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Harry Piels

Harry Piels
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  • 3 Preferred Income Closed-End Funds That Should Benefit From Financial Reform [View article]
    Thanks, again, George. Your advice is valued. In this tough market, your picks hold up well and have added stability to my portfolio.
    May 13 01:01 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • What Are Safe Assets In Today's World? [View article]
    Maybe the best bet here is the one against the dollar. When the can stops being kicked, there will be alot of angry faces, especially since we are holding out a welcome hand to over a million LEGAL immigrants (mostly poor) every year. This trend may stoke demand, but it also adds to the debt and helps lower wages of the American middle class. Then there is the matter of illegal immigration which will add much more debt if amnesty results in a huge increase in entitlements. (The welfare rolls are already famously growing). My sliver of hope is that the recent growth goes ballistic and somehow manages to pay down a sugnificant amount of the debt through increased revenues..(I did say sliver).. Disclosure: I own about $50,000 of the above- mentioned debt.. .
    Apr 29 11:49 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Will Apple Be Helped Or Hurt By Facebook? [View article]
    In 2008, Goog shares slipped below $300. Now they're near $600. If AAPL pulls back, might want to keep that in mind. There's alot of unplowed ground out there where AAPL should be able to reap profits no matter what happens in the near term.
    Apr 22 10:57 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Chevron Vs. Statoil: Is There A Clear Winner? [View article]
    Sto won't be subject to recent proposed regs in Washington.
    Apr 18 09:55 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • A Constructive Critique Of Dividend Growth Investing [View article]
    Don't know what the new rate will be, but for retirees who want safety (?) and steady income, I bonds might be a good play to consider here. If you believe inflation is likely and aren't inclined toward more risky securities, they could fit the bill. There is a limit on how many you can buy in a year ($5000?) and if you cash them within five years of purchase, there's a minor penalty, but they've worked out well for me over time. The inflation rate determines,in part, what they pay and it adjusts in May and November, so stay tuned. One thing I don't like is that you no longer can get the familiar paper bonds but must settle for a paper computer print-out. Better ensure that your heirs know about them. Wouldn't you think with all the paper in Washington that those bonds could be produced cheaply? C'mon, boys, don't you recycle?!
    Apr 7 08:28 AM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • Barton Biggs expects a 5-7% decline in the S&P, reports Betty Liu. Bloomberg's Hedge Brief charts Biggs' calls over the past few years and finds him mostly a good contrarian indicator, but also proving the adage about a stopped clock.  [View news story]
    In an era where bonds did better than stocks (slightly) and including the '08 debacle, 5% doesn't look too bad.
    Apr 5 08:18 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Time To Buy Vietnam [View article]
    Was in Vn as a soldier '68-'69. Google earth provided a free trip to one of my old duty stations,. Nha Trang. The changes are phenomenal. Only know those affected by years of warfare often thrive when no longer preoccupied with combat..
    Apr 2 11:09 PM | 5 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Talking Turkey about Taxes for Commodities' ETFs [View article]
    One theme rings true: trade in your tax-deferred account, especially any metals etfs.
    Apr 1 11:02 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Why The Rally In Stocks May Come To An End During Q2 [View article]
    Thanks, Colin, needed that splash of reality. Maybe our fed should be shorting the euro-zone to help mute some of our losses? Our own congress is making molasses-slow progress toward any debt solution, as one might expect in an election year. Ring,ring,hello Washington,anybody home? Ring,ring, hello? Ring,ring...
    Apr 1 10:46 AM | 2 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • The United Steelworkers union last night warned of the increasing chance of a strike on Wednesday by refinery workers in one or more locations if there's no progress in contract talks for a new three-year deal. The unions have expressed concern about safety protections for workers.  [View news story]
    Excellent, Blue. Now let's tackle that deficit. Oh, that's right, election year. Won't happen till after November. Those huge cuts will likely mute any gains in the economy . This sounds a bit sarcastic and negative but lost my "spin voice" years ago..
    Feb 1 09:19 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • The United Steelworkers union last night warned of the increasing chance of a strike on Wednesday by refinery workers in one or more locations if there's no progress in contract talks for a new three-year deal. The unions have expressed concern about safety protections for workers.  [View news story]
    They should whine. Our policy of sending jobs overseas and importing poverty (poor immigrants) into the U.S. is not working.
    We have been buying foreign goods for decades and now you see the result,shuttered industry and high unemployment. At the same time (under W.) they doubled the number of legal immigrants (check statistics)..This created higher unemployment and a lower wage environment. No wonder the middle class is quickly becoming poorer on it's way to extinction...
    Jan 31 01:18 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • The United Steelworkers union last night warned of the increasing chance of a strike on Wednesday by refinery workers in one or more locations if there's no progress in contract talks for a new three-year deal. The unions have expressed concern about safety protections for workers.  [View news story]
    Compromise is needed between unions and management, Republicans and Democrats. That's what got us through over the years. It boils down to having two sides, probably each with some valid points to every argument. What's a living wage? What can the company afford? In good times, management should reward workers. In tough times, if there are dwindling profits, unions need (and mostly do) take cuts.

    We need to get back to the center to avoid stagnation. Those who knock moderation encourage gridlock and in these times, that's the worst scenario.
    Jan 31 01:05 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • The United Steelworkers union last night warned of the increasing chance of a strike on Wednesday by refinery workers in one or more locations if there's no progress in contract talks for a new three-year deal. The unions have expressed concern about safety protections for workers.  [View news story]
    They had already voiced concerns numerous times which went nowhere They saw danger every day..It was just time to act . Management had to pick up the slack as they usually do in a job action.
    Jan 31 12:44 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • The United Steelworkers union last night warned of the increasing chance of a strike on Wednesday by refinery workers in one or more locations if there's no progress in contract talks for a new three-year deal. The unions have expressed concern about safety protections for workers.  [View news story]
    I know this post will be unpopular, but oh well.

    Those safety demands just may be well-founded. Unions occasionally over-step their perceived bounds, but having lived in a steel town much of my life, I have read of many horrible accidents over the years. Falling in a vat of molten hot steel may not even be the worst way to die in a steel mill. There were many accidents. If you study the Hoover Dam and even the much more recently constructed Bay Bridge Tunnel, you can see how many men went to their deaths on those jobs. Not looking to knock a Republican icon , but when Reagan fired those air tower workers he wasn't my hero. They were aware that the public was in danger and acted on it only to get the boot. They have since been proven correct time and again. We are now much safer thanks to them, although there is much to be done.

    I don't blame the unions at all.There have been numerous multi-fatality accidents in refineries over the years .In some cases, neglect is obvious and needs to be given priority. Who would point that out if not for unions?. ( It seems like OSHA has not been very active of late...wonder why?) Besides, if problems are addressed promptly, they can save the company from lawsuits and expenses far greater than the cost of preventive maintenance.

    There are two sides to the debate.
    Jan 29 12:22 PM | 5 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Was Google's Price Decline Predictable? [View article]
    If history be our guide, Goog will recover,although the world economy may make it an uphill slog getting to 650.
    Jan 21 09:47 AM | 2 Likes Like |Link to Comment
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