Parsad

What I don't understand is why they would they share something with government and withhold from the public? If they are short and wish to inflict maximum damage, why would they pull any punches? Unless of course it's just a boogeyman that wants us to "be fearful of what the regulators know." Regarding "You should not assume Ebix's cash position is necessarily as they portray." That's saying they are faking their cash on their Balance Sheet. Yes, this is why in an earlier post I said that they are straddling an unethical line here. This was simply an article to bash the stock further...pure and simple! We have more details that make this company a fraud, so don't buy the stock...we just can't tell you what those details are. Oh yeah, and their cash isn't real either, but you didn't hear that from us...nudge, nudge, wink, wink! Just have some balls and go out into the public and show your damn face and say what you have to say. At least when Chanos was calling Fairfax a fraud, he stood there like an idiot on stage and said so, rather than hiding behind a website. These guys may be right, but I have no respect for guys hiding in the shadow whispering, while still reaping a profit from the demise of a company. Cheers!

Watch a movie...watch game 6 & 7 of the NBA finals...go on a vacation...sleep...hang out with family or friends...go play tennis...hold a garage sale...lots of things you can do! In other words, live an actual life. ;D If you want to stay on the investment track, something I do during periods like the last few weeks, is I'll spend more time reading books that I need to catch up on, because I'm usually too busy looking for ideas or doing administrative stuff with the funds. I would much prefer days like Wednesday and Thursday though. I get giddy when I see markets tumble. Cheers!

Isn't selling to GS the ultimate cash out? Instead of selling shares piece-meal why not sell all at once? I have no clue if this is a fraud, all I know is I've read some of the articles that point out inaccuracies and some of the statements, and there are way too many red flags to invest. There are MANY companies just as cheap without the same accusations, I would go for something cheap and clean, why bother with potential fraud? exactly. why fly that close to the sun. there is enough zany stuff going on that you would have to be nuts to get involved with this guy. At the same time, Gotham's SA article today was a piece of fluff with comments that I would consider close to borderline slander or libel...regardless of whether EBIX is a fraud or not. I can't stand guys like this hiding behind a curtain! Stick to the data and actual filings...not the innuendo! Cheers!

I agree they should continue to tighten the capital levels. Doubling may be too high as it would stifle lending for a few years, but continuing to increase capital levels in my opinion is a good idea. Cheers! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-21/u-s-weighs-doubling-leverage-standard-for-biggest-banks.html

Do you think some of the litany of accounting issues listed by Gotham City Research could be legitimate? I'm the first to question the motives behind GCR...who are they, whose funding them, the MO is very similar to the attack at OSTK, etc. But I've read their two papers and I find that the number of issues that are in the 2nd paper are alarming. Either the entire board is incompetent when it comes to proofing their financial statements, or the CFO just publishes what he wants without re-reading his own work. Neither is a good sign! Cheers!

What do you want to bet that they already have something in mind before the AGM at the end of the month? Any wonder that those January options had traded in such large amounts a few days ago. I'm guessing we will see a tender, sale, offer of some sort in the next couple of months. Cheers!

Takes the sting out of being canned a bit. It's like being a 16 year old boy and getting kicked out of school and forced to work at the Playboy Mansion as punishment. It stings if you are a shareholder, and held this thing for the last 5 years! You bet on Tom Ward 5+ years ago, and here you are...lost 60-90% of your investment and he walks away with $90M, plus all of his salary and bonuses for the last five years. How is that equitable? Highway robbery in my opinion! Don't care how much talent or value he can create if this is considered ethical. It wasn't TPG who put that compensation plan in place...nor the enormous debt load and leverage...or the inordinate amounts of annual capex. Could he have restored value if left in place...maybe. But he definitely took care of himself before the shareholders. Cheers!

Hi Hyten, Bass isn't saying that the debt is any worse than personal debt. What he is saying is when do the lenders call the loan or ask for a greater risk premium through the bond yield? So in your example, what if the bank decided that the mortgage is not fixed, but variable, and that they were changing the interest rate? It's not that the family would necessarily have to sell the house, but there would naturally be repercussions to them trying to maintain the house and mortgage...either through selling the family car and jewels (Japanese asset sales), another job (greater taxes for the Japanese), buy less groceries and other goods (lower purchasing power) or tap into savings (reductions in pension plans, other benefits). There is always a cost to every decision, and I think that is the main argument for Bass...Japan, among others, will have to finally pay the piper at some point. Cheers!

I don't know if Bass will be right, but the logic and rationality of his argument is correct in my opinion. Not only with Japan, but Europe, European banks and even to some extent the U.S.' ability to repay their obligations. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I can see that the risks relative to the risk premium provided in most investments is not adequate, and it is very concerning. Nearly as concerning as 2007, but a lot of the leverage in the United States has been mitigated...on a corporate level. This has not happened in Europe...nor China! Buy something if you think the risk premium is adequate, otherwise be patient...premiums always rise at some point...spreads widen...good investments at great prices will eventually become available. If Charlie Munger is not certain of the outcome of this grand experiment, how can any of us be confident in the end result? Cheers!

Some of the other scholarships offered by Fairfax: - Dalhousie (Nova Scotia) - UVIC (another BC connection) - $5,000 - Red River College (Manitoba) - $3,500 - University of Toronto (Ontario) - University of Alberta (Alberta) - $5,000 - Association of Universities & Colleges of Canada - up to 60 $3,500 scholarships granted each year (not sure if it includes the other scholarships) Wonderful! Cheers!

I always thought Prem must have some sort of special affinity for British Columbia, since his "Sixty Three" holding company was registered in BC many years ago. I have to ask him exactly what his reasons for doing so were next time I see him. Anyway, imagine my surprise, or lack of surprise, that Fairfax has established two $3,500 scholarships at BC's own Douglas College! He must have a soft-spot for our rainforests or Kokanee beer! ;D Kudos Prem and Fairfax! Cheers! http://www.douglas.bc.ca/__shared/assets/fairfaxfinancialentranceaward89534.pdf

Fantastic presentation! I wish I could see the slides. Cheers!

I was in Omaha the weekend this interview was broadcast, so I had not seen it till now, but I'm going to miss Munger when he's gone...as well as Buffett! Two irreplaceable gems! Great interview by Becky Quick as well. Cheers! http://www.cnbc.com/id/100707283

What non-essential item do people continue to buy right up to their last nickel? That isn't a rhetorical question, because I don't know. I don't believe there is anything anymore that people will spend their last nickel on. At one time I would have said a mortgage, but that obviously isn't true any longer. Water. Cheers!

Probably best to wait for any press releases. People could have left for personal reasons, new opportunities or a change in company direction. Better not to speculate. Cheers!

Good presentation! Cheers!

I will never forget his promotional tirade during the Berkshire meeting. He got the chance to ask Buffett anything he could possibly want and Kass decided to asked him for money in some veiled bet. Buffett's response was pretty good too..."Not gonna happen!" The crowd roared in laughter. Cheers!

Anyone know who the "rogue" tweeter that Cramer refers to is? Is it someone well known? Cheers! http://www.cnbc.com/id/100821025

Yes, yes, we should all ignore macroeconomic factors, but what would be the repercussions of this bubble popping. Food for thought, anyways. Cheers! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-28/china-credit-bubble-call-pits-fitch-s-chu-against-s-p.html

Tick, tick, tick...getting mighty close! Cheers! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-14/detroit-on-bankruptcy-s-brink-stops-paying-some-debts-orr-says.html http://www.cnbc.com/id/100817728

Fool.com article on Fairfax and Power Corp. Cheers! http://beta.fool.com/whichstockswork/2013/06/14/canadas-versions-of-berkshire-hathaway/37148/?source=eogyholnk0000001

Guys, please get the format correct for the title on the "Investment Ideas" board, otherwise I start deleting these posts in the future. Cheers!

You've got to keep these types of posts to the "General Discussion" board. If the title isn't specific to a single stock, it doesn't belong in the "Investment Ideas" board. Cheers!

New catastrophe loss disclosures in the future. Cheers! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-13/berkshire-adds-disclosure-on-insurance-losses-after-sec-pressure.html?cmpid=yhoo

Oh no way did you take a shot at the Canucks. Otsog...you're banned! ;D Boo, hiss...Bruins/Blackhawks final...I hope Marchand and Duncan Keith knock each other out with cheap shots! Cheers!