precisely measure nerve impulses throughout the body, and that could subsequently correct any irregular impulses associated with diseases such as arthritis, asthma, hypertension, and diabetes.</p>
<p>This week, Glaxo took a major step toward making this moonshot a reality by signing a joint venture agreement with Alphabet'sVerily Life Sciences (formerly Google Life Sciences) to create the first generation of bioelectronic medicines for chronic diseases. The new company will be called Galvani Bioelectronics, with Glaxo claiming 55%, and Verily 45%, of the new entity.</p>
<p>Glaxo's current clinical pipeline and product portfolio don't appear to hold an heir apparent to the former star asthma medicine Advair. At peak, for instance, Advair raked in over $8 billion in annual sales. AnoroElliptaand Breo Ellipta -- the presumptive replacements for Advair -- are forecast,by contrast,to generate combined peak sales of only around $2.4 billion.</p>
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<p>Glaxo lacks a true franchise-level product at this stage and is relying on segment-wide growth to offset falling Advair sales. An approval for a novel bioelectronic medicine -- one unlikely to face any competition whatsoever, for perhaps decades -- would be a superb way to solve this lingering problem.</p>
<p>But Glaxo will need more than just a single blockbuster drug to keep shareholders happy. And unlike most big pharmas, Glaxo has largely shied away from major mergers and acquisitions to bring high-value experimental drugs into the fold. Instead, the drugmaker has relied heavily on its internal and external pipelines to restock the cupboard, so to speak. This strategy hasn't worked out so well of late, however, with Glaxo seeing several of its most promising experimental medicines, such as thecancer vaccine <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/12/21/the-most-disappointing-clinical-failures-in-2014.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">MAGE-A3 Opens a New Window.</a>, flame out in late-stage testing.</p>
<p>In the company's efforts to infuse its pipeline with product candidates that have clear-cut blockbuster potential, this foray into bioelectronic medicines is an intriguing step forward. After all, it's probably too late for Glaxo to try to nudge back into the high-growth cancer immunotherapy space in a meaningful way, given the sheer number of companies currently charging toward regulatory filings and pivotal data readouts. And Glaxo doesn't appear ready to break with history to wade into the ongoing healthcareM&amp;A bonanza.</p>
<p>Glaxo appears to have committed a mere $56 million per year for the next seven years to this joint venture with Verily, depending on the achievement of certain research milestones. That's not a huge financial hit for a company like Glaxo, especially since this moonshot effort could quite literally propel the drugmaker into an entirely new era of medicine.</p>
<p>Most importantly, though, Glaxo didn't break the bank to pursue this moonshot, which is vital in light of its ginormous debt-to-equity ratio of 463%, and meager (for a large cap biopharma) 12-month trailing free cash flow of $4.88 billion. In short, this joint venture is a low-cost, high-reward effort that could turn out to be a game-changer for the drugmaker down the road.</p>
<p>The bad news: Glaxo and Verily have suggested that a bioelectronic medical device may take upwards of ten years to be ready for prime time. After all, we still know painfully little about the innervation of most organ systems at the level of individual nerve fibers -- a level of resolution that will be essential to make bioelectronic medicines a reality. And beyond the challenges associated with mapping the peripheral nervous system, Verily will be tasked with designing and creating devices small enough to be implanted along visceral nerves, but still capable of interfacing effectively. That's not a straightforward engineering problem, and it will likely require the invention of entirely new materials.</p>
<p>These drug and tech giants have set their sights on developing a potentially disruptive new field of medicine. For investors, however, this joint venture is unlikely to bring any rewards in the near term. And given the herculean technological challenges that have to be overcome to make bioelectronic medicines a reality, this joint venture definitely qualifies as a moonshot, to put it mildly. So Glaxo shareholders may certainly want to check up on this platform from time to time for the reasons discussed, but they aren't primary reasons to buy or hold this stock right now.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/gbudwell/info.aspx" type="external">George Budwell Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors.The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares) and Alphabet (C shares). Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading since 2012 glaxosmithkline nyse gsk quietly pioneering entirely new scientific field bioelectronic medicines basic idea buildminiaturized implantable devices could precisely measure nerve impulses throughout body could subsequently correct irregular impulses associated diseases arthritis asthma hypertension diabetes week glaxo took major step toward making moonshot reality signing joint venture agreement alphabetsverily life sciences formerly google life sciences create first generation bioelectronic medicines chronic diseases new company called galvani bioelectronics glaxo claiming 55 verily 45 new entity glaxos current clinical pipeline product portfolio dont appear hold heir apparent former star asthma medicine advair peak instance advair raked 8 billion annual sales anoroelliptaand breo ellipta presumptive replacements advair forecastby contrastto generate combined peak sales around 24 billion advertisement glaxo lacks true franchiselevel product stage relying segmentwide growth offset falling advair sales approval novel bioelectronic medicine one unlikely face competition whatsoever perhaps decades would superb way solve lingering problem glaxo need single blockbuster drug keep shareholders happy unlike big pharmas glaxo largely shied away major mergers acquisitions bring highvalue experimental drugs fold instead drugmaker relied heavily internal external pipelines restock cupboard speak strategy hasnt worked well late however glaxo seeing several promising experimental medicines thecancer vaccine magea3 opens new window flame latestage testing companys efforts infuse pipeline product candidates clearcut blockbuster potential foray bioelectronic medicines intriguing step forward probably late glaxo try nudge back highgrowth cancer immunotherapy space meaningful way given sheer number companies currently charging toward regulatory filings pivotal data readouts glaxo doesnt appear ready break history wade ongoing healthcaremampa bonanza glaxo appears committed mere 56 million per year next seven years joint venture verily depending achievement certain research milestones thats huge financial hit company like glaxo especially since moonshot effort could quite literally propel drugmaker entirely new era medicine importantly though glaxo didnt break bank pursue moonshot vital light ginormous debttoequity ratio 463 meager large cap biopharma 12month trailing free cash flow 488 billion short joint venture lowcost highreward effort could turn gamechanger drugmaker road bad news glaxo verily suggested bioelectronic medical device may take upwards ten years ready prime time still know painfully little innervation organ systems level individual nerve fibers level resolution essential make bioelectronic medicines reality beyond challenges associated mapping peripheral nervous system verily tasked designing creating devices small enough implanted along visceral nerves still capable interfacing effectively thats straightforward engineering problem likely require invention entirely new materials drug tech giants set sights developing potentially disruptive new field medicine investors however joint venture unlikely bring rewards near term given herculean technological challenges overcome make bioelectronic medicines reality joint venture definitely qualifies moonshot put mildly glaxo shareholders may certainly want check platform time time reasons discussed arent primary reasons buy hold stock right secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window george budwell opens new window position stocks mentioned suzanne frey executive alphabet member motley fools board directorsthe motley fool owns shares recommends alphabet shares alphabet c shares try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 552 |
<p>The chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the mutual fund industry said Thursday he was taken aback when he learned of the high levels of short-term debt of European banks held by U.S. money market fundsmore $900 billion--and plans to drill down into the issue at an oversight hearing Friday to probe whether investors are safe from the debt problems shaking Greece and some of its neighbors.</p>
<p>But Rep. <a href="" type="internal">Scott Garrett</a> (R-NJ) indicated he plans to allow the funds principal regulator, the <a href="" type="internal">Securities and Exchange Commission</a>, to proceed with additional investor protections before he considers any new legislation to supervise money funds.</p>
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<p>If theres need for action, Congress certainly can take it, Garrett said. If not, we can see what the regulators are doing next. Congress can also weigh in with the regulators, as we often do&amp;we can weigh in, make suggestions or encouragement there as well.</p>
<p>So-called prime money market funds, which typically invest in safer short-term debt securities, hold nearly $936 billion in such instruments issued by European banks, according to data supplied by the industry to the SECabout half of prime funds $1.8 trillion in assets.</p>
<p>I was somewhat taken aback--it was a higher number than I would have anticipated, Garrett said in an interview with FOX Business. I would have anticipated it being someplace else around the globe, and I would have thought (that the funds invested) a little more heavily here in the U.S.</p>
<p>The funds holdings have drawn scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers because European banks own hundreds of billions of dollars of government notes and bonds issued by Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain, which are in danger of defaulting due to their high debt levels. The <a href="" type="internal">European Union</a> and <a href="" type="internal">International Monetary Fund</a> have already launched bailouts of Greece and Portugal.</p>
<p>Fund managers and U.S. regulators fear Europes financial problems could spook American investors, triggering runs on money funds as customers rush to redeem shares, risking destabilizing the wider financial system.</p>
<p>A major concern is that cash crunches caused by rapid redemptions could cause a firms shares to break the buck. Money funds historically have been valued at $1 a share at all times, reflecting their positions as safe, stable havens for cash in turbulent investment environments.</p>
<p>But at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, the shares of one major money market fund, the Reserve Fund, fell below $1 because of its short-term debt holdings in <a href="" type="internal">Lehman Brothers</a>, a major investment bank that filed for bankruptcy that fall. The event triggered a panic among money fund customers.</p>
<p>If you believe everything is OK with regard to the (European) banks, if you believe that the EU (European Union) will somehow&amp;solve the situation over there and banks will be protected, then there's no problem over here for the industry, Garrett said, If you don't believe that everything is going to go just as they plan in the EU with regard to the banks, then of course that raises some concerns.</p>
<p>One credit rating company, Moodys Investor Service, rattled financial markets last week when it put the long-term debt issued by three big French banks under review for a possible ratings downgrade because of their large Greek debt holdings.</p>
<p>Since then, mutual funds and regulators have scrambled to maintain investor confidence in money funds. Among other things, they note that while Moodys announced it put the French bank bonds under review, it reaffirmed its high ratings of the banks short-term debt securities.</p>
<p>Any exposure that U.S. money market funds have to these French banks is deemed of the highest short-term credit quality, the mutual fund industrys trade association, the Investment Company Institute, said this week. Under U.S®ulations, money market funds are required to hold the vast majority of their assets in short-term securities that have received the highest short-term rating&amp;The safety of money market funds derives from their holdings of low-risk, liquid assets.</p>
<p>The money fund investments are comprised mainly of European banks short-term borrowings known as commercial paper, certificates of deposit and overnight repo loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury and agency securities.</p>
<p>While on Wednesday, two top U.S. bank regulators Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Sheila Bair stepped outside their roles as bank supervisors when they made statements reassuring U.S. money fund investors that their risk was limited in the European debt crisis, the head of the European Central Bank, Jean Claude Trichet, also said that the Greek crisis was flashing red for European banks.</p>
<p>Garretts subcommittee will hear testimony Friday from executives with mutual fund giants Fidelity and Vanguard, as well as the president of the ICI, a former SEC official and two mutual fund experts.</p>
<p>The SEC, which Garrett did not ask to testify at the hearing, is currently considering additional regulations for money market funds, such as higher capital requirements. Last year, as part of its moves to improve regulation of investment firms in the wake of the financial crisis, the agency approved new disclosure and investment rules for money funds.</p>
<p>Money market funds have been required to make&amp;fund-by-fund data public since November 2010it is available for investors to see and consider, an SEC spokesperson said. Money market fund holdings are limited to high quality, short term instruments based on SEC rules which were strengthened following the financial crisis of 2008. Since the financial crisis, the SEC has been working with U.S. financial regulators to make money market funds more resilient.</p>
<p>Prime money market funds have no direct investment in the debt of troubled European countries and have been getting out of their investments in the banks in those countries, according to fund data submitted to the SEC and other sources. But the funds still hold about $24 billion in short-term debt instruments of Spanish and Italian banks, 1.7% of prime fund assets, the data show.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for the ICI declined to comment on the investment policies and strategies of money funds.</p>
<p>But another credit rating company, Fitch Ratings, said in a recent report that the funds hold a high among of short-term European bank instruments because the banks dollar-denominated assets have grown rapidly over the past decade and U.S. money funds are ready dollar-denominated lenders for them. In addition, Fitch said, the failure of Lehman and several other big U.S. financial firms during the financial crisis has driven money funds to turn to Europe for more investment opportunities.</p>
<p>In addition to investing in prime money funds, U.S. investors have parked another $1 trillion in money market mutual funds that specialize in buying U.S. government securities as well as tax-exempt municipal bond securities.</p>
<p>Money market mutual funds differ from money market deposit accounts offered by commercial banksthe latter are insured against loss of up to $250,000 by the FDIC.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | chairman house subcommittee oversees mutual fund industry said thursday taken aback learned high levels shortterm debt european banks held us money market fundsmore 900 billionand plans drill issue oversight hearing friday probe whether investors safe debt problems shaking greece neighbors rep scott garrett rnj indicated plans allow funds principal regulator securities exchange commission proceed additional investor protections considers new legislation supervise money funds continue reading theres need action congress certainly take garrett said see regulators next congress also weigh regulators often doampwe weigh make suggestions encouragement well socalled prime money market funds typically invest safer shortterm debt securities hold nearly 936 billion instruments issued european banks according data supplied industry secabout half prime funds 18 trillion assets somewhat taken abackit higher number would anticipated garrett said interview fox business would anticipated someplace else around globe would thought funds invested little heavily us funds holdings drawn scrutiny us regulators lawmakers european banks hundreds billions dollars government notes bonds issued greece portugal italy spain danger defaulting due high debt levels european union international monetary fund already launched bailouts greece portugal fund managers us regulators fear europes financial problems could spook american investors triggering runs money funds customers rush redeem shares risking destabilizing wider financial system major concern cash crunches caused rapid redemptions could cause firms shares break buck money funds historically valued 1 share times reflecting positions safe stable havens cash turbulent investment environments height financial crisis 2008 shares one major money market fund reserve fund fell 1 shortterm debt holdings lehman brothers major investment bank filed bankruptcy fall event triggered panic among money fund customers believe everything ok regard european banks believe eu european union somehowampsolve situation banks protected theres problem industry garrett said dont believe everything going go plan eu regard banks course raises concerns one credit rating company moodys investor service rattled financial markets last week put longterm debt issued three big french banks review possible ratings downgrade large greek debt holdings since mutual funds regulators scrambled maintain investor confidence money funds among things note moodys announced put french bank bonds review reaffirmed high ratings banks shortterm debt securities exposure us money market funds french banks deemed highest shortterm credit quality mutual fund industrys trade association investment company institute said week usulations money market funds required hold vast majority assets shortterm securities received highest shortterm ratingampthe safety money market funds derives holdings lowrisk liquid assets money fund investments comprised mainly european banks shortterm borrowings known commercial paper certificates deposit overnight repo loans collateralized us treasury agency securities wednesday two top us bank regulators federal reserve chairman ben bernanke federal deposit insurance corporation chairman sheila bair stepped outside roles bank supervisors made statements reassuring us money fund investors risk limited european debt crisis head european central bank jean claude trichet also said greek crisis flashing red european banks garretts subcommittee hear testimony friday executives mutual fund giants fidelity vanguard well president ici former sec official two mutual fund experts sec garrett ask testify hearing currently considering additional regulations money market funds higher capital requirements last year part moves improve regulation investment firms wake financial crisis agency approved new disclosure investment rules money funds money market funds required makeampfundbyfund data public since november 2010it available investors see consider sec spokesperson said money market fund holdings limited high quality short term instruments based sec rules strengthened following financial crisis 2008 since financial crisis sec working us financial regulators make money market funds resilient prime money market funds direct investment debt troubled european countries getting investments banks countries according fund data submitted sec sources funds still hold 24 billion shortterm debt instruments spanish italian banks 17 prime fund assets data show spokesperson ici declined comment investment policies strategies money funds another credit rating company fitch ratings said recent report funds hold high among shortterm european bank instruments banks dollardenominated assets grown rapidly past decade us money funds ready dollardenominated lenders addition fitch said failure lehman several big us financial firms financial crisis driven money funds turn europe investment opportunities addition investing prime money funds us investors parked another 1 trillion money market mutual funds specialize buying us government securities well taxexempt municipal bond securities money market mutual funds differ money market deposit accounts offered commercial banksthe latter insured loss 250000 fdic advertisement | 709 |
<p>Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) was one of the greatest growth stories of the new millennium. The company went public at $15 per share in 2002, but dropped to $4.85 later that year. A $1,000 investment at the bottom would be worth nearly $850,000 today.</p>
<p>Therefore, investors are always looking for the "next Netflix". Today, three of our Foolish investors will highlight three stocks that resemble the video streaming giant back in 2002 -- Square (NYSE: SQ), Appian (NASDAQ: APPN), and Shopify (NYSE: SHOP).</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> (Square): Netflix's success comes from its ability to disrupt old habits. It displaced video stores with rent-by-mail DVDs and replaced optical discs with streaming media. In a similarly disruptive manner, Square is changing how vendors accept payments.</p>
<p>Square was founded nine years ago, and its first product was the Square Reader, a credit card dongle for processing credit card transactions on smartphones. In 2013, it launched the Square Stand, which converted iPads into complete point-of-sale systems. Last year, it launched a stand-alone point-of-sale system called the Square Register for small to medium-sized businesses.</p>
<p>Those moves disrupted the market for traditional point-of-sale systems, which cost significantly more than Square's solutions. Square's system also sent information about orders and customers to the cloud -- which helped vendors analyze their business trends.</p>
<p>Square's <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/06/3-big-areas-of-investment-for-square-in-2018.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">expanding ecosystem Opens a New Window.</a> includes Square Cash, a peer-to-peer payments platform similar to PayPal, the restaurant delivery service Caviar, and Square Capital, which offers financing to Square merchants. It's also expanding into the payroll, customer relationship, and inventory management markets with add-on services.</p>
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<p>Square's adjusted revenue rose 43% to $984 million last year, as its GPV (gross payment volume) jumped 32% to $65.3 billion. Its adjusted EBITDA surged 209% to $139 million. For 2018, Square expects its adjusted revenue to grow 32%-35%, and for its adjusted EBITDA to surge 73%-80%. Those stunning numbers indicate that the stock -- which more than tripled over the past 12 months -- could still have room to run.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFGalagan/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Dan Caplinger Opens a New Window.</a> (Appian): Netflix became one of the best-performing stocks of the past 16 years by giving its customers everything they needed even as its service changed dramatically. Appian doesn't work in the consumer entertainment business, but it has a similar goal: to disrupt the way in which its clients have previously had to come up with tech solutions to their problems. Appian provides tools that make it easier for its enterprise clients to develop customized software solutions that will fit well with their specific needs.</p>
<p>Currently, most enterprises have to either maintain expensive in-house programming teams to come up with custom software solutions or put up with generic software packages that don't really meet their specific needs. Appian offers a middle ground, with its application building environment allowing even those with limited development experience to create customized applications by using simple menus and an interface that's user-friendly. Appian's platform is a lot faster to use than trying to customize software from scratch, and it's also a lot more cost-effective than keeping programming capacity in-house. With <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/23/appians-revenue-leaps-50.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">explosive growth and a strong CEO Opens a New Window.</a>, Appian has a lot of potential to keep unearthing opportunities and offering greater value to its clients in the years ahead.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Neha Chamaria Opens a New Window.</a> (Shopify): At a time when we didn't really know much about the convenience of buying entertainment in the comforts of our homes, Netflix spotted an opportunity in internet-based video rentals. Everyone knows the rest of the story. Shopify, a relatively new kid on the e-commerce block, is a cloud-based selling platform for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs -- and it looks like it could well be on the way to replicating Netflix's success.</p>
<p>You'd question Shopify's growth potential in a world dominated by Amazon.com. Guess what: Shopify even made Amazon sit up and take note, so much so that in 2015, Amazon shut down its small-and-medium retailer platform, Webstore, and chose to go with Shopify. Yes, Shopify has a niche. Today, Shopify merchants can sell their products through Amazon, eBay, and Facebook, to name a few.</p>
<p>Shopify is currently spending a good deal of money building a foundation for the future. <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/09/can-shopify-stock-keep-hitting-new-highs.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">In fiscal 2017 Opens a New Window.</a>, Shopify's merchant base crossed 500,000, and revenue soared 73%. The company expects to grow revenue by 44% to 47% this year.</p>
<p>What could give Shopify an edge is CEO Tobi Lutke's innovative leadership and keen interest in technology. To give you an example, Lutke recently revealed how he <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/01/29/can-shopify-stock-keep-going-after-last-weeks-12-p.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">wants to make Opens a New Window.</a> Shopify an augmented-reality (AR) e-commerce platform when Apple's Tim Cook visited Shopify to check out its AR technologies. In short, Shopify is striving to be a tech-driven e-commerce platform, which could mean big things for the company and the stock in coming years.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than ShopifyWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=4742857b-a0a2-47e3-83dc-5ce07976ddd5&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Shopify wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=4742857b-a0a2-47e3-83dc-5ce07976ddd5&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of March 5, 2018</p>
<p>John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFGalagan/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Dan Caplinger Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Amazon. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Neha Chamaria Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon, Appian, Netflix, PayPal Holdings, and Shopify. The Motley Fool owns shares of Square. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=fe63be60-d9ef-487f-9ab5-75a10940e5f3&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | netflix nasdaq nflx one greatest growth stories new millennium company went public 15 per share 2002 dropped 485 later year 1000 investment bottom would worth nearly 850000 today therefore investors always looking next netflix today three foolish investors highlight three stocks resemble video streaming giant back 2002 square nyse sq appian nasdaq appn shopify nyse shop continue reading leo sun opens new window square netflixs success comes ability disrupt old habits displaced video stores rentbymail dvds replaced optical discs streaming media similarly disruptive manner square changing vendors accept payments square founded nine years ago first product square reader credit card dongle processing credit card transactions smartphones 2013 launched square stand converted ipads complete pointofsale systems last year launched standalone pointofsale system called square register small mediumsized businesses moves disrupted market traditional pointofsale systems cost significantly squares solutions squares system also sent information orders customers cloud helped vendors analyze business trends squares expanding ecosystem opens new window includes square cash peertopeer payments platform similar paypal restaurant delivery service caviar square capital offers financing square merchants also expanding payroll customer relationship inventory management markets addon services advertisement squares adjusted revenue rose 43 984 million last year gpv gross payment volume jumped 32 653 billion adjusted ebitda surged 209 139 million 2018 square expects adjusted revenue grow 3235 adjusted ebitda surge 7380 stunning numbers indicate stock tripled past 12 months could still room run dan caplinger opens new window appian netflix became one bestperforming stocks past 16 years giving customers everything needed even service changed dramatically appian doesnt work consumer entertainment business similar goal disrupt way clients previously come tech solutions problems appian provides tools make easier enterprise clients develop customized software solutions fit well specific needs currently enterprises either maintain expensive inhouse programming teams come custom software solutions put generic software packages dont really meet specific needs appian offers middle ground application building environment allowing even limited development experience create customized applications using simple menus interface thats userfriendly appians platform lot faster use trying customize software scratch also lot costeffective keeping programming capacity inhouse explosive growth strong ceo opens new window appian lot potential keep unearthing opportunities offering greater value clients years ahead neha chamaria opens new window shopify time didnt really know much convenience buying entertainment comforts homes netflix spotted opportunity internetbased video rentals everyone knows rest story shopify relatively new kid ecommerce block cloudbased selling platform small mediumsized entrepreneurs looks like could well way replicating netflixs success youd question shopifys growth potential world dominated amazoncom guess shopify even made amazon sit take note much 2015 amazon shut smallandmedium retailer platform webstore chose go shopify yes shopify niche today shopify merchants sell products amazon ebay facebook name shopify currently spending good deal money building foundation future fiscal 2017 opens new window shopifys merchant base crossed 500000 revenue soared 73 company expects grow revenue 44 47 year could give shopify edge ceo tobi lutkes innovative leadership keen interest technology give example lutke recently revealed wants make opens new window shopify augmentedreality ar ecommerce platform apples tim cook visited shopify check ar technologies short shopify striving techdriven ecommerce platform could mean big things company stock coming years 10 stocks like better shopifywhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right shopify wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns march 5 2018 john mackey ceo whole foods market amazon subsidiary member motley fools board directors dan caplinger opens new window position stocks mentioned leo sun opens new window owns shares amazon neha chamaria opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends amazon appian netflix paypal holdings shopify motley fool owns shares square motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 643 |
<p>Oil prices jumped Friday on a mix of factors, including bullish Chinese data and geopolitical risks from oil-rich regions in the Middle East.</p>
<p>Brent crude, the global benchmark, was up 1.87%, at $57.30 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate futures gained 1.64% to $51.43 a barrel.</p>
<p>Chinese crude imports rose by roughly 1 million barrels a day in September, on the month, to 9 million barrels a day, according to government data released Friday. The news alleviated investor concern that demand in the world's largest crude importer might be waning amid faltering economic growth.</p>
<p>The September "bounce back" was the highest import volume in China since May, according to analysts at ING Groep.</p>
<p>Prices were also supported Friday by concerns that political developments in Iran and Iraq could reduce the global oil supply.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump is expected to reveal in a speech Friday afternoon whether he will certify a 2015 international agreement with Iran to curb the Islamic Republic's nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief. The lifting of sanctions at the start of 2016 has allowed Iran to significantly increase its production to around 3.8 million barrels a day. But if Mr. Trump moves to disavow the deal or impose fresh sanctions on Iran it could undermine the country's export capacity.</p>
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<p>At the same time, tensions are building between Iraq's central government in Baghdad and the leaders of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in the north, which late in September held an independence referendum. Kurdistan exports over 500,000 barrels of crude a day.</p>
<p>"Until recently, market participants have underestimated geopolitical risk because the discussion was all about oversupply," said Giovanni Staunovo, commodity analyst at UBS Wealth Management.</p>
<p>Mr. Staunovo said the market was now more attuned to the fact that the Iran and Iraq situations could result in less oil on the market, in turn boosting prices.</p>
<p>The spike in prices Friday followed two closely watched, somewhat conflicting oil market reports this week, from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency respectively.</p>
<p>OPEC said its crude oil production had increased by nearly 90,000 barrels a day in September, complicating the cartel's efforts to limit output and curb the global supply glut.</p>
<p>However, the IEA praised OPEC's efforts to rein in output and said its production had increased by only 10,000 barrels a day, adding that global supply had risen in September due to increased U.S. production.</p>
<p>OPEC and some producers outside the cartel, including Russia, first agreed nearly a year ago to cap production at around 1.8 million barrels a day lower than peak October 2016 levels. The agreement's impact wasn't immediate, but global oil prices have risen steadily over the past few months, supported by strong demand.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia, OPEC's largest member, and Russia have indicated in recent weeks that they are open to extending the deal through 2018 after it expires in March.</p>
<p>There is "little doubt that the leading producers have recommitted to do whatever it takes to underpin the market and to support the long process of rebalancing," the IEA said in its report.</p>
<p>Data released Thursday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed a 2.7 million barrel drop in crude oil stocks for the week ended Oct. 6. Analysts and traders surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had projected a 1.7-million-barrel decrease.</p>
<p>Among refined products, Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock--the benchmark gasoline contract--was up 1.11%, at $1.61 a gallon. ICE gasoil, a benchmark for diesel fuel, changed hands at $534.25 a metric ton, up 2.44% from the previous settlement.</p>
<p>Write to Christopher Alessi at christopher.alessi@wsj.com</p>
<p>Oil prices jumped Friday on a mix of factors, including bullish Chinese data and geopolitical risks from oil-rich regions in the Middle East.</p>
<p>Light, sweet crude for November delivery rose 85 cents, or 1.7%, to $51.45 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, closing at a two-week high. Brent, the global benchmark, rose 92 cents, or 1.6%, to $57.17 a barrel.</p>
<p>Chinese crude imports rose by roughly 1 million barrels a day in September, on the month, to 9 million barrels a day, according to government data released Friday. The news alleviated investor concern that demand in the world's largest crude importer might be waning amid faltering economic growth.</p>
<p>The September "bounce back" was the highest import volume in China since May, according to analysts at ING Groep.</p>
<p>On Friday, President Donald Trump said he wouldn't recertify a 2015 international agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for economic-sanctions relief. The lifting of sanctions at the start of 2016 has allowed Iran to significantly increase its production to around 3.8 million barrels a day. But disavowal of the deal or the imposition of fresh sanctions on Iran could undermine the country's export capacity.</p>
<p>At the same time, tensions are building between Iraq's central government in Baghdad and the leaders of the semiautonomous Kurdistan region in the north, which late in September held an independence referendum. Kurdistan exports over 500,000 barrels of crude a day.</p>
<p>"Until recently, market participants have underestimated geopolitical risk because the discussion was all about oversupply," said Giovanni Staunovo, commodity analyst at UBS Wealth Management.</p>
<p>Mr. Staunovo said the market was now more attuned to the fact that the Iran and Iraq situations could result in less oil on the market, in turn boosting prices.</p>
<p>Traders also weighed news reports that Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company is considering options other than its plan to list shares in New York or London in 2018.</p>
<p>Some market participants have cited the impending initial public offering of Saudi Aramco as a reason for the major oil producer to prioritize supply cuts and support crude prices. If the IPO is derailed, it could be a bearish catalyst for oil prices, analysts said. However, the market reaction to the news was muted on Friday.</p>
<p>"I just don't think that's as much of a market factor as some other people think," said Kyle Cooper, a consultant at ION Energy Group. "There's just a tremendous amount of money flow and sentiment driving this market."</p>
<p>The news threatens to muddle an already conflicted picture of how successful Saudi Arabia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have been at reducing a global glut of crude oil.</p>
<p>This week, OPEC said its crude oil production had increased by nearly 90,000 barrels a day in September, complicating the cartel's efforts to limit output and curb the global supply glut.</p>
<p>However, the IEA praised OPEC's efforts to rein in output and said its production had increased by only 10,000 barrels a day, adding that global supply had risen in September because of increased U.S. production.</p>
<p>OPEC and some producers outside the cartel, including Russia, first agreed nearly a year ago to cap production at around 1.8 million barrels a day lower than peak October 2016 levels. The agreement's impact wasn't immediate, but global oil prices have risen steadily over the past few months, supported by strong demand.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia, OPEC's largest member, and Russia have indicated in recent weeks that they are open to extending the deal through 2018 after it expires in March.</p>
<p>There is "little doubt that the leading producers have recommitted to do whatever it takes to underpin the market and to support the long process of rebalancing," the IEA said in its report.</p>
<p>Data released Thursday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed a 2.7 million barrel drop in crude oil stocks for the week ended Oct. 6. Analysts and traders surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had projected a 1.7-million-barrel decrease.</p>
<p>Gasoline prices rose 2.5%, to $1.6222 a gallon, and diesel prices rose 1.8%, to $1.7970 a gallon.</p>
<p>Write to Christopher Alessi at christopher.alessi@wsj.com and Stephanie Yang at stephanie.yang@wsj.com</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>October 13, 2017 17:15 ET (21:15 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | oil prices jumped friday mix factors including bullish chinese data geopolitical risks oilrich regions middle east brent crude global benchmark 187 5730 barrel londons intercontinental exchange continue reading new york mercantile exchange west texas intermediate futures gained 164 5143 barrel chinese crude imports rose roughly 1 million barrels day september month 9 million barrels day according government data released friday news alleviated investor concern demand worlds largest crude importer might waning amid faltering economic growth september bounce back highest import volume china since may according analysts ing groep prices also supported friday concerns political developments iran iraq could reduce global oil supply president donald trump expected reveal speech friday afternoon whether certify 2015 international agreement iran curb islamic republics nuclear program exchange economic sanctions relief lifting sanctions start 2016 allowed iran significantly increase production around 38 million barrels day mr trump moves disavow deal impose fresh sanctions iran could undermine countrys export capacity advertisement time tensions building iraqs central government baghdad leaders semiautonomous kurdistan region north late september held independence referendum kurdistan exports 500000 barrels crude day recently market participants underestimated geopolitical risk discussion oversupply said giovanni staunovo commodity analyst ubs wealth management mr staunovo said market attuned fact iran iraq situations could result less oil market turn boosting prices spike prices friday followed two closely watched somewhat conflicting oil market reports week organization petroleum exporting countries international energy agency respectively opec said crude oil production increased nearly 90000 barrels day september complicating cartels efforts limit output curb global supply glut however iea praised opecs efforts rein output said production increased 10000 barrels day adding global supply risen september due increased us production opec producers outside cartel including russia first agreed nearly year ago cap production around 18 million barrels day lower peak october 2016 levels agreements impact wasnt immediate global oil prices risen steadily past months supported strong demand saudi arabia opecs largest member russia indicated recent weeks open extending deal 2018 expires march little doubt leading producers recommitted whatever takes underpin market support long process rebalancing iea said report data released thursday us energy information administration showed 27 million barrel drop crude oil stocks week ended oct 6 analysts traders surveyed wall street journal projected 17millionbarrel decrease among refined products nymex reformulated gasoline blendstockthe benchmark gasoline contractwas 111 161 gallon ice gasoil benchmark diesel fuel changed hands 53425 metric ton 244 previous settlement write christopher alessi christopheralessiwsjcom oil prices jumped friday mix factors including bullish chinese data geopolitical risks oilrich regions middle east light sweet crude november delivery rose 85 cents 17 5145 barrel new york mercantile exchange closing twoweek high brent global benchmark rose 92 cents 16 5717 barrel chinese crude imports rose roughly 1 million barrels day september month 9 million barrels day according government data released friday news alleviated investor concern demand worlds largest crude importer might waning amid faltering economic growth september bounce back highest import volume china since may according analysts ing groep friday president donald trump said wouldnt recertify 2015 international agreement iran curb nuclear program exchange economicsanctions relief lifting sanctions start 2016 allowed iran significantly increase production around 38 million barrels day disavowal deal imposition fresh sanctions iran could undermine countrys export capacity time tensions building iraqs central government baghdad leaders semiautonomous kurdistan region north late september held independence referendum kurdistan exports 500000 barrels crude day recently market participants underestimated geopolitical risk discussion oversupply said giovanni staunovo commodity analyst ubs wealth management mr staunovo said market attuned fact iran iraq situations could result less oil market turn boosting prices traders also weighed news reports saudi arabias stateowned oil company considering options plan list shares new york london 2018 market participants cited impending initial public offering saudi aramco reason major oil producer prioritize supply cuts support crude prices ipo derailed could bearish catalyst oil prices analysts said however market reaction news muted friday dont think thats much market factor people think said kyle cooper consultant ion energy group theres tremendous amount money flow sentiment driving market news threatens muddle already conflicted picture successful saudi arabia organization petroleum exporting countries reducing global glut crude oil week opec said crude oil production increased nearly 90000 barrels day september complicating cartels efforts limit output curb global supply glut however iea praised opecs efforts rein output said production increased 10000 barrels day adding global supply risen september increased us production opec producers outside cartel including russia first agreed nearly year ago cap production around 18 million barrels day lower peak october 2016 levels agreements impact wasnt immediate global oil prices risen steadily past months supported strong demand saudi arabia opecs largest member russia indicated recent weeks open extending deal 2018 expires march little doubt leading producers recommitted whatever takes underpin market support long process rebalancing iea said report data released thursday us energy information administration showed 27 million barrel drop crude oil stocks week ended oct 6 analysts traders surveyed wall street journal projected 17millionbarrel decrease gasoline prices rose 25 16222 gallon diesel prices rose 18 17970 gallon write christopher alessi christopheralessiwsjcom stephanie yang stephanieyangwsjcom end dow jones newswires october 13 2017 1715 et 2115 gmt | 850 |
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<p>Thanks to <a href="" type="internal">Warren Buffett</a>s surprise $5 billion investment, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) took a serious step on Thursday toward addressing its grave crisis of confidence.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>But with the U.S. economy still flirting with a scary double-dip recession and questions lingering about BofAs exposure to legal liabilities, its clear further steps are necessary to right the nations largest bank by assets.</p>
<p>Embattled BofA CEO Brian Moynihan may still need to speed up asset sales, consider raising cash and even fend off further calls for his ouster.</p>
<p>Charlotte-based BofA has been at the center of the tsunami of turmoil slamming <a href="" type="internal">Wall Street</a> in recent weeks. Its volatile stock price has become one the best ways to gauge the market's current mood.</p>
<p>Concerns about BofA have focused on a further deterioration in the housing market due to another economic downturn and uncertainty surrounding the extent of the banks mountain of legacy mortgage assets. The bank's shares plummeted nearly 40% in the four weeks ended Tuesday, landing at their lowest level since March 2009.</p>
<p>The market is pricing in the end of Bank of America, said Dick Bove, an influential banking analyst at Rochdale Securities.</p>
<p>Billionaire to the Rescue</p>
<p>In recent days, the cost to insure BofAs debt against a potential default skyrocketed to all-time records, surpassing levels hit when the markets were pricing in the threat of a depression three years ago.</p>
<p>The valuation doesnt make a lot of sense and it makes you worry about what you dont know, said Jefferson Harralson, an analyst who covers BofA at Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods. Were worried about what the stock price is trying to tell us.</p>
<p>BofA scored a big win on Thursday when it unveiled a $5 billion investment from Buffett, who received very favorable terms and is widely respected in financial circles.</p>
<p>"I am impressed with the profit-generating abilities of this franchise, and that they are acting aggressively to put their challenges behind them, Buffett said in a statement.</p>
<p>BofA is hoping Buffetts vote of confidence will stem the bleeding, as it did in 2008 when he sank $5 billion into struggling <a href="" type="internal">Goldman Sachs</a> (NYSE:GS) in a deal that proved to be mutually beneficial.</p>
<p>The markets share that hope as Wall Street bid BofAs beaten-down stock 9.87% higher to $7.68 Thursday in the wake of the deal and on the heels of a double-digit leap on Wednesday. The cost to insure BofAs debt also plunged.</p>
<p>While confidence in BofA may rise due to Buffetts bet, its important to remember his private deal included very favorable terms: an annual dividend of 6% and warrants to buy 700 million common shares at just $7.13.</p>
<p>If Moynihan really didn't need the money and Buffett really liked the company, Moynihan should have told Buffett to just buy the common shares in the open market, Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak, wrote in a note.</p>
<p>Capital Levels in Focus</p>
<p>Likewise, Buffett has agreed to buy 50,000 shares of BofA preferred stock, but no common shares. That means concerns about BofAs common equity levels in the event of a negative scenario may not fade.</p>
<p>This doesnt really do anything to bolster those levels, said Jim Sinegal, an analyst who covers BofA at <a href="" type="internal">Morningstar</a>.</p>
<p>BofA already needs to raise (or earn) a lot more capital by 2013 to comply with new Basel III standards requiring banks to bolster their balance sheets. BofA is trailing other big banks in this category.</p>
<p>The market thinks they have to raise capital and no one wants to hold the stock if they need to raise capital, said Sinegal. The lower the stock goes, the more nervous people are going to get. It just becomes a vicious cycle.</p>
<p>Bove, who has a buy rating on BofA, firmly believes there is no reason for the bank to raise capital any time soon. He points to the $140 billion in cash and $120 billion in tangible equity the company has as well as widespread predictions it will be profitable over the next two years.</p>
<p>In fact, Bove believes the stock was selling on Wednesday at about a 45% discount to the cash value of the company at liquidation.</p>
<p>The people who have pushed the price of the stock down are not looking at anything related to the companys current balance sheet or current financial situation, said Bove, who has a near-term price target on BofA of $14.</p>
<p>One way to continue the momentum picked up from the Buffett buy could be to speed up asset sales. BofA has already sold 29 businesses since the beginning of 2009, Bove estimates, and plans to unload a host of others. The bank is considering selling at least some of its $20 billion stake in <a href="" type="internal">China</a> Construction Bank.</p>
<p>I think some more aggressive actions on that front would do a lot to restore confidence, said Sinegal. The fewer assets you have, the less capital you need.</p>
<p>Will Buffett Infusion Save CEO From Ouster?</p>
<p>Moynihan, 51, inherited a very difficult situation when he became CEO in January 2010. Still, he has been hit with criticism in some corners for his rocky start at BofA. Some believe he has overpromised and underperformed, pointing specifically to failed predictions about a dividend, earnings, loan quality and the direction of the housing industry.</p>
<p>Moynihan dug his own hole and his credibility is very low, Bove said. Still, he doesnt see a reason for his imminent departure.</p>
<p>Sinegal said an early exit for Moynihan is possible, but hed be surprised if it happened in the next quarter or two. He added, I dont think the board wants to replace him based on what may turn out to be a temporary loss of confidence.</p>
<p>Buffetts investment announcement showed strong support for Moynihan, calling BofA a well-led company.</p>
<p>If youre an investor and worried about BofAs management, theres probably no better endorsement, said Sinegal.</p>
<p>Investors appear to be most fearful about the unknown amount of money BofA will have to pay to put to bed an onslaught of legal headaches.</p>
<p>BofA plunged 20% earlier this month when <a href="" type="internal">American International Group</a> (NYSE:AIG) unveiled a $10 billion lawsuit alleging the bank committed securities fraud.</p>
<p>BofA is also facing a number of other lawsuits, including an $8.5 billion suit from 22 investors that include the New York Fed, <a href="" type="internal">BlackRock</a> (NYSE:BLK) and Pimco concerning $56 billion in toxic securities they bought.</p>
<p>The Buffett deal may buy management further time to hammer out settlements on these and other issues. This in turn would likely give investors greater clarity and quiet the doomsayers.</p>
<p>However, two huge wild cards are still in play and both are out of the control of Buffett and Moynihan: the teetering U.S. economy and worsening European debt mess.</p>
<p>Further trouble on either front could spell disaster for BofA, which has $20 billion in exposure to France and holds roughly $131.8 billion in home equity loans and $303.4 billion in commercial real estate and lease loans. Recent data show delinquencies rising and home prices deteriorating.</p>
<p>Even Bove concedes, If the economy goes into a sustained recession, Bank of America will definitely be hurt.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | thanks warren buffetts surprise 5 billion investment bank america nysebac took serious step thursday toward addressing grave crisis confidence continue reading us economy still flirting scary doubledip recession questions lingering bofas exposure legal liabilities clear steps necessary right nations largest bank assets embattled bofa ceo brian moynihan may still need speed asset sales consider raising cash even fend calls ouster charlottebased bofa center tsunami turmoil slamming wall street recent weeks volatile stock price become one best ways gauge markets current mood concerns bofa focused deterioration housing market due another economic downturn uncertainty surrounding extent banks mountain legacy mortgage assets banks shares plummeted nearly 40 four weeks ended tuesday landing lowest level since march 2009 market pricing end bank america said dick bove influential banking analyst rochdale securities billionaire rescue recent days cost insure bofas debt potential default skyrocketed alltime records surpassing levels hit markets pricing threat depression three years ago valuation doesnt make lot sense makes worry dont know said jefferson harralson analyst covers bofa keefe bruyette amp woods worried stock price trying tell us bofa scored big win thursday unveiled 5 billion investment buffett received favorable terms widely respected financial circles impressed profitgenerating abilities franchise acting aggressively put challenges behind buffett said statement bofa hoping buffetts vote confidence stem bleeding 2008 sank 5 billion struggling goldman sachs nysegs deal proved mutually beneficial markets share hope wall street bid bofas beatendown stock 987 higher 768 thursday wake deal heels doubledigit leap wednesday cost insure bofas debt also plunged confidence bofa may rise due buffetts bet important remember private deal included favorable terms annual dividend 6 warrants buy 700 million common shares 713 moynihan really didnt need money buffett really liked company moynihan told buffett buy common shares open market peter boockvar equity strategist miller tabak wrote note capital levels focus likewise buffett agreed buy 50000 shares bofa preferred stock common shares means concerns bofas common equity levels event negative scenario may fade doesnt really anything bolster levels said jim sinegal analyst covers bofa morningstar bofa already needs raise earn lot capital 2013 comply new basel iii standards requiring banks bolster balance sheets bofa trailing big banks category market thinks raise capital one wants hold stock need raise capital said sinegal lower stock goes nervous people going get becomes vicious cycle bove buy rating bofa firmly believes reason bank raise capital time soon points 140 billion cash 120 billion tangible equity company well widespread predictions profitable next two years fact bove believes stock selling wednesday 45 discount cash value company liquidation people pushed price stock looking anything related companys current balance sheet current financial situation said bove nearterm price target bofa 14 one way continue momentum picked buffett buy could speed asset sales bofa already sold 29 businesses since beginning 2009 bove estimates plans unload host others bank considering selling least 20 billion stake china construction bank think aggressive actions front would lot restore confidence said sinegal fewer assets less capital need buffett infusion save ceo ouster moynihan 51 inherited difficult situation became ceo january 2010 still hit criticism corners rocky start bofa believe overpromised underperformed pointing specifically failed predictions dividend earnings loan quality direction housing industry moynihan dug hole credibility low bove said still doesnt see reason imminent departure sinegal said early exit moynihan possible hed surprised happened next quarter two added dont think board wants replace based may turn temporary loss confidence buffetts investment announcement showed strong support moynihan calling bofa wellled company youre investor worried bofas management theres probably better endorsement said sinegal investors appear fearful unknown amount money bofa pay put bed onslaught legal headaches bofa plunged 20 earlier month american international group nyseaig unveiled 10 billion lawsuit alleging bank committed securities fraud bofa also facing number lawsuits including 85 billion suit 22 investors include new york fed blackrock nyseblk pimco concerning 56 billion toxic securities bought buffett deal may buy management time hammer settlements issues turn would likely give investors greater clarity quiet doomsayers however two huge wild cards still play control buffett moynihan teetering us economy worsening european debt mess trouble either front could spell disaster bofa 20 billion exposure france holds roughly 1318 billion home equity loans 3034 billion commercial real estate lease loans recent data show delinquencies rising home prices deteriorating even bove concedes economy goes sustained recession bank america definitely hurt advertisement | 720 |
<p>This article is being republished as part of our daily reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S. print edition of The Wall Street Journal (October 24, 2017).</p>
<p>Chip Bergh, Levi Strauss's CEO, says the company wants to see what new functions consumers want. But the possibilities are endless.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Levi Strauss &amp; Co. has 164 years of history behind it -- and the challenge of remaining competitive in the digital age ahead of it. The company is addressing that challenge in part by using big data to better understand its customers and cater to them. But it's also taking a higher-profile tack with cutting-edge wearable technology, an internet-connected jacket it developed with Alphabet Inc.'s Google unit.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal's deputy technology editor, Christina Passariello, sat down with Chip Bergh, Levi's president and chief executive, to discuss high-tech clothing, the blending of Levi's and Google's work cultures, and the pros and cons of working with Amazon.com Inc. Edited excerpts follow.</p>
<p>Wearing the internet</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: Levi's just unveiled its first connected item of clothing, this $350 jacket that you're wearing. How are consumers starting to use it?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: We have a line of product called Commuter, which really is for bike riders. It's a little bit niche, but getting more mainstream. So we decided to use the Commuter line. This allows cyclists to get directions, listen to their music, change their playlist without ever needing to look at their phone.</p>
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<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: How do you see the use of the product evolving?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: Where this specific product goes and how much more functionality we build into this is one question. The other big question is where does wearable technology go?</p>
<p>Right now devices kind of control our life, and the picture for the future is that technology is embedded in our life, into the clothing that we wear, perhaps into the sheets in our bed at home, and anything that's a fabric will be able to have conductive fiber in it that can do just about anything.</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: Do you plan to roll this fabric out across many other products in your lineup?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: Yeah. We have a lot to learn from the consumer. What other kinds of functionality do they want built into this? And then we'll go there. We're already working with Google on 2.0.</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: What do you have in mind already for 2.0?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: If you think about all the different ways or times you need to take your phone out to use an app, imagine replacing more of that. Scroll through your phone and look at the apps and say, "Do I really need to look at the screen for this?" And if not, if I can control it with a swipe, it's something that we're going to be able to build in from a functionality standpoint.</p>
<p>Learning from Google</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: Tell us about working with Google. Different cultures. What's it like to go through this innovation process with them?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: We're perfectionists. Everything we sell has got to have quality embedded in it. It's got to be perfect before we launch something. When we launch a new fit, the team travels around the world to make sure it fits all the different body types around the world.</p>
<p>We really focus on perfection and really failure is not an option. Google embraces mistakes.</p>
<p>We had one instance where the sleeve actually caught fire. That's not a good thing for a consumer, right? But they loved it. They were like, "That gives us a problem to solve." And so it was two very, very different cultures coming together trying to solve a common problem. And I think we learned a lot from it. We're now embracing failure a lot more readily, willing to fail fast, fail early, but just keep moving forward because there's no such thing as a real failure. It's just an opportunity to learn.</p>
<p>Working with Amazon</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: You've had an official supplier relationship between Levi's and Amazon for several years. What do you gain from having Amazon as an official supplier?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: They've got enormous scale in the online space. They attract the most eyeballs for consumers who are shopping.</p>
<p>We do have our own website. We do work with our other wholesale customers like Macy's, like J.C. Penney, like Kohl's on their e-commerce sites.</p>
<p>We're trying to innovate in the e-commerce space, so we just launched a chat bot that is a virtual stylist. If you go to levi.com, you can experience that.</p>
<p>As we develop these capabilities and prove them out, we're willing to share them with all of our online partners. But Amazon's one of our biggest customers globally. They're one of our fastest-growing customers.</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: Amazon gathers a lot of information about how Levi sells. Do you get access to that data?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: Some of it. I'm sure we don't get all of it. But we try to have a productive working relationship, and not just with Amazon here in the U.S. I met with Alibaba this morning. We're working with Wal-Mart as well. All of these e-commerce players are collecting a lot of data, and I think we can partner together to do a better job of targeting consumers.</p>
<p>MS. PASSARIELLO: Amazon has launched a lot of its own lines to compete with others, and now they have all this data about how well they sell your product. When do you expect them to go head-to-head with you with their own denim line?</p>
<p>MR. BERGH: I would be the first to argue that they shouldn't go there, but a lot of our customers have their own private label and we've been dealing with this for 30 years. I don't want to say it's inevitable, because they're really happy with our business and they've got other brands as well. But if they launch a private label, competition's a good thing. It will make us take our game up to the next level.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>October 24, 2017 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | article republished part daily reproduction wsjcom articles also appeared us print edition wall street journal october 24 2017 chip bergh levi strausss ceo says company wants see new functions consumers want possibilities endless continue reading levi strauss amp co 164 years history behind challenge remaining competitive digital age ahead company addressing challenge part using big data better understand customers cater also taking higherprofile tack cuttingedge wearable technology internetconnected jacket developed alphabet incs google unit wall street journals deputy technology editor christina passariello sat chip bergh levis president chief executive discuss hightech clothing blending levis googles work cultures pros cons working amazoncom inc edited excerpts follow wearing internet ms passariello levis unveiled first connected item clothing 350 jacket youre wearing consumers starting use mr bergh line product called commuter really bike riders little bit niche getting mainstream decided use commuter line allows cyclists get directions listen music change playlist without ever needing look phone advertisement ms passariello see use product evolving mr bergh specific product goes much functionality build one question big question wearable technology go right devices kind control life picture future technology embedded life clothing wear perhaps sheets bed home anything thats fabric able conductive fiber anything ms passariello plan roll fabric across many products lineup mr bergh yeah lot learn consumer kinds functionality want built well go already working google 20 ms passariello mind already 20 mr bergh think different ways times need take phone use app imagine replacing scroll phone look apps say really need look screen control swipe something going able build functionality standpoint learning google ms passariello tell us working google different cultures whats like go innovation process mr bergh perfectionists everything sell got quality embedded got perfect launch something launch new fit team travels around world make sure fits different body types around world really focus perfection really failure option google embraces mistakes one instance sleeve actually caught fire thats good thing consumer right loved like gives us problem solve two different cultures coming together trying solve common problem think learned lot embracing failure lot readily willing fail fast fail early keep moving forward theres thing real failure opportunity learn working amazon ms passariello youve official supplier relationship levis amazon several years gain amazon official supplier mr bergh theyve got enormous scale online space attract eyeballs consumers shopping website work wholesale customers like macys like jc penney like kohls ecommerce sites trying innovate ecommerce space launched chat bot virtual stylist go levicom experience develop capabilities prove willing share online partners amazons one biggest customers globally theyre one fastestgrowing customers ms passariello amazon gathers lot information levi sells get access data mr bergh im sure dont get try productive working relationship amazon us met alibaba morning working walmart well ecommerce players collecting lot data think partner together better job targeting consumers ms passariello amazon launched lot lines compete others data well sell product expect go headtohead denim line mr bergh would first argue shouldnt go lot customers private label weve dealing 30 years dont want say inevitable theyre really happy business theyve got brands well launch private label competitions good thing make us take game next level end dow jones newswires october 24 2017 0247 et 0647 gmt | 533 |
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<p>If you're looking for high-yield investments, you might want to consider the sector that accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation's economy. I'm talking about healthcare, of course.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Three healthcare stocks in particular boast high dividend yields and good overall prospects. Here's why AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) are high-yield healthcare investments you can buy right now.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>AbbVie's dividend currently yields 3.91%. What makes the biotech's dividend even more attractive is that AbbVie has increased its dividend by 60% since 2013, when it was spun off from parent Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT). AbbVie uses around 63% of its earnings to pay out dividends, which leaves room for more increases in the future.</p>
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<p>The company's earnings picture could improve quite a bit over the next few years. Sales for several of AbbVie's current products are growing. That's especially true for cancer drug Imbruvica, which saw sales more than double in 2016.AbbVie should also enjoy success with another cancer drug approved last year, Venclexta.</p>
<p>AbbVie's pipeline could produce multiple big winners. Elagolix is in late-stage clinical studies for the treatment of endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Two late-stage candidates for treating autoimmune diseases, risankizumab and ABT-494, also hold significant potential.</p>
<p>The biggest knock against AbbVie is that Humira could face heavier competition in the days ahead. One biosimilar to Humira has already won regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe, although AbbVie is attempting to use the court system to fend off the rival in the U.S.</p>
<p>Pfizer isn't too far behind AbbVie, with a dividend yield of 3.75%. The big drugmaker's dividend has increased by 60% since 2011. Although Pfizer is currently paying out more in dividends than it's making in profit, that should change in the near future.</p>
<p>At least a dozen of Pfizer's top products enjoyed double-digit percentage sales increases in 2016. The fastest growth belonged to cancer drug Ibrance, which became the company's fourth best-selling drug in only its second full year on the market. Pfizer also experienced exceptionally strong revenue growth forrheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz.</p>
<p>Thanks in part to several acquisitions, Pfizer looks to be in good shape for more growth in the future. The company's purchase of Anacor in 2016 has already resulted in an approved product, atopic dermatitis drug Eucrisa. Pfizer also bought Medivation last year, gaining prostate cancer drug Xtandi. The drugmaker's pipeline is loaded with promising candidates, including cancer drug avelumab, which recently won approval for its first indication.</p>
<p>The most significant headwind for Pfizer is declining sales for products that have either lost patent exclusivity or will soon do so. Fall revenue for blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor is especially problematic. However, Pfizer's newer drugs and growing sterile injectables businesses should continue to offset these sales decreases.</p>
<p>Novo Nordisk claims a nice dividend yield of 3.15%. The drugmaker's dividend seems likely to increase in the future, since Novo Nordisk currently uses just over 62% of earnings to fund its dividend program.</p>
<p>Diabetes is the company's primary focus. Sales for Novo Nordisk's newer insulin products, particularly Tresiba, are growing. Type-2 diabetes drug Victoza also continues to perform well. In addition, growth hormone therapy Norditropin is enjoying considerable success.</p>
<p>Novo Nordisk has high expectations for Xultophy, which is a once-daily single-injection combination of Tresiba and Victoza. The drugmaker awaits regulatory approval for two other diabetes treatments, fast-acting insulin aspart and semaglutide.</p>
<p>The company's hemophilia business hasn't performed all that well recently. However, Novo Nordisk could see better results with hemophilia drug N9-GP wins approval. Another hemophilia candidate, N8-GP, is in a late-stage clinical study. The company also faces pricing pressure in the U.S. for its diabetes and growth hormone products. Still, Wall Street analysts expect Novo Nordisk to grow earnings by an average annual rate of nearly 10% over the next few years.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than PfizerWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=39f5325c-de67-4d81-9ff5-3c2d587814f0&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Pfizer wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=39f5325c-de67-4d81-9ff5-3c2d587814f0&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFishBiz/info.aspx" type="external">Keith Speights Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of AbbVie and Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | youre looking highyield investments might want consider sector accounts nearly onefifth nations economy im talking healthcare course continue reading three healthcare stocks particular boast high dividend yields good overall prospects heres abbvie nyse abbv pfizer nyse pfe novo nordisk nyse nvo highyield healthcare investments buy right image source getty images abbvies dividend currently yields 391 makes biotechs dividend even attractive abbvie increased dividend 60 since 2013 spun parent abbott laboratories nyse abt abbvie uses around 63 earnings pay dividends leaves room increases future advertisement companys earnings picture could improve quite bit next years sales several abbvies current products growing thats especially true cancer drug imbruvica saw sales double 2016abbvie also enjoy success another cancer drug approved last year venclexta abbvies pipeline could produce multiple big winners elagolix latestage clinical studies treatment endometriosis uterine fibroids two latestage candidates treating autoimmune diseases risankizumab abt494 also hold significant potential biggest knock abbvie humira could face heavier competition days ahead one biosimilar humira already regulatory approval us europe although abbvie attempting use court system fend rival us pfizer isnt far behind abbvie dividend yield 375 big drugmakers dividend increased 60 since 2011 although pfizer currently paying dividends making profit change near future least dozen pfizers top products enjoyed doubledigit percentage sales increases 2016 fastest growth belonged cancer drug ibrance became companys fourth bestselling drug second full year market pfizer also experienced exceptionally strong revenue growth forrheumatoid arthritis drug xeljanz thanks part several acquisitions pfizer looks good shape growth future companys purchase anacor 2016 already resulted approved product atopic dermatitis drug eucrisa pfizer also bought medivation last year gaining prostate cancer drug xtandi drugmakers pipeline loaded promising candidates including cancer drug avelumab recently approval first indication significant headwind pfizer declining sales products either lost patent exclusivity soon fall revenue blockbuster cholesterol drug lipitor especially problematic however pfizers newer drugs growing sterile injectables businesses continue offset sales decreases novo nordisk claims nice dividend yield 315 drugmakers dividend seems likely increase future since novo nordisk currently uses 62 earnings fund dividend program diabetes companys primary focus sales novo nordisks newer insulin products particularly tresiba growing type2 diabetes drug victoza also continues perform well addition growth hormone therapy norditropin enjoying considerable success novo nordisk high expectations xultophy oncedaily singleinjection combination tresiba victoza drugmaker awaits regulatory approval two diabetes treatments fastacting insulin aspart semaglutide companys hemophilia business hasnt performed well recently however novo nordisk could see better results hemophilia drug n9gp wins approval another hemophilia candidate n8gp latestage clinical study company also faces pricing pressure us diabetes growth hormone products still wall street analysts expect novo nordisk grow earnings average annual rate nearly 10 next years 10 stocks like better pfizerwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right pfizer wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns april 3 2017 keith speights opens new window owns shares abbvie pfizer motley fool recommends novo nordisk motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 517 |
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<p>Shares of cloud storage provider Box (NYSE: BOX) rallied 35% over the past 12 months, but the stock hovers just 18% above its IPO price of $14. That's because after hitting $23 on its first trading day in Jan. 2015, Box plunged below $10 last February before gradually recovering to the mid-teens.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Despite that lackluster performance, Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White recently reiterated his "Buy" rating on the stock and his price target of $26 -- whichrepresents a near-60% rally from its current price. White claims that Box looks cheap with an EV/Sales ratio of 3.3 based on its calendar 2018 (fiscal 2019) expectations. Is that "low" valuation enough to justify buying Box, or should investors ignore this overlooked cloud stock?</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Box provides cloud storage and associated services to over 71,000 businesses, including the majority of the Fortune 500 companies. Its major customers include industrial behemoth General Electric andpharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. That market presence is impressive, since the cloud storage market is filled with bigger players like Amazon(NASDAQ: AMZN),Microsoft(NASDAQ: MSFT), and Alphabet(NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG)'sGoogle.</p>
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<p>Despite those challenges, Box has posted double-digit sales growth ever since its IPO. Its revenue rose32% to $398.6 million in fiscal 2017, and it expects another 25%-26% growth this year. Much of that growth comes from the addition of new customers, the introduction of add-on cloud services (like security and analytics) which boost its revenue per customer, and integration partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and IBM. Deferred revenue, a key indicator of forward demand, rose 30% to $242 million at the end of fiscal 2017.</p>
<p>Like many high-growth tech companies, Box's robust revenue growth doesn't trickle down to any profits. However, its non-GAAP loss narrowed from $1.16 per share in 2016 to $0.56. During that period, its GAAP loss narrowed from $1.67 to $1.19. That GAAP loss was heavily weighed down by stock-based compensation expenses, which gobbled up 20% of Box's revenues during the year.</p>
<p>Wall Street expects Box to report non-GAAP losses this year and next year -- although those losses are expected to continue narrowing. Box faces a dilemma which many cloud SaaS (software as a service) companies face -- competition keeps price expectations low, but the cost of securing new customers and developing new services remains high. We can clearly see that impact in its operating margins:</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts</a></p>
<p>The ongoing cloud storage pricing warbetween Amazon, Microsoft, and Google limits Box's ability to raise prices. However, all three companies can afford to use cloud storage services as a loss leader to expand their ecosystems. Box has neither the scale nor ecosystem to follow suit -- so it could eventually lose customers to those tech giants' bundling strategies.</p>
<p>Box finished 2017 with a negative free cash flow (FCF) of $24.8 million. That marked a big improvement from its negative FCF of $116.3 million in 2016, and Box achieved its first quarter of positive free cash flow ($10.2 million) during the fourth quarter. However, Box isn't expected to achieve a full-year positive FCF anytime soon, and a negative FCF could prevent Box from scaling up to widen its moat against bigger challengers.</p>
<p>Drexel Hamilton's bullish view on Box is based on the notion that an EV/Sales ratio of 3.3 is cheap for a company with its growth figures. For example, two other high-growth cloud service stocks with <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/02/23/better-cloud-growth-stock-twilio-inc-vs-veeva-syst.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">comparable sales growth Opens a New Window.</a> -- Twilio and Veeva-- have respective EV/Sales ratios of 4.6 and 8.2 based on next year's projected revenues. It's also lower than the current industry average of 4.8 for application software makers.</p>
<p>Assuming that Box is "fairly valued" with an EV/Sales ratio between Twilio and Veeva's, it's certainly possible that Box could rise to White's price target of $26. However, what bothers me about that estimate is that it's based on a long-range forecast, and a lot can change in the cloud storage industry within two years. If Amazon, Microsoft, and Google continue slashing prices and piling on more features, Box could struggle to retain its top customers.</p>
<p>I think Box has solid sales growth, and its growing list of big enterprise customers indicate that it has a lot of staying power. It also did a great job at adding more services and partnerships, narrowing its losses, and achieving positive free cash flow last quarter.</p>
<p>However, claiming Box can rise 60% based on next year's sales estimates is a bit too optimistic. It's hard to tell how much storage prices will fall over the following year, and Box CEO Aaron Levie even once admitted thatcloud storage would likely be "free and infinite" in the future. Therefore, investors should temper their expectations for Box based on future developments across the cloud market.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than BoxWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=a1eaabad-f778-4d9d-9710-1bbe1f8e7d04&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Box wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=a1eaabad-f778-4d9d-9710-1bbe1f8e7d04&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p>Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Amazon and Twilio. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, and Veeva Systems. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric. The Motley Fool recommends Salesforce.com and Twilio. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | shares cloud storage provider box nyse box rallied 35 past 12 months stock hovers 18 ipo price 14 thats hitting 23 first trading day jan 2015 box plunged 10 last february gradually recovering midteens continue reading despite lackluster performance drexel hamilton analyst brian white recently reiterated buy rating stock price target 26 whichrepresents near60 rally current price white claims box looks cheap evsales ratio 33 based calendar 2018 fiscal 2019 expectations low valuation enough justify buying box investors ignore overlooked cloud stock image source getty images box provides cloud storage associated services 71000 businesses including majority fortune 500 companies major customers include industrial behemoth general electric andpharmaceutical giant astrazeneca market presence impressive since cloud storage market filled bigger players like amazonnasdaq amznmicrosoftnasdaq msft alphabetnasdaq googl nasdaq googsgoogle advertisement despite challenges box posted doubledigit sales growth ever since ipo revenue rose32 3986 million fiscal 2017 expects another 2526 growth year much growth comes addition new customers introduction addon cloud services like security analytics boost revenue per customer integration partnerships companies like microsoft salesforce ibm deferred revenue key indicator forward demand rose 30 242 million end fiscal 2017 like many highgrowth tech companies boxs robust revenue growth doesnt trickle profits however nongaap loss narrowed 116 per share 2016 056 period gaap loss narrowed 167 119 gaap loss heavily weighed stockbased compensation expenses gobbled 20 boxs revenues year wall street expects box report nongaap losses year next year although losses expected continue narrowing box faces dilemma many cloud saas software service companies face competition keeps price expectations low cost securing new customers developing new services remains high clearly see impact operating margins source ycharts ongoing cloud storage pricing warbetween amazon microsoft google limits boxs ability raise prices however three companies afford use cloud storage services loss leader expand ecosystems box neither scale ecosystem follow suit could eventually lose customers tech giants bundling strategies box finished 2017 negative free cash flow fcf 248 million marked big improvement negative fcf 1163 million 2016 box achieved first quarter positive free cash flow 102 million fourth quarter however box isnt expected achieve fullyear positive fcf anytime soon negative fcf could prevent box scaling widen moat bigger challengers drexel hamiltons bullish view box based notion evsales ratio 33 cheap company growth figures example two highgrowth cloud service stocks comparable sales growth opens new window twilio veeva respective evsales ratios 46 82 based next years projected revenues also lower current industry average 48 application software makers assuming box fairly valued evsales ratio twilio veevas certainly possible box could rise whites price target 26 however bothers estimate based longrange forecast lot change cloud storage industry within two years amazon microsoft google continue slashing prices piling features box could struggle retain top customers think box solid sales growth growing list big enterprise customers indicate lot staying power also great job adding services partnerships narrowing losses achieving positive free cash flow last quarter however claiming box rise 60 based next years sales estimates bit optimistic hard tell much storage prices fall following year box ceo aaron levie even admitted thatcloud storage would likely free infinite future therefore investors temper expectations box based future developments across cloud market 10 stocks like better boxwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right box wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns february 6 2017 suzanne frey executive alphabet member motley fools board directors teresa kersten employee linkedin member motley fools board directors linkedin owned microsoft leo sun opens new window owns shares amazon twilio motley fool owns shares recommends alphabet shares alphabet c shares amazon veeva systems motley fool owns shares general electric motley fool recommends salesforcecom twilio motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 645 |
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<p>If it's big income you're seeking, these three stocks deserve a close look.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>With interest rates still near historic lows, investors looking for income are finding fewer choices. And while stocks will almost always carry more short-term risk of losing some value, long-term investors looking for income who are willing to ride out any short-term downturns in stocks can do very well -- if they invest in the best companies.</p>
<p>If you're looking for high-yield stocks to invest in, here are some companies that three of our top contributors think are worth buying this month.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBargainBin/info.aspx" type="external">Tim Green Opens a New Window.</a>: After its merger with Office Depot fell apart, shares of office supply company Staples tumbled. At a price of about $8.50 per share, the stock yields about 5.6%. Staples faces some major challenges, including falling sales at its retail stores, Amazon's push into the business-to-business market, and consistently unprofitable international operations. However, I think the market is underestimating the company.</p>
<p>Image source: Staples.</p>
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<p>The commercial business is performing well, despite the looming threat of Amazon. During the first quarter, sales rose slightly and the operating margin jumped 63 basis points year over year. Staples has greatly expanded its product assortment in recent years, and categories beyond office supplies have been consistently growing even as sales of core office supplies shrink. In 2015, nearly half of Staples $21 billion in revenue came from categories beyond office supplies.</p>
<p>The threat from Amazon is real, but the business-to-business market is very different from Amazon's bread and butter. Staples operates a distribution network of 61 fulfillment centers in North America specifically for its commercial and online business, separate from its retail distribution network, allowing for fast delivery. Winning supply contracts with large organizations is not one of Amazon's core competencies, and its distribution network is set up to deliver small orders to consumers.</p>
<p>Staples expects to generate about $600 million of free cash flow this year, putting the payout ratio based on that number at just about 50%. That's low enough that Staples could still suffer further earnings declines and still maintain its dividend. A dividend cut at some point in the future isn't out of the question, but with the stock depressed following the collapse of the merger, June may be a good time to scoop up some Staples shares.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFVelvetHammer/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Jason Hall Opens a New Window.</a>: One of the best sources of income growth in my portfolio isBrookfieldInfrastructurePartners L.P.. Brookfield Infrastructure owns utility, energy, transportation, and communications infrastructure assets on nearly every continent, giving it an incredibly diverse source of revenue supporting its current distribution, worth a 5.3% yield at recent prices.</p>
<p>Why is Brookfield Infrastructure worth buying in June? This is a particularly good question considering that Brookfield's unit price is up more than 30% from mid-January's lows. The answer, in short, is that it would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater to expect to see Brookfield's price fall that low again in the near term, and it would be ignoring a great business that's selling at a reasonable price right now.</p>
<p>Image source: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners.</p>
<p>Much of the sell-off earlier this year was due to fears of a weak global economy, which would have some affect on Brookfield. However, one of the things that makes Brookfield such a great income investment is that its assets are largely recession-resistant, and they continue to generate steady cash flows even in downturns.</p>
<p>Lastly, Brookfield Infrastructure's target is to grow payouts 5%-9% annually, while retaining 30%-40% of funds from operations for growth. This balance of rewarding income investors while also retaining cash to strengthen the business, along with operations in steady income-producing assets, should make for a fantastic long-term high-yield investment. Now's a great time to invest in Brookfield Infrastructure.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Matt DiLallo Opens a New Window.</a>: With a dividend yield that's currently north of 10%, Seaspan certainly qualifies as a high-yield stock. While a yield that high is typically a sign that the market is concerned the payout will be cut, that doesn't appear to be in the cards for the company. Not only has its management team said it plans to hold its payout steady this year, but the company's underlying fundamentals back up its ability to continue to pay its generous dividend.</p>
<p>Image source: Seaspan.</p>
<p>For starters, the company generates ample cash flow to maintain its payout. Last quarter, for example, Seaspan produced $100.5 million in cash available for distribution, which was up 7.1% over the prior year. However, the company only paid $48.7 million in dividends, which means it covered its payout twice over. Meanwhile, the company's overall cash flow generating capability is backed by long-term contracts withSeaspan boasting $5.7 billion in future contracted revenue. Further,the company has an average remaining charter length of five years, with only 2% to 3% of its revenue this year facing any recharter risk.</p>
<p>In addition to its financial strength, the company has undertaken a number of financing initiatives this year to bolster its balance sheet to ensure it has the liquidity to fund its newbuild program. So far, it has raised $740 million via multiple financings, giving it plenty of cash to both refinance higher-cost funding and pay for vessels being delivered.</p>
<p>Bottom line: At more than 10%, Seaspan pays a pretty enticing dividend that's hard to ignore. So,if you're in search of a high-yield stock this month, Seaspan is a top choice.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/05/31/3-high-yield-dividend-stocks-to-buy-in-june.aspx" type="external">3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy in June Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/elihpaudio/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Jason Hall Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Amazon.com. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Matt DiLallo</a> owns shares of Amazon.com and Seaspan. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBargainBin/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Timothy Green Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Staples. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool recommends Seaspan. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | big income youre seeking three stocks deserve close look continue reading interest rates still near historic lows investors looking income finding fewer choices stocks almost always carry shortterm risk losing value longterm investors looking income willing ride shortterm downturns stocks well invest best companies youre looking highyield stocks invest companies three top contributors think worth buying month tim green opens new window merger office depot fell apart shares office supply company staples tumbled price 850 per share stock yields 56 staples faces major challenges including falling sales retail stores amazons push businesstobusiness market consistently unprofitable international operations however think market underestimating company image source staples advertisement commercial business performing well despite looming threat amazon first quarter sales rose slightly operating margin jumped 63 basis points year year staples greatly expanded product assortment recent years categories beyond office supplies consistently growing even sales core office supplies shrink 2015 nearly half staples 21 billion revenue came categories beyond office supplies threat amazon real businesstobusiness market different amazons bread butter staples operates distribution network 61 fulfillment centers north america specifically commercial online business separate retail distribution network allowing fast delivery winning supply contracts large organizations one amazons core competencies distribution network set deliver small orders consumers staples expects generate 600 million free cash flow year putting payout ratio based number 50 thats low enough staples could still suffer earnings declines still maintain dividend dividend cut point future isnt question stock depressed following collapse merger june may good time scoop staples shares jason hall opens new window one best sources income growth portfolio isbrookfieldinfrastructurepartners lp brookfield infrastructure owns utility energy transportation communications infrastructure assets nearly every continent giving incredibly diverse source revenue supporting current distribution worth 53 yield recent prices brookfield infrastructure worth buying june particularly good question considering brookfields unit price 30 midjanuarys lows answer short would throwing baby bathwater expect see brookfields price fall low near term would ignoring great business thats selling reasonable price right image source brookfield infrastructure partners much selloff earlier year due fears weak global economy would affect brookfield however one things makes brookfield great income investment assets largely recessionresistant continue generate steady cash flows even downturns lastly brookfield infrastructures target grow payouts 59 annually retaining 3040 funds operations growth balance rewarding income investors also retaining cash strengthen business along operations steady incomeproducing assets make fantastic longterm highyield investment nows great time invest brookfield infrastructure matt dilallo opens new window dividend yield thats currently north 10 seaspan certainly qualifies highyield stock yield high typically sign market concerned payout cut doesnt appear cards company management team said plans hold payout steady year companys underlying fundamentals back ability continue pay generous dividend image source seaspan starters company generates ample cash flow maintain payout last quarter example seaspan produced 1005 million cash available distribution 71 prior year however company paid 487 million dividends means covered payout twice meanwhile companys overall cash flow generating capability backed longterm contracts withseaspan boasting 57 billion future contracted revenue furtherthe company average remaining charter length five years 2 3 revenue year facing recharter risk addition financial strength company undertaken number financing initiatives year bolster balance sheet ensure liquidity fund newbuild program far raised 740 million via multiple financings giving plenty cash refinance highercost funding pay vessels delivered bottom line 10 seaspan pays pretty enticing dividend thats hard ignore soif youre search highyield stock month seaspan top choice article 3 highyield dividend stocks buy june opens new window originally appeared foolcom jason hall opens new window owns shares amazoncom matt dilallo owns shares amazoncom seaspan timothy green opens new window owns shares staples motley fool owns shares recommends amazoncom motley fool recommends seaspan try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc 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<p />
<p>Five weeks ago, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States, and not long thereafter he signed his first executive order -- which happened to pertain to the Affordable Care Act, known better as Obamacare.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Repealing and replacing Obamacare has been a linchpin of Trump's campaign, but getting a clean repeal of Obamacare probably isn't going to be so easy. When Obamacare was signed into law in March 2010, it had 60 Senate votes in favor its passage. In order to repeal Obamacare in its entirety, 60 votes will once again be needed. This means swaying Democrats to join the Republican majority's cause, which won't be easy.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Understanding that he has a potentially long road ahead, Trump chose to exercise what power he had as president to "minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens" of Obamacare. The executive order, dated Jan. 20, 2017, allows government agencies, "to the maximum extent permitted by law... to waive, defer, grant exemption from, or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the Act [Affordable Care Act] that would impose a fiscal burden on any State or a cast, fee, tax penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications."</p>
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<p>At the time Trump signed this executive order, it wasn't entirely clear what scope of power this statement held. In other words, the ACA was still very much in place, and Republicans hadn't presented a replacement plan. However, a few weeks later we now know one of the major implications of Trump's first executive order.</p>
<p>Some of the more disliked, but critical, components of Obamacare are the individual mandate and associated Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP). The individual mandate is the actionable component of Obamacare requiring all persons to buy health insurance or face penalties come tax time. That penalty is the SRP, which in 2016 is the greater of $695 or 2.5% of a person's modified adjusted gross income. Estimates from the Kaiser Family Foundation predict that the average household SRP in 2016 will be $969.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>In 2014 and 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided leniency to those individuals who failed to include proof of their health coverage during the previous year. However, the IRS had made it clear that any Form 1040s (the standard tax form) filed for the 2016 calendar tax year without line 61 filled in -- the line that would demonstrate to the IRS if you had health coverage or paid the SRP -- would be rejected.</p>
<p>But Trump's executive order changed everything.</p>
<p><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-irs-struck-its-first-blow-against-obamacare-165729295.html" type="external">According to Yahoo Finance Opens a New Window.</a>, the IRS will once again be accepting electronic and paper tax returns for calendar year 2016 without line 61 filled in.</p>
<p>Now here's where things get tricky. On one hand, the ACA is still the health law of the land, even if it seems to be living on borrowed time. This means the individual mandate is still law, and those who choose not to purchase health insurance should be paying the SRP, unless they're exempt. On the other hand, without line 61 filled in, the IRS has no guarantee that the taxpayer paid the SRP or was even insured in 2016.</p>
<p>The IRS has suggested that if it has a question about a particular tax return it'll follow up with those taxpayers after the filing process is over. However, the IRS has also previously said that it wouldn't garnish wages or go after a person's property for not paying the SRP. In effect, Trump's executive order has made it nearly impossible for the IRS to collect the SRP or to concretely verify an individuals' health insurance status.</p>
<p>That's a pretty big deal.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>As we look ahead, more tax changes may be on the docket for your 2017 calendar year taxes.</p>
<p>With a clean repeal looking unlikely at the moment, Congressional Republicans may turn to a process known as reconciliation, which would allow them to repeal the components of Obamacare that impact the federal budget. In order for a reconciliation bill to pass the Senate, a majority of 51 votes is all that would be needed, and Republicans voting along party lines can reach this total. Reconciliation would eliminate Obamacare's subsidies, as well as the Shared Responsibility Payment, which would certainly impact how tens of millions of Americans prepare their taxes.</p>
<p>Obamacare's end appears imminent. The big question for the insured and taxpayers at this point is simply "when?"</p>
<p>The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-social-security?aid=8727&amp;source=irreditxt0000002&amp;ftm_cam=ryr-ss-intro-report&amp;ftm_pit=3186&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | five weeks ago donald trump inaugurated 45th president united states long thereafter signed first executive order happened pertain affordable care act known better obamacare continue reading repealing replacing obamacare linchpin trumps campaign getting clean repeal obamacare probably isnt going easy obamacare signed law march 2010 60 senate votes favor passage order repeal obamacare entirety 60 votes needed means swaying democrats join republican majoritys cause wont easy image source getty images understanding potentially long road ahead trump chose exercise power president minimize unwarranted economic regulatory burdens obamacare executive order dated jan 20 2017 allows government agencies maximum extent permitted law waive defer grant exemption delay implementation provision requirement act affordable care act would impose fiscal burden state cast fee tax penalty regulatory burden individuals families healthcare providers health insurers patients recipients healthcare services purchasers health insurance makers medical devices products medications advertisement time trump signed executive order wasnt entirely clear scope power statement held words aca still much place republicans hadnt presented replacement plan however weeks later know one major implications trumps first executive order disliked critical components obamacare individual mandate associated shared responsibility payment srp individual mandate actionable component obamacare requiring persons buy health insurance face penalties come tax time penalty srp 2016 greater 695 25 persons modified adjusted gross income estimates kaiser family foundation predict average household srp 2016 969 image source getty images 2014 2015 internal revenue service irs provided leniency individuals failed include proof health coverage previous year however irs made clear form 1040s standard tax form filed 2016 calendar tax year without line 61 filled line would demonstrate irs health coverage paid srp would rejected trumps executive order changed everything according yahoo finance opens new window irs accepting electronic paper tax returns calendar year 2016 without line 61 filled heres things get tricky one hand aca still health law land even seems living borrowed time means individual mandate still law choose purchase health insurance paying srp unless theyre exempt hand without line 61 filled irs guarantee taxpayer paid srp even insured 2016 irs suggested question particular tax return itll follow taxpayers filing process however irs also previously said wouldnt garnish wages go persons property paying srp effect trumps executive order made nearly impossible irs collect srp concretely verify individuals health insurance status thats pretty big deal image source getty images look ahead tax changes may docket 2017 calendar year taxes clean repeal looking unlikely moment congressional republicans may turn process known reconciliation would allow repeal components obamacare impact federal budget order reconciliation bill pass senate majority 51 votes would needed republicans voting along party lines reach total reconciliation would eliminate obamacares subsidies well shared responsibility payment would certainly impact tens millions americans prepare taxes obamacares end appears imminent big question insured taxpayers point simply 16122 social security bonus retirees completely overlook youre like americans youre years behind retirement savings handful littleknown social security secrets could help ensure boost retirement income example one easy trick could pay much 16122 year learn maximize social security benefits think could retire confidently peace mind simply click discover learn strategies opens new window motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 519 |
<p>And so it goes. Here's a sample of the choicest statements from President Barack Obama, Health &amp; Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Democrat Congressman Barney Frank, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, bank chief executives, and Federal Reserve chairmen Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan. Find the mea culpas if you can.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>After millions of people are seeing their health insurance plans cancelled because they don’t meet the health reform law’s standards, <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/video-obama-keep-your-plan-compilation.html" type="external">New York Magazine compiled a clip Opens a New Window.</a> of the president saying 23 times variations of “if you like your health insurance plan, you can keep your plan,”</p>
<p>Including:</p>
<p>“That means that no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health-care plan, &#160;&#160;you’ll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.”-- June 15, 2009</p>
<p>“And if you like your insurance plan, you will keep it. No one will be able to take that away from you. It hasn’t happened yet. It won’t happen in the future.”-- April 1, 2010</p>
<p>To now this:</p>
<p>“What we said was you could keep it if it hasn’t changed since the law was passed”-- November 2013</p>
<p>Also remember this:</p>
<p>“The private sector is doing fine.”-- June, 2012</p>
<p>According to Labor Department figures, there are 90.6 million people who do not have a job who have dropped out of the U.S. labor force. Labor force participation rates are dropping to 1978 lows.</p>
<p>And this:</p>
<p>“I will not sign a [health care] plan that adds one dime to our deficits -- either now or in the future. I will not sign it if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period.”-- September 2009.</p>
<p>Government and private estimates show health reform could potentially add hundreds of billions of dollars to the deficit over the next decade. Already, annual budget deficits exceed $1 trillion for each of the past four years, and the federal deficit is now $16.7 trillion, the size of the U.S. economy.</p>
<p>Health &amp; Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius</p>
<p>“There is no data to support an uptick based on the Affordable Care Act [in part time jobs, hours cut, or job cuts]. I am aware some individual employers making decisions about part time and full time jobs. But &#160;&#160;I’ve seen no economic or unemployment data that this is an effect of the law.” – to Congress, October 31, 2013</p>
<p>“Economists say there is absolutely no evidence that part-time work is going up. In fact, it’s going down. The height was in the recession. &#160;It’s going down.” &#160;(Secretary Sebelius, The Daily Show, October 7, 2013)</p>
<p>On top of the labor force drop outs, Labor Dept. statistics show there are currently eight million people who currently can’t get full-time work but are working part-time jobs. According to data from the Labor Dept., between Jan. 1 and June 30, the U.S. economy added more than 830,000 part-time jobs but lost 97,000 full-time jobs.</p>
<p>The Federal Reserve’s last several beige books, which deliver updates on business conditions in U.S. cities, cites Fed districts in Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas. Cleveland and Philadelphia reporting back that businesses in their areas say health reform is the reason for job losses or reductions in worker hours.</p>
<p>States, cities and school districts in places like California, Indiana, Kansas, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Utah, Nebraska also cite the health reform law as the reason why local government and school districts are cutting jobs, hours or putting full-time workers at part-time status.</p>
<p>(For more, click here: <a href="" type="internal">http://www.foxbusiness.com/government/2013/07/31/obamacare-increases-part-timers-at-schools-local-governments/)</a>.</p>
<p>Also medical device companies like Stryker, Covidien, Genesys, Zimmer, and Medtronic have layoffs underway due to the medical device tax in the health reform bill that taxes devices like pacemakers and hip replacements as cigarettes or alcohol. Investor's Business Daily’s running tally of the number of entities cutting work hours or staffing levels now numbers 351 employers. On top of all that, major U.S. labor unions sent a letter to Senators Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi this past summer saying that health reform is ruining the 40-hour work-week, the backbone of the middle class.</p>
<p>Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.)</p>
<p>On the problems at the insolvent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/10/14/frank_haunted_by_stance_on_fannie_freddie/?page=3" type="external">to the Boston Globe Opens a New Window.</a>, two companies he had duties to oversee and regulate while in Congress -- which later got a combined $188 billion bailout: “I was late in seeing it, no question.”-- October 14, 2010. (Thanks to Mark Rigby, FOX analyst, for digging this up.)</p>
<p>More from the Boston Globe: “Frank, in his most detailed explanation to date about his actions, said in an interview he missed the warning signs because he was wearing ideological blinders. He said he had worried that Republican lawmakers and the Bush administration were going after Fannie and Freddie for their own ideological reasons and would curtail the lenders’ mission of providing affordable housing.</p>
<p>“But the director of the federal office responsible for overseeing Fannie and Freddie, Armando Falcon, began noticing their expanding portfolios and increasing reliance on risky investments. In early 2003, Falcon warned Congress in a 118-page report of the companies’ potential for a catastrophic failure that could jeopardize the economy.</p>
<p>“Falcon sent his report to Frank and other Financial Services Committee members and asked that Fannie and Freddie be required to disclose more about their finances and be subject to tougher oversight. He followed it up with another report in June 2003.</p>
<p>“The warning signs were compounded by revelations in 2003 and early 2004 that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae had misstated earnings by billions of dollars in an effort to meet growth targets.</p>
<p>“But Frank and other Democrats still opposed tighter regulation, Frank most notably in his public statements saying there was nothing wrong with Fannie and Freddie. He and other House Democrats also sent a letter to President George W. Bush in June 2004, saying the proposed crackdown could ‘weaken affordable housing performance . . . by emphasizing only safety and soundness.’’”</p>
<p>“Frank, who became ranking minority member of the Financial Services Committee in January 2003, says now he doesn’t remember Falcon’s reports. ‘I had just taken over as ranking member, all this stuff was very new to me,'" he said.</p>
<p>“First I thought, ‘OK, if we take care of predatory lending, we won’t have to do quite as much on Fannie and Freddie,’ ’’ he said. “But then it became clear we would have to do something about Fannie and Freddie…’’</p>
<p>“It’s the Republican line. They say it happened on my watch, but my watch began in January 2007,’’ Frank said. “The mistake I made was a nonoperational one -- I wasn’t in power. From the day I became chairman, I think we did everything we could.’’</p>
<p>Footnote: Rep. Frank reportedly received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac between 1989 and 2008.</p>
<p>Back to the Boston Globe: “In July 2008, then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called Frank and told him the government would need to spend “billions of taxpayer dollars to backstop the institutions from catastrophic failure,’’ according to Paulson’s recent book. Frank, despite that conversation, appeared on national television two days later and said the companies were “fundamentally sound, not in danger of going under.’’</p>
<p>Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson</p>
<p>On the $140 billion in bank bonuses in 2009 after the government gave record bailouts to the banks: “There was such a total lack of awareness from the firms that paid big bonuses during this extraordinary time.”-- August 26, 2013 ( <a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/26/five-years-after-tarp-misgivings-on-bonuses/" type="external">click here Opens a New Window.</a> -- thanks to FOX analyst Rigby.)</p>
<p>More: “To say I was disappointed is an understatement. My view has nothing to do with legality and everything to do with what was right, and everything to do with just a colossal lack of self-awareness as to how they were viewed by the American public.</p>
<p>“I understood that people were angry. They wanted to hear that those that made the mistakes were going to be held responsible. Then on the other side was stability. It’s hard to punish and save the banks at the same time I was much more concerned with stability.”</p>
<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704362004575000752756113586?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection" type="external">Bank CEOs acknowledge banks’ role in financial collapse Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>"It has been clear how poor business judgments we have made have affected Main Street."--Brian Moynihan, Bank of America Corp.'s CEO, January 2010</p>
<p>"There is no doubt that we as an industry made mistakes..The financial crisis also made clear that regulators simply didn't have the visibility, tools, or authority to protect stability of the financial system as a whole."-- John Mack, former chairman, Morgan Stanley, January 2010.</p>
<p>Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke &#160;</p>
<p>“I did not anticipate a crisis of this magnitude…In the area where we had responsibility, the bank holding companies, we should have done more. That is a mistake we won’t make again.” -- December 3, 2009, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/economy/04fed.html" type="external">as printed in the New York Times Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="external">More from Bloomberg Opens a New Window.</a>: “At a Federal Open Market Committee meeting in mid-2005, Fed governors and regional presidents heard staff briefings suggesting that the U.S. mortgage system ‘might bend but would likely not break’ from a large home-price drop, and that the market may rest on ‘solid fundamentals,’ Bernanke said in a Dec. 21, 2010, letter to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.”</p>
<p>“Given these and other analyses, it was hard for many FOMC participants, in the summer of 2005, to ascribe substantial conviction to the proposition that overvaluation in the housing market posed the major systemic risks that we now know it did,” Bernanke said in the letter.”</p>
<p>Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve chairman</p>
<p>In a discussion in October 2013 about the banking collapse on The Daily Show, former Fed chairman Greenspan said: "We really can't forecast all that well and yet -- we pretend that we can but we really can't. Markets do very weird things because it reacts to how people behave and sometimes people are a little screwy."</p>
<p>Stewart said: "You just learned this?"</p>
<p>As chairman of the Federal Reserve for 18 years, Mr. Greenspan worked with Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and ran the U.S. central bank during the S&amp;L collapse. &#160;Prior to that, Mr. Greenspan headed President Gerald Ford's Council of Economic Advisors.</p>
<p>More on banking collapse and bank regulation: To Congress in October 23, 2008, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB122476545437862295" type="external">from The Wall Street Journal Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>“Lawmakers read back quotations from recent years in which Mr. Greenspan said there's 'no evidence' home prices would collapse and "the worst may well be over."</p>
<p>“You had the authority to prevent irresponsible lending practices that led to the subprime mortgage crisis. You were advised to do so by many others,” said Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, chairman of the committee. “Do you feel that your ideology pushed you to make decisions that you wish you had not made?”</p>
<p>“Greenspan said he made 'a mistake' in his hands-off regulatory philosophy, adding: ‘Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief.’”</p>
<p>“Mr. Greenspan conceded that he has ‘found a flaw’ in his ideology and said he was 'distressed by that.' Yet Mr. Greenspan maintained that no regulator was smart enough to foresee the ‘once-in-a-century credit tsunami.’"</p>
<p>“If the best experts were not able to foresee the development, ‘I think we have to ask ourselves, 'Why is that?’ Mr. Greenspan said. “And the answer is that we're not smart enough as people. We just cannot see events that far in advance.’”</p>
<p>“He continued, 'There are always a lot of people raising issues, and half the time they're wrong. The question is what do you do?’"</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | goes heres sample choicest statements president barack obama health amp human services secretary kathleen sebelius democrat congressman barney frank former us treasury secretary henry paulson bank chief executives federal reserve chairmen ben bernanke alan greenspan find mea culpas president barack obama continue reading millions people seeing health insurance plans cancelled dont meet health reform laws standards new york magazine compiled clip opens new window president saying 23 times variations like health insurance plan keep plan including means matter reform health care keep promise american people like doctor able keep doctor period like healthcare plan 160160youll able keep healthcare plan period one take away matter june 15 2009 like insurance plan keep one able take away hasnt happened yet wont happen future april 1 2010 said could keep hasnt changed since law passed november 2013 also remember private sector fine june 2012 according labor department figures 906 million people job dropped us labor force labor force participation rates dropping 1978 lows sign health care plan adds one dime deficits either future sign adds one dime deficit future period september 2009 government private estimates show health reform could potentially add hundreds billions dollars deficit next decade already annual budget deficits exceed 1 trillion past four years federal deficit 167 trillion size us economy health amp human services secretary kathleen sebelius data support uptick based affordable care act part time jobs hours cut job cuts aware individual employers making decisions part time full time jobs 160160ive seen economic unemployment data effect law congress october 31 2013 economists say absolutely evidence parttime work going fact going height recession 160its going 160secretary sebelius daily show october 7 2013 top labor force drop outs labor dept statistics show currently eight million people currently cant get fulltime work working parttime jobs according data labor dept jan 1 june 30 us economy added 830000 parttime jobs lost 97000 fulltime jobs federal reserves last several beige books deliver updates business conditions us cities cites fed districts chicago kansas city dallas cleveland philadelphia reporting back businesses areas say health reform reason job losses reductions worker hours states cities school districts places like california indiana kansas texas michigan pennsylvania north carolina utah nebraska also cite health reform law reason local government school districts cutting jobs hours putting fulltime workers parttime status click httpwwwfoxbusinesscomgovernment20130731obamacareincreasesparttimersatschoolslocalgovernments also medical device companies like stryker covidien genesys zimmer medtronic layoffs underway due medical device tax health reform bill taxes devices like pacemakers hip replacements cigarettes alcohol investors business dailys running tally number entities cutting work hours staffing levels numbers 351 employers top major us labor unions sent letter senators harry reid rep nancy pelosi past summer saying health reform ruining 40hour workweek backbone middle class rep barney frank dmass problems insolvent fannie mae freddie mac boston globe opens new window two companies duties oversee regulate congress later got combined 188 billion bailout late seeing question october 14 2010 thanks mark rigby fox analyst digging boston globe frank detailed explanation date actions said interview missed warning signs wearing ideological blinders said worried republican lawmakers bush administration going fannie freddie ideological reasons would curtail lenders mission providing affordable housing director federal office responsible overseeing fannie freddie armando falcon began noticing expanding portfolios increasing reliance risky investments early 2003 falcon warned congress 118page report companies potential catastrophic failure could jeopardize economy falcon sent report frank financial services committee members asked fannie freddie required disclose finances subject tougher oversight followed another report june 2003 warning signs compounded revelations 2003 early 2004 freddie mac fannie mae misstated earnings billions dollars effort meet growth targets frank democrats still opposed tighter regulation frank notably public statements saying nothing wrong fannie freddie house democrats also sent letter president george w bush june 2004 saying proposed crackdown could weaken affordable housing performance emphasizing safety soundness frank became ranking minority member financial services committee january 2003 says doesnt remember falcons reports taken ranking member stuff new said first thought ok take care predatory lending wont quite much fannie freddie said became clear would something fannie freddie republican line say happened watch watch began january 2007 frank said mistake made nonoperational one wasnt power day became chairman think everything could footnote rep frank reportedly received tens thousands dollars campaign contributions fannie mae freddie mac 1989 2008 back boston globe july 2008 thentreasury secretary henry paulson called frank told government would need spend billions taxpayer dollars backstop institutions catastrophic failure according paulsons recent book frank despite conversation appeared national television two days later said companies fundamentally sound danger going former us treasury secretary henry paulson 140 billion bank bonuses 2009 government gave record bailouts banks total lack awareness firms paid big bonuses extraordinary time august 26 2013 click opens new window thanks fox analyst rigby say disappointed understatement view nothing legality everything right everything colossal lack selfawareness viewed american public understood people angry wanted hear made mistakes going held responsible side stability hard punish save banks time much concerned stability bank ceos acknowledge banks role financial collapse opens new window clear poor business judgments made affected main streetbrian moynihan bank america corps ceo january 2010 doubt industry made mistakesthe financial crisis also made clear regulators simply didnt visibility tools authority protect stability financial system whole john mack former chairman morgan stanley january 2010 federal reserve chairman ben bernanke 160 anticipate crisis magnitudein area responsibility bank holding companies done mistake wont make december 3 2009 printed new york times opens new window bloomberg opens new window federal open market committee meeting mid2005 fed governors regional presidents heard staff briefings suggesting us mortgage system might bend would likely break large homeprice drop market may rest solid fundamentals bernanke said dec 21 2010 letter financial crisis inquiry commission given analyses hard many fomc participants summer 2005 ascribe substantial conviction proposition overvaluation housing market posed major systemic risks know bernanke said letter alan greenspan former federal reserve chairman discussion october 2013 banking collapse daily show former fed chairman greenspan said really cant forecast well yet pretend really cant markets weird things reacts people behave sometimes people little screwy stewart said learned chairman federal reserve 18 years mr greenspan worked presidents george w bush bill clinton george hw bush ronald reagan ran us central bank sampl collapse 160prior mr greenspan headed president gerald fords council economic advisors banking collapse bank regulation congress october 23 2008 wall street journal opens new window lawmakers read back quotations recent years mr greenspan said theres evidence home prices would collapse worst may well authority prevent irresponsible lending practices led subprime mortgage crisis advised many others said representative henry waxman california chairman committee feel ideology pushed make decisions wish made greenspan said made mistake handsoff regulatory philosophy adding us looked selfinterest lending institutions protect shareholders equity especially state shocked disbelief mr greenspan conceded found flaw ideology said distressed yet mr greenspan maintained regulator smart enough foresee onceinacentury credit tsunami best experts able foresee development think ask mr greenspan said answer smart enough people see events far advance continued always lot people raising issues half time theyre wrong question advertisement | 1,170 |
<p>The mortgage process can be intimidating, especially to first-time homebuyers, but it doesn't need to be. As long as you know some of the <a href="https://www.fool.com/mortgages/2017/07/06/15-mortgage-tips-for-first-time-homebuyers.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">basics about mortgages Opens a New Window.</a> before you start the process, and choose a good lender to guide you through the process from the offer to closing, getting a mortgage can be relatively painless.</p>
<p>With that in mind, here's what you should know before you start looking for a lender, including how to compare different lenders and their mortgage offers.</p>
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<p>To be clear, you don't need to know your <a href="https://www.fool.com/credit-cards/2017/08/30/what-does-my-credit-score-mean.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">credit score Opens a New Window.</a> before you start shopping for a mortgage lender. However, checking your score beforehand can give you an idea of what sorts of terms mortgage lenders may offer you&#160;(more on that later) -- and whether you're even ready for a mortgage in the first place.</p>
<p>Many credit card issuers offer a free FICO score as a perk, but if you want your <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/19/1-thing-you-probably-didnt-know-about-fico-credit.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">complete Opens a New Window.</a> (three-bureau) credit report, you'll probably have to pay for it. <a href="http://www.myfico.com/" type="external">MyFICO.com Opens a New Window.</a> is one popular website that sells FICO scores from all three credit bureaus.</p>
<p>Certain loan programs require certain minimum credit scores. Just to name one example, a conventional mortgage requires a minimum FICO credit score of 620, while a low-down-payment <a href="https://www.fool.com/mortgages/2017/02/26/can-i-get-a-mortgage-with-a-low-credit-score.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">FHA mortgage Opens a New Window.</a> can be obtained with a score as low as 580. So if you check your FICO score and find that you have a 600, you'll know to focus your search on lenders that specialize in FHA loans.</p>
<p>On the other end of the spectrum, some lenders offer their own unique terms, such as 100% financing for borrowers with <a href="https://www.fool.com/credit-cards/2017/04/30/what-is-an-excellent-credit-score.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">excellent credit scores Opens a New Window.</a>. So if you know your FICO score (and how to interpret it), you'll know which loan programs you can realistically qualify for.</p>
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<p>It can takes months or years to boost your credit score significantly. However, there are some ways you may be able to <a href="https://www.fool.com/credit-cards/2017/05/02/4-of-the-best-tips-to-increase-your-credit-score-f.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">boost your score quickly Opens a New Window.</a>, and you should consider them before applying for a mortgage.</p>
<p>One major distinction you should know before you begin comparing lenders is the difference between interest rates and APR.</p>
<p>An interest rate is simply the price you pay for borrowing money, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount you're borrowing. As a basic example, if you're borrowing $1,000 for one year, a 4% interest rate implies that you'll pay $40 in interest to the lender.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <a href="https://www.fool.com/credit-cards/2017/08/11/what-is-apr-and-why-should-you-care.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">annual percentage rate Opens a New Window.</a>, or APR, is the total cost of borrowing money. In addition to the interest, or finance charge, APR also includes certain fees you'll pay to borrow the money, such as a mortgage origination fee charged by the lender.</p>
<p>The point is that APRs and interest rates are often slightly different, and APR is the number you should consider when comparing lenders' offers. You may be surprised how different the APR can be between two loans with the exact same interest rate.</p>
<p>As a final pre-shopping item, you can use national average mortgage rates along with your credit score to get a rough idea of the APR you can realistically expect to obtain for a mortgage.</p>
<p>One tool that is very useful is the <a href="http://www.myfico.com/credit-education/calculators/loan-savings-calculator/" type="external">Loan Savings Calculator Opens a New Window.</a> provided by myFICO.com. This breaks down the national average APRs, as well as state averages, for various types of mortgages (30-year, 15-year, adjustable-rate, etc.) into credit tiers.</p>
<p>For example, let's say I have a FICO score of 730 (Note: Lenders typically look at your FICO scores from all three credit bureaus and use your middle score to determine your rate). If I plan to get a 30-year mortgage in Florida, I can see that the average APR obtained by other borrowers in my credit tier is 3.808% as of Oct. 4, 2017.</p>
<p>In addition to interest rates, there are some other to ask prospective lenders about.</p>
<p>For starters, ask how they communicate with clients (phone, email, etc.) and how quickly you can expect them to respond to messages. Having been through the mortgage process three times <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/10/5-reasons-why-i-own-my-home.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">myself Opens a New Window.</a>, I can tell you firsthand that it can be infuriating to have to wait several days when you ask your lender for a status update.</p>
<p>You can also ask about turnaround times, fees you'll be expected to pay, and how much of a down payment they'll require. There are minimum down payments for certain loan programs (such as 3% for a conventional mortgage), but some lenders require more.</p>
<p>By far the smartest thing you can do is shop around for a mortgage lender. Talk to lenders at national banks, regional banks, credit unions, and others. Ask your real estate professional for recommendations. And be sure to check out online reviews, as they can tell you a great deal about each lender's reliability, customer service, and other qualities.</p>
<p>"Shopping around" doesn't just mean speaking with a few lenders. It means taking the time to complete the <a href="https://www.fool.com/mortgages/2017/02/08/buying-a-home-in-2017-dont-forget-this-1-important.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">pre-approval process Opens a New Window.</a> with at least a few lenders in order to compare the loan terms each one offers you.</p>
<p>A mortgage pre-approval is essentially a thorough mortgage application that doesn't have a particular home in mind. The lender will check your credit, verify your income and employment, and give you a firm commitment to lend a certain amount of money at specific terms.</p>
<p>Finally, don't worry about your credit suffering from completing several mortgage applications and credit checks. There's a special provision in the FICO formula that <a href="https://www.fool.com/mortgages/2017/02/23/will-shopping-around-for-mortgage-rates-kill-my-cr.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">allows for "rate-shopping" Opens a New Window.</a> for mortgages and auto loans. As long as all of your applications occur within a two-week period, they will count as a single credit inquiry for scoring purposes.</p>
<p>As a final thought, while the APR you receive is probably the single most important factor to consider, it's not the only one. For example, if you have narrowed your search down to two lenders, and one has excellent reviews, always closes on time, and answers your emails within an hour, it may be worth choosing them, even if they're offering a slightly higher APR.</p>
<p>5 Simple Tips to Skyrocket Your Credit Score Over 800!Increasing your credit score above 800 will put you in rare company. So rare that only 1 in 9 Americans can claim they're members of this elite club. But contrary to popular belief, racking up a high credit score is a lot easier than you may have imagined following 5 simple, disciplined strategies. You'll find a full rundown of each inside our <a href="http://www.fool.com/ecap/the_motley_fool/mortgage-creditscore/?ftm_cam=the-motley-fool&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;source=ic3editxt0000001&amp;aid=8985&amp;ftm_pit=6983&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">FREE credit score guide Opens a New Window.</a>. It's time to put your financial future first and secure a lifetime of savings by increasing your credit score. Simply <a href="http://www.fool.com/ecap/the_motley_fool/mortgage-creditscore/?ftm_cam=the-motley-fool&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;source=ic3editxt0000001&amp;aid=8985&amp;ftm_pit=6983&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">click here Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;to claim a copy 5 Simple Tips to Skyrocket Your Credit Score over 800.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=ba3b402c-a537-11e7-96a2-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | mortgage process intimidating especially firsttime homebuyers doesnt need long know basics mortgages opens new window start process choose good lender guide process offer closing getting mortgage relatively painless mind heres know start looking lender including compare different lenders mortgage offers continue reading clear dont need know credit score opens new window start shopping mortgage lender however checking score beforehand give idea sorts terms mortgage lenders may offer you160more later whether youre even ready mortgage first place many credit card issuers offer free fico score perk want complete opens new window threebureau credit report youll probably pay myficocom opens new window one popular website sells fico scores three credit bureaus certain loan programs require certain minimum credit scores name one example conventional mortgage requires minimum fico credit score 620 lowdownpayment fha mortgage opens new window obtained score low 580 check fico score find 600 youll know focus search lenders specialize fha loans end spectrum lenders offer unique terms 100 financing borrowers excellent credit scores opens new window know fico score interpret youll know loan programs realistically qualify advertisement takes months years boost credit score significantly however ways may able boost score quickly opens new window consider applying mortgage one major distinction know begin comparing lenders difference interest rates apr interest rate simply price pay borrowing money expressed percentage principal amount youre borrowing basic example youre borrowing 1000 one year 4 interest rate implies youll pay 40 interest lender hand annual percentage rate opens new window apr total cost borrowing money addition interest finance charge apr also includes certain fees youll pay borrow money mortgage origination fee charged lender point aprs interest rates often slightly different apr number consider comparing lenders offers may surprised different apr two loans exact interest rate final preshopping item use national average mortgage rates along credit score get rough idea apr realistically expect obtain mortgage one tool useful loan savings calculator opens new window provided myficocom breaks national average aprs well state averages various types mortgages 30year 15year adjustablerate etc credit tiers example lets say fico score 730 note lenders typically look fico scores three credit bureaus use middle score determine rate plan get 30year mortgage florida see average apr obtained borrowers credit tier 3808 oct 4 2017 addition interest rates ask prospective lenders starters ask communicate clients phone email etc quickly expect respond messages mortgage process three times opens new window tell firsthand infuriating wait several days ask lender status update also ask turnaround times fees youll expected pay much payment theyll require minimum payments certain loan programs 3 conventional mortgage lenders require far smartest thing shop around mortgage lender talk lenders national banks regional banks credit unions others ask real estate professional recommendations sure check online reviews tell great deal lenders reliability customer service qualities shopping around doesnt mean speaking lenders means taking time complete preapproval process opens new window least lenders order compare loan terms one offers mortgage preapproval essentially thorough mortgage application doesnt particular home mind lender check credit verify income employment give firm commitment lend certain amount money specific terms finally dont worry credit suffering completing several mortgage applications credit checks theres special provision fico formula allows rateshopping opens new window mortgages auto loans long applications occur within twoweek period count single credit inquiry scoring purposes final thought apr receive probably single important factor consider one example narrowed search two lenders one excellent reviews always closes time answers emails within hour may worth choosing even theyre offering slightly higher apr 5 simple tips skyrocket credit score 800increasing credit score 800 put rare company rare 1 9 americans claim theyre members elite club contrary popular belief racking high credit score lot easier may imagined following 5 simple disciplined strategies youll find full rundown inside free credit score guide opens new window time put financial future first secure lifetime savings increasing credit score simply click opens new window160to claim copy 5 simple tips skyrocket credit score 800 motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 660 |
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<p>GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO) recently announced thatit will let users extract telemetry data -- like speed, altitude, G-force, and other GPS data -- from its Hero 5 Black cameras. Users can also use the GPS data to generate a map of their travels.That data can then be overlaid on video footage with the Quik app.</p>
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<p>Image source: GoPro.</p>
<p>That sounds innovative, but it's hardly a new idea. Garmin's (NASDAQ: GRMN) GPS-equipped action cameras haveoffered similar features for the past two years, and hobbyists already put Garmin's GPS overlays fromother GPS devices over GoPro videos last year.</p>
<p>In my opinion, this "new" feature for the Hero 5 Black is just a weak attempt to differentiate the camera from rival devices this holiday season. Unfortunately, it also highlights GoPro's long history of copying ideas and passing them off as its own. Furthermore, it's a cumbersome feature which won't likely win over many new users.</p>
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<p>GoPro struck gold with its first wearable action camera in 2010. Those devices carved out a niche market among hardcore athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. But it eventually filled up the niche market, and existing users didn't see compelling reasons to upgrade their cameras. Mainstream users also didn't need stand-alone cameras when their smartphone cameras worked just fine.</p>
<p>Instead of carving out new niches, GoPro started copying its rivals. Last year's Hero 4 Session looked so similar to C&amp;A Marketing's Polaroid Cube that <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/11/11/gopro-incs-hero4-session-faces-a-patent-problem.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">C&amp;A sued GoPro Opens a New Window.</a> for patent infringement. Its Omni and Odyssey VR rigs simply copied earlier spherical rigs created by smaller companies like360Heros (now known as 360Rize).</p>
<p>The Karma drone's foldable form factor already appeared countless timesin earlier drones, and its new GoPro Plus <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/11/gopro-incs-cloud-business-might-matter-less-than-y.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">cloud backup service Opens a New Window.</a> is a paid service while there are many free competing services available. Therefore, it isn't surprising that GoPro "adopted" some of Garmin's GPS features for the Hero 5 Black.</p>
<p>The Hero 5 Black's telemetry features might be more interesting if they resembled the ones found in <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/17/gopro-inc-gets-schooled-by-tomtoms-bandit-now-what.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">TomTom's Bandit Opens a New Window.</a> action camera. The Bandit detects moments of high acceleration, rotation, vertical speed, G-force, and even heart rate data from anoptional chest strap. It bookmarks those moments with colorful icons on a video timeline so users can quickly find, clip, and compile the highlights from a long video within the mobile app.</p>
<p>TomTom's Bandit. Image source: TomTom.</p>
<p>GoPro users, however, must export the video to its Quik for Desktop app. Users then flip on the "Gauges" toggle and save the video as a new clip to get the telemetric data to appear. If the footage is directly exported to YouTube or social media, the data won't be carried over. It's a clunky system which will probably only be used by hardcore users like skiers or surfers who feel compelled to share moment-by-moment information about their movements.</p>
<p>GoPro has posted four straight quarters of year-over-year revenue declines due to a lack of new products, waning demand for action cameras, and tough competition from cheaper devices and better smartphones.</p>
<p>GoPro planned to break that losing streak with huge sales growth during the fourth quarter, fueled by robust demand for its Karma drones and Hero 5 cameras. But even if GoPro meets analyst expectations for 35% growth this quarter, its full year sales are still expected tofall 24% with its bottom line in the red.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, GoPro's holiday quarter has been plagued with problems. A <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/19/why-gopro-stopped-selling-the-hero-5-on-amazoncom.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">pricing dispute Opens a New Window.</a> with a particularlyprominent e-retailer prevented the Hero 5 from being sold to early shoppers. Supply chain issues prevented the Karma drones from shipping on time, and when they finally arrived, they fell out of the sky -- prompting a full recall of the device. GoPro then offered full refunds for the drone and apologized by giving out free Hero 5 Black cameras. Those bleak developments indicate that GoPro could completely miss sales expectations for the holiday quarter.</p>
<p>Adding Garmin-like telemetry features to the Hero 5 Black won't win over any mainstream users, who are more likely enamored with <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/17/will-snapchat-spectacles-succeed-where-google-glas.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Snapchat's Spectacles Opens a New Window.</a>. Instead, it's just a desperate attempt to gain some publicity with a "new" feature which has been standard in rival GPS-enabled cameras for years.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than GoPro When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=2881099a-5ac6-4cce-a133-c732453d1fb1&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now and GoPro wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=2881099a-5ac6-4cce-a133-c732453d1fb1&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends GoPro. The Motley Fool has the following options: short January 2019 $12 calls on GoPro and long January 2019 $12 puts on GoPro. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | gopro nasdaq gpro recently announced thatit let users extract telemetry data like speed altitude gforce gps data hero 5 black cameras users also use gps data generate map travelsthat data overlaid video footage quik app continue reading image source gopro sounds innovative hardly new idea garmins nasdaq grmn gpsequipped action cameras haveoffered similar features past two years hobbyists already put garmins gps overlays fromother gps devices gopro videos last year opinion new feature hero 5 black weak attempt differentiate camera rival devices holiday season unfortunately also highlights gopros long history copying ideas passing furthermore cumbersome feature wont likely win many new users advertisement gopro struck gold first wearable action camera 2010 devices carved niche market among hardcore athletes outdoor enthusiasts eventually filled niche market existing users didnt see compelling reasons upgrade cameras mainstream users also didnt need standalone cameras smartphone cameras worked fine instead carving new niches gopro started copying rivals last years hero 4 session looked similar campa marketings polaroid cube campa sued gopro opens new window patent infringement omni odyssey vr rigs simply copied earlier spherical rigs created smaller companies like360heros known 360rize karma drones foldable form factor already appeared countless timesin earlier drones new gopro plus cloud backup service opens new window paid service many free competing services available therefore isnt surprising gopro adopted garmins gps features hero 5 black hero 5 blacks telemetry features might interesting resembled ones found tomtoms bandit opens new window action camera bandit detects moments high acceleration rotation vertical speed gforce even heart rate data anoptional chest strap bookmarks moments colorful icons video timeline users quickly find clip compile highlights long video within mobile app tomtoms bandit image source tomtom gopro users however must export video quik desktop app users flip gauges toggle save video new clip get telemetric data appear footage directly exported youtube social media data wont carried clunky system probably used hardcore users like skiers surfers feel compelled share momentbymoment information movements gopro posted four straight quarters yearoveryear revenue declines due lack new products waning demand action cameras tough competition cheaper devices better smartphones gopro planned break losing streak huge sales growth fourth quarter fueled robust demand karma drones hero 5 cameras even gopro meets analyst expectations 35 growth quarter full year sales still expected tofall 24 bottom line red unfortunately gopros holiday quarter plagued problems pricing dispute opens new window particularlyprominent eretailer prevented hero 5 sold early shoppers supply chain issues prevented karma drones shipping time finally arrived fell sky prompting full recall device gopro offered full refunds drone apologized giving free hero 5 black cameras bleak developments indicate gopro could completely miss sales expectations holiday quarter adding garminlike telemetry features hero 5 black wont win mainstream users likely enamored snapchats spectacles opens new window instead desperate attempt gain publicity new feature standard rival gpsenabled cameras years 10 stocks like better gopro investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right gopro wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 7 2016 leo sun opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends gopro motley fool following options short january 2019 12 calls gopro long january 2019 12 puts gopro try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 591 |
<p>This year may very well go down in the books as the year of the cryptocurrency. After beginning the year with an aggregate market cap of $17.6 billion for all cryptocurrencies combined, the more than 1,100 digital currencies -- as of Sept. 30, 2017 -- accounted for $146.5 billion in market cap.&#160;That's a nine-month increase of 732%. Comparatively, the broad-based S&amp;P 500 has taken well over two decades to deliver that sort of return.</p>
<p>Of course, the one-two punch within digital currencies belongs to bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is up more than 300% year to date, while Ethereum, the second-largest, has gained more than 3,600% in nine months. Together, bitcoin and Ethereum make up $100 billion of the aforementioned $146.5 billion cryptocurrency market cap.</p>
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<p>Why have digital currencies like bitcoin and Ethereum been on fire? The most logical explanation is the excitement surrounding the technology known as blockchain that underpins these currencies. Blockchain is the digital and decentralized ledger that allows transactions to be recorded and stored without the need for a financial intermediary like a bank. Most blockchains are also open source, meaning that it would be practically impossible to alter data without someone else knowing. This makes blockchain uniquely secure.</p>
<p>We've already begun to see a number of real-world tests involving blockchain technology. The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance is composed of <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/27/9-brand-name-companies-that-have-joined-the-enterp.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bb61ac42-a6f0-11e7-93bf-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">more than 150 organizations Opens a New Window.</a> currently testing a version of Ethereum's blockchain in pilot or small-scale projects. Similarly, bitcoin recently implemented a software upgrade, known as SegWit2x, following its fork into two currencies (bitcoin and bitcoin cash), which should help it to appeal to enterprise customers. This upgrade allows for more capacity, quicker transaction settlements, and lower transaction fees.</p>
<p>The other tangible catalyst here has been the falling U.S. dollar. Uncertainty regarding whether the U.S. economy can continue growing, especially with little in the way of major legislation working its way out of Washington, has weighed on the dollar. Typically, investors will seek the safety of gold when the dollar is falling. Gold has been used as currency for centuries and is a finite resource, which is why it's a perceived store of value.</p>
<p>However, bitcoin is also being viewed by some investors as a perceived store of value. Its protocols allow for a maximum of 21 million coins to be mined, which makes bitcoins somewhat of a "finite" resource. Its 300%-plus return this year has also run circles around gold, which is up by 11% year to date.</p>
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<p>But one of the most interesting aspects of bitcoin -- and the cryptocurrency run in general -- is the fact that because it has no central bank-backing and isn't recognized as legal currency in most countries, most financial institutions <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/01/3-finance-gurus-who-believe-bitcoin-may-be-worthle.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bb61ac42-a6f0-11e7-93bf-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">won't go near it Opens a New Window.</a>. CEO Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) said in an interview recently that if any JPMorgan employees were actively trading or holding bitcoin, they'd be "fired in a second." This has left retail investors to largely determine the price of bitcoin and other digital currencies.</p>
<p>Yet, despite the cryptocurrency's being a big unknown, one big-name investment firm has decided to take a chance on bitcoin. Abigail Johnson, the CEO of Fidelity Investments, which has around $2.3 trillion in assets under management, recently announced that her company has been dabbling in various aspects of bitcoin and Ethereum -- and it's been profitable in doing so.</p>
<p>As reported by Quartz and The Financial Times, Johnson spoke about her company's ventures into bitcoin at Consensus, a bitcoin-themed conference in New York. In addition to allowing its customers to view their cryptocurrency balances based on what digital currencies are being held through CoinBase, Fidelity has also been actively mining bitcoin and Ethereum for a profit. According to The Financial Times, Fidelity acquired its mining hardware from 21 Inc.</p>
<p>The fact that Fidelity is now mining bitcoin helps add some degree of legitimacy to the long-term investment argument into digital currencies. It also adds to the number of big-name companies involved in cryptocurrencies in some way. For those who may not recall, some <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/06/5-brand-name-businesses-that-currently-accept-bitc.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bb61ac42-a6f0-11e7-93bf-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">large businesses Opens a New Window.</a> have been accepting bitcoin as payment since 2014.</p>
<p>However, it's also important for investors not to get carried away by this announcement from Johnson. There are still some clear-cut issues that bitcoin and other digital currencies need to contend with. Regulation is obviously a worry, albeit a two-headed one. On one hand, regulating the bitcoin market would provide legitimacy that the currency holds value. On the other hand, it also leaves bitcoin open to be deemed an illegal currency. Recently, China and South Korea have cracked down, or announced crackdowns, on initial coin offerings, with China taking it a step further and aiming to shut down domestic cryptocurrency exchanges.</p>
<p>Another issue that bitcoin could deal with is that the barrier to entry for digital currencies is exceptionally low. As noted, blockchain is where the real value of these digital currencies lies. We've witnessed an absolute explosion in the number of launched digital currencies, along with big businesses banding together in some instances to create their own virtual currencies. In August, six global banking giants announced that they were banding together to create their own coin currency, demonstrating how easily the existing digital currency juggernauts could be upended in the future.</p>
<p>There's also no clear evidence to suggest what blockchain technology is really worth. While some investors have valued bitcoin based on its uptake as a peer-to-peer payment platform, this payment platform isn't really worth much. Blockchain is where bitcoin's future lies, but there are few guarantees that its blockchain will be among those preferred by big business.</p>
<p>In other words, while bitcoin investors should be glad that Fidelity is taking a chance on bitcoin, it doesn't materially change the uncertainties that still cloud its future.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of September 5, 2017The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bb61ac42-a6f0-11e7-93bf-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=bb61ac42-a6f0-11e7-93bf-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | year may well go books year cryptocurrency beginning year aggregate market cap 176 billion cryptocurrencies combined 1100 digital currencies sept 30 2017 accounted 1465 billion market cap160thats ninemonth increase 732 comparatively broadbased sampp 500 taken well two decades deliver sort return course onetwo punch within digital currencies belongs bitcoin ethereum bitcoin largest cryptocurrency market cap 300 year date ethereum secondlargest gained 3600 nine months together bitcoin ethereum make 100 billion aforementioned 1465 billion cryptocurrency market cap continue reading digital currencies like bitcoin ethereum fire logical explanation excitement surrounding technology known blockchain underpins currencies blockchain digital decentralized ledger allows transactions recorded stored without need financial intermediary like bank blockchains also open source meaning would practically impossible alter data without someone else knowing makes blockchain uniquely secure weve already begun see number realworld tests involving blockchain technology enterprise ethereum alliance composed 150 organizations opens new window currently testing version ethereums blockchain pilot smallscale projects similarly bitcoin recently implemented software upgrade known segwit2x following fork two currencies bitcoin bitcoin cash help appeal enterprise customers upgrade allows capacity quicker transaction settlements lower transaction fees tangible catalyst falling us dollar uncertainty regarding whether us economy continue growing especially little way major legislation working way washington weighed dollar typically investors seek safety gold dollar falling gold used currency centuries finite resource perceived store value however bitcoin also viewed investors perceived store value protocols allow maximum 21 million coins mined makes bitcoins somewhat finite resource 300plus return year also run circles around gold 11 year date advertisement one interesting aspects bitcoin cryptocurrency run general fact central bankbacking isnt recognized legal currency countries financial institutions wont go near opens new window ceo jamie dimon jpmorgan chase nyse jpm said interview recently jpmorgan employees actively trading holding bitcoin theyd fired second left retail investors largely determine price bitcoin digital currencies yet despite cryptocurrencys big unknown one bigname investment firm decided take chance bitcoin abigail johnson ceo fidelity investments around 23 trillion assets management recently announced company dabbling various aspects bitcoin ethereum profitable reported quartz financial times johnson spoke companys ventures bitcoin consensus bitcointhemed conference new york addition allowing customers view cryptocurrency balances based digital currencies held coinbase fidelity also actively mining bitcoin ethereum profit according financial times fidelity acquired mining hardware 21 inc fact fidelity mining bitcoin helps add degree legitimacy longterm investment argument digital currencies also adds number bigname companies involved cryptocurrencies way may recall large businesses opens new window accepting bitcoin payment since 2014 however also important investors get carried away announcement johnson still clearcut issues bitcoin digital currencies need contend regulation obviously worry albeit twoheaded one one hand regulating bitcoin market would provide legitimacy currency holds value hand also leaves bitcoin open deemed illegal currency recently china south korea cracked announced crackdowns initial coin offerings china taking step aiming shut domestic cryptocurrency exchanges another issue bitcoin could deal barrier entry digital currencies exceptionally low noted blockchain real value digital currencies lies weve witnessed absolute explosion number launched digital currencies along big businesses banding together instances create virtual currencies august six global banking giants announced banding together create coin currency demonstrating easily existing digital currency juggernauts could upended future theres also clear evidence suggest blockchain technology really worth investors valued bitcoin based uptake peertopeer payment platform payment platform isnt really worth much blockchain bitcoins future lies guarantees blockchain among preferred big business words bitcoin investors glad fidelity taking chance bitcoin doesnt materially change uncertainties still cloud future 10 stocks like better jpmorgan chasewhen investing geniuses david tom160gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter they160have run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom160just revealed believe the160 ten best stocks opens new window160for investors buy right jpmorgan chase wasnt one thats right they160think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window160to learn picks stock advisor returns september 5 2017the authors may position stocks mentioned sean williams opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 657 |
<p />
<p>There's no denying it, Americans are terrible savers.</p>
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<p>According to the St. Louis Federal Reserve, the personal saving rate in February 2017 was just 5.6%, implying that workers were putting away just a little over $1 into savings or investments for every $20 earned. In February 1967, 50 years ago, the personal saving rate was a healthy 12.4%, essentially in between the recommended saving rate by advisors of 10% to 15% of your annual income. Without an adequate amount of savings, consumers run the risk of running out of money during their retirement, which is a common fear among workers.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.ebri.org/pdf/briefspdf/EBRI_IB_431_RCS.21Mar17.pdf" type="external">2017 Retirement Confidence Survey Opens a New Window.</a>, which was prepared by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and released last month, shows that nearly 4 in 10 workers don't feel confident about having enough money to last them throughout their retirement.</p>
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<p>This is a particular worry for the millennial generation (those people born between 1981 and 1996). Data from the Pew Research Center last year found that for the first time in more than a century, more Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 were living with their parents. What's more, a Citizens Financial Group study found that college grads under the age of 35 are spending nearly a fifth of their income on paying off their student loans. Long story short, millennials tend to not be saving anywhere near what they should in order to retire comfortably.</p>
<p>Yet here's what's interesting: As part of its retirement survey, the EBRI asked workers of all ages how much money they believed they'd need in order to not outlive their savings. Again, this is for all workers aged 25 and up, not just millennials. Here's the breakdown per the report:</p>
<p>Data source: Employee Benefit Research Institute 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey. Chart by author.</p>
<p>As you can see, nearly two-thirds of working Americans (63%) believe they can retire with $1 million or less and comfortably retire. More than a third (36%) believe they can do so with less than $500,000, and more than 1 in 5 (21%) believe retiring comfortably is possible with less than $250,000 saved up.</p>
<p>For those near retirement age, $250,000 or less may indeed work. However, for most Americans, especially millennials, anything less than $1 million simply may not be enough.</p>
<p>Think about this for a moment. The average 25-year-old millennial is probably going to work for another 40 to 45 years before he or she retires. During this period, inflation is likely to motor along at roughly 2.5% per year, which is conservatively 1% below its 100-year average. After 45 years, inflation will have chipped away at your $1 million nest egg and pushed its real-money value to $400,000 or less. For those looking to live on $500,000 or $250,000, a 2.5% inflation rate over 45 years could push the real-money value of your nest egg to under $200,000 and $100,000, respectively.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>At the same time, we've stood back and watched as the medical care inflation rate has soared, housing costs have outpaced the inflation rate, and the costs for college have risen (think about this in terms of paying for your children to go to college years/decades down the line).</p>
<p>Millennials' lack of savings is also concerning because the Social Security program we know today may not be the same in 40 years' time. According to the 2016 Social Security Board of Trustees report, the program is expected to have depleted its spare cash by 2034, at which time a benefits cut of up to 21% made be needed on an across-the-board basis to sustain payouts through 2090. This would place the average retired workers' monthly check of $1,364 as of February 2017 dangerously close to the poverty line.</p>
<p>And lastly, pensions aren't nearly as common among millennials as they are with the silent generation and baby boomers, meaning even less in the way of guaranteed income in retirement.</p>
<p>Now for the good news: Millennials are still young enough to rectify their poor saving and investing habits. Here's a rough three-step plan that millennials can mold to their liking to reach their retirement goals.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>One of the bigger issues that the EBRI came across in its survey is that just 41% of respondents had ever taken the time to calculate out how much money they'd need in retirement (i.e., their retirement number). Without this number it's almost impossible for working Americans to set proper weekly, monthly, or annual saving goals. Your <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/10/09/the-simple-way-to-find-your-retirement-number.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">retirement number Opens a New Window.</a> takes into account the income you'll need to replace once you retire (usually about 80% of your annual wages), other sources of income you might have (retirement plans, such as IRAs or a 401(k)), and most commonly the 4% rule, which assumes how much you'll withdraw each year.</p>
<p>Once you have your retirement number, it's time to set up a workable budget. If there's one thing millennials have an edge with over generation X and baby boomers, it's their savvy when it comes to technology. Budgeting software and apps can be found online for free in many instances. Budgeting software can also help formulate a saving plan once you know how much you'll want to sock away each month. It'll merely be up to you to stick to your budget, and to review it often, once it's been formulated.</p>
<p>The second move millennials can make that'll really ensure they stay on track is to set up a regular withdrawal from their savings account, checking account, or paycheck.</p>
<p>Speaking as a procrastinator, the "I'll do it later" excuse is a tough habit to break. The easiest way to do this is by setting up a weekly or bi-weekly withdrawal of a set amount of money to a retirement or investment account. An automatic withdrawal eliminates a common excuse for not saving money (procrastination), and it also keeps an individual honest (i.e., the money is being withdrawn on a certain day no matter what).</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Finally, and perhaps most importantly, millennials have to get over their distrust of the stock market.</p>
<p>A Bankratesurvey from last year found that only around a third of millennials were investing in the stock market. While the stock market can be volatile at times, it's also the best long-term source of wealth creation, with an average annual rate of return of 7%, inclusive of dividend reinvestment. Considering how little of their income Americans are saving compared to what financial advisors suggest, they're going to need the stock market in their corner now more than ever to ensure they have a healthy nest egg once they retire.</p>
<p>Millennials do have time on their side, but the longer they wait to get on the right track, the tougher it could be to hit their retirement number.</p>
<p>The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-social-security?aid=8727&amp;source=irreditxt0000002&amp;ftm_cam=ryr-ss-intro-report&amp;ftm_pit=3186&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | theres denying americans terrible savers continue reading according st louis federal reserve personal saving rate february 2017 56 implying workers putting away little 1 savings investments every 20 earned february 1967 50 years ago personal saving rate healthy 124 essentially recommended saving rate advisors 10 15 annual income without adequate amount savings consumers run risk running money retirement common fear among workers image source getty images 2017 retirement confidence survey opens new window prepared employee benefit research institute ebri released last month shows nearly 4 10 workers dont feel confident enough money last throughout retirement advertisement particular worry millennial generation people born 1981 1996 data pew research center last year found first time century americans ages 18 34 living parents whats citizens financial group study found college grads age 35 spending nearly fifth income paying student loans long story short millennials tend saving anywhere near order retire comfortably yet heres whats interesting part retirement survey ebri asked workers ages much money believed theyd need order outlive savings workers aged 25 millennials heres breakdown per report data source employee benefit research institute 2017 retirement confidence survey chart author see nearly twothirds working americans 63 believe retire 1 million less comfortably retire third 36 believe less 500000 1 5 21 believe retiring comfortably possible less 250000 saved near retirement age 250000 less may indeed work however americans especially millennials anything less 1 million simply may enough think moment average 25yearold millennial probably going work another 40 45 years retires period inflation likely motor along roughly 25 per year conservatively 1 100year average 45 years inflation chipped away 1 million nest egg pushed realmoney value 400000 less looking live 500000 250000 25 inflation rate 45 years could push realmoney value nest egg 200000 100000 respectively image source getty images time weve stood back watched medical care inflation rate soared housing costs outpaced inflation rate costs college risen think terms paying children go college yearsdecades line millennials lack savings also concerning social security program know today may 40 years time according 2016 social security board trustees report program expected depleted spare cash 2034 time benefits cut 21 made needed acrosstheboard basis sustain payouts 2090 would place average retired workers monthly check 1364 february 2017 dangerously close poverty line lastly pensions arent nearly common among millennials silent generation baby boomers meaning even less way guaranteed income retirement good news millennials still young enough rectify poor saving investing habits heres rough threestep plan millennials mold liking reach retirement goals image source getty images one bigger issues ebri came across survey 41 respondents ever taken time calculate much money theyd need retirement ie retirement number without number almost impossible working americans set proper weekly monthly annual saving goals retirement number opens new window takes account income youll need replace retire usually 80 annual wages sources income might retirement plans iras 401k commonly 4 rule assumes much youll withdraw year retirement number time set workable budget theres one thing millennials edge generation x baby boomers savvy comes technology budgeting software apps found online free many instances budgeting software also help formulate saving plan know much youll want sock away month itll merely stick budget review often formulated second move millennials make thatll really ensure stay track set regular withdrawal savings account checking account paycheck speaking procrastinator ill later excuse tough habit break easiest way setting weekly biweekly withdrawal set amount money retirement investment account automatic withdrawal eliminates common excuse saving money procrastination also keeps individual honest ie money withdrawn certain day matter image source getty images finally perhaps importantly millennials get distrust stock market bankratesurvey last year found around third millennials investing stock market stock market volatile times also best longterm source wealth creation average annual rate return 7 inclusive dividend reinvestment considering little income americans saving compared financial advisors suggest theyre going need stock market corner ever ensure healthy nest egg retire millennials time side longer wait get right track tougher could hit retirement number 16122 social security bonus retirees completely overlook youre like americans youre years behind retirement savings handful littleknown social security secrets could help ensure boost retirement income example one easy trick could pay much 16122 year learn maximize social security benefits think could retire confidently peace mind simply click discover learn strategies opens new window sean williams opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 732 |
<p />
<p>The Trump administration on Wednesday proposed changes to the Obamacare individual insurance market that insurers welcomed as a good start but that others pointed out could raise out-of-pocket cost for consumers.</p>
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<p>President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have promised to scrap the 2010 healthcare law that is a key legacy of Democrat Barack Obama's presidency. But they are struggling to agree on a replacement for the law, which extended health insurance to 20 million Americans.</p>
<p>The proposed new rule, issued by a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sets out changes that are meant to shore up the system developed by Obama. It is unclear which elements of this system could survive in the Republicans' replacement.</p>
<p>The rule does not address changes that must be made by law, such as for Obamacare's income-based subsidies.</p>
<p>The changes would tighten enrollment processes and allow insurers to collect unpaid premium payments, making it tougher for people to move in and out of insurance plans. Insurers say "gaming the system" has created an unprofitable mix of healthy and sick customers.</p>
<p>Separately, the administration backed off implementing tougher oversight of the individual mandate, the requirement for all Americans to have health insurance or pay a fine, that was due to go into effect for 2016 taxes.</p>
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<p>The U.S. Internal Revenue Service said as a result of Trump's executive order to reduce regulatory burden, it will not reject tax filings for the year 2016 that fail to indicate whether they had health coverage or paid the penalty set under Obamacare. This is a return to the policy for 2015 taxes, the IRS said.</p>
<p>The mandate was supposed to bring in healthy customers but Republicans have vowed to overturn it and insurers say it has not worked.</p>
<p>Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini on Wednesday said during a Wall Street Journal forum that the Obamacare exchanges had entered a "death spiral" in which rising premiums pushed out the healthiest customers, which in turn raises rates.</p>
<p>Aetna cut back offering new plans for 2017 and it and Anthem Inc. have said that without changes, they might not take part after this year. Humana Inc on Tuesday said it was pulling out of this market altogether for 2018.</p>
<p>Bertolini said in a statement that new Health Secretary Tom Price and the Trump administration have "taken some good initial steps with the proposed regulation." The top two industry groups, America's Health Insurance Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, echoed that view.</p>
<p>Shares of insurers were mixed in the early afternoon on Wednesday with Aetna gaining 1 percent to $127.01, Cigna off less than 1 percent at $146.07 and Humana off 0.3 percent to $205.34. Anthem fell less than 1 percent to $162.90.</p>
<p>TOUGHER TO ENROLL</p>
<p>The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, which are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, on Wednesday proposed the new rule that includes verifying the status of enrollees outside of the usual enrollment period.</p>
<p>It also proposes insurers can collect unpaid premiums from members when they sign up with the same issuer again, an incentive for people to always have insurance.</p>
<p>In addition, it proposed lowering the amount of guaranteed coverage for some "silver" level plans in the program, which it said could raise out-of-pocket spending and cut premiums.</p>
<p>It would give the states oversight of doctor and hospital networks included in the plans, reflecting a Republican theme that healthcare oversight be reduced at the federal level.</p>
<p>The rule proposes shortening the open enrollment period for the individual market to Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, similar to employer-sponsored insurance market and Medicare.</p>
<p>The weakening of the mandate and the new CMS rule making it tougher for people to sign up would have contradictory effects on premium pricing, according to Jonathan Gruber, professor of economics at MIT and one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>"You're basically saying on the one hand, we have to weaken the mandate for political reasons but we have to lower prices, so we have to kick people out of the exchanges," Gruber said.</p>
<p>Patient advocate Families USA said the new rules would discourage younger, healthier people from enrolling, reduce financial assistance for families and make it harder for them to find networks that include their doctors.</p>
<p>Republican lawmakers, who are working on an Obamacare replacement, said the rule was a start.</p>
<p>"If we don't take more steps like that, having an Obamacare subsidy will be like having a bus ticket in a town where no buses run, because there will be zero choices to buy," Senator Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate health committee, told reporters outside the Senate.</p>
<p>Wall Street said the proposed changes could help insurer profitability but it was not clear by how much.</p>
<p>"As one would expect tightening special enrollment periods, shortening the open enrollment period to six weeks and mandating payment of premiums before coverage should lead to an improvement in the risk pool," Leerink Partners analyst Ana Gupte said.</p>
<p>(By Caroline Humer; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell and Yasmeen Abutaleb in Washington D.C. and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Bill Trott)</p> | true | 0 | trump administration wednesday proposed changes obamacare individual insurance market insurers welcomed good start others pointed could raise outofpocket cost consumers continue reading president donald trump congressional republicans promised scrap 2010 healthcare law key legacy democrat barack obamas presidency struggling agree replacement law extended health insurance 20 million americans proposed new rule issued division us department health human services sets changes meant shore system developed obama unclear elements system could survive republicans replacement rule address changes must made law obamacares incomebased subsidies changes would tighten enrollment processes allow insurers collect unpaid premium payments making tougher people move insurance plans insurers say gaming system created unprofitable mix healthy sick customers separately administration backed implementing tougher oversight individual mandate requirement americans health insurance pay fine due go effect 2016 taxes advertisement us internal revenue service said result trumps executive order reduce regulatory burden reject tax filings year 2016 fail indicate whether health coverage paid penalty set obamacare return policy 2015 taxes irs said mandate supposed bring healthy customers republicans vowed overturn insurers say worked aetna ceo mark bertolini wednesday said wall street journal forum obamacare exchanges entered death spiral rising premiums pushed healthiest customers turn raises rates aetna cut back offering new plans 2017 anthem inc said without changes might take part year humana inc tuesday said pulling market altogether 2018 bertolini said statement new health secretary tom price trump administration taken good initial steps proposed regulation top two industry groups americas health insurance plans blue cross blue shield association echoed view shares insurers mixed early afternoon wednesday aetna gaining 1 percent 12701 cigna less 1 percent 14607 humana 03 percent 20534 anthem fell less 1 percent 16290 tougher enroll centers medicare amp medicaid services part department health human services wednesday proposed new rule includes verifying status enrollees outside usual enrollment period also proposes insurers collect unpaid premiums members sign issuer incentive people always insurance addition proposed lowering amount guaranteed coverage silver level plans program said could raise outofpocket spending cut premiums would give states oversight doctor hospital networks included plans reflecting republican theme healthcare oversight reduced federal level rule proposes shortening open enrollment period individual market nov 1 dec 15 similar employersponsored insurance market medicare weakening mandate new cms rule making tougher people sign would contradictory effects premium pricing according jonathan gruber professor economics mit one architects affordable care act youre basically saying one hand weaken mandate political reasons lower prices kick people exchanges gruber said patient advocate families usa said new rules would discourage younger healthier people enrolling reduce financial assistance families make harder find networks include doctors republican lawmakers working obamacare replacement said rule start dont take steps like obamacare subsidy like bus ticket town buses run zero choices buy senator lamar alexander chairman senate health committee told reporters outside senate wall street said proposed changes could help insurer profitability clear much one would expect tightening special enrollment periods shortening open enrollment period six weeks mandating payment premiums coverage lead improvement risk pool leerink partners analyst ana gupte said caroline humer additional reporting susan cornwell yasmeen abutaleb washington dc michael erman new york editing bill trott | 516 |
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<p>For much of 2016, talk about health insurer Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) has centered on its merger discussions with industry peer Cigna (NYSE: CI). Yet with no decision expected from the U.S. Department of Justice on whether it will give its approval for the merger to go ahead, investors can't afford to lose sight of the insurer's fundamentals.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Coming into Wednesday's third-quarter financial report, Anthem investors were prepared to see declines in earnings from year-ago levels despite modest revenue growth, and that's largely consistent with what Anthem's results final results were.</p>
<p>Let's take a closer look at how Anthem did during the quarter and what investors should expect for the rest of 2016 and beyond.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Anthem's third-quarter financial results were mixed in the eyes of most investors. Operating revenue climbed 7% to $21.2 billion, outpacing the $20.8 billion consensus forecast among those following the stock. However, net income fell 6% to $617.8 million, and after taking account of certain extraordinary items, adjusted earnings of $2.45 per share were down about 10% from year-ago levels and were $0.02 per share less than shareholders had expected.</p>
<p>Taking a closer look at Anthem's results, the biggest issue that the insurer faced was a substantial rise in its benefit expenses. Anthem spent $16.92 billion on benefit payouts during the quarter, up 9.4% from year-ago levels and outpacing the rate of growth in overall revenue. That sent the company's benefit expense ratio, or expenses as a percentage of premiums, up by almost 2 full percentage points to 85.5%. Anthem said that poor medical cost experience in the Medicaid business, especially in the state of Iowa, exacerbated what is already traditionally a higher-cost segment. Also, unfavorable loss experience in the individual segment was only partially offset by lower cost experience in the local group segment.</p>
<p>Yet Anthem's overall enrollment figures continued to climb. Overall, Anthem counted 39.9 million members at the end of the quarter, up by 1.2 million since this time last year. Medicaid enrollment was the biggest gainer, climbing 554,000, but substantial gains in national corporate customer counts amounted to nearly 530,000. Smaller gains in local group and individual coverage also added to Anthem's enrollment totals. Financially, the government business saw greater revenue gains than the commercial and specialty segment, but operating gains climbed in the commercial business even as they slid by nearly a quarter on the government side of Anthem's business.</p>
<p>CEO Joseph Swedish was happy with how Anthem performed. "Our third quarter results reflected our focus on improving affordability for our members and capitalizing on growth opportunities across our businesses," Swedish said. "The strong membership growth across the majority of our lines of business this year is further testament to the value proposition we bring to the marketplace."</p>
<p>One concern that investors should keep in mind is that medical cost inflation continues to outpace the overall rate of rising prices in the economy by a substantial margin. Anthem said that it believes that medical cost trends in its local group segment should come in between 7% and 7.5% for the full 2016 year, which is quite high in a 2% inflation environment for the broader economy.</p>
<p>Anthem's guidance remained largely similar to its previous predictions. The insurer now expects GAAP net income to be about $9.28 per share, but that came from upward revisions to its total expected unfavorable extraordinary items of $1.52 per share. That allowed Anthem to keep its projection for adjusted net income of $10.80 per share, which it has had for most of the year. On the membership front, Anthem expects between 39.65 million and 39.85 million members, and full-year expense ratios should come in between 84.6% and 85.2%.</p>
<p>Anthem shares didn't respond dramatically to the news, climbing higher by about 0.5% in pre-market trading following the announcement. With so much uncertainty about the eventual fate of mergers in the health insurance industry, Anthem investors will need to keep watching the company's operations closely to make sure that it can keep up enough positive momentum to be comfortable going forward on its own if the DOJ eventually rejects its deal with Cigna.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFGalagan/info.aspx" type="external">Dan Caplinger Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Anthem. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | much 2016 talk health insurer anthem nyse antm centered merger discussions industry peer cigna nyse ci yet decision expected us department justice whether give approval merger go ahead investors cant afford lose sight insurers fundamentals continue reading coming wednesdays thirdquarter financial report anthem investors prepared see declines earnings yearago levels despite modest revenue growth thats largely consistent anthems results final results lets take closer look anthem quarter investors expect rest 2016 beyond image source getty images advertisement anthems thirdquarter financial results mixed eyes investors operating revenue climbed 7 212 billion outpacing 208 billion consensus forecast among following stock however net income fell 6 6178 million taking account certain extraordinary items adjusted earnings 245 per share 10 yearago levels 002 per share less shareholders expected taking closer look anthems results biggest issue insurer faced substantial rise benefit expenses anthem spent 1692 billion benefit payouts quarter 94 yearago levels outpacing rate growth overall revenue sent companys benefit expense ratio expenses percentage premiums almost 2 full percentage points 855 anthem said poor medical cost experience medicaid business especially state iowa exacerbated already traditionally highercost segment also unfavorable loss experience individual segment partially offset lower cost experience local group segment yet anthems overall enrollment figures continued climb overall anthem counted 399 million members end quarter 12 million since time last year medicaid enrollment biggest gainer climbing 554000 substantial gains national corporate customer counts amounted nearly 530000 smaller gains local group individual coverage also added anthems enrollment totals financially government business saw greater revenue gains commercial specialty segment operating gains climbed commercial business even slid nearly quarter government side anthems business ceo joseph swedish happy anthem performed third quarter results reflected focus improving affordability members capitalizing growth opportunities across businesses swedish said strong membership growth across majority lines business year testament value proposition bring marketplace one concern investors keep mind medical cost inflation continues outpace overall rate rising prices economy substantial margin anthem said believes medical cost trends local group segment come 7 75 full 2016 year quite high 2 inflation environment broader economy anthems guidance remained largely similar previous predictions insurer expects gaap net income 928 per share came upward revisions total expected unfavorable extraordinary items 152 per share allowed anthem keep projection adjusted net income 1080 per share year membership front anthem expects 3965 million 3985 million members fullyear expense ratios come 846 852 anthem shares didnt respond dramatically news climbing higher 05 premarket trading following announcement much uncertainty eventual fate mergers health insurance industry anthem investors need keep watching companys operations closely make sure keep enough positive momentum comfortable going forward doj eventually rejects deal cigna secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window dan caplinger opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool recommends anthem try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 522 |
<p>BY: <a href="" type="internal">Bill McMorris</a> July 10, 2012 5:00 am</p>
<p>Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine left the state with a $22 billion deficit when he departed office in 2010, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis.</p>
<p>Kaine, who is running against former Sen. George Allen for one of Virginia’s U.S. Senate seats, steered the state through the 2008 crash while attempting to increase spending by <a href="http://dpb.virginia.gov/budget/pastbiennia.cfm" type="external">$1 billion</a>.</p>
<p>The economic crash left the state with a <a href="http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewrelease.cfm?id=238" type="external">$1.8 billion deficit</a> in 2010, and a projected budget deficit of $4.2 billion for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.</p>
<p>That is only a slice of Virginia’s debt picture moving forward, however.</p>
<p>The economic collapse also exacerbated the state’s pension woes. The Virginia Retirement System, which funds retirement costs for state employees, was <a href="http://www.varetire.org/Pdf/Publications/2011-annual-report.pdf" type="external">$20 billion short</a> of meeting its future retirement costs in 2010, up from $10 billion when Kaine took office.</p>
<p>"Pension liabilities—that is, the future benefits owed to public employees—are effectively government debt, since these benefits are virtually guaranteed and have to be paid pretty much regardless of the state's budget situation," said <a href="http://www.aei.org/scholar/andrew-g-biggs/" type="external">Andrew Biggs</a>, a former Social Security commissioner and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "An increase in the VRS's unfunded liabilities is equivalent to rising state debt, which will require higher taxes on present and future taxpayers."</p>
<p>The inherited debt from 2010 is already costing Virginia taxpayers billions. Gov. Bob McDonnell proposed a <a href="http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=1050" type="external">$2.2 billion employer contribution</a> to the system over the next two years, the largest contribution in history.</p>
<p>"The amount of money that we needed to put in has diminished ever since 2001 and is constantly going down and taking the fund under water," said Republican State Sen. John Watkins. "We just got serious about paying for this, but it’s going to take 20 years to make back."</p>
<p>"It’s not all [Kaine’s] fault—the legislature played a role, too—but the buck stops with him as governor."</p>
<p>Each year state accountants estimate <a href="http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/issues/detail/pensions" type="external">how much money is needed</a> to bring pension funds to full funding, but it is up to lawmakers to authorize the contribution. Under Kaine, the state fell well short of those goals. He contributed <a href="http://www.varetire.org/Pdf/Publications/2010-annual-report.pdf" type="external">$990 million</a> to the pension system in 2010, about 66 percent of the $1.5 billion required contribution.</p>
<p>The Virginia system has been in free fall since reaching over 100 percent funding in 2001, as lawmakers failed to make adequate contributions and investment returns fell short of expectations.</p>
<p>The lax contributions are a reflection of misplaced priorities from lawmakers, according to Frank Keegan editor of the fiscal watchdog <a href="http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/authors/detail/frank-keegan" type="external">State Budget Solutions</a>.</p>
<p>"In good times these guys don’t put enough money away, then the bad economy comes and they contribute even less. We’ve seen it in every state in the country," he said. "Eventually VRS is going to run out of money to pay benefits. They will either have to increase taxes massively … or they’re going to have to cut benefits. Someone has to take the hit."</p>
<p>Kaine has blasted Allen, who served in the Republican-controlled Senate when the federal government fell into deficit in the wake of the 2001 recession, World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, and expansion of federal spending under the Bush administration.</p>
<p>"He turned, and his colleagues in the majority in the Senate turned, the biggest surplus in the history of the United States into the biggest deficit in the history of the United States," Kaine said in a December 2011 debate with Allen.</p>
<p>A pro-Kaine Super PAC jumped on the issue, releasing an ad that faulted Allen for " <a href="http://factcheck.org/2012/06/democratic-pac-distorts-facts-in-virginia-senate-race/" type="external">bipartisan</a>" actions in Congress that produced the federal deficit. Factcheck.org said Allen "helped" his colleagues spend the surplus, but concluded that the PAC " <a href="http://factcheck.org/2012/06/democratic-pac-distorts-facts-in-virginia-senate-race/" type="external">distorts</a>" the Republican’s record.</p>
<p>Allen’s record as a worthy budget steward in the state Governor’s Mansion could give him a boost. The VRS’s funding ratio rose from 73 percent when he took office in 1994 to 88 percent in 1998—though he also failed to make the required contributions to the system, including a <a href="http://varetire.org/Pdf/Publications/2002annurept.pdf" type="external">62 percent contribution</a> in 1997. The pension-funding gap decreased by $2 billion during his term.</p>
<p>Allen cut taxes by <a href="http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2012/mar/09/george-allen/george-allen-says-he-cut-600-million-taxes-governo/" type="external">$600 million</a> while in office and left Virginia with a <a href="http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&amp;p_theme=vp&amp;p_action=search&amp;p_maxdocs=200&amp;p_topdoc=1&amp;p_text_direct-0=0EAFFBAB6DA26EF7&amp;p_field_direct-0=document_id&amp;p_perpage=10&amp;p_sort=YMD_date:D&amp;s_trackval=GooglePM" type="external">$175 million surplus</a>, contributing $78 million to Virginia’s rainy day fund. Those funds came in handy in 2007 when Kaine <a href="http://articles.dailypress.com/2007-09-25/news/0709240179_1_rainy-day-fund-revenue-stabilization-fund-recordation-taxes" type="external">raided the pension fund</a> of $300 million to overcome a budget deficit.</p>
<p>"Allen was an excellent steward in that situation because it might have been mighty tempting and mighty easy to use more of that money for pet projects," State Sen. Watkins said. "It’s the kind of stewardship we need at the state and national level."</p>
<p>Biggs says that economic stewardship, especially regarding entitlement issues, such as retirement benefits, will be a major theme as November approaches.</p>
<p>"While the budget is suffering today because of the recession and expanded government spending, pretty much the whole long-term deficit picture is due to entitlements," he said. "Without rising costs for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the federal budget would basically be in balance over the long term. So unless Congress addresses entitlements, the deficit simply won't get fixed."</p>
<p>Neither Kaine nor Allen returned calls for comment.</p> | true | 0 | bill mcmorris july 10 2012 500 former virginia gov tim kaine left state 22 billion deficit departed office 2010 according washington free beacon analysis kaine running former sen george allen one virginias us senate seats steered state 2008 crash attempting increase spending 1 billion economic crash left state 18 billion deficit 2010 projected budget deficit 42 billion fiscal years 2011 2012 slice virginias debt picture moving forward however economic collapse also exacerbated states pension woes virginia retirement system funds retirement costs state employees 20 billion short meeting future retirement costs 2010 10 billion kaine took office pension liabilitiesthat future benefits owed public employeesare effectively government debt since benefits virtually guaranteed paid pretty much regardless states budget situation said andrew biggs former social security commissioner resident scholar american enterprise institute increase vrss unfunded liabilities equivalent rising state debt require higher taxes present future taxpayers inherited debt 2010 already costing virginia taxpayers billions gov bob mcdonnell proposed 22 billion employer contribution system next two years largest contribution history amount money needed put diminished ever since 2001 constantly going taking fund water said republican state sen john watkins got serious paying going take 20 years make back kaines faultthe legislature played role toobut buck stops governor year state accountants estimate much money needed bring pension funds full funding lawmakers authorize contribution kaine state fell well short goals contributed 990 million pension system 2010 66 percent 15 billion required contribution virginia system free fall since reaching 100 percent funding 2001 lawmakers failed make adequate contributions investment returns fell short expectations lax contributions reflection misplaced priorities lawmakers according frank keegan editor fiscal watchdog state budget solutions good times guys dont put enough money away bad economy comes contribute even less weve seen every state country said eventually vrs going run money pay benefits either increase taxes massively theyre going cut benefits someone take hit kaine blasted allen served republicancontrolled senate federal government fell deficit wake 2001 recession world trade center pentagon attacks expansion federal spending bush administration turned colleagues majority senate turned biggest surplus history united states biggest deficit history united states kaine said december 2011 debate allen prokaine super pac jumped issue releasing ad faulted allen bipartisan actions congress produced federal deficit factcheckorg said allen helped colleagues spend surplus concluded pac distorts republicans record allens record worthy budget steward state governors mansion could give boost vrss funding ratio rose 73 percent took office 1994 88 percent 1998though also failed make required contributions system including 62 percent contribution 1997 pensionfunding gap decreased 2 billion term allen cut taxes 600 million office left virginia 175 million surplus contributing 78 million virginias rainy day fund funds came handy 2007 kaine raided pension fund 300 million overcome budget deficit allen excellent steward situation might mighty tempting mighty easy use money pet projects state sen watkins said kind stewardship need state national level biggs says economic stewardship especially regarding entitlement issues retirement benefits major theme november approaches budget suffering today recession expanded government spending pretty much whole longterm deficit picture due entitlements said without rising costs social security medicare medicaid federal budget would basically balance long term unless congress addresses entitlements deficit simply wont get fixed neither kaine allen returned calls comment | 533 |
<p>I have few original thoughts on&#160;the fake twins who cannot bear the unbearable&#160;burden of bearing&#160;fairly boring genealogy and upbringing in middle and upper middle&#160;class Amerika.</p>
<p>I feel your&#160;feign, man and woman.</p>
<p>So here is your faking fakers and the fakery they fake Reader (you can attribute any of these brilliant lines to moi):</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/obama-354827-ever-white.html" type="external">Mark Steyn</a>:</p>
<p>When it comes to conspiracies, I’m an Occam’s Razor man. The more obvious explanation of the variable first line in the eternally shifting sands of Obama’s biography is that, rather than pretending to have been born in Hawaii, he’s spent much of his life pretending to have been born in Kenya.</p>
<p>After all, if your first book is an exploration of racial identity and has the working title “Journeys In Black And White,” being born in Hawaii doesn’t really help. It’s entirely irrelevant to the twin pillars of contemporary black grievance – American slavery and European imperialism. To 99.99 percent of people, Hawaii is a luxury vacation destination and nothing else.</p>
<p>Whereas Kenya puts you at the heart of what, in an otherwise notably orderly decolonization process by the British, was a bitter and violent struggle against the white man’s rule. Cool! The composite chicks dig it, and the literary agents.</p>
<p>And where’s the harm in it? Everybody does it – at least in the circles in which Obama hangs. At Harvard Law School, where young Barack was “the first African-American president of The Harvard Law Review,” there’s no end of famous firsts: As The Fordham Law Review reported, “Harvard Law School hired its first woman of color, Elizabeth Warren, in 1995.” There is no evidence that Mrs. Warren, now the Democrats’ Senate candidate, is anything other than 100 percent white. She walks like a white, quacks like a white, looks whiter than white. She’s the whitest white since Frosty the Snowman fell in a vat of Wite-Out. But she “self-identified” as Cherokee, so that makes her a “woman of color.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view/20220519cheap_ploys_demean_true_sacrifices/" type="external">Joe Fitzgerald</a>:</p>
<p>It’s a cheap stunt.</p>
<p>It’s former City Councilor Chuck Turner, trying to divert attention from his bribery conviction by reminding his tiny band of disillusioned followers, “African-Americans were brought to this country as slaves; we were whipped and lashed and hung. …”</p>
<p>It’s Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. offering to donate to the Smithsonian Institution’s museum of black history the handcuffs used to shackle him, as if he had personally confronted Sheriff Jim Clark rather than mouthed off to a Cambridge cop who’d come to help him.</p>
<p>It’s unconscionable because it demeans the price that was paid by those who truly suffered for causes greater than themselves. To Warren, Turner and Gates, and ideologues like them, that shed blood of others is not revered, but unconscionably appropriated for their own selfish purposes.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists//view.bg?articleid=1061131871" type="external">Howie Carr</a>:</p>
<p>Granny’s hagiographers had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the truth about their heroine, but finally the tangled web they weaved when first they practiced to deceive came apart like the Seventh Cavalry at the Little Big Horn.</p>
<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303360504577412372235659372.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet" type="external">James Taranto</a>:</p>
<p>In any case, Obama’s putative foreign birth fit in with the image his agents were trying to sell: that of a young man whose exotic background gave him a pertinent perspective on “social and racial issues.” Obama, like Warren, was a product of elite academia, which places a great premium on such “diversity.” When tales of exotic origins become a kind of currency, it shouldn’t surprise us to find that prominent people, when they were young and ambitious, turn out to have passed counterfeits.</p>
<p><a href="" type="external">Jack Marshall</a>:</p>
<p>In fact, it looks like a severe case of Sixties Liberal Delusion Syndrome, also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Jack" type="external">Billy Jack Disease.</a> Warren talks and writes like a stereotype campus liberal, and like her Sixties campus forbears, she must have figured out in early adulthood that kinship with oppressed minorities is the antidote to white guilt and the ticket to a perpetual state of self-righteousness and victimization….</p>
<p>As for me, a Massachusetts kid myself, I don’t trust plagiarizers. The most honest and trustworthy people I know never plagiarized anything in their lives; given a choice between a plagiarist and a non-plagiarist, I’ll take the non- every time.</p>
<p><a href="http://pjmedia.com/eddriscoll/2012/05/17/was-obama-himself-the-first-birther/" type="external">Ed Driscoll</a>:</p>
<p>And how better to sound cool and exotic to Harvard’s professors (many of whom likely share the same <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/245kubju.asp" type="external">punitive liberal worldview</a> of America that Obama has marinated in much of his life) than to claim you weren’t born in America?</p>
<p><a href="http://crayfisher.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/liar-liar-pants-on-fire-3/" type="external">myiq2xu</a>:</p>
<p>One last piece of data: In Dreams From My Father Obama admits that while at Punahou School, the fancy prep school he attended with the children of Hawaii’s rich and powerful, he told people that his father was an African prince.</p>
<p>Are you starting to see a pattern?</p>
<p>Unlike Obama, I never went on some years-long journey of self-discovery trying to figure out who I am.&#160; That journey is what Dreams is supposedly all about.&#160; But as we have already learned, many of the people in that memoir are fake “composites” and the events he describes didn’t take place.</p>
<p>Obama is not only pretentious, he is pretend-tious.&#160; At Punahou School he was low on the social status totem pole compared to the other children.&#160; So he claims to be the son of an African Prince.&#160; As he grows older he cultivates a persona that is exotic and international.&#160; He wears a sarong, quotes TS Eliot and listens to jazz.</p>
<p>Early on his lies are easy to tell and hard to check.&#160; Later on, not so much.&#160; So he begins trying to clean up his history.&#160; But the problem is he has created a paper trail, and now that he is world famous there is no place to hide.</p>
<p>Luckily for him the media is doing their best to protect him.</p>
<p><a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2012/05/17/breitbart-com-1991-booklet-by-obamas-literary-agent-listed-his-birthplace-as-kenya/" type="external">Allahpundit</a>:</p>
<p>The point, as Pollak explains, isn’t that the Kenya detail should be taken at face value but rather that it’s another case of Obama, who once famously described himself as a “blank slate” for voters, re-inventing his identity for professional gain. An author born in colonial Kenya sounds more worldly at first blush than one born in Honolulu, just as a law professor who’s 1/32 Cherokee sounds more in tune with the minority experience in America than a white woman from Oklahoma.</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/17/obama-wasnt-born-in-kenya-except-when-he-claims-he-was-born-in-kenya/" type="external">Jim Treacher</a>“:</p>
<p>Either Obama was born in Kenya or he wasn’t. I remain skeptical that he was.&#160; The question is, then: Why did he claim to be? What advantage did he think it&#160; gave him at the time?</p>
<p>Maybe Elizabeth Warren can tell us…</p>
<p>An as&#160;yet <a href="" type="internal">undiscovered pundit</a> who is still deciding&#160;how to&#160;pitch his first book, Dreams From My Cossack Fleeing, Civil War Slave Freeing, French Underground&#160;Sabateuring, Warsaw Ghettoing, Jerusalem Liberating,&#160;Great Great&#160;Grandfather:</p>
<p>Why aren’t liberals screaming about this?</p>
<p>Elizabeth Warren has done as much damage to the notion of affirmative action as anyone in memory.&#160; She made a mockery of it whether or not she received the benefit in any provable fashion.</p>
<p>If Elizabeth Warren can claim minority status for diversity purposes, then diversity as it is practiced at Harvard and elsewhere is a game of charades, in which “sounds like” is more important than “is.”</p> | true | 0 | original thoughts on160the fake twins bear unbearable160burden bearing160fairly boring genealogy upbringing middle upper middle160class amerika feel your160feign man woman faking fakers fakery fake reader attribute brilliant lines moi mark steyn comes conspiracies im occams razor man obvious explanation variable first line eternally shifting sands obamas biography rather pretending born hawaii hes spent much life pretending born kenya first book exploration racial identity working title journeys black white born hawaii doesnt really help entirely irrelevant twin pillars contemporary black grievance american slavery european imperialism 9999 percent people hawaii luxury vacation destination nothing else whereas kenya puts heart otherwise notably orderly decolonization process british bitter violent struggle white mans rule cool composite chicks dig literary agents wheres harm everybody least circles obama hangs harvard law school young barack first africanamerican president harvard law review theres end famous firsts fordham law review reported harvard law school hired first woman color elizabeth warren 1995 evidence mrs warren democrats senate candidate anything 100 percent white walks like white quacks like white looks whiter white shes whitest white since frosty snowman fell vat witeout selfidentified cherokee makes woman color joe fitzgerald cheap stunt former city councilor chuck turner trying divert attention bribery conviction reminding tiny band disillusioned followers africanamericans brought country slaves whipped lashed hung harvard professor henry louis gates jr offering donate smithsonian institutions museum black history handcuffs used shackle personally confronted sheriff jim clark rather mouthed cambridge cop whod come help unconscionable demeans price paid truly suffered causes greater warren turner gates ideologues like shed blood others revered unconscionably appropriated selfish purposes howie carr grannys hagiographers dragged kicking screaming truth heroine finally tangled web weaved first practiced deceive came apart like seventh cavalry little big horn james taranto case obamas putative foreign birth fit image agents trying sell young man whose exotic background gave pertinent perspective social racial issues obama like warren product elite academia places great premium diversity tales exotic origins become kind currency shouldnt surprise us find prominent people young ambitious turn passed counterfeits jack marshall fact looks like severe case sixties liberal delusion syndrome also known billy jack disease warren talks writes like stereotype campus liberal like sixties campus forbears must figured early adulthood kinship oppressed minorities antidote white guilt ticket perpetual state selfrighteousness victimization massachusetts kid dont trust plagiarizers honest trustworthy people know never plagiarized anything lives given choice plagiarist nonplagiarist ill take non every time ed driscoll better sound cool exotic harvards professors many likely share punitive liberal worldview america obama marinated much life claim werent born america myiq2xu one last piece data dreams father obama admits punahou school fancy prep school attended children hawaiis rich powerful told people father african prince starting see pattern unlike obama never went yearslong journey selfdiscovery trying figure am160 journey dreams supposedly about160 already learned many people memoir fake composites events describes didnt take place obama pretentious pretendtious160 punahou school low social status totem pole compared children160 claims son african prince160 grows older cultivates persona exotic international160 wears sarong quotes ts eliot listens jazz early lies easy tell hard check160 later much160 begins trying clean history160 problem created paper trail world famous place hide luckily media best protect allahpundit point pollak explains isnt kenya detail taken face value rather another case obama famously described blank slate voters reinventing identity professional gain author born colonial kenya sounds worldly first blush one born honolulu law professor whos 132 cherokee sounds tune minority experience america white woman oklahoma jim treacher either obama born kenya wasnt remain skeptical was160 question claim advantage think it160 gave time maybe elizabeth warren tell us as160yet undiscovered pundit still deciding160how to160pitch first book dreams cossack fleeing civil war slave freeing french underground160sabateuring warsaw ghettoing jerusalem liberating160great great160grandfather arent liberals screaming elizabeth warren done much damage notion affirmative action anyone memory160 made mockery whether received benefit provable fashion elizabeth warren claim minority status diversity purposes diversity practiced harvard elsewhere game charades sounds like important | 652 |
<p />
<p>General Electric(NYSE: GE) put out a mixed-bag earnings report before the market opened on Friday, January 20. By the end of the day, shares were down more than 2% from the previous day's close while the S&amp;P 500 rose slightly, indicating that the market wasn't thrilled with the company's lower-than-expected revenue.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>However, the report also contained some bright spots. Here's what investors need to know before deciding how to react.</p>
<p>General Electric's Q4 results were a mix of bright and dim spots. Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>GE has made radical changes to its company in recent years, ditching its stake in NBC Universal and spinning off its consumer credit card business asSynchrony Financial.The company also completed its largest-ever acquisition ofAlstom's power business in November 2015.</p>
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<p>These changes continued throughout 2016 as GE continued to try to cut costs, divest its remaining GE Financial holdings, and focus on its core industrial businesses. Early in 2016, GE <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/19/general-electric-has-bidders-for-its-appliance-uni.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">sold its low-margin appliances business Opens a New Window.</a> to China's Haier.During the fourth quarter, GE announced it would also sell off its water and industrial solutions businesses, and would <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/30/ges-oil-and-gas-unit-plans-megamerger-with-baker-h.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">merge its oil and gas business Opens a New Window.</a> withBaker Hughes(NYSE: BHI) and spin off the result as a new publicly traded company, meaning the changes are likely to continue well into 2017.</p>
<p>With all of these changes afoot, it can be tricky to evaluate GE as a whole, or to measure its current performance against past results.As CEO Jeff Immelt pointed out in the earnings call, because the Alstom deal closed in November 2015, it's technically organic revenue for Q4 2016, but you'd be justified in excluding it from the organic calculation...or just including it in November and December. Depending on how you decide to count it, quarterly revenue was either flat, down 1%, or up 4% YOY.</p>
<p>When evaluating GE moving forward, investors will need to keep an eye on the whole picture...a picture that's constantly evolving.</p>
<p>Organic revenue growth for the year was tepid (between 0% and 4%, depending again on how you count the Alstom acquisition), and growth in organic orders, including Alstom, sat at a modest 5%. However, those numbers don't tell the whole story.</p>
<p>First of all, remember that GE has a massive backlog (orders that have been received but not yet delivered). The backlog actuallygrewin 2016 by $6 billion to $321 billion -- a record high -- indicating that the company is still receiving more orders than it can process.That's a good sign for the company, because it indicates that demand is still high for GE's products and services.</p>
<p>Speaking of services, Immelt revealed on the earnings call that services orders experienced massive growth of 20% during the fourth quarter. That's very good, because services revenue is <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/31/how-general-electric-is-taking-a-bite-out-of-sieme.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">much more profitable Opens a New Window.</a> than equipment revenue for the company.Software orders, including industrial platform Predix orders, grew 36% during the quarter, signaling that GE is having success building out its "digital industrial" business.</p>
<p>Evaluating GE's performance is kind of like evaluating a restaurant's food. If the pizza is fantastic but the spaghetti is overcooked, do you give it a good or a bad review?</p>
<p>Likewise, with so many business units in so many different sectors -- oil and gas, medical equipment, transportation, etc. -- saying that GE's revenue was lackluster this quarter ignores the massive number of variables within the company. And in fact, revenue in some sectors was fantastic. Renewable energy quarterly revenues were up 29% YOY, with power revenues up 20%. Aviation and healthcare also saw modest gains of 7% and 3% YOY, respectively.</p>
<p>On the surface, it appears that the energy connections &amp; lighting business had the worst quarter, with revenues down 29%...but that was the segment that included the appliances business, so once you factor that out, revenues actually grew by a respectable 9% YOY.</p>
<p>The biggest disappointments were transportation and -- as usual -- oil &amp; gas, which saw revenues fall by 23% and 22% YOY. While the oil and gas segment has been weak for years due to low oil prices -- and will likely soon be merged with Baker Hughes and spun off -- the weakness in the transportation unit is more troubling.</p>
<p>The transportation drop was due in large part to fewer locomotive shipments: 171 vs. 320 in Q4 2015. Unfortunately, this weakness in transportation may continue. The company received zero locomotive orders in 2016 -- none -- and anticipates few in 2017, which will continue to affect transportation revenues.The silver lining here is that transportation is GE's smallest unit with annual revenue of just $4.7 billion (out of total industrial revenues of $113.2 billion), so this weakness will have a minimal impact on the company as a whole. Also, services orders in transportation are growing by leaps and bounds -- up 101% in 2016 -- and may help to pick up some of the slack.</p>
<p>Although the quarterly and full-year results were a mixed bag, GE still managed to return more than $30 billion in cash to shareholders in 2016 through dividends and share buybacks. Its ongoing efforts to streamline its businesses by selling GE Capital assets and spinning off its underperforming oil and gas unit will also benefit shareholders in the long run, as will its ongoing development of higher-margin services offerings. GE is in the midst of a major transformation, so it makes sense that things are in a state of flux.</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the earnings report, the stock has continued its slide and is down nearly 6% in 2017. This may represent a good buying opportunity for investors who believe that GE will emerge from its transformation as a stronger company and a good long-term investment.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than General Electric When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=e712701d-06dc-40bd-a13d-b04b47e11f07&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and General Electric wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=e712701d-06dc-40bd-a13d-b04b47e11f07&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of January 4, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Truth2Power/info.aspx" type="external">John Bromels Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric. The Motley Fool recommends Synchrony Financial. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | general electricnyse ge put mixedbag earnings report market opened friday january 20 end day shares 2 previous days close sampp 500 rose slightly indicating market wasnt thrilled companys lowerthanexpected revenue continue reading however report also contained bright spots heres investors need know deciding react general electrics q4 results mix bright dim spots image source getty images ge made radical changes company recent years ditching stake nbc universal spinning consumer credit card business assynchrony financialthe company also completed largestever acquisition ofalstoms power business november 2015 advertisement changes continued throughout 2016 ge continued try cut costs divest remaining ge financial holdings focus core industrial businesses early 2016 ge sold lowmargin appliances business opens new window chinas haierduring fourth quarter ge announced would also sell water industrial solutions businesses would merge oil gas business opens new window withbaker hughesnyse bhi spin result new publicly traded company meaning changes likely continue well 2017 changes afoot tricky evaluate ge whole measure current performance past resultsas ceo jeff immelt pointed earnings call alstom deal closed november 2015 technically organic revenue q4 2016 youd justified excluding organic calculationor including november december depending decide count quarterly revenue either flat 1 4 yoy evaluating ge moving forward investors need keep eye whole picturea picture thats constantly evolving organic revenue growth year tepid 0 4 depending count alstom acquisition growth organic orders including alstom sat modest 5 however numbers dont tell whole story first remember ge massive backlog orders received yet delivered backlog actuallygrewin 2016 6 billion 321 billion record high indicating company still receiving orders processthats good sign company indicates demand still high ges products services speaking services immelt revealed earnings call services orders experienced massive growth 20 fourth quarter thats good services revenue much profitable opens new window equipment revenue companysoftware orders including industrial platform predix orders grew 36 quarter signaling ge success building digital industrial business evaluating ges performance kind like evaluating restaurants food pizza fantastic spaghetti overcooked give good bad review likewise many business units many different sectors oil gas medical equipment transportation etc saying ges revenue lackluster quarter ignores massive number variables within company fact revenue sectors fantastic renewable energy quarterly revenues 29 yoy power revenues 20 aviation healthcare also saw modest gains 7 3 yoy respectively surface appears energy connections amp lighting business worst quarter revenues 29but segment included appliances business factor revenues actually grew respectable 9 yoy biggest disappointments transportation usual oil amp gas saw revenues fall 23 22 yoy oil gas segment weak years due low oil prices likely soon merged baker hughes spun weakness transportation unit troubling transportation drop due large part fewer locomotive shipments 171 vs 320 q4 2015 unfortunately weakness transportation may continue company received zero locomotive orders 2016 none anticipates 2017 continue affect transportation revenuesthe silver lining transportation ges smallest unit annual revenue 47 billion total industrial revenues 1132 billion weakness minimal impact company whole also services orders transportation growing leaps bounds 101 2016 may help pick slack although quarterly fullyear results mixed bag ge still managed return 30 billion cash shareholders 2016 dividends share buybacks ongoing efforts streamline businesses selling ge capital assets spinning underperforming oil gas unit also benefit shareholders long run ongoing development highermargin services offerings ge midst major transformation makes sense things state flux aftermath earnings report stock continued slide nearly 6 2017 may represent good buying opportunity investors believe ge emerge transformation stronger company good longterm investment 10 stocks like better general electric investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right general electric wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns january 4 2017 john bromels opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares general electric motley fool recommends synchrony financial motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 651 |
<p>Hillary’s email server woes might not grace the front pages these days, but Judicial Watch has not relented in their pursuit of this particular case.</p>
<p>Thursday, <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-new-clinton-emails-uncovered-reveal-additional-mishandling-classified-information/" type="external">Judicial Watch</a> released a <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/document-archive/tag/huma-production-20/" type="external">new batch of emails</a>, “revealing numerous additional examples of classified information being transmitted through the unsecure, non-state.gov account of Huma Abedin, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, as well as many instances of Hillary Clinton donors receiving special favors from the State Department.”</p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-huma-abedin-emails-reveal-transmission-classified-information-clinton-foundation-donors-receiving-special-treatment-clinton-state-department/" type="external">627 pages</a> were not included in the 55,000 pages Hillary released to the State Department. The reader will remember Hillary and her attorneys decided what emails to submit to the State Department for record-keeping purposes.</p>
<p>The breakdown from <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-new-clinton-emails-uncovered-reveal-additional-mishandling-classified-information/" type="external">Judicial Watch</a>:</p>
<p>On March 8, 2009, Clinton sent classified information using her unsecure hdr22@clintonmail.com account. She forwarded to former Senator George Mitchell an email from Tony Blair relating to Palestine. The email had been sent to her at hr15@att.blackberry.net. Clinton responded to Blair, saying she had forwarded the email to Mitchell. A former Senate majority leader, Mitchell was serving as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. On April 16, 2009, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman sent to Abedin’s unsecure email account classified information about an unknown subject.</p>
<p>On June 18, 2009, Abedin sent classified information summarizing a June 18, 2009, “Middle East Breakfast” meeting between various senators, representatives and State Department officials, at which Deputy Secretary Jack Lew and George Mitchell briefed the congressmen with “an update on our discussions with the [Middle East] parties.” On June 23, 2009, U.S. diplomat Martin Indyk, who had his security clearance suspended in 2000 for “possible sloppiness” in the handling of classified information, sent a memo containing classified information to Abedin’s unsecure email account. The memo, written for Clinton, pertained to Indyk’s discussions with top Israeli officials:</p>
<p>Could I ask you to review the memo below that I wrote yesterday on my return from Israel? If you think it worthwhile, I’d be very grateful if you showed it to HRC (I have already shared it with Mitchell and Feltman). A confrontation with Bibi appears imminent. I’ve never been one to shy away from that, as she may know. But it has to be done carefully, and that doesn’t appear to be happening. And I’m concerned that she will be tarred with the same brush if this leads to a bad end. So I think she needs to make sure that the friction is productive. I’ve made some suggestions at the end of the memo</p>
<p>On August 1, 2009, Abedin forwarded classified information from State Department official Richard Verma to her unsecure email account. The email from Senator Russ Feingold was sent to Hillary Clinton regarding her upcoming Africa trip.</p>
<p>On August 4, 2009, Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman sent classified information about discussions with Kuwaiti officials to Abedin’s unsecure email account. Feltman noted that the Kuwaitis felt a lunch they had with Obama was “chilly.” The discussions concerned Guantanamo as well as Kuwait’s treatment of detainees.</p>
<p>On Sept 20, 2009, Abedin forwarded classified information to her unsecure email account. The email was from State Department official Esther Brimmer and concerned foreign leaders’ discussions regarding a UNESCO leadership appointment.</p>
<p>On November 1, 2009, U.S. Ambassador to the UAE Rick Olson sent classified information to Abedin’s unsecure email account. The email shows that Olsen was traveling with Hillary in the Middle East, and Abedin asked him to “work on a list of everything covered in the mbz [presumably Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi] meeting for Hillary.” Olson asks: “do you want it on this system (I can sanitize), or on the other system.” She replies: “This system easier. We are staying without class[ified] computers. Thx.”</p>
<p>On December 1, 2009, Abedin sent classified information about foreign military contributions to the Afghanistan war effort to her unsecure email account. The email originated with State official Sean Misko who wrote to Deputy Chief of Staff Jake Sullivan that he first “accidentally” sent it on the “high side” (secure) but was resending.</p>
<p>On December 25, 2009, Abedin sent to her unsecure email account classified information prepared by Deputy U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Francis Ricciardone concerning the Afghan elections.</p>
<p>On December 26, 2009, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual sent a memo to Clinton, which was found on Abedin’s unsecure email account. It contained extensive classified information involving U.S. and Mexican counter-drug operations in Mexico.</p>
<p>On March 22, 2010, Abedin forwarded to her unsecure email account classified information about a telephone conversation between President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.</p>
<p>On April 13, 2010, Abedin forwarded to her unsecure email account classified information from Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman regarding diplomatic discussions with the foreign ministers of Algeria and Morocco.</p>
<p>On May 24, 2010, Abedin forwarded to her unsecure email account classified information about the minutes of a State Department senior staff meeting regarding State Department officials’ meetings in Uganda. Among Abedin’s unsecure email records is a document that is simply titled “NOTE” with the date September 12, 2010. The contents are entirely redacted as classified.</p>
<p>On January 28, 2011, Abedin sent Clinton an unsecure email containing classified information relating to a briefing White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave.</p>
<p>On March 21, 2012, Clinton received a memo from State Department officials Joseph Yun and Derek Mitchell marked “Sensitive But Unclassified” and sent to Abedin’s unsecure email account. It contained classified information about elections in Burma.</p>
<p>Jake Sullivan emailed to Hillary’s unsecure email account classified information in which Sullivan discussed the content of conversations with UK Prime Minister Gordon regarding “the situation” in Northern Ireland. The date of this email is not included on the document.</p>
<p>On April 8, 2012, Abedin sent classified information to her unsecure email regarding a call sheet and an “Action Memo” for Clinton relating to a call with Malawi President Joyce Banda. On April 9, 2012, Monica Hanley again forwarded the classified information to Clinton’s unsecure email account.</p>
<p>Hillary has long argued that classified information transmitted from her home brewed server was not classified at the time it was sent, though it may have later been classified, a claim that was <a href="" type="internal">debunked</a> several times over.</p>
<p>Former FBI Director Comey, who was canned shortly after Trump’s inauguration, found Hillary and her compatriots innocent of mishandling classified information simply because they didn’t mean to be so reckless or that they had no intent to cause trouble by forwarding classified information from personal email accounts on home brewed servers.</p>
<p>As Judicial Watch’s investigation continues to prove, intended or not, Hillary’s mishandling of classified information was far more widespread than either Hillary or the FBI were willing to admit.</p>
<p>Follow Kemberlee on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/KemberleeKaye" type="external">@kemberleekaye</a></p> | true | 0 | hillarys email server woes might grace front pages days judicial watch relented pursuit particular case thursday judicial watch released new batch emails revealing numerous additional examples classified information transmitted unsecure nonstategov account huma abedin former secretary state hillary clintons deputy chief staff well many instances hillary clinton donors receiving special favors state department 627 pages included 55000 pages hillary released state department reader remember hillary attorneys decided emails submit state department recordkeeping purposes breakdown judicial watch march 8 2009 clinton sent classified information using unsecure hdr22clintonmailcom account forwarded former senator george mitchell email tony blair relating palestine email sent hr15attblackberrynet clinton responded blair saying forwarded email mitchell former senate majority leader mitchell serving special envoy middle east peace april 16 2009 deputy assistant secretary jeffrey feltman sent abedins unsecure email account classified information unknown subject june 18 2009 abedin sent classified information summarizing june 18 2009 middle east breakfast meeting various senators representatives state department officials deputy secretary jack lew george mitchell briefed congressmen update discussions middle east parties june 23 2009 us diplomat martin indyk security clearance suspended 2000 possible sloppiness handling classified information sent memo containing classified information abedins unsecure email account memo written clinton pertained indyks discussions top israeli officials could ask review memo wrote yesterday return israel think worthwhile id grateful showed hrc already shared mitchell feltman confrontation bibi appears imminent ive never one shy away may know done carefully doesnt appear happening im concerned tarred brush leads bad end think needs make sure friction productive ive made suggestions end memo august 1 2009 abedin forwarded classified information state department official richard verma unsecure email account email senator russ feingold sent hillary clinton regarding upcoming africa trip august 4 2009 assistant secretary jeffrey feltman sent classified information discussions kuwaiti officials abedins unsecure email account feltman noted kuwaitis felt lunch obama chilly discussions concerned guantanamo well kuwaits treatment detainees sept 20 2009 abedin forwarded classified information unsecure email account email state department official esther brimmer concerned foreign leaders discussions regarding unesco leadership appointment november 1 2009 us ambassador uae rick olson sent classified information abedins unsecure email account email shows olsen traveling hillary middle east abedin asked work list everything covered mbz presumably mohammed bin zayed bin sultan alnahyan crown prince abu dhabi meeting hillary olson asks want system sanitize system replies system easier staying without classified computers thx december 1 2009 abedin sent classified information foreign military contributions afghanistan war effort unsecure email account email originated state official sean misko wrote deputy chief staff jake sullivan first accidentally sent high side secure resending december 25 2009 abedin sent unsecure email account classified information prepared deputy us ambassador afghanistan francis ricciardone concerning afghan elections december 26 2009 us ambassador mexico carlos pascual sent memo clinton found abedins unsecure email account contained extensive classified information involving us mexican counterdrug operations mexico march 22 2010 abedin forwarded unsecure email account classified information telephone conversation president obama mexican president felipe calderon april 13 2010 abedin forwarded unsecure email account classified information ambassador jeffrey feltman regarding diplomatic discussions foreign ministers algeria morocco may 24 2010 abedin forwarded unsecure email account classified information minutes state department senior staff meeting regarding state department officials meetings uganda among abedins unsecure email records document simply titled note date september 12 2010 contents entirely redacted classified january 28 2011 abedin sent clinton unsecure email containing classified information relating briefing white house press secretary robert gibbs gave march 21 2012 clinton received memo state department officials joseph yun derek mitchell marked sensitive unclassified sent abedins unsecure email account contained classified information elections burma jake sullivan emailed hillarys unsecure email account classified information sullivan discussed content conversations uk prime minister gordon regarding situation northern ireland date email included document april 8 2012 abedin sent classified information unsecure email regarding call sheet action memo clinton relating call malawi president joyce banda april 9 2012 monica hanley forwarded classified information clintons unsecure email account hillary long argued classified information transmitted home brewed server classified time sent though may later classified claim debunked several times former fbi director comey canned shortly trumps inauguration found hillary compatriots innocent mishandling classified information simply didnt mean reckless intent cause trouble forwarding classified information personal email accounts home brewed servers judicial watchs investigation continues prove intended hillarys mishandling classified information far widespread either hillary fbi willing admit follow kemberlee twitter kemberleekaye | 726 |
<p>"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. " <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gal&amp;c=1" type="external">Galatians 1:6-9</a> One of the main dangers with cults is that they attempt to masquerade as the real thing. It's easy to spot way out wacky ones like Heaven's Gate and the Rev. Sun Yung Moon, but the really tough ones to spot are the ones that hijack the bible and use much of the same terminology as you would find in the bible. Excellent examples of this being the Mormons, the Jehovahs Witness, the Seventh Day Adventists, and others. But as we have previously reported, the Hebrew Roots movement, which is neither Christian nor Herbrew, has appeared on the scene preaching the "other gospel" that the Apostle Paul warned so strongly and passionately for us to watch out for and to avoid. In fact, the Hebrew Roots people make no bones about their contempt for the Apostle Paul and his teachings given him by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Another gospel It is astonishing to me that any group could so strongly hate Paul, yet claim that they follow the bible. Indeed, if you were to remove the Apostle Paul's writings from New Testament, you would be left with the gospels and precious little else. Out of the 27 books of the New Testament, Paul wrote a certified 13 of them, and the book of Hebrews which while it does not give authorship, many like myself believe that he wrote that one as well. So roughly 55% of the entire New Testament is authored by Paul, and it would be wise to listen to what God the Holy Spirit has spoken through him. Next to Jesus, the Apostle Paul is the greatest figure in the New Testament Hating the Apostle Paul yet teaching the bible...really? There is a group out of&#160; Newport Beach, California, called <a href="http://www.lasttrumpet.org/" type="external">Last Trumpet Org Ministires</a>, and they are one of the leading groups attempting to delegitimize the Apostle Paul, and while they may be the most overt, they are not alone in this thinking. Other groups, like <a href="http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/" type="external">El Shaddai started by Mark Blitz</a>, also slam the Christian church. One thing you need very much to keep in mind is that the Hebrew Roots movement - while the claim the name of Jesus - are not Christian and in fact are anti-christian. This is the danger of following these cults. Their aim is not to teach you the bible, it is to drag you back to before the cross and place the yoke of the Law, the Torah, around your neck after Christ has freed you from it. Like all cults, the Hebrew Roots Movement have their own "version" of the Bible, which of course, is the only version you are allowed to use. The following is taken directly from the Last Trumpet website, and says this:</p>
<p>"Pastor Mark Biltz and I both in agreement that the foolish virgins of Matthew 25 are ALL the Sunday churches. It's very obvious if you know your scriptures and understand Torah terminology. The Sunday churches, meet on Sunday, they do not meet on the appointed Saturday Sabbath, they don't keep the appointed Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23), they teach people away from the need for "being Torah observant," (the instructions of God) , claiming they are not under the law any more. They celebrate Christmas which is the pagan sun god holiday, the birth of the sun. Jesus was born on Sukkoth and this can be easily proven from Scriptures. Now all Christians cite Paul as the reason why they do what they do. Paul is "the spoutter of lies" which is what James calls Paul in letters found with the Dead Sea scrolls. This work found by Dr. Robert Eisenman an expert on this subject of letters found with the dead sea scrolls and wrote an exhaustive book on the subject titled James, the Brother of Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also attached is a PDF by Pastor Mark Biltz proving who the foolish virgins are of Matthew 25. We had been in dialog on the subject and I wanted to know if thought ALL the Sunday churches are the foolish virgins of Matthew 25. Pastor Mark is in agreement with me that ALL the Sunday churches are the foolish virgins of Matthew 25 and sent me back the attached PDF as a study that he wrote. Everyone needs to get out of the Sunday churches are they are going to be judged." <a href="http://www.lasttrumpet.org/Paul_false_apostle_Rev2_2.pdf" type="external">source - Last Trumpet</a></p>
<p>Now, before you jump all over me, I quoted what this man said transpired in his conversation with Mark Biltz. If this didn't happen, or it's not true, blame him not me. But I did go directly to the Last Trumpet website for the quote. Now, to be perfectly honest, what I found on the El Shaddai website, written by Biltz himself, is more than enough information to make my case.</p>
<p>Mark Biltz seeks to "straighten out the Christians"</p>
<p>Now people have approached me saying that Mark Blitz is a "good guy" with incredible insight to bible prophecy. I wonder how good his insight is if he thinks that Sunday church attendance qualifies you as one of the "foolish virgins" of the Tribulation. His group is one of many in the Hebrew Roots community that minimize the teachings of the Apostle Paul, or at the very least say they should be taken with a grain of salt. This is very, very dangerous teaching, my beloved in Christ, and the whole purpose of it is to make you doubt the New Testament, and to get you to believe in "another gospel", as the bible so clearly warns us would happen in the last days. His attack is all the more deadly because it's subtle. He is trying to sow seeds of doubt in your faith in the New Testament with a "yea, hath God said?" approach.</p>
<p>In Mark Blitz's own words, he states that Christians don't really know Jesus and that don't really know the bible, and in doing so allows us to peek behind the curtain into what the real goals of his group as well as all Hebrew Roots groups is - destroying the Church. Here is Mark quoted directly from his website:</p>
<p>"My goal is not to convert Jews to Christianity but to bring non-Jews to a better understanding of YHVH through a better understanding of Torah. I think most Christians do not know YHVH as He really is but know Him as they have tried to create Him in their image rather than understanding they were created in His image. Many Christians believe they have a relationship with YHVH but they don't.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The time is coming when the Jewish people will recognize the role Yeshua played and they will then fulfill their mission in taking Torah to the nations. They will straighten out the Christians theology in what Yeshua was really saying. There will be Christians who will be saying what can these Jews know about Yeshua when in actuality you will have the correct understanding. In Christianity as you probably know there will be an antichrist and false prophet who deceive the world." <a href="http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/more/goal_of_hr.html" type="external">Source - Mark Blitz and El Shaddai</a> So Mark Biltz thinks that the bible believing Christians need to be "straightened out"? What he is really after is taking the liberty we have in Christ and replacing it with the yoke of the Law, which Jesus Himself took off of our backs. This is, without a doubt,the "other gospel" that Paul warned against, get involved with these people at your own peril. Make no mistake, the followers of Jesus Christ, according to the bible, are Christians, and Mark Blitz is very much anti-christian both by things he has said and by his associations. In the quote of Biltz, he very frankly says that he goal is to make non-christian followers of Jesus. Now how exactly does one do that? Answer is that you cannot do that. The very term "christian", in it's most literal sense is a "follower of Jesus Christ." A non-Christian "follower of Jesus" would be like having a "vegetarian meat-eater".</p>
<p>Mark Biltz's curious position on biblical salvation</p>
<p>"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&amp;c=16" type="external">Acts 16:31</a></p>
<p>It says in the bible that to go to Heaven you must be saved. Without salvation in Jesus Christ, no one can enter into Heaven. No one. So when asked if the goal of his movemment was to "get Jews saved", he gave the typical double-speak of the cult leader. Listen to his own words on getting Jews saved -</p>
<p>"I can�t speak for everyone but only for myself. First I would say that there probably really is no central goal of the Hebrew roots movement. Everyone is there for different multiple reasons. As long as you have humans and religions you will have multiple motives. I find some just want to build kingdoms to themselves not unlike some of the Pharisees and Sadducees and many Christian ministers of today. Here I am speaking of many of the leaders. Also, just like the multiple denominations in both Judaism and Christianity you can�t lump the Messianic/Hebrew Roots movements into one motivation. The central goal is to know YHVH and to make Him known. My goal is not to convert Jews to Christianity but to bring non-Jews to a better understanding of YHVH through a better understanding of Torah." <a href="http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/more/goal_of_hr.html" type="external">source - Mark Biltz website</a></p>
<p>The "central goal is to know YHVH"? Really, Mark? Lots of people know God, but do not know His Son, Jesus. The bible says that God gave the power to Jesus - "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?t=KJV&amp;b=Mat&amp;c=28&amp;v=1&amp;x=0&amp;y=0" type="external">Matthew 28:18</a>. Simply "knowing God" doesn't get the job done with the bible has said that God gave Jesus all authority. Jesus is the Gate, He is our entrance to the Father, not the Torah. And if you do not receive biblical, New Testament salvation, you are lost and heading for Hell. The Torah will not and cannot save you. Keep the Torah all you like, if you are not SAVED, you are lost and damned to Hell. The bible is crystal clear on this. I know this is offensive to a lot of people, and it offended people in Jesus' day as well. So much so they killed him for it. And they killed Paul for teaching it. But it's the Truth, like it or not.</p>
<p>Jesus, in His own words, said this is why He came into the world - "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?t=KJV&amp;b=Luk&amp;c=19&amp;v=1&amp;x=0&amp;y=0" type="external">Luke 19:10</a>. And yet, amazingly, Mark Biltz is not here to see Jews get saved, but as he states repeatedly, he wants to see them "know YHVH". Biltz's own words put him at odds with the clear bible teaching that ALL must be saved in order to enter Heaven. Clearly this is another gospel, because it does not match with the one in the bible.</p>
<p>Mark Biltz is not a Christian, and in fact is very much against Christians and Christianity - "I believe Christianity has hijacked Yeshua and has been presenting an Egyptian which is why Yeshua is not recognized." <a href="http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/more/goal_of_hr.html" type="external">source - Mark Biltz</a>. Biltz is attempting to make you feel bad for being a Christian, and his every stated aim is to lead you away from being a Christian. If the Holy Spirit leads you to being a follower of Jesus, a CHRISTian, who is it that would want to lead you away from it? Hmmm....</p>
<p>What Mark Biltz teaches is the very definition of a cult. He is trying to lead people away from a saving faith in Jesus, and to lead them to the Torah. He quotes from the New Testament to confuse people, but he picks and chooses his way through, carefully avoiding passages that show salvation is through a person - Jesus - and not through keeping the Law or following the Torah. The Torah is awesome and it has it's place, but the Torah makes up less than 10% of the books of the bible. The bible starts with the Torah, but it ends with a person, Jesus returning in Glory. The goal of the bible is to lead you to Jesus, not lead you to the Torah. The Torah simply lets you know your lost condition, the solution to that problem is Jesus. All 66 books of the bible are of equal value, they are all there for a reason and a purpose. The combined revelation of all of them is the bible, not an isolated section. So now you know the real and stated goals of Mark Biltz and El Shaddai, and of the larger Hebrew Roots movement in general. It is our recommendation that if you want to be true to what the bible actually teaches, that you will avoid these and all false teachers who perverty the word of God for their own selfish gain. The goal of the bible is not to lead you to the Torah, it is to lead you to the One who wrote the Torah, Jesus.</p>
<p>But don't take my word for it, listen to the bible - "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?t=KJV&amp;b=Act&amp;c=4&amp;v=1&amp;x=0&amp;y=0" type="external">Acts 4:12</a></p>
<p>Mark, are you listening? If you are not working to see people get saved - and your own testimony says you are not, that you are "leading them to YHVH" - then you are not doing the work of Jesus.</p> Another gospel Hating the Apostle Paul yet teaching the bible...really? Last Trumpet | true | 0 | marvel ye soon removed called grace christ unto another gospel another trouble would pervert gospel christ though angel heaven preach gospel unto preached unto let accursed said say man preach gospel unto ye received let accursed galatians 169 one main dangers cults attempt masquerade real thing easy spot way wacky ones like heavens gate rev sun yung moon really tough ones spot ones hijack bible use much terminology would find bible excellent examples mormons jehovahs witness seventh day adventists others previously reported hebrew roots movement neither christian herbrew appeared scene preaching gospel apostle paul warned strongly passionately us watch avoid fact hebrew roots people make bones contempt apostle paul teachings given inspiration holy ghost another gospel astonishing group could strongly hate paul yet claim follow bible indeed remove apostle pauls writings new testament would left gospels precious little else 27 books new testament paul wrote certified 13 book hebrews give authorship many like believe wrote one well roughly 55 entire new testament authored paul would wise listen god holy spirit spoken next jesus apostle paul greatest figure new testament hating apostle paul yet teaching biblereally group of160 newport beach california called last trumpet org ministires one leading groups attempting delegitimize apostle paul may overt alone thinking groups like el shaddai started mark blitz also slam christian church one thing need much keep mind hebrew roots movement claim name jesus christian fact antichristian danger following cults aim teach bible drag back cross place yoke law torah around neck christ freed like cults hebrew roots movement version bible course version allowed use following taken directly last trumpet website says pastor mark biltz agreement foolish virgins matthew 25 sunday churches obvious know scriptures understand torah terminology sunday churches meet sunday meet appointed saturday sabbath dont keep appointed feasts lord leviticus 23 teach people away need torah observant instructions god claiming law celebrate christmas pagan sun god holiday birth sun jesus born sukkoth easily proven scriptures christians cite paul reason paul spoutter lies james calls paul letters found dead sea scrolls work found dr robert eisenman expert subject letters found dead sea scrolls wrote exhaustive book subject titled james brother jesus dead sea scrolls also attached pdf pastor mark biltz proving foolish virgins matthew 25 dialog subject wanted know thought sunday churches foolish virgins matthew 25 pastor mark agreement sunday churches foolish virgins matthew 25 sent back attached pdf study wrote everyone needs get sunday churches going judged source last trumpet jump quoted man said transpired conversation mark biltz didnt happen true blame go directly last trumpet website quote perfectly honest found el shaddai website written biltz enough information make case mark biltz seeks straighten christians people approached saying mark blitz good guy incredible insight bible prophecy wonder good insight thinks sunday church attendance qualifies one foolish virgins tribulation group one many hebrew roots community minimize teachings apostle paul least say taken grain salt dangerous teaching beloved christ whole purpose make doubt new testament get believe another gospel bible clearly warns us would happen last days attack deadly subtle trying sow seeds doubt faith new testament yea hath god said approach mark blitzs words states christians dont really know jesus dont really know bible allows us peek behind curtain real goals group well hebrew roots groups destroying church mark quoted directly website goal convert jews christianity bring nonjews better understanding yhvh better understanding torah think christians know yhvh really know tried create image rather understanding created image many christians believe relationship yhvh dont 160 time coming jewish people recognize role yeshua played fulfill mission taking torah nations straighten christians theology yeshua really saying christians saying jews know yeshua actuality correct understanding christianity probably know antichrist false prophet deceive world source mark blitz el shaddai mark biltz thinks bible believing christians need straightened really taking liberty christ replacing yoke law jesus took backs without doubtthe gospel paul warned get involved people peril make mistake followers jesus christ according bible christians mark blitz much antichristian things said associations quote biltz frankly says goal make nonchristian followers jesus exactly one answer term christian literal sense follower jesus christ nonchristian follower jesus would like vegetarian meateater mark biltzs curious position biblical salvation said believe lord jesus christ thou shalt saved thy house acts 1631 says bible go heaven must saved without salvation jesus christ one enter heaven one asked goal movemment get jews saved gave typical doublespeak cult leader listen words getting jews saved cant speak everyone first would say probably really central goal hebrew roots movement everyone different multiple reasons long humans religions multiple motives find want build kingdoms unlike pharisees sadducees many christian ministers today speaking many leaders also like multiple denominations judaism christianity cant lump messianichebrew roots movements one motivation central goal know yhvh make known goal convert jews christianity bring nonjews better understanding yhvh better understanding torah source mark biltz website central goal know yhvh really mark lots people know god know son jesus bible says god gave power jesus jesus came spake unto saying power given unto heaven earth matthew 2818 simply knowing god doesnt get job done bible said god gave jesus authority jesus gate entrance father torah receive biblical new testament salvation lost heading hell torah save keep torah like saved lost damned hell bible crystal clear know offensive lot people offended people jesus day well much killed killed paul teaching truth like jesus words said came world son man come seek save lost luke 1910 yet amazingly mark biltz see jews get saved states repeatedly wants see know yhvh biltzs words put odds clear bible teaching must saved order enter heaven clearly another gospel match one bible mark biltz christian fact much christians christianity believe christianity hijacked yeshua presenting egyptian yeshua recognized source mark biltz biltz attempting make feel bad christian every stated aim lead away christian holy spirit leads follower jesus christian would want lead away hmmm mark biltz teaches definition cult trying lead people away saving faith jesus lead torah quotes new testament confuse people picks chooses way carefully avoiding passages show salvation person jesus keeping law following torah torah awesome place torah makes less 10 books bible bible starts torah ends person jesus returning glory goal bible lead jesus lead torah torah simply lets know lost condition solution problem jesus 66 books bible equal value reason purpose combined revelation bible isolated section know real stated goals mark biltz el shaddai larger hebrew roots movement general recommendation want true bible actually teaches avoid false teachers perverty word god selfish gain goal bible lead torah lead one wrote torah jesus dont take word listen bible neither salvation none name heaven given among men whereby must saved acts 412 mark listening working see people get saved testimony says leading yhvh work jesus another gospel hating apostle paul yet teaching biblereally last trumpet | 1,132 |
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<p>Here's an easy question for you: Would you like to retire someday?</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Now here's a tougher question: Do you know how an IRA works?</p>
<p>If you answered "yes" to the first question, then you should also be able to answer "yes" to the second one. In fact, you should learn just about everything there is to know about IRAs, or individual retirement accounts. These simple, easy-to-open accounts reward retirement savers with major tax breaks.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, a January 2017 TIAA IRA <a href="https://www.tiaa.org/public/pdf/ira_survey_executive_summary.pdf" type="external">survey Opens a New Window.</a> revealed that the majority (65%) of Americans do not have an IRA. Of those, 28% said they don't know enough about IRAs, and another 17% said IRAs are too complicated. If the only thing stopping you from taking advantage of this powerful savings tool is a lack of knowledge, then stick around to see how simple it is to change your financial picture.</p>
<p>IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.</p>
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<p>First, you should know that there are two main types of IRAs: traditional and Roth. You can choose either or both. For 2017, you can contribute the lesser of your annual earned income or $5,500 if you are under age 50. If you are aged 50 or older, you can contribute the lesser of your annual earned income or $6,500.</p>
<p>Regardless of how many accounts you have or what type they are, you can split the contribution however you'd like between the accounts -- you just can't exceed the maximum allowable amount. And generally, any time you withdraw money from an IRA before age 59-1/2, you will face some sort of penalty unless you qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-tax-on-early-distributions" type="external">early withdrawal exception Opens a New Window.</a>(after all, the government created these accounts to reward Americans for saving for retirement). More on that below.</p>
<p>What really separates an IRA from a regular brokerage account is the preferential tax treatment that IRAs are afforded: Money inside any IRA can grow untaxed for decades.</p>
<p>But here's where the traditional and Roth operate differently.</p>
<p>Anyone with taxable income can contribute to a traditional IRA, and anyone who meets <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/11/05/ira-income-limits-for-2016-and-2017.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">certain requirements Opens a New Window.</a> can deduct those contributions from their taxable income in the current tax year.</p>
<p>If you make deductible contributions, meaning you deposit untaxed money into the account, your money can be shielded from taxes until you begin taking distributions, at which time you will owe ordinary income taxes on both principal and any earnings.</p>
<p>If, on the other hand, any or all of your contributions were nondeductible, meaning you deposited after-tax dollars into the account, then that money will not be taxed again when you take it out. However, any earnings on that money will be subject to ordinary income taxes when they are distributed from the account.</p>
<p>Generally, the government requires you to start taking <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/04/01/your-basic-guide-to-rmds.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">minimum distributions Opens a New Window.</a> from your traditional IRA at age 70 1/2, at which point you can no longer contribute to the account even if you are still earning income.</p>
<p>Not everyone can directly contribute to a Roth IRA, as there are <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/11/05/ira-income-limits-for-2016-and-2017.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">income limits Opens a New Window.</a> on who can fund a Roth IRA. However, even if you exceed those income limits, there is a loophole in the law that allows high-earning individuals to contribute through what's referred to as the " <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/02/08/think-you-cant-save-in-a-roth-ira-think-again.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">backdoor Opens a New Window.</a>."</p>
<p>Regardless of how you get your money into a Roth, all Roth IRA contributions are made with money that has already been taxed. Because you're putting after-tax dollars into the account, any money you contribute to the account can be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free at any time. (Note that any <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/27/when-should-you-convert-to-a-roth-ira.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">converted Opens a New Window.</a> contributions must remain in the account for five years before you can withdraw them penalty-free.)</p>
<p>When you take qualified distributions from a Roth IRA (generally, after you are 59 1/2 and have had a Roth IRA for at least five years), any account distributions, including your original after-tax contributions plus any earnings you've made, will all be tax-free. And while you are required to begin drawing down your assets from a traditional IRA because you owe income taxes on that money,you are never required to begin taking distributions from a Roth IRA; your funds can grow untaxed for your lifetime. Additionally, as long as you have earned income, you can continue contributing to the account even past age 70 1/2.</p>
<p>Finally, it's important to understand that an IRA is not an investment; it's an investment account. To be more specific, it's a retirement savings vehicle that can hold your investments and is earmarked for long-term savings. You can set up an IRA at various financial institutions, like a discount brokerage firm or even your bank.</p>
<p>An IRA can help you with two main investing components: keeping your fees low and diversification. Unlike a workplace 401(k) or 403(b), where you usually have a limited menu of pre-selected investments and no control over costs and fees, an IRA gives you unlimited access to investments, including low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, which can give you immediate and broad diversification. You can further diversify your portfolio with alternative investments that you may not have access to in a workplace retirement plan, such as real estate and gold funds, among many others.</p>
<p>Remember: All of your retirement accounts are part of one portfolio. You can directly contribute to an IRA, and you can also roll money from old workplace retirement plans into an IRA. And if you have a retirement account at work, you can use an IRA to work in conjunction with it.</p>
<p>Everyone needs to save for their own retirement. And retirement accounts will comprise a large portion of your wealth -- and they will perhaps be one of the most valuable financial tools you have as you spend decades saving for one of your most important life goals: living the retirement that you've dreamed of.</p>
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<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | heres easy question would like retire someday continue reading heres tougher question know ira works answered yes first question also able answer yes second one fact learn everything know iras individual retirement accounts simple easytoopen accounts reward retirement savers major tax breaks unfortunately january 2017 tiaa ira survey opens new window revealed majority 65 americans ira 28 said dont know enough iras another 17 said iras complicated thing stopping taking advantage powerful savings tool lack knowledge stick around see simple change financial picture image source getty images advertisement first know two main types iras traditional roth choose either 2017 contribute lesser annual earned income 5500 age 50 aged 50 older contribute lesser annual earned income 6500 regardless many accounts type split contribution however youd like accounts cant exceed maximum allowable amount generally time withdraw money ira age 5912 face sort penalty unless qualify early withdrawal exception opens new windowafter government created accounts reward americans saving retirement really separates ira regular brokerage account preferential tax treatment iras afforded money inside ira grow untaxed decades heres traditional roth operate differently anyone taxable income contribute traditional ira anyone meets certain requirements opens new window deduct contributions taxable income current tax year make deductible contributions meaning deposit untaxed money account money shielded taxes begin taking distributions time owe ordinary income taxes principal earnings hand contributions nondeductible meaning deposited aftertax dollars account money taxed take however earnings money subject ordinary income taxes distributed account generally government requires start taking minimum distributions opens new window traditional ira age 70 12 point longer contribute account even still earning income everyone directly contribute roth ira income limits opens new window fund roth ira however even exceed income limits loophole law allows highearning individuals contribute whats referred backdoor opens new window regardless get money roth roth ira contributions made money already taxed youre putting aftertax dollars account money contribute account withdrawn tax penaltyfree time note converted opens new window contributions must remain account five years withdraw penaltyfree take qualified distributions roth ira generally 59 12 roth ira least five years account distributions including original aftertax contributions plus earnings youve made taxfree required begin drawing assets traditional ira owe income taxes moneyyou never required begin taking distributions roth ira funds grow untaxed lifetime additionally long earned income continue contributing account even past age 70 12 finally important understand ira investment investment account specific retirement savings vehicle hold investments earmarked longterm savings set ira various financial institutions like discount brokerage firm even bank ira help two main investing components keeping fees low diversification unlike workplace 401k 403b usually limited menu preselected investments control costs fees ira gives unlimited access investments including lowcost etfs mutual funds give immediate broad diversification diversify portfolio alternative investments may access workplace retirement plan real estate gold funds among many others remember retirement accounts part one portfolio directly contribute ira also roll money old workplace retirement plans ira retirement account work use ira work conjunction everyone needs save retirement retirement accounts comprise large portion wealth perhaps one valuable financial tools spend decades saving one important life goals living retirement youve dreamed 16122 social security bonus retirees completely overlook youre like americans youre years behind retirement savings handful littleknown social security secrets could help ensure boost retirement income example one easy trick could pay much 16122 year learn maximize social security benefits think could retire confidently peace mind simply click discover learn strategies opens new window motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 575 |
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<p>If you buy a stock when its price-earnings ratio is higher than its projected earnings growth rate for the year, then you're paying a premium for the stock. Yet many investors are willing to pay that premium if a company has a strong record of robust sales and earnings growth, or if it resides in a high-growth sector.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>One such company is CyberArk (NASDAQ: CYBR), an Israeli cybersecurity firm that provides PAM (privileged account management) solutions that shield companies from insider attacks by hackers and disgruntled employees. Its stock currently trades at around $50 as of this writing, which translates to a trailing P/E of 65 and a forward P/E of 39.</p>
<p>Those figures are pretty high relative to its projected earnings growth of7% this year and 20% next year. Those multiples are also much higher than the average P/E of 29 for the business software andservices industry. Let's see why investors are willing to pay a premium for CyberArk, and whether or not the stock is still worth buying at current prices.</p>
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<p>Unlike many of its cybersecurity peers, CyberArk is profitable by bothnon-GAAP and GAAP metrics. The company's non-GAAP net income rose 123% annually to $35.3 million last year, while its GAAP net income improved 158% to $25.8 million.</p>
<p>It accomplishes this with more disciplined spending, especially in regards to stock-based compensation expenses, which are excluded from non-GAAP earnings. During the first half of 2016, CyberArk's stock-based compensation (SBC) expenses onlyclaimed less than 8% of its revenues.</p>
<p>By comparison, FireEye's (NASDAQ: FEYE) SBC expenses gobbled upabout 35% of its sales during the first half, while Palo Alto Networks' (NYSE: PANW) claimed about 30% of its sales in fiscal 2016. Neither FireEye nor Palo Alto is profitable on a GAAP basis.</p>
<p>CyberArk's non-GAAP earnings growth is expected to slow to the single digits this year due to R&amp;D for new products and an aggressive expansion of its sales team. That's where FireEye, Palo Alto, and other cybersecurity firms ran into trouble, but CyberArk's record of disciplined spending will likely keep it profitable.</p>
<p>Most cyberattacks occur from external sources, which prompted many cybersecurity firms and larger IT companies to develop perimeter defenses like firewalls and threat detection systems. Fewer companies focused on countering internal threats with PAM solutions, enabling CyberArk to quietly become the biggest player in the niche market.</p>
<p>CyberArk's customer list includes 40% ofthe Fortune 100 and 17 of the biggest banks in the world, and it is the only PAM solution certified by the U.S. Department ofDefense. That "best in breed" reputation enabled it to secure PAM partnerships with large IT players like HPEandIBM. It also gave CyberArk the market clout to launch the C3 Alliance, a consortium of companies that integrate its PAM solutions into their own security platforms.</p>
<p>Those tailwinds are generating robust sales growth for CyberArk. Its sales rose 56% in 2015, and analysts are anticipating 32% sales growth this year. However, that estimate could actually be conservative if data breaches continue surging and CyberArk's sales force expansion pays off.</p>
<p>Worldwide cybersecurity spending could hit $1 trillion between 2017 and2021according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Meanwhile, the cybersecurity sector remains ripe for consolidation, with many companies like CyberArk dominating specific niche markets.</p>
<p>Check Point Software (NASDAQ: CHKP) was reportedly in talksto acquire CyberArk earlier this year, but the rumors eventually faded. Nonetheless, CyberArk could still be a compelling acquisition target for perimeter players or bigger IT companies looking to dominate the PAM market with a single purchase. CyberArk's valuations look a bit lofty, but its enterprise value of $1.2 billion and its clean balance sheet still make it an attractive takeover target.</p>
<p>CyberArk is a volatile stock which isn't for conservative investors. But if you believe that data breaches will continue rising, I strongly believe that CyberArk is one of the best plays in the sector. Its robust sales growth, consistent GAAP profitability, dominance of the PAM market, and attractiveness as a buyout target all indicate that it might be worth paying a premium for.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of CyberArk Software. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Check Point Software Technologies and FireEye. The Motley Fool recommends CyberArk Software and Palo Alto Networks. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | buy stock priceearnings ratio higher projected earnings growth rate year youre paying premium stock yet many investors willing pay premium company strong record robust sales earnings growth resides highgrowth sector continue reading image source getty images one company cyberark nasdaq cybr israeli cybersecurity firm provides pam privileged account management solutions shield companies insider attacks hackers disgruntled employees stock currently trades around 50 writing translates trailing pe 65 forward pe 39 figures pretty high relative projected earnings growth of7 year 20 next year multiples also much higher average pe 29 business software andservices industry lets see investors willing pay premium cyberark whether stock still worth buying current prices advertisement unlike many cybersecurity peers cyberark profitable bothnongaap gaap metrics companys nongaap net income rose 123 annually 353 million last year gaap net income improved 158 258 million accomplishes disciplined spending especially regards stockbased compensation expenses excluded nongaap earnings first half 2016 cyberarks stockbased compensation sbc expenses onlyclaimed less 8 revenues comparison fireeyes nasdaq feye sbc expenses gobbled upabout 35 sales first half palo alto networks nyse panw claimed 30 sales fiscal 2016 neither fireeye palo alto profitable gaap basis cyberarks nongaap earnings growth expected slow single digits year due rampd new products aggressive expansion sales team thats fireeye palo alto cybersecurity firms ran trouble cyberarks record disciplined spending likely keep profitable cyberattacks occur external sources prompted many cybersecurity firms larger companies develop perimeter defenses like firewalls threat detection systems fewer companies focused countering internal threats pam solutions enabling cyberark quietly become biggest player niche market cyberarks customer list includes 40 ofthe fortune 100 17 biggest banks world pam solution certified us department ofdefense best breed reputation enabled secure pam partnerships large players like hpeandibm also gave cyberark market clout launch c3 alliance consortium companies integrate pam solutions security platforms tailwinds generating robust sales growth cyberark sales rose 56 2015 analysts anticipating 32 sales growth year however estimate could actually conservative data breaches continue surging cyberarks sales force expansion pays worldwide cybersecurity spending could hit 1 trillion 2017 and2021according cybersecurity ventures meanwhile cybersecurity sector remains ripe consolidation many companies like cyberark dominating specific niche markets check point software nasdaq chkp reportedly talksto acquire cyberark earlier year rumors eventually faded nonetheless cyberark could still compelling acquisition target perimeter players bigger companies looking dominate pam market single purchase cyberarks valuations look bit lofty enterprise value 12 billion clean balance sheet still make attractive takeover target cyberark volatile stock isnt conservative investors believe data breaches continue rising strongly believe cyberark one best plays sector robust sales growth consistent gaap profitability dominance pam market attractiveness buyout target indicate might worth paying premium secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window leo sun opens new window owns shares cyberark software motley fool owns shares recommends check point software technologies fireeye motley fool recommends cyberark software palo alto networks try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 538 |
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<p>In all likelihood, bankruptcies are coming to the solar industry. The market itself is incredibly oversupplied (again) and demand likely won't grow to meet that supply for years, leaving overleveraged manufacturers nowhere to hide.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Companies are already selling solar panels at cash costs, meaning they can't generate a return on capital expenditures, and potentially won't be able to pay debt. This scenario frequently leads to bankruptcy, which happened in 2012 when the industry went through a similar downturn. Unfortunately, as with most highly competitive industries, it will almost certainly happen again. It's simply a question of who will survive this time around. So, in the spirit of succeeding by avoiding failure, let's take a look at which companies investors may want to avoid.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>The first two well-known companies in serious trouble are Yingli Green Energy and ReneSola. Yingli has $1.73 billion in debt and says it will ship just 300 MW to 400 MW in the third quarter, down sequentially from 662 MW in the second quarter. ReneSola's revenue in the second quarter was just $250 million, well below its $280 million to $290 million guidance, and third-quarter guidance was for $200 million in revenue at just a 10% gross margin. With operations in decline even before module prices plunged 25%, and ahead of a likely decline in 2017 demand, these companies are in serious trouble.</p>
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<p>The next group of manufacturers to look at are Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), Hanwha Q Cells (NASDAQ: CSIQ), JA Solar Holdings Co. (NASDAQ: JASO), JinkoSolar Holdings Co. (NYSE: JKS), and Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL). All three are among the largest solar manufacturers in the world and they're all sitting on a lot of debt that could become problematic.</p>
<p>Source: Company earnings releases. Note: Debt figure includes notes payable.</p>
<p>You can see that JA Solar has the weakest operating performance, but the least debt out of this group. What should concern JA Solar's shareholders is a decline in full-year guidance to 4.9 GW-5.0 GW of shipments, down from 5.2 GW-5.5 GW that it previously expected, indicating that weakening demand is already on the horizon. Losses are coming at JA Solar and that's cause for concern.</p>
<p>The company with the largest debt balance happens to be Canadian Solar, which has been among the most aggressive in expanding the last couple of years. That could be terrible timing and holding projects on the balance sheet, as it's done recently, may be bad timing as the value of projects declines. A net margin of 2.4% isn't much when solar panel prices are plunging. The windfall of profits that came from Canadian projects the last few years is almost gone too with management expecting to sell 100 MW of power plants in the next couple of quarters. Once it does, operations get far more difficult and $3.2 billion is a lot of debt to service if core operations are going to be losing money soon.</p>
<p>JinkoSolar and Trina Solar both have large debt loads, but also boast stronger margins than JA Solar and Canadian Solar.I would expect losses to creep into the business as panel sale prices decline, but it'll be possible to be near break-even next year, particularly as weaker competitors see volumes decline faster as customers seek quality manufacturers.</p>
<p>And the strongest on this list is Hanwha Q Cells, who bought much of its capacity out Q Cells' bankruptcy. That's helped drive lower costs and higher margins for the manufacturer.</p>
<p>The solar industry in late 2016 is about risk management than upside potential. And the companies I have the most concern about are Yingli Green Energy and Renesola, who appear to be in serious trouble. So much so, in fact, that market forces may eventually lead to their demise. Investors should also probably avoid JA Solar and Canadian Solar, who both have low margins and, in Canadian Solar's case, a balance sheet loaded with debt.</p>
<p>Being the biggest has never been a way to generate value in the solar industry and history has often shown that the largest manufacturers often wind up in bankruptcy court. The decline in 2012 led to the demise of Suntech Power and LDK Solar and 2017 looks like it'll be a similar dynamic for manufacturers. For investors, the downturn in large solar manufacturers may just be getting started.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFlushDraw/info.aspx" type="external">Travis Hoium Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | likelihood bankruptcies coming solar industry market incredibly oversupplied demand likely wont grow meet supply years leaving overleveraged manufacturers nowhere hide continue reading companies already selling solar panels cash costs meaning cant generate return capital expenditures potentially wont able pay debt scenario frequently leads bankruptcy happened 2012 industry went similar downturn unfortunately highly competitive industries almost certainly happen simply question survive time around spirit succeeding avoiding failure lets take look companies investors may want avoid image source getty images first two wellknown companies serious trouble yingli green energy renesola yingli 173 billion debt says ship 300 mw 400 mw third quarter sequentially 662 mw second quarter renesolas revenue second quarter 250 million well 280 million 290 million guidance thirdquarter guidance 200 million revenue 10 gross margin operations decline even module prices plunged 25 ahead likely decline 2017 demand companies serious trouble advertisement next group manufacturers look canadian solar inc nasdaq csiq hanwha q cells nasdaq csiq ja solar holdings co nasdaq jaso jinkosolar holdings co nyse jks trina solar limited nyse tsl three among largest solar manufacturers world theyre sitting lot debt could become problematic source company earnings releases note debt figure includes notes payable see ja solar weakest operating performance least debt group concern ja solars shareholders decline fullyear guidance 49 gw50 gw shipments 52 gw55 gw previously expected indicating weakening demand already horizon losses coming ja solar thats cause concern company largest debt balance happens canadian solar among aggressive expanding last couple years could terrible timing holding projects balance sheet done recently may bad timing value projects declines net margin 24 isnt much solar panel prices plunging windfall profits came canadian projects last years almost gone management expecting sell 100 mw power plants next couple quarters operations get far difficult 32 billion lot debt service core operations going losing money soon jinkosolar trina solar large debt loads also boast stronger margins ja solar canadian solari would expect losses creep business panel sale prices decline itll possible near breakeven next year particularly weaker competitors see volumes decline faster customers seek quality manufacturers strongest list hanwha q cells bought much capacity q cells bankruptcy thats helped drive lower costs higher margins manufacturer solar industry late 2016 risk management upside potential companies concern yingli green energy renesola appear serious trouble much fact market forces may eventually lead demise investors also probably avoid ja solar canadian solar low margins canadian solars case balance sheet loaded debt biggest never way generate value solar industry history often shown largest manufacturers often wind bankruptcy court decline 2012 led demise suntech power ldk solar 2017 looks like itll similar dynamic manufacturers investors downturn large solar manufacturers may getting started secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window travis hoium opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 531 |
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<p>Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) has fallen well behind in the single-serve coffee market in the United States. The chain has about half the sales of market leader Keurig Green Mountain -- though most of its sales come from K-Cups licensed by its rival.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Keurig, which is now part of privately owned JAB Holdings, dominates the U.S. market for pod-based coffee machines controlling "virtually all" of it, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/22/why-coffee-pods-are-killing-americas-love-for-coffee/?tid=a_inl" type="external">The Washington Post Opens a New Window.</a>. That's not an insignificant market as another <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/03/down-go-coffee-pods/" type="external">Post</a>article notes that single-serve coffee -- mostly Keurig K-Cups -- accounts for about a third of all coffee sold in the U.S.</p>
<p>It's a huge market that Starbucks has a chunk of only because it licenses the right to make K-Cups from Keurig. Ultimately, due to expiring patents, it could drop the license. However, for now the company's best chance to increase its single-serve market share -- without cutting a check to its rival -- would be to expand sales of its Verismo single-serve coffee maker.</p>
<p>That's exactly what Starbucks plans to do this holiday season with aggressive pricing on its new machine. Keurig however won't be sitting idly by as it plans its own Black Friday deals.</p>
<p>Starbucks has lowered the price for its brand-new Verismo during the holiday season. Image source: Starbucks.</p>
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<p>In mid-October Starbucks released a new version of its single-serve machine, the Verismo V. The new coffeemaker improves on its predecessor by allowing for brewing larger cups of coffee, operating more quietly, and the ability to brew after only 15 seconds of warmup. The machine still uses Starbucks proprietary pods and the company has also released a companion milk frother with the machine.</p>
<p>To spark sales of the new single-serve brewer, which regularly sells for $149, the company is selling it for $99 along with a free 12-pack of pods from Nov. 21 through Dec. 25. In addition the company will be offering a bundle for $129 (down from $179) including a Verismo V Brewer, a Verismo Milk Frother and a 12-count box of Verismo pods of choice. Consumers can also buy the milk frother on its own for $39, a discount from the regular $59 price.</p>
<p>One of Keurig's strengths is its selection of K-Cup pods. Image source: Keurig.</p>
<p>In addition to offering small discounts on its own website, Keurig will see many of its retail partners cut prices on its signature machine during the holiday season. Not all of the company's partners have released their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but <a href="http://www.blackerfriday.com/keurig/" type="external">BlackFriday.com Opens a New Window.</a> has compiled a number of offers on K-Cup machines for the 2016 holiday shopping season.</p>
<p>Kohl'splans to offer deals on Keurig's K250 brewer which sells for $129.99 on the company's website offering it for $99.99. The retailer will also have the K55 on sale for $89.99, the same price Keurg is selling it for, but a deal on its normal $119.99 price.</p>
<p>J.C. Penney will offer the K55 at $89.99 while it will also sell the K250 for $99.99, but will throw in four K-Cups, awater filter handle, and two filters.Target and Best Buy may have the best K-Cup brewer deal this year with both offering a $15 gift card to anyone who purchases the K50 single-serve brewer for $79.99 (normally $109.99) or the K200 for $89.99 (normally $119.99).</p>
<p>A number of other retailers also have K-Cup brewer deals for the holiday season and while they vary, they generally fall in line with the savings offered above. In the past Keurig brewers have been even more heavily discounted on Cyber Monday, but those deals have not been released yet.</p>
<p>The new Verismo fixes the most glaring flaws in the previous model while continuing to deliver a higher-end coffee experience than a typical K-Cup machine. The problem for Starbucks -- and a better brewer will likely not fix this -- is that Keurig controls the market.</p>
<p>With 25% of Americans already owning a K-Cup machine, and the pods being sold in grocery stores (and at Starbucks), it's simply easier to pick a Keurig brewer. Add in the fact that Keurig has dozens of partners making hundreds of different K-Cup flavors, while Starbucks only offers a handful of Verismo pods, (which generally cost more than K-Cups) and you can see why this is an uphill fight for the coffee giant.</p>
<p>Starbucks arguably has a better machine which makes a superior cup of coffee. That might help it sell some Verismos to its hard-core fans, but it's not likely to cut into Keurig's lead even with strong holiday pricing.</p>
<p>Forget the 2016 Election: 10 stocks we like better than Starbucks Donald Trump was just elected president, and volatility is up. But here's why you should ignore the election:</p>
<p>Investing geniuses Tom and David Gardner have spent a long time beating the market no matter who's in the White House. In fact, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=280c65d1-8270-4628-8909-d8c5950d0799&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Starbucks wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Dankline/info.aspx" type="external">Daniel Kline Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. He owns two Keurigs and the older Verismo, but may also buy the new one. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Starbucks. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | starbucks nasdaq sbux fallen well behind singleserve coffee market united states chain half sales market leader keurig green mountain though sales come kcups licensed rival continue reading keurig part privately owned jab holdings dominates us market podbased coffee machines controlling virtually according washington post opens new window thats insignificant market another postarticle notes singleserve coffee mostly keurig kcups accounts third coffee sold us huge market starbucks chunk licenses right make kcups keurig ultimately due expiring patents could drop license however companys best chance increase singleserve market share without cutting check rival would expand sales verismo singleserve coffee maker thats exactly starbucks plans holiday season aggressive pricing new machine keurig however wont sitting idly plans black friday deals starbucks lowered price brandnew verismo holiday season image source starbucks advertisement midoctober starbucks released new version singleserve machine verismo v new coffeemaker improves predecessor allowing brewing larger cups coffee operating quietly ability brew 15 seconds warmup machine still uses starbucks proprietary pods company also released companion milk frother machine spark sales new singleserve brewer regularly sells 149 company selling 99 along free 12pack pods nov 21 dec 25 addition company offering bundle 129 179 including verismo v brewer verismo milk frother 12count box verismo pods choice consumers also buy milk frother 39 discount regular 59 price one keurigs strengths selection kcup pods image source keurig addition offering small discounts website keurig see many retail partners cut prices signature machine holiday season companys partners released black friday cyber monday deals blackfridaycom opens new window compiled number offers kcup machines 2016 holiday shopping season kohlsplans offer deals keurigs k250 brewer sells 12999 companys website offering 9999 retailer also k55 sale 8999 price keurg selling deal normal 11999 price jc penney offer k55 8999 also sell k250 9999 throw four kcups awater filter handle two filterstarget best buy may best kcup brewer deal year offering 15 gift card anyone purchases k50 singleserve brewer 7999 normally 10999 k200 8999 normally 11999 number retailers also kcup brewer deals holiday season vary generally fall line savings offered past keurig brewers even heavily discounted cyber monday deals released yet new verismo fixes glaring flaws previous model continuing deliver higherend coffee experience typical kcup machine problem starbucks better brewer likely fix keurig controls market 25 americans already owning kcup machine pods sold grocery stores starbucks simply easier pick keurig brewer add fact keurig dozens partners making hundreds different kcup flavors starbucks offers handful verismo pods generally cost kcups see uphill fight coffee giant starbucks arguably better machine makes superior cup coffee might help sell verismos hardcore fans likely cut keurigs lead even strong holiday pricing forget 2016 election 10 stocks like better starbucks donald trump elected president volatility heres ignore election investing geniuses tom david gardner spent long time beating market matter whos white house fact newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe ten best stocks opens new window investors buy right starbucks wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 7 2016 daniel kline opens new window position stocks mentioned owns two keurigs older verismo may also buy new one motley fool owns shares recommends starbucks try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 567 |
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<p>When it comes to investing in bank stocks, there are a lot of different types of institutions to choose from -- large or small, local, regional, or national, and recently, brick-and-mortar or internet-based. With that in mind, let's look at these two high-potential but extremely different bank stocks to see which might be the better addition to your portfolio right now.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Of the two banks being compared, I think it's safe to assume that most people are far more familiar with Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). The bank serves about 47 million customers through its network of 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs, and has about $2.2 trillion in total assets. While it has emerged as a leader in banking technologies such as mobile deposits and a state-of-the-art online banking platform, Bank of America as a wholeis more of a traditional bank than BofI.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>The bank offers a wide variety of products and services. In addition to consumer banking services such as checking/savings accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans, Bank of America also has a thriving global wealth and investment management division, corporate banking, trading business, and more.</p>
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<p>On the other hand, BofI Holding (NASDAQ: BOFI) is a much smaller institution, with about $8 billion in assets -- not even half of 1% of Bank of America's size by this metric. However, from an investor's standpoint, this means that the bank has more room to grow.</p>
<p>Unlike Bank of America, BofI (which stands for "Bank of Internet") doesn't have any physical branches at all -- its operations are entirely online. Also unlike Bank of America and its assortment of businesses, BofI's business more closely resembles a typical savings and loan. The bank takes in deposits (mostly savings or checking) and loans money to consumers and small businesses.</p>
<p>It's important to point out that I'm a big fan of both banks as long-term investments. <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/01/23/why-2017-could-be-this-stocks-best-year-yet.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Here's Opens a New Window.</a> a recent article I wrote about Bank of America's potential, and <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/02/23/could-bofi-holding-inc-be-a-millionaire-maker-stoc.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">another one Opens a New Window.</a> about BofI being a potential "millionaire-maker" stock. However, the reasons I think each bank could deliver great returns are quite different, and that's what I'd like to focus on here.</p>
<p>If you follow Bank of America closely, you may be thinking: "How can he call it cheap? The stock price has doubled over the past year!"</p>
<p>That's true, and Bank of America certainly isn't as cheap as it was. However, the bank's book value (the net value of all the bank's assets) is $24.04 per share, which means that as I write this, Bank of America trades for just 6% above its book value -- a rather low valuation compared with most peers.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/BAC/price_to_book_value" type="external">BAC Price to Book Value</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>However, there is a good reason for the low valuation. Bank of America has not been able to generate what most bank investors would consider a good level of profitability. Banks typically need to generate a return on equity (ROE) of 10% to cover their cost of capital, and a 1% return on assets (ROA) is also an industry benchmark. Bank of America's most recent numbers of 7% and 0.85%, respectively, aren't quite up to par.</p>
<p>However, as I discussed in the article I linked to earlier, I feel there is good reason to believe this will change in the near future, especially if interest rates continue to rise as expected.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, when you invest in Bank of America today, you're betting on the bank's ability to increase its profitability to a respectable level and keep it there. If this happens, shareholders could be handsomely rewarded.</p>
<p>Unlike Bank of America, BofI's branch-free business model has given it the cost advantages it needs to be highly efficient and profitable. BofI's 2016 ROE of 19.4% and its ROA of 1.75% are far better than the industry benchmarks. So, the fact that BofI trades for nearly three times its book value may seem excessive at first, but the ability to generate roughly twice the profitability as the banking industry benchmarks call for helps justify the lofty valuation.</p>
<p>Further making the case for paying BofI's high price of admission is the bank's rapid pace of growth in recent years. Deposits grew by 27% and assets grew by 23% in the past year alone, and the bank's earnings per share (EPS) has grown at an annualized 32% rate since 2011, which continuously improving the bank's return on equity. As a result of the fast growth, book value has more than tripled over the past six years.</p>
<p>Image source: BofI investor presentation.</p>
<p>To sum it up, by investing in BofI today, you're betting that the rapid growth rate will continue, and that we're still in the early innings of the company's expansion. If this proves to be the case, there's no telling at how well shareholders could do.</p>
<p>To be clear, both of these banks look like attractive options right now, especially with Donald Trump in the White House and a Republican majority in Congress. BofI has already proven its ability to run an efficient and profitable banking operation, and has lots of room for growth. Bank of America, on the other hand, trades cheaply and while its long-term growth potential is much more limited than BofI's, investors could certainly do quite well if the bank's profitability grows to a respectable level over the next few years.</p>
<p>Personally, I'm more of a Bank of America fan right now, as I believe rising interest rates and looser regulations will benefit it more than most other banks. However, I don't think you can go wrong with either option.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Bank of AmericaWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6eaf64cb-28fa-4089-a3f4-1eb089f3f08b&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Bank of America wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6eaf64cb-28fa-4089-a3f4-1eb089f3f08b&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/KWMatt82/info.aspx" type="external">Matthew Frankel Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Bank of America. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends BofI Holding. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | comes investing bank stocks lot different types institutions choose large small local regional national recently brickandmortar internetbased mind lets look two highpotential extremely different bank stocks see might better addition portfolio right continue reading two banks compared think safe assume people far familiar bank america nyse bac bank serves 47 million customers network 4700 branches 16000 atms 22 trillion total assets emerged leader banking technologies mobile deposits stateoftheart online banking platform bank america wholeis traditional bank bofi image source getty images bank offers wide variety products services addition consumer banking services checkingsavings accounts mortgages credit cards auto loans bank america also thriving global wealth investment management division corporate banking trading business advertisement hand bofi holding nasdaq bofi much smaller institution 8 billion assets even half 1 bank americas size metric however investors standpoint means bank room grow unlike bank america bofi stands bank internet doesnt physical branches operations entirely online also unlike bank america assortment businesses bofis business closely resembles typical savings loan bank takes deposits mostly savings checking loans money consumers small businesses important point im big fan banks longterm investments heres opens new window recent article wrote bank americas potential another one opens new window bofi potential millionairemaker stock however reasons think bank could deliver great returns quite different thats id like focus follow bank america closely may thinking call cheap stock price doubled past year thats true bank america certainly isnt cheap however banks book value net value banks assets 2404 per share means write bank america trades 6 book value rather low valuation compared peers bac price book value data ycharts opens new window however good reason low valuation bank america able generate bank investors would consider good level profitability banks typically need generate return equity roe 10 cover cost capital 1 return assets roa also industry benchmark bank americas recent numbers 7 085 respectively arent quite par however discussed article linked earlier feel good reason believe change near future especially interest rates continue rise expected nutshell invest bank america today youre betting banks ability increase profitability respectable level keep happens shareholders could handsomely rewarded unlike bank america bofis branchfree business model given cost advantages needs highly efficient profitable bofis 2016 roe 194 roa 175 far better industry benchmarks fact bofi trades nearly three times book value may seem excessive first ability generate roughly twice profitability banking industry benchmarks call helps justify lofty valuation making case paying bofis high price admission banks rapid pace growth recent years deposits grew 27 assets grew 23 past year alone banks earnings per share eps grown annualized 32 rate since 2011 continuously improving banks return equity result fast growth book value tripled past six years image source bofi investor presentation sum investing bofi today youre betting rapid growth rate continue still early innings companys expansion proves case theres telling well shareholders could clear banks look like attractive options right especially donald trump white house republican majority congress bofi already proven ability run efficient profitable banking operation lots room growth bank america hand trades cheaply longterm growth potential much limited bofis investors could certainly quite well banks profitability grows respectable level next years personally im bank america fan right believe rising interest rates looser regulations benefit banks however dont think go wrong either option 10 stocks like better bank americawhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right bank america wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns february 6 2017 matthew frankel opens new window owns shares bank america motley fool owns shares recommends bofi holding motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 627 |
<p><a href="http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/former-reagan-administration-official-is-warning-of-a-financial-collapse-some-time-between-august-and-november/time-spinning-skyline-public-domain-3" type="external" />If a former Reagan administration official is correct, we are likely to see the next major financial collapse by the end of 2017.&#160; According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stockman" type="external">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="" type="internal">David Stockman</a> “is an author, former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Businessman" type="external">businessman</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" type="external">U.S.</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician" type="external">politician</a> who served as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29" type="external">Republican</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Representative" type="external">U.S. Representative</a> from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state" type="external">state</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" type="external">Michigan</a> (1977–1981) and as the Director of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Management_and_Budget" type="external">Office of Management and Budget</a> (1981–1985) under President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" type="external">Ronald Reagan</a>.”&#160; He has been frequently interviewed by mainstream news outlets such as CNBC, Bloomberg and PBS, and he is a highly respected voice in the financial community.&#160; Like <a href="http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/11-reasons-why-u-s-economic-growth-is-the-worst-that-it-has-been-in-3-years" type="external">other analysts</a>, Stockman believes that the U.S. economy is in dire shape, and he <a href="http://usawatchdog.com/fiscal-bloodbath-coming-this-fall-david-stockman/" type="external">told Greg Hunter during a recent interview</a> that he is convinced that the S&amp;P 500 could soon crash “by 40% or even more”…</p>
<p>The market is pricing itself for perfection for all of eternity.&#160; This is crazy. . . . I think the market could easily drop to 1,600 or 1,300.&#160; It could drop by 40% or even more once the fantasy ends.&#160; When the government shows its true colors, that it’s headed for a fiscal blood bath when this crazy notion that there is going to be some Trump fiscal stimulus is put to rest once and for all.&#160; I mean it’s not going to happen.&#160; They can’t pass a tax cut that big without a budget resolution that incorporated $10 trillion or $15 trillion in debt over the next decade.&#160; It’s just not going to pass Congress. . . . I think this is the greatest sucker’s rally we have ever seen.”</p>
<p>But even more alarming is what Stockman had to say about the potential timing of such a financial crash.&#160; According to Stockman, if he were to pick a time for the next major stock market plunge he would <a href="http://usawatchdog.com/fiscal-bloodbath-coming-this-fall-david-stockman/" type="external">“target sometime between August and November”</a>…</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 is going to drop by hundreds and hundreds of points sometime over the next few months as we drift into this unexpected crisis. . . . I would target sometime between August and November because that’s when the rubber is going to meet the road on a debt ceiling increase when they are out of cash.&#160; Washington is going to end up in vicious political conflict over what to do about the debt ceiling. . . . It is going to be one giant fiscal bloodbath the likes of which we have never seen.</p>
<p>That really got my attention, because those are the exact months during which the events that I portrayed in <a href="http://amzn.to/2pasYmg" type="external">The Beginning Of The End</a> play out.</p>
<p>Without a doubt, the U.S. financial system is living on borrowed time, and we cannot keep going into so much debt indefinitely.&#160; In 2017, interest on the national debt will be <a href="https://goldsilver.com/blog/first-time-in-history-us-interest-on-debt-over-half-a-trillion-dollars/" type="external">more than half a trillion dollars</a> for the first time ever, and it will be even higher next year because we are likely to add at least another trillion dollars to the debt during this fiscal year.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the financial markets just keep becoming <a href="http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/have-we-just-reached-peak-stock-market-absurdity" type="external">more absurd</a> with each passing day.</p>
<p>Just look at Tesla.&#160; This is a company that somehow managed to lose <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-05-03/tesla-burns-through-620-million-loses-13000-car-made-ahead-model-3-launch" type="external">620 million dollars</a> during the first quarter of 2017, and it has been consistently losing hundreds of millions of dollars quarter after quarter.</p>
<p>And yet somehow the market values Tesla at a staggering <a href="https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=tesla+market+cap" type="external">48 billion dollars</a>.</p>
<p>It is almost as if we are living in an “opposite world” where the more money you lose the more valuable investors think that you are.&#160; Companies like Tesla, Netflix and Twitter are burning through gigantic mountains of investor cash without ever making a profit, and nobody seems to care.</p>
<p>Commercial mortgage-backed securities are another red flag <a href="http://www.valuewalk.com/2017/05/commercial-real-estate/" type="external">that is starting to get a lot of attention</a>…</p>
<p>The percentage of commercial mortgage-backed security (MBS) loans in special servicing hit 6.6% to close April, Commercial Mortgage Alert reported, citing Trepp data. The five basis point move higher from March came as the past-due rate on Fitch-rated commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) climbed by nine basis points to end April at to 3.5%.</p>
<p>Both MBS and CMBS rates hit their highest levels since 2015.</p>
<p>During the crisis of 2008, regular mortgage-backed securities played a major role, and this time around it looks like securities that are backed by commercial mortgages could cause quite a bit of havoc.</p>
<p>One of the reasons for this is because mall owners are having such tremendous difficulties.&#160; The number of retail store closings in 2017 is on pace to shatter the all-time record by more than 20 percent, and Bloomberg is projecting that about <a href="http://www.visualcapitalist.com/retail-apocalypse-everything-need-know/" type="external">a billion square feet</a> of retail space will eventually close or be used for another purpose.</p>
<p>So needless to say this is putting an enormous amount of strain on those that are trying to rent space to retailers, and a lot of their debts are starting to go bad.</p>
<p>In 2007 and early 2008, a lot of the analysts that were loudly warning about mortgage-backed securities, a major stock market crash and an imminent recession were being mocked.&#160; People kept asking them when “the crisis” was finally going to arrive, and leaders such as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke confidently assured the public that the U.S. economy was not going to experience a recession.</p>
<p>But of course then we got to the fall of 2008 and all hell broke loose.&#160; Investors suddenly lost trillions of dollars, millions of jobs were lost, and the U.S. economy plunged into the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.</p>
<p>Now we stand poised on the brink of an even worse disaster.&#160; The U.S. national debt has almost doubled since the last crisis, corporate debt has more than doubled, and all of our long-term economic fundamentals have continued to deteriorate.</p>
<p>The only thing that has saved us is our ability <a href="http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/debt-insanity-does-anyone-in-washington-even-care-that-we-are-20-trillion-dollars-in-debt" type="external">to go into enormous amounts of debt</a>, and once that debt bubble finally bursts it will be the biggest standard of living adjustment that Americans have ever seen.</p>
<p>So I don’t know if Stockman’s timing will be 100% accurate or not, but that is not what is important.</p>
<p>What is important is that decades of exceedingly foolish decisions have made the greatest economic crisis in American history inevitable, and when it fully erupts the pain is going to be absolutely off the charts.</p>
<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/former-reagan-administration-official-is-warning-of-a-financial-collapse-some-time-between-august-and-november" type="external">The Economic Collapse Blog</a></p>
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<p /> | true | 0 | former reagan administration official correct likely see next major financial collapse end 2017160 according wikipedia david stockman author former businessman us politician served republican us representative state michigan 19771981 director office management budget 19811985 president ronald reagan160 frequently interviewed mainstream news outlets cnbc bloomberg pbs highly respected voice financial community160 like analysts stockman believes us economy dire shape told greg hunter recent interview convinced sampp 500 could soon crash 40 even market pricing perfection eternity160 crazy think market could easily drop 1600 1300160 could drop 40 even fantasy ends160 government shows true colors headed fiscal blood bath crazy notion going trump fiscal stimulus put rest all160 mean going happen160 cant pass tax cut big without budget resolution incorporated 10 trillion 15 trillion debt next decade160 going pass congress think greatest suckers rally ever seen even alarming stockman say potential timing financial crash160 according stockman pick time next major stock market plunge would target sometime august november sampp 500 going drop hundreds hundreds points sometime next months drift unexpected crisis would target sometime august november thats rubber going meet road debt ceiling increase cash160 washington going end vicious political conflict debt ceiling going one giant fiscal bloodbath likes never seen really got attention exact months events portrayed beginning end play without doubt us financial system living borrowed time keep going much debt indefinitely160 2017 interest national debt half trillion dollars first time ever even higher next year likely add least another trillion dollars debt fiscal year meanwhile financial markets keep becoming absurd passing day look tesla160 company somehow managed lose 620 million dollars first quarter 2017 consistently losing hundreds millions dollars quarter quarter yet somehow market values tesla staggering 48 billion dollars almost living opposite world money lose valuable investors think are160 companies like tesla netflix twitter burning gigantic mountains investor cash without ever making profit nobody seems care commercial mortgagebacked securities another red flag starting get lot attention percentage commercial mortgagebacked security mbs loans special servicing hit 66 close april commercial mortgage alert reported citing trepp data five basis point move higher march came pastdue rate fitchrated commercial mortgagebacked securities cmbs climbed nine basis points end april 35 mbs cmbs rates hit highest levels since 2015 crisis 2008 regular mortgagebacked securities played major role time around looks like securities backed commercial mortgages could cause quite bit havoc one reasons mall owners tremendous difficulties160 number retail store closings 2017 pace shatter alltime record 20 percent bloomberg projecting billion square feet retail space eventually close used another purpose needless say putting enormous amount strain trying rent space retailers lot debts starting go bad 2007 early 2008 lot analysts loudly warning mortgagebacked securities major stock market crash imminent recession mocked160 people kept asking crisis finally going arrive leaders federal reserve chairman ben bernanke confidently assured public us economy going experience recession course got fall 2008 hell broke loose160 investors suddenly lost trillions dollars millions jobs lost us economy plunged worst recession since great depression 1930s stand poised brink even worse disaster160 us national debt almost doubled since last crisis corporate debt doubled longterm economic fundamentals continued deteriorate thing saved us ability go enormous amounts debt debt bubble finally bursts biggest standard living adjustment americans ever seen dont know stockmans timing 100 accurate important important decades exceedingly foolish decisions made greatest economic crisis american history inevitable fully erupts pain going absolutely charts courtesy economic collapse blog | 562 |
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<p>Maybe it happened after your 86-year-old father had a stroke.&#160; Or when your disabled cousin was nearly evicted for continually forgetting to pay her rent.&#160; Or perhaps you were appointed by the court because your brother and his wife were killed in a car accident, leaving their three minor children parent-less.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Most of us don’t plan on managing other people’s money, or OPM.&#160; But whether you have a “power-of-attorney” or are called a “guardian,” a “custodian” or a “trustee,” you are considered a “fiduciary.”&#160; As such, your primary responsibility is to manage and spend the assets of the individual in your care in their best interest.</p>
<p>And you’d better be prepared to prove it if anyone questions your motives.</p>
<p>“Millions of Americans can’t manage their property,” says Naomi Karp, senior policy analyst at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB).&#160; As a result, “millions of lay people- family caregivers- are thrust into this role.&#160; Most are well-intentioned, but they may not be good at managing their own money, so we wanted to give them a step-by-step guide” of what’s expected.&#160; The result: Managing Someone Else’s Money: Help for Guardians of Property and Conservators.</p>
<p>More Common Than You Think</p>
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<p>According to Karp, who is in the CFPB’s Office of Older Americans, a “conservative” estimate is that 20 million people in this country have legal authority to manage assets owned by another person.&#160;&#160; She cites a Federal Reserve study which found that about 22 million individuals age 60 or older have given someone else power-of-attorney. &#160;And a Social Security report that more than four million adult beneficiaries have “representative payees”- another person, an institution or an organization that their check is sent to because they are unable to manage their own finances. &#160;The National Center for State Courts estimated that as of 2008, there were more than 1.5 million adults whose affairs were being overseen by a court-appointed guardian.(1)</p>
<p>Mistakes Can Have Serious Consequences</p>
<p>While there are occasional horror stories about abuse and neglect on the part of fiduciaries, thankfully, this is generally the exception rather than the rule. Most mistakes are due to ignorance or poor judgment.</p>
<p>For instance, “People don’t understand what is a conflict of interest,” says Karp.&#160; In addition, it’s not always clear-cut whether a decision was truly in the best interest of the person in your care. “We’re trying to raise awareness.”</p>
<p>For instance, assume you are the guardian for your elderly mother.&#160; You want to withdraw money from her bank account to buy a car so you can drive mom to her doctor appointments.&#160; But the rest of the time, you’re going to use it for your own needs.</p>
<p>Conflict of interest?&#160; Hmmmm.</p>
<p>Or, let’s say grandpa’s home needs some repairs.&#160; You hire your son to do the work.&#160; Maybe you consider him the best handyman on the planet.&#160; Coincidentally, he is a little tight on cash these days.</p>
<p>Conflict of interest? &#160;Hmmmm.</p>
<p>”People have to figure it out.&#160; We’re trying to suggest that you don’t buy the car, or that you just use it for Mom.&#160; Or that you buy a less expensive car.”&#160; Or that you get written bids from other contractors in the event you have to justify hiring Junior.</p>
<p>Imagine you have power of attorney over your grandmother’s bank account.&#160; She always gave the grandkids a check at the holidays.&#160; Is it OK for you to continue doing this?&#160; “It depends on the state and whether this is specified in the documents,” says Karp.</p>
<p>Make It Easy to Follow the Money</p>
<p>Although “caring” about the individual is hopefully your motivation, what he law cares most about is how you manage, protect and disburse their assets.</p>
<p>At the very least, anyone acting in a fiduciary capacity needs to keep very good records about how much money was disbursed and why.&#160; And, make darn sure you can demonstrate that it was spent in the best interest of the individual in your charge.</p>
<p>Though it might not be as convenient, it’s critical that you do not co-mingle money or property.&#160; Maintain a separate checking account for the other person. Don’t take cash out of their account to cover bills.&#160; “Pay their bills out of their account.&#160; Don’t pay them out of your account and then reimburse yourself,” says Karp.</p>
<p>“If you’re a court-appointed guardian, don’t pay for things in cash,” advises Karp.&#160; Checks and credit card bills create “a paper trail to show you are not wasting the money” in the event a judge questions where it went.&#160; You should also be aware that you are required to take an inventory of the possessions and accounts owned by the person entrusted to your care- and that this needs to be filed with the court within a certain period of time.</p>
<p>What Kind of Fiduciary Are You?</p>
<p>The brochures created by the CFPB cover the most common types of fiduciary: court-appointed guardian, agent with a power of attorney, Social Security alternative payee and trustee of a living trust.&#160; Best of all, they are written in layman’s language, not legalese.&#160; They offer clear guidelines to those who may not be financially- oriented, but who suddenly find themselves in the position of being a caretaker for a loved one and suggest where to get help, if needed.</p>
<p>In addition, six state-specific brochures are being created in conjunction with authorities in Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Oregon.&#160; These states were chosen, says Karp, on the basis of having “a large number of older people or a higher percentage of their population that is older.”&#160; Guides for the state of Virginia just came out.&#160; The others are in development.</p>
<p>To order or download a copy of Managing Someone Else's Money: Help for Guardians of Property and Conservators visit <a href="http://publications.usa.gov/USAPubs.php?NavCode=K&amp;searchText=CFPB" type="external">CFPB publications at Publications.USA.gov Opens a New Window.</a>.&#160;&#160;Enter the title in the search box. Virginia residents will want the specific guide for their state.</p> | true | 0 | maybe happened 86yearold father stroke160 disabled cousin nearly evicted continually forgetting pay rent160 perhaps appointed court brother wife killed car accident leaving three minor children parentless continue reading us dont plan managing peoples money opm160 whether powerofattorney called guardian custodian trustee considered fiduciary160 primary responsibility manage spend assets individual care best interest youd better prepared prove anyone questions motives millions americans cant manage property says naomi karp senior policy analyst consumer finance protection bureau cfpb160 result millions lay people family caregivers thrust role160 wellintentioned may good managing money wanted give stepbystep guide whats expected160 result managing someone elses money help guardians property conservators common think advertisement according karp cfpbs office older americans conservative estimate 20 million people country legal authority manage assets owned another person160160 cites federal reserve study found 22 million individuals age 60 older given someone else powerofattorney 160and social security report four million adult beneficiaries representative payees another person institution organization check sent unable manage finances 160the national center state courts estimated 2008 15 million adults whose affairs overseen courtappointed guardian1 mistakes serious consequences occasional horror stories abuse neglect part fiduciaries thankfully generally exception rather rule mistakes due ignorance poor judgment instance people dont understand conflict interest says karp160 addition always clearcut whether decision truly best interest person care trying raise awareness instance assume guardian elderly mother160 want withdraw money bank account buy car drive mom doctor appointments160 rest time youre going use needs conflict interest160 hmmmm lets say grandpas home needs repairs160 hire son work160 maybe consider best handyman planet160 coincidentally little tight cash days conflict interest 160hmmmm people figure out160 trying suggest dont buy car use mom160 buy less expensive car160 get written bids contractors event justify hiring junior imagine power attorney grandmothers bank account160 always gave grandkids check holidays160 ok continue this160 depends state whether specified documents says karp make easy follow money although caring individual hopefully motivation law cares manage protect disburse assets least anyone acting fiduciary capacity needs keep good records much money disbursed why160 make darn sure demonstrate spent best interest individual charge though might convenient critical comingle money property160 maintain separate checking account person dont take cash account cover bills160 pay bills account160 dont pay account reimburse says karp youre courtappointed guardian dont pay things cash advises karp160 checks credit card bills create paper trail show wasting money event judge questions went160 also aware required take inventory possessions accounts owned person entrusted care needs filed court within certain period time kind fiduciary brochures created cfpb cover common types fiduciary courtappointed guardian agent power attorney social security alternative payee trustee living trust160 best written laymans language legalese160 offer clear guidelines may financially oriented suddenly find position caretaker loved one suggest get help needed addition six statespecific brochures created conjunction authorities virginia arizona florida georgia illinois oregon160 states chosen says karp basis large number older people higher percentage population older160 guides state virginia came out160 others development order download copy managing someone elses money help guardians property conservators visit cfpb publications publicationsusagov opens new window160160enter title search box virginia residents want specific guide state | 512 |
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<p>Last year's college graduates racked up more debt than any other previous graduating class. Given the high cost of college these days, it's no wonder the average 2015 graduate owed more than $35,000 in student loans. But while rising tuition expenses are partially to blame for the county's ongoing student debt crisis, a big reason why so many college hopefuls are resorting to debt has to do with the fact that their parents simply aren't saving as much. In 2015, only 48% of parents with children under the age of 18 were actively saving for college, and those who did save only managed to amass about $10,000 -- a respectable sum, but not nearly enough to make a significant dent in the overall cost of college today.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Consider the average estimated cost of tuition for the 2015-2016 school year: $9,410 for a public four-year in-state college, $23,893 for a public four-year out-of-state school, and $32,405 for a private nonprofit four-year college. Of course, these figures don't even include room and board, an added expense that many students can't avoid.</p>
<p>Image source: Pixabay.</p>
<p>No matter your personal financial situation, saving for college can be a tricky prospect. If you're serious about helping your kids fund their education, here are three major mistakes to avoid.</p>
<p>1. Starting too lateUnlike retirement, which many people have a good four decades to save for, most folks only have a maximum of 18 years to build their college savings. For this reason, it's imperative that you start as early as possible -- ideally, as soon as your first child is born. Say you start contributing $200 a month to your child's college account at birth, and continue to do so for 18 years. If your investments earn you 6%, which is actually a relatively conservative number given the stock market's average performance, by the time your child enters as a freshman, you'll have over $74,000 stashed away. On the other hand, if you wait until your child is 10 to start saving that $200 a month, you'll have just $24,000 to work with.</p>
<p>2. Overfunding your 529A 529 plan can be a useful tool in helping you reach your college savings goals, as it allows your money to grow tax-free. But there's a catch: You must use that money for qualified higher education purposes only. Withdraw that money for non-college expenses, and you'll pay a 10% penalty on your investment gains. Now while some might argue that having too much money in a 529 isn't such a terrible problem to have, remember that there are some costs associated with college that 529s don't cover. Travel to and from school, for example, can get expensive if your child is studying across the country, and unfortunately, you can't use a 529 to pay for it. Before you put all your college savings in a 529, study up on what your plan does and does not consider a qualified expense, and consider opening a separate account to save for incidentals not covered by your 529.</p>
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<p>3. Falling back on your retirement accountsIn the absence of dedicated college savings, some people figure they can dip into their retirement funds to foot those hefty tuition bills. In fact, in 2014, 7% of families took funds out of a retirement account to pay for college. But while you may be tempted to use your 401(k) or IRA to pay for college, doing so could prevent you from meeting your retirement savings goals. The more money you withdraw from your retirement account, the less you'll have down the line, when you're no longer working and need it the most. Remember, too, that when you withdraw money to pay for college, you're not only losing out on that principal amount in retirement, but also on the interest or earnings that principal could've brought in. Furthermore, if you take money out of a 401(k) to pay for college before you reach age 59-1/2, you'll be hit with a 10% early withdrawal penalty plus be subject to taxes on your withdrawal amount.</p>
<p>Now if you use your IRA to pay for college before turning 59-1/2, you won't be hit with that same 10% penalty, but you'll still pay taxes on your withdrawal. In the case of a traditional IRA, you'll be taxed on the total amount you take out. If you have a Roth IRA, you'll only be taxed on your investment gains, not your original principal. That's because the money you put into a Roth IRA is taxed up front. But regardless of the type of account you have, your best bet is to leave that money where it is for retirement, as you initially intended, and cut back on other living expenses to save for college.</p>
<p>Finally, if you don't manage to reach your savings goal by the time your children enter college, remember that there are alternatives to taking on loads of debt. You could encourage your kids to work during their studies, or defer enrollment for a year or two, work full-time, and use those earnings to pay for school. Saving for college is indeed a noble goal, but as a parent, it doesn't all have to fall on you.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/general/2016/04/04/dont-make-these-3-college-savings-mistakes.aspx" type="external">Don't Make These 3 College Savings Mistakes Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p>Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | last years college graduates racked debt previous graduating class given high cost college days wonder average 2015 graduate owed 35000 student loans rising tuition expenses partially blame countys ongoing student debt crisis big reason many college hopefuls resorting debt fact parents simply arent saving much 2015 48 parents children age 18 actively saving college save managed amass 10000 respectable sum nearly enough make significant dent overall cost college today continue reading consider average estimated cost tuition 20152016 school year 9410 public fouryear instate college 23893 public fouryear outofstate school 32405 private nonprofit fouryear college course figures dont even include room board added expense many students cant avoid image source pixabay matter personal financial situation saving college tricky prospect youre serious helping kids fund education three major mistakes avoid 1 starting lateunlike retirement many people good four decades save folks maximum 18 years build college savings reason imperative start early possible ideally soon first child born say start contributing 200 month childs college account birth continue 18 years investments earn 6 actually relatively conservative number given stock markets average performance time child enters freshman youll 74000 stashed away hand wait child 10 start saving 200 month youll 24000 work 2 overfunding 529a 529 plan useful tool helping reach college savings goals allows money grow taxfree theres catch must use money qualified higher education purposes withdraw money noncollege expenses youll pay 10 penalty investment gains might argue much money 529 isnt terrible problem remember costs associated college 529s dont cover travel school example get expensive child studying across country unfortunately cant use 529 pay put college savings 529 study plan consider qualified expense consider opening separate account save incidentals covered 529 advertisement 3 falling back retirement accountsin absence dedicated college savings people figure dip retirement funds foot hefty tuition bills fact 2014 7 families took funds retirement account pay college may tempted use 401k ira pay college could prevent meeting retirement savings goals money withdraw retirement account less youll line youre longer working need remember withdraw money pay college youre losing principal amount retirement also interest earnings principal couldve brought furthermore take money 401k pay college reach age 5912 youll hit 10 early withdrawal penalty plus subject taxes withdrawal amount use ira pay college turning 5912 wont hit 10 penalty youll still pay taxes withdrawal case traditional ira youll taxed total amount take roth ira youll taxed investment gains original principal thats money put roth ira taxed front regardless type account best bet leave money retirement initially intended cut back living expenses save college finally dont manage reach savings goal time children enter college remember alternatives taking loads debt could encourage kids work studies defer enrollment year two work fulltime use earnings pay school saving college indeed noble goal parent doesnt fall article dont make 3 college savings mistakes opens new window originally appeared foolcom try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 521 |
<p />
<p>Port Canaveral, Fla., is the main seaport for Orlando, home of Disney World and one of the top vacation destinations in the country. About half&#160;the cruisers who sail from Port Canaveral combine an Orlando vacation with a three- or four-day cruise.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Port Canaveral is the home port for Disney Cruise Line, but in January 2011 one of its ships, Disney Magic, will relocate to Los Angeles and will be replaced by the&#160;Disney Dream, currently under construction in a German shipyard. At 128,000-tons and 4,000 passenger berths, Disney Dream will be the first new Disney ship in almost 12 years.</p>
<p>Short Port Canaveral Cruise Bargains:</p>
<p>Many people who want to combine an Orlando vacation with a cruise will stick with Disney on land and sea, visiting Disney World and&#160;sailing on&#160;Disney Cruise Line. But this is the most expensive way to go.&#160;You can go to Disney World or&#160;one of the other Orlando attractions, such as Universal Studios or SeaWorld, and then take a three- or four-day cruise on another cruise line like Royal Caribbean, Carnival or NCL. All&#160;these short cruises are on older ships built in the 1990s, but as alternatives to Disney Cruise Line they offer compelling bargains.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/search/vacationSearchResult.do?qvsHome=yes&amp;cS=QVS&amp;date=ANY&amp;dest=ANY&amp;ship=ANY&amp;port=PCN&amp;includeAdjascentPorts=Y&amp;cruiseTourOnly=false&amp;state=&amp;btn_findcruises.x=32&amp;btn_findcruises.y=10" type="external">Monarch of the Seas Opens a New Window.</a>offers three-day cruises as low as $209 per person and four-day cruises from $189. (The four-day cruises are cheaper because they sail Monday through Thursday, requiring working people to take time off.)</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.carnival.com/BookingEngine/ProductView?embkCode=PCV&amp;durDays=4&amp;sailingID=55545&amp;itinCode=BAE&amp;sailDate=10/31/2010&amp;shipCode=SE&amp;subRegionCode=BH" type="external">Carnival Sensation four-day Halloween Cruise Opens a New Window.</a> (sails Oct. 31) starts at just $209, with balcony cabins&#160;available from&#160;$399. Book fast, this fills up quickly. This cruise visits Freeport, Bahamas and then spends two full days in Nassau.</p>
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<p>Starting next week,&#160;a new short cruise contender starts sailing from Port Canaveral: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will operate the <a href="http://www2.ncl.com/vacations?N=4294967111&amp;Ne=8050&amp;Nu=p_Key&amp;latitudes=no&amp;senior=no&amp;Ns=p_Inside_Amt%7C0" type="external">Norwegian Sun Opens a New Window.</a> from Port Canaveral on three- to seven-day cruises from October through April this winter and next. These are the least expensive cruises from this port, with three-day cruises starting at $179 and four-day cruises at $199.</p>
<p>Sailing on Disney Cruise Lines</p>
<p>Disney World is the biggest attraction in Orlando, and for people who want their vacation to be “Disney all the way,” the cheapest three-day cruise on a Disney ship is $834 per person for the Nov. 4 sailing on <a href="http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/customize?execution=e1s21&amp;_eventId_updateSearchResults=updateSearchResults&amp;packageId=20598456" type="external">Disney Wonder Opens a New Window.</a>, an 83,000-ton ship built in 1999.&#160;The premium price reflects the unique cruise experience&#160;that only Disney can provide. This includes exclusive Disney stage shows and “character experiences” where you meet and mingle with just about every Disney character who ever existed.</p>
<p>Disney will&#160;introduce Disney Dream to Port Canaveral on <a href="http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/customize?execution=e1s15&amp;_eventId_updateSearchResults=updateSearchResults&amp;packageId=20731776" type="external">Jan. 26, 2011 Opens a New Window.</a>. While the older Disney ships are impressive, a lot has changed in ship technology in the last 11 years. Disney Dream will be state-of-the-art, with the longest water slide at sea. The first four-night cruise from Florida on Disney Dream is mostly sold out;&#160;a small number of verandah staterooms are available starting at $3,437.</p>
<p>But if you wait for the next cruise, sailing <a href="http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/customize?execution=e1s17&amp;_eventId_updateSearchResults=updateSearchResults&amp;packageId=20731777" type="external">Jan.30 Opens a New Window.</a>, you can get onboard for less than half&#160;that price --&#160;$1,597 for an ocean-view stateroom.</p>
<p>Other Port Canaveral Cruises</p>
<p>All the cruises mentioned above are three and four-day cruises, but there are also plenty of great seven-day cruises leaving from Port Canaveral.</p>
<p>Carnival’s largest and newest ship, the&#160;Carnival Dream (introduced in January&#160;2010), is 130,000-tons and &#160;carries 4,631 passengers. Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, which entered service in 2006, is 160,000-tons and carries 4,375 passengers. Freedom is one of three ships that together comprise the second-largest class of cruise ship in the world.</p>
<p>Both of these ships are extremely popular, state-of-the-art vessels. They both offer seven day cruises alternating between the Eastern Caribbean one week and the Western Caribbean the next.&#160;Disney Magic will also be offering seven-day cruises to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean in 2011.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/search/vacationSearchResult.do?promoType=&amp;cS=EXPVSCH&amp;cruiseTourOnly=false&amp;dest=ANY&amp;duration=ANY&amp;date=ANY&amp;port=PCN&amp;includeAdjascentPorts=Y&amp;ship=FR&amp;selectedCurrencyCode=USD&amp;price=ANY&amp;state=&amp;x=62&amp;y=3" type="external">Freedom of the Seas Opens a New Window.</a>offers cruises from four to 14 days. The seven-night Western Caribbean cruise starts at $499 and goes to Labadee, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel. Balcony cabins are already sold out for most of this winter. The Eastern Caribbean cruise goes to CocoCay, St. Thomas and St. Martin, starting at $599 with balconies&#160;from $899.</p>
<p>Royal Caribbean also has a single four-day “ <a href="http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itineraryAndPricing.do?packageCode=FR04S056" type="external">Labadee Extravaganza Opens a New Window.</a>” cruise on Freedom of the Seas sailing Nov. 10, 2010. Labadee is the line’s private beach on Haiti with a 2,600-foot zip line, one of the longest and fastest in the world. This cruise starts at $229 for an inside cabin, with balcony staterooms from $599.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.carnival.com/BookingEngine/SailingSearch/?dat=102010,112010,122010,012011,022011,032011,042011,052011&amp;embkCode=PCV&amp;dur=D2" type="external">Carnival Dream Opens a New Window.</a>sails to Cozumel, Belize, Isla Roatan and Costa Maya on the Western Caribbean itinerary. The Nov. 27 cruise starts at $509, with balcony staterooms from $679. The Eastern Caribbean cruise sails to Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Martin, with Nov. 6 cruises starting at $499 inside and $829 for balcony cabins.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Cruising 101 Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>As always – if you need to know more about cruising we urge you to consult our <a href="" type="internal">Cruising101 FAQ Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/cruisingglossary-031708.cfm" type="external">CruiseMates Cruise Glossary Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>I started writing about stock market investing for Motley Fool in 1995, but previously I worked aboard cruise ships. I co-founded CruiseMates.com, the first cruise travel guide on the Internet in New York City in 1999. CruiseMates, one the Web’s top cruise travel guides was acquired by Internet Brands (NASD: INET) in 2006. Once CEO, I am now the editor of CruiseMates – Paul Motter.</p> | true | 0 | port canaveral fla main seaport orlando home disney world one top vacation destinations country half160the cruisers sail port canaveral combine orlando vacation three fourday cruise continue reading port canaveral home port disney cruise line january 2011 one ships disney magic relocate los angeles replaced the160disney dream currently construction german shipyard 128000tons 4000 passenger berths disney dream first new disney ship almost 12 years short port canaveral cruise bargains many people want combine orlando vacation cruise stick disney land sea visiting disney world and160sailing on160disney cruise line expensive way go160you go disney world or160one orlando attractions universal studios seaworld take three fourday cruise another cruise line like royal caribbean carnival ncl all160these short cruises older ships built 1990s alternatives disney cruise line offer compelling bargains monarch seas opens new windowoffers threeday cruises low 209 per person fourday cruises 189 fourday cruises cheaper sail monday thursday requiring working people take time carnival sensation fourday halloween cruise opens new window sails oct 31 starts 209 balcony cabins160available from160399 book fast fills quickly cruise visits freeport bahamas spends two full days nassau advertisement starting next week160a new short cruise contender starts sailing port canaveral norwegian cruise line ncl operate norwegian sun opens new window port canaveral three sevenday cruises october april winter next least expensive cruises port threeday cruises starting 179 fourday cruises 199 sailing disney cruise lines disney world biggest attraction orlando people want vacation disney way cheapest threeday cruise disney ship 834 per person nov 4 sailing disney wonder opens new window 83000ton ship built 1999160the premium price reflects unique cruise experience160that disney provide includes exclusive disney stage shows character experiences meet mingle every disney character ever existed disney will160introduce disney dream port canaveral jan 26 2011 opens new window older disney ships impressive lot changed ship technology last 11 years disney dream stateoftheart longest water slide sea first fournight cruise florida disney dream mostly sold out160a small number verandah staterooms available starting 3437 wait next cruise sailing jan30 opens new window get onboard less half160that price 1601597 oceanview stateroom port canaveral cruises cruises mentioned three fourday cruises also plenty great sevenday cruises leaving port canaveral carnivals largest newest ship the160carnival dream introduced january1602010 130000tons 160carries 4631 passengers royal caribbeans freedom seas entered service 2006 160000tons carries 4375 passengers freedom one three ships together comprise secondlargest class cruise ship world ships extremely popular stateoftheart vessels offer seven day cruises alternating eastern caribbean one week western caribbean next160disney magic also offering sevenday cruises eastern western caribbean 2011 freedom seas opens new windowoffers cruises four 14 days sevennight western caribbean cruise starts 499 goes labadee jamaica grand cayman cozumel balcony cabins already sold winter eastern caribbean cruise goes cococay st thomas st martin starting 599 balconies160from 899 royal caribbean also single fourday labadee extravaganza opens new window cruise freedom seas sailing nov 10 2010 labadee lines private beach haiti 2600foot zip line one longest fastest world cruise starts 229 inside cabin balcony staterooms 599 carnival dream opens new windowsails cozumel belize isla roatan costa maya western caribbean itinerary nov 27 cruise starts 509 balcony staterooms 679 eastern caribbean cruise sails nassau st thomas st martin nov 6 cruises starting 499 inside 829 balcony cabins cruising 101 opens new window always need know cruising urge consult cruising101 faq opens new window cruisemates cruise glossary opens new window started writing stock market investing motley fool 1995 previously worked aboard cruise ships cofounded cruisematescom first cruise travel guide internet new york city 1999 cruisemates one webs top cruise travel guides acquired internet brands nasd inet 2006 ceo editor cruisemates paul motter | 594 |
<p />
<p>Trust issues can ruin any relationship, including the one you have with your bank. And when a financial institution makes too many mistakes, you may be left to clean up the mess.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Wells Fargo faces numerous accusations its employees have engaged in misconduct against customers. The long list includes: opening bogus bank and credit card accounts, charging borrowers for unnecessary auto insurance and modifying mortgages without approval.</p>
<p>Now, two federal regulators and the San Francisco Federal Reserve are reportedly looking at the bank’s guaranteed auto protection insurance program. Thousands of consumers who paid off loans in advance may not have received refunds they were owed.</p>
<p>Wells Fargo victims should do what they can to get financial relief. Account holders should check bank statements for unauthorized charges. Borrowers — particularly those with auto loans — should look closely at bills and any messages they’ve received from their lender.</p>
<p>Here are five things you can do now if you were caught up in the account scandals.</p>
<p>Keep your eyes open</p>
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<p>A $142 million settlement could be finalized in early 2018. The fund would compensate those who had checking or savings accounts, credit cards or lines of credit opened in their names (or applied for) without consent beginning in May 2002.</p>
<p>The number of potential victims is staggering.</p>
<p>In August, Wells Fargo said its third-party review of accounts opened between January 2009 and September 2016 identified as many as 3.5 million unauthorized accounts, or 66 percent more than it had initially estimated.</p>
<p>The review also found that 190,000 fake accounts incurred fees and charges, up from the 130,000 previously identified. Wells Fargo says it will issue&#160;$2.8 million in refunds to those additional customers on top of the $3.3 million already refunded.</p>
<p>Since the settlement covers all accounts opened without consent since May 2002, those recently uncovered bad accounts are eligible to receive compensation.</p>
<p>Members of a proposed class action lawsuit and other identified victims should look out for notices in the mail. All Wells Fargo customers should regularly check their emails and account statements. The bank will use those methods to communicate with certain people.</p>
<p>Details about the settlement fund are available online. Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center also recommends watching out for crooks hoping to take advantage of vulnerable bank customers.</p>
<p>“Look out for scammers, too, who might want to use the situation to ask about account information that they should never provide over the phone or by email to anybody,” she says.</p>
<p>Dispute credit errors</p>
<p>Requesting a free copy of your credit report is another good move. Look for black marks that shouldn’t exist. They can hurt your chances of qualifying for other loans and favorable interest rates.</p>
<p>The settlement awaiting the final nod of approval covers credit damages related to the creation of phony accounts. Wells Fargo has also agreed to deal with credit problems on behalf of borrowers wronged by its auto collateral insurance protection program.</p>
<p>If you’re in a rush, try disputing errors on your own with the three credit reporting bureaus. Just be prepared to provide documents supporting your claims.</p>
<p>“To the extent that consumers don’t think that their credit is getting repaired quickly enough, they should definitely reach out and demand that this relief happen,” says Adam J. Levitt, counsel for the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York.</p>
<p>His firm, DiCello Levitt &amp; Casey, filed a preliminary injunction motion asking the court to require Wells Fargo and its auto insurer to immediately take steps to fix credit issues.</p>
<p>Explore possible legal remedies</p>
<p>Auto loan customers dealing with a delinquency or vehicle repossession may struggle to initiate an online dispute with the credit bureaus, says Joe Ridout, consumer services manager for Consumer Action, a nonprofit advocating for consumers’ rights. You’ll probably need legal assistance.</p>
<p>Ridout suggests visiting the National Association of Consumer Advocates’ website. It lists consumer attorneys in every state.</p>
<p>Contacting your attorney general may help, too. That’s particularly wise if you didn’t receive the refund you deserved for prepaying your auto loan through Wells Fargo’s GAP insurance program. You’re only eligible for reimbursement, however, if you live in certain states.</p>
<p>You should also consider joining a class action lawsuit. Levitt — whose firm is representing individuals who’ve had issues with Wells Fargo’s auto CIP program — is seeking a nationwide class. You can sign up at wellsfargoinsurancelawsuit.com. Once it gathers more information, the firm intends to help borrowers affected by issues with the GAP insurance program as well.</p>
<p>Many customers have arbitration clauses in their contracts that ban class action lawsuits. But that shouldn’t stop you from teaming up with other victims.</p>
<p>“At the end of the day, some cases may go forward with class actions after a lot of bad publicity,” Saunders says. “So people should certainly try and if Wells Fargo tries to force arbitration on them, they should make a big stink.”</p>
<p>Get Congress and the CFPB involved</p>
<p>For more immediate relief, use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database.</p>
<p>“The CFPB essentially acts as a bit of a mediator,” says Amanda Werner, campaign manager at Americans for Financial Reform. “The banker or lender typically has about 15 days in which to respond and the CFPB can kind of push them to do things they might not otherwise do if you just call customer service.”</p>
<p>Reach out to your senator as well. Congress is considering an arbitration rule that would make it easier for consumers to challenge financial firms through class action lawsuits. So far, the House has voted to block it.</p>
<p>Consider switching banks</p>
<p>If you’ve been a loyal Wells Fargo customer for decades, maybe you’re ready for a fresh start.</p>
<p>Smaller banks and credit unions are less likely to force dissatisfied customers to use arbitration to resolve problems. Leaving your big bank may also lower the amount of fees you pay and give you higher yields on CDs and savings accounts.</p>
<p>“You’re probably better off just going to a credit union or a community bank in your area where it would be unusual for you to encounter the kinds of monthly maintenance fees that the giant banks commonly charge,” Ridout says. “And you probably would get a lot more from your savings.”</p> | true | 0 | trust issues ruin relationship including one bank financial institution makes many mistakes may left clean mess continue reading wells fargo faces numerous accusations employees engaged misconduct customers long list includes opening bogus bank credit card accounts charging borrowers unnecessary auto insurance modifying mortgages without approval two federal regulators san francisco federal reserve reportedly looking banks guaranteed auto protection insurance program thousands consumers paid loans advance may received refunds owed wells fargo victims get financial relief account holders check bank statements unauthorized charges borrowers particularly auto loans look closely bills messages theyve received lender five things caught account scandals keep eyes open advertisement 142 million settlement could finalized early 2018 fund would compensate checking savings accounts credit cards lines credit opened names applied without consent beginning may 2002 number potential victims staggering august wells fargo said thirdparty review accounts opened january 2009 september 2016 identified many 35 million unauthorized accounts 66 percent initially estimated review also found 190000 fake accounts incurred fees charges 130000 previously identified wells fargo says issue16028 million refunds additional customers top 33 million already refunded since settlement covers accounts opened without consent since may 2002 recently uncovered bad accounts eligible receive compensation members proposed class action lawsuit identified victims look notices mail wells fargo customers regularly check emails account statements bank use methods communicate certain people details settlement fund available online lauren saunders associate director national consumer law center also recommends watching crooks hoping take advantage vulnerable bank customers look scammers might want use situation ask account information never provide phone email anybody says dispute credit errors requesting free copy credit report another good move look black marks shouldnt exist hurt chances qualifying loans favorable interest rates settlement awaiting final nod approval covers credit damages related creation phony accounts wells fargo also agreed deal credit problems behalf borrowers wronged auto collateral insurance protection program youre rush try disputing errors three credit reporting bureaus prepared provide documents supporting claims extent consumers dont think credit getting repaired quickly enough definitely reach demand relief happen says adam j levitt counsel plaintiffs class action lawsuit filed southern district new york firm dicello levitt amp casey filed preliminary injunction motion asking court require wells fargo auto insurer immediately take steps fix credit issues explore possible legal remedies auto loan customers dealing delinquency vehicle repossession may struggle initiate online dispute credit bureaus says joe ridout consumer services manager consumer action nonprofit advocating consumers rights youll probably need legal assistance ridout suggests visiting national association consumer advocates website lists consumer attorneys every state contacting attorney general may help thats particularly wise didnt receive refund deserved prepaying auto loan wells fargos gap insurance program youre eligible reimbursement however live certain states also consider joining class action lawsuit levitt whose firm representing individuals whove issues wells fargos auto cip program seeking nationwide class sign wellsfargoinsurancelawsuitcom gathers information firm intends help borrowers affected issues gap insurance program well many customers arbitration clauses contracts ban class action lawsuits shouldnt stop teaming victims end day cases may go forward class actions lot bad publicity saunders says people certainly try wells fargo tries force arbitration make big stink get congress cfpb involved immediate relief use consumer financial protection bureaus complaint database cfpb essentially acts bit mediator says amanda werner campaign manager americans financial reform banker lender typically 15 days respond cfpb kind push things might otherwise call customer service reach senator well congress considering arbitration rule would make easier consumers challenge financial firms class action lawsuits far house voted block consider switching banks youve loyal wells fargo customer decades maybe youre ready fresh start smaller banks credit unions less likely force dissatisfied customers use arbitration resolve problems leaving big bank may also lower amount fees pay give higher yields cds savings accounts youre probably better going credit union community bank area would unusual encounter kinds monthly maintenance fees giant banks commonly charge ridout says probably would get lot savings | 649 |
<p>Though its stock price is up 11% year to date, Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW) is lagging well behind most of its peers, including FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE) and Check Point Software (NASDAQ: CHKP), to name but a couple.</p>
<p>At first glance, Palo Alto's relatively meek performance may seem odd given it's growing the top line considerably faster than FireEye, Check Point, and others. But Palo Alto's <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/11/11/2-wildly-overvalued-tech-stocks.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=1bcd7c96-ca1e-11e7-bbca-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">muted stock price growth Opens a New Window.</a> is warranted.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>When Palo Alto announces its fiscal 2018 first-quarter results Nov. 20, investors will likely note the same two reasons why its troubles will continue. And therein lies the problem for CEO Mark McLaughlin and team.</p>
<p>Palo Alto had been the darling of its peer group for years following multiple quarters of 50%-plus total revenue growth. In fact, Palo Alto's top line had been so impressive for so long, investors had no problem ignoring its ongoing lack of profits.</p>
<p>The argument for the Street's love affair is that Palo Alto is in all-out growth mode, and that requires spending. However, there are two problems with that argument that are manifesting themselves more and more each passing quarter. The first concern is that McLaughlin vowed to pare expenses, particularly sales and marketing costs, but it simply isn't happening.</p>
<p>Last quarter's revenue of $509.1 million was a record and a28% jump year over year. So why, after a spike in share price following Palo Alto's earnings news has its stock retreated? Because McLaughlin not only hasn't cut overhead, it continues to soar.</p>
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<p>Total operating expenses in Palo Alto's fiscal fourth quarter rose 27% compared to $397.9 million&#160; -- and it gets worse. McLaughlin's focus on sales and marketing costs is still blurry. Palo Alto spent a mind-boggling $245.4 million on sales expenses, up 19% from a year ago and equal to nearly half its total revenue.</p>
<p>For some perspective, new-ish FireEye CEO Kevin Mandia made much the same promise as McLaughlin when he took&#160;over in June 2016. Last quarter, FireEye shaved another 20% off its operating expenses, including 20% in sales overhead. FireEye's cost-cutting initiative has been on display every quarter since Mandia became CEO -- in other words, a promise kept.</p>
<p>Check Point offers another example of <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/23/3-top-stocks-for-risk-averse-investors.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=1bcd7c96-ca1e-11e7-bbca-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">sound expense management Opens a New Window.</a>. Last quarter's $106 million in sales-related spending was essentially flat year over year and equaled a mere 23% of its $454.6 million in revenue. A year ago, Check Point spent 24% of total revenue on its sales efforts. FireEye and Check Point have proven it can be done, but McLaughlin can't seem to manage it.</p>
<p>The second problem for Palo Alto is that sky-high revenue gains are a thing of the past. Even as its growth rate slows, Palo Alto continues to adhere to its open checkbook policy. Though Palo Alto's 27% jump in revenue sounds great, it wasn't enough to overcome the rise in operating expenses. The end result was last quarter's loss of $0.42 a share, 20% worse than a year ago.</p>
<p>Based on McLaughlin's midrange revenue guidance for the first quarter of $487 million, Palo Alto's growth rate will slow to 22.5%. Sure, McLaughlin is likely underselling Palo Alto's actual revenue for a quarterly "beat," the usual CEO-speak. But the declines in growth rate are an ongoing theme, as are Palo Alto's mounting losses. Worse still, investors can expect more of the same in the quarters ahead.</p>
<p>Check Point is an ideal example of an efficiently run organization with its priorities&#160;in order. The aforementioned $454.6 million in revenue Check Point reported was "just" a 6% bump year over year. However, Check Point's earnings per share (EPS) skyrocketed 18% to $1.16 a share. Call me old-fashioned, but I like consistently rising profits.</p>
<p>It's been over&#160;six years since McLaughlin joined Palo Alto as CEO, and it remains far from profitable. The culprit is obvious and has been for years, but nothing's changed. Essentially "buying" revenue by overspending on sales and marketing needs to end if Palo Alto shareholders want to see even the slightest of profits. And that's clearly not going to happen with McLaughlin in charge.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Palo Alto NetworksWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
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<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=c39c97d1-3afa-4631-8d84-7fb248e3d758&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=1bcd7c96-ca1e-11e7-bbca-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/timbrugger/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=1bcd7c96-ca1e-11e7-bbca-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Tim Brugger Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Check Point Software Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends FireEye and Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=1bcd7c96-ca1e-11e7-bbca-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | though stock price 11 year date palo alto networks nyse panw lagging well behind peers including fireeye nasdaq feye check point software nasdaq chkp name couple first glance palo altos relatively meek performance may seem odd given growing top line considerably faster fireeye check point others palo altos muted stock price growth opens new window warranted continue reading palo alto announces fiscal 2018 firstquarter results nov 20 investors likely note two reasons troubles continue therein lies problem ceo mark mclaughlin team palo alto darling peer group years following multiple quarters 50plus total revenue growth fact palo altos top line impressive long investors problem ignoring ongoing lack profits argument streets love affair palo alto allout growth mode requires spending however two problems argument manifesting passing quarter first concern mclaughlin vowed pare expenses particularly sales marketing costs simply isnt happening last quarters revenue 5091 million record a28 jump year year spike share price following palo altos earnings news stock retreated mclaughlin hasnt cut overhead continues soar advertisement total operating expenses palo altos fiscal fourth quarter rose 27 compared 3979 million160 gets worse mclaughlins focus sales marketing costs still blurry palo alto spent mindboggling 2454 million sales expenses 19 year ago equal nearly half total revenue perspective newish fireeye ceo kevin mandia made much promise mclaughlin took160over june 2016 last quarter fireeye shaved another 20 operating expenses including 20 sales overhead fireeyes costcutting initiative display every quarter since mandia became ceo words promise kept check point offers another example sound expense management opens new window last quarters 106 million salesrelated spending essentially flat year year equaled mere 23 4546 million revenue year ago check point spent 24 total revenue sales efforts fireeye check point proven done mclaughlin cant seem manage second problem palo alto skyhigh revenue gains thing past even growth rate slows palo alto continues adhere open checkbook policy though palo altos 27 jump revenue sounds great wasnt enough overcome rise operating expenses end result last quarters loss 042 share 20 worse year ago based mclaughlins midrange revenue guidance first quarter 487 million palo altos growth rate slow 225 sure mclaughlin likely underselling palo altos actual revenue quarterly beat usual ceospeak declines growth rate ongoing theme palo altos mounting losses worse still investors expect quarters ahead check point ideal example efficiently run organization priorities160in order aforementioned 4546 million revenue check point reported 6 bump year year however check points earnings per share eps skyrocketed 18 116 share call oldfashioned like consistently rising profits over160six years since mclaughlin joined palo alto ceo remains far profitable culprit obvious years nothings changed essentially buying revenue overspending sales marketing needs end palo alto shareholders want see even slightest profits thats clearly going happen mclaughlin charge 10 stocks like better palo alto networkswhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right palo alto networks wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 6 2017 tim brugger opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends check point software technologies motley fool recommends fireeye palo alto networks motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 543 |
<p>After his triumph in Iowa, Ted Cruz delivered an beautifully eloquent speech resonating with love for America. To comment on it would be superfluous; it is, simply put, a wonderfully articulate and moving response to the ills that have plagued the nation during the long night of Barack Obama's tenure as well as a stinging rebuke to the last 100 years of the left attempting to remold the country and shatter the American ideal.</p>
<p>Here's the complete transcript:</p>
<p>God bless the great state of Iowa. Let me first of all say, to God be the glory. Tonight is a victory for the grassroots. Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa, and all across this great nation. Tonight the state of Iowa has spoken. Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media. Will not be chosen by the Washington establishment. Will not be chosen by the lobbyists. But will be chosen by the most incredible powerful force, where all sovereignty resides in our nation, by we the people: the American people.</p>
<p>Tonight, thanks to the incredible hard work of everyone gathered here, of courageous conservatives across the state, we together earned the votes of 48,608 Iowans. To put in perspective, your incredible victory that you have won tonight, that is the most votes ever cast for any Republican primary winner.</p>
<p>Tonight is a victory for millions of Americans, who have shouldered the burden of seven years of Washington deals run amok. Tonight is a victory for every American who's watched in dismay as career politicians in Washington in both parties refuse to listen and too often fail to keep their commitments to the people. Tonight is a victory for every American who understands that after we survive eight long years of the Obama presidency, that no one personality can right the wrongs done by Washington. The millions who understand that it is a commitment to the Constitution to our shared insistence that we rise and return to a higher standard, the very standard that gave birth to the greatest nation that the world has ever known. To the revolutionary understanding that all men and all women are created equal. That our rights do not come from the Democratic party or the Republican party or even from the Tea Party. Our rights come from our Creator.</p>
<p>And the federal government's role, the federal government's responsibility, is to defend those fundamental rights, to defend us. And while Americans will continue to suffer under a president who has set an agenda that is causing millions to hurt across this country I want to remind you of the promise of Scripture. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”</p>
<p>Tonight, Iowa has proclaimed to the world, morning is coming. Morning is coming. From day one this campaign has been a movement. For millions of Americans across this country to organize, to rally, to come together. Whatever Washington says, they cannot keep the people down. And tonight is a testament to the people's commitments to their yearnings to get back to our core commitments: free market principles, Constitutional liberties, and the Judeo-Christian values that built this great nation.</p>
<p>When the Washington lobbyists settled on other candidates in this race, when the media in one voice said a conservative cannot win, nationwide over 800,000 contributions poured in to tedcruz.org as courageous conservatives said, “Yes, we can.” 800,000 contributions at tedcruz.org with an average contribution of $67. That is the power of the grassroots.</p>
<p>But it's more than that. It's 12,000 volunteers here in the state of Iowa. It's over 200,000 volunteers all across this great nation.</p>
<p>You know, during the course of this campaign people have asked Heidi and me, “Are you tired?” And I will admit it is 16, 18 hours a day, 6, 7 days a week. We are not tired at all.</p>
<p>To the contrary, we are inspired by each and every one of you. I leap out of bed every morning amazed that at a time when our country is in crisis, every one of us has the opportunity to stand and lead, that we have been put in a place of leadership for such a time as this.</p>
<p>I'm inspired by the stories of heroism that I see every day, working men, like Jerry Dunleavy from Columbus, Ohio, who requested an entire month off his job to come to Iowa to live at Camp Cruz and to volunteer full time. When his employer refused to give him the time off, Jerry quit his job and came anyway.</p>
<p>(Responding to someone yelling, “I love you, Ted!) And I love the great state of Iowa!</p>
<p>I'm inspired by people like Elliott Gazer and Josh Hammer, students at the University of Chicago who spent their winter break at Camp Cruz. But they didn’t stop there; they came back this weekend they hit the phones and they hit the pavement, campaigning so that students across this country, upon graduation, rather than having mountains of debt will instead have 2, 3, 4, 5 high-paying job offers and a chance at the American dream.</p>
<p>I'm inspired by people like Alexandra Ziegler, a 13-year-old girl from Lubbock, Texas, who, yesterday, at our campaign headquarters made 823 volunteer calls.</p>
<p>That has always been the strength of this campaign. Are the men and women gathered here and courageous conservatives standing up and speaking out and lifting us up in prayer, lifting this country up in prayer each and every day. And let me say our leadership team, our Iowa state chairman, Matt Schultz, what an extraordinary job you have done organizing a grass roots army. And let me say to our Iowa state director, Brian English, what an amazing job Brian has done.</p>
<p>And to our national co-chairmen, Bob Vander Plaats and Steve King, these men have become dear and trusted friends. They are warriors. They are men of principle. They stand and speak the truth. They stand to defend their values and let me tell you, these leaders, day after day, week after week, have been crawling under broken glass with knives between their teeth. I'm grateful for the support, the early support of my friend, Steve Deace.</p>
<p>We're grateful for the over 150 pastors across the state of Iowa who joined our team to energize people of faith. We're grateful to the state senators, to the state representatives, to the volunteer leaders in each of the 99 counties who stood up and said, We will be heard and this will be decided by the grass roots.”</p>
<p>And then, I am so grateful to national leaders, people like Dr. James Dobson. And Tony Perkins. And Phil Robertson. And Governor Rick Perry. And Glenn Beck. Leaders who have stood and led, bringing together and coalescing conservatives here in Iowa and across the country.</p>
<p>Do you want to know what scares the Washington cartel?</p>
<p>(Audience : “You!”)</p>
<p>Actually, not remotely. I don't scare them in the tiniest bit. What scares them is you. What scares them is that old Reagan coalition is coming back together, of conservatives. We're seeing conservatives and evangelicals and libertarian and Reagan Democrats all coming together as one and that terrifies Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>And so to the people of Iowa, Heidi and I say thank you for your incredible hospitality, for your love, thank you for welcoming us into your homes, into your living rooms. Thank you for welcoming my father to preach from the pulpits of your churches. And let me say to my parents, Mom, thank you. For the incredible, unconditional love that you have given me every day of my life, the knowledge that whatever I might do, whatever I might say that my mother loves me.</p>
<p>To my cousin, Bebe, who is like a sister to me, we grew up together, I love you, Beebs.</p>
<p>And to my Dad, a man who came from Cuba at age 18 with nothing. With $100 in his underwear. He doesn't carry money in his underwear anymore. A man who was imprisoned, who was tortured, who washed dishes making $0.50 an hour, who has lived the American dream; and a man who is today a pastor, traveling the country preaching the gospel.</p>
<p>My Dad is 76 years old and yet he’s got the energy of a teenager and Dad you have been my hero my whole life. I love you, Dad.</p>
<p>When the sun rises tomorrow, this campaign will take the next step. We will continue to campaign the same way: sitting down, person to person, leader to leader, VFW halls, Dunkin Donuts, returning to the great state of New Hampshire. And let me speak for a minute to the men and women of the state of New Hampshire. 36 years ago, you welcomed to the Granite State a candidate running for president who was also deeply disliked by the Washington establishment and the Washington cartel. A candidate who had been dismissed outright by the media. Some polls had him 15 to 20 points behind. But you refused to let the establishment and media do your thinking for you. You refused to let them tell you how to vote. You wanted a candidate who didn't adopt his positions because of the latest opinion polls, but instead because of a deep and underlying conservative philosophy that grounded him so that he knew exactly what he believed, exactly what the principles were that built this great nation.</p>
<p>And so tonight I want to say to the people of New Hampshire, thank you for what you did 36 years ago. Thank you for giving America, and the world, and yes, history itself, our 40th president of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan. And I ask the people of New Hampshire, and the people of South Carolina, and the people of Nevada, and the people of the super Tuesday states on March 1: to each of you, do not listen to our words. Do not listen to the rhetoric from campaigns, but rather, hold each and every one of us accountable, hold me accountable and every other candidate accountable to be a consistent conservative.</p>
<p>If you want a candidate to repeal Obamacare, then support a candidate who has led the fight to repeal Obamacare. If you want a president to stop amnesty, to secure the borders and keep us safe, then support a candidate who has led the fight to stop amnesty to secure the borders and to keep us safe. If you want a candidate to support life and marriage and religious liberty, then support a candidate who spent decades of his life fighting to defend life and marriage and religious liberty. If you want a candidate to defend the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, then ask of every candidate, “Where were you in the spring of 2013 when Barack Obama and Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer tried to undermine the second amendment right to keep and bear arms?”</p>
<p>If you want a candidate who will stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel, then support a candidate who has led the fight over and over again to stand by our friend and ally, the nation of Israel.</p>
<p>And if you want a commander in chief who will fulfill the most solemn obligation of the president to keep this nation safe, then support a candidate who has demonstrated the commitment, the judgment, the experience, the clarity of vision, to identify our enemy, to call it by its name, radical Islamic terrorism, and to utterly and completely defeat ISIS. If I am elected president, every militant on the face of the planet will know, if you go and join ISIS, if you wage jihad on the United States of America, if you attempt to murder innocent Americans you are signing your death warrant.</p>
<p>And I'll tell you this. If the other states across the country follow the lead of the good men and women of Iowa, and support this campaign, then I tell you this: This July, in Cleveland, you will hear these words spoken from the podium of the unified Republican convention:</p>
<p>Tonight, I want to say to every member of the Democratic party, who believes in limited government, in personal opportunity and the United States Constitution, and a safe and secure America: come home. To the Reagan Democrats, your party has left you, and the Republican Party wants you, we welcome you back. Because together, this year, Republicans and the Reagan Democrats can send an unmistakable message, the message of a Reagan-like landslide that once and for all will drive the liberal elites and the Washington cartel into the Potomac and out to sea, never to be seen again. Together, we can bring out a new era of economic growth, of military strength, of international security and the future of hope that our children deserve. If we commit to do more than hope, if we aspire to govern by a higher standard, a standard that transcends political party and race and gender and income, and to everyone that is tired of a president that divides us daily on racial lines, on ethnic lines, on religious lines, on gender lines, on socioeconomic lines, we will have a president that once again seeks to bring us together and unite us on our shared values of who we are as Americans.</p>
<p>The most solemn responsibility of the president is to keep this country safe. And we will stop the weakness and appeasement; we will stop making excuses for global bullies and terrorists and rather, simply do what it takes to defeat them. I give you my solemn promise. We will finally, finally, finally secure the borders and end sanctuary cities.</p>
<p>And I want to speak for a moment to the soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines, I want to speak to the moms and dads who have a child serving overseas; I want to speak to the husbands and wives who wake up at night wondering if their loved one is still alive; I want to speak to the little kids who have been waiting months upon months to get a hug from daddy, a kiss from mommy; to all of our fighting men and women who have been sent into combat with their arms tied behind their back with rules of engagement that are wrong, that are immoral; that will end on January 2017. You will have a commander in chief who finally has your back.</p>
<p>And to the police officers, and the firemen, and the first responders, the heroes who rushed into burning buildings instead of out of burning buildings, the last seven years of having a president, having an attorney general that demonizes you, that vilifies you, that sides with the criminals and looters instead of the brave men and women of law enforcement, that will end on January 20, 2017.</p>
<p>So tonight, the state of Iowa, the Democrats here seem to be in a virtual tie, between one candidate, who admits he's a socialist, and the other candidate who pretends she's not. I wish them both luck. But I will tell you this, as Margaret Thatcher observed, the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples' money.</p>
<p>And let me tell you tonight, I cannot wait to stand on that debate stage with Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>We will win by speaking the truth with a smile. The truth is the American people are fed up with Washington, with a corrupt class that enriches itself and leaves behind the working men and women of this country. The truth is the American people are fed up with a federal government that views the Bill of Rights and the Constitution as a rough draft, as an inconvenience, as something to be set aside, and we are ready to get back to the vision of the framers, of protecting the unalienable rights given to each of us by our Creator.</p>
<p>You know, the reason all of you are here is the same reason I am here; the same reason Heidi and I have spent every waking moment for the last year: We love our kids, our girls, Caroline and Catherine, at age seven and age five.</p>
<p>Every one of us here, when we go to bed at night, we think, “What kind of world are we leaving our kids? Are we giving our children a brighter future? Are we giving our children what our parents gave us? A country with greater freedom, greater opportunity, more promise, more hope?”</p>
<p>You want to know why I’m getting on a plane in about an hour and flying all night to New Hampshire to knock on doors and sit down and visit with people and ask for their support?</p>
<p>The reason is simple: Because when I look my girls in the eyes, ten, twenty years from now, I am not going to tell them, “We could have stood up and saved this country, but we didn’t do everything we could.” Instead, I’m going to tell them: “Millions of Americans saw that America was in jeopardy and we rose up together and said, ‘We are going to preserve this nation for our children and grandchildren.’”</p>
<p>To those who supported other candidates in this race, the Republican Party is so blessed to have a bounty of talented young dynamic candidates, people who are friends, people who I like and respect. To those who supported other candidates, I will tell you, each of them, we welcome you as part of our team. Because if we stand together as one, if the American people stand together and say, “We want our country back,” there is no force in Washington that can stand against the American people, that can stand against the grassroots, that can stand against our unity. We are going to do this together, as a movement from the people. And I tell you tonight, Iowa has made clear to America and the world, morning is coming.</p>
<p>Morning is coming.</p>
<p>Thank you and God bless you.</p>
<p>Video below:</p> | true | 0 | triumph iowa ted cruz delivered beautifully eloquent speech resonating love america comment would superfluous simply put wonderfully articulate moving response ills plagued nation long night barack obamas tenure well stinging rebuke last 100 years left attempting remold country shatter american ideal heres complete transcript god bless great state iowa let first say god glory tonight victory grassroots tonight victory courageous conservatives across iowa across great nation tonight state iowa spoken iowa sent notice republican nominee next president united states chosen media chosen washington establishment chosen lobbyists chosen incredible powerful force sovereignty resides nation people american people tonight thanks incredible hard work everyone gathered courageous conservatives across state together earned votes 48608 iowans put perspective incredible victory tonight votes ever cast republican primary winner tonight victory millions americans shouldered burden seven years washington deals run amok tonight victory every american whos watched dismay career politicians washington parties refuse listen often fail keep commitments people tonight victory every american understands survive eight long years obama presidency one personality right wrongs done washington millions understand commitment constitution shared insistence rise return higher standard standard gave birth greatest nation world ever known revolutionary understanding men women created equal rights come democratic party republican party even tea party rights come creator federal governments role federal governments responsibility defend fundamental rights defend us americans continue suffer president set agenda causing millions hurt across country want remind promise scripture weeping may endure night joy cometh morning tonight iowa proclaimed world morning coming morning coming day one campaign movement millions americans across country organize rally come together whatever washington says keep people tonight testament peoples commitments yearnings get back core commitments free market principles constitutional liberties judeochristian values built great nation washington lobbyists settled candidates race media one voice said conservative win nationwide 800000 contributions poured tedcruzorg courageous conservatives said yes 800000 contributions tedcruzorg average contribution 67 power grassroots 12000 volunteers state iowa 200000 volunteers across great nation know course campaign people asked heidi tired admit 16 18 hours day 6 7 days week tired contrary inspired every one leap bed every morning amazed time country crisis every one us opportunity stand lead put place leadership time im inspired stories heroism see every day working men like jerry dunleavy columbus ohio requested entire month job come iowa live camp cruz volunteer full time employer refused give time jerry quit job came anyway responding someone yelling love ted love great state iowa im inspired people like elliott gazer josh hammer students university chicago spent winter break camp cruz didnt stop came back weekend hit phones hit pavement campaigning students across country upon graduation rather mountains debt instead 2 3 4 5 highpaying job offers chance american dream im inspired people like alexandra ziegler 13yearold girl lubbock texas yesterday campaign headquarters made 823 volunteer calls always strength campaign men women gathered courageous conservatives standing speaking lifting us prayer lifting country prayer every day let say leadership team iowa state chairman matt schultz extraordinary job done organizing grass roots army let say iowa state director brian english amazing job brian done national cochairmen bob vander plaats steve king men become dear trusted friends warriors men principle stand speak truth stand defend values let tell leaders day day week week crawling broken glass knives teeth im grateful support early support friend steve deace grateful 150 pastors across state iowa joined team energize people faith grateful state senators state representatives volunteer leaders 99 counties stood said heard decided grass roots grateful national leaders people like dr james dobson tony perkins phil robertson governor rick perry glenn beck leaders stood led bringing together coalescing conservatives iowa across country want know scares washington cartel audience actually remotely dont scare tiniest bit scares scares old reagan coalition coming back together conservatives seeing conservatives evangelicals libertarian reagan democrats coming together one terrifies washington dc people iowa heidi say thank incredible hospitality love thank welcoming us homes living rooms thank welcoming father preach pulpits churches let say parents mom thank incredible unconditional love given every day life knowledge whatever might whatever might say mother loves cousin bebe like sister grew together love beebs dad man came cuba age 18 nothing 100 underwear doesnt carry money underwear anymore man imprisoned tortured washed dishes making 050 hour lived american dream man today pastor traveling country preaching gospel dad 76 years old yet hes got energy teenager dad hero whole life love dad sun rises tomorrow campaign take next step continue campaign way sitting person person leader leader vfw halls dunkin donuts returning great state new hampshire let speak minute men women state new hampshire 36 years ago welcomed granite state candidate running president also deeply disliked washington establishment washington cartel candidate dismissed outright media polls 15 20 points behind refused let establishment media thinking refused let tell vote wanted candidate didnt adopt positions latest opinion polls instead deep underlying conservative philosophy grounded knew exactly believed exactly principles built great nation tonight want say people new hampshire thank 36 years ago thank giving america world yes history 40th president united states ronald wilson reagan ask people new hampshire people south carolina people nevada people super tuesday states march 1 listen words listen rhetoric campaigns rather hold every one us accountable hold accountable every candidate accountable consistent conservative want candidate repeal obamacare support candidate led fight repeal obamacare want president stop amnesty secure borders keep us safe support candidate led fight stop amnesty secure borders keep us safe want candidate support life marriage religious liberty support candidate spent decades life fighting defend life marriage religious liberty want candidate defend second amendment right keep bear arms ask every candidate spring 2013 barack obama harry reid chuck schumer tried undermine second amendment right keep bear arms want candidate stand unapologetically nation israel support candidate led fight stand friend ally nation israel want commander chief fulfill solemn obligation president keep nation safe support candidate demonstrated commitment judgment experience clarity vision identify enemy call name radical islamic terrorism utterly completely defeat isis elected president every militant face planet know go join isis wage jihad united states america attempt murder innocent americans signing death warrant ill tell states across country follow lead good men women iowa support campaign tell july cleveland hear words spoken podium unified republican convention tonight want say every member democratic party believes limited government personal opportunity united states constitution safe secure america come home reagan democrats party left republican party wants welcome back together year republicans reagan democrats send unmistakable message message reaganlike landslide drive liberal elites washington cartel potomac sea never seen together bring new era economic growth military strength international security future hope children deserve commit hope aspire govern higher standard standard transcends political party race gender income everyone tired president divides us daily racial lines ethnic lines religious lines gender lines socioeconomic lines president seeks bring us together unite us shared values americans solemn responsibility president keep country safe stop weakness appeasement stop making excuses global bullies terrorists rather simply takes defeat give solemn promise finally finally finally secure borders end sanctuary cities want speak moment soldiers sailors airmen marines want speak moms dads child serving overseas want speak husbands wives wake night wondering loved one still alive want speak little kids waiting months upon months get hug daddy kiss mommy fighting men women sent combat arms tied behind back rules engagement wrong immoral end january 2017 commander chief finally back police officers firemen first responders heroes rushed burning buildings instead burning buildings last seven years president attorney general demonizes vilifies sides criminals looters instead brave men women law enforcement end january 20 2017 tonight state iowa democrats seem virtual tie one candidate admits hes socialist candidate pretends shes wish luck tell margaret thatcher observed problem socialism eventually run peoples money let tell tonight wait stand debate stage hillary clinton win speaking truth smile truth american people fed washington corrupt class enriches leaves behind working men women country truth american people fed federal government views bill rights constitution rough draft inconvenience something set aside ready get back vision framers protecting unalienable rights given us creator know reason reason reason heidi spent every waking moment last year love kids girls caroline catherine age seven age five every one us go bed night think kind world leaving kids giving children brighter future giving children parents gave us country greater freedom greater opportunity promise hope want know im getting plane hour flying night new hampshire knock doors sit visit people ask support reason simple look girls eyes ten twenty years going tell could stood saved country didnt everything could instead im going tell millions americans saw america jeopardy rose together said going preserve nation children grandchildren supported candidates race republican party blessed bounty talented young dynamic candidates people friends people like respect supported candidates tell welcome part team stand together one american people stand together say want country back force washington stand american people stand grassroots stand unity going together movement people tell tonight iowa made clear america world morning coming morning coming thank god bless video | 1,504 |
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<p>Despite setting a company record for salesin the first quarter of 2016,Skechers' stock has traded sideways.During the first three months of the year,the companysold $979 million worth of shoes and apparel, a 27.4% increaseover last year.So what is keeping its share price repressed? Should investors be worried? Or are shares of the shoe company a buy?</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/SKX" type="external">SKX</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Athletic apparel is all the rave these days, and Skechers has benefited from the fashion trend toward activewear. Skechers' total sales have more than doubled over the last five years.</p>
<p>Despite the favorable consumer interest, the company still plays second fiddle to American shoe juggernaut Nike . Over the last 12 months, Nike has outsold Skechers by a factor of 10 and totes a business valuation 20 times greater than Skechers'.</p>
<p>But even while operating in the shadow of the world's largest shoemaker, Skechers has done well, growing much more quickly than its rival. Over the last two years, Skechers' sales have increased by an average of 30%, compared to Nike's 10%. Yet, the return on Skechers' stock has trailed Nike's over the last year by 25%. This makes me think that the underdog shoe company may be a buy.</p>
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<p>With the company posting strong numbers and providing robust forward sales guidance, analyst expectations have gotten ahead of reality. Profits came in under Wall Street forecasts the last two quarters of 2015, and beating the profit expectation earlier this year wasn't enough to counteract the recent past.</p>
<p>But all of this is past performance. What is Skechers doing now to keep business going up? Can the momentum in business growth help propel stock prices higher once again?</p>
<p>Image source: Skechers.</p>
<p>For decades, Nike has driven sales using professional athlete sponsorships. In the '90s it was Michael Jordan. A decade ago it was Kobe Bryant. More recently the company has been pushing sales with deals with LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Under Armourhas replicated that success when it penned an agreement with Stephen Curry. Skechers has also relied on sponsors, but with a different spin.</p>
<p>Where the big athletic-apparel companies have gone after household-name athletes, Skechers has gone after a more eccentric list of celebrities. It's signed athletes like long-distance runner Meb Keflezighi and pro golfer Matt Kuchar, as well as pop music stars Meghan Trainor and Demi Lovato. Skechers has also been quick to snatch up athletes and celebrities that other apparel makers might see as past their prime. Back in the spring, retired NFL star and commentator Howie Long signed on with a sponsorship, and former boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and Beatles drummer Ringo Starr have deals with Skechers, too.</p>
<p>The strategy highlights the small shoe company's marketing ploy. Rather than compete in a highly competitive marketplace, such as basketball shoes, Skechers opts to find niches that are overlooked, underserved, or even sometimes odd. In 2014 the company even sponsored race horse California Chrome's run at the Triple Crown. As bizarre as some of the campaigns may seem, the growth in Skechers' brand and sales indicate they're working.</p>
<p>A divergence between Skechers' fundamental performance its and share price has developed. With the company continuing to expand sales both in the U.S. and abroad through its quirky advertising, the now close to nine-month underperformance in the stock has, I believe, created a buying opportunity.</p>
<p>Company management expects to continue to set sales records through the rest of 2016, driven by international store openings. By year-end, total store count is expected to grow from the current 1,414 number to over 1,600. International sales grew by about 20% last quarter, so Skechers is working with its international partners to expand store count abroad and capitalize on the trend.</p>
<p>If that's not enough reason to buy the stock, it's also worth noting the company's price/earnings to growth (PEG) ratio. The PEG ratio measures the stock's value relative to future growth expectations, and a PEG of less than 1.0 might indicate a stock is undervalued. Skechers' PEG currently sits at 0.71, suggesting that the future growth of the company is currently at a good value. I think investors have been overlooking the shoe company, but if business keeps up its pace, that will not last forever.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/17/why-is-skechers-stock-stuck-in-a-rut.aspx" type="external">Why Is Skechers' Stock Stuck In a Rut? Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/nrossolillo/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Nicholas Rossolillo Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Nike, Skechers, and Under Armour (A Shares). Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | despite setting company record salesin first quarter 2016skechers stock traded sidewaysduring first three months yearthe companysold 979 million worth shoes apparel 274 increaseover last yearso keeping share price repressed investors worried shares shoe company buy continue reading skx data ycharts opens new window athletic apparel rave days skechers benefited fashion trend toward activewear skechers total sales doubled last five years despite favorable consumer interest company still plays second fiddle american shoe juggernaut nike last 12 months nike outsold skechers factor 10 totes business valuation 20 times greater skechers even operating shadow worlds largest shoemaker skechers done well growing much quickly rival last two years skechers sales increased average 30 compared nikes 10 yet return skechers stock trailed nikes last year 25 makes think underdog shoe company may buy advertisement company posting strong numbers providing robust forward sales guidance analyst expectations gotten ahead reality profits came wall street forecasts last two quarters 2015 beating profit expectation earlier year wasnt enough counteract recent past past performance skechers keep business going momentum business growth help propel stock prices higher image source skechers decades nike driven sales using professional athlete sponsorships 90s michael jordan decade ago kobe bryant recently company pushing sales deals lebron james kevin durant armourhas replicated success penned agreement stephen curry skechers also relied sponsors different spin big athleticapparel companies gone householdname athletes skechers gone eccentric list celebrities signed athletes like longdistance runner meb keflezighi pro golfer matt kuchar well pop music stars meghan trainor demi lovato skechers also quick snatch athletes celebrities apparel makers might see past prime back spring retired nfl star commentator howie long signed sponsorship former boxer sugar ray leonard beatles drummer ringo starr deals skechers strategy highlights small shoe companys marketing ploy rather compete highly competitive marketplace basketball shoes skechers opts find niches overlooked underserved even sometimes odd 2014 company even sponsored race horse california chromes run triple crown bizarre campaigns may seem growth skechers brand sales indicate theyre working divergence skechers fundamental performance share price developed company continuing expand sales us abroad quirky advertising close ninemonth underperformance stock believe created buying opportunity company management expects continue set sales records rest 2016 driven international store openings yearend total store count expected grow current 1414 number 1600 international sales grew 20 last quarter skechers working international partners expand store count abroad capitalize trend thats enough reason buy stock also worth noting companys priceearnings growth peg ratio peg ratio measures stocks value relative future growth expectations peg less 10 might indicate stock undervalued skechers peg currently sits 071 suggesting future growth company currently good value think investors overlooking shoe company business keeps pace last forever article skechers stock stuck rut opens new window originally appeared foolcom nicholas rossolillo opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends nike skechers armour shares try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 513 |
<p>Editor’s Note: Just like the Pulse nightclub massacre, the San&#160;Bernardino attack and the 2009 Ft. Hood shooting, the mainstream media is doing everything it can to cover up the connection between Islamic terrorism and major&#160;massacres on US soil. Establishment reporters are even claiming it’s “fake news” that ISIS took responsibility for the attack – even though they did take responsibility for the attack.&#160; The following article reveals the dark triad of Antifa, Kurdish members of ISIS and anarcho-communists Kurds – and by implication why a country music festival – the bastion of flyover-country Americana – was targeted.&#160; For background, read this RELATED article first: <a href="" type="internal">FBI Source: Vegas Shooter Found with Antifa Literature, Photos Taken in Middle East.</a></p>
<p>Members of Antifa are illegally crossing the Syrian border to receive military training from Kurdish militias as part of a dark triad between Antifa, anarcho-communist Kurds and Kurdish members of ISIS.</p>
<p>The US-backed Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) has anarcho-communist <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/christian-foreign-fighters-deserting-kurdish-ypg-syria-because-theyre-damned-reds-1976493133" type="external">politics</a> which has attracted American and European&#160;Antifa to <a href="https://antifascistnetwork.org/2016/12/29/interview-with-an-afn-activist-fighting-in-syria/" type="external">fight</a> alongside them in what they refer to as “the Rojova revolution.”</p>
<p>Security agencies are <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40958229" type="external">concerned</a> that these Antifa members will continue the “revolution at home” once they return. Already FBI sources have <a href="" type="internal">revealed</a> Antifa literature and photos taken in the Middle East which were found in the hotel room of suspected Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock.</p>
<p>In a policy that began under the Obama administration, the US military is <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/white-house-approves-supply-weapons-ypg-syria-says-us-official-288891132" type="external">providing</a> weapons and training to YPG members, many of whom are directly <a href="http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/the-ypg-pkk-connection" type="external">linked</a> to the PKK terrorist organization.</p>
<p>This policy was wrapped under the guise of fighting ISIS, however, backing terrorists to fight terrorists hasn’t worked in the past.</p>
<p>An <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/the-us-military-does-an-about-face-on-us-troops-wearing-kurdish-patches/2016/05/27/d11e934c-2438-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_story.html?utm_term=.0667f3737b3c" type="external">uproar</a> occurred when US special forces in Syria attached YPG insignia to their arms and the US military was accused of supporting terrorism, to which the Pentagon admitted wrongdoing and said the use of the insignia was unauthorized.&#160;</p>
<p>As a result, the US military was forced to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-forces-to-stay-in-syria-for-decades-say-militia-allies-idUSKCN1AX1RI" type="external">rebrand</a> YPG as “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF) to provide plausible deniability.</p>
<p>The weapons and military training that the US military has provided them with are in turn being provided to western members of Antifa.</p>
<p>These members of Antifa, along with the Kurds, have been constantly glorified in the mainstream media.</p>
<p>Rolling Stone magazine <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/american-anarchists-ypg-kurdish-militia-syria-isis-islamic-state-w466069" type="external">interviewed several “western leftists” that are fighting in the YPG.</a></p>
<p>And the fact that these anarcho-communist militias have ‘women who are fighting ISIS’ is something that is oft-repeated.</p>
<p>Antifa groups in Europe and North America have posted photos of their fighters holding up the Kurdish YPG-flag along with the Antifa flag in Syria.</p>
<p />
<p>Now this group of militants&#160;is calling themselves the International Revolutionary People’s Guerilla Forces [ <a href="http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/31/armed-kurdish-antifa-group-declares-global-war-on-capitalism/" type="external">IRPGF</a>] and the vanguard “of the revolution” in Rojava who&#160;vow to fight <a href="http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/31/armed-kurdish-antifa-group-declares-global-war-on-capitalism/" type="external">capitalism</a> all over the world.</p>
<p>This is already happening as&#160; <a href="http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/26/far-left-activists-hold-armed-march-in-phoenix/" type="external">Antifa members were part of an armed demonstration in Phoenix, Arizona.</a></p>
<p>One of the groups involved, the John Brown Gun Club, already glorifies the Kurdish YPG.</p>
<p>It’s plausible the photos from the Middle East that were found in the room of the Las Vegas shooter (along with Antifa literature) were photos of Antifa fighting alongside Kurds in Syria, and&#160;it’s also possible the shooter crossed into Syria to receive military training.</p>
<p>Foreign fighters are able to legally fly to Turkey and then illegally cross into the Syrian border without being detected.</p>
<p>Germany is already&#160;reeling from&#160;a large population of Antifa,&#160; <a href="http://www.rudaw.net/english/world/251120152" type="external">1.2 million</a> Kurdish immigrants and Kurdish militant groups <a href="http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/31/armed-kurdish-antifa-group-declares-global-war-on-capitalism/" type="external">working together</a> in large numbers.</p>
<p>Furthermore, thousands of <a href="http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/11042017" type="external">Germans</a> have illegally crossed into Syria to fight alongside Kurds, thus it’s no surprise when&#160;German Antifa gangs <a href="http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/31/armed-kurdish-antifa-group-declares-global-war-on-capitalism/" type="external">show</a> up at right-wing rallies with hundreds of people and commit violent attacks.</p>
<p>The media, however, continues to glorify Kurdish fighters as “the only people fighting ISIS” while ignoring the efforts of the Syrian and Russian governments.</p>
<p>This is mainly because the military-industrial complex had plans to balkanize Syria and Iraq, in the <a href="https://www.globalresearch.ca/plans-for-redrawing-the-middle-east-the-project-for-a-new-middle-east/3882" type="external">“project for a new Middle East”</a> and they don’t care if they accomplish it using Islamic terrorists or Kurdish communists.</p>
<p>The Kurdish militias are not much better than ISIS, nor as liberal and democratic as the media portrays them to be.</p>
<p>In fact, the Kurds themselves are not one homogenous group, with the majority of Kurds being Sunni Muslims and some of them even&#160; <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/kurds-joining-islamic-state-isis-finds-unlikely-supporters-among-turkeys-disgruntled-2029924" type="external">joining ISIS</a>.</p>
<p>In Iraqi Kurdistan the percentage of <a href="https://medium.com/stories-from-unicef-in-iraq-english/abandoning-female-genital-mutilation-one-village-at-a-time-74f6f1c46371" type="external">female genital mutilation is around 70%</a>while it’s zero in all other parts of the country.</p>
<p>In fact Iraqi Kurdistan,&#160; along with Yemen and Egypt, are the only areas of the Middle East where female genital mutilation is routinely performed.</p>
<p>But even the communist YPG has been active at ethnically cleansing Christian Assyrians, Arabs and other minorities in the areas they deem the “Kurdish” state. Often times the areas they claim <a href="https://www.globalresearch.ca/why-a-kurdish-enclave-in-syria-is-a-very-bad-idea/5519109" type="external">don’t</a> even have a Kurdish population.</p>
<p>Since the Kurdish population aren’t a majority in the areas Kurdish militias are trying to annex, they are carrying out these&#160; <a href="https://www.globalresearch.ca/why-a-kurdish-enclave-in-syria-is-a-very-bad-idea/5519109" type="external">ethnic cleansings</a> of non-Kurdish minorities in an attempt to achieve a demographic shift.</p>
<p>The YPG forcibly&#160; <a href="http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/official-statement-from-the-khabour-assyrian-council-of-guardians/" type="external">disarmed</a> Assyrian Christian militias after assassinating their leader, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKC-UcEFicU" type="external">David Jindo</a>.</p>
<p>In Iraq the US-backed Kurdish militia Peshmerga forced Christian and Yazedi militias to <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-us-favored-kurds-abandoned-the-yazidis-when-isis-attacked" type="external">disarm</a>, before abandoning them to genocide once ISIS attacked.</p>
<p>And the Kurdish regional government of Iraq is still not <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02/16/kurds-move-to-keep-yazidi-christian-refugees-from-their-homes-is-hurting-anti-isis-alliance.html" type="external">allowing</a> these minority groups to return to their villages even though ISIS was pushed out two years ago.</p>
<p>The idea that Kurds deserve their own state is something that is being perpetually pushed by pro-war think tanks and liberal sympathizers; however, this pays little attention to the origin and history of the Kurdish people.</p>
<p>For one thing, the word Kurd was a designator for Iranian nomads.</p>
<p>Like many other nomadic groups such as Bedouins and gypsies, they cross borders tending to livestock.</p>
<p>They typically cross through Iraq and Turkey following the Euphrates River and live mostly in mountains.</p>
<p>In 1915, the Turkish government promised Kurds the homes and cities of the Armenian Christians if they were to <a href="http://www.armenian-genocide.org/9-24-15-text.html" type="external">participate</a>in the Armenian and Assyrian genocide.</p>
<p>However after Kurds complied, Turkey reneged on the deal of giving them autonomy.</p>
<p>The population of Kurds in north Syria resulted from <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=5lh9AgAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT250&amp;redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false" type="external">multiple waves</a> of illegal Kurdish immigration from Turkey after they failed to mount insurrections against the Turkish government.</p>
<p>Many of these Kurdish were given refugee status by the Syrian government at the time, but now these same refugees are demanding their own state and are trying to claim ownership of much of Syria’s <a href="http://al-monitor.com/pulse/fa/contents/articles/originals/2016/04/syria-rojava-kurdistan-isis-oil-wells-kurdish-federation.html" type="external">oil fields</a> and are&#160; <a href="http://news.antiwar.com/2017/09/15/us-backed-kurds-wont-let-syrian-forces-cross-euphrates-river/" type="external">blocking</a>the Syrian army from fighting east of the Euphrates.</p>
<p>This foreign policy of balkanizing Middle Eastern countries to create a Kurdistan may have explosive implications not just for the Middle East, but also for the West, as it breeds&#160;a new form of “Antifa resistance” as well as terrorism in the same way that ISIS was bred through US deep state foreign policy.</p>
<p>Facebook:&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RealKitDaniels" type="external">https://www.facebook.com/RealKitDaniels</a></p>
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<p>MORE Videos:&#160; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG-JtVoCTdSB6Wbre7W_mFQ" type="external">Resistance News</a></p>
<p /> | true | 0 | editors note like pulse nightclub massacre san160bernardino attack 2009 ft hood shooting mainstream media everything cover connection islamic terrorism major160massacres us soil establishment reporters even claiming fake news isis took responsibility attack even though take responsibility attack160 following article reveals dark triad antifa kurdish members isis anarchocommunists kurds implication country music festival bastion flyovercountry americana targeted160 background read related article first fbi source vegas shooter found antifa literature photos taken middle east members antifa illegally crossing syrian border receive military training kurdish militias part dark triad antifa anarchocommunist kurds kurdish members isis usbacked kurdish peoples protection units ypg anarchocommunist politics attracted american european160antifa fight alongside refer rojova revolution security agencies concerned antifa members continue revolution home return already fbi sources revealed antifa literature photos taken middle east found hotel room suspected las vegas shooter stephen paddock policy began obama administration us military providing weapons training ypg members many directly linked pkk terrorist organization policy wrapped guise fighting isis however backing terrorists fight terrorists hasnt worked past uproar occurred us special forces syria attached ypg insignia arms us military accused supporting terrorism pentagon admitted wrongdoing said use insignia unauthorized160 result us military forced rebrand ypg syrian democratic forces sdf provide plausible deniability weapons military training us military provided turn provided western members antifa members antifa along kurds constantly glorified mainstream media rolling stone magazine interviewed several western leftists fighting ypg fact anarchocommunist militias women fighting isis something oftrepeated antifa groups europe north america posted photos fighters holding kurdish ypgflag along antifa flag syria group militants160is calling international revolutionary peoples guerilla forces irpgf vanguard revolution rojava who160vow fight capitalism world already happening as160 antifa members part armed demonstration phoenix arizona one groups involved john brown gun club already glorifies kurdish ypg plausible photos middle east found room las vegas shooter along antifa literature photos antifa fighting alongside kurds syria and160its also possible shooter crossed syria receive military training foreign fighters able legally fly turkey illegally cross syrian border without detected germany already160reeling from160a large population antifa160 12 million kurdish immigrants kurdish militant groups working together large numbers furthermore thousands germans illegally crossed syria fight alongside kurds thus surprise when160german antifa gangs show rightwing rallies hundreds people commit violent attacks media however continues glorify kurdish fighters people fighting isis ignoring efforts syrian russian governments mainly militaryindustrial complex plans balkanize syria iraq project new middle east dont care accomplish using islamic terrorists kurdish communists kurdish militias much better isis liberal democratic media portrays fact kurds one homogenous group majority kurds sunni muslims even160 joining isis iraqi kurdistan percentage female genital mutilation around 70while zero parts country fact iraqi kurdistan160 along yemen egypt areas middle east female genital mutilation routinely performed even communist ypg active ethnically cleansing christian assyrians arabs minorities areas deem kurdish state often times areas claim dont even kurdish population since kurdish population arent majority areas kurdish militias trying annex carrying these160 ethnic cleansings nonkurdish minorities attempt achieve demographic shift ypg forcibly160 disarmed assyrian christian militias assassinating leader david jindo iraq usbacked kurdish militia peshmerga forced christian yazedi militias disarm abandoning genocide isis attacked kurdish regional government iraq still allowing minority groups return villages even though isis pushed two years ago idea kurds deserve state something perpetually pushed prowar think tanks liberal sympathizers however pays little attention origin history kurdish people one thing word kurd designator iranian nomads like many nomadic groups bedouins gypsies cross borders tending livestock typically cross iraq turkey following euphrates river live mostly mountains 1915 turkish government promised kurds homes cities armenian christians participatein armenian assyrian genocide however kurds complied turkey reneged deal giving autonomy population kurds north syria resulted multiple waves illegal kurdish immigration turkey failed mount insurrections turkish government many kurdish given refugee status syrian government time refugees demanding state trying claim ownership much syrias oil fields are160 blockingthe syrian army fighting east euphrates foreign policy balkanizing middle eastern countries create kurdistan may explosive implications middle east also west breeds160a new form antifa resistance well terrorism way isis bred us deep state foreign policy facebook160 httpswwwfacebookcomrealkitdaniels twitter160 videos160 resistance news | 674 |
<p>1. Woman in burka attacks store clerk in Berlin for displaying lingerie too close to Muslim scarves</p>
<p><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/07/niqab-clad-woman-assaults-saleswoman-lingerie-islamic-headscarves/" type="external">A saleswoman</a> in a fashion boutique in Berlin was viciously assaulted by a niqab-wearing woman who objected to lingerie being displayed in the same window as Islamic headscarves.</p>
<p>The incident occurred in the Berlin district of Neukölln, known for its high percentage of migrant residents. The niqab-wearing woman raised her objections, but after her demands to remove the lingerie were denied, she attacked the shopkeeper, Die Welt reports.</p>
<p>The victim, a 40-year-old woman from an Arabic immigrant background, said she saw a tattoo on the neck of her attacker and blonde hair under the niqab. Police say the woman had entered the shop once before and insulted the saleswoman in both German and Turkish before being told to leave.</p>
<p>To get a glimpse of where this sort of behaviour may lead, listen to <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5622900" type="external">this short but fascinating NPR report</a>from Iraq in 2006 about diapering goats and rude vegetable displays.&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>2. Czech Republic: EU verdict won't change country's migrant quotas&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/prague-says-top-eu-court-verdict-will-not-change-countrys-stand-on-migrant-quotas" type="external">The European Court of Justice</a> has dismissed Slovakia and Hungary’s legal challenge to the system of mandatory migrant quotas, devised by the European Commission as a means of dealing with the migrant crisis. The Czech Republic, which is also one of the countries rejecting the forced distribution of migrants, says the ruling will make no difference to its stand. […]</p>
<p>The Czech Republic, which has taken in only around 12 refugees of the close to 2,700 allotted to it under the EC mechanism, recently argued that Italy and Greece from which it was to take in migrants had not enabled it to carry out the detailed background investigation checks on the refugees in question. According to the Czech Interior Ministry the Italian and Greek authorities permitted only the most basic questions to be posed to refugees earmarked for relocation and eventually ceased communicating altogether.</p>
<p>The conditions under which the system was to operate are simply not being met and the present debate in Europe on this matter shows that our reservations are justified,” Minister Zaorálek said.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Czech President Miloš Zeman, known for his fiery anti-migrant rhetoric, said at a public gathering that the country should not give way to EU pressure.</p>
<p>The Czech Republic is also the only state that has <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/czechs-refuse-lift-ban-nuclear-supplies-iran-49698903" type="external">refused to lift the ban</a> on nuclear materials to Iran.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>3. Summary of letter that Hungarian leader Viktor Orban wrote to Jean-Claude Junker, the president of the European Commission</p>
<p><a href="http://gatesofvienna.net/2017/09/viktor-orban-to-jean-claude-juncker-whoever-does-not-support-the-fence-does-not-want-to-defend-the-citizens-of-the-european-union/" type="external">Hungary is Not an Immigrant-Receiving Country</a>and Does Not Wish to Become One</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/851574/Jean-Claude-Juncker-Hungary-migration-EU" type="external">Express.UK</a> summarizes the exchange between the EU and Hungary.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>4. US warplanes pick off ISIS fighters drawn to stranded convoy ‘like moths to the flame’</p>
<p><a href="https://www.stripes.com/us-warplanes-pick-off-isis-fighters-drawn-to-stranded-convoy-like-moths-to-the-flame-1.486506#.WbKb0thOmM9" type="external">An attempt by Islamic State</a>to evacuate hundreds of fighters from western Syria to the Iraqi border has instead left them sitting ducks for aerial attacks by the U.S.-led coalition on the convoy.</p>
<p>“We were able to exploit it and take advantage,” Army Col. Ryan S. Dillon, a coalition spokesman, said of the ISIS maneuver Thursday morning as 11 buses full of ISIS fighters and civilians remained stranded in the Syrian desert.</p>
<p>U.S. warplanes continue to pick off militants who stray too far from the protection of the convoy’s women and children, officials said. Strikes have also destroyed militant vehicles coming to the area from ISIS-held territory.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>5. ANTIFA threatens to smash venues associated with anti-M103 conference</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/m-103-conference-faces-backlash-threats-violence" type="external">Conference organizers</a> believe that the House of Commons heritage committee, which was mandated by M-103 to address “systemic racism” and the issue of Islamophobia, will propose changes to Canadian law that will criminalize criticism of Islam and pave the way for greater application of Shariah law in Canada. C3RF is worried that Canada could follow the lead of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which defines “Islamophobia” as “an excessive fear against Islam and anything associable with Islam.” On its website, C3RF says that this definition is worrisome because “anything associable with Islam” would include Shariah slander laws, which stand in opposition to Canadian values.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/09/canada-antifa-threatens-to-smash-conference-opposing-anti-islamophobia-motion" type="external">Jihad Watch</a> also has an excellent article on this event.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>6.&#160;Pakistan: Scuffles break out at Rohingya Muslim solidarity rally</p>
<p />
<p>Part of what looks like an organized worldwide movement to suppress the rights of the Burmese in favour of hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims.</p>
<p>London:</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>7. Tatjana Festerling on the Islamization of Europe by its politicians</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>8. Female ISIS torturer describes horrors she inflicted, says British female jihadists were the most brutal</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4865326/Female-ISIS-torturer-describes-horrors-inflicted.html" type="external">A female ISIS deserter</a>has spoken of how she would revel in torturing other women in front of their family members during her time in an all-girl jihadist brigade in Raqqa, Syria.</p>
<p>The woman, only known as Hajer, also reveals that the British female jihadists would be the most sadistic torturers, and would use a tool known as a 'biter', reportedly able to inflict pain 'worse than childbirth'.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old was one of the first recruits to join the all-female Al-Khansaa brigade in 2014, a group of women jihadists that has been compared to Hitler's Gestapo.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>9. Burmese Buddhist Monk speaks about the dangers of Islam</p>
<p />
<p>It is worth noting that Afghanistan was originally a Buddhist country. Only a few years ago, the Taliban destroyed the last major symbol of its Buddhist heritage when it used Western created explosives to destroy the 100 foot tall Buddha Statues lovingly carved out of the side of mountains.</p>
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<p>10. Most recent convicted Islamic sex slave gang, where total official sentences equal 180 years</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/operation-shelter-convicts-jailed-newcastle-13449183.amp" type="external">They exploited</a> some of Newcastle's most vulnerable girls and young women for sex.</p>
<p>But now these predators have now been brought to justice for their horrifying crimes.</p>
<p>Some 17 out of the 18 convicted have been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court - and their sentences so far total 180 years and eight months.</p>
<p>Here, one by one, we look at what sentence each offender was handed.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 0 | 1 woman burka attacks store clerk berlin displaying lingerie close muslim scarves saleswoman fashion boutique berlin viciously assaulted niqabwearing woman objected lingerie displayed window islamic headscarves incident occurred berlin district neukölln known high percentage migrant residents niqabwearing woman raised objections demands remove lingerie denied attacked shopkeeper die welt reports victim 40yearold woman arabic immigrant background said saw tattoo neck attacker blonde hair niqab police say woman entered shop insulted saleswoman german turkish told leave get glimpse sort behaviour may lead listen short fascinating npr reportfrom iraq 2006 diapering goats rude vegetable displays160 160 2 czech republic eu verdict wont change countrys migrant quotas160 european court justice dismissed slovakia hungarys legal challenge system mandatory migrant quotas devised european commission means dealing migrant crisis czech republic also one countries rejecting forced distribution migrants says ruling make difference stand czech republic taken around 12 refugees close 2700 allotted ec mechanism recently argued italy greece take migrants enabled carry detailed background investigation checks refugees question according czech interior ministry italian greek authorities permitted basic questions posed refugees earmarked relocation eventually ceased communicating altogether conditions system operate simply met present debate europe matter shows reservations justified minister zaorálek said meanwhile czech president miloš zeman known fiery antimigrant rhetoric said public gathering country give way eu pressure czech republic also state refused lift ban nuclear materials iran 160 3 summary letter hungarian leader viktor orban wrote jeanclaude junker president european commission hungary immigrantreceiving countryand wish become one expressuk summarizes exchange eu hungary 160 4 us warplanes pick isis fighters drawn stranded convoy like moths flame attempt islamic stateto evacuate hundreds fighters western syria iraqi border instead left sitting ducks aerial attacks usled coalition convoy able exploit take advantage army col ryan dillon coalition spokesman said isis maneuver thursday morning 11 buses full isis fighters civilians remained stranded syrian desert us warplanes continue pick militants stray far protection convoys women children officials said strikes also destroyed militant vehicles coming area isisheld territory 160 5 antifa threatens smash venues associated antim103 conference conference organizers believe house commons heritage committee mandated m103 address systemic racism issue islamophobia propose changes canadian law criminalize criticism islam pave way greater application shariah law canada c3rf worried canada could follow lead organization islamic cooperation defines islamophobia excessive fear islam anything associable islam website c3rf says definition worrisome anything associable islam would include shariah slander laws stand opposition canadian values jihad watch also excellent article event 160 6160pakistan scuffles break rohingya muslim solidarity rally part looks like organized worldwide movement suppress rights burmese favour hundreds thousands bangladeshi muslims london 160 7 tatjana festerling islamization europe politicians 160 8 female isis torturer describes horrors inflicted says british female jihadists brutal female isis deserterhas spoken would revel torturing women front family members time allgirl jihadist brigade raqqa syria woman known hajer also reveals british female jihadists would sadistic torturers would use tool known biter reportedly able inflict pain worse childbirth 25yearold one first recruits join allfemale alkhansaa brigade 2014 group women jihadists compared hitlers gestapo 160 9 burmese buddhist monk speaks dangers islam worth noting afghanistan originally buddhist country years ago taliban destroyed last major symbol buddhist heritage used western created explosives destroy 100 foot tall buddha statues lovingly carved side mountains 160 10 recent convicted islamic sex slave gang total official sentences equal 180 years exploited newcastles vulnerable girls young women sex predators brought justice horrifying crimes 17 18 convicted sentenced newcastle crown court sentences far total 180 years eight months one one look sentence offender handed 160 | 583 |
<p>How much of the House GOP tax plan is tailored to benefit America's middle class? That's uncertain based on the details that have been provided so far.</p>
<p>What is clear is that many of the benefits for the middle class could dwindle over time, even while companies and wealthy individuals could enjoy lasting tax advantages.</p>
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<p>The plan promises tax savings next year of $1,182 for a typical household of four with gross income of $59,000, leaving their tax bill at $400.</p>
<p>"We are focused on increasing paychecks in a major way," said Rep. Kevin Brady, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.</p>
<p>But the proposal's conflicting provisions and phase-outs of certain benefits suggest that taxes could rise for some middle class earners over time. And for many, the income gains being touted by President Donald Trump are unlikely to materialize.</p>
<p>Some of these complications arise because under the budget instructions, the planned tax cuts can't increase the national debt by more than $1.5 trillion over the next decade. Anything above $1.5 trillion would force Republicans to amend their plan to generate more revenue — a change that would likely prove difficult.</p>
<p>Trump has frequently said that this would be the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. But outside analyses show that that's not the case.</p>
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<p>The tax plan's primary beneficiaries would be wealthier Americans, who would enjoy lower tax rates despite the elimination of some breaks, a repeal of the so-called alternative minimum tax and the termination of the estate tax.</p>
<p>"With the details they've presented to us so far, it looks like the tax cut benefits the wealthy and major corporations," said Martin Sullivan, chief economist at Tax Analysts and a former staff economist at the Treasury Department. "In fact, if you have a large family, given the facts that we have now, that you would pay more in taxes."</p>
<p>Here's why:</p>
<p>A married couple making less than $90,000 would be taxed at a 12 percent rate, instead of the current 15 percent. The size of their standard deduction would nearly double to $24,000.</p>
<p>But that same couple would lose personal exemptions — deductions that largely benefit families with multiple children. The child tax credit would rise to $1,600 from $1,000 — short of the $2,000 that Sullivan said would be needed to make many families whole.</p>
<p>The tax plan would also repeal the deduction of substantial medical costs, including what families might spend on nursing home care. Nor could people with student loans deduct the interest paid on the debt anymore.</p>
<p>And the plan would cap the deduction of state and local taxes. It also would use a less generous measure of inflation, so that more middle class taxpayers would creep into a higher bracket over several years.</p>
<p>All told, nearly 70 percent of the tax cuts would go to businesses over 10 years, according to an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The rest of the tax cuts appear to favor the wealthy.</p>
<p>Gary Cohn, the president's top economic adviser, said Thursday at the Economic Club of Washington that the objective was to help the middle class. But he declined to say whether the wealthy would benefit.</p>
<p>"The hard part about taxes is everyone has got their own unique set of circumstances," Cohn said.</p>
<p>The plan is already showing some splintering along ideological lines.</p>
<p>The conservative Tax Foundation's analysis of how different families would fare under the plan suggested that the largest cuts as a percentage of taxes paid would go next year to sample couples earning between $48,000 and $85,000. Even a married couple with two children earning $165,000 would receive a reduction.</p>
<p>But liberal groups stressed the analysis of nonpartisan groups that the benefits would flow largely flow to major companies and the top 1 percent of earners over time as tax breaks such as a new family credit would expire after five years.</p>
<p>"Tax cuts for the well-off are forever," said Gene Sperling, a former top economic aide in the Obama and Clinton presidencies. "Tax cuts for the middle class are a small, a maybe and some-time thing that can be cut off in their plan."</p>
<p>The overarching promise made to the middle class by Trump and congressional Republicans is that lower taxes would fuel faster economic growth, which, in turn, would cause incomes to rise. Kevin Hassett, chair of Trump's White House Council of Economic Advisers, estimates that lowering the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent would lead to an average income gain of $4,000 a year.</p>
<p>But most mainstream economists have disputed that claim. Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, estimates that the income growth after a decade would range between $500 to $1,500.</p>
<p>Some tax experts say the tax overhaul might also hurt those who aspire to be middle class. The bottom half of taxpayers now pay no net income tax, according to Treasury Department figures. Many receive refunds via the Earned Income Tax Credit. The plan unveiled Thursday would require eligible taxpayers to provide their Social Security Number to receive this benefit, thereby creating a possible delay in receiving a refund as the IRS enforces this provision.</p>
<p>David Kamin, a former Obama White House official who now teaches law at New York University, said the plan seems to have "no significant help of any kind for about the bottom 35 percent of income earners."</p>
<p>He added that the proposal could also "run up deficits significantly that would eventually have to be paid for and could threaten programs that do help low and middle income Americans whether that be health care coverage, Social Security, or investments like in infrastructure."</p> | true | 0 | much house gop tax plan tailored benefit americas middle class thats uncertain based details provided far clear many benefits middle class could dwindle time even companies wealthy individuals could enjoy lasting tax advantages continue reading plan promises tax savings next year 1182 typical household four gross income 59000 leaving tax bill 400 focused increasing paychecks major way said rep kevin brady republican chairman house ways means committee proposals conflicting provisions phaseouts certain benefits suggest taxes could rise middle class earners time many income gains touted president donald trump unlikely materialize complications arise budget instructions planned tax cuts cant increase national debt 15 trillion next decade anything 15 trillion would force republicans amend plan generate revenue change would likely prove difficult trump frequently said would biggest tax cut us history outside analyses show thats case advertisement tax plans primary beneficiaries would wealthier americans would enjoy lower tax rates despite elimination breaks repeal socalled alternative minimum tax termination estate tax details theyve presented us far looks like tax cut benefits wealthy major corporations said martin sullivan chief economist tax analysts former staff economist treasury department fact large family given facts would pay taxes heres married couple making less 90000 would taxed 12 percent rate instead current 15 percent size standard deduction would nearly double 24000 couple would lose personal exemptions deductions largely benefit families multiple children child tax credit would rise 1600 1000 short 2000 sullivan said would needed make many families whole tax plan would also repeal deduction substantial medical costs including families might spend nursing home care could people student loans deduct interest paid debt anymore plan would cap deduction state local taxes also would use less generous measure inflation middle class taxpayers would creep higher bracket several years told nearly 70 percent tax cuts would go businesses 10 years according analysis committee responsible federal budget rest tax cuts appear favor wealthy gary cohn presidents top economic adviser said thursday economic club washington objective help middle class declined say whether wealthy would benefit hard part taxes everyone got unique set circumstances cohn said plan already showing splintering along ideological lines conservative tax foundations analysis different families would fare plan suggested largest cuts percentage taxes paid would go next year sample couples earning 48000 85000 even married couple two children earning 165000 would receive reduction liberal groups stressed analysis nonpartisan groups benefits would flow largely flow major companies top 1 percent earners time tax breaks new family credit would expire five years tax cuts welloff forever said gene sperling former top economic aide obama clinton presidencies tax cuts middle class small maybe sometime thing cut plan overarching promise made middle class trump congressional republicans lower taxes would fuel faster economic growth turn would cause incomes rise kevin hassett chair trumps white house council economic advisers estimates lowering corporate tax rate 20 percent 35 percent would lead average income gain 4000 year mainstream economists disputed claim kent smetters faculty director penn wharton budget model estimates income growth decade would range 500 1500 tax experts say tax overhaul might also hurt aspire middle class bottom half taxpayers pay net income tax according treasury department figures many receive refunds via earned income tax credit plan unveiled thursday would require eligible taxpayers provide social security number receive benefit thereby creating possible delay receiving refund irs enforces provision david kamin former obama white house official teaches law new york university said plan seems significant help kind bottom 35 percent income earners added proposal could also run deficits significantly would eventually paid could threaten programs help low middle income americans whether health care coverage social security investments like infrastructure | 602 |
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<p>If your car is totaled, the first thing to remember is that the insurance company is not your friend.</p>
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<p>There's a tendency among those of us who have had a car deemed a "total loss" to consider the insurance company's payout as a gift of sorts.</p>
<p>That attitude, say auto insurance and repairs experts, is a mistake. You should view the payout as negotiable, just as you would if you were selling the car without damage. The insurance company won't be offended if you negotiate, says Scott Benavidez of Mr. B's Paint &amp; Body Shop in Albuquerque, N.M.</p>
<p>"I tell my clients to negotiate. Start high and plan to meet in the middle," he says. "Remember, even if (the insurance company) saves $10 a vehicle and do a million claims a year, that's $10 million. Think if they save $100 a vehicle. … That is where they save money."</p>
<p>But the first step is to evaluate your own insurance policy. That means reading the fine print. Gone are the days when insurance companies were in lockstep about how they would determine a car a "total loss" -- that rule of thumb was damage equal to 70 percent of the car's value -- and what they would pay.</p>
<p>Today, total-loss thresholds vary by state (you can <a href="http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/total-loss-thresholds.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-183712010" type="external">check the basics here Opens a New Window.</a>). And insurers often have internal, more generous guidelines, says CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner.</p>
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<p>"There is no need to routinely check with your car insurance company to see how it determines if a car is totaled out or not. The threshold for a car being declared a total loss doesn't change that often," says Gusner. "However, when consumers first obtain a policy they should find out when their insurer considers a vehicle to be a total loss. Ask what the threshold is and how the car insurance provider calculates actual cash value, since that plays a part in the total-loss situation."</p>
<p>Once you're satisfied that you understand your policy, you'll be in better shape to negotiate a fair settlement for your car. Still, facing a totaled car settlement is unnerving at best. Keep these reminders handy to make sure you understand what you need to do to obtain a fair value for your car.</p>
<p>5 ways to get the most for your vehicle</p>
<p>What the insurer does: The first order of business is for the insurer to scout out five vehicles that are "comparable" to yours and compare their values. The insurance representative disregards the highest valued car, the lowest valued car, and pays you based on the average of the middle three.</p>
<p>The problem: Sometimes insurance companies don't choose vehicles that are comparable to yours. "Make sure the cars are the same, the mileage is the same," says Kevin Parsons of ARA Collision Carstar in Everett, Wash., and a former adjuster with Allstate Insurance. He cites a time when cars powered with turbo diesels were rare. A Volkswagen Jetta with such an engine was seriously undervalued by the insurance company, because the adjuster did not find "comparable" models. In another instance, an adjuster used a lower-end model Toyota Camry as a "comparable" of a high-end Camry.</p>
<p>It pays for you to ask and understand what cars the insurer is using as comparable. "Accessories on vehicles are very, very important, and mileage can make a big difference, too," he says. "Make sure the vehicles they compare don't have 100,000 or more miles on them" if yours has half that, for example.</p>
<p>The solution: Besides asking what specific cars the insurer has deemed comparable to yours, do your own research. There are tools available from the National Automobile Dealers Association (most frequently used by insurance adjusters), Auto Trader, Kelley Blue Book and others. Then, use those resources to find cars comparable to yours, just as the insurance company did.</p>
<p>What the insurer does: Consider your car without the extras.</p>
<p>The problem: A car with leather seats and stability control is worth more than one without.</p>
<p>The solution: Run the VIN number of your car. Generally a dealer that sold the car originally will be willing to do so. The report will tell you all of the extras you bought from the dealer such as heated seats and mirrors. Also, don't forget to gather the receipts for your radar detector, sound system, speakers and other aftermarket products installed on your car. Although maintenance doesn't usually play a role in the process, it doesn't hurt to show receipts for recent repairs and maintenance, too, says Robert Benavidez, Scott's brother, of Auto Damage Consultants, Albuquerque, N.M.</p>
<p>"That way you know if they did their homework because you have all of the information about your car. You can tell them what they missed," says Parsons noting that insurance companies aren't offended by clients that have asserted their rights. "It's fine to do that; they won't complain."</p>
<p>What the insurer does: Arranges for you to drive a compact rental car when you drive a large SUV.</p>
<p>The problem: You may be eligible for a larger car or even for a payout under loss-of-use provisions if you don't need the rental car. Much depends on the specifics of the accident, such as if you were hit by an uninsured driver, your policy,- and state laws.</p>
<p>The solution: At the very least, read your automobile policy and ask the question. "Most people don't know you can cash out the money for the rental car," says Robert Benavidez. "That can really help pay for the deductible."</p>
<p>What the insurer does: Offers you what it considers fair market value, but that amount doesn't cover your loan.</p>
<p>The problem: You were told your car was worth a lot more money.</p>
<p>The solution: Don't overreach. Sometimes you may have overpaid for a vehicle or put the minimum down, which would leave you with a large balance after the settlement if you did not secure <a href="http://www.carinsurance.com/types-of-car-insurance/gap-insurance.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-183712010" type="external">gap insurance Opens a New Window.</a>. "Just because you didn't make a good deal when you bought the vehicle doesn't mean you will be compensated if your car is totaled," says Parsons.</p>
<p>What the insurer does: Submits an offer that does not account for all costs of buying an equivalent car.</p>
<p>The problem: You will have to pay sales tax and registration fees to replace your new car.</p>
<p>The solution: Compensation for sales tax and fees is required under the law in 34 states, and it is the most common practice in total-loss settlements in all of them. But you'll probably have to ask.</p>
<p>The original article can be found at CarInsurance.com: <a href="http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/get-the-most-for-your-totaled-car.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-183712010" type="external">Get the most for your totaled car Opens a New Window.</a></p> | true | 0 | car totaled first thing remember insurance company friend continue reading theres tendency among us car deemed total loss consider insurance companys payout gift sorts attitude say auto insurance repairs experts mistake view payout negotiable would selling car without damage insurance company wont offended negotiate says scott benavidez mr bs paint amp body shop albuquerque nm tell clients negotiate start high plan meet middle says remember even insurance company saves 10 vehicle million claims year thats 10 million think save 100 vehicle save money first step evaluate insurance policy means reading fine print gone days insurance companies lockstep would determine car total loss rule thumb damage equal 70 percent cars value would pay today totalloss thresholds vary state check basics opens new window insurers often internal generous guidelines says carinsurancecom consumer analyst penny gusner advertisement need routinely check car insurance company see determines car totaled threshold car declared total loss doesnt change often says gusner however consumers first obtain policy find insurer considers vehicle total loss ask threshold car insurance provider calculates actual cash value since plays part totalloss situation youre satisfied understand policy youll better shape negotiate fair settlement car still facing totaled car settlement unnerving best keep reminders handy make sure understand need obtain fair value car 5 ways get vehicle insurer first order business insurer scout five vehicles comparable compare values insurance representative disregards highest valued car lowest valued car pays based average middle three problem sometimes insurance companies dont choose vehicles comparable make sure cars mileage says kevin parsons ara collision carstar everett wash former adjuster allstate insurance cites time cars powered turbo diesels rare volkswagen jetta engine seriously undervalued insurance company adjuster find comparable models another instance adjuster used lowerend model toyota camry comparable highend camry pays ask understand cars insurer using comparable accessories vehicles important mileage make big difference says make sure vehicles compare dont 100000 miles half example solution besides asking specific cars insurer deemed comparable research tools available national automobile dealers association frequently used insurance adjusters auto trader kelley blue book others use resources find cars comparable insurance company insurer consider car without extras problem car leather seats stability control worth one without solution run vin number car generally dealer sold car originally willing report tell extras bought dealer heated seats mirrors also dont forget gather receipts radar detector sound system speakers aftermarket products installed car although maintenance doesnt usually play role process doesnt hurt show receipts recent repairs maintenance says robert benavidez scotts brother auto damage consultants albuquerque nm way know homework information car tell missed says parsons noting insurance companies arent offended clients asserted rights fine wont complain insurer arranges drive compact rental car drive large suv problem may eligible larger car even payout lossofuse provisions dont need rental car much depends specifics accident hit uninsured driver policy state laws solution least read automobile policy ask question people dont know cash money rental car says robert benavidez really help pay deductible insurer offers considers fair market value amount doesnt cover loan problem told car worth lot money solution dont overreach sometimes may overpaid vehicle put minimum would leave large balance settlement secure gap insurance opens new window didnt make good deal bought vehicle doesnt mean compensated car totaled says parsons insurer submits offer account costs buying equivalent car problem pay sales tax registration fees replace new car solution compensation sales tax fees required law 34 states common practice totalloss settlements youll probably ask original article found carinsurancecom get totaled car opens new window | 582 |
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<p>Americans are paying less at the pump, but the savings hasn't motivated them to open their wallets any wider for the holidays.</p>
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<p>More than 4 out of 5 consumers, or 82 percent, say they won't spend more in the final three months of the year, according to a national poll that accompanied Bankrate's monthly Financial Security Index. They'll keep their budgets in check despite a 15 percent year-over-year drop in pump prices and an expectation that the price of gasoline will hold at a five-year low throughout 2015.</p>
<p>"The overwhelming majority of Americans plan to hold the line on holiday spending this year, lower gasoline prices notwithstanding," says Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.</p>
<p>Bankrate's survey was conducted Dec. 4-7 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International and included answers from 1,001 adults living in the continental U.S. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.</p>
<p>Consumers wary of future gas price hike</p>
<p>Only 16 percent of survey respondents report that they will spend more during the holiday shopping season. Five percent cite falling gas prices for allowing them to do so, and the remaining 11 percent say they are spending more, but not because of the gas price drop.</p>
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<p>The survey showed that the recent drop in gas prices may have a bigger influence on people of lower income levels. For example, Americans who earn an annual income between $30,000 and $49,900 were more likely than others to report that they will spend more this season because of lower gas prices. On the other hand, higher-income Americans (those earning $75,000 or more per year) were more likely to report that they are spending more for reasons other than saving money at the pump.</p>
<p>During the week of Dec. 1, gas prices fell to an average of $2.86 per gallon, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. That's 15 percent, or 49 cents, lower than last year's average for the same time period.</p>
<p>The decline in gas prices translates to a savings of about $149 million per day in gasoline spending, according to a Bankrate analysis of government data. These savings aren't enough to get consumers to make significant changes in their spending, however.</p>
<p>"Consumers are still uneasy," McBride says. "Many haven't had a raise in quite some time. Their savings cushions are insufficient, and any breathing room from the drop in gasoline prices could prove temporary should those prices rebound."</p>
<p>But lower gas prices are expected to stick around for a while, experts say.</p>
<p>"All signs point to a much, much cheaper year than we've seen for gasoline prices since 2009 or 2010," says Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service.</p>
<p>Why some Americans are spending more</p>
<p>Other reasons people may be spending more this holiday season could be partially attributed to pent-up demand, says Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.</p>
<p>"I think that people are probably anxious to begin spending again. I've often called it the seven-year itch," she says, referring to the number of years since the start of the Great Recession.</p>
<p>Gains in the stock market and the overall economy could also play a part, McBride says.</p>
<p>"More people are working, the economy is growing, and people are wealthier, particularly if they own stocks and real estate," he says. "People feel better about their financial situations even if they have yet to see any notable increases in the paycheck."</p>
<p>Millennials say 'meh' to gas price drop</p>
<p>Bankrate's poll also found that millennials (ages 18-29) were the group most likely to report that they will be spending more this season, at 28 percent. One in 5 of them say they are spending more money for reasons other than the drop in gas prices.</p>
<p>"(Millennials) keep throwing us a curve, don't they?" says Cunningham. "I hope that these folks have a job and are responsibly paying back their student loan debt, and they're not letting the emotion of the holiday season carry them away into a financial disaster zone."</p>
<p>Kloza says the findings about millennials being largely unfazed by lower gas prices aren't surprising.</p>
<p>"The data I've seen suggest that the number of (young adults) that have driver's licenses or cars is lower on a percentage basis than we've seen in my lifetime," he says. "There's this urbanization of America. People are prone to using Zipcar, Uber, public transportation, Lyft and some of these other things, particularly in that (age) bracket."</p>
<p>Make a shopping list; check it twice</p>
<p>Since it can be very easy to impulse shop, work on a game plan for your holiday shopping, says Shannon Hanrahan, a consumer savings expert for coupon database PromotionalCodes.com.</p>
<p>"I really recommend that people make a list and do their research before they either go out to the stores or they spend online," she says. "We just passed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so people might think that the best sales are already done, but they're not. Stores are still offering really amazing deals."</p>
<p>But before you even think about spending any extra money for the holidays, you should know where you stand financially, Cunningham says.</p>
<p>"If you're already in an unstable financial position, the last thing in the world you need to be doing is adding new debt on top of old."</p>
<p>McBride agrees, and urges consumers to practice smart spending.</p>
<p>"Map out a budget, and stick to it," he says. "You don't want to undo 11 months' worth of financial progress and end up carrying more debt into 2015."</p>
<p>Copyright 2014, Bankrate Inc.</p> | true | 0 | americans paying less pump savings hasnt motivated open wallets wider holidays continue reading 4 5 consumers 82 percent say wont spend final three months year according national poll accompanied bankrates monthly financial security index theyll keep budgets check despite 15 percent yearoveryear drop pump prices expectation price gasoline hold fiveyear low throughout 2015 overwhelming majority americans plan hold line holiday spending year lower gasoline prices notwithstanding says greg mcbride chief financial analyst bankrate bankrates survey conducted dec 47 princeton survey research associates international included answers 1001 adults living continental us margin error plus minus 36 percentage points consumers wary future gas price hike 16 percent survey respondents report spend holiday shopping season five percent cite falling gas prices allowing remaining 11 percent say spending gas price drop advertisement survey showed recent drop gas prices may bigger influence people lower income levels example americans earn annual income 30000 49900 likely others report spend season lower gas prices hand higherincome americans earning 75000 per year likely report spending reasons saving money pump week dec 1 gas prices fell average 286 per gallon according federal energy information administration thats 15 percent 49 cents lower last years average time period decline gas prices translates savings 149 million per day gasoline spending according bankrate analysis government data savings arent enough get consumers make significant changes spending however consumers still uneasy mcbride says many havent raise quite time savings cushions insufficient breathing room drop gasoline prices could prove temporary prices rebound lower gas prices expected stick around experts say signs point much much cheaper year weve seen gasoline prices since 2009 2010 says tom kloza global head energy analysis oil price information service americans spending reasons people may spending holiday season could partially attributed pentup demand says gail cunningham spokeswoman national foundation credit counseling think people probably anxious begin spending ive often called sevenyear itch says referring number years since start great recession gains stock market overall economy could also play part mcbride says people working economy growing people wealthier particularly stocks real estate says people feel better financial situations even yet see notable increases paycheck millennials say meh gas price drop bankrates poll also found millennials ages 1829 group likely report spending season 28 percent one 5 say spending money reasons drop gas prices millennials keep throwing us curve dont says cunningham hope folks job responsibly paying back student loan debt theyre letting emotion holiday season carry away financial disaster zone kloza says findings millennials largely unfazed lower gas prices arent surprising data ive seen suggest number young adults drivers licenses cars lower percentage basis weve seen lifetime says theres urbanization america people prone using zipcar uber public transportation lyft things particularly age bracket make shopping list check twice since easy impulse shop work game plan holiday shopping says shannon hanrahan consumer savings expert coupon database promotionalcodescom really recommend people make list research either go stores spend online says passed black friday cyber monday people might think best sales already done theyre stores still offering really amazing deals even think spending extra money holidays know stand financially cunningham says youre already unstable financial position last thing world need adding new debt top old mcbride agrees urges consumers practice smart spending map budget stick says dont want undo 11 months worth financial progress end carrying debt 2015 copyright 2014 bankrate inc | 555 |
<p>The appointment of Thomas Barkin, a McKinsey &amp; Co. executive, to lead the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond reinforces a gradual and subtle shift among central bank officials away from dissenters and toward consensus.</p>
<p>Mr. Barkin succeeds Jeffrey Lacker, who frequently voted against the Fed's monetary policy decisions, typically because he favored higher interest rates than the majority or because he opposed other easy-money measures adopted since the financial crisis -- positions that made him a "hawk" among central bankers.</p>
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<p>Mr. Barkin hasn't publicly expressed his monetary policy views, but he is expected to be less hawkish than Mr. Lacker, according to a person familiar with the situation.</p>
<p>Two other hawkish dissenters, former Fed bank presidents Charles Plosser in Philadelphia and Richard Fisher in Dallas, were succeeded in 2015 by Patrick Harker and Robert Kaplan, respectively, both of whom fit within the widening center of the central bank's policy voices.</p>
<p>"The ideological presidents have been replaced by someone less extreme," said Aaron Klein, an economic studies fellow at the Brookings Institution and director of its Center on Regulation and Markets.</p>
<p>The reserve banks, working more closely than they have in the past with the Fed's board in Washington, have selected new leaders who don't have strong preconceived views about how the economy operates. Fed banks in Atlanta and Minneapolis also have selected new presidents in the past two years.</p>
<p>Messrs. Harker and Kaplan, along with most other Fed officials, support the consensus forged by Chairwoman Janet Yellen in favor of slowly and cautiously reversing the central bank's extraordinary postcrisis stimulus measures as the economy improves.</p>
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<p>The central bank has raised its benchmark short-term rate by just 1 percentage point in four steps over the past two years, and is likely to lift it again next week, to a range between 1.25% and 1.5%.</p>
<p>The new centrist Fed presidents could provide a source of policy stability during a wave of turnover in the central bank's top ranks. The New York Fed is planning to hire a new president by next summer. President Donald Trump has nominated Fed governor Jerome Powell to succeed Ms. Yellen in February, and will have her slot to fill when she retires then. The president also has filled one seat and has three other openings on the seven-member board of governors.</p>
<p>While the governors are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the presidents of the 12 reserve banks are selected by members of each institution's board of directors, subject to approval by the Washington-based Fed board.</p>
<p>The increase in centrist bank presidents has no clear cause, but observers point to some possible contributing factors.</p>
<p>First, over the past decade, the Fed's board has gradually asserted a more active role in the process of selection of the bank leaders. This includes ensuring that the search committees at each bank canvass the nation for candidates of different backgrounds, according to people familiar with the matter.</p>
<p>For years, it was common for regional banks to promote from within. "The process has tended to favor insiders," said Mr. Klein.</p>
<p>For the past four years, Mr. Powell has been the Fed's point person in managing relationships with the reserve banks, including handling the presidential searches.</p>
<p>The board hasn't concerned itself with the policy views of the candidates, these people said. But it keeps tabs on how the search is progressing, and the reserve bank sends one finalist to meet with governors for their signoff.</p>
<p>Second, the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law changed how the reserve banks pick their presidents by excluding from the process the banks' board directors who work for financial institutions. The change enhanced Washington's influence in an indirect way, since half of the remaining bank directors are selected by the Fed board.</p>
<p>Those changes make it "perhaps less surprising that there's a centrist feel to formerly hawkish reserve banks," said Sarah Binder, a political scientist at George Washington University and author of a book on the Fed. Still, given the opacity of the search processes, "it's hard to disentangle the potential influences here," she said.</p>
<p>Third, several of the dissenters of the past were outliers among their colleagues, wielding little influence in the policy discussions. At a time of low inflation and with less opposition to the Fed's unconventional policies, some of the reserve banks might prefer a leader who will be more relevant, said Ms. Binder.</p>
<p>"Hawks are out of fashion," she said.</p>
<p>The removal of bank directors from the search committees might also be behind a shift away from economists being selected to run the reserve banks, said Julia Coronado, an economist and founder of advisory firm MacroPolicy Perspectives LLC. Just one of the last five new presidents tapped to lead a reserve bank is an economist.</p>
<p>"If you're a CEO of an industrial company or a hospital, you may be inclined to weight that economic expertise less heavily in your search process," said Ms. Coronado.</p>
<p>The Fed board became more involved in the process in part because it has caught flak from lawmakers and others over the lack of diversity within the Fed system.</p>
<p>Those efforts appear to have paid off with the selection this year of Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, an economist, housing policy expert and the first African-American to lead a reserve bank. His views place him within the Fed's policy consensus as well.</p>
<p>The Fed drew criticism for its other recent selections. All three reserve presidents hired in 2015, at the Minneapolis, Dallas and Philadelphia Fed banks, either worked for or had previous ties to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.</p>
<p>At his Senate confirmation hearing last week, Mr. Powell said he was committed to improve diversity within the system. "We make better decisions when we have diverse voices around the table...and that's something I've been deeply involved in during all my time there," he said.</p>
<p>Joann S. Lublin contributed to this article.</p>
<p>Write to Nick Timiraos at nick.timiraos@wsj.com</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>December 06, 2017 06:14 ET (11:14 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | appointment thomas barkin mckinsey amp co executive lead federal reserve bank richmond reinforces gradual subtle shift among central bank officials away dissenters toward consensus mr barkin succeeds jeffrey lacker frequently voted feds monetary policy decisions typically favored higher interest rates majority opposed easymoney measures adopted since financial crisis positions made hawk among central bankers continue reading mr barkin hasnt publicly expressed monetary policy views expected less hawkish mr lacker according person familiar situation two hawkish dissenters former fed bank presidents charles plosser philadelphia richard fisher dallas succeeded 2015 patrick harker robert kaplan respectively fit within widening center central banks policy voices ideological presidents replaced someone less extreme said aaron klein economic studies fellow brookings institution director center regulation markets reserve banks working closely past feds board washington selected new leaders dont strong preconceived views economy operates fed banks atlanta minneapolis also selected new presidents past two years messrs harker kaplan along fed officials support consensus forged chairwoman janet yellen favor slowly cautiously reversing central banks extraordinary postcrisis stimulus measures economy improves advertisement central bank raised benchmark shortterm rate 1 percentage point four steps past two years likely lift next week range 125 15 new centrist fed presidents could provide source policy stability wave turnover central banks top ranks new york fed planning hire new president next summer president donald trump nominated fed governor jerome powell succeed ms yellen february slot fill retires president also filled one seat three openings sevenmember board governors governors nominated president confirmed us senate presidents 12 reserve banks selected members institutions board directors subject approval washingtonbased fed board increase centrist bank presidents clear cause observers point possible contributing factors first past decade feds board gradually asserted active role process selection bank leaders includes ensuring search committees bank canvass nation candidates different backgrounds according people familiar matter years common regional banks promote within process tended favor insiders said mr klein past four years mr powell feds point person managing relationships reserve banks including handling presidential searches board hasnt concerned policy views candidates people said keeps tabs search progressing reserve bank sends one finalist meet governors signoff second 2010 doddfrank financialoverhaul law changed reserve banks pick presidents excluding process banks board directors work financial institutions change enhanced washingtons influence indirect way since half remaining bank directors selected fed board changes make perhaps less surprising theres centrist feel formerly hawkish reserve banks said sarah binder political scientist george washington university author book fed still given opacity search processes hard disentangle potential influences said third several dissenters past outliers among colleagues wielding little influence policy discussions time low inflation less opposition feds unconventional policies reserve banks might prefer leader relevant said ms binder hawks fashion said removal bank directors search committees might also behind shift away economists selected run reserve banks said julia coronado economist founder advisory firm macropolicy perspectives llc one last five new presidents tapped lead reserve bank economist youre ceo industrial company hospital may inclined weight economic expertise less heavily search process said ms coronado fed board became involved process part caught flak lawmakers others lack diversity within fed system efforts appear paid selection year atlanta fed president raphael bostic economist housing policy expert first africanamerican lead reserve bank views place within feds policy consensus well fed drew criticism recent selections three reserve presidents hired 2015 minneapolis dallas philadelphia fed banks either worked previous ties goldman sachs group inc senate confirmation hearing last week mr powell said committed improve diversity within system make better decisions diverse voices around tableand thats something ive deeply involved time said joann lublin contributed article write nick timiraos nicktimiraoswsjcom end dow jones newswires december 06 2017 0614 et 1114 gmt | 608 |
<p>WASHINGTON — The same Homeland Security Department office that categorized veterans as potential terrorists issued an earlier report that defined dozens of “extremists” ranging from black power activists to abortion foes. The report was nixed within hours and recalled from state and local law enforcement officials.</p>
<p>Whites and blacks, Christians and Jews, Cubans and Mexicans, along with tax-hating Americans were among several political leanings listed in the “Domestic Extremism Lexicon” that came out of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&amp;A) in late March.</p>
<p>The lexicon lists definitions for key terms and phrases used by Homeland Security analysts “that addresses the nature and scope of the threat that domestic, non-Islamic extremism poses to the United States,” the report said.</p>
<p>Click <a href="" type="internal">here</a> to download a PDF of “Domestic Extremism Lexicon”</p>
<p>Black separatism was defined as a movement that they said advocates the establishment of a separate nation within the U.S., and its members “advocate or engage in criminal activity and plot acts of violence directed toward local law enforcement” to advance their goals. Black power is a “term used by black separatists to describe their pride in, and the perceived superiority of the black race,” the report said.</p>
<p>RELATED STORIES: • <a href="" type="internal">Napolitano apologizes to veterans</a> • <a href="" type="internal">WHO urges restraint with swine flu measures</a> • <a href="" type="internal">Taliban gains unsettle neighbors</a></p>
<p>Under the listing “antiabortion extremism,” the lexicon cites a movement that “advocates violence against providers of abortion-related services.” It notes that some people in the movement “cite various racist and anti-Semitic beliefs to justify their criminal activities.”</p>
<p>“The lexicon was not an authorized I&amp;A product, and it was recalled as soon as management discovered it had been released without authorization,” said Amy Kudwa, Homeland Security spokeswoman.</p>
<p>“This product is not, nor was it ever, in operational use,” Ms. Kudwa said.</p>
<p>Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the report “causes further concern that Congress needs to get to the bottom of exactly how DHS determines what intelligence products to distribute to law enforcement officials around the country.”</p>
<p>“Although we have evidence that some of the groups described in this and other DHS intelligence products are an active terror threat to our nation, I would be interested in knowing why this lexicon mentioning left-wing extremist groups was deemed inappropriate by DHS and recalled, yet a similar report focusing on veterans, antiabortion activists and anti-illegal immigration activists was fit for distribution and sent out by DHS to law enforcement agencies across the country,” Mr. King said.</p>
<p>The 11-page lexicon document lists terms from A through W, beginning with “aboveground,” which is defined as extremist groups or people who “operate overtly and portray themselves as law-abiding,” and ending with “white supremacist movement.” The listing notes six categories of white supremacists: Neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, Christian identity, racist skinhead, Nordic mysticism and Aryan prison gangs.</p>
<p>A “left-wing extremist” is described as someone who opposes war or is dedicated to environmental and animal rights causes, while a “right-wing extremist” is someone who is against abortion or for border enforcement.</p>
<p>The same “right-wing” definition appeared in a report last month that prompted an outcry in the veterans community for also suggesting that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were targets for extremist groups to recruit for attacks against the U.S.</p>
<p>That report was not recalled; however, the department said it has instituted changes to more carefully review these reports before they are sent to local law enforcement agencies.</p>
<p>“Since this happened prior to our last experience, our new internal protocols were obviously not in place,” Ms. Kudwa said.</p>
<p>Roger Mackin, the head of the I&amp;A responsible for the report that suggested veterans were being recruited to commit terrorist acts in the U.S., was replaced late last month. Ms. Kudwa said then that the personnel moves were categorically not related to the veterans-related story reported by The Washington Times in mid-April.</p>
<p>She also said Mr. Mackin would move outside Homeland Security, to the cybersecurity section at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The new detail for Mr. Mackin had been planned for several weeks and predated the April 7 report, Ms. Kudwa said at the time.</p>
<p>The latest report to become public, the lexicon on domestic extremism, stated that people involved with anti-immigration extremism “may have been known to advocate or engage in criminal activity and plot acts of violence and terrorism to advance their extremist goals.”</p>
<p>“They are highly critical of the U.S. government’s response to illegal immigration and oppose government programs that are designed to extend ‘rights’ to illegal aliens, such as issuing driver’s licenses or national identification cards and providing in-state tuition, medical benefits, or public education.”</p>
<p>“Cuban independence extremism” is defined as those who “do not recognize the legitimacy of the Communist Cuban Government and who attempt to subvert it through acts of violence, mainly within the U.S.”</p>
<p>Mexican separatism defines those would advocate an armed struggle to take back Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, the report stated.</p>
<p>Environmental extremism is described as those “who use violence to end what they perceive as the degradation of the natural environment by humans.”</p>
<p>And, the “tax-resistance movement” is described as “groups or individuals who vehemently believe taxes violate their constitutional rights.”</p>
<p>The criteria in the listings are a willingness to advocate or engage in criminal activity or plot acts of terrorism.</p>
<p>The report lists traditional extremist groups, such as racist skinheads or lone terrorists who might plot against the U.S., as well as some obscure groups. Racial Nordic mysticism is listed as an ideology adopted by many white supremacist prison gangs “who embrace a Norse mythological religion, such as Odinism or Asatru.”</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2009/may/5/homeland-pulled-back-extremism-dictionary/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 0 | washington homeland security department office categorized veterans potential terrorists issued earlier report defined dozens extremists ranging black power activists abortion foes report nixed within hours recalled state local law enforcement officials whites blacks christians jews cubans mexicans along taxhating americans among several political leanings listed domestic extremism lexicon came office intelligence analysis iampa late march lexicon lists definitions key terms phrases used homeland security analysts addresses nature scope threat domestic nonislamic extremism poses united states report said click download pdf domestic extremism lexicon black separatism defined movement said advocates establishment separate nation within us members advocate engage criminal activity plot acts violence directed toward local law enforcement advance goals black power term used black separatists describe pride perceived superiority black race report said related stories napolitano apologizes veterans urges restraint swine flu measures taliban gains unsettle neighbors listing antiabortion extremism lexicon cites movement advocates violence providers abortionrelated services notes people movement cite various racist antisemitic beliefs justify criminal activities lexicon authorized iampa product recalled soon management discovered released without authorization said amy kudwa homeland security spokeswoman product ever operational use ms kudwa said rep peter king new york republican ranking member house homeland security committee said report causes concern congress needs get bottom exactly dhs determines intelligence products distribute law enforcement officials around country although evidence groups described dhs intelligence products active terror threat nation would interested knowing lexicon mentioning leftwing extremist groups deemed inappropriate dhs recalled yet similar report focusing veterans antiabortion activists antiillegal immigration activists fit distribution sent dhs law enforcement agencies across country mr king said 11page lexicon document lists terms w beginning aboveground defined extremist groups people operate overtly portray lawabiding ending white supremacist movement listing notes six categories white supremacists neonazi ku klux klan christian identity racist skinhead nordic mysticism aryan prison gangs leftwing extremist described someone opposes war dedicated environmental animal rights causes rightwing extremist someone abortion border enforcement rightwing definition appeared report last month prompted outcry veterans community also suggesting veterans iraq afghanistan wars targets extremist groups recruit attacks us report recalled however department said instituted changes carefully review reports sent local law enforcement agencies since happened prior last experience new internal protocols obviously place ms kudwa said roger mackin head iampa responsible report suggested veterans recruited commit terrorist acts us replaced late last month ms kudwa said personnel moves categorically related veteransrelated story reported washington times midapril also said mr mackin would move outside homeland security cybersecurity section office director national intelligence new detail mr mackin planned several weeks predated april 7 report ms kudwa said time latest report become public lexicon domestic extremism stated people involved antiimmigration extremism may known advocate engage criminal activity plot acts violence terrorism advance extremist goals highly critical us governments response illegal immigration oppose government programs designed extend rights illegal aliens issuing drivers licenses national identification cards providing instate tuition medical benefits public education cuban independence extremism defined recognize legitimacy communist cuban government attempt subvert acts violence mainly within us mexican separatism defines would advocate armed struggle take back arizona california new mexico texas report stated environmental extremism described use violence end perceive degradation natural environment humans taxresistance movement described groups individuals vehemently believe taxes violate constitutional rights criteria listings willingness advocate engage criminal activity plot acts terrorism report lists traditional extremist groups racist skinheads lone terrorists might plot us well obscure groups racial nordic mysticism listed ideology adopted many white supremacist prison gangs embrace norse mythological religion odinism asatru copyright 2018 washington times llc click reprint permission 160 | 583 |
<p>TIDMINVP TIDMTSCO</p>
<p>FORM 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI)</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN</p>
<p>EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITHOUT RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY ("RI") STATUS</p>
<p>(OR WHERE RI STATUS IS NOT APPLICABLE)</p>
<p>Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")</p>
<p>1. KEY INFORMATION</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>(a) Name of exempt principal trader:</p>
<p>Investec Bank plc</p>
<p>(b) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant</p>
<p>securities this form relates: Tesco plc</p>
<p>Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree</p>
<p>(c) Name of the party to the offer with which exempt Investec are Broker to</p>
<p>principal trader is connected: Booker Group plc</p>
<p>(d) Date position held/dealing undertaken:</p>
<p>For an opening position disclosure, state the latest 1(st) December 2017</p>
<p>practicable date prior to the disclosure</p>
<p>(e) In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is the</p>
<p>exempt principal trader making disclosures in respect YES - Booker Group plc</p>
<p>of any other party to the offer?</p>
<p>If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state</p>
<p>"N/A"</p>
<p>2. POSITIONS OF THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER</p>
<p>If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than</p>
<p>one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b),</p>
<p>copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of</p>
<p>relevant security.</p>
<p>(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of</p>
<p>the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the</p>
<p>dealing (if any)</p>
<p>Class of relevant security:</p>
<p>Interests Short positions</p>
<p>Number % Number %</p>
<p>(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:</p>
<p>0 0.0000</p>
<p>(2) Cash-settled derivatives:</p>
<p>(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options)</p>
<p>and agreements to purchase/sell:</p>
<p>TOTAL: 0 0.0000</p>
<p>All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.</p>
<p>Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded</p>
<p>options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should</p>
<p>be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).</p>
<p>(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors'</p>
<p>and other employee options)</p>
<p>Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription</p>
<p>right exists:</p>
<p>Details, including nature of the rights concerned</p>
<p>and relevant percentages:</p>
<p>3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER</p>
<p>Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant</p>
<p>securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 3(a), (b),</p>
<p>(c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant</p>
<p>security dealt in.</p>
<p>The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.</p>
<p>(a) Purchases and sales</p>
<p>Class of Purchases/ sales Total number Highest price Lowest price</p>
<p>relevant of securities per unit per unit</p>
<p>security paid/received paid/received</p>
<p>Ordinary Purchase 20,000 195.5 195.5</p>
<p>(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions</p>
<p>Class of Product description Nature of dealing Number of Price</p>
<p>relevant e.g. CFD e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing reference per</p>
<p>security a long/short position securities unit</p>
<p>(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)</p>
<p>(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying</p>
<p>Class of Product Writing, Number of Exercise Type Expiry Option</p>
<p>relevant description purchasing, securities price e.g. American, European etc. date money</p>
<p>security e.g. call selling, to which per paid/</p>
<p>option varying option unit received</p>
<p>etc. relates per</p>
<p>unit</p>
<p>(ii) Exercise</p>
<p>Class of Product description Exercising/ Number of Exercise</p>
<p>relevant e.g. call option exercised securities price per</p>
<p>security against unit</p>
<p>(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)</p>
<p>Class of relevant Nature of dealing Details Price per unit</p>
<p>security e.g. subscription, conversion (if applicable)</p>
<p>4. OTHER INFORMATION</p>
<p>(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements</p>
<p>Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or</p>
<p>any agreement or understanding, formal or informal,</p>
<p>relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement</p>
<p>to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the</p>
<p>exempt principal trader making the disclosure and</p>
<p>any party to the offer or any person acting in concert</p>
<p>with a party to the offer:</p>
<p>Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should</p>
<p>not be included. If there are no such agreements,</p>
<p>arrangements or understandings, state "none"</p>
<p>None</p>
<p>(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to</p>
<p>options or derivatives</p>
<p>Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding,</p>
<p>formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader</p>
<p>making the disclosure and any other person relating</p>
<p>to:</p>
<p>(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under</p>
<p>any option; or</p>
<p>(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal</p>
<p>of any relevant securities to which any derivative</p>
<p>is referenced:</p>
<p>If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings,</p>
<p>state "none"</p>
<p>None</p>
<p>(c) Attachments</p>
<p>Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO</p>
<p>Date of disclosure:</p>
<p>4(th) December 2017</p>
<p>Contact name:</p>
<p>Gary Darch</p>
<p>Telephone number:</p>
<p>020 7597 4549</p>
<p>Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory</p>
<p>Information Service.</p>
<p>The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in</p>
<p>relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.</p>
<p>The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at</p>
<p>www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.</p>
<p>This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf</p>
<p>of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.</p>
<p>The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely</p>
<p>responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information</p>
<p>contained therein.</p>
<p>Source: Investec Bank plc via Globenewswire</p>
<p>https://www.investec.co.uk/</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>December 04, 2017 05:08 ET (10:08 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | tidminvp tidmtsco form 85 eptnonri continue reading public opening position disclosuredealing disclosure exempt principal trader without recognised intermediary ri status ri status applicable rule 85 takeover code code 1 key information advertisement name exempt principal trader investec bank plc b name offerorofferee relation whose relevant securities form relates tesco plc use separate form offerorofferee c name party offer exempt investec broker principal trader connected booker group plc date position helddealing undertaken opening position disclosure state latest 1st december 2017 practicable date prior disclosure e addition company 1b exempt principal trader making disclosures respect yes booker group plc party offer cash offer possible cash offer state na 2 positions exempt principal trader positions rights subscribe disclose one class relevant securities offeror offeree named 1b copy table 2a b appropriate additional class relevant security interests short positions relevant securities offeror offeree disclosure relates following dealing class relevant security interests short positions number number 1 relevant securities owned andor controlled 0 00000 2 cashsettled derivatives 3 stocksettled derivatives including options agreements purchasesell total 0 00000 interests short positions disclosed details open stocksettled derivative positions including traded options agreements purchase sell relevant securities given supplemental form 8 open positions b rights subscribe new securities including directors employee options class relevant security relation subscription right exists details including nature rights concerned relevant percentages 3 dealings exempt principal trader dealings one class relevant securities offeror offeree named 1b copy table 3a b c appropriate additional class relevant security dealt currency prices monetary amounts stated purchases sales class purchases sales total number highest price lowest price relevant securities per unit per unit security paidreceived paidreceived ordinary purchase 20000 1955 1955 b cashsettled derivative transactions class product description nature dealing number price relevant eg cfd eg openingclosing longshort position increasingreducing reference per security longshort position securities unit c stocksettled derivative transactions including options writing selling purchasing varying class product writing number exercise type expiry option relevant description purchasing securities price eg american european etc date money security eg call selling per paid option varying option unit received etc relates per unit ii exercise class product description exercising number exercise relevant eg call option exercised securities price per security unit dealings including subscribing new securities class relevant nature dealing details price per unit security eg subscription conversion applicable 4 information indemnity dealing arrangements details indemnity option arrangement agreement understanding formal informal relating relevant securities may inducement deal refrain dealing entered exempt principal trader making disclosure party offer person acting concert party offer irrevocable commitments letters intent included agreements arrangements understandings state none none b agreements arrangements understandings relating options derivatives details agreement arrangement understanding formal informal exempt principal trader making disclosure person relating voting rights relevant securities option ii voting rights future acquisition disposal relevant securities derivative referenced agreements arrangements understandings state none none c attachments supplemental form 8 open positions attached date disclosure 4th december 2017 contact name gary darch telephone number 020 7597 4549 public disclosures rule 8 code must made regulatory information service panels market surveillance unit available consultation relation codes disclosure requirements 44 020 7638 0129 code viewed panels website wwwthetakeoverpanelorguk announcement distributed nasdaq corporate solutions behalf nasdaq corporate solutions clients issuer announcement warrants solely responsible content accuracy originality information contained therein source investec bank plc via globenewswire httpswwwinvesteccouk end dow jones newswires december 04 2017 0508 et 1008 gmt | 555 |
<p />
<p>We lost 5 of our finest last week. Five young men that served our country, 3 came back from tours overseas and continued their service encouraging others to do the same.</p>
<p>I have spoken to many of these young men and women asking them why they serve. Why put your life on the line for a cause they often don’t seem to get much support for?</p>
<p>The answer is always the same, but it’s never the pay! Nope. Not the benefits, not the education or housing or food! It has nothing to do with seeing the world or those great uniforms they get. What would possess these young people to serve? Their answer is always; “We love this country, sir.” They usually go on to say that they want to protect the freedoms this country offers all its citizens and that they still believe this is the best country on the planet.</p>
<p>The never complain about a living wage, living arrangements, work hours, time off, internet access, or sleeping accommodations because they love what they do and they believe that they are doing the right thing.</p>
<p>Do you know where the largest concentration of military recruits come from? The South! Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina. Tennessee, Texas, and so on. In the South, approximately 7 out of every thousand people enlist, as opposed to less than 3 out of every thousand from California, New York, and Massachusetts. We’ve been pummeling Southerners for being racists, yet their actions prove that they love this country (and ALL the people in it) enough to make what could be the ultimate sacrifice. Meanwhile, some of those “other” states can only complain about the country and those “racists.”</p>
<p>Some of our service personnel are seriously injured yet can’t wait to get back to the battlefield! And then there are those who simply can’t go back to the battlefield.</p>
<p>And how do we honor these people who give their lives for us? By not protecting them! We honor them by ignoring the real and present danger. In other words… we don’t honor them at all!</p>
<p>We don’t honor them until it’s too late. We give them medals for coming home with missing limbs. We honor them by giving a flag to their families when they pay the ultimate sacrifice. We honor them by considering lowering standards for a certain groups of people to get in because it’s politically correct (something our military should never be). We honor them by turning what was the most respected military force on the planet to a military you might be able to count on if the higher ups give the order in time to make a difference. That’s not honor!</p>
<p>And now, our president further dishonors our military by not acknowledging what really happened in Chattanooga. Five military men were gunned down by an ISIS sympathizer, on American soil, and our President calls it an isolated incident by a “lone gunman.”</p>
<p>I’ve gone from giving him the benefit of the doubt, to calling it what it is… This President is delusional.</p>
<p>He must mean it’s an isolated incident like those Boston Bombing cowards. You know, those 2 young men with Muslim extremist connections? Sure. It’s that kind of isolated incident.</p>
<p>How about a few other isolated incidents?</p>
<p>September 2014, Oklahoma: A Sharia advocate beheads a woman after calling for Islamic terror and posting an Islamist beheading photo.</p>
<p>June 2014, West Orange, New Jersey: A 19-year-old college student is shot to death ‘in revenge’ for Muslim deaths overseas.</p>
<p>June 2014, Seattle, Washington: Two homosexuals are murdered by an Islamic extremist.</p>
<p>April 2014, Skyway, Washington: A 30-year-old man is murdered by a Muslim fanatic.</p>
<p>Since 9/11 we have had almost 50 attacks on U.S. soil in the name of Islam or in the name of ISIS. Another 30+ were stopped before they occurred.</p>
<p>Most of the attackers yelled “Praises to Allah” before committing these acts. Yet the incidences have been deemed everything from workplace violence to single acts of deranged people.</p>
<p>We can still buy ISIS flags and get ISIS-themed cakes made. There is no resounding noise or uprising to ban the ISIS flag image like there was after the single shooting incident in Charleston, South Carolina.</p>
<p>When Dylan Roof gunned down 9 black people in that church Charleston you would have thought from the subsequent media coverage that he was speaking for all people associated with the Confederate flag and that shootings associated with a Confederate flag were a regular occurrence that had to be stopped, NOW! He never yelled “long live the south” or “the south will rise again” or any other “racist” chant while doing so. Overwhelmingly, the American populous, including Southerners, denounced his actions. His only real connection to the Confederate flag was that he was pictured with it, but it became the central focus. And the fallout from that ONE shooting continues with Civil War memorials being removed and soldiers being exhumed!</p>
<p>ONE racially motivated incident, by ONE deranged shooter who happened to be photographed with a Confederated battle flag causes such furor that history is actively being rewritten in right in front of us.</p>
<p>Compare that to 50 attacks on US soil by Islamic extremists. Are there any calls to ban the flag? Nope. That ISIS flag is still easy to find here in the U.S. of A.</p>
<p>What is this double-standard? Why do some atrocities simply draw a gasp while others incite riots? And why do some groups always seems get a pass?</p>
<p>I’ve come to the conclusion, if you are white and commit a crime using a gun you are tagged as a “right-wing, conservative, gun-loving, homophobic, bigoted racist” and represent all in the “White _______ “ fill in the blank categories.</p>
<p>But if you happen to be a “devoted Muslim, with beheading videos and ISIS propaganda all over your home and in your computer” and are even writing blogs to join the cause, you are a “lone wolf” with no ties to any other Muslim extremists. There’s no pattern here.</p>
<p>There isn’t enough booze or drugs to make that garbage make sense.</p>
<p>Speak out and speak up! Be the non-violent “Lone Wolf” and make a difference by speaking the truth.</p> | true | 0 | lost 5 finest last week five young men served country 3 came back tours overseas continued service encouraging others spoken many young men women asking serve put life line cause often dont seem get much support answer always never pay nope benefits education housing food nothing seeing world great uniforms get would possess young people serve answer always love country sir usually go say want protect freedoms country offers citizens still believe best country planet never complain living wage living arrangements work hours time internet access sleeping accommodations love believe right thing know largest concentration military recruits come south florida georgia south carolina north carolina tennessee texas south approximately 7 every thousand people enlist opposed less 3 every thousand california new york massachusetts weve pummeling southerners racists yet actions prove love country people enough make could ultimate sacrifice meanwhile states complain country racists service personnel seriously injured yet cant wait get back battlefield simply cant go back battlefield honor people give lives us protecting honor ignoring real present danger words dont honor dont honor late give medals coming home missing limbs honor giving flag families pay ultimate sacrifice honor considering lowering standards certain groups people get politically correct something military never honor turning respected military force planet military might able count higher ups give order time make difference thats honor president dishonors military acknowledging really happened chattanooga five military men gunned isis sympathizer american soil president calls isolated incident lone gunman ive gone giving benefit doubt calling president delusional must mean isolated incident like boston bombing cowards know 2 young men muslim extremist connections sure kind isolated incident isolated incidents september 2014 oklahoma sharia advocate beheads woman calling islamic terror posting islamist beheading photo june 2014 west orange new jersey 19yearold college student shot death revenge muslim deaths overseas june 2014 seattle washington two homosexuals murdered islamic extremist april 2014 skyway washington 30yearold man murdered muslim fanatic since 911 almost 50 attacks us soil name islam name isis another 30 stopped occurred attackers yelled praises allah committing acts yet incidences deemed everything workplace violence single acts deranged people still buy isis flags get isisthemed cakes made resounding noise uprising ban isis flag image like single shooting incident charleston south carolina dylan roof gunned 9 black people church charleston would thought subsequent media coverage speaking people associated confederate flag shootings associated confederate flag regular occurrence stopped never yelled long live south south rise racist chant overwhelmingly american populous including southerners denounced actions real connection confederate flag pictured became central focus fallout one shooting continues civil war memorials removed soldiers exhumed one racially motivated incident one deranged shooter happened photographed confederated battle flag causes furor history actively rewritten right front us compare 50 attacks us soil islamic extremists calls ban flag nope isis flag still easy find us doublestandard atrocities simply draw gasp others incite riots groups always seems get pass ive come conclusion white commit crime using gun tagged rightwing conservative gunloving homophobic bigoted racist represent white _______ fill blank categories happen devoted muslim beheading videos isis propaganda home computer even writing blogs join cause lone wolf ties muslim extremists theres pattern isnt enough booze drugs make garbage make sense speak speak nonviolent lone wolf make difference speaking truth | 538 |
<p />
<p>Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi recently launched its first two Mi Drones at jaw-dropping prices. A 1080p model costs just 2,499 yuan ($380) while the 4K version costs 2,999 yuan ($460). Both devices sport three-axis gimbals and rely on a companion app as a remote control and viewfinder. Xiaomi's devices dramatically undercut comparable 4K drones on the market, which generally cost around $1,000.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Xiaomi's Mi Drone. Image source: Xiaomi.</p>
<p>Xiaomi claims that the Mi Drone's replaceable 5,100 mAh battery offers nearly half an hour of flight time on a single charge -- which is comparable to high-end drones likeDJI Innovations' Phantom 4. Like DJI's drones, Xiaomi's Mi Drone features autonomous takeoff, landing, waypoint navigation, orbit, and return-to-home modes. Users can also place geofences to limit the drone's movement.</p>
<p>It's unclear how well the Mi Drone stacks up against DJI's market-leading Phantom devices, but it's clearly bad news for GoPro , which recently delayed the launch of its eagerly anticipated Karma drone to the holiday quarter.</p>
<p>The launch of the Mi Drone is yet another indication that Xiaomi has its sights set on GoPro. Earlier this month, Xiaomi started selling Yi Technology's Yi 4K Action Camera 2, which combines the hardware of GoPro's $500 Hero 4 Black with the touch LCD display of the $400 Hero 4 Silver for just $250. Yi Technology (in which Xiaomi is an investor) also recently partnered with Alphabet's YouTube to create VR videos for its <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/24/gopro-incs-biggest-partner-hooks-up-with-other-cam.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Jump platform Opens a New Window.</a>. Prior to that announcement, GoPro had been YouTube's sole Jump partner.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>GoPro hasn't launched any new premium devices since the much-maligned Hero 4 Session last summer. Since then, GoPro's quarterly sales have steadily declined, and sales fell nearly 50% annually last quarter. The company also discontinued its three low to mid-range devices (the Hero, Hero+, and Hero+ LCD) in April to convince customers to migrate to its three core devices (the Session, Silver, and Black).</p>
<p>But as I <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/14/3-troubling-comments-from-gopro-incs-earnings-call.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">mentioned previously Opens a New Window.</a>, those three discontinued cameras accounted for nearly a thirdof its sell-through last quarter. This means that until the Hero 5 and Karma arrive during the holiday quarter, GoPro has no new sources of revenue growth. That's probably why GoPro stopped issuing quarterly guidance earlier this year.</p>
<p>GoPro originally planned to launch the Karma drone in the first half of 2016, which would have boosted sales growth until the arrival of the Hero 5. But with the Karma delayed, GoPro investors are left waiting as major companies like DJI and Xiaomi launch impressive new drones.</p>
<p>DJI displays in Apple Stores. Image source: DJI.</p>
<p>Apple has already provided <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/23/with-apple-inc-promoting-dji-gopro-faces-an-uphill.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">brick-and-mortar support Opens a New Window.</a> to DJI by installing big "feature bay" displays for the Phantom 4 at its stores. DJI employees are also visiting select Apple Stores to provide customers with hands-on training sessions. Xiaomi could start selling the Mi Drone through its U.S. retail website or third-party e-tailers, which could help it gain market share against DJI and other drone makers.</p>
<p>GoPro claims that it can generate $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion in revenue this year, which would represent a 7% to 20% decline from 2015. However, the delay of the Karma and the arrival of new competitors like Xiaomi could make it very tough to hit that target.</p>
<p>To understand GoPro's dilemma, let's take a look at the company's first quarter sales, analyst projections for the second and third quarters, and the devices which it will sell in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Source: GoPro 1Q report, Yahoo Finance.</p>
<p>If those estimates are accurate, GoPro must generate between $597 million and $797 million in sales during the fourth quarter to hit its full-year target. That would represent 37% to 83% growth from the fourth quarter of 2015, and would be comparable to its revenue of $634 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 -- when demand for GoPro cameras peaked after the launch of the Hero 4.</p>
<p>I seriously doubt GoPro can replicate that kind of growth again. The action camera market is much more crowded than it was in 2014, and new drones could easily steal Karma's thunder before it arrives. GoPro previously hinted that it will sell the Karma as a premium accessory for its action cameras. But with Xiaomi now selling a 4K drone which costs less than a single Hero 4 Black camera, GoPro's dream of using drones to sell cameras could be quickly shattered.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/05/29/more-bad-news-for-gopro-xiaomi-launches-a-460-4k-d.aspx" type="external">More Bad News for GoPro Inc: Xiaomi Launches a $460 4K Drone Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p>Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Apple, and GoPro. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | chinese smartphone giant xiaomi recently launched first two mi drones jawdropping prices 1080p model costs 2499 yuan 380 4k version costs 2999 yuan 460 devices sport threeaxis gimbals rely companion app remote control viewfinder xiaomis devices dramatically undercut comparable 4k drones market generally cost around 1000 continue reading xiaomis mi drone image source xiaomi xiaomi claims mi drones replaceable 5100 mah battery offers nearly half hour flight time single charge comparable highend drones likedji innovations phantom 4 like djis drones xiaomis mi drone features autonomous takeoff landing waypoint navigation orbit returntohome modes users also place geofences limit drones movement unclear well mi drone stacks djis marketleading phantom devices clearly bad news gopro recently delayed launch eagerly anticipated karma drone holiday quarter launch mi drone yet another indication xiaomi sights set gopro earlier month xiaomi started selling yi technologys yi 4k action camera 2 combines hardware gopros 500 hero 4 black touch lcd display 400 hero 4 silver 250 yi technology xiaomi investor also recently partnered alphabets youtube create vr videos jump platform opens new window prior announcement gopro youtubes sole jump partner advertisement gopro hasnt launched new premium devices since muchmaligned hero 4 session last summer since gopros quarterly sales steadily declined sales fell nearly 50 annually last quarter company also discontinued three low midrange devices hero hero hero lcd april convince customers migrate three core devices session silver black mentioned previously opens new window three discontinued cameras accounted nearly thirdof sellthrough last quarter means hero 5 karma arrive holiday quarter gopro new sources revenue growth thats probably gopro stopped issuing quarterly guidance earlier year gopro originally planned launch karma drone first half 2016 would boosted sales growth arrival hero 5 karma delayed gopro investors left waiting major companies like dji xiaomi launch impressive new drones dji displays apple stores image source dji apple already provided brickandmortar support opens new window dji installing big feature bay displays phantom 4 stores dji employees also visiting select apple stores provide customers handson training sessions xiaomi could start selling mi drone us retail website thirdparty etailers could help gain market share dji drone makers gopro claims generate 13 billion 15 billion revenue year would represent 7 20 decline 2015 however delay karma arrival new competitors like xiaomi could make tough hit target understand gopros dilemma lets take look companys first quarter sales analyst projections second third quarters devices sell fourth quarter source gopro 1q report yahoo finance estimates accurate gopro must generate 597 million 797 million sales fourth quarter hit fullyear target would represent 37 83 growth fourth quarter 2015 would comparable revenue 634 million fourth quarter 2014 demand gopro cameras peaked launch hero 4 seriously doubt gopro replicate kind growth action camera market much crowded 2014 new drones could easily steal karmas thunder arrives gopro previously hinted sell karma premium accessory action cameras xiaomi selling 4k drone costs less single hero 4 black camera gopros dream using drones sell cameras could quickly shattered article bad news gopro inc xiaomi launches 460 4k drone opens new window originally appeared foolcom suzanne frey executive alphabet member motley fools board directors leo sun opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends alphabet shares alphabet c shares apple gopro motley fool following options long january 2018 90 calls apple short january 2018 95 calls apple try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 600 |
<p />
<p>Identity theft has given plenty of consumers reason for concern. More than 13 million adults in the United States were victims of identity fraud in 2015, according to Javelin Strategy and Research. The total fraud amount was $15 billion.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Identity theft can take many forms, but one type of fraud occurs when an unauthorized credit account is opened.</p>
<p>A pair of major tools -- fraud alerts and security freezes -- can help consumers fight back against such an action, says Tod Burke, a criminal justice professor and associate dean at Radford University in Radford, Virginia.</p>
<p>Prevent ID Theft With A:</p>
<p>Fraud alert:</p>
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<p>Security freeze (aka credit freeze):</p>
<p>Alerts, Freezes Fight ID Theft</p>
<p>You can fight back against identity theft by using fraud alerts and security freezes. If you're worried you may be a victim of credit fraud, contact the 3 major credit reporting agencies:</p>
<p>FREE CREDIT REPORT: Look for unusual activity on your credit report today, <a href="https://my.bankrate.com/learn-more?ic_id=mybr_editorial_v1&amp;qls=BRC_CONTENT4.060915CRMT" type="external">free at myBankrate Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>"We're not going to always prevent identity theft, but alerts and freezes can help minimize the chance of it happening," Burke says.</p>
<p>A fraud alert is a notation placed on a person's credit report that requires potential creditors to verify a borrower's identity before any new credit is issued in his or her name.</p>
<p>"We're not going to always prevent identity theft, but alerts and freezes can help minimize the chance of it happening."</p>
<p>In comparison, a security freeze, also called a credit freeze, prevents potential creditors from viewing a credit report at all, although the government can still get access to it. This means no one -- not even you -- can open a new line of credit in your name unless the freeze is lifted.</p>
<p>Comparing Alerts vs. Freezes</p>
<p>Consumers can use one or both tools to help protect their credit, Burke says. Following are descriptions of how these options compare in 5 different areas.</p>
<p>1. Fees</p>
<p>It costs money to initiate a security freeze with each of the 3 major credit bureaus, up to a total of about $30, says Mari Frank, author of the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Recovering From Identity Theft."</p>
<p>Frank says the exact cost depends on:</p>
<p>If you have been a victim of identity theft -- and can prove it -- you can freeze your credit for free.</p>
<p>On the other hand, fraud alerts don't cost anything. In addition, consumers who put an alert on their records are allowed to get a free copy of their credit report with each of the 3 major credit bureaus, Frank says.</p>
<p>Consumers initiate security freezes by contacting all 3 credit reporting agencies. But for fraud alerts, once you place a fraud alert on your credit report with any one of the 3 major credit reporting companies, that company will notify the other 2 and fraud alerts will also be placed on those files. Requests can be made via the agencies' websites, by telephone or by mail.</p>
<p>"I would recommend making any request to the bureaus in writing," Burke says. "It may add a few days to the process to mail it in, but it's a good idea to have written correspondence for your own personal records."</p>
<p>FREE TOOL: Keep an eye on your credit score today for free at <a href="https://my.bankrate.com/learn-more?ic_id=mybr_editorial_v1&amp;qls=BRC_CONTENT0.0801016IDPT" type="external">myBankrate Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>2. Strength of Protection</p>
<p>Fraud alerts tell potential lenders to verify a person's identity before issuing new credit. However, there are no specific rules for doing this verification, and many consumer advocates are concerned that potential creditors don't do enough to confirm a borrower, Frank says.</p>
<p>"It's frustrating to have an alert if it has no teeth," she says.</p>
<p>By contrast, security freezes don't allow new creditors to look at a file at all.</p>
<p>"It puts a lock on your credit," Frank says.</p>
<p>While this option offers more protection, Frank admits a freeze can be a hassle for people who plan to legitimately apply for credit, or who need an insurance company, landlord or potential employer to check their credit history.</p>
<p>"A freeze may work best for someone who's not planning on applying for new credit in the near future, she says.</p>
<p>3. Time Length</p>
<p>Fraud alerts typically last for 90 days and can be renewed for additional 90-day periods.</p>
<p>"Existing victims of identity theft can have the alert extended to 7 years," Frank says.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, a security freeze lasts indefinitely.</p>
<p>"Existing victims of identity theft can have the alert extended to 7 years."</p>
<p>4. Ability to be Reversed</p>
<p>Permanently "thawing" a security freeze can be an involved process, Burke says. Consumers must contact each of the 3 bureaus to request an end to the freeze. They must also pay a fee of about $5 to $10 and provide personal information, like their date of birth, address and Social Security number. After receiving a freeze request, the consumer gets a confirmation letter and a personal identification number, or PIN, from each credit reporting agency.</p>
<p>"If you forget your PIN, the freeze reversal could be delayed for several days," Burke says.</p>
<p>The process for ending a fraud alert is easier, he says.</p>
<p>"Fraud alerts can be ended by contacting each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies, and by requesting that they be removed," Burke says.</p>
<p>Consumers can also choose to wait until the alert expires.</p>
<p>5. Effect on the Consumer's Credit Score</p>
<p>Neither a fraud alert nor a credit freeze alone will affect a consumer's credit rating, Frank says.</p>
<p>Incidentally, although new lenders can't access credit files when a security freeze is in place, existing creditors can still view those records and continue to see how well consumers are managing their accounts, she says.</p>
<p>Another Option</p>
<p>Some experts say that for the most identity theft protection, consumers should look beyond fraud alerts and credit freezes.</p>
<p>Monitoring plans are offered by independent companies, financial companies and even credit bureaus themselves. Costs vary, but are typically around $10 per month.</p>
<p>FREE TOOL: When is the last time you checked your credit report? Get it free now at <a href="https://my.bankrate.com/learn-more?ic_id=mybr_editorial_v1&amp;qls=BRC_CONTENT1.0801016IDPT" type="external">myBankrate Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 2016, Bankrate Inc.</p> | true | 0 | identity theft given plenty consumers reason concern 13 million adults united states victims identity fraud 2015 according javelin strategy research total fraud amount 15 billion continue reading identity theft take many forms one type fraud occurs unauthorized credit account opened pair major tools fraud alerts security freezes help consumers fight back action says tod burke criminal justice professor associate dean radford university radford virginia prevent id theft fraud alert advertisement security freeze aka credit freeze alerts freezes fight id theft fight back identity theft using fraud alerts security freezes youre worried may victim credit fraud contact 3 major credit reporting agencies free credit report look unusual activity credit report today free mybankrate opens new window going always prevent identity theft alerts freezes help minimize chance happening burke says fraud alert notation placed persons credit report requires potential creditors verify borrowers identity new credit issued name going always prevent identity theft alerts freezes help minimize chance happening comparison security freeze also called credit freeze prevents potential creditors viewing credit report although government still get access means one even open new line credit name unless freeze lifted comparing alerts vs freezes consumers use one tools help protect credit burke says following descriptions options compare 5 different areas 1 fees costs money initiate security freeze 3 major credit bureaus total 30 says mari frank author book complete idiots guide recovering identity theft frank says exact cost depends victim identity theft prove freeze credit free hand fraud alerts dont cost anything addition consumers put alert records allowed get free copy credit report 3 major credit bureaus frank says consumers initiate security freezes contacting 3 credit reporting agencies fraud alerts place fraud alert credit report one 3 major credit reporting companies company notify 2 fraud alerts also placed files requests made via agencies websites telephone mail would recommend making request bureaus writing burke says may add days process mail good idea written correspondence personal records free tool keep eye credit score today free mybankrate opens new window 2 strength protection fraud alerts tell potential lenders verify persons identity issuing new credit however specific rules verification many consumer advocates concerned potential creditors dont enough confirm borrower frank says frustrating alert teeth says contrast security freezes dont allow new creditors look file puts lock credit frank says option offers protection frank admits freeze hassle people plan legitimately apply credit need insurance company landlord potential employer check credit history freeze may work best someone whos planning applying new credit near future says 3 time length fraud alerts typically last 90 days renewed additional 90day periods existing victims identity theft alert extended 7 years frank says meanwhile security freeze lasts indefinitely existing victims identity theft alert extended 7 years 4 ability reversed permanently thawing security freeze involved process burke says consumers must contact 3 bureaus request end freeze must also pay fee 5 10 provide personal information like date birth address social security number receiving freeze request consumer gets confirmation letter personal identification number pin credit reporting agency forget pin freeze reversal could delayed several days burke says process ending fraud alert easier says fraud alerts ended contacting 3 major credit reporting agencies requesting removed burke says consumers also choose wait alert expires 5 effect consumers credit score neither fraud alert credit freeze alone affect consumers credit rating frank says incidentally although new lenders cant access credit files security freeze place existing creditors still view records continue see well consumers managing accounts says another option experts say identity theft protection consumers look beyond fraud alerts credit freezes monitoring plans offered independent companies financial companies even credit bureaus costs vary typically around 10 per month free tool last time checked credit report get free mybankrate opens new window copyright 2016 bankrate inc | 622 |
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