SIRI Monthly Thread August 2015

[bdp.]

@bdp... what are you doing? going to cash or holding? I can guess you are probably holding Sirius XM but what about the market. I believe this is a stealth correction we are witnessing. Slowly whittling down investor accounts OR giving those that see what is going a chance to take profits.

I'm not going in to panic mode just yet. But I have been selling off my margin Sirius shares just to avoid any more interest fees. (had accumulated almost 100k shares). I would need more definitive information based on fact and not speculation strongly indicating an inevitable economic collapse before I go to all cash. There certainly is a lot of chaos happening on the planet, but I truly believe we are once again taking solid control of our #1 spot. It is a bad sign that China has devalued their currency because it shows that the domineering days of "Made in China" is finally meeting a balance as, among other things, revived domestic manufacturing begins to take hold. It is a bad thing for us because it may cause a drop in our exports etc... But at the end of the day, we must not react and our interest rates must be increased right on schedule or else, at this point, we reveal a complete lack of confidence in our economy's strengthening, which will certainly throw everything into a tailspin. Just keeping a close watch on things...

[midas360]

Russia is going into a deep recession too as reported. 50% of their revenues are oil related and they are saying gas prices are going below $2. That signals to me they are taking oil down even lower. I sure hope our economy is doing as good as they say but I am not buying it. I am ready for a correction or whatever they call it. Good Luck BDP! Nice job on SXM!

Edit: I wonder if they will take down "gas prices" to help the economy while yellen raises rates? I dunno.

I'm not going in to panic mode just yet. But I have been selling off my margin Sirius shares just to avoid any more interest fees. (had accumulated almost 100k shares). I would need more definitive information based on fact and not speculation strongly indicating an inevitable economic collapse before I go to all cash. There certainly is a lot of chaos happening on the planet, but I truly believe we are once again taking solid control of our #1 spot. It is a bad sign that China has devalued their currency because it shows that the domineering days of "Made in China" is finally meeting a balance as, among other things, revived domestic manufacturing begins to take hold. It is a bad thing for us because it may cause a drop in our exports etc... But at the end of the day, we must not react and our interest rates must be increased right on schedule or else, at this point, we reveal a complete lack of confidence in our economy's strengthening, which will certainly throw everything into a tailspin. Just keeping a close watch on things...

[dm_4]

AT&T Offers $500 Switching Credit to DirecTV Customers

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/t-offe...202308698.html

So funny reading the comments in the comment section at the bottom of this article. Bunch of pissed off, fed up att and direct tv customes. Also pointing out that att fiber is anything but according to this one commenter:

Everyone: Very important that you know what FTT(x) is. Go to Wikipedia-search for "Fiber to the x". AT&T has very little FTTx (H,P or B) in most of its service area, which is "Fiber Optic(cable) to the Home or Premise or Business end destination. Be wary of AT&T's "Advanced Digital Network". This is a fancy cover term for saying AT&T does not provide Fiber Optic cable directly to you, the end user. ADN essentially represents FTTN which is "Fiber to the Node". The "Node" is the line switching location where the closest Fiber Optic cable ends; it usually is no closer than a mile and up to 12-50 miles from your Broadband destination.

You still are using the same, old, slow metal cable installed to your location. ADN is an electronic switching mechanism; it allows AT&T to handle MORE BROADBAND TRAFFIC but no INCREASE in actual individual line speed. Visualize more switchboard operators, not faster switchboard operators-still antiquated, all the same. Advance Digital Network is AT&T's way for charging you more(U-verse FTTN) for the same old service and Broadband service.

[user34615145]

After 3 upgrades and positive analyst reports yesterday on AAPL today follows with the negative

http://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst.../10801406.html

[midas360]

I personally think they are taking down Apple before the big news coming up regarding the Apple TV set top.

After 3 upgrades and positive analyst reports yesterday on AAPL today follows with the negative

http://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst.../10801406.html

[user34615145]

I personally think they are taking down Apple before the big news coming up regarding the Apple TV set top.

I don't know if it's as complicated as a concerted takedown. China really signaled with the devaluing of their currency - even if it was less than 2% - that their economy was slowing much more than they previously let on. A lot of AAPL's sales are in China...Slowing Chinese economy = less iPhones sold.

[midas360]

Great point... I saw that earlier today. I may buy some shares below $110 if it goes there. Do you think the Chinese government is manipulating the currency and stock market?

I don't know if it's as complicated as a concerted takedown. China really signaled with the devaluing of their currency - even if it was less than 2% - that their economy was slowing much more than they previously let on. A lot of AAPL's sales are in China...Slowing Chinese economy = less iPhones sold.

[midas360]

Apple feels the pain of China's yuan move

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/08/11/apple-kfc-poised-pain-yuan/31465997/

[bdp.]

Something doesn't seem right about China. Is all the information coming out of China absolutely verifiable or is it possible their moves are just preemptive to gain leverage over the world economy that is becoming more invested in domestic production? After all, we have just seen the power of Greece as their inaction roiled the markets and ultimately placed them in a better position of control. I can't think of a more effective warfare tactic than manipulate markets by creating an explosive panic by stabbing at the common core of fear.

[user34615145]

Something doesn't seem right about China. Is all the information coming out of China absolutely verifiable or is it possible their moves are just preemptive to gain leverage over the world economy that is becoming more invested in domestic production? After all, we have just seen the power of Greece as their inaction roiled the markets and ultimately placed them in a better position of control. I can't think of a more effective warfare tactic than manipulate markets by creating an explosive panic by stabbing at the common core of fear.

Great point... I saw that earlier today. I may buy some shares below $110 if it goes there. Do you think the Chinese government is manipulating the currency and stock market?

Sure the Chinese are trying to game the system in their favor. So is everyone else. We did it with our QE, the EU is doing it. Japan is doing it. Call it a currency war, call it whatever but it's what happens when there is no growth and the only (perceived) tool in toolbox is Central Bank monetary policy. Everyone wants a bigger piece of the global economy so they game their system to try and get a bigger piece. A better answer is to have governments across the globes working to GROW their economies. The analogy is that everyone wants a bigger piece of the pie right? Why not then, make the pie bigger? but that's not what's happening. Currently the US is really the only other main player with a growing economy (if you can call 2% gdp "growth)...Rather than using Monetary Policy to get a bigger piece of the pie, there needs to be concerted Fiscal policy (spending) to stimulate growth in economies across the globe (make the pie bigger).

The fact that China is devaluing their currency is surprising to me not because want to better compete for that piece of the pie, but that they are, in effect, admitting to the world that they NEED a bigger piece of that pie....that their economy is worse than they had let on. They are Devaluing now really hurts their chance for the Yuan to gain Reserve Currency Status. So pragmatic action is more important than appearances which, to me, means things must be a whole lot worse than they've been letting the rest of the world believe.

Anyway, just my thoughts.