wall-street-to-main-street-news-views-and-commentary-december-6-2005
Wall Street to Main Street: News, Views and Commentary: December 6, 2005
Writen by Louis Victor
Blame the weatherman or the Doppler radars, very little snow hit the Northeast this morning and that could effect the Oil markets today on the negative side. Ford looks to trim down, Nike puts on it’s running shoes, Google connects advertisers with consumes with a click.
Ford (NYSE: F) has announced that they are looking to cut the fat by shutting down 8 Northeast plants. The question is will this become a trend in the U.S. Auto industry? , with GM on the ropes and now Ford shutting down plants which may wind up to be more than just 8, investors have to wonder when the bleeding is going to stop. Automakers Honda (NYSE: HMC) and Toyota (NYSE: TM) seem to be having better days than their U.S. competition. Ford closed at $8.06 on Monday.
Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) Time Warner seems to be having a change of heart with their direction as it relates to America Online. So as opposed to selling off the division it looks like they may be keeping the division and probably not by choice. For anything to sell you need a buyer but the numbers have to make sense, according to reports their price tag was almost double what the street estimated the value to be. Microsoft and Google may be good search engine partners for AOL, which would make sense. So we’ll follow up with this developing story in the coming weeks. Time Warner closed at $18.23 on Monday.
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) being the internet industry innovator, lets just call them the “III” , is consistently adding new and innovative functions to it’s search engine. Their latest combines yellow page listings with a twist, consumers can actually view a listing and click on a button to have the selected company call them. This will not just revolutionize the functionality of online yellow pages but it will have an impact on the face of Internet advertising. So as price targets have been announced anywhere from $420 to $440 a share for Google, do not be shocked if there may be a stock split coming down the pike to make it more affordable for the average investor to own a piece of one of the fastest growing companies on the planet. Google closed at $405.85.
Nike (NYSE: NKE) is constantly increasing it’s market share worldwide, they have become the footwear market leader in Europe as well as the United States. Their revenues have increased like clockwork over the past three years going from $10.7 billion in 2003 to $13.7 billions in 2005. So Nike is still running the race to being the most dominate footwear and sports apparel company in the world. Nike closed at $87.33 on Monday.
Intervoice, Inc (NASDAQ: INTV) is a voice and data solutions company, this industry consist of two big players in the game, Comverse Technology (NASDAQ: CMVT) and Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) , is there room for Intervoice? , well I always like the underdog, usually the stock is at a discount, but I am on the fence at this point, so we’ll be looking at this stock over the next few months to get a better idea of their direction. Intervoice closed at $8.79 on Monday.
Protalex, Inc (OTCBB: PRTX) began it’s Phase I clinical trial of PRTX-100 , this trial is suppose to asses the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of PRTX-100 in healthy volunteers. Now this could be a key factor in their success, if the trials prove to be positive this little company could be at a discount. But lets see where they are at once the Phase I clinical trial has been completed. Protalex closed at $3.00 on Monday.
Keep your eye on RELM Wireless (AMEX: RWC) and WebEx Communications (NASDAQ: WEBX) , we’ll be following these and including it in one of our upcoming segments.
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Louis Victor NAMC Newswire 888-463-9237
Information contained herein is the opinion of Louis Victor and is intended to be used strictly for informational purposes. You should be aware that Mr. Victor attempts to assure himself of the accuracy of the information contained in the analyses he publishes. None of the information contained in this opinion constitutes a recommendation by Mr. Victor, New Age Media Concepts nor the NAMC Newswire that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. You must make your own independent decisions regarding any security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy mentioned on the program. The companies that are discussed in this opinion have not approved the statements made in this opinion Louis Victor’s past results are not necessarily indicative of future performance.
Neither Mr. Victor, New Age Media Concepts nor the NAMC Newswire guarantees any specific outcome or profit, and you should be aware of the real risk of loss in following any strategy or Investments Opinion posted here. This opinion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. The strategy or investments discussed may fluctuate in price or value and you may get back less than you invested. Before acting on any information contained here, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and strongly consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser.
Louis Victor, New Age Media Concepts nor the NAMC Newswire are not licensed brokers, broker dealers, market makers, investment bankers, investment advisors, analyst or underwriters. You should be aware that New Age Media Concepts is often compensated for issuing analyses, recommendations or opinions concerning particular companies. Its opinion is therefore not unbiased and you should consider this factor when evaluating Mr. Victor’s statements regarding a company.
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Louis Victor is the Executive Vice President for the firm New Age Media Concepts. His experience comes from over 15 years on Wall Street and over 6 years in the advertising and public relations industry. His daily views features varies companies that may be of interest to investors globally. He has publish several articles in regards to the advertising industry as well as the financial industry. |
how-secure-are-your-bank-account-and-assets
How Secure are Your Bank Account and Assets?
Writen by Richard Price
But are you really safe?
In the last few years, laws such as the Patriot Act in the US have been approved that effectively take your rights to privacy and financial well being away.
These same laws that were meant to protect us are now instead being used as a loophole by high power lawyers and government agencies to access your banking records, garnish money and freeze your assets.
In fact, currently US banks automatically report to government agencies on the activities of their clients, including you. What’s worse, your hard earned savings can now be legally garnished from your bank account by government agencies and creditors who may believe they have a claim against you. In the US alone you stand a 1 in 4 chance of being sued if your net worth exceeds $100,000. Not a lot of money!
Can you sleep at night?
Many offshore tax havens are no longer safe either. The Patriot act has enabled the US to attack the privacy laws in the Bahamas, and the UK has even forced the Jersey Islands to fully disclose beneficial ownership information.
Indeed there are very few places now with real asset protection. However, the tax haven of Panama is one such place that still enjoys complete company formation privacy and asset protection.
Panama constitution provides the highest levels of banking and corporate privacy laws in the world. With Britain’s proposed regulation for removal of bank and corporate book secrecy in the UK offshore territories, it is clear that Panama will remain one of the only secure offshore financial centers in terms of privacy and confidentiality that is not only respected, but vigorously protected by constitutional law. Panama has no mutual legal assistance treaties for sharing of banking information with any other nation, and does not recognize court rulings from other countries. In fact, revealing banking information to third parties is a crime in Panama, punishable by imprisonment. There is no such thing as “piercing the corporate veil” in Panama. Panama Corporations also offer “Bearer Shares”, allowing shareholders to maintain 100% privacy and confidentiality.
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Richard Price is the owner and author of http://www.confidentialbanking.com, a source for offshore banking services. |
Is Coral Calcium For You
On top of all the talk out there about the importance of calcium, there is the talk of the benefits of coral calcium as well. Calcium, as you may well know, is an essential mineral for your body. In addition, calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. You get calcium from your diet and maybe even from certain supplements, but all the talk today about coral calcium can be confusing.
Coral calcium is mostly made up of calcium carbonate, magnesium and traces of several other minerals. In terms of chemistry, calcium carbonate is no different than any other calcium. Calcium is a mineral and it is the same no matter what way it is obtained. However, the other trace minerals in coral calcium may be beneficial, which is the real reason that coral calcium is sometimes said to have additional benefits. So it is not the actual calcium, but what comes with it.
Coral calcium is taken from fossilized coral. Living coral reefs are protected by endangered species laws and thus cannot be used. Doing so could do irreversible damage to the eco systems of the reefs. Coral calcium comes from limestone deposits that were part of ancient reefs.
While the actual calcium contained in coral calcium is identical to any other limestone deposit’s calcium content, the fossilized reefs often contain other trace minerals that can help your body. Most of those trace minerals should be obtained in a good healthy diet, it is well documented that that average person doesn’t eat exactly what he should. Therefore, many people may benefit from the extra minerals contained in coral calcium. You will have to decide for yourself if coral calcium will really benefit you any more than a regular calcium supplement or even just a couple of glasses of milk a day.
Coral calcium has been the subject of many unproven claims. The most controversial and wide spread is likely that coral calcium cures cancer. The claim is that it increases the pH of your body and helps to get rid of cancer cells. While it is true that scientists have shown that increased pH levels will kill a cancer cell, the level to which the pH must increase will also kill healthy human cells. Also, no matter how much coral calcium a you take in, your body’s pH will not increase. Your body will expel increased alkaline components in your urine, so you will really only increase the pH of your urine. There are likely benefits to coral calcium in terms of minerals and calcium, but curing cancer has never been proven to be one of the benefits.
Calcium is a well known necessary mineral for human life, and the most prevalent in the body. Coral calcium is a good and effective source of it, but not the only one by any stretch of the imagination. It is known as a supplement and supplements are for improving nutrition, not for medicating or treating a disease. A high quality supplement can be a great way to supplement a good diet, but not a replacement for it.
If you would like more information on my coral calcium secrets, or read more articles like the one you just read, please feel free to visit my amazing supplements blog
[tags]coral calcium, supplements, health supplements, calcium supplements, calcium coral, coral supplement[/tags]
frugal-freedom
Frugal Freedom
Writen by Cheryl Johnson
That most of us are considered poor is no disgrace, but does us credit; for, as the mind is weakened by luxurious living, so it is strengthened by a frugal life.(Minucius Felix, 3rd century A.D.)
People who live a frugal lifestyle often live with less stress. Typically, those who take control of their money feel they have more control over their life in general. You’ve heard the old clich
save-big-by-being-patient
Save Big By Being Patient
Writen by Jeffrey Strain
When people claim they have saved money or found a great deal, you usually hear about the time, effort and research they put into getting the bargain. This gives the impression that getting good deals takes a lot of work. While good research and organization can go a long way to getting you great deals, the truth is that doing nothing is often your best resource when getting a great deal. The personal quality of patience is rarely mentioned when reading about how to get the best deal, but if you are a person who can simply wait, you’ll save yourself thousands of dollars a year.
In this instant gratification society, having the patience to wait even a short amount of time can cut expenses dramatically. While the Jones’ are trading in for a new luxury car every 2 years and purchasing the latest and greatest gadgets as soon as they hit the retail stores, if you have the patience to wait, you can often get the same items at a fraction of the cost.
People who don’t have patience end up paying premium prices. A recent example is Google Gmail email accounts. These are email accounts that are going to be free to anyone who wants them. When the trial for the accounts was first announced, however, you could only get them by an invitation from a friend. Many people considered them a must have item when they were first announced and paid as much as $100 for one less than a year ago. They now sell for less than a dollar on online auction sites and you can even find many places where the Gmail accounts are being given away for free.
Another good example of where patience pays is with cars. You’re likely to pay near full price for a car when the new year model is released. If you have the patience to wait 9 months, you can get the same brand new car for a lot less as the dealer tries to sell out inventory for the next new car models coming in. If you have even more patience and can wait a couple of years (and don’t mind a slightly used car) you can save yourself thousands more.
Patience can save is many small ways which together add up to a lot of money. You can pay $25 for the family to go to the movies to see the latest release or wait a few months and rent the movie for less than $5. That’s a 500% savings. You can pay full retail price for the latest Harry Potter book, or wait less than a month and pick it up on an online auction or used bookstore for a fraction of the price. If you have a little more patience, you can borrow it for free from your local library.
While patience in combination with other traits like organization and research can multiply the saving benefits, those who have a hard time with those other skills can still save by merely being patient. All it takes sitting back, taking it easy and waiting a few months until all the hype around the product in question disappears.
Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author’s information and an active link (where possible) are included - there is no need to include these guidelines. A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the website where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated.
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Copyright (c) Jeffrey Strain. He is owner of Debt Reduction 101 - a website dedicated to help you reduce your debt with your own means. |
how-to-save-money-on-business-accounting-and-bookkeeping
How to Save Money on Business Accounting and Bookkeeping
Writen by Jeremy Maddock
It is a well-known fact that as your business becomes larger and more successful you will probably have to hire some type of extra help in dealing with financial calculations and bookkeeping. The larger you company becomes, however, the higher your accounting costs are likely to be, often making the need to pay for financial services a frustrating drain on your profits.
There are ways to minimize these expenses, however, by increasing the efficiency of your company’s financial infrastructure.
Since most accountants charge by the hour, your primary goal should be to make the work as easy (and non-time consuming) as possible for your accountant. One of the easiest ways to do this is to ensure that all records are stored in a manageable and orderly fashion. This usually means getting in the habit of storing your monetary figures on a computer, often in the form of a spreadsheet, chart, or other easily accessible document.
When entering figures into your computer it is often a good idea to get the simple calculations out of the way yourself before an accountant comes in. After all, it doesn’t make sense to pay someone else a high hourly rate to do something that you could very easily do all by yourself.
Finally, when it does come time to hire help, you should compare offers from a number of accounting firms before making a choice. It might also be a good idea to hire temp bookkeepers for the more routine record keeping work, as they will generally charge you a lot less than a fully-qualified CPA.
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About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is a successful web-based freelance writer, who covers financial services and other business issues. |
health-savings-account-brokerage
Health Savings Account Brokerage
Writen by Milos Pesic
As required by the Federal law, contributions to health savings account brokerage are a must. It is held by an authorized custodian where it can be deposited in any certified HSA administrator which is apart from the insurance company underwriting the policy.
Each of those that handle health savings account brokerage provides various features such as having a different fee schedule. There are also those that only offer reserves statement options while there are those have it in compact discs, joint subsidy or comprehensive assistance. If you think that paying a high price will satisfy your expectations, think again since nowadays, practicality is very much important. Fees that are low play a significant deliberation until such time that an ample amount of money has been accumulated.
In health savings account brokerage, there are two schemes that are for free such as American Chartered Bank and Fayetteville Bank.
American Chartered Bank is responsible for taking care of most of the records through phone, online or mail. There are also local branches that accept walk- in customers such as the one in Illinois. Its set- up fee, closing fee, minimum opening deposit, monthly fee and annual fee are all without any charge. Fayetteville Bank is located in the central community of the state of Texas. All of their set- up fee, closing fee, monthly fee and annual fee are at no cost except for the minimum opening deposit of $50.
The most recognized among its customers when it comes health savings account brokerage are HSA Bank, HSA Trustee Services and HSA Resources.
HSA Bank is definitely a wise preference for an individual who is searching for investment options while HSA remainder is stabilized at a low rate. At the same time, it also provides that option of storing in thousands of other reserved vehicles that is granted by Ameritrade Corporate Services. It also has free debit card for the holder and another for their Power of Attorney.
HSA Trustee Services is another astute choice for a person who wants the simplicity as well as the ease of online banking so that as you are connected to the internet, you can conveniently check the money you have in the bank. There are also complete investment alternatives and no hassle of thinking about monthly fines. HSA Resources is dedicated to create a convenience to as many Americans as possible. It was founded by two lawyers where their goal is to make an opening, managing and accessing the HSA rewarding. They staunchly back up the principle of providing its clients more control in the manner their patrons deem best. This is in the hope of helping make a prime method to pay for the HSA in the future with IRA expertise.
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Milos Pesic offers Brokerage advice. For more information, articles, tools, current news, and valuable resources on Brokerage and Brokerage related topics, visit his site at Online Brokerage |
payroll-pennsylvania-unique-aspects-of-pennsylvania-payroll-law-and-practice
Payroll Pennsylvania, Unique Aspects of Pennsylvania Payroll Law and Practice
Writen by Charles Read
The Pennsylvania State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:
Department of Revenue Bureau of Business Trust Fund Taxes Employer Tax Division Department 280904 Harrisburg, PA 17128-0904 (717) 783-1488 www.revenue.state.pa.us/
Pennsylvania does not have a state form to calculate state income tax withholding.
Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Pennsylvania cafeteria plans are not taxable for income tax calculation if used to purchase health or life insurance; taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.
In Pennsylvania supplemental wages are taxed at a 3.07% flat rate.
You may file your Pennsylvania State W-2s by magnetic media if you choose to.
The Pennsylvania State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:
Department of Labor and Industry Office of Employment Security Seventh and Forster Sts. Labor and Industry Bldg. Harrisburg, PA 17121 (717) 787-7613 http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/site/default.asp
The State of Pennsylvania taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $8000.00.
Pennsylvania requires Magnetic media reporting of quarterly wage reporting if the employer has at least 250 employees that they are reporting that quarter.
Unemployment records must be retained in Pennsylvania for a minimum period of four years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.
The Pennsylvania State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:
Department of Labor and Industry Bureau of Labor Law Compliance Labor and Industry Bldg., Rm. 1301 Seventh and Forster Sts. Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 787-5279 http://www.dli.state.pa.us/
The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $5.15 per hour.
The general provision in Pennsylvania concerning paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer is one and one half times regular rate after 40-hour week.
Pennsylvania State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire. The employer must report the federally required elements of:
- Employee’s name
- Employee’s address
- date of hire
- Employee’s social security number
- Employer’s name
- Employers address
- Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
This information must be reported within 20 days of the hiring or rehiring. The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, or fax. There is a written warning penalty for a late report in Pennsylvania, $25.00 for later violations, and $500 for conspiracy.
The Pennsylvania new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 888-724-4737 or on the web at www.panewhires.com
Pennsylvania does not allow compulsory direct deposit
Pennsylvania has no State Wage and Hour Law provisions concerning pay stub information.
Pennsylvania requires that employee be paid on regular paydays designated in advance.
Pennsylvania requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed fifteen days.
Pennsylvania payroll law requires that terminated employees must be paid their final pay by next regular payday (by certified mail if employee requests).
Deceased employee’s wages of $5,000 must be paid to the surviving spouse, child, parent, or sibling (in that order).
Escheat laws in Pennsylvania require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after three years.
There is no provision in Pennsylvania law concerning record retention of abandoned wage records.
Pennsylvania payroll law mandates no more than 45% of minimum wage may be used as a tip credit.
In Pennsylvania the payroll laws covering mandatory rest or meal breaks are only that minors under 16 must have 30 minutes rest after five hours of work.
Pennsylvania statute requires that wage and hour records be kept for a period of not less than three years. These records will normally consist of at least the information required under FLSA.
The Pennsylvania agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:
Bureau of Child Support Enforcement Department of Public Welfare P.O. Box 2675 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675 (717) 787-1894 * www.pachildsupport.com/
Pennsylvania has the following provisions for child support deductions:
- When to start Withholding? First pay period after 14 days from service.
- When to send Payment? Within 7 days of Payday.
- When to send Termination Notice? “Promptly”
- Maximum Administrative Fee? 2% of payment.
- Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.
Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.
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Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business”. For Professional Payroll services at a Budget Price go to http://www.PayrollonaBudget.com a Paperless Payroll Company. Go to http://www.CustomPayroll.com For a full service payroll service bureau with CPA’s on staff. See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners “Heartbeat of America” television show on the websites linked above. |
australians-are-borrowing-more
Australians Are Borrowing More
Writen by Maya Pavlovski
The Reserve Bank Governor of Australia has issued a warning to households over the high level of debt that many have taken on as a result of recent boom times. Mr Ian Macfarlane said that while the overall economy is not under threat, individual households are vulnerable to a downturn. He appealed for them to scale back their borrowing.
According to media reports, household debt has increased 14 per cent a year on average over the past decade and now stands at about $530 billion while the ratio of debt to income rose to 125 per cent from 56 per cent over the same period.
Recent Australian mortgage statistics show that there are more Australians paying off a mortgage than the number of persons who own their home outright.
Also the average size of the Australian Mortgage has significantly grown in recent years.
According to the CommSec chief equities economist Craig James, the increase in the number of people with mortgages shows that property buyers are more confident and prepared to take on debt. Craig James believes that there are two main reasons for the fact that those with mortgages now outnumbered those who owned their home outright.
First of all - “Interest rates have come down over time, with mortgage rates now around 7 per cent,” he said. Mr James said buyers were less concerned they would see a return to interest rates at 18 per cent, as occurred in the recession of the early 1990s.
Secondly, items such as cars or household goods were taking up a much smaller part of family budgets, “so people can rationalise, they can afford to take on more debt (to buy assets)”, he said.
Australia’s largest mortgage broker, Australian Finance Group (AFG), has found the average Western Australian mortgage is now $305,000, making it the second largest behind New South Wales, where the average is $369,000. Queensland’s average is $278,000, Victoria’s is $276,000 and South Australia’s is $211,000.
AFG said that since March 2005 all new mortgage sizes had increased by less than 10 per cent in all states except Queensland where the average jumped 12.5 per cent, and Western Australia, which recorded a 26.5 per cent increase from $241,000.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics survey also found that real housing costs rose 29 per cent over the nine-year period, while the proportion of people in the private rental market increased from 18 per cent to 21 per cent.
As a consequence of the Housing boom experienced by Australians during the recent years, rental costs have also escalated dramatically and are in some cases creating financial difficulties for renters.
The ABS survey found real housing costs for renters increased 1 per cent over the nine-year period, while for those with a mortgage they increased 19 per cent. Those without a mortgage saw housing costs fall 11 per cent. David Imber, from the Tenants Union of Victoria, said many renters were experiencing financial difficulties. “We are particularly concerned at the finding that 30 per cent of renters in the private market are paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent, with almost 10 per cent paying over 50 per cent,” he said.
CommSec’s Mr James believes that while Australian housing costs had increased, this was more than offset by increases in real wages and house prices.
If you would like to read more about recent trends in the Australian Mortgage Market please visit one of our sites www.honeyloans.com.au or www.webdeal.com.au.
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Maya Pavlovski holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Melbourne University and is a Qualified CPA |
pulse-eft
Pulse EFT
Writen by Kevin Stith
An electronic funds transfer, or EFT, is a means of sending money without ever having to use paper money or a check. In the age of information, it is a cinch to pull off. You just name the originating and target bank accounts, specify the amount, and you’re done. Pulse EFT is a leading name in the field of electronic fund transferring services. It is a major company based in the United States, with excellent experience and strong leadership. Pulse EFT is known for its high-quality technology, which has changed the very face of banking and money-drawing technologies. The products of Pulse EFT present the most competitively priced choice for all electronic payment alternatives. It is one of the largest and most successful providers of the nation’s prime electronic banking networks.
As a leading service provider in the field of electronic fund transfer, Pulse EFT renders support and maintenance to more than 4,100 financial institutions across different regions throughout the United States. It also has an estimated 91 million cardholders. Pulse electronic fund transfer has made it possible for all these cardholders to have access to their money, anytime and anywhere.
Pulse electronic fund transfer is also a provider of ATMs (ATM stands for automated teller machine) and POS (point-of-sale) terminals that contribute to financial institutions, corporate firms and multinationals in the United States of America. More than two million ATM counters are run and maintained by Pulse EFT, which makes it easy for their customers to get their money with the minimum possible effort and with the maximum ease of use.
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EFT provides detailed information on EFT, EFT POS, Fiserv EFT, Pulse EFT and more. EFT is affiliated with Electronic Payment Processing. |
