World Stock Markets:
Steve Case from AOL fame is one of the judges going round hitting up start-up business ideas, 5 cities at a time. The south of USA is next.
Revolution, Google for Entrepreneurs, and UP Global
This UP Global initiative is an interesting approach by Google ventures and others to identify and fund new venture ideas.
A very cool approach to jump starting innovation anywhere and everywhere around the world. That the winner gets a boat-load of money and and a blast of publicity is a rather nice perk to the whole process.
See Google Ventures here: http://www.gv.com/about
See Case Foundation here: http://casefoundation.org
I Like the title of an article on the Case Foundation web site: "Running business as if the future matters."
Steve's come some distance since the time when the guppy-eat-the-whale daze of the DotCom error when AOL bought out TimeWarner. This buy-out-merger resulted in one of the greatest indigestion from over-eating of all time.
Read about this Maalox moment in a 2005 book: "The failure of the AOL-Time Warner merger is the subject of a book by Nina Munk entitled Fools Rush In: Steve Case, Jerry Levin, and the Unmaking of AOL Time Warner(2005)." (Steve Case, 2015, Life and Career, para. 10).
Steve has had a very impressive log of ventures and philanthropic organizations since the AOL days.
Reference
Steve Case. (2015, March 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:34, March 16, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Case&oldid=651091501
'via Blog this'
Monday, March 16, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
Do Cryptocurrencies Such as Bitcoin Have a Future? - WSJ - Crappy currencies
Do Cryptocurrencies Such as Bitcoin Have a Future? - WSJ:
This is a good discussion about bitcoin, a cryptocurrency.
At the current exchange rate, $261 US equals about 1 bitcoin, or 1 USD equals .003 BTC.
During the Great Recession all countries worked hard to devalue their own currencies. A great way to stimulate the domestic economy is to reduce the value of the currency such that exports are stimulated. All right, not a great way, especially if every country in the world wants to do the same. So the currency decisions world-wide were a "race to the bottom" to achieve the most worthless currency fastest.
Of course the whole process is a little more complicated than that, the central banks (the US Federal reserve) can make hard decisions quickly, whereas congress, can't make any reasonable decisions, ever. Decades of federal deficits and trade deficits result in a devaluation of the currency (as the world economy/currencies move to equilibrium) provided you don't intervene somehow and manipulate the numbers.
China started out with a massive undervalued currency decades ago so that it could grow based on export expansion. Their HUGE savings rate has offset the US low savings rate by subsidizing our Walmart products imported from China. For half a century. At peak times, the yuan has been arguably 40% undervalued against world currencies; however, they have slowly but steadily let the yuan rise. As a result of the persistent trade imbalance, China has ended up with massive amounts of Yankee Dollar$, much of it going to fund the US Federal Debt (US bonds). They have however, been systematically dumping their US Dollars by buying up massive amounts of real estate (mines and factories and homes) around the world.
Japan has had a really strong currency that they finally devalued into submission. They devalued from about 80 yen to the $1US to about 120 today. That's a 50% devaluation of the currency over about 2 years. So now Japan can export again.
The Russian ruble is in rubble. For lots of reasons, but mainly because their income is mainly from oil and gas which has plummeted. Combine that with embargo types of penalties associated with their invasion(s) of Ukraine. Same problems for all oil export countries (OPEC) like Venezuela.
The Euro is in the toilet for lots o reasons, but now they are cranking up the quantitative easing efforts that the US has exercised so ?well? for the last 6 years. One of the last strong currencies in the world is the Swiss Frank, They finally abandoned all hope of sticking to the Euro and their currency revalued 20% overnight in mid January.
So, with all these crappy currencies out there, how is it that the USD is least crappy of the world currencies. One reason is, that as bad as the Dollar is, it is substantially better than the alternatives. Who wants to do business in the Yuan, or the Euro. There has been talk of a currency block by the BRIC countries: Brazil (with the real dropping), Russia (in rubble), India trying to get its country back on strong footing), and China (where everyone worries about a political uprising if/when their growth really does slow).
The US economy is growing strongly, so that's one good reason for having a stronger dollar; but only one. The rest have to do with the USD as the best of the worst. It is good to be less crappy than the rest of the world's currency, but not something to really brag about.
Since the USD is still the worlds choice for purchasing and global transactions, when the USD strengthens it crushes commodity prices. Therefore, the price of oil (in petrodollars) drops. That's not the main reason, but it helps. Even gold drops.
Gold, the best possible alternative currency is worrisome that it doesn't blast from $1,200 way past $2,000 per (troy) ounce. Gold is a great hedge to inflation-prone currencies. It seems like it should be harder to manipulate gold than all the other currencies of the world. But no, everyone is dumping their "safe" money into US treasuries where the return does not cover inflation. And, of course, the US stock market where the dividend yield tents to more than cover inflation and still leave room for upward capital appreciation (stock price going up).
No question, there is a bubble built on quantitative easing around the world. No question it will unwind. For those people/institutions who think it will happen gracefully, history has demonstrated that graceful re-balancing of bubbles is rarely the case.
That said, the US economy appears to be far stronger than most people give credit.
Sometime, somewhere, people are going to get tired of having their currencies and their welfare associated with it manipulated. That's gonna mean a rise of Gold and cyber-currencies as an alternative. Or, maybe everyone will go on believing that all is good in the fairy-tail land of Oz and there is no such thing as a crappy currency? I'll bet you can't wait for the Greek drachma to come back when the EU finally gets tired of their fiscal irresponsibility and kicks them to the curb?
'via Blog this'
This is a good discussion about bitcoin, a cryptocurrency.
At the current exchange rate, $261 US equals about 1 bitcoin, or 1 USD equals .003 BTC.
During the Great Recession all countries worked hard to devalue their own currencies. A great way to stimulate the domestic economy is to reduce the value of the currency such that exports are stimulated. All right, not a great way, especially if every country in the world wants to do the same. So the currency decisions world-wide were a "race to the bottom" to achieve the most worthless currency fastest.
Of course the whole process is a little more complicated than that, the central banks (the US Federal reserve) can make hard decisions quickly, whereas congress, can't make any reasonable decisions, ever. Decades of federal deficits and trade deficits result in a devaluation of the currency (as the world economy/currencies move to equilibrium) provided you don't intervene somehow and manipulate the numbers.
China started out with a massive undervalued currency decades ago so that it could grow based on export expansion. Their HUGE savings rate has offset the US low savings rate by subsidizing our Walmart products imported from China. For half a century. At peak times, the yuan has been arguably 40% undervalued against world currencies; however, they have slowly but steadily let the yuan rise. As a result of the persistent trade imbalance, China has ended up with massive amounts of Yankee Dollar$, much of it going to fund the US Federal Debt (US bonds). They have however, been systematically dumping their US Dollars by buying up massive amounts of real estate (mines and factories and homes) around the world.
Japan has had a really strong currency that they finally devalued into submission. They devalued from about 80 yen to the $1US to about 120 today. That's a 50% devaluation of the currency over about 2 years. So now Japan can export again.
The Russian ruble is in rubble. For lots of reasons, but mainly because their income is mainly from oil and gas which has plummeted. Combine that with embargo types of penalties associated with their invasion(s) of Ukraine. Same problems for all oil export countries (OPEC) like Venezuela.
The Euro is in the toilet for lots o reasons, but now they are cranking up the quantitative easing efforts that the US has exercised so ?well? for the last 6 years. One of the last strong currencies in the world is the Swiss Frank, They finally abandoned all hope of sticking to the Euro and their currency revalued 20% overnight in mid January.
So, with all these crappy currencies out there, how is it that the USD is least crappy of the world currencies. One reason is, that as bad as the Dollar is, it is substantially better than the alternatives. Who wants to do business in the Yuan, or the Euro. There has been talk of a currency block by the BRIC countries: Brazil (with the real dropping), Russia (in rubble), India trying to get its country back on strong footing), and China (where everyone worries about a political uprising if/when their growth really does slow).
The US economy is growing strongly, so that's one good reason for having a stronger dollar; but only one. The rest have to do with the USD as the best of the worst. It is good to be less crappy than the rest of the world's currency, but not something to really brag about.
Since the USD is still the worlds choice for purchasing and global transactions, when the USD strengthens it crushes commodity prices. Therefore, the price of oil (in petrodollars) drops. That's not the main reason, but it helps. Even gold drops.
Gold, the best possible alternative currency is worrisome that it doesn't blast from $1,200 way past $2,000 per (troy) ounce. Gold is a great hedge to inflation-prone currencies. It seems like it should be harder to manipulate gold than all the other currencies of the world. But no, everyone is dumping their "safe" money into US treasuries where the return does not cover inflation. And, of course, the US stock market where the dividend yield tents to more than cover inflation and still leave room for upward capital appreciation (stock price going up).
No question, there is a bubble built on quantitative easing around the world. No question it will unwind. For those people/institutions who think it will happen gracefully, history has demonstrated that graceful re-balancing of bubbles is rarely the case.
That said, the US economy appears to be far stronger than most people give credit.
Sometime, somewhere, people are going to get tired of having their currencies and their welfare associated with it manipulated. That's gonna mean a rise of Gold and cyber-currencies as an alternative. Or, maybe everyone will go on believing that all is good in the fairy-tail land of Oz and there is no such thing as a crappy currency? I'll bet you can't wait for the Greek drachma to come back when the EU finally gets tired of their fiscal irresponsibility and kicks them to the curb?
'via Blog this'
Friday, February 27, 2015
ARM Takes Its Chip Business Beyond Phones - WSJ
ARM Takes Its Chip Business Beyond Phones - WSJ:
ARM Holdings, $ARMH, is one of the great intellectual property engines of our time. They make the chips used in cell phones and other computing devices. Or, stated more accurately, they invent the chips, and then license out the manufacturing, sales and distribution of them.
One thing that has made them such a dominant force is low power use technologies, exactly the kinds of things you need for mobile technologies.
When you look at the financials of ARMH, don't be deceived and compare them directly with a company like Intel or AMD. ARM has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 60 to 70; Intel has a PE of only 14 to 16. Intel has the $ billion factories. ARM has only the development labs for inventing stuff.
And, speaking of stuff; ARM is now setting their sights on the-internet-of-stuff. Billions of new items will be connected to the internet each year. Appliances, pet monitors, and more...
Let's see how that evolves.
In the mean time, keep your eyes on this company that utilizes IP better than pretty much any other. It gets is reviews in the form of royalty payments wired to the bank. Nearly pure profit.
It's a beautiful thing.
'via Blog this'
ARM Holdings, $ARMH, is one of the great intellectual property engines of our time. They make the chips used in cell phones and other computing devices. Or, stated more accurately, they invent the chips, and then license out the manufacturing, sales and distribution of them.
One thing that has made them such a dominant force is low power use technologies, exactly the kinds of things you need for mobile technologies.
When you look at the financials of ARMH, don't be deceived and compare them directly with a company like Intel or AMD. ARM has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 60 to 70; Intel has a PE of only 14 to 16. Intel has the $ billion factories. ARM has only the development labs for inventing stuff.
And, speaking of stuff; ARM is now setting their sights on the-internet-of-stuff. Billions of new items will be connected to the internet each year. Appliances, pet monitors, and more...
Let's see how that evolves.
In the mean time, keep your eyes on this company that utilizes IP better than pretty much any other. It gets is reviews in the form of royalty payments wired to the bank. Nearly pure profit.
It's a beautiful thing.
'via Blog this'
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Apple Loses Patent Infringement Suit, Ordered to Pay $533 Million | Rolling Stone
Apple Loses Patent Infringement Suit, Ordered to Pay $533 Million | Rolling Stone:
It seems apropos that Rolling Stone would have a great report on the iTunes (Apple) law suit loss to the tune of 1/2 billion dollar$. The loss rules that Apple did infringe on the 6 patents related to the storing and accessing of songs, videos and games.
In the suit that might well be called the the Apple vs. the Troll, the ruling was that Apple not only infringed, but willingly did so and consequently results in the terrible treble-damages penalty that makes patents such a powerful weapon.
The other company is Smartflash. This is a non-practicing entity (NPE), that might unkindly be called a patent troll.
Apple plans to appeal. Smartflash is aiming for the iPhone and iPad sales/profits because those devices actually play iTunes music that is subject to the infringing patents.
Imagine how many billion paid downloads from iTunes it takes to make up a $0.5B to pay the fine.? WoW.
This could get uglier and uglier.
'via Blog this'
It seems apropos that Rolling Stone would have a great report on the iTunes (Apple) law suit loss to the tune of 1/2 billion dollar$. The loss rules that Apple did infringe on the 6 patents related to the storing and accessing of songs, videos and games.
In the suit that might well be called the the Apple vs. the Troll, the ruling was that Apple not only infringed, but willingly did so and consequently results in the terrible treble-damages penalty that makes patents such a powerful weapon.
The other company is Smartflash. This is a non-practicing entity (NPE), that might unkindly be called a patent troll.
Apple plans to appeal. Smartflash is aiming for the iPhone and iPad sales/profits because those devices actually play iTunes music that is subject to the infringing patents.
Imagine how many billion paid downloads from iTunes it takes to make up a $0.5B to pay the fine.? WoW.
This could get uglier and uglier.
'via Blog this'
Apple trolled by Smartflash
Apple was found guilty of infringing three patens owned by Smartflash LLC and was ordered to pay $533 million.http://fortune.com/2015/02/25/apple-pay-patent-infringement/ The patents were infringed in the itunes system invoving music storage and downloads. This is yet another instance in the continual "patent troll" saga, according to Apple, in which a company (Smartflash) obtains patents for the sole purpose of citing infringement(s) against a manufacturing entity to obtain royalties or court judgement.
As indicated, Apple said it would appeal.
As indicated, Apple said it would appeal.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Has DOW gotten its groove back? | Watch the video - Yahoo Finance
Has DOW gotten its groove back? | Watch the video - Yahoo Finance:
Interview on Mad Money of Andrew N. Liveris, Pres., Chair and CEO.
Dow chemicals is now a innovation, high-tech company?
That's right. The olde staunching company now has two-thirds of its products in with intellectual property (IP). Proprietary products are 66% of their products. !
Was 100% petrochemicals (kindof).
Here you can find out about their products: http://www.dow.com/products/
They are creating massive facilities in the USA, taking advantage of the low costs of production here were we are swimming in nat gas (and petro chemicals).
But the really BIG project is in Saudi. The size of the factory is about 1,000 football feilds BIG. With some 60,000 employees at peak construction. Coming onboard this year.
Wow.
They are taking advantage of the US energy boom in a way that no other company can (or does)!:-)
Wow.
They are coming out of an aggressive "activist" investor action and seem pretty good for the wear.
'via Blog this'
Interview on Mad Money of Andrew N. Liveris, Pres., Chair and CEO.
Dow chemicals is now a innovation, high-tech company?
That's right. The olde staunching company now has two-thirds of its products in with intellectual property (IP). Proprietary products are 66% of their products. !
Was 100% petrochemicals (kindof).
Here you can find out about their products: http://www.dow.com/products/
They are creating massive facilities in the USA, taking advantage of the low costs of production here were we are swimming in nat gas (and petro chemicals).
But the really BIG project is in Saudi. The size of the factory is about 1,000 football feilds BIG. With some 60,000 employees at peak construction. Coming onboard this year.
Wow.
They are taking advantage of the US energy boom in a way that no other company can (or does)!:-)
Wow.
They are coming out of an aggressive "activist" investor action and seem pretty good for the wear.
'via Blog this'
Friday, February 13, 2015
SU Labs | Singularity University ... Accelerating innovation
SU Labs | Singularity University:
Check out Singularity University... Exponential growth in information and technologies.
Here is the introduction of the Singularity University at the TED conference by Ray Kurzweil in 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMYVH-hBGWg
Very cool
This is interesting changes in technologies and technologies.
'via Blog this'
Check out Singularity University... Exponential growth in information and technologies.
Here is the introduction of the Singularity University at the TED conference by Ray Kurzweil in 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMYVH-hBGWg
Very cool
This is interesting changes in technologies and technologies.
'via Blog this'
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)