BloggingStocks

Bonds: Smarter Plays for Darker Days
Thinking of Treasuries or other fixed-income plays as the stock market sinks? Here's what to look for.
Bonds: Smarter Plays for Darker Days - BusinessWeek

Who's Minting the Most Millionaires? Not the U.S.A.
A new survey finds when it comes to minting the wealthy, India and China now outpace the U.S. which isn't even in the top 10 anymore. Other countries also outpacing America include Brazil, Korea, Indonesia, Slovakia, Singapore, UAE, Czech Republic and Russia.
A Millionaire Boom In The East - Forbes.com

How to Retire on a Shoestring
You often have to be a little frugal to make a retirement budget work. The $27,798 median income for American households headed by someone 65 or older doesn't offer much breathing room when gas, groceries, and out-of-pocket healthcare costs all are conspiring to make retirement more difficult. Here are eight ways to stretch your retirement dollars.
8 Ways to Stretch Your Retirement Dollars - US News and World Report
In the News: Retirees Downsizing Their Dreams

Top Kitchen Values
You can create a great kitchen by following advice from Consumer Reports' experts and from 8,000 readers who told us about their remodeling projects. Plus, seven mini makeovers for less than $5,000.
ConsumerReports.org - Kitchen values: secrets of a successful remodel

Best Light Ice Creams
Fat might be bad for you, but it sure tastes good. Consumer Reports sampled 10 light ice creams, and even among these more healthful options, the two with the most fat and calories were the winners in our best light ice creams ratings.
ConsumerReports.org - Best light ice creams

Top Airport Bars
The good news in travel? It's easier than ever to drown your sorrows at the airport with a nice glass of wine, an artisan beer, or a good cocktail. Here are a host of upscale new drinking establishments which means business travelers no longer have to languish at dreary, dingy airport bars.
Booze at Airports - Business Travel Column - Joe Brancatelli - Seat 2B - Portfolio.com

Strategic Flying Maneuvers
Major airlines are reinstating minimum-stay requirements. Here's how to get around them.
Getting Around Airlines' New Minimum-Stay Requirements - SmartMoney

Secrets of a Millionaire Matchmaker, For Free!
Men hate short hair," says Patti Stanger, CEO and owner of The Millionaire's Club, and star of the hit Bravo series The Millionaire Matchmaker. Oh yeah, apparently women are not too fond of small-time earners, either. What do you mean you don't have $50,000 to get your dating life going? Well, at least MainStreet has some secrets from the Millionaire Matchmaker free of charge.
The Secrets of The Millionaire Matchmaker, For Free! | MainStreet

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Option Update: eBay July volatility elevated at 46 into earnings

Paul Foster — 2008-06-30T16:09:00+00:00

Filed under: eBay (EBAY), Options

eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) closed at $27.61:

EBAY is scheduled to report Q2 EPS on July 16. Deutsche Bank say's "Listing +29% in week 13 but sellers feel the squeeze: Sell." EBAY July option implied volatility of 46 was above its 26-week average of 43 according to Track Data, suggesting larger movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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France rules against eBay: Another nail in the coffin?

Bruce Watson — 2008-06-30T14:41:00+00:00

Filed under: Law, eBay (EBAY)

Over the years, eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) has overcome numerous adversaries, from customer fears about online purchasing to the very real threat of physical retailers. It has defeated or absorbed dozens of competitors, constantly morphing to offer fresh services to its users while continuing to draw a hefty profit. However, as Gary Sattler recently noted, eBay's unbelievable success may have begun to sow the seeds of its downfall. Once a counter-cultural answer to the monopoly (and monotony) of physical retailers, the online giant has become the dominant culture. Moreover, it's monopoly of online marketing and apparent lack of concern for its users have resulted in massively increased prices and fees, driving many of its sellers right out of the market.

As if eBay's self-destructive tendencies weren't enough of a problem, France's courts have joined in on the march to disaster. In an attempt to protect the integrity of French luxury brands, a French court ruled that eBay must pay approximately $63 million to French companies whose products have been victimized by online sales. The plaintiff, LVMH, which represents several French luxury brands, argued that its businesses have been undermined by eBay. Ebay's first crime was permitting counterfeit copies of Vuitton and Dior bags to appear on the site. As if this wasn't enough, the company was cited for permitting actual bottles of Dior, Kenzo, Givenchy and Guerlain perfume to be sold, as these are only supposed to be sold in specialty stores. On the surface, this seems like a minor hiccup, but the promulgation of high-quality knockoffs and the availability of partially-used luxury brand items are central to a large portion of eBay's business. It seems like the loss of these two lucrative revenue streams could cost the company a great deal.

Between increased shipping rates, French courts, and its own excesses, it doesn't seem like a good time to be eBay!

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Before the bell: AAPL, YHOO, BP, ADBE, PEP

Melly Alazraki — 2008-06-17T08:23:00+00:00

Filed under: Before the bell, Earnings reports, Analyst reports, Deals, Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), eBay (EBAY), PepsiCo (PEP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), AT and T (T), Adobe Systems (ADBE), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP)

Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of Goldman, PPI, housing data

Klausner Technology Inc, which has sued several companies for damages and future royalties, has settled the suits and reached an agreement Monday with Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) and AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) to license its "visual voicemail" technology that sends visual alerts to computers or mobile telephones when a user has a voice message.

Meanwhile, Barron's Tech Trader Daily gave several analysts' assessments of the upcoming 3G iPhone: At RBC, they're expecting "massive" shipments of the phones in Q4; this was supported by an analyst at Deutsche Bank. The Goldman analyst didn't stop there but said he expects improvements in the iPod and Mac business segments as well.

And while Apple is increasing its global foot print, so is Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO). The internet portal company said on Tuesday that its mobile search service will be offered by six more telecom companies in Asia, bringing the total to 60 partnerships with companies reaching 600 million subscribers. A Yahoo! exec said he expects the mobile advertising market to rise to $16.2 billion in 2011 up from $1.5 billion in 2006 where Yahoo! is well poised to get a large share.

But all is not rosy at Yahoo! to say the least, as is evident by the massive loss of talent. The recent is Yahoo's EVP Jeff Weiner. Yahoo's president Sue Decker has apparently emailed employees following his resignation. TechCrunch has the surprisingly cheerful and positive email.

BP Plc (NYSE: BP) said it finally started to commission its Thunder Horse platform in the Gulf of Mexico on June 14 and that the platform would be in continuous production by year-end. The field will produce a maximum of 250,000 barrels per day of oil and 200 million cubic feet per day of natural gas when it reaches peak production. BP owns 75% of Thunder Horse and is the field's operator while Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM) owns the remaining 25%.

Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) shares are declining over 3% in premarket trading after it posted a 41% rise in fiscal second-quarter profit on strong sales.

PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) affirmed its full-year earnings outlook, but said flooding shuttered its Quaker manufacturing plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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Court allows transfer of promotional CDs

Richard Driver — 2008-06-16T16:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Products and services, Consumer experience, Apple Inc (AAPL), eBay (EBAY), Marketing and advertising

Billboard reported last Thursday that a federal District Court in Los Angeles has denied a motion by Universal Music Group to find an eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) seller who sold promotional CDs the label claims are its property (and thus not eligible for sale) liable for copyright infringement. UMG argued in its motion that a label printed on the discs stating they "were promotional and could not be sold" gives the holders of the CDs the right to listen only and not sell the CDs. According to the BBC, the motion from UMG was first filed against eBay seller Troy Augusto in May 2007 and resulted in the cancellation of an auction and threats from eBay.

The federal court argued that the label could not prevent that sale, and Billboard added that copyright law states "once the legal title to a lawfully made copy of a copyrighted work is transferred, then the person who obtains that copy owns it and may dispose of it." That does not mean an owner of the item can copy and sell the new version for profit ,though. Troy Augusto, the eBay seller targeted by UMG, argued to the court that the recipients of the CDs from UMG could treat the items as gifts under federal law and the court agreed with this assessment.

The yearlong affair between Universal Music Group, Troy Augusto and eBay, brings a larger question into the fold: What is the point of these promotional CDs? Before the advent of the digital market, physical copies distributed to sell new music via the radio made perfect sense, and in many ways they still do because these items are easily played on stations. But, with MP3 files and stores like Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iTunes Store leading the way for sales and marketing, could the record industry make promotional MP3s available to both radios and consumers?In many ways, that very event is what occurred in late April when EMI Group and its band Coldplay released the single "Violet Hill" from the band's website only a mere two minutes after the song debuted on BBC Radio 1. It was available for free for a week and eventually saw over two million downloads. Additionally, a promotional 7" vinyl record was also made available with an early May issue of British music newspaper NME. While these facts indicate that EMI and Coldplay played up both the traditional promotional avenues, as well as giving fans a record through the magazine, the more exciting piece should be the download version that was freely distributed.

More than anything, despite Coldplay's status as a hugely successful band even when critics downplay their releases, like 2005's X&Y, the fact that "Violet Hill" saw over two million downloads should be a strong sign to EMI and the other music companies that freely distributed tracks can be used to market new music without distributing promotional CDs to radio stations. How unlikely would it be that a radio DJ out there did not check out the free download anyway, or even promote it before playing the song? Odds are that the first broadcast on BBC Radio 1 featured some note about the upcoming download that day. The song has also been announced as a new download track for Activision Inc.'s (NASDAQ: ATVI) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

In the end, while the court ruling favors collectors and fans, it should not signal that the music industry will stop trying to limit what is done with "their products." That's the truly nice thing about using MP3's as promotional tools instead of CDs or vinyl records. No claim can ever be made that a freely, legally downloaded track from a music label or band website should be returned to the label. A label would also be hard pressed to try and force a music fan and listener to erase the track from their computer's library. It's easy, it's accessible, and it's a generous and friendly gesture that the music industry cannot take back.

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Analyst upgrades: HRB, TLB, SPWR, AG, EBAY, SNDK

Eric Buscemi — 2008-06-16T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, eBay (EBAY), H and R Block (HRB), SanDisk Corp (SNDK)

MOST NOTEWORTHY: H&R Block, Talbots and SunPower were today's noteworthy upgrades:

Oppenheimer believes H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) has shown several catalysts over the past few months, most importantly the sale of its mortgage business. The firm, which upgraded shares to Outperform from Perform, believes the company's strong 2008 tax season will lead to future growth, and they think the stock can appreciate 20%+, as catalysts are not yet fully reflected in the stock.
Friedman Billings upgraded Talbots (NYSE: TLB) to Outperform from Market Perform as they believe the company has several sources of cash to avoid a liquidity crisis, charge card EPS contribution provides good visibility, improved merchandise margins, and better merchandising.
Credit Suisse raised SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) to Outperform from Neutral citing strength in Italy and other geographies.

OTHER UPGRADES:

Agco (NYSE: AG) was raised at Wachovia to Outperform from Market Perform.
UBS upgraded Metso Oyg (OTC: MXCYY) to Buy from Neutral.
JMP Securities upgraded SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) to Market Perform from Underperform.
Stifel upgraded eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) to Buy from Hold.

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Will changes at eBay hurt the business model?

Steven Mallas — 2008-06-03T15:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Products and services, eBay (EBAY), Amazon.com (AMZN)

Do you like auctions? Personally, I don't. Sure, the stock market is essentially an auction, but it's an auction without a lot of noise (at least on my end). Anyway, this brings me to a BusinessWeek piece on eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) and its evolution. It looks like auctions are no more fit to survive than the dinosaurs were. Research overwhelmingly shows that users of the most famous online auction destination in the world would rather pay a fixed price for an item than haggle over it like a frantic trader at a busy bazaar.

Now, as one commenter made clear in the article, this changes the essential gene structure of eBay's DNA. But is mutation necessarily bad in this case? Not to my way of thinking. To be honest, I haven't done any eBaying directly; I usually use a friend to acquire an item for me if I'm looking for something. Not only am I too lazy to open an account, but I dread having to play the auction game. Why put up with such nuisance? When I want to buy something, I don't want to compete and see values change. Think about it: when you go to Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), do you want to barter over a bar of soap?

Okay, so we're not talking about bars of soap. We're talking about items that, to be fair, do lend themselves to the auction motif. Comic books, autographed photos, rare recordings, and so forth, are definitely fair game for the electronic gavel. Still, it's annoying. Wouldn't you rather know that a rare copy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the Atari 2600 is $200, take it or leave it, and that you didn't need to get down in the pits to start bidding for it?

Maybe I'm exaggerating the kind of frustration that can be encountered on eBay. But it seems like management is willing to bet on a future sans auctions. Actually, it's not so much that they're willing to make a bet on this thesis on their own volition; simply put, the numbers are compelling. People want more of an Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) type of experience. They want to simply click, buy, and wait for the item to arrive on their doorstep.

Personally, I think this kind of paradigm shift stands a great chance of being a net positive for eBay. Yes, many sellers will flee; others, however, will take their place. Besides, I've oftentimes noticed that many auctions never have much bid history to them; that isn't an observation based on any scientific collection, but nevertheless, it is one of the reasons why I would support management in reducing exposure to auctions. Shareholders actually should want to see management focus more on the fee structures in place, as many sellers believe there is an inequity when it comes to them.

That's the larger opportunity, and the more important one. Auctions will always remain applicable for many items on eBay (imagine how traders would feel if they didn't have eBay to auction off the next PlayStation iteration!), but if they only comprise a small percentage of revenues, it won't make a difference so long as fixed-price selling becomes the norm.

Disclosure: I don't own shares of any company mentioned here; positions can change at any time.

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Wal-Mart launches free online classifieds

Zac Bissonnette — 2008-06-03T09:09:00+00:00

Filed under: Products and services, Launches, Consumer experience, eBay (EBAY), Wal-Mart (WMT)

While business partners eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) and Craigslist are busy duking it out over lord knows what, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is quietly making a surprising move into the online classifieds business.

The retailer recently revealed its own online classified ad site in partnership with Oodle.com -- check it out here. According to the Wall Street Journal, the site is a pilot test with 30 million items, and financial terms of the arrangement have not been disclosed.

This raises an important question: how is the site different from Craigslist? Glad you asked: it isn't really, but it's a cleaner set-up, although Craigslist's minimalist design appears to be quite popular. Wal-Mart Classified is also really just an aggregator of ads from from tons of other sites -- nothing unique at all. The question is whether college students and recent grads (a key Craigslist market) looking for furniture or apartment rentals will really want to log-on to walmart.com to do it -- I'm skeptical.

The site also features some decidedly un-Wal-Martian merchandise: a pro-union Scabs are Trash button and some Buy American! sheet music.

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Microsoft's cashback on search looks like a desperate move

Melly Alazraki — 2008-05-21T17:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Products and services, Launches, Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), eBay (EBAY), Marketing and advertising

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) shares dropped 1.77%. OK, you can say it was just as much as the Nasdaq dropped, or you can also say that no one was really impressed with the software giant's new cashback on search service.

It is no secret Microsoft is trying to boost its internet division and gain search market share. After so often being accused of being a monopoly, I guess it's hard for it to see Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) now being accused of the same in the lucrative business of internet search. Well, Microsoft tried to acquire Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), No. 2 in search (although it is also losing market share to Google) but we all know that didn't work out all that well... at least not yet. I get the feeling we haven't heard the last on that subject yet.

To address its search insufficiencies, Microsoft Wednesday rolled out Live Search Cashback, a new service that pays consumers who buy selected items from participating retailers found through Microsoft's Live Search engine. Only a portion of the purchase price, of course, between 2-30% will be paid -- via check, direct deposit to a bank account or eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY)'s PayPal. So naturally, those wishing to use the service will need to sign up and provide Big Brother with even more personal information.

No one can tell me this doesn't smack of desperation. Is Microsoft really serious in thinking this could actually make a dent in its search business? The cash rebate might attract some people, but that doesn't mean they're going to change their search habits. If anything, they might still search on Google, then go to the Live engine and find what they want there. The rest of time, I bet, Live will not be in use! Of course, the higher the cashback, the more people it will attract, but doesn't that sound a little backward? How much can Microsoft spend on that? And couldn't Google at any time counter with a similar offer should it choose to?

I'm sorry, but this just doesn't sound like it would change anything in the reality of search today.

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eBay sued by Chicago over amusement taxes

Zac Bissonnette — 2008-05-21T15:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Law, eBay (EBAY)

The legal team at eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) has been working harder than Mystic Tan guy at Angelo Mozilo's favorite salon.

First, Tiffany (NYSE: TIF) sued the company over counterfeit merchandise appearing on the auction site. Then, eBay sued Craigslist, Craigslist sued eBay, and many legal fees were spent by all. Now, eBay and its StubHub subsidiary have attracted the scorn of Chicago, which is suing the company for failing to collect the 8% amusement tax the city charges on ticket sales, including resales. Heaven forbid anyone in Chicago have fun without forking 8% over to the city. eBay says the 8% sales tax doesn't apply to it.

Chicago's city government joins Texas and New York in looking to crack down on e-commerce sites that don't collect sales tax.

It's unclear to me why the 8% amusement tax should apply to the resale of tickets online -- the tax has already been collected on that ticket, hasn't it? But bureaucrats have an infinite number of ways to make money, and that requires an ever-growing pile of money to waste. It'll be a victory for consumers if eBay emerges victorious in this battle.

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eBay's feedback changes set to kick off Monday

Michael Fowlkes — 2008-05-15T10:47:00+00:00

Filed under: Products and services, Consumer experience, eBay (EBAY)

Back in January, e-commerce giant eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) announced some very controversial changes to the site that led to an uproar and seller boycotts within the eBay community. One of the most controversial changes was the decision to remove sellers' ability to leave negative feedback on the buyers, and this change is slated to start this upcoming Monday.

The decision to remove the sellers feedback has led to many eBay sellers finding alternative e-commerce sites to sell their goods, and those who remained are very worried about the impact this decision will have on their business. Sellers insist that the feedback is crucial in sifting through the large amount of buyers that give sellers hassle during transactions, but eBay feels that the change will benefit everyone on the site and prevent sellers from leaving retaliatory ratings for buyers.

The two sides just cannot see eye to eye on this one. Sellers insist that the feedback system allows the site to have a better buying community, while eBay believes that the changes are "really to make sure that we've got buyer accountability and seller accountability."

eBay has tried to reassure its sellers that the new system will be to everyone's benefit through the use of an improved "sellers hub," which allows sellers to file complaints and report and troublesome buyers. While this sounds nice on the surface, many are concerned that this is merely window dressing, and eBay will not live up to its end of the deal.

The ones who feel they are being violated the most are the medium to small sellers on the site. These are the users who have been most vocal in their displeasure, and in many cases have been seeking out alternative e-commerce sites for their business. A couple of the alternative sites include OnlineAuction.com and Ruby Lane.

Are you an eBay user? What are your thoughts on the changes taking place on the site? Are you giving the new changes a chance to see how they work out, or have you already started to migrate your e-commerce business elsewhere? If so, what sites have you moved to?

Michael Fowlkes has worked as a stock trader for seven years and spent the last four years working as an analyst for the online investment advisory service Investor's Observer.

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eBay gives Craigslist a 28.4% yank of the chain; Craigslist bites back

Gary E. Sattler — 2008-05-14T16:04:00+00:00

Filed under: Bad news, Press releases, eBay (EBAY)

You had to see this coming:

According to a BBC report, It appears that life at Craigslist has become even more interesting. As you may know, Craigslist has been embroiled in a legal tussle with Internet giant eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY). After purchasing a 28.4% stake in the company over a year ago, eBay now claims that Craigslist's founder Craig Newmark and its chief executive Jim Buckmaster have done things to disadvantage eBay's stake in the company. The BBC report didn't specify exactly what eBay claims Craiglist officials have done to "dilute" eBay's interests. Craigslist has now filed a counter suit against eBay, alleging illegal competition. You can get more information on eBay's original lawsuit here.

The BBC report states: "The lawsuit demands that eBay restore all shares of Craigslist owned by eBay or for the court to require eBay to divest its holdings in Craigslist." This demand is apparently supported by the premise that after acquiring its stake in Craigslist, eBay gleaned operating information from that company and then used it to launch Kijiji. Craigslist also insists that eBay, "[...] violated [Craigslist] trademarks and used misleading advertising on Google to run ads for its rival Kijiji site."

What a pretty picture of corporate raiding we have here. I think the outcome of this legal battle shall be dictated by two particular things. First, Craigslist will need to provide a first class package of documentation to support its legal counter claims. Second, it wouldn't hurt if it could find a judge who has been ripped off using eBay...

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Craiglist countersues as eBay relationship sours

Zac Bissonnette — 2008-05-14T12:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Law, eBay (EBAY)

Back in April, eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), which owns 28.4% of Craiglist, sued the company alleging that its board of directors (which consists only of founder Craig Newmark and CEO Jim Buckmaster) had attempted to dilute eBay's stake to just 10%.

Well, Craigslist wasn't having any of that. It filed a lawsuit accusing the company of interfering with its business operations, unfair competition by using its proprietary information, and infringing its trademark to attract visitors to eBay Web sites. The suit was filed yesterday in California Superior Court in San Francisco.

eBay responded by saying that, "We regret that Craigslist felt compelled to resort to unfounded and unsubstantiated claims in order to divert attention from actions by Craigslist's board that unfairly diluted our minority interest." (For a detailed discussion of the lawsuit check out this post from Fine on Media.)

The legal issues aside, Craigslist is likely to win the battle for hearts and minds in this one -- mainly because the site performs a wonderful public service as a free online classified site. eBay, on the other hand, has earned the ire of its sellers with never-ending increases in fees. This is one David vs. Goliath battle that I look forward to watching unfold.

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Home prices fall further, when will I get my tax rebate?, & Satan's accountant - Today in Money 5/14

Allan Halprin — 2008-05-14T09:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Yahoo! (YHOO), eBay (EBAY), Sony Corp ADR (SNE), Money and Finance Today, Clear Channel Commun (CCU)

In the News:

· Freddie Mac Quarterly Loss Widens; Will Raise $5.5 Billion

· Clear Channel Poised to Go Private As It Agrees to Lower Buyout Offer of $17.9 Billion

· Yahoo Jumps as Carl Icahn Reportedly Buys Shares in Attempt for Proxy Fight

· Foreclosure Filing Surge 65% in April

· Tiny Smart Car Receives Top Crash Scores

· Sony Returns to Profit in 4Q

· Craigslist Countersues eBay

· Consumers Ditching Land-line Phones

· U.S. Airlines Expect Fewer Fliers This Summer

· Taco Bell's New Menu Goes for a Cheap Fill

Will My Tax Rebate Ever Come?
Those who filed their tax returns at the last minute could have longer waits for their money. But there is an easy way to check the status of your check.
Will My Rebate Check Ever Come? - Kiplinger.com

Home Prices Fall for 7th Straight Quarter
Twenty-eight metro areas saw double-digit drops in median house prices in the 12 months ending in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. Eight metro areas saw year-over-year price declines of more than 20 percent: Sacramento (29.2 percent); Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. (27.7 percent); Lansing, Mich. (26.9 percent); San Diego (22.9 percent); Sarasota, Fla. (22.2 percent); Los Angeles (21.3 percent); Grand Rapids, Mich. (20.7 percent) and Las Vegas (20.2 percent).
Study: House prices -Bankrate.com

Delaying Retirement
As the economy stumbles, gas prices soar and housing prices tumble, more baby boomers are putting off retiring.
Baby boomers delay retirement - CNNmoney

When to Get a Home Equity Line of Credit
Taking out a home-equity line of credit to pay off costly credit card debt might seem like an attractive option as interest rates have dropped. Here are some important factors to consider when weighing the costs and benefits. Watch out for teaser rates and doubling up on debt.
When to Get a Home-Equity Line of Credit - TheStreet.com

Satan's Accountant
Even before the showdown in Texas, Bruce Wisan was trying to save the Mormon polygamists from their power-mad leader. But they believe Wisan was sent by the devil, which is making the job infernally hard.
Profile of Polygamist Sect's Lawyer - Portfolio.com

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Serious Money: Metrics anyone? -- AAPL, EBAY, GE, GOOG, MSFT, TWX, WMT, YHOO

Sheldon Liber — 2008-05-12T10:57:00+00:00

Filed under: Management, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), eBay (EBAY), General Electric (GE), Time Warner (TWX), Wal-Mart (WMT), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Serious Money

About a month ago I posted Serious Money: AAPL, EBAY, GE, GOOG, MSFT, TWX, WMT, YHOO -- one more look, covering the original Great Eight stocks we focused on at BloggingStocks. These were based on reader interest, which they do still generate today.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was the big winner among only four that had appreciated. The following indicates commonly used metrics for tracking and comparing stocks.

Reviewing the stocks in order of lowest to highest P/E ratio (TTM):

Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) 14.84

General Electric (NYSE: GE) 14.91

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) 17.08

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) 18.29

Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) 34.25
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) 37.82
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) 40.28
eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) 95.24

It is interesting to note that only two of the eight have a below market P/E ratio, while only two are average. On the other hand, four are double the average and beyond, which leads me to believe the overall market consensus is that it is still very early in the game for these stocks and their futures are yet to be determined. The P/E ratios of the four are also the most volatile as are the stock prices.

Reviewing the stocks in order of lowest to highest P/S ratio (TTM):

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) 0.60

Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) 1.24

General Electric (NYSE: GE) 1.88

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) 4.70

eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) 4.91

Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) 5.14

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) 5.68
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) 10.08

Historically, the price-to-sales ratio is said to have greater bearing on the future stock appreciation than the P/E ratio. Only the top three stocks would be of interest from this perspective. Regardless of the long-term facts, in the past couple of years, Apple and Google have done much better than Wal-Mart and Time Warner.

Reviewing the stocks in order of lowest to highest Return on Equity (TTM):

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) 45.28%
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) 28.69%
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) 21.11%
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) 20.42%
General Electric (NYSE: GE) 19.03%
Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) 10.96%
Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) 6.12%
eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) 3.82%

The RoE is a common measure of company management effectiveness. If this is your guide and you are a Yahoo shareholder, then you might have a strong desire to see Microsoft's unsuccessful bid for Yahoo be accepted. Even if you did not get the full value based on CEO Jerry Yang's vision (or ego), you might see far greater growth under the new management.

Reviewing the stocks in order of lowest to highest Return on Assets (TTM):

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) 19.78%
Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) 14.21%
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) 14.09%
eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) 9.02%
General Electric (NYSE: GE) 2.01%
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) 8.80%
Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) 4.14%
Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) 3.44%

The RoA makes Yahoo's management seem even more inept, earning only a fraction of Microsoft's shareholder value. My pal Warren would frown on Yahoo's poor showing in these categories. Providing shareholder value is chief among his pursuits, and since he is the largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A), he continues to benefit the most from this goal.

It is impossible to predict the future with any great reliability or consistency, but if one were to look for a secure investment for the future with demonstrated success and the potential of being a part of growing industries, then only Microsoft appears to fit the bill. It is the only company among the eight that is fairly priced and increases shareholder value in a big way based on these metrics.

Two other criteria I look at but did not review here are dividends and cash-flow. In that regard, Microsoft would also prove rewarding.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I own shares of BRK.B, EBAY, and TWX.

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eBay going PayPal only?

Tracy Coenen — 2008-05-11T10:10:00+00:00

Filed under: eBay (EBAY), Ripoffs and Scams, Shopping

The New York Times reports that eBay is considering making PayPal the only form of payment allowed on eBay auctions. The company is test marketing this concept in Australia starting next month, and loyal eBay buyers and sellers there are furious.

eBay's stranglehold on internet auction enthusiasts is already clear. It is the most popular auction site, and if you're a seller, you have few other choices that get you as much exposure. But that's not enough for eBay. In addition to all the fees generated from auction listings and sales, they apparently want to ensure that they'll get extra fees from the payments if they require everyone to pay with PayPal.

Company officials say this move is an effort to cut down on fraud. They say that by requiring the use of PayPal, they are able to see buyers and sellers through the payment process, rather than them risking fraud through the use of outside payment services.

Do they really think that we're gullible enough to believe that it's all about cutting down on fraud? I don't believe it one bit. This article suggests that PayPal cuts down on fraud by quoting eBay's reduced fraud costs shown in their financial statements. What readers may not realize, however, is that these figures only take into account the losses that eBay is on the hook for. What about all the losses that are eaten by the buyers and sellers who were cheated? And there are plenty of horror stories from users of eBay!

PayPal is an expensive form of payment. In the U.S., it costs sellers 2.9% of the selling price plus 30 cents for any eBay sale under $3,000. Those fees add up quickly, especially if you're selling low-priced, high-volume items. It's even worse in Australia, where PayPal takes 4.4% plus 30 cents.

eBay sellers in Australia are speaking out against this policy because they say it will further eBay's monopoly and cost them too much money. I agree. And if eBay does try to bring a policy like this to the U.S., I expect a huge backlash from sellers.

Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.

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Battle of the Brands: eBay vs. Craigslist

Sheldon Liber — 2008-05-07T14:05:00+00:00

Filed under: eBay (EBAY), Battle of the Brands

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

Something new and something old, eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) the large Internet trading platform competes more each day with Craigslist, who's platform continues to unfold. They are very much the same, and oh so different, too. Craigslist has been resisting becoming eBay in too many ways, yet eBay has gone through the back door to acquiring partial ownership and tracking a competitive threat from the inside.

Being public, eBay must disclose its financial information, which is not true for the private Craigslist. Craigslist is not happy about eBay's ownership position, and for its part eBay has sued Craigslist. It says the board diluted its interest in the popular site by more than 10%, and the two have been trading accusations since.

For most of Craigslist's history there has been pressure to become public or sell itself outright or make the pursuit of profit a higher motive. That has been shunned in favor of slowly building a user friendly and practical Internet information trading platform.

This has to bother eBay and other Internet companies to no end because without shareholders to answer to or a profit motive they keep taking business away from others, or at least diluting the business of companies that have a different directive --- meaning they must live and die their with their bottom lines.

It is anybody's guess what Craiglist would be worth if it had an IPO or pursued a different business strategy but I imagine one scenario would be simply for eBay to acquire the outstanding shares. So far Craigslist has managed to march to it's own drummer resisting the call of Wall Street, pressure from eBay, or the riches promised by private equity.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I own shares of EBAY.

Vote in our poll for eBay or Craigslist as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.

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Craigslist sees eBay (EBAY) as competitor

Douglas McIntyre — 2008-05-01T10:44:00+00:00

Filed under: Deals, Law, Competitive strategy, eBay (EBAY)

The lawsuit between Ebay (NASDAQ:EBAY) and Craigslist is just beginning and its genesis has finally come out.

The issue between the companies began when Ebay brought its classified business Kijiji into the US market a little less than a year ago. Craigslist viewed this as triggering an anti-competitive clause with Ebay, one of the online classified site's shareholders.

According to The Wall Street Journal's story on the lawsuit, "Craigslist directors held clandestine meetings in October 2007 to dilute eBay's minority stake in the online-classifieds company after eBay developed a rival offering."

It turns out that Ebay had also made an offer to buy all of Craigslist.

The merit in the lawsuit would appear to be with Craigslist. It is hard to imagine that it would stand by and let a large shareholder set up a direct competitor. It is harder to imagine why Ebay would file suit over the effort by Craigslist to protect itself.

The law may be on Ebay's side, to some extent. Craigslist did have a board meeting and set-up provisions to keep Ebay from taking a more active role. But, the morality of the situation favors Craigslist. Ebay's attempt to set up a competing business violated the "spirit" of the relationship between the two companies.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and author of the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

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eBay sends the attack dogs on Craigslist

Tom Taulli — 2008-04-23T09:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Deals, Law, eBay (EBAY)

Craigslist is certainly a funky company. In light of its huge traffic numbers, it could easily post huge profits. Or, it could sell out for a big payday or even go public. Yet, such things seem to be anathema to the company - at least to its founder, Craig Newmark.

And now there's a big issue with eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), which owns 28.4% of Craiglist. Apparently, the relationship has been somewhat rocky as is evident by the lawsuit announced last night. eBay is claiming that the board of Craigslist (which consists only of Newmark and the CEO, Jim Buckmaster) has attempted to water down the ownership position - to a mere 10%.

I can certainly understand Craigslist's actions. After all, eBay has its own classifieds service called Kijiji. But hey, in the tech world, such arrangements are nothing new. It's to be expected (and so are lawsuits).

Interestingly enough, Newmark is not being shy about things and has responded via his blog. According to him, the lawsuit is a surprise and he claims that eBay has "ulterior motives," which may involve a hostile takeover.

Really? Let's see, how many times has eBay launched a hostile deal? I can't remember. Plus, such a thing is nearly impossible for a minority shareholder to pull off (and, even more difficult if the ownership position has been heavily diluted).

Unfortunately, eBay's legal complaint was not disclosed (because of confidentiality reasons), but the venue is Delaware, which has lots of expertise in shareholder disputes and usually handles things fairly quickly.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates MergerBook.com.

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Finding great stocks, food costs a major worry for consumers & 9 ways to cut car expenses - Today in Money 4/23

Allan Halprin — 2008-04-23T08:38:00+00:00

Filed under: Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), eBay (EBAY), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Money and Finance Today, Boeing Co (BA), News Corp'B' (NWS), Delta Air Lines (DAL)

In the News:

· Yahoo Profit Jumps, Tops Expectations

· Yahoo's Last Chance for Independence, If It Has the Guts

· Boeing Posts 38% Jump in Net Income in 1Q

· Murdoch Moving to Buy Newsday for $580M

· Delta Airlines Reports $6.4 Billion Loss as It Badly Misses Estimates

· Ambac Posts Another Steep Loss; Stock Sinks

· EBay Sues Craigslist Over Stake Dispute

· Toyota's Global Sales Rise 2.7% on Asia, Europe Sales

· UBS Chief Says Worst Is Over

· Advertiser Sues Google Over AdSense Ads

· How Long Will Home Prices Sink?

· Report: No Help for 70% of Subprime Borrowers

How to Find Great Stocks
Four top fund managers find opportunities in all sizes here and abroad.
Thinking Outside the Usual Stocks Box - Kiplinger.com

Food Costs a Major Worry for Consumers
Rising food prices are a significant worry for Americans, with 73% of consumers in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll citing higher grocery bills as a concern, and nearly half saying food inflation has caused a hardship for their households.
Poll: Food costs a major worry for consumers - USATODAY.com

Beyond Gas: 9 Ways to Cut Car Expenses
Everyone wants to save money, but when it comes to your car, most people focus exclusively on how to save money on gas while neglecting other important areas. Here are nine basic maintenance checks you should make and how they can help save you money.
Nine Ways to Cut Down on Car Expenses | Saving - TheStreet.com

Would Insurance Cover a Career-Threatening Injury?
While her vocal cords recover, Jordin Sparks' career is in limbo. What would you do if you could no longer do your job? With policies available to protect jewelry, art, and cars, isn't it time to insure your ability to generate income, too?
Will Insurance Cover a Career Threatening Injury? | MainStreet

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