The United States stock markets have been rocked by the Subprime Contagion. The Fed is aggressively cutting rates, there is a lot of Recession talk, and the US markets have fallen hard, heading towards Bear Market Territory.
After last weeks Capitulation Bottom, many pundits are starting to discuss whether it is time to buy beaten down financials. However, this is a risky and aggressive strategy.
For those who are less aggressive, is there a way to invest in Financials with less risk?
There are at least two financial stocks out there that either have no subprime exposure or actually benefit from the subprime problem. These two stocks are even near their 52 week high despite the large US stock market correction.
1. BlackRock (BLK)
Blackrock is a $28 Billion investment manager and also provides risk management and advisory services. CEO and Founder Larry Fink sounded upbeat during their January 2008 conference call. Blackrock announced profits jumped 90% to $322 million at a time when many other companies have blamed subprime for their bad earnings.
Blackrock not only avoided the subprime problem, they profited from it. Experts at Risk management, back in 2005, according to a Business Week Article, Blackrock foresaw the subprime meltdown and got out early, and made the firm's hedge funds make bets against real estate.
Now, with billions of dollars to invest, Blackrock can bottom feed, pick among the rubble, and even acquire companies that their competitors hedge funds are trying to unload.
Blackrock, 49.8% of which is owned by Merrill Lynch, looks like a good financial company worth looking into. The stock is near its 52 week high.
2. Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK)
Hudson City Bancorp is a $8 Billion regional bank serving the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut areas. Fourth quarter profit rose 12% despite the financial meltdown and housing crisis.
Hudson City Bancorp has remained unscathed because of Hudson City's strict lending standards. According to Forbes magazine, which named Hudson City the Best Managed Bank of 2007, Hudson City ignored the call of exotic loans to people with subpar credit. Hudson City has been doing very well, and CEO of Hudson City, Ronald Hermance Jr., says HCBK is running on all cylinders.
Hudson City (HCBK) also benefits from speculation that foreign companies, such as Canadian banks might take them over. As the Canada based TD Bank buyout of Philadelphia area regional bank Commerce Bank ($8.5 Billion) in 2007 illustrates, once regional banks grow to a certain heft, they become major takeover candidates. The weak US Dollar also helps as foreign companies can get more "bang for their buck."
Hudson City Bank is near its 52 week high and like Blackrock, is definitely a good investment candidate even in these very trying times.
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Trends in India
When investing in stocks or countries, it's a good idea to get a background in the country and the culture:
Question:
Answers:
A: "Sony" answers:
1. Are Indians savers or spenders?
It depends upon how the person is earning....if he is earning more than his EXPECTATION, then he will splurge too much...
otherwise, if he is earning the hard way, same way he spends.
Generally, people are savers here, they save more to invest in ways to produce more money.
2. Do you know how fast India's GDP is growing?
check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India
3. How many cars does an average Indian own?
There is HUGE difference in equality. More than 90% don't have a car at all.
4. What's the approximate interest rate in a bank?
In a savings account, its around 8%.
5. How many Indians own a home? Is it still affordable?
Number of people owning a home is increasing, but the real estate prices are considered high. In metro cities, the prices are considered a BOMB, but still people are buying, as i said, there is a vast difference in equality.
6. What do you think of:
TTM -- Tata Motors
SAY -- Satyam
INFY -- InfoSys
IBN -- ICICI Bank
They are top companies in their sectors, they are market leaders in india with an excellent management.
7. Is the middle class growing?
VERY MUCH!!! A common middle class person has a cellphone, watches Movies in malls, eats in Dominoes, buys international brand garments often, wears a swiss watch, has a computer etc. etc.
8. How many people have cell phones?
Even beggars ;-)
9. How many people have DSL or Cable modem?
Not sure. But less than 1%.
10. Are internet cafes popular?
They used to be, but now cos of government's strict rules over some issues, their is very less income left to owners. The internet cafe people are now more interested in group gaming.
11. Is there a lot of traffic in India?
Only in Metros. But throughout india, the road infrastructure SUX!!
12. Is there a lot of pollution?
Only in Metro cities.
13. Do people text on cell phones (SMS) or use their voice?
Most people SMS :D
14. What are the major trends in India right now?
I think everything is booming. IT sector, public services, Electronics Media, BPO's etc are on top.
15. Are workers leaving India in large numbers?
No, not sure. The ones who have been out want to come back, but people who have never been out, become highly excited about going out.
16. How popular is McDonald's or other American Fast Foods?
Very Very Famous. Anything which has rocked the west needs no publicity or hype to make them a success in india.
17. What kind of foods are popular?
People just love to experiment. Everything is welcomed. Mostly pizzas, chinese food etc.
Source(s):
I have answered just in a casual way, don't mind. But the information is true to my knowledge nevertheless. I liked answering ur questions ;-)
B: "For Fun" answers:
answeer to question no 5: if u want to know the answer of this question please take in to consideration the indian culture
everybody dreams of one of his home his ideal home !
it is a thing of pride and respect to construct or purchase his dream house
depending upon what is his financial capacity and where he is living
every indian feels it is his dutry to give this house to his son/s so his sons etc are comfortable and live nicely the way he spent his life !
the house is a great emotional attachment to him and his family and he rarely leaves that place or sells unless he is in great trouble.
if the son sells that house it is shame !
u can say it is deep rooted desire of every indian to have his own house and he will do all possible things to have it!
he dreams the house there for hundred years and his children and grand children living and thanking him for what he did in his life time !
it gives great mental satisfaction and he feels one of his very big duty is carried out by him and is always proud of it
now as the banks and other institutions r givning easy loan for the dream house many peopel r taking advantage of that
it is my estimate that atleast 40% people do have their own home or r in process of getting the same
we can consider the up side % as 55%
the income has gone up very rapidly in last 10/15 years and surely more r in line to have their dream come true!
remeber indian population is one billion + and the people r from all different standerds
Credits
Thanks to the nice people at Yahoo Answers.
Question:
I'm interested in learning more about India and Indian trends (may affect my investment):
1. Are Indians savers or spenders?
2. Do you know how fast India's GDP is growing?
3. How many cars does an average Indian own?
4. What's the approximate interest rate in a bank?
5. How many Indians own a home? Is it still affordable?
6. What do you think of:
TTM -- Tata Motors
SAY -- Satyam
INFY -- InfoSys
IBN -- ICICI Bank
7. Is the middle class growing?
8. How many people have cell phones?
9. How many people have DSL or Cable modem?
10. Are internet cafes popular?
11. Is there a lot of traffic in India?
12. Is there a lot of pollution?
13. Do people text on cell phones (SMS) or use their voice?
14. What are the major trends in India right now?
15. Are workers leaving India in large numbers?
16. How popular is McDonald's or other American Fast Foods?
17. What kind of foods are popular?
Any help is appreciated.
Answers:
A: "Sony" answers:
1. Are Indians savers or spenders?
It depends upon how the person is earning....if he is earning more than his EXPECTATION, then he will splurge too much...
otherwise, if he is earning the hard way, same way he spends.
Generally, people are savers here, they save more to invest in ways to produce more money.
2. Do you know how fast India's GDP is growing?
check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India
3. How many cars does an average Indian own?
There is HUGE difference in equality. More than 90% don't have a car at all.
4. What's the approximate interest rate in a bank?
In a savings account, its around 8%.
5. How many Indians own a home? Is it still affordable?
Number of people owning a home is increasing, but the real estate prices are considered high. In metro cities, the prices are considered a BOMB, but still people are buying, as i said, there is a vast difference in equality.
6. What do you think of:
TTM -- Tata Motors
SAY -- Satyam
INFY -- InfoSys
IBN -- ICICI Bank
They are top companies in their sectors, they are market leaders in india with an excellent management.
7. Is the middle class growing?
VERY MUCH!!! A common middle class person has a cellphone, watches Movies in malls, eats in Dominoes, buys international brand garments often, wears a swiss watch, has a computer etc. etc.
8. How many people have cell phones?
Even beggars ;-)
9. How many people have DSL or Cable modem?
Not sure. But less than 1%.
10. Are internet cafes popular?
They used to be, but now cos of government's strict rules over some issues, their is very less income left to owners. The internet cafe people are now more interested in group gaming.
11. Is there a lot of traffic in India?
Only in Metros. But throughout india, the road infrastructure SUX!!
12. Is there a lot of pollution?
Only in Metro cities.
13. Do people text on cell phones (SMS) or use their voice?
Most people SMS :D
14. What are the major trends in India right now?
I think everything is booming. IT sector, public services, Electronics Media, BPO's etc are on top.
15. Are workers leaving India in large numbers?
No, not sure. The ones who have been out want to come back, but people who have never been out, become highly excited about going out.
16. How popular is McDonald's or other American Fast Foods?
Very Very Famous. Anything which has rocked the west needs no publicity or hype to make them a success in india.
17. What kind of foods are popular?
People just love to experiment. Everything is welcomed. Mostly pizzas, chinese food etc.
Source(s):
I have answered just in a casual way, don't mind. But the information is true to my knowledge nevertheless. I liked answering ur questions ;-)
B: "For Fun" answers:
answeer to question no 5: if u want to know the answer of this question please take in to consideration the indian culture
everybody dreams of one of his home his ideal home !
it is a thing of pride and respect to construct or purchase his dream house
depending upon what is his financial capacity and where he is living
every indian feels it is his dutry to give this house to his son/s so his sons etc are comfortable and live nicely the way he spent his life !
the house is a great emotional attachment to him and his family and he rarely leaves that place or sells unless he is in great trouble.
if the son sells that house it is shame !
u can say it is deep rooted desire of every indian to have his own house and he will do all possible things to have it!
he dreams the house there for hundred years and his children and grand children living and thanking him for what he did in his life time !
it gives great mental satisfaction and he feels one of his very big duty is carried out by him and is always proud of it
now as the banks and other institutions r givning easy loan for the dream house many peopel r taking advantage of that
it is my estimate that atleast 40% people do have their own home or r in process of getting the same
we can consider the up side % as 55%
the income has gone up very rapidly in last 10/15 years and surely more r in line to have their dream come true!
remeber indian population is one billion + and the people r from all different standerds
Credits
Thanks to the nice people at Yahoo Answers.
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