DailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comDailyFinance.com%http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/BlogURL%/media/feedlogo.gifDailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Antiques Roadshow's Five Most Valuable Findshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/01/the-antiques-roadshows-five-most-valuable-finds/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/01/the-antiques-roadshows-five-most-valuable-finds/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/01/the-antiques-roadshows-five-most-valuable-finds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Antiques RoadshowFew people get rich from PBS's highly-rated Antiques Roadshow, but that doesn't stop thousands of people from scouring their grandma's attic for that one shot at finding a hidden treasure among the mothballs.

In fact, more often than not, the old paintings, family Bibles and china tea cups -- the most common items brought to the Antiques Roadshow events -- are not worth much. "Most objects we see are worth only about $100," says Judy Matthews, the show's senior publicist.

Antiques Roadshow, which got its start in the U.K. in 1979, debuted in the U.S. 14 years ago. The premise of the show is simple: owners bring in their stuff hoping that an appraiser says its worth big bucks. Appraisers usually start by explaining the object's historical significance -- or lack thereof -- and bring the segment to a climax by assessing just how much that object is or isn't worth. That payoff moment is the part that every participant and viewer waits breathlessly for and, on the odd occasion, the appraisal is indeed pretty breathtaking.

Take, for example, the collection of jade from China that one woman brought to the show's taping in Raleigh, N.C. in 2009. It turned out that the collection, which her father brought home from China during the 1930s and 1940s, was valued at as much as $1.07 million -- making it the first million-dollar appraisal on the American show.

The appraisal was definitely a shining moment for Antiques Roadshow, but things haven't always gone so smoothly. In 1997, it was discovered that two experts, Russ Pritchard and George Juno, faked an appraisal of a rare Confederate sword. As a result, they were banned from the show. Pritchard was later found guilty of bilking his clients and was sent to prison. Juno also pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges. (Appraisers, who receive no compensation and pay their own expenses, are not allowed to solicit business from guests of the show. If a guest contacts them on their own, they can do business with them.)

"We were sadly a bit naive back in the day," Matthews says. "We have a very specific agreement (with appraisers) attesting to their ethical behavior as regards as not knowing the guest in advance. We do fact checking to make sure that things are accurate."

The Antiques Roadshow has bounced back. A recent event in Washington, D.C. received 23,000 applications for tickets to the taping, the most in the show's history (only 6,400 tickets are available). Like most wildly popular programs, the Antiques Roadshow has its share of copycats. Shows such as Pawn Stars and American Pickers on the History Channel are a testament to the Roadshow's popularity and it's longevity.

What about all of those people who were lucky enough to hit the Roadshow lottery? Believe it or not, many don't cash in. "A lot of objects are heirlooms," says Matthews. "People don't commonly sell what they bring to the Antiques Roadshow."

Of course, some do cash in, like the owner of all that rare Chinese jade. While others loan their items to museums, figuring that it's too costly to keep them insured and displayed properly.

Here are five of the biggest appraisals in the U.S. show's history and what the owners of these treasures decided to do with them.

18th Century Chinese Qianlong Period jade collection
Valued at $710,000 to $1,070,000
Raleigh, N.C. (2009)

How it was acquired: Guest Jinx Taylor's jade collection was inherited from her father, who acquired the objects while he was stationed in China with the U.S. Army in the 1930s and 1940s.

Historical significance: The Qianlong period dates from 1735 to 1796. Taylor's collection includes an imperial bowl and a statue of a mythical creature called a bixie, which means to ward off evil.

Comments from the appraiser: Appraiser James Callahan said: "It's an incredible collection, and he also bought at a period of time where I would doubt if he paid more than a hundred dollars for any one of these pieces.... It's the best thing I have ever seen on the Roadshow."

Where is it now? The collection was sold in October 2009. Four jades, including a bowl used by the emperor, brought a total of $494,615 (including buyers' premiums). Callahan told Maine Antiques Digest that Taylor was "disappointed" by the reaction but can take consolation in the 30 other items from her father's collection that she was also selling, which were not shown on the Roadshow. The appraiser could not be reached for comment.

Oil painting by Clyfford Still
Valued at $500,000
Palm Springs, Calif. (2009)

How it was acquired: The guest and her husband received the painting, which depicts the building of the Grand Coulee Dam, as a housewarming present.

Historical significance: The painter, Still, was one of her husband's college professors. More importantly, however, Still was a founder of the Abstract Expressionist movement. His work rarely comes onto the market.

Comments from the appraiser: "I have to say, in all my years on the Roadshow, it's probably the most exciting find I've had," said appraiser Alasdair Nichol.

Where is it now? Nichol said through a spokeswoman that the painting has not sold.
Navajo First Phase Chief's Blanket
Valued at $350,000 to $500,000
Tucson, Ariz. (2001)

How it was acquired: The guest said the silk-like blanket came to his family from legendary Western frontiersman Kit Carson.

Historical significance: A rare, early example of early Navajo weaving. The design consisting of brown, blue, and white bands and stripes, is the simplest of all the Navajo 19th-century blankets, Less than 50 first-phase blankets, made until roughly 1865, survive.

Comments from the appraiser: Appraiser Donald Ellis was awestruck by the garment, saying "when you walked in with this, I just about died."

Where is it now? Ellis later sold the blanket to the Detroit Institute of Arts for a price he declined to disclose.

Oil painting by James Henry Beard of Senator Henry Clay
Valued at $300,000 to $500,000
Dallas, Texas (2008)

How it was acquired: The great-great-great-grandfather of the guest purchased the painting, which dates from 1847.

Historical significance: Clay, a Senator from Kentucky, was probably the second most famous 19th Century politician next to Abraham Lincoln.

Comments from the appraiser: Said appraiser Alan Fausel: "Beard is not a first-tier artist, so he's not that well-known. And in fact, he's known really more for doing paintings with dogs in them."

Where is it now? The painting is now on loan to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth.

Original artwork from the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz
Valued at $450,000
Phoenix, Ariz. (2009)

How it was acquired: The guest says she began her collection in the 1990s because her son liked the Peanuts.

Historical significance: The material included daily and Sunday comic strips dating to 1952, including Schultz's coverage of Halley's Comet. She paid $400 to $500 for them.

Comments from the appraiser: "These are one-of-a-kinds," said appraiser Gary Sohmers. "What Charles Schulz would do is make a daily (comic strip), and then they'd make copies to send off to the syndicators, the newspapers that would be running them. And then he would have the originals and give them away. And he gave most of them away."

Where is it now? Sohmers says the appraisal was for insurance purposes and the collector had no intention of selling.

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]]>18th-Century Chinese Qianlong Period jade collectionantiquesantiques roadshowappraisalsartCharles SchultzChinese jadecollectibleJinx TaylorNavajo First Phase chiefs blanketOil painting by Clyfford StillOil painting by James Henry Beard of Sen. Henry ClaypbsPeanutsPeanuts comic strip by Charles SchulztelevisionThe Antiques RoadshowJonathan BerrWed, 01 Sep 2010 08:00:00 ESTComeback Brands: Ten Famous Brands Coming Back to Lifehttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/26/comeback-brands-ten-famous-brands-that-are-coming-back-to-life/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/26/comeback-brands-ten-famous-brands-that-are-coming-back-to-life/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/26/comeback-brands-ten-famous-brands-that-are-coming-back-to-life/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

magicianBuilding a valuable consumer brand is always a challenge. But in the last two years, with millions of Americans struggling financially while the Great Recession slogs on, the retail landscape has become something of a minefield. Some of the world's top companies have filed for bankruptcy, liquidated their merchandise and closed their doors.

Yet brand loyalty is a strong force. For the 10 companies listed below, a combination of customer trust and management smarts have given them a second (or third, or fourth) life.

Sharper Image
When Sharper Image filed for Chapter 11, in February 2008, its decline made sense: a high-priced '80s mall brand, the company was ill-equipped to weather the economic storms of the late aughts. But financial problems notwithstanding, the brand had market value and, within a year, its new owners were licensing the Sharper Image name to HoMedics and luggage maker EnE. Some of the company's most popular products -- along with a new, more reasonably-priced line -- soon cropped up in stores, including Best Buy, JC Penney and Office Max. It's not clear that the recession's lessons have really sunk in. In August 2009, Camelot Venture Group, which runs Sharper Image's online and catalog-based business, announced plans to open new Sharper Image shops. Here we go again...

Saab
After paying $600 million for half of Saab in 1989, General Motors' (GM) 2000 decision to buy the rest of the company for a cool $125 million probably seemed like a bargain. But Saab never turned a profit for GM, and the company's fading fortunes in 2008 made it one of many brands that the automaker placed "under review." In early 2009, Saab went into "administration," the Swedish version of bankruptcy, while GM searched for a buyer to take the problem off its hands. Chinese automaker BAIC bought the rights to two sedan designs for $197 million and, in January 2010, Dutch automaker Spyker bought the rest for $74 million. GM retained $326 million in shares in Spyker/Saab and will continue to make the Saab 9-4x model at its Mexican plant. Production has resumed at Saab's Swedish factory and plans are underway for a new Saab 9-3.

Fortunoff
The name said it all: a high-end department store, Fortunoff appealed to consumers who were hungry for high-quality merchandise and a swanky brand. In November 2004, the descendants of founders Max and Clara Fortunoff sold 75% of the company to private investors for an estimated $250 million. Just over three years later, in February 2008, the company filed Chapter 11, citing $60 million in debt. Sold to NRDC Equity Partners, it was then bundled with Lord & Taylor, the Hudson's Bay Company, and other retailers. Following a weak 2008 Christmas season, the new Fortunoff once again declared bankruptcy in February 2009 and was liquidated. Four months later, the Fortunoff descendants bought back the rights to the company's name, brand and intellectual assets. In September, they announced the launch of Fortunoff Backyard Stores, brick-and-mortar stores which will sell Fortunoff-branded patio furniture. Currently, seven of the outlets are open, with more planned.

Polaroid
In late 2008, amid plunging consumer spending and the near-ubiquity of digital cameras, Polaroid declared bankruptcy for the second time in less than a decade. Purchased the next year by bargain shoppers Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers Brands for $88 million, the company abandoned self-developing film production (choosing instead to go into business with Lady Gaga, a move that has yet to bear much fruit). Almost immediately, however, the Impossible Project, a Netherlands-based group, re-opened an old Polaroid factory and began putting out handmade packs of the film. The new Polaroid prints are popular with artists. The Impossible Project plans to make 1 million packs in 2010 and ultimately hopes to expand to 10 million per year. And, lest Polaroid fans be left without cameras to use, the Impossible Project has also announced plans to produce its own revamped version of the Polaroid One-Step. While a battle seems to be brewing between the Polaroid corporation and its Dutch splinter group, self-developing film will be around for a while.

Circuit City
Another victim of recessionary belt-tightening, Circuit City announced it would liquidate when it was still the second-largest consumer electronics chain. In January 2009, Circuit City was operating over 550 superstores nationwide; by March 8, all of its outlets were closed. Yet, even if the chain was done for, its brand still had value. Within three months, Systemax had bought the rights to the Circuit City name and was operating a website. Alongside fellow moribund brand CompUSA, which is also owned by Systemax, Circuit City has found a virtual second life on the internet.

Crabtree and Evelyn
Premium soaps are a tough sell at the best of times, but during a recession, they can quickly become an unjustifiable expense. For Crabtree and Evelyn, the combination of tightened belts and reduced mall traffic led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in July 2009. But in a rare happy ending, the company seems to have bounced back. After closing 35 stores, launching a new website and expanding its wholesale business, it was able to exit bankruptcy in January 2010. Of course, it didn't hurt that Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Crabtree and Evelyn's Indonesian parent company, provided $40 million in debtor-in-possession financing to keep the business going during Chapter 11, as well as an additional $26.3 million infusion to help it pay debts and emerge from bankruptcy.

Waterford Wedgwood
Waterford Wedgwood is more than a collection of high-end brands: it's an English/Irish institution. So, when falling sales in 2008 pushed the company to ship its crystal manufacturing to Eastern Europe and Indonesia, customers rebelled. As the company went into "receivership" (anglo-English for "bankruptcy"), share price plummeted and it looked like Waterford crystal, Royal Doulton porcelain and Wedgwood pottery were all on the brink of oblivion. In late February, KPS Capital Partners, a U.S. private equity firm, bought the company's branding, but not its manufacturing. Today, the three premium brands have new management teams in place, are (in many cases) made in new countries, and are selling on newly re-designed e-commerce sites. New Waterford Wedgwood's products have already drawn kudos and look to benefit greatly from contracts to produce memorabilia for the 2012 London Olympics.

Gourmet
While dozens of prominent magazines have closed their doors in the last few years, Conde Nast's decision to shutter Gourmet in October 2009 was devastating to epicureans everywhere. At 68 years old, it was the most prominent cooking magazine in the country. In the immediate aftermath, an argument ignited over the nature of news media and the blogosphere's responsibility for the death of the storied brand. But the technology revolution that once spelled Gourmet's demise may also be its redemption. While there are vague rumors of a hardcopy relaunch, the company is loudly touting its plans for a Fall 2010 "Gourmet Live" program that will be custom-made to work on the iPad and other electronic media devices. The thought of a portable, image and video-heavy online application with Gourmet's impressive archive and famed editorial expertise already has foodies licking their chops.

Linens n' Things
A popular brand during the housing boom, Linens n' Things looked like a good deal in 2006 when Apollo Management bought it for $1.3 billion. Two years later, with the real estate market sinking and homeowners pinching pennies, the big box retailer faced stalling sales and a dire outlook. Bankruptcy in May 2008 was soon followed by liquidation. In the ensuing fire sale, Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers Brands bought rights to the name, re-launching the brand online at lnt.com, where it's currently hosting -- you guessed it -- a bedding sale.

Wilson's Leather
For most of the country, leather clothing is a seasonal purchase, making leather boutiques a tough business proposition in the best of times. So when Wilson's, a mall-based leather retailer, announced extensive closings in 2007 and 2008,it wasn't all that surprising. In July 2008, the company sold its 160 remaining stores, brand name and online presence to the G-III Apparel group. Rebranded as Pre-Vu, it lasted just over a month before shutting its doors for good. However, surprisingly, the Wilson's name, which endured online, continued to draw customers. Today, Wilson's Leather, like other Lazarus brands on this list, survives as an internet retailer.

Of course, it remains to be seen if the resurrection of these brands is a permanent condition. Much will depend on their ability to lure back the customers of their former incarnations. If not, their return from the dead may only be a brief reprieve on the road to oblivion.

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]]>circuit citycircuit-cityfortunoffgourmetgourmet foodgourmet magazineImpossible ProjectLinens n ThingspolaroidPolaroid300PolaroidFilmpolaroidssaab 9-3Saab 9-4xsaab 9-5saab saleSaab9-3SaabSalesharper imagewaterfordwaterford crystalBruce WatsonMon, 26 Jul 2010 18:30:00 ESTOne Year Later, No Sign of Improvement in America's Income Inequality Problemhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/04/one-year-later-no-sign-of-improvement-in-americas-income-inequ/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/04/one-year-later-no-sign-of-improvement-in-americas-income-inequ/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/07/04/one-year-later-no-sign-of-improvement-in-americas-income-inequ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Last July 4, I wrote that we needed to get our independence from Wall Street, whose roughly 300,000 highest-earning employees often benefit from government policies that have put the other 309.2 million of us in a weaker position.

Current efforts at financial reform seem unlikely to reverse this trend. And more generally, since the current bill nearing passage grants $500 million a year more to a Washington that for the past two decades has mainly served the interests of the wealthy, I have even less hope for change than I once did.

A Decade of Surging Income Inequality Shifts Economic Pain To The Bottom

Income inequality has grown massively since 2000. According to Harvard Magazine, 66% of 2001-2007's income growth went to the top 1% of Americans, while the other 99% of the population got a measly 6% increase. How is this possible? One thing to consider is that in 2001, George W. Bush cut $1.3 trillion in taxes, and 32.6% of the cut went to the top 1%. Another factor is Bush's decision to increase the national debt from $5 trillion to $11 trillion. The combination of increased government spending and lower taxes helped the top 1% considerably.

We are still living in the aftermath of the debt crisis and the cost of that bust has also been distributed unequally. For one thing, unemployment is hurting the bottom swath of the population more than the top. While U.S. unemployment is now 9.5%, the bottom 40% of the labor force suffers from a 17% unemployment rate. In the top 30% of the labor pool, that rate is just 4%, according to Harvard Magazine. Meanwhile, Wall Street -- which includes a solid share of the top 1% -- paid itself near record bonuses -- up 17% in 2009 to $20.3 billion -- and is on a hiring binge.

The Pew Research Center highlights the specific pain this recession is causing those below the top. It notes that out of the 13 U.S. recessions since the Great Depression, "none has presented a more punishing combination of length, breadth and depth than this one." More than a quarter of the people Pew studied suffered a work-hour reduction; 23% took a pay cut; 12% were forced to take unpaid leave; and 11% were ordered to either leave or accept a part-time assignment.

Where Will Increases in Consumer Spending Come From?

People are struggling to get by and the nature of their struggle does not sound promising for an economy that depends on consumer spending for 70% of its growth. Pew points out that 71% of the people it talked to are buying less expensive brands; 57% cut back or canceled their vacations; 30% spent less on alcohol and cigarettes; and 20% had problems paying the rent or mortgage. While many of these steps represent prudent financial decisions, none will help the economy grow.

With lost income and rising expenses, many people might hope to be able to make up the difference through investing. But the reality is different. According to the Boston Globe, with stocks down in the last decade and market volatility at gut wrenching levels -- thanks to High Frequency Trading's dominance of daily market activity -- people with hopes that investing will help fund their retirements face harsh choices.

Many have concluded that they're better off dumping their stocks and putting the cash in money market funds that earn near zero returns. The Globe interviewed a 57-year-old architect who sold all his stocks after the market lost $1 trillion in value on May 6 -- he thinks he's saved $90,000 in lost portfolio value by avoiding stocks' subsequent decline.

Unfortunately, for this architect and those who follow his lead, returns on low-interest money market funds will not make up for all the lost stock market value and the lower income that people have suffered in the current recession.

Only New Innovation Will Reverse These Trends

I think the best hope for re-balancing our economy is technology-led innovation that creates jobs for many more Americans. This year on July 4, it's even more urgent that America find a way to reignite the innovation engine.

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]]>government spendingincome inequalityinterest ratesPeter CohanSun, 04 Jul 2010 08:00:00 ESTThis Time Is Different: The GDP Report Was Greathttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/02/02/this-time-is-different-the-gdp-report-was-great/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/02/02/this-time-is-different-the-gdp-report-was-great/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/02/02/this-time-is-different-the-gdp-report-was-great/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm a big fan of John Mauldin and his weekly email newsletter, Thoughts from the Frontline, where he analyzes the economy. I also admire how he's set up his business and his life. I visited his offices once in Dallas and they were embedded right into the stands of the Arlington baseball stadium. From there, you could step onto the terrace and watch the game. I've never seen an office like that. He also wrote a blurb on the back of my book, "Trade Like Warren Buffett" and for that I'm grateful.

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]]>economyFrontlineGDPGDP reportjobsJohn MauldinMauldinunemploymentJames AltucherTue, 02 Feb 2010 13:30:00 ESTReport on Stimulus Bill's Impact Has a Problem of Numbershttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/01/14/report-on-stimulus-bills-impact-has-a-problem-of-numbers/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/01/14/report-on-stimulus-bills-impact-has-a-problem-of-numbers/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/01/14/report-on-stimulus-bills-impact-has-a-problem-of-numbers/#commentsFiled under: ,

On Wednesday, the Council of Economic Advisers released its second quarterly report on the effect of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus bill. The report has already come under attack from critics of the Obama administration, including U.S. Rep Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who characterized its conclusions as "self-serving and deceptive." Given the confusion about the numbers and their vulnerability to attack, it is worth asking if the report, rather than increasing worker confidence, has actually undermined the administration's position. This is likely to become a particularly pressing issue as the President is currently pushing another job creation bill.

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]]>American Recovery and Reinvestment ActarrandaleCEACouncil of Economic Advisersdarrell issastimulusBruce WatsonThu, 14 Jan 2010 10:15:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: How to Make $500k Trading Penny Stocks, Some Clean Energy Pickshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/30/daily-blogwatch-how-to-make-500k-trading-penny-stocks-plus-so/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/30/daily-blogwatch-how-to-make-500k-trading-penny-stocks-plus-so/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/30/daily-blogwatch-how-to-make-500k-trading-penny-stocks-plus-so/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Below are some great reads for investors from around the Web:

Looks like Mark Zuckerberg spent Christmas crushing Google.
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Hilarious Star Wars / The A-Team mashup.
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]]>clean energydividendsGOOGhousingpenny stocksJames AltucherWed, 30 Dec 2009 08:30:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: Stocks to Buy by Year-End; Plus, Stevie Cohen in action!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/23/daily-blogwatch-stocks-to-buy-this-year-plus-stevie-cohen-in/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/23/daily-blogwatch-stocks-to-buy-this-year-plus-stevie-cohen-in/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/23/daily-blogwatch-stocks-to-buy-this-year-plus-stevie-cohen-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Following are some of the best reads for investors from around the Web:

Quantifiable Edges notes that we are entering a particularly bullish period as of Wednesday morning.

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Intriguing candidate for Warren Buffett's successor at Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A).

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And, given that, here are some stocks I think most likely to soar into the year's end.

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]]>2010AOLBuffettcoffeeVCLKJames AltucherWed, 23 Dec 2009 08:00:00 ESTReinsurers to Take it on the Chin: Rates Likely to Fall 9% in Januaryhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/21/reinsurers-to-take-it-on-the-chin-rates-likely-to-fall-9-in-ja/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/21/reinsurers-to-take-it-on-the-chin-rates-likely-to-fall-9-in-ja/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/21/reinsurers-to-take-it-on-the-chin-rates-likely-to-fall-9-in-ja/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Jan. 1, 2010, reinsurance renewal is approaching fast, but a quiet year for catastrophe losses is causing the annual ritual to proceed slowly. Insurers and reinsurers are still dancing around an agreement on next year's rates, and an insider at a major reinsurance intermediary tells me that the process could extend well into January. Expect reinsurance rates to fall 9% for the property-catastrophe sector.

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]]>financial crisisinsuranceinsurance companiesLehman BrothersReinsuranceTom JohansmeyerMon, 21 Dec 2009 13:07:00 ESTBanking Liability Litigation Drops, Making Insurance Cheaperhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/21/banking-liability-litigation-drops-making-insurance-cheaper/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/21/banking-liability-litigation-drops-making-insurance-cheaper/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/21/banking-liability-litigation-drops-making-insurance-cheaper/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The up-tick in equity markets may leave lawyers in the lurch. We all waited for litigation to surge following the financial crisis, with plaintiff attorneys chasing professional liability policies on behalf of shareholders feeling wronged. The spike suspected by the insurance industry never materialized, though, according to Aon Corp (AON). As a result, insurance and reinsurance pricing for this sector is likely to stay under control.

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]]>AIGamerican international groupAoncbChubbdirectorsfinancial crisisfinancial servicesfinancial services industryinsuranceinsurance claimsliabilityliability claimsliability insuranceprofessional liabilityReinsurancexlxl capitalTom JohansmeyerMon, 21 Dec 2009 11:30:00 ESTInsurers Will Come Back to Hedge Funds in 2010http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/18/insurers-will-come-back-to-hedge-funds-in-2010/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/18/insurers-will-come-back-to-hedge-funds-in-2010/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/18/insurers-will-come-back-to-hedge-funds-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Insurance companies cut their hedge fund allocations in 2009, but the sting of the financial crisis will wear off next year. Look for more insurance money to flow into the hedge fund sector in 2010, as carriers seek to take advantage of an economic recovery.

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]]>AIGamerican international groupasset allocationfinancial crisishedge fundHedge fundsinsurance companiesinsurance companyinsurance industrymarsh and mclennanMMCPreqinrecessionrisk managementTom JohansmeyerFri, 18 Dec 2009 12:30:00 ESTBoards of Directors Are Doing More to Earn Their Keephttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/18/boards-of-directors-are-doing-more-to-earn-their-keep/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/18/boards-of-directors-are-doing-more-to-earn-their-keep/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/18/boards-of-directors-are-doing-more-to-earn-their-keep/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sitting on a corporate board of directors has always been great work if you can get it, especially if it's with a company that's generous with its board member compensation. But these days, directors are doing a little more to earn their keep.

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]]>aaplAIGamerican international groupAppleboard of directorsboards of directorscompensatecompensationcorporate boardCorporate LibraryEnergyenergy industryenergy stocksexecutive compensationfinancial crisisGoldman SachsGoldman Sachs GroupGoldman Sachs Group GSGSIntuitive SurgicalIntuitive Surgical Inc ISRGISRGMorgan Stanleymorgan stanley msmsNaborsNabors IndustriesNBRrecessiontarpthe corporate libraryTroubled Asset Relief ProgramTom JohansmeyerFri, 18 Dec 2009 11:00:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: Will peak gold theory take us to $2,500 level?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/16/daily-blogwatch-will-peak-gold-theory-take-gold-to-2-500/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/16/daily-blogwatch-will-peak-gold-theory-take-gold-to-2-500/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/16/daily-blogwatch-will-peak-gold-theory-take-gold-to-2-500/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A persuasive argument that Barnes & Noble (BKS) could be an attractive buy.

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Large-cap stocks that could get short squeezed higher.

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Just like there's peak oil theory, could the world be dealing with peak gold theory?

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]]>GoldRIMMshort squeezesuccesstechnologyUBSJames AltucherMon, 16 Nov 2009 08:30:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: How to buy shares of Facebookhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/13/daily-blogwatch-how-to-buy-shares-of-facebook/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/13/daily-blogwatch-how-to-buy-shares-of-facebook/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/13/daily-blogwatch-how-to-buy-shares-of-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ten states facing budget disasters.

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I'm sort of jealous: The richest members of Congress.

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I review my favorite books on the financial crisis.

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]]>James AltucherFri, 13 Nov 2009 08:30:00 ESTIs the World Bank's Zoellick too pessimistic about the U.S.?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/11/is-the-world-banks-zoellick-too-pessimistic-about-the-u-s/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/11/is-the-world-banks-zoellick-too-pessimistic-about-the-u-s/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/11/is-the-world-banks-zoellick-too-pessimistic-about-the-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Unemployment, which jumped to a 26-year high of 10.2% in October, will continue to be a dark cloud looming over the U.S. economy through at least next year, according to World Bank President Robert Zoellick.

"If you have large-scale unemployment remain, say about [the] 10% level you have in the U.S., you're going to see feedback effects," Zoellick is quoted by Bloomberg News as saying. His comments are hardly a surprise.

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]]>bernankeeconomymacysroubiniunemploymentworld bankzoellickJonathan BerrWed, 11 Nov 2009 10:58:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: The worst idea for a bad economy!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/10/daily-blogwatch-the-worst-idea-for-a-bad-economy/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/10/daily-blogwatch-the-worst-idea-for-a-bad-economy/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/10/daily-blogwatch-the-worst-idea-for-a-bad-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Darwin's Finance explains why the normal correlation between gold and the dollar has broken down.

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And speaking of which, The Intelligent Speculator figures out a new way to protect against inflation.

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Which biotech stock yields over 12% and sells for less than $10?

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]]>biotechBuffettCEPHdividendsERTSinflationJames AltucherTue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: Overvalued or undervalued? Bottom or bust?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/28/daily-blogwatch-overvalued-or-undervalued-bottom-or-bust/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/28/daily-blogwatch-overvalued-or-undervalued-bottom-or-bust/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/28/daily-blogwatch-overvalued-or-undervalued-bottom-or-bust/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Are the German subsidies for solar in question?

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Henry Blodget and I discuss why the economy is set to blast off.

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What happens, historically, when GE goes into an eight-day losing streak like it currently is?

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]]>dividendsESIFSLRGEGranthamJASOSolarJames AltucherWed, 28 Oct 2009 08:30:00 ESTOffice holiday parties go on hiatus, but the risks remainhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/27/office-holiday-parties-go-on-hiatus-but-the-risks-remain/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/27/office-holiday-parties-go-on-hiatus-but-the-risks-remain/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/27/office-holiday-parties-go-on-hiatus-but-the-risks-remain/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Whether the office holiday party is a chance to unwind with colleagues or an evening of forced fun with people you're already sick of seeing all day, it's an institution of corporate America. The food is abundant, the liquor flows, and for a few hours, your colleagues are human beings. Then the next morning, you return to work with a hangover and with the same beefs you had before the party.

There's only one thing worse than having to go to the holiday party, and that's to learn that yours has been canceled. When corporate penny-pinching axes the event, that sends an unequivocal message about the company's financial strength and puts everyone on edge.

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]]>alcoholchallengerchallenger gray christmaschristmaschristmas partieschristmas partyfinancial crisisholiday partiesholiday partylayofflayoffsliquorrecessionunemploymentTom JohansmeyerTue, 27 Oct 2009 15:40:00 ESTThe global art market finds its floorhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/26/the-global-art-market-finds-its-floor/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/26/the-global-art-market-finds-its-floor/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/26/the-global-art-market-finds-its-floor/#commentsFiled under: ,

The 2008/2009 art market ended seven years of astonishing price inflation. By the end of 2008, contemporary art suffered a price decline of 27.1 percent, followed by another 4 percent drop in the first half of 2009, according to ArtPrice's new report, Contemporary Art Market: The ArtPrice Annual Report. A change in auction-house strategy was fundamental to preventing the continuation of the plunge.

From 2002 to 2008, speculation fueled profound growth in the contemporary art market. New auction records were the norm as prices climbed with unprecedented velocity. The high end of the market was particularly active, with the number of pieces selling for more than €1 million surging by 620 percent. Because of that bubble, the contemporary segment was the first to get slammed after the financial market downturn was accelerated by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Before that point, contemporary art had resisted the effects of the subprime mortgage crisis.

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]]>artart auctionart auctionsart collectingart collectionart collectorart marketartistartworkauction houseauction housesbidchristiescontemporarycontemporary artfrancis baconin focuslehman brotherspablo picassopicassosothebysTom JohansmeyerMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:30:00 ESTHyundai rides recession-conscious consumers to record earningshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/22/hyundai-rides-recession-conscious-consumers-to-record-earnings/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/22/hyundai-rides-recession-conscious-consumers-to-record-earnings/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/22/hyundai-rides-recession-conscious-consumers-to-record-earnings/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

On Thursday, South Korea's Hyundai Motor Company posted Q3 profits of $826.2 million, more than three times its 2008 profits in the same quarter and an all-time quarterly high for the automaker. Given that the previous record of $680 million was set in Q2 of this year, it is clear that Hyundai, the world's fifth-largest automaker, is riding a wave of massively increasing profits.

A large part of this leap lies in a 34 percent jump in sales, attributable to many factors, including the cash-for-clunkers program and deep discounts from Hyundai. In the third quarter, the automaker claims to have taken 5.5 percent of global market share, up from 4.4 percent the previous year.

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]]>autosHyundaiToyotawonyenBruce WatsonThu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:00 ESTDaily Blogwatch: The case for legalizing insider trading; the death of capitalism; and more!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/21/daily-blogwatch-the-case-for-legalizing-insider-trading-the-de/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/21/daily-blogwatch-the-case-for-legalizing-insider-trading-the-de/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/21/daily-blogwatch-the-case-for-legalizing-insider-trading-the-de/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The case for legalizing insider trading.

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The Halloween Stock Index. Will it outperform?

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Ten more people might be charged for insider trading over the next week.

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]]>AAPLBAdividendsglobal warmingGOOGinsiderMSFTsolarJames AltucherWed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST