10 Sept: Down HK$.04; HK$1.30(US$.1677) Getcher- US fifteen
cents is well below the recent HK close. If it can be purchased
for that amount, downside risk is somewhat reduced since, over
time, the price for Playmates Toys in the US and HK will
equilibrate.
Despite the apparent enormous success of the Tamagotchi, even
maker Bandai Corporation is stuck in the doldrums. In my view,
Playmates Toys loss of the first half and consequent management
shake-up took the market by surprise. It certainly surprised me.
Playmates must now demonstrate that it has positioned itself
with the right products for what is shaping up to be a good,
if not, great Christmas buying season. D.v., Nano should garner
an important share of the virtual pet dollar at stake this
Christmas. The game video division stands to do well especially
with the exceptional hit "MDK". Let us hope the action figure,
doll, game offerings hold their own. If, along with these others,
Turtles were to take off with the live action TV show and forth-
coming film, Turtles IV, supporting the property, we are off to
the races.
Meanwhile, Let us also hope that the company does not hit us
with any more unpleasant surprises. Apparently, the company chose
to take the full shock for the first half and put the loss behind
them, rather than amortize the loss over several halves. |
