SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Strategies & Market Trends : Stock Attack II - A Complete Analysis -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Susan G who wrote (32624)3/20/2002 2:54:41 PM
From: Jerry Olson  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 52237
 
LOL

hahahahahahahaha

you're too funny...

i've seen this pattern of selling the news on the book to bill then they come out of the woodwork and buy them like they're on fire sale...



To: Susan G who wrote (32624)3/20/2002 4:06:24 PM
From: stockman_scott  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 52237
 
PIMCO's Gross says he won't own GE short-term debt

NEW YORK, March 20 (Reuters) - Bond king Bill Gross is taking on General Electric Co.
(NYSE:GE - news), the largest U.S. company by market capitalization.
Gross, who oversees $250 billion for Pacific Investment Management Co. and is widely considered
the most powerful U.S. bond mutual fund manager, said PIMCO will not own GE short-term debt
``for the foreseeable future,'' in a report posted on PIMCO's Web site.

He also blasted GE Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt and predecessor Jack Welch for not being
``totally forthcoming'' in explaining how GE, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, can steadily increase
its earnings at nearly 15 percent a year.

GE said on Monday it expects 17 to 18 percent earnings per share growth from continuing
operations this year.

Gross argued that GE and its General Electric Capital Corp. finance arm, the world's largest
issuer of commercial paper, are borrowing too much money, at a time investor confidence is
``fragile indeed'' in the integrity of corporate accounting following the collapse of Enron Corp. (Other
OTC:ENRNQ.PK - news) (NYSE:ENE - news).

``The corporation's honesty remains in doubt,'' said Gross in his monthly ``Investment Outlook.'' ``I
want companies to face up to their owners and yes -- their creditors.''

Gross was not immediately available for comment. GE Capital spokeswoman Marissa Moretti
declined to comment on Gross's report. PIMCO, based in Newport Beach, California, owns a
``small amount'' of GE long-term debt, company spokesman Mark Porterfield said.

Gross runs the $53 billion Pimco Total Return fund, whose institutional shares have posted a 8.34
percent annualized return over the last five years, beating 99 percent of its peers, according to
fund information service Morningstar Inc.

``FUNDING RISK''

On Monday, Moody's Investors Service reported that Stamford, Connecticut-based GE Capital,
one of no more than 10 U.S. companies carrying pristine ``triple-A'' credit ratings, faces ``funding
risk'' because it has backed up only one-fourth of its $127 billion of short-term debt with bank
credit lines.

Gross said GE has been able to boost earnings by using ``high-powered'' GE stock as currency,
or borrowing cheaply by selling commercial paper, which is unsecured debt maturing within 270
days.

Though GE Capital on March 13 did sell $11 billion of bonds, the second most ever by a U.S.
company, in part to reduce commercial paper -- a move Gross called ``intelligent'' -- Gross said
GE Capital ``is using near hedge fund leverage of 7-8 times at what appears to be ... non-hedge
fund risk.''

This, he said, makes GE look less like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRKa -
news) and more like the "failed conglomerates of yesteryear such as Gulf & Western and LTV.

``Value and honesty should dominate corporate decision-making just like it does at Berkshire
Hathaway,'' Gross said in his report, titled ``Buffetting Corporate America.''

GE Capital's Moretti said the finance arm has backed up $33 billion of its commercial paper with
bank credit lines, and is working with its bankers to increase this amount by the second quarter of
2002, though she declined to say by how much.