Parsad

Sanj, I can't place where I read it, but I thought I read somewhere that insider buying tends to go up at exactly the wrong time (i.e. when the market is overvalued). In 1998 (the last time insider buying was this high), the PE10 was in the 30s. There are a million articles and PhD papers on this...some saying no, some saying yes. Common sense tells me that when executives buy their own stock, they believe they are making a good investment based on inside information and the company's particular circumstances. If people are naturally selfish, this would seem to be a good indicator...but it's not the end all, be all. Cheers!

These types of bubbles correct quickly when they do eventually correct. I'm getting concerned...but then I've been concerned for two years! ;D Cheers!

I'm seeing more and more signs that things are getting better, not worse! Cheers! http://www.cnbc.com/id/44156203

I've let this thing go, because there really are no certifiable facts either way! It's not a business I would go long or short on, as there are easier ways to make money. From what I've read of Block's report, which wasn't very good to begin with, I'm not convinced. At the same time, TRE's management seems incompetent, and there certainly does seem to be gaps in their ability to find information about their own business. If you need something from me urgently, I will find it for you personally, so why the heck is it taking so long? Personally, I think both are idiots...Block and TRE management...so the truth may very well be somewhere in the middle. Hope Block loses his shirt and Chandler bounces TRE's management. Until then, everyone be nice to each other until you have verifiable information to gloat either way. ;D Cheers!

I suspect they'll have a William Ashley booth so shareholders can see the product and get more information. The number of booths have increased dramatically in the last couple of years, and I can't see them getting less anytime soon! Hopefully, we see another couple of acquisitions this year. Cheers!

Yup, any family wedding, etc, is now going to get William Ashley china! Cheers!

Fairfax bought Williams Ashley China, a family business. Yeahah! Cheers! http://www.fairfax.ca/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2011/Fairfax-Announces-Acquisition-of-William-Ashley1126350/default.aspx

Not only does this bode well from the obvious perspective, but generally if insiders are buying the stock, they will use company assets to also buy back stock. Cheers! http://www.cnbc.com/id/44161947

I'm really going to miss the old guy the day he's gone. Another great interview, and after all these years, I'm still in awe of the man's humility. Cheers!

New additions to Baupost. Cheers! http://www.thestreet.com/story/11220291/1/conservative-hedge-fund-buys-microsoft-bp.html

I would agree with that totally. By the way, Allan has the best investment record I have seen for any fund manager in the last five years, so that should tell you something. And he doesn't spit out bravado or shots at others either. He's got the discipline and the right character which makes all the difference in the world. Cheers!

Francis was adding alot of BAC & JPM warrants, added to Compucredit, bought GS and added SHLD. Cheers! http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1389402/000114420411047418/v232298_13f.txt

A few changes: Decreased ATSG, increased BRK-B, added Brookfield Residential, doubled GS, added HNR, sold ICO, doubled WFC warrants. Cheers! http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1173334/000095012311077493/c65867e13fvhr.txt

Not much happend. 3rd Q will be more interesting. Although, they did quadruple their stake in RIMM! Cheers! http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/915191/000095012311077615/o72955ae13fvhr.txt

Yes, the butterflies and excitement...yup! One piece of advice...enjoy the process, don't kill yourself, don't be too hard on yourself and stick to your principles. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Cheers and congratulations!

If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it count? Only if there is no impairment to the value of the forest! ;D I'm still wary of these guys, as they have now said that the independent review will take longer due to fragmented data. How the heck does a billion dollar company (at one point) have fragmented data? Cwericb, great job on the contrarian bet, but take a little off the table. Cheers!

I second this -- FFH and BRK are always April/May so it'd be nice to have a Oct/Nov event. Yes, the updated homepage will have a place where members can set up a specific meet for a specific city, and allow you to coordinate everything. I have to figure out how I want it to work, but basically it will just make the process easier for those already doing this in some cities. Cheers!

Actually, I'll get this going because I've come up with one that may intrigue all of you. An incubator program/page, that existing members of the board could join separately. We've got nearly a thousand members, so say 250 want to participate. We set up a page not unlike those micro-finance sites and have young, entrepreneurial investors pitch ideas to the group, and we vote on a handful to seed. The members pay say $500 a year or some number, and that raises an intial amount of $125,000 that could be distributed. More of a psychological experiment for all of us, as well as one that may pay some dividends. Anyway, it's just a weird wacky idea that I'm sure some of you could expand on. Like I said, throw them out there! Cheers!

Ok, since you all propagated the "tip jar" idea, tell me some of the things you would like to see added to the board. Throw out the ideas, as wild and crazy as they may seem. We won't be able to implement all of them, and the more costly ideas may take some time, but we can at least start upgrading and making the board even more user friendly. A couple of the changes I plan to do are below: - Redesigned home page with a proper complete link back and forth between the message board and homepage - Homepage would have different member service/discount links, as well as member events, current news, updates, etc. - Mobile app to make the board easier to read especially on smartphones Initially, we are just migrating the board over, and then Paul will slowly develop things we want on a prototype site before going live. But let me know what you would like, and over time we'll make some of those things happen. The one thing I don't want the board to ever change is the community concept and feeling it has. You would never get the type of cult following and support we have...not just on any site...and that's because of all of the members who are here. I'm humbled to just be a part of this, and I consider you all lifetime members of this weird fraternity we've developed! Cheers and thanks!

Unfortunately, I would say about a third of the board interacts here anonymously for different reasons (industry, reputation, privacy, etc), but their donation information is their true identity. I don't know think it is a good idea to list the donors on here because of that. Cheers!

The less obvious the better! ;D Cheers!

According to this article, high-frequency trading firms tripled their trading volumes as the markets lost 13%. Great volatility for investors to exploit, but could create a significant confidence issue for other investors. Cheers! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-11/high-frequency-firms-tripled-trading-as-s-p-500-plunged-13-wedbush-says.html :D

Hi Folks, There were some suggestions to create a membership fee to use the site to cover operating costs, etc, but I decided not to use that, as I would like the site to remain free for everyone. So I've added a Paypal "Donation" tab in the menu instead for anyone who feels like they want to contribute anything towards the site or my time. Any funds provided will be used to upgrade the site as we migrate over, adding additional features for members, and offsetting my costs and time spent planning our annual Fairfax Financial Shareholder's Dinner...as well as other future events or services you all want for members. Cheers and thanks for supporting the website! Sanjeev

They have exposure, but they feel it is manageable. That's a risk that most major banks with international units have exposure to. About the only large scale U.S. bank that has no such exposure is Wells. And then you counter that risk with the progress they are making in their loan business, both residential mortgage and consumer loans, and their global investment business. As well as the lines of business they have moved out of. I really see alot of similiarities to Fairfax when they were struggling, and I was very impressed by their team on that conference call. It's not going to be easy, as Moynihan alluded to when it came down to the question of if BAC will be able to achieve a 1% ROA long-term. There are significant headwinds, but they certainly seemed to be up to the challenge. Also the fact that all of the executives on the call had alot of their personal net worth at risk in the company stock was terrific to hear. I certainly wouldn't recommend that anyone bet the farm on BAC (Eric!), but we've done our analysis and we have a comfortable size position through the warrants. Cheers!

Guys, thanks very much for the offers. I never started this site to make any sort of money. I like running it and enjoy using it myself. I do not want to institute a membership fee, as who knows what young minds in high school or college might want to learn or contribute. I myself got to know alot about Berkshire from the Motley Fool BRK Board when it was free. In fact, that's where I became friends with Lotsofcoke, who first invited me to a Yellow BRK'ers Party in Omaha, and I eventually met Buffett for the first time. It changed everything! Eventually, I went off and started the old MSN Board after Motley Fool instituted a membership fee. So no membership fee! What I will probably do is implement the tip jar idea, but in one of those tabs that you see on various free open source software sites. Between the ad revenue and the occasional tip, we should be able to more than cover any tech costs, as well it will allow me to cover some expenses I incur setting up the annual dinner and other functions I want to create for boardmembers. Cheers and thanks!