Happy New Year from Ockham Research

Ockham Research Staff @ December 31, 2008 # No Comment Yet


Everyone at Ockham Research would like to thank you for a wonderful (although rocky) 2008. We wish our clients and readers a joyous New Year.

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A Perfect Example of Why Chrysler Will Fail

Ockham Research Staff @ December 30, 2008 # 3 Comments


Chrysler just published an advertisement stating, “Thank you, America, for investing in Chrysler”. This is just a perfect example of why Chysler has failed, and will fail in the future.

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Ending 2008 On An Optimistic Note

Ockham Research Staff @ December 29, 2008 # No Comment Yet


2008—a year which will go down in history as a particularly nasty one from an economic point of view—is almost a memory. While the economic challenges which confront the world at present will likely get worse before they improve in the coming year(s), it is still a worthwhile exercise to plumb the depths of one’s mind to try to assemble a list of ten reasons to be thankful as we face 2009.

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Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas From Ockham Research

Ockham Research Staff @ December 24, 2008 # No Comment Yet



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Does China Offer an Alternate Economic Model?

Ockham Research Staff @ December 24, 2008 # No Comment Yet


Gerald Seib’s December 23, 2008 Wall Street Journal article entitled “U.S. Woes Open Door for China” cites recent articles in Foreign Affairs which postulate that this year’s dramatic melt-down in the U.S. and Western finance system has discredited our economic model and presents the possibility that, going forward, developing nations may look to China’s centrally planned economy as a better example of how to structure an economic system than that of the West’s widely varied form of free-market capitalism. While the momentous problems caused by the bursting of the credit bubble are regrettable and should be completely and thoroughly studied so as to preclude them from ever reoccurring, does China’s unique economic model provide a legitimate alternative?

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Setser: Hot Money Fleeing China
Still Can’t Believe They Believed What They Did
Read more on Investing in China at Wikinvest

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Grey Wolf (GW) is Sent to the Doghouse

Ockham Research Staff @ December 23, 2008 # No Comment Yet


This is a sad development for Grey Wolf as it breathes its last breath as an independent company in the coming days. It had a great opportunity on a shareholder value basis to make it through this painful downturn or to seek a better offer. At this point, however, it appears that it is all over.

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The Enterprising Investor’s Guide 12-22-08

Ockham Research Staff @ December 22, 2008 # No Comment Yet


The Enterprising Investor’s Guide 12-22-08

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Which Portfolio Would You Rather Have?
Madoff’s Volatility
Read more on Historical Volatility at Wikinvest

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S&P Warns of More Financial Pitfalls Ahead

Ockham Research Staff @ December 19, 2008 # One Comment


A sweeping downgrade of financials by credit rating agency S&P was one of the major stories of the day. Or on second thought, what does this tell us that we did not already know, and so far the market has not even noticed.

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Is GE’s dividend safe?
Dividend Stocks in the news includes General Electric
General Electric: Not a Value Trap, but a Value Pit
Read more on General Electric Company at Wikinvest

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Salaries and Traditional Bonuses Are On the Retreat

Ockham Research Staff @ December 18, 2008 # 2 Comments


As many companies are cutting staff expenses across the board, Credit Suisse has come up with a clever method of accomplishing two goals at once. For starters, the company will give their employees a bonus the amount of which will not be known for quite some time, and the company is reducing its exposure to risky debt. Interesting idea, I wonder how the CS employees feel about it.

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FedEx Dramatically Reduces Outlook
Global Investing Roundups
Read more on FedEx at Wikinvest

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OPEC Pledges Another Production Cut

Ockham Research Staff @ December 17, 2008 # One Comment


OPEC announced a major cut in production today, at 2.2 million barrels per day it is that largest production cut in history. However, domestic oil and natural gas producers are cutting their CapEx budgets as well, all in an effort to increase the price of oil. There will likely be a major spike in oil once economic activity begins to grow again.

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Energy Stocks Will Roar Back – But Not Soon
Oil Drop — Quicker Than I Thought
Read more on Oil Prices at Wikinvest

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