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Facebook’s Comeuppance

By Rick Walter

Facebook’s (FB) stock is being crushed by traders today as the stock takes it on the chin over the privacy data scandal that broke last week. The issue at hand is the uncertainty that surrounds the company in regards to how deep the problems are with how they collect, handle and sell users data, and is the misuse of data by Cambridge Analytica  a signal of deeper systemic issues with the company’s data collecting operations? Besides the rounds of  media appearances the company made last week, the company has not really assuaged investors fears that there isn’t anymore serious data privacy issues ahead.

I am recommending that if you have a profitable position in the stock take some profits off the table and hold from buying additional shares until the company gives further assurances that they have a better handle on the privacy issues ahead.

**We are buyers and sellers of Facebook’s stock and we may from time to time hold a position in the stock that we recommend. 

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Rickster’s Market Review -3/19/2018

By Rick Walter

Monday was an extremely tough trading day. Early market indicators suggested a mild trading day but it was far from it. Indices headed downward and stayed down most of the day with the DJIA closing at 24610.91 down -335.60, the S&P 500 closing at 2712.92 down -39.09, and the Nasdaq closing at 7344.24 down -137.75.

Facebook (FB) continued to be pressured with the stock falling as low as $170. Investors shaved as much as $40 billion dollars of market cap off the stock. As investors take a short term view of the political situation and flee the stock, we believe the stock will continue to see lower share prices for awhile but also believe that the stock would make a very good investment for investors focused on the long-term.

Another stock of interest that we follow is Alphabet Inc. Cl A (Googl). The stock hit a high of $1187 in February of this year but traded down today at $1100. It has been choppy trading for the stock since the beginning of the year with strong calls for more regulation on internet giants like Alphabet that collect, handle and store consumer data. The stock is a fantastic buy at these prices.

Many of the big name companies in the technology sector also took a hit on Monday. No one was spared. With political risks running high, I’m betting that tomorrow will be another tough, volatile trading day.

Finally, the top gainer and biggest loser today (Stock price $5 or more category).
Biggest Gainer: Geron Corp: (GERN) $4.34 +28.78%
Biggest Loser:  Cidara Therapeutics: (CDTX): $6.00 –24.05%

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Rickster’s Market Review

By Rick Walter

Markets opened strongly this morning with the DOW at 24,932 up 176.30 points, the S&P 500 Index at 2751 up 1.83 points and the NASDAQ composite down 3.73 points at 7,492.92 around mid-day today. By the end of the day all three indices faded with the DOW ending the day slightly higher.

Toy “R” Us will shutter all of its stores. The company’s bankruptcy plan failed to spur a turn around. The company is saddle with over $7.0 billion dollars in leveraged buyout debt deal that was completed in 2005.  You can read a very nice piece written by Amy Merrick  of  The New Yorker  which gives an accurate portrayal of how the company got into the mess in the first place. Good reading.

Broadcom (AVGO) stock is finally seeing some daylight; the stock price is up more than $6.00 points trading at $267.57 since dropping its bid for Qualcomm (QCOM). The stock has been trading in a tight band between $227 to $261 range since last year August of 2017.

Alibaba (BABA), another stock of interest, was up $6.45 today or 3.43% at $199.11 per share, based on the rumors that the company could be on track for a listing in its home country. Of course that would open the company shares to more buyers which would drive the share prices higher (maybe).

Finally, the top gainer and biggest loser today (Stock price $5 or more category)
Biggest Gainer: Daxor Corp:  (DXR) $17.06 +  119.23%
Biggest Loser:   Solid Biosciences Inc.: (SLDB): $9.73 – 63.13%

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Natural Gas Prices Maybe Going Higher

oil pipe construction

Hold onto to your furnaces and gas stoves. Natural gas prices could be going higher at least in Europe that is. Most of Europe is gripped in a cold snap as of Wednesday, “the freezing weather entrenched across much of Europe is stretching Britain’s supply of natural gas with fresh snowfall forecast for much of the country. The coldest spell since December 2010 is severely testing the nation’s energy and transport network — roiling energy markets, closing airports, London’s Paddington train station and major roads” (Paulson and Kennedy  Bloomberg).

As U.S. Producers continues to export more natural gas, Natural Gas Spot price here in the U.S. Henry Hub spot price rose from $2.51 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) last Wednesday to $2.65/MMBtu yesterday a 5.5% increase in prices.

By UCS Investment Co.