James Altucher is a financial journalist for The Wall Street Journal and founder of Stockpickr.com. His articles cover every angle of the market; he also stars in feature videos with other financial luminaries. He is the author of Trade Like a Hedge Fund, Trade Like Warren Buffett, SuperCa$h, and The Forever Portfolio.

He has taken a controversial path lately with numerous articles in the New York Post and Huffington Post. Some articles include: "Global Warming Is a Myth," "Should Insider Trading Be Made Legal?" "School of Hard Cash," "The Internet Is Dead (as an Investment)," and "5 Myths the Recession Taught Us."

Rumors of a new addition to the James Altucher library have entered the blogosphere, so I met with James to discuss a possible new book and the response from his recent aggressive views on finance and the stock market.

Continue reading You can profit from James Altucher's insanity

You can profit from James Altucher's insanity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A report in The New York Post suggests that Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), could be the logical replacement for current U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The paper's sources indicate that "a number of policy makers have begun mentioning Dimon as a successor to Geithner, whose standing in Washington has suffered because of the country's high unemployment rate, the weakness of the dollar, the slow pace of the recovery and the government's mounting deficit."

Meanwhile, reports the Post, Dimon has emerged as one of the heroes of the financial crisis, "having navigated JPMorgan through the recession and being a go-to guy when Uncle Sam last year needed Wall Street's help during the collapses of Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual."

Continue reading Will JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon be our next Treasury Secretary?

Will JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon be our next Treasury Secretary? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Often, we confuse winning with being the best. This isn't always the case. There are plenty of ways to get ahead when you don't have the top product on the market. The smoke-filled backroom meetings may be a thing of the past, but the net effect lingers. This is exactly what went down, according to a Reuters report, when Microsoft (MSFT) had a chat with News Corp (NWS).

Microsoft suggested a relationship with News Corp which would involve the latter's yanking its news sites from Google (GOOG) ... for a fee, of course. This would cost the search engine giant -- which is also a news aggregation giant -- access to some hefty publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Sun and the New York Post.

Continue reading Microsoft and News Corp talk about pushing Google aside

Microsoft and News Corp talk about pushing Google aside originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading National Association of Realtors asks Greenspan to speak at event

National Association of Realtors asks Greenspan to speak at event originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 May 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A report today in the New York Post suggests that shareholders are anxious to oust Kenneth Lewis, CEO of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC). The paper says that a group of angry investors, spearheaded by Jerry Finger, has compiled a list of demands to present at the bank's next annual meeting. Finger and his irate mob will request that the roles of CEO and chairman be split, and the outspoken investor said it's safe to assume that a brand-new chief executive is also high on his wish list.

Finger made headlines last month by filing a class-action lawsuit against B of A, alleging that its merger with Merrill Lynch failed to protect shareholders' interests. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is now investigating that very same matter, and reports say that the AG may demand the return of $4 billion in bonuses to Merrill employees that were rushed through prior to the merger's completion.

Continue reading Will Bank of America shareholders show CEO Kenneth Lewis the door?

Will Bank of America shareholders show CEO Kenneth Lewis the door? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Arm candy: The ultimate executive compensation

Arm candy: The ultimate executive compensation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• People familiar with the issue said that European regulators are gearing up to file new antitrust charges against Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC). The charges, the Wall Street Journal reported, would allege Intel gave major European retailers an incentive not to sell computers that use Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NYSE: AMD) chips.

• The New York Times reported that News Corporation's (NYSE: NWS) New York Post and The Daily News, owned by Mortimer Zuckerman, are exploring a print pact and have been in talks to find ways to combine some business functions of the papers, according to people briefed on the matter.
• According to sources, the San Francisco Business Times reported that Washington Mutual Incorporated (NYSE: WM) may be planning more layoffs in September. It is unclear how many employees will be affected and from which departments.

• In an effort to preserve capital, data compiled by Bloomberg showed that troubled mortgage companies Federal National Mortgage Association (NYSE: FNM), or Fannie Mae, and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (NYSE: FRE), or Freddie Mac, may cut dividends after more than $11B in combined losses since last year.
• Three people familiar with the matter said that the SEC subpoenaed Wall Street investment banks including The Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS), Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc (NYSE: MER) in its hunt and crack down on suspected manipulation of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEH) shares. Bloomberg reported that two of the people said the SEC, which yesterday curtailed short selling in financial stocks, is looking for e-mails and trading records and is also examining whether securities firms have "adequate controls" to deal properly with misconduct.

Newspaper wrap-up: Wall Street firms subpoenaed by SEC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Media World: Cablevision's (CVC) purchase of Newsday makes little sense

Media World: Cablevision's (CVC) purchase of Newsday makes little sense originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 May 2008 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On December 17th, StreetInsider.com wrote about a story in the New York Post that had shares of medical equipment company Arthrocare (NASDAQ: ARTC) trading down. According to StreetInsider:

According to the Post, about 75% of Arthrocare's US spinal unit business came from DiscoCare, although Arthrocare hasn't mentioned the unit's reliance on DiscoCare. The report also said the Massachusetts Attorney General's office is looking into the companies' relationship.

On Friday, Arthrocare defended itself, calling the reports materially inaccurate. Arthrocare also said it contacted the Massachusetts Attorney General's office and was informed that there was no such investigation.

Why am I quoting StreetInsider's story on a New York Post story rather than the New York Post itself? The Post piece on Arthrocare is no longer anywhere to be found! At one time, the story was located at this URL: http://www.nypost.com/seven/12112007/business/surgical_device_makers_growth_fueled_by__707429.htm

But now that's a dead link! Since then, Arthrocare has acquired DiscoCare, and the company has become a target of short-selling stock sleuth Andrew Left of Citron Research.

But it's hard to know what to make of the New York Post's vanishing act. Zack's equity analyst Gregory Aurand wrote this about the stock in the wake of the New York Post article:

Continue reading What in the world happened to the New York Post's story on Arthrocare?

What in the world happened to the New York Post's story on Arthrocare? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Reacting to $90-plus a barrel oil prices, airlines, many of whom are beginning to see profits again, are passing along increases to passengers. Led by AMR Corporation's (NYSE: AMR) American Airlines, the largest carrier, increases per ticket are being increased about $20, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
• The UAW may not face stiff opposition among its rank and file member for a new four year labor contact with Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), as local leaders in Detroit approved a tentative four year deal, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• The New York Post reported that two fired Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) executives shopped the company to investors, according to industry consultants' affidavits filed by the company to support its claims that the execs breached their corporate duties.
• The Telegraph reported that CIBC World Markets' financial services analyst Meredith Whitney has called for Chuck Prince's successors to break up Citigroup (NYSE: C).
• Several private equity firms are competing to buy the 32% stake in Sony Corporation's (NYSE: SNE) Sony Entertainment Television currently held by Indian investors, reported the Economic Times.

Newspaper wrap-up: Analyst calls for Citigroup break up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm filing this item under schadenfreude: That shameful feeling of joy we get at the failing and suffering of others, especially people we dislike intensity.

Trump Mortgage is closing its doors less than two years after it began. The venture got off to a rocky start when it turned out the man tapped to run it, E.J. Ridings, had inflated his credentials.

According to The New York Post:

Trump played down his role in Trump Mortgage, saying it was just a licensing deal and he didn't have an ownership stake.

Trump is, however, licensing his name to First Meridian Mortgage, a lender that is being renamed Trump Financial.

Of course, Trump was talking about that when Trump Mortgage was going to be the next big thing.

Trump Mortgage closes shop originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Paul Tudor Jones runs some of the best managed hedge funds anywhere, averaging over a 24% annual return over the last 20 years, but last month they reported heavy losses, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) is speaking with wireless operators , such as T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, as well as phone manufacturers about carrying their products.
• The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is expected to fine Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) a total of $6.1M for alleged overcharging of customers on bond sales totaling $59M, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• Barron's "Inside Scoop" section reported that Andrew J. McKelvey, who stepped down as Monster Worldwide Inc's (NASDAQ: MNST) chairman and CEO last October, has sold 1.27M shares for $48.6M on the open market since Friday, according to SEC data.

• Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO) is reportedly joining with private-equity partner GTCR Golder Rauner to buy food-crafting company Wilton Industries and paint-by-number specialist Dimension Holdings, reported the New York Post.

• According to DigiTimes.com, Taiwan component suppliers for the iPhone have said they are not seeing any reduction in orders from Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Newspaper wrap-up 8-2-07: Martha Stewart making acquisitions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Liberty Global Inc's (NASDAQ: LBTYA) John Malone may bid on Virgin Media Inc (NASDAQ: VMED), the UK's biggest cable company, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• The controlling shareholders of Dow Jones & Company Inc (NYSE: DJ) -- the Bancrofts -- are still debating whether or not to accept Rupert Murdoch's New Corporation's (NYSE: NWS) $5B offer to buy the company, and the debate is still too close to call, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• Even a nine cents a drink price hike may not help Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) slumping share price, down about 20% this year, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• Dutch bank ABN Amro Holdings NV's (NYSE: ABN) boards today refused to endorse either of two competing bids for the bank, effectively taking a neutral position on the issue, reported the Financial Times.

• Theme park operator Cedar Fair Entertainment (NYSE: FUN) has reportedly entered into quick- moving negotiations with investment firm Destiny Capital Solutions about a $4.1B takeover of the theme park operator, reported the New York Post.
  

Newspaper wrap-up 7-30-07: Cedar Fair in takeover talks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The FDA said no to Pristiq, an experimental Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) drug to treat the symptoms of menopause, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• The $3.1B sale of General Motors Corporation's (NYSE: GM) Allison Transmission to Carlyle Group and Onex has stalled in the debt financing market, thanks to difficulties raising debt from investors, reported the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column.
• LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (OTC: LVMUY) is expected to acquire Les Echos from Pearson (NYSE: PSO) for $331.9M, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• Time Warner Inc's (NYSE: TWX) AOL is entering the behavioral-targeting ad market by purchasing Tacoda, which uses "behavioral targeting" techniques to track Web surfers' habits, reported the New York Post.
• Cerberus Capital Management's acquisition of DaimlerChrysler AG's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler unit could be completed on Monday or Tuesday of next week, reported the Detroit Free Press.

Newspaper wrap-up 7-24-07: Chrysler sale could be completed next week originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

According to the New York Post, the New York Times Co. (NYSE: NYT) is considering ending its online paid service, presumably moving towards a pure advertising system. The paid service was used to further monetize readers of the most popular columnists at the paper, such as Paul Krugman and Thomas Friedman.

Even the columnists who are featured in the "Select" program have held reservations on the program since its inception, the Post goes on to say. But according to a NY Times spokeswoman, this segment has "met or exceeded all its goals since it started in 2005."

Fact is, the future of the online newspaper business is purely advertising-based. The new age of internet publishing with its extraordinarily low barriers to entry (think blogs) has made consumers even more adverse to paying for reading material on the internet.

I'd still avoid the New York Times and McClatchy (NYSE: MNI) -- they are declining businesses and I think the street is still overestimating the companies' earnings abilities in the next few years.

NY Times to end pay site? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The IRS is looking at derivatives trades of Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) and Lehman Brothers Holdings (NYSE: LEH) to see if trades made on behalf of hedge funds and other clients, including those offshore, were to avoid paying taxes on U.S. stock dividends, reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
  
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI) is expected to sell its stake in Brasil Telecom (NYSE: BTM).

• The New York Times reported that Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is expected to receive opening bids today for its Jaguar and Land Rover units. A variety of companies, including private equity firms and possibly other automakers, are expected to bid for the two divisions, said people with direct knowledge of the situation.
• Retail shoe store chain Foot Locker Inc (NYSE: FL) is reportedly considering putting itself up for sale again, after disappointing sales by its U.S. shoe stores and its failed attempt to acquire rival Genesco Inc (NYSE: GCO), reported the New York Post.
• The Telegraph reported that Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) is examining a deal to invest in Beijing Hualian, one of China's biggest retail groups.

Newspaper wrap-up 7-19-07: Foot Locker may put itself up for sale again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S) is disconnecting about 1,000 customers who have been calling customer service "excessively."
• According to the Wall Street Journal, Apollo Management has raised its offer for Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) to $28 a share, valuing Huntsman at $6.5B.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO), the credit rating agency, will issue a report today criticizing the private equity industry's increasing use of debt to buy companies.
• The Financial Times reported that Dow Jones and Company's (NYSE: DJ) board is reportedly making a final attempt to find a rival bidder for the company to compete with News Corporation (NYSE: NWS), contacting billionaire Ron Burkle.

• Virgin Media Inc's (NASDAQ: VMED) bankers have contacted ComCast Corp (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and DirecTV Group Inc (NYSE: DTV) to help "kick-start' an auction for the company, reported The Mail on Sunday.
• The New York Post reported, citing sources, that theme park operator Cedar Fair Entertainment (NYSE: FUN) has contacted private equity firms about the possibility of acquiring the company.

Newspaper wrap-up 7-09-07: Apollo raises offer for Huntsman originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) highlighted the struggles of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), a company that is dealing with the competition catching up to them in a tough competitive environment. CEO Gary Kelly said, "The threat to our future is real."
• Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE: C) is expected to pay $700M for Automated Trading Desk, an electronic trading firm, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• News Corporation (NYSE: NWS) and Dow Jones and Company Inc (NYSE: DJ) have reached a preliminary understanding for a way to safeguard the editorial independence of the Wall Street Journal and the other Dow Jones publications, which had been the key road block to a deal, reported the Wall Street Journal.
• Walter Mossberg, the Wall Street Journal technology guru, spent two weeks testing Apple Inc's (NASDAQ: AAPL) new iPhone, and said it was "a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer."

• Also regarding the iPhone, according to Newsweek, Steve Jobs said of the high expectations for the iPhone, "I think we're going to blow away the expectations."
• The New York Post has learned that Nordstrom Inc (NYSE: JWN) has apparently reached a deal to sell its Faconnable chain to a Lebanese private equity firm.

Newspaper wrap-up 6-27-07: iPhone making news just ahead of release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management, whose firms holds about 15% of Ceridian Corporation (NYSE: CEN), doesn't like the proposed $5.3B sale of the company to Thomas H. Lee Partners and Fidelity National Financial Inc (NYSE: FNF), and says he's going to find higher bidders, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The Financial Times reported that British bank Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) has drawn up plans to sweeten its $86B all-share offer for Dutch bank ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN), by substituting cash for some of the shares it is currently offering for ABN.
• Beginning today, Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is embedding its iTunes internet music download service in the British and Irish social networking site Bebo, reported the Financial Times.

• The New York Post has learned that a private-equity firm owned by the Dubai government is close to buying Barneys New York from the Jones Apparel Group (NYSE: JNY).
• The New York Times reported that the Wall Street Journal is set to "shake up its newsroom" by reassigning and replacing several top editors.
• Golf equipment maker Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) is suing Fortune Brands Inc.'s (NYSE: FO) Acushnet Co, for allegedly violating five Callaway patents for golf clubs, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Newspaper wrap-up 6-13-07: Apple embeds iTunes in Bebo originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Inside Scoop" column reported that Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) has raised its stake in RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH), and now owns 12.6% of the company.
• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Time Warner Inc's (NYSE: TWX) Warner Bros. is planning to release movies to video-on-demand services at the same time as the DVD launch to see if they can expand one distribution pipeline without harming another.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is not seeking to acquire Dow Jones and Company Inc (NYSE: DJ), after the collapse of talks between GE's NBC television network and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) regarding the possibility of a joint bid for Dow Jones.

• Fidelity Investments, which was the third-largest shareholder in Dow Jones, has sold almost all its shares in the company, which is the target of a $5B takeover by News Corporation (NYSE: NWS), reported the New York Post.

• CNet.com reported that Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE) will begin selling a line of televisions specifically for Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT), Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) and other discount retail chains.

Newspaper wrap-up 6-12-07: GE will not look to acquire DJ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.