Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

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.

Non-Tech : Philip Morris - A Stock For Wealth Or Poverty (MO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: don kramer who wrote (3432)	3/24/1999 6:00:00 PM
From: Walter in HK	Respond to of 6439

China: Just my observation. I spent 3 weeks in 7 cities in 1996 and visited four cities in May of 1998 when we were invited to the 100th anniversary of Peking University (May 4, a big deal, Jiang Zemin and polit bureau at Great Hall of the People. Security). Yesterday I got the MO Annual Report, and it is clear, they make as much money internationally in tobacco as they do in the US. Food and beer is extra. All I am saying is, the world has a lot of people, the cold war is over, stability is good for higher per capita income and they like Marlboro, more and more can afford Marlboro. The improvement in the standard of living in China is remarkable, my new wife has been visiting many places there since 1980 and is astounded. In China - we all know what the population is - and in Hong Kong they still have ashtrays on the restaurant tables. Why, you can buy Marlboro in Dunhuang, a big oasis way, way out west, on the silk road. We just have to look at MO as a company minus the US tobacco profit. Sales of cigarettes will be there but the profit will mostly go to the lawyers. If the situation develops better than that - look at it as gravy.

To: don kramer who wrote (3432)	3/31/1999 4:04:00 AM
From: don kramer	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 6439

A psychological disaster...there are now no longer any persuasive reasons to introduce in to your portfolio new positions in MO. To paraphase from my insider info of a major giant institutional manager. The indivduals and managers were instructed, essentially to close down ...no more accumulation of MO. One can expect that other portfolio managers have been instructed along the same lines. In view of the obvious alternatives to the market place, in conjunction with Mr. Greenspan's obvious contentment with general price valuation. The alternatives for major money managers , who for the most part, must obey the prudent man rule, further introduction of MO shares to an account might prompt question as to whether the money manager is following the prudent man rule. As well, as possibilility of regulator questions. I draw your attention to the real possibility that a state government or the federal government might begin to ask why are you placing your beneficiaries at risk with MO in your portfolio. Public money such as CAWPERs and TIAA CREF It is becoming extremely difficult to answer that question. There for, regardless of the important internnational case in Baltimore i.e., Guatemala vs. tobacco, regardless of the time and money to "settle ? the state suits", regardless the brilliance? of MO's lawyers, and regardless of the Appelate court decisions, there remains the fact that today caused alot of long term buyers to stop buying. And under (?probably) internal instructions will not be buying for some time. I agree. I in good conscious can not recommend the stock anymore. dk (still long person account).