Investing in Japan

Great to see Ralph Nader write something on the very important matter of dividends and stock buybacks, see, “It’s time for Cisco to cough up shareholder cash.” (Hyperlink visible in full article view) And great to see it published by a mainstream outlet like Reuters. Billions of dollars, if not tens of billions, at companies [...]

Serendipitously on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I was able to relay great news for shareowners of General Electric (GE) and all publicly-traded companies. The SEC ruled the prior week that GE cannot omit my critical proposal (hyperlink appears in full article view; see page 2 of PDF) requesting its board reexamine dividend policy. GE has [...]

As I pen this article on this day of remembering/honoring Martin Luther King Jr., an icon of activism, I am elated to share great news for General Electric (GE) and all public equity shareholders alike: the Securities and Exchange Commission has informally ruled that GE cannot omit my proposal from its 2012 Annual Meeting and proxy statement. [...]

I have followed up on my original bullish take on Nintendo (NTDOY.PK) (JP: 7974) from June. In my latest, carried as an exclusive on Seeking Alpha, I explain why I remain bullish on Nintendo and among other things include mention of recent Japanese analyst actions. *Click “Read Full Story” below for hyperlink to Seeking Alpha.*

Please see Seeking Alpha (“GE Dividend Still Taking Back Seat to Buybacks“) for my latest installment in the saga of General Electric’s (GE) reluctance to share the wealth with its shareholders. *Click “Read Full Story” below for hyperlink to Seeking Alpha.*

Beware the stock buyback story. While Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) investors and the media were mostly pleasantly surprised by the company’s (i.e. Buffett’s) announcement yesterday saying it may buy back its stock under certain conditions, the situation is quite different at General Electric (GE). The most recent buybacks at GE have cost approximately $30/share, which [...]

Please see my exclusive article at Seeking Alpha, “Why I’m Long Precious Metals (And Hope Others Will Continue to Buy Treasuries).” I look at some of the perils of investing in Treasuries; the performance of select assets and money growth since 1971 when president Nixon closed the gold window; and discuss my investments in iShares [...]

Shares of Nintendo (NTDOY.PK) (7974) jumped 9.8% overnight in Japan, while the broader market (the Nikkei 225) was up a far more modest 1.4%, and as the yen remained stubbornly (relatively) strong at Y76.65 against the US$. What explains this big move? The Japanese business press is at a loss for the most part. The [...]

Please see my article about Nintendo (NTDOY.PK) (JP: 7974) published exclusively at Seeking Alpha, “Nintendo: Dirt Cheap Ahead of Next Growth Cycle.” Take the time to read the whole piece and note where I say, “As attractive as Nintendo’s valuation is, I would not be surprised to see its stock trade lower near-term, especially as [...]

Internet Initiative Japan (IIJI) (Tokyo: 3774) is a longtime shareholding and is one that I intend to hold on to for the long haul. Following my “friendly” activist dialogue with the company beginning early last year, the company has subsequently raised its dividend four times by an aggregate 50%. And there is further potential to [...]