Market Thoughts and Apple!

Well it has been five days since I've blogged and even longer since a podcast or audioboo. Where does the time go?The market has had a bad day and a good day this week. Lets start with yesterday, as the market ramped up at the open due to the Spain "getting a new credit card" news. Of course, the market sold off later. Whether it was a sell the news on Apple's WWDC or a realization that more debt in Spain won't cure the problems of huge debt due to entitlement spending, the market tanked into the close.

But then, today happened. Reason du jour? Bargain hungers - with the caveat that they're still worried about Europe.

Uh... Well, must have been a slow news day. Can't blame Shellie Zimmerman, can we? Or the LA Kings?

My thoughts are that there are no reasons to buy here, as the summer correction isn't yet over. I think anything near the previous lows may be interesting, though. Even though we normally have a summer correction, I would look for that to end a bit earlier this year. But, it is what it is. Not trying to anticipate it. I am just watching. Haven't even done any short-term trades.

But... I am working on a new Black Box for short term trades. Even just one-day trades. We shall see. "Paper trading" as of now.

And Apple? Well, I think the iOS6 news is fantastic. First, for the new iPad. Add in the cars and more hands-free use, app launching, new mapping system, and integration with social networks, and the iPhone and iPad will continue to be extremely popular. Bad news for Google, though. Google apps will be buried somewhere deep on the iPhone, somewhere where we will all forget about them.

***

Dodgers lost game one of the Freeway Series against the Angels. In the ninth!

LA Kings won. WOW! I'm not a hockey fan per se, but I did watch some of last night's game. Until it was 4-0, then I just turned it off.

I bought a new truck and got rid of the sports car. I was thinking about something more fuel efficient, but in the end I just got something that I wanted instead. One would think that the sports car was my mid-life crisis car, but I've been driving in the truck blaring Motley Crue over the bluetooth audio, with a big grin on my face.

Kick start my heart!

 

Will Google Open a Tablet Store?

Is Google about to open a tablet store? (From the Wall Street Journal via Seeking Alpha).

Not just any Android tablets, mind you — co-branded ones that bear Google’s name along with that of the manufacturer. Google does many things (some better than other), but they’re definitely not in the consumer hardware production game. Instead, Google is said to be working with hardware experts at Asus and Samsung (and presumably Motorola at some point), and is also considering the possibility of subsidizing the tablet’s price to fall in line with devices like Amazon’s Kindle Fire.

I think this is an interesting approach to compete with Apple. Right now, the android market is very confusing. There are many tablets by many manufacturers with many different configurations and sizes. Maybe consolidating the android tablets into one market will make it easier for consumers.

#146: Stocks pullback from 13000; Oil Up; Iran and Israel; Google Glasses

#138: Stocks, Black Box, South Carolina Primary

Weak Treasuries!

Did you read that Treasuries are off to their worst start since 2003?

And it was just early last week that the 30-year rate fell below 4%! I bet that will get harder and harder to find as the calendar moves along.

The bottom line is that world economies continue to grow. China's GDP was huge. The US continues to add jobs as the employment numbers improve. The fly in the ointment continue to be Europe. Greece is in the headlines today, as worries about their new debt could impact markets on Monday.

The US stock market seems to be on a bit of a rally and could be overbought and due for a correction. But that is awfully difficult to predict. Right now, stocks are rallying and ignoring bad news. For example, the Google miss on Thursday could have been a catalyst for a market disaster. While Friday was weak with the Dow leading thanks to IBM and Microsoft, the Nasdaq was down.

As for Treasuries, I think everyone can see the elephant in the room - rates are going to find it easier to move higher than go lower.

posted from Bloggeroid

$GOOG Misses Earnings, Off 5% Afterhours

Well, one of the big ones fell today in afterhours trading.  The Mighty $GOOG.

The reason?  Missed estimates. Even though, at first glance, it looks like Google is doing well.  I guess it’s all about stock valuation.

(Plus, it’s just the afterhours.  Things often get better, or worse, at the open the following day).

Other things weighing on the company?  …the 10% salary increase awarded to all employees earlier this year also weighed on the company’s margins. Google has been widely seen as having to work hard to retain employees who might otherwise seek out jobs with younger firms specializing in social-networking services, such as Facebook Inc.

That’s actually a good sign for IT workers.  If companies have to fight to retain and hire quality workers, that will push salaries up.

***

I was in two fantasy basketball leagues this year.  Won the first one.  In the second one, I finished second.  Lost by TWO free throws.  Whoa.

Apple Blocks Sony e-Reader App

Well. Apple blocks Sony's e-reader app. Is this the kind of thing that could help Google and Android?

I have to admit, the Apple ibook reader isn't my favorite. I'm a little partial to the Barnes and Noble Nook app. But I've bought ebooks from Apple, Barnes and Noble, Amazon's Kindle, and the Google book reader apps. I think the latter is probably the least expensive option. Of course, Bluefire Reader is out there, too, and allows the reading of the library epub format.

But will Apple shut down all the competition or demand "tribute" to the King?

Apple is famous for their closed systems. It's as if the world revolves around Apple. We've been able to laugh it off before the iPhone and iPad, as Apple products fell into a small market niche. Now, Apple has a few mainstream products that are widely accepted and have large market share. Who's laughing now?

This may present an opportunity for Google and its line of Android smart phones and tablets. If Google can undercut on price and deliver more choice, they will win hearts and minds.

iPhone: Google Mobile Voice Search

I've been playing with yesterday's release of Google Mobile for the iPhone. This is the one with the voice recognition search. Works very well. I'm very impressed, $GOOG. So far, I've done four searches, and I must be enunciating very well as the new app recognized the words and popped up a list of search results and a map at the top of the results screen.

Unfortunately, $GOOG is now trading at $286 as I type. Almost a 5% drop for the day. Down from its 52-week high of $724. Yowch. Hey, whatever happened to that $1000 price target? If $GOOG was cheap at a then $700 price, then there's quite a blue-light special going on now!