The U.S. economy is generally believed to be substantially consumer driven. Accordingly, trends in consumer spending are closely watched by investors and economists. With an economy that is largely dependent on consumer spending, it is important to recognize that an individual consumer can spend only so much. Recently reported retail sales figures have been disappointing. … Continued
Healthcare remains a headline issue with a wide range of proposals. The discussion is highly politicized and generally tends to emphasize benefits while glossing over costs. Inevitably, there are comparisons with other national systems and recurring comments, from advocates and critics, without much clarity as to what actually comprises single-payer healthcare. Wikipedia defines single-payer healthcare … Continued
At any given moment, investors are faced with a multitude of uncertainties. For example, we see geo-political risks both here and abroad; the threat of war with North Korea and the senseless massacre in Las Vegas can shake anybody’s confidence in the market. Storms have destroyed cities in Texas, Florida, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico … Continued
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program is a California state regulation that requires automakers to sell electric cars and trucks in California and 9 states on the east coast. The exact number of vehicles is linked to the automaker’s overall sales within the state. While the ZEV regulations include plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell … Continued
A value-added tax (VAT), known in some countries as a goods and services tax (GST), is a type of general consumption tax that is collected incrementally, based on the surplus value, added to the price on the work at each stage of production. Unlike sales taxes, which are added to the selling price at the … Continued
Does anyone really set out to make a bad movie? No, but many new movies, if not a majority, fail to gain consumer acceptance. The ability to successfully anticipate consumer acceptance is critical to corporate success and, therefore, to investors. Perhaps one of the better comments on this problem came from Steve Jobs, who is … Continued
Tax and other incentive programs, primarily state and local, aimed at attracting new corporate investment have been around for a long time. The primary motivation for states is usually related to jobs and for the corporation, lower costs. A recent, major, proposed transaction involves efforts to induce Foxconn (a key Apple supplier) to build a new … Continued
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal highlighted a debate between economists as to whether workers or investors bear the greater burden of U.S. corporate taxes. This is very interesting and manages to politicize corporate taxation. If workers bear the greatest burden, a reduction in the corporate tax might attract Democratic votes. On the … Continued
According to Wikipedia, a Goldilocks economy is one that is not too hot or too cold, in other words, sustains moderate economic growth, and has low inflation, which allows market-friendly monetary policy. Where are we now? Economic growth, during the last several years, as the economy recovered from the severe decline during the “great recession”, … Continued
Successfully managing a company and attracting investors is not easy. But thumbing your nose at prospective investors, by issuing shares with no shareholder rights, and then refusing to provide any guidance respecting management’s operating expectations, may not be the best approach. Under these circumstances it shouldn’t come as a big surprise if investors conclude that … Continued
In recent blogs we have noted that there has been an increase in large investor concerns over a trend toward a reduction in shareholders’ rights. Now we have the managers of the S&P 500 taking a stand in favor of shareholders’ rights by announcing a new policy that would bar new admissions to the index … Continued
Healthcare is, or more correctly, continues to be the topic of the day. We are all, as patients, providers and/or tax payers, necessarily involved in the whole issue of how best to provide reasonable and universal access, on an affordable basis, to quality healthcare. Big pharma, and therefore, investors, are directly involved. Media commentary likes … Continued
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