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Bonds Are a 'Safe' Investment: A Big Lie Gets Even BiggerReports that Britney Spears was in a minor accident over the weekend with her Mercedes is another in a long line of mishaps for the pop star. Why this qualifies as news is beyond me, and it's my feeling that Britney should just be left alone. The media have succeeded in driving her into a virtual nervous breakdown, for what? To sell a few more papers, or attract a few more viewers. Should the media be in the business of ruining people?
According to the AP report: "Spears was in stop-and-go traffic when her car struck a 2006 Nissan in front of her that had stopped. The Nissan then pushed forward into another vehicle. No damage was noted to any of the vehicles."
The one winner in this latest Spears' episode may be Daimler AG (NYSE:DAI), maker of the famed Mercedes. As with most automakers the company has been struggling, and sales have been sagging. There is no question that they could use the free PR. After all, Britney drives the car, and it escaped the crash without a dent.
Despite recent troubles, investors looking for a contrarian play may want to take a look at Daimler. Their new strategy of trying to gain market share in Russia and in China to help offset US weakness, seems to be a smart move. With a growing upper middle class in both of these countries, the need to own a Mercedes will be strong, as it will be perceived as a status symbol.
Maybe the media can start focusing on global wealth creation, and leave Britney alone.
Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. DISCLOSURE: Writer's fund has no position in any stock mentioned, as of 4/14/08.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-14-2008 @ 11:47PM
Matt said...
Dude I haven't read any of your other posts... but if one were to look at your work based on this one post... they were to think you have no idea how to invest.. or much else. Seriously... 80%+ of people in this country probably don't give a **** about Britney Spears... let alone that this is a minor car accident and I heard it mentioned extremely briefly on the news. If she got into an accident and some special new safety feature saved her life, then yea that would make sense as a play for whoever makes that safety device, or has it in a majority of their cars or something.
NO ONE will read that article or hear it on TV and wonder/hear what type of car she was driving and then either want to buy one cause she drives it or because it had no damage. Honestly I hope this was an April fools, a fluke in your judgment, or you just phoning it in to meet some required amount of posts you need with this blog.
And for something not specific to your writing, but overall: Writers who contribue to this blog, I'm wondering what happened to such informative analysis of macro trends, technical analysis of stocks based on chart patterns, ect. This blog has really lost its quality over the last year and a half.