Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines:EMERGING MARKETS-Latam stocks slide as China economy cools

http://brightbridgewealthmanagement-advice.com/2011/05/brightbridge-wealth-management-headlinesemerging-markets-latam-stocks-slide-as-china-economy-cools/
* Chinese industrial output slows as economy cools
* Investors still see inflation worries in Brazil
* Brazil Bovespa off 1.25 pct, Mexico IPC off 0.43 pct
By Luciana Lopez and Michael O’Boyle
SAO PAULO/MEXICO CITY, May 11 (Reuters) – Latin American stocks slid on Wednesday as signs of slower Chinese growth signaled lower commodities demand ahead, which may spur foreign investors to dump more shares of the region’s materials producers.
The MSCI Latin American index .MILA00000PUS fell 1.16 percent in the morning after gaining in the previous session. Brazil rebounded from its lowest since July last week, but low-volume gains marked little conviction in the rise.
China’s industrial output growth eased much more than expected in April, suggesting the economy of Brazil’s top trading partner is cooling. [ID:nL3E7GB0H2]
“If China doesn’t grow the way people hoped… many investors will turn to less risky assets, which could offer more opportunities for gains,” said Raphael Martello, an economist with Tendencias Consultoria, a Sao Paulo economic research company.
Foreign investors have increasingly pulled out of emerging markets like Latin America to bet on a strengthening recovery in more developed economies, such as the United States.
Rising inflation and the risk of higher interest rates that could weigh on growth have curbed the attraction of stocks in Brazil, where the 12-month IPCA price index has breached a government ceiling of 6.5 percent, Martello said.
Also hurting demand for riskier assets, a euro zone sovereign debt crisis has kept global investors jittery, with rumors flying of a possible restructuring of Greek debt. [ID:nLDE74A16A]
“That never really leaves the agenda,” Martello said.
Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa stock index .BVSP fell 1.25 percent, led by losses in heavyweight commodities companies.
Technical signals continued to paint a gloomy picture for the index, which traded below several key simple moving averages. The Bovespa’s moving average convergence divergence, or MACD, has now stayed persistently bearish for about a month.
Shares of mining giant Vale (VALE5.SA), the world’s largest producer of iron ore, fell 1.73 percent, as state-controlled energy giant Petrobras (PETR4.SA) gave up 1.42 percent.
Brasil Foods (BRFS3.SA) slid 1.28 percent, extending the 7.13 percent loss in the previous session on worries that Brazilian antitrust regulators could impose stricter conditions on the merger that created the company. [ID:nN11106574]
Limiting losses, beef producer JBS (JBSS3.SA) rose 2.67 percent after the company reported a jump in first-quarter net profit.
Mexico’s IPC index .MXX slid 0.43 percent to 35,522 points, potentially snapping a two-day streak of gains.
Technical signals pointed to uncertainty, with a fall below 35,000 boding for a deeper correction, analysts said.
A rise above 36,200, the 38.2 percent Fibonacci retracement of the gauge’s slump from an early April high to a May low, could mean the index will see further gains.
Mining company Grupo Mexico (GMEXICOB.MX) fell 1.55 percent, as telecommunications company America Movil (AMXL.MX) dipped 0.69 percent.
Chile’s IPSA index .IPSA edged up 0.08 percent, buoyed by banking shares.
Shares of Sociedad Matriz del Banco de Chile CHI_pb.SN rose 3.29 percent, with BCI BCI.SN advancing 0.74 percent.

Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines: Destination for Swiss investors

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President Swiss Business Council Pakistan Farukh Mazhar, currently leading a delegation of heads of Pakistan based Swiss companies and prominent Pakistani businessmen to Zurich, said that Pakistan is a huge opportunity destination for investors despite all odds.
Mazhar was addressing a seminar in Zurich at the start of an extensive interaction between the business leaders of the two countries, says a press release.
Presenting the opening address in Zurich, Farukh Mazhar said, “The Pakistani delegation is anxious to explore possibilities of mutual interest with their counterparts here in Zurich.”
Pakistani business leaders fully understand the objective behind this initiative and the dynamic members of the delegation aim to highlight investment opportunities.
within Pakistan for soliciting Foreign Direct Investment from Switzerland as well as exploring export opportunities to Switzerland, Mazhar further added.
In November 2008, Swiss Business Council in Pakistan formed an alliance with Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) to work together in order to develop and expand trade and investment opportunities between both countries. SACC headquartered in Zurich is a strong Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland with business links to 12 Asian countries. Pakistan is now a part of this great Swiss Asian business axis. The Swiss Business council Pakistan and its members hugely value this association, said Mazhar.

Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines: Ifo economic survey remains optimistic on Taiwan

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The latest Ifo World Economic Survey indicates that Taiwan’s economy will continue to strengthen in the next two quarters along with the global economic recovery, the Council for Economic Planning and Development said May 18.
According to the CEPD, experts polled in the quarterly Ifo survey rated Taiwan’s overall economic climate as “satisfactory” and its private consumption as “good.”
They expect the two categories to show similar results in the next six months and for capital spending to remain “the same.”
Exports are expected to pick up steam, while stock prices are likely to be higher, according to the Ifo survey. Consumer prices and short and long-term interest rates are likely to increase, while the New Taiwan dollar will continue to strengthen versus the U.S. dollar, the survey said.
On the global front, the survey predicts the world economy to continue recovering from the 2009 Great Recession, but at a more moderate pace. The benchmark World Economic Climate Indicator reached 107.7 in the latest poll, up from the 106.8 points in the previous survey.
The CEPD said the stable growth of world economy will help Taiwan maintain its foreign trade momentum. A series of government programs, including its global investment promotion campaign, will help drive the nation’s economy forward, the agency added.
Initiated in 1981 by the German-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research, the Ifo WES assesses the economic situation worldwide based on a comprehensive survey among global professionals.

Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines: Market Preview: All Eyes on LinkedIn’s Encore

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The market shrugged off a ton of shaky economic data on Thursday as LinkedIn(LNKD)-inspired euphoria seemed to serve as a cure-all.
The problem is the business-oriented social networking company’s impressive debut is an impossible act to follow, and there could be a hangover for the broad market to deal with after the stock closed up more than 100%. At one point, the shares ran as high as $122.70, a gain of 170% from LinkedIn’s pricing at $45 per share.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is now up about 10 points for the week so Friday’s direction is likely to determine whether the blue-chip index falls for a third straight week for the first time in 2011 or breaks the streak.
Retail investors have continued to trend toward bearishness, according to the latest American Association of Individual Investors survey, which found 41.3% of respondents fell in the bear camp for the week ended on Wednesday. That’s up 5.8% from the week before, and well beyond the long-term average of 30%.
Those identifying themselves as bullish in the survey, which draws from the organization’s 150,000 members and asks how they feel about the stock market for the next six months, came in at just 26.7%, down 4.1% from last week and far below the long-term average of 39%. The remainder of those polled identified themselves as neutral.
Thursday’s after-hours session was a busy one with disappointing results from both Gap(GPS) and Aeropostale(ARO) set against positive reports from Salesforce.com(CRM) and Foot Locker(FL).
Quarterly reports of note due on Friday are few and far between. AnnTaylor Stores(ANN) is always good for some insight into how the affluent consumer is doing, and the company has topped Wall Street’s expectations in three of the past four quarters.
The consensus for the April-ended period calls for a profit of 48 cents a share on revenue of $512.1 million, and there’s bullish lean ahead of the numbers with 12 of the 19 analysts covering the shares at either strong buy (12) or buy (12). The stock closed Thursday at $30.20, up 12.5% so far in 2011 and 50% over the past 52 weeks, so the snapback if there’s a shortfall could be harsh.

http://brightbridgewealthmanagement-advice.com/2011/06/brightbridge-wealth-management-headlinesgoogle-sued-by-paypal-over-claims-it-stole-trade-secrets/

http://brightbridgewealthmanagement-advice.com/2011/06/brightbridge-wealth-management-headlinesgoogle-sued-by-paypal-over-claims-it-stole-trade-secrets/
Osama Bedier, a former PayPal executive now at Google, stole PayPal’s confidential information, the company said in the lawsuit filed yesterday in state court in San Jose, California. Stephanie Tilenius, another ex-PayPal executive now at Google, violated contractual obligations by recruiting Bedier, PayPal said.
Bedier “is now leading Google’s efforts to bring point-of- sale technologies and services to retailers on its behalf,” according to the complaint. “Bedier and Google have misappropriated PayPal trade secrets by disclosing them within Google and to major retailers.”
Both companies are trying to move into storefronts from online transactions and build their mobile businesses. PayPal, based in San Jose, is working with major retailers to develop a new type of point-of-sale system — the equipment next to cash registers where consumers swipe credit cards.
Google, based in Mountain View, California, yesterday unveiled two services to let consumers pay merchants and download coupons with a tap of their mobile phones.
“Silicon Valley was built on the ability of individuals to use their knowledge and expertise to seek better employment opportunities, an idea recognized by both California law and public policy,” Aaron Zamost, a Google spokesman, said in an e- mailed statement. “We respect trade secrets, and will defend ourselves against these claims.”

Android Talks

PayPal also alleges that Bedier, who left the company in January, discussed a job with Google while simultaneously leading negotiations to make PayPal a payment option on Google’s Android Market. He didn’t disclose the job-related talks, a breach of his fiduciary duty, the company said.
Tilenius, who left EBay in 2009, was under contract not to recruit employees, PayPal said. She messaged Bedier on Facebook Inc.’s social-networking website, telling him she had a “HUGE” opportunity for him, and sent him e-mails and text messages offering advice while he interviewed for a position, according to the complaint.
The case is PayPal v. Google Inc. (GOOG), 11CV201863, California Superior Court, County of Santa Clara (San Jose).

Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines:Hillary Clinton says FBI will probe Gmail hacker attack

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. government was investigating a hacker attack on personal Google email accounts used by senior government officials, as well as members of the military, political activists and journalists.
Google Inc. disclosed the attack on its Gmail email service Wednesday, saying it appeared to have originated in China and affected hundreds of people.
“We are obviously very concerned about Google’s announcement,” Clinton said Thursday at a news conference. “These allegations are very serious.”
She said the FBI would conduct an investigation into the breaches.
White House press secretary Jay Carney said that President Obama had been made aware of the attacks. But Carney added that there was no reason to believe that any official U.S. government email accounts had been accessed by the hackers.
Carney said that government officials are permitted to have personal email accounts, but not allowed to use them in any official capacities.
“All of our work is conducted on work email accounts,” Carney said at a news briefing. “That’s part of the Presidential Records Act.”
Google has not publicly disclosed the names of the people whose email accounts may have been exposed during the attack. The company said that they had notified them of the breech.
A Department of Defense spokeswoman said the agency was not sure if any of the victims of the cyber attack were DOD employees.
“As the breach involved Gmail,” said Lt. Col. April Cunningham, “since those are not official DOD email accounts, we are unaware if the targeted individuals are Defense employees.”
Also on Thursday, the Chinese government — which has long been at odds with Google over censorship and other issues — said it had nothing to do with the attack.
“Allegations that the Chinese government supports hacking activities are completely unfounded and made with ulterior motives,” said Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, according to news reports in China.
Hong said the Chinese government was firmly opposed to activities that sabotage Internet and computer security, including hacking.

Brightbridge Wealth Management Headlines:The real deal? Groupon files for public offering

http://brightbridgewealthmanagement-advice.com/2011/06/brightbridge-wealth-management-headlinesthe-real-deal-groupon-files-for-public-offering/
NEW YORK/PALOS VERDES, California (Reuters) – Daily deals site Groupon Inc filed for an initial public offering, hoping to capitalize on the biggest investor stampede into Web start-ups since the dotcom bubble burst a decade ago.
The company filed on Thursday to raise up to $750 million in its IPO, an offering that has been speculated about for months and that will be watched as a barometer of whether Internet valuations have become too rich.
In April, a source told Reuters that Groupon could raise as much as $1 billion in an IPO that could value it at $15 billion to $20 billion.
Thursday’s filing did not specify the number of shares to be sold in the IPO, the price range, or the exchange, though it did say the shares would trade under the symbol “GRPN.” It also said the $750 million figure is preliminary and may change.
Other Web companies including LinkedIn Corp and China’s Renren Inc have had strong IPO premieres, and anticipation is building toward a fever pitch for potential offerings by Facebook and Twitter. Pandora, a Web radio company, raised its IPO size to up to $141.6 million on Thursday — 40 percent more than estimates.
Some doubt whether the buzz surrounding the new Web generation is justified, warning that the hype is reminiscent of the atmosphere prior to the dotcom bust in 2001.
Groupon has also been called into question by critics who say its business — essentially a coupon service — can be easily replicated both by startups and existing Web powerhouses. Google has already begun such a service.
At the All Things Digital conference Wednesday, Groupon Chief Executive Andrew Mason himself admitted he feared possible competition from businesses that “have some twist on the model we haven’t thought of yet.”
“I think investors will go for this one,” said Ryan Jacob, chairman and chief investment officer of Jacob Funds, which includes the Jacob Internet Fund. “Whether or not it’s worth the valuation it comes at is still an open question.”
Groupon in the filing warned that it has incurred losses ever since its birth 2-1/2 years ago, that its technology may not be up to the task of handling demand, that expenses are bound to rise, and that the market may not continue to grow.
“As with any business in a 30-month-old industry, the path to success will have twists and turns, moments of brilliance and other moments of sheer stupidity,” Mason, 30, said in a letter to potential stockholders that was attached to the filing.