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OT: Deb, with windchill, we're in the single digits...don't believe we will ever see 48 degrees again!!! lol
Cold & windy here; could really use some good news to warm things up!
I-Man - I believe we got a little action soon after your post.
Hello, LONGS, is today's volume looking higher than usual to anyone else?
EASY COME, AND EASIER GO !!!
Germany is marginally positive:
http://de.finance.yahoo.com/q?d=v1&m=a&s=hrct
Oh, I forgot, G-O H-R-C-T & G-O E-T-L-K !!!
Deb & K - The best part of a winning day at the casino is the
ability to book your next trip there and know that it is already paid for...Yep, just got finished making the online reservations for February! :)
Well, I make a day trip to the casino and look what happens; HRCT & ETLK not only show increased volume, but an increase in
pps too! BTW, I also won at blackjack...:)
I-MAN - Just some new guy objecting to mmayr's suggesting that
we all abandon RagingBull. Mark didn't even have time to roll his sleeves up...heavy weight weigh-ins are more exciting!!!
If this 'system' only worked in the real world, too!
Oh, Oh...there's trouble a brewing! eom
It is very good news to hear that the Doc is doing well in his recovery. Thank you. I appreciated the update.
*** RUMOR *** Florida is screaming for a rerun of tonight's State of The Union address, something about a problem with the
State's broadcasting equipment...
I-MAN - I am tired and need to hit the rack, would you please prepare a brief on what the analysts say that the President and
Gephardt had to say? TIA
I-Man, interesting that it coincides with the State Of The Union address, which is beig aired on MOST channels!
Wasn't Goldengate the great prognosticator on RagingBull?
MBR - If what you stated is correct, I believe that it was more valid for the 'old' HRCT. I suspect that we will not
see such " leaks " under Dr. Ching. I further believe that
the current silence is testimony to that!
Looking, with interest, at how this issue trades today especially
if we have an overall better Market day than yesterday was!
The following link was provided by deezenutz on RagingBull. It
shows a quote of 0.45 for ETLK.
http://www.thomsonfn.com/
The following link was provided by deezenutz on RagingBull. It
shows a quote of 0.45 for ETLK.
http://www.thomsonfn.com/
Chris, I hope that you mean new symbol and not another " new
board." With all these board changes, I feel like some of the
migrants out on the East End!!!
Talk about timing! I am on the mailing list of SmallCap Network and received this link today:
http://www.smallcapnetwork.net/archive/listserv/20020116-1.html
** INFO **
Just received my information statement from Staruni Corp. It stated:
- a reverse stock split pursuant to which every ten (10) shares of the Company outstanding prior
to the reverse stock split, will be reduced to one (1) share;
- Approve the new name of Elephant Talk Communications, inc." for the Company.
** INFO **
Just received my information statement from Staruni Corp. It stated:
- a reverse stock split pursuant to which every ten (10) shares of the Company outstanding prior
to the reverse stock split, will be reduced to one (1) share;
- Approve the new name of Elephant Talk Communications, inc." for the Company.
SCMP Article: Online Broker Layoffs
A SinoBull competitor in trouble? Wonder how our company is doing?
http://technology.scmp.com/techbiz/ZZZEQVXSNVC.html
Friday, January 4, 2002
Firings touch 50pc at Boom
SAMUEL YEUNG
Next story
Hong Kong's lay-off plague has spread to the SAR's first online broker, Boom Securities, with almost half its workforce axed. Managing director Mark Duff yesterday confirmed dismissals had taken place, but declined to give numbers.
"It was less than 50 per cent, but a substantial cut," he said. A source also said almost 50 per cent of its 58 employees had lost their jobs by way of immediate dismissal. Mr Duff said most of the cuts were made in the firm's development division. "The division has just completed a 20-month [products and infrastructure] development cycle," he said. The firm also closed its marketing division, Mr Duff said. Boom would scale back its media advertising following the closure, he said. The marketing job would shift to its sales team. The firm also closed its Causeway Bay branch to reduce costs. The redundancies come just weeks after the closure of rival 2Cube Securities, a joint venture between Pacific Century CyberWorks and JPMorgan Chase. A few days later, Charles Schwab said it would close its Hong Kong stock trading service this month. While declining to say if the firm was making a profit Mr Duff said Boom was "extremely well-financed", and its multi-market trading service had proven valuable to local traders.
Information Request: Read reference to Dr. Phan's being wished a
speedy recovery;did not know he was ill. Can somebody catch me up
on this? TIA
SCMP Article:Important Read
E*Trade Pushing Hard To Expand Asian Services:
http://biz.scmp.com/ZZZ7PYXSNVC.html
Monday, January 7, 2002
BROKING
Deregulation puts online giant on growth path
BIEN PEREZ
Online broking giant E*Trade is shifting its Asian expansion plans into a higher gear as financial services deregulation reshapes the Hong Kong and mainland markets. The California-based company plans to start offering United States securities to Hong Kong customers in the first quarter. It would also consider new acquisitions in the next 12 to 18 months, and provide more sophisticated investor tools, including wireless access and advanced business intelligence functions, said Jarrett Lilien, E*Trade's chief brokerage officer and managing director for the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Mr Lilien said E*Trade would be a "very active industry consolidator" as deregulation thinned the ranks of its online trading rivals in Hong Kong. E*Trade last month acquired for an undisclosed sum the customer accounts of 2Cube, a joint venture between JPMorgan Chase and Pacific Century CyberWorks. "We are advancing our presence and product offerings to meet the needs of our retail and institutional customers around the world, while many of our competitors are scaling back and exiting markets," Mr Lilien said. So far, the company has been offering equities and warrants trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to SAR customers. It was one of Hong Kong's first online financial services players to offer flat-fee pricing on equity trades to individual investors. Mr Lilien said E*Trade had closed about 30 acquisitions worldwide since he joined in 1999 and the company expected more opportunities to arise as markets consolidated. Consolidation in the SAR is being driven by the removal of minimum brokerage commission rates for stock and futures transactions in April. Removing the commission floor, along with a reduction in stamp duty that took effect last September, was expected to lower trading costs and enhance market competition - especially in online trading. Research firm International Data Corp (IDC) forecasts that 40 per cent of Hong Kong's securities trading volume will be performed online by next year. The economic downturn has prompted early signs of consolidation. Charles Schwab and TD Waterhouse, E*Trade's main global online trading rivals, have started refocusing their priorities in Asia. Asia's first online broker, Boom Securities, and bond trading platform Asiabondportal.com both laid off about half of their employees last week. The 2Cube deal provided E*Trade with 4,600 active accounts, an expanded base that boosts the company's aim to cross-sell and up-sell both US dollar-denominated and Hong Kong dollar-denominated products and services in the SAR. John Lord, E*Trade Asia-Pacific vice-president, said the company was also keen on becoming an outsourcing provider to other financial services providers. "We intend to offer the use of our back-office platform as a cost-efficient solution to third parties," he said. "Increased competition in the next several months will mean that a number of companies will need to focus more on their marketing and product development efforts, while leaving heavy lifting involved in back-office functions to companies like E*Trade." He said E*Trade would push its wireless access and business intelligence tools for its online offerings "as appetite for these value-added services increase" in Hong Kong. E*Trade's SAR operations began with the company's September 1999 acquisition of TIR Securities, an institutional broker with seats on multiple global exchanges. In addition to its main US market, E*Trade serves online customers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Sweden and Britain. In the mainland, E*Trade was in talks with several parties to draw up an entry strategy, Mr Lilien said. The country has committed to deregulate key industries, such as financial services and telecommunications, in line with its admission to the World Trade Organisation. Mr Lilien said the company was studying options on how to establish its mainland presence and which products and services it should offer first. He said E*Trade was flexible enough to plan for a swift entry that would take just a few months, but stressed that an entry programme over the next 12 to 24 months was more realistic. Recent industry estimates show that the combined mainland and Hong Kong securities markets represented market capitalisation of US$1.2 trillion, making China the fifth-largest market in the world. IDC also forecast the number of online securities trading accounts in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan, would grow six-fold by 2005, with the bulk of that growth from China. E*Trade's foray into the mainland may include the setting up of an Internet banking operation. E*Trade's bank subsidiary is the largest branchless bank in the US and the country's 13th-largest savings bank based on asset size. As of the third quarter of last year, E*Trade Bank had more than US$13 billion in assets and US$8 billion in deposits. Mr Lilien said E*Trade was confident that its expansion strategy would prevail over the stiff competition expected within the next two years in Hong Kong, China and other financial markets across the Asia-Pacific. He said E*Trade's regional operations had grown 200 per cent on average every year to help swell the company's total revenue "despite the challenging business, economic and market environment".
Nice Find! I copied it to the AOL & RB Boards.eom
Dear Shareholders:
The holiday season is with us again and I would like
to use this opportunity to wish you and your family
the Most Wonderful Christmas and the Most Successful
New Year of 2002. May Peace, Prosperity, Health and
Luck be your blessings in the days to come. May
Strength, Courage, Persistence and Patience always be
with you in time of challenges and difficulties.
Looking back at the last 12 months, I feel a great
pride in our achievements; yet, also a sense of
frustration over the share price. I have done my
best; and if my best is not enough to get your
investment where you want to it be, please accept my
sincere apology. A new management team is taking over,
and I do believe that they will be able to surpass my
achievements, and manage to bring HRCT share price to
the high level it deserves. Dr. Wallace Ching and his
institutional investors have the capability to do so
and I am sure that your 2002 Christmas will be the
time for a much happier and bigger celebration.
In this holy time, I would also like to ask you to
open your hearts and your pockets to give a little
something to the unlucky victims of the World Trade
Center attacks, of the Afghan war, of the degrading
Poverty and Hunger around the world. Thanks to them,
we know that how much we have been blessed with the
grace of God. Like a Chinese proverb said, ¡° If you
want happiness of a life time: help the next
generation.¡±
Finally, let me express our heart-felt gratitude for
your continuing support. You are the best shareholders
that any management team could dream of. Please extend
this support to Dr. Ching and his team. They are going
to make your dream come true.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan V. Phan
Article: China Telecom + China Netcom + Jitong
Mainland telecoms merger proposal prompts questions
Wednesday, October 10, 2001
ERIC NG
More questions have been raised on the future of the mainland telecommunications industry following a proposal to merge fixed-line giant China Telecom with rivals China Netcom and Jitong Communications after its proposed split-up.
The proposal emerged after various plans were put forth to break up the market dominator to promote competition and strengthen the industry before foreign rivals arrive after China's World Trade Organisation entry.
A previous proposal was to split the giant into two regional entities - one based in northern China and the other in the south, while another suggested carving it up into separate businesses according to product lines.
The proposed break-up was modelled after the United States' division of its former monopoly AT&T into regional units in 1984.
Yesterday, it emerged that Beijing is also considering merging the northern unit with Netcom, and combining the southern company with Jitong, the People's Daily reported.
Netcom and Jitong emerged a few years ago as credible rivals to China Telecom, backed by state financing to build advanced network infrastructure.
No official from the companies involved would confirm or deny the speculation.
A European brokerage analyst doubted the proposal's logic.
"Given China Telecom is to be split into two regional entities, and Netcom and Jitong are national players, how will they fit into the regional companies?" he asked.
"Secondly, if the restructuring's original intention was to introduce more competition, how would this be achieved by consolidating Netcom and Jitong into China Telecom?"
Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia analyst Edison Lee said talks about a merger in the fixed-line industry may signal Beijing's intention to consolidate the sector after the emergence of five new players.
"Beijing may think that the six fixed-line companies may already be more than enough to ensure market competition," Mr Lee said.
Other than China Telecom, Netcom and Jitong, China Railway Telecom, China Unicom and China C Net hold licences to conduct fixed-line business.
"By consolidating operations, the industry could avoid overlaps in infrastructure investment," Mr Lee said.
However, analysts said China Netcom has limited synergy with China Telecom as the former focuses on the corporate sector while the latter has much larger exposure in residential telephony.
Despite a lack of clarity behind Beijing's merger proposal, analysts say one factor is certain: industry deregulation will accelerate in the next few years.
Nielsen//NetRatings First to Receive Government Approval To Conduct Internet Tracking Research In China
10/4/01
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2001--Nielsen//NetRatings, the world's fastest growing Internet audience measurement service, has received government approval to conduct Internet research in China.
In doing so, the Nielsen//NetRatings service is the first and only service to be officially approved by the Chinese government to measure consumers' Internet behavior.
Nielsen//NetRatings has worked with the Chinese government to adhere to all regulations and policies and to ensure the integrity of its Internet measurement information, as well as the protection of panelists' privacy. In compliance with regulations and to localize the service offering, Nielsen//NetRatings has involved a Chinese company for software development and testing.
Bill Pulver, president of ACNielsen eRatings.com, said: "This official approval marks a watershed for the Nielsen//NetRatings service in Asia - and on a global level. It means we are the only Internet research company with our finger directly on the pulse of Web trends in the most populous nation in the world. We will also be in a position to deliver the most comprehensive Chinese language service to the Greater China community in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.
"Industry estimates reveal the Asia-Pacific region is set to become the engine-room of growth for global Internet access and usage over the next few years - and China will spearhead this trend. The addition of China adds the Internet activity of over 20 million more people to our global measurement footprint."
Nielsen//NetRatings tracks in real time the entire spectrum of Internet user behavior: who's online, where they're going, what banner ads they're viewing and clicking on and how much time they spend. This information is derived from randomly selected consumer panels of home Internet users, continually refreshed to reflect the most current Internet universe.
Nielsen//NetRatings will immediately begin building an audience measurement panel in China and the service is expected to be up and running by early next year. Nielsen//NetRatings will initially offer services that track Internet audience and advertising activity in China on a monthly basis, with more value-added services to be rolled out as the market develops.
China will be the 29th market to be added to the Nielsen//NetRatings fold following the roll-out of the service in 28 markets worldwide in less than two years, including all major markets in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. In Asia-Pacific, Nielsen//NetRatings currently measures Internet audience activity in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
Hotsearch - Very nice job and greatly appreciated.
Director: China's MII will not to be dissolved
Friday, September 21, 2001
Updated at 5.39pm:
CHU TSCHANG
The Ministry of Information Industry, which oversees China's telecommunications and Internet industries, will not be dissolved in light of the formation of a new higher-ranking telecom commission, said MII director general Song Ling.
Earlier this month, the state media reported that the National People's Congress has decided to set up an new independent commission. This will also oversee China's mobile, fixed-line and Internet businesses.
The central government would announce the details about the commission soon, said Mrs Song, in Hong Kong for the World Services Congress.
The new commission, led by Premier Zhu Rongji, will be responsible for the telecom sector's long-term development plans. The MII would be entrusted with implementing the plans, she added.
When the MII was established in 1988, it was supposed to be the sole regulator of China's telecom networks.
Let us not forget that Usama Bin Laden also made a statement that
he was not responsible for the WTC attack....should we believe
that, too?
mmayr - the operative word in my post was " formal." I maybe
wrong, but as of earlier today, no formal message has been received from Iraq. As for the rest of your last message, I
agree...carpet bombing sand dunes with conventional weapons
when the target is in fortified underground bunkers has never
worked. Consider Iwo Jima.
" How come I smell Iraq behind all of this?" Geez, maybe because it happens to be one of the very few countries that
has not sent formal condolences to the US
OT: Subject;Perspective
If you bought $1000 worth of Nortel
stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49.
If you bought $1000 worth of Budweiser (the beer, not the
stock) one year ago, drank all the beer, and traded in
the cans for the nickel deposit, you would have $79.
Best advice is to start drinking heavily.
Foreign business rules to be changed
(19 September 2001) Hu Jingyan, director of the Department of Foreign Investment under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), said on Sept. 18 that after joining WTO, China would abolish the three rigid rules on the "percentage of local investment", "balance of foreign currency" and "percentage of products for export" of the enterprises with foreign investment.
Hu said the Chinese government is revising the relevant laws and regulations as it prepares for accession to the World Trade Organization. He said the three major policy barriers have been abolished in accordance with the relevant terms of WTO.
The abolishment of the rules on the "percentage of local investment", "balance of foreign currency" and "percentage of products for export" of the enterprises with foreign investment means that when investing in China, foreign businesses are no longer required to have a certain percentage of the investment from the Chinese party, the Chinese government will no longer implement restrictions on the foreign businesses using foreign currency, and there
will be no rigid rules on the percentage of the products of the enterprises with foreign investment to be exported.
Hu also pointed out that the Chinese government would particularly implement the opening policy in the service and trade sectors, which would cover finance, insurance, telecommunications and commerce. However, regarding the war industry, the ideology field, as well as the traditional industries such as cloisonné, the Chinese government will not open them to the foreign businesses now or in the future.
Foreign business rules to be changed
(19 September 2001) Hu Jingyan, director of the Department of Foreign Investment under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), said on Sept. 18 that after joining WTO, China would abolish the three rigid rules on the "percentage of local investment", "balance of foreign currency" and "percentage of products for export" of the enterprises with foreign investment.
Hu said the Chinese government is revising the relevant laws and regulations as it prepares for accession to the World Trade Organization. He said the three major policy barriers have been abolished in accordance with the relevant terms of WTO.
The abolishment of the rules on the "percentage of local investment", "balance of foreign currency" and "percentage of products for export" of the enterprises with foreign investment means that when investing in China, foreign businesses are no longer required to have a certain percentage of the investment from the Chinese party, the Chinese government will no longer implement restrictions on the foreign businesses using foreign currency, and there
will be no rigid rules on the percentage of the products of the enterprises with foreign investment to be exported.
Hu also pointed out that the Chinese government would particularly implement the opening policy in the service and trade sectors, which would cover finance, insurance, telecommunications and commerce. However, regarding the war industry, the ideology field, as well as the traditional industries such as cloisonné, the Chinese government will not open them to the foreign businesses now or in the future.