|
Defending American
stocks
Dear Sir,
Re: Leslie Wright’s article tracking the markets over
a year.
Turkey, Malaysia, Finland, and India were seen to be
the stars over a year, but what about following U.S. stocks over 1, 3,
& 5 years.
1 year: Double Click (1443%), Ebay (1367%), Go 2 Net
(1358%), Broadvision (1207%).
3 years: Yahoo (4842%), Broadvision (1989%), Mindspring
(1967%), E-Trade (728%).
5 years: Cisco Systems (2290%), America on Line
(12,006%), CMGI (19,476%).
Go on line with E-Trade - cut out the middle men;
start, after the 15% to 20% connection and just before the U.S. election
this year.
Jim Jones
Editor’s reply: In all fairness to Leslie, he wrote
about entire markets, not individual stocks within any particular market.
Without having researched the matter, I venture to guess that in order for
the Turkey, Malaysia, Finland, and India markets to have performed so
well, there may have been individual stocks within those markets that
could rival the ones you elaborated on above. Regarding "cutting out
the middle man", first, most investors don’t have the time or
resources to trade on line, yet more importantly, "E-Trade" is a
"middle man", only in a different way - and not cheap, either.
The "15% to 20%" you quoted is more than most commissions.
Leslie Wright
responds
Dear Editor;
You’re absolutely right in your response to Mr Jones
(Mailbag 7 April) - for example, Nokia was the "star" of
Finland. For those with the time, resources, interest & expertise,
"stock-picking" is a fine game, albeit a risky one. And that
applies to any market in the world, not just the USA, which clearly is Mr
Jones’ primary focus (and one of the points made in my article.) Mr
Jones gives several examples of spectacular gains, but he hasn’t
mentioned if these are the entirety of his portfolio. I wonder if he
picked some that lost...? Anyway, if he is doing so well with selecting
his investments, perhaps he should be offering his "expertise"
as a portfolio manager; but my clients (and I would guess the majority of
my readers) would not be willing to take on the degree of risk inherent in
Mr Jones’ stock-selection. While there can be some spectacular winners,
many internet stocks have no basis in fundamental value, and are simply
speculative bubbles which the professional financial services community is
expecting will burst when speculative-investor euphoria wanes.
On Mr Jones’ second point, which you caught rather
neatly, I wish I earned Mr Jones’ quoted "15%-20%" up-front
charge! The ‘standard’ entry cost (or exit cost, depending on how the
charge is applied) for offshore unit trusts and the like is 5%-7%, which
includes the brokerage fee; and through certain investment vehicles one is
able to discount these charges further - in some cases down to zero, with
just an annual management charge being applied in the order of 1.5% over
the entire portfolio, the components of which may be rearranged at any
time for only a nominal bank handling charge. Thank you for running his
letter by me, and giving me the opportunity to respond.
Best regards,
Leslie
Unlicensed
motorcycle taxi drivers
Sir,
Last Thursday morning at 12.20 a.m. two young Thai
ladies who had enjoyed a drink and the music at a beer bar in Soi Seven
were walking back to their car when an out of control motorcycle taxi hit
one of the ladies knocking her to the ground, slightly injuring her.
In the melee that followed two of Pattaya’s Finest
happened by. They seemed little interested but were forced to participate
reluctantly. The rider, a supposed taxi driver with the green numbered
over jacket, who it turned out was riding a motorcycle with expired
registration, no insurance, no driving license, no helmet and not one but
two passengers, was saying to the injured lady "mai pen rai’ every
time she protested her injuries.
As it turned out she had minor bumps and bruising, a
few minor abrasions and a mild concussion. After examination at the
Pattaya Memorial Hospital she was allowed to go home. The motorcycle
driver reluctantly paid the B1,500 plus and then had to retrieve his
borrowed motorcycle from the police.
My question sir is: Why can these registered motorcycle
taxi people get away with all the above mentioned (no license, etc.)?
Surely city hall or the police who register these people don’t check to
see if these people have the required insurances, etc.
It is my belief that they pay huge sums to get the
license to operate as a motorcycle taxi a few baht more for license and
insurance should be included.
The people who franchise these operations should take
out group insurance or something as they do out in the real world.
I also wonder why the Police don’t take a little more
interest in the crazy farang who rent the huge chopper style motorcycles
who use Soi Seven as a drag strip. To their credit I have seen the police
checking and giving tickets to people, Thai and farang alike, for
traveling against the one way traffic; pity they can’t get these mad
speeders.
Thank you,
Ron
No complaints about
Thais
Editor;
As a Farang who has enjoyed several visits to Pattaya,
of one month each, and who also owns a home computer, I have great
satisfaction in reading the Pattaya Mail on my computer every week. Carry
on with this publication please.
I have been struck by the number of complaints
published in the Mail about the Thai people as a whole. These complaints
are contrary to my experiences. There are of course times when complaints
can be made of any nationality, but one cannot judge a whole nation by
these odd happenings, and I find the Thai people to be really great when
they are treated with respect.
May I point out to the moaning Farangs that there is
one remedy they can take that will stop these complaints. I.E. do not
travel to Thailand, there are plenty of other holiday resorts that may
suit them better.
Duggie
Looking for info
Editor;
I know I am asking the impossible, but maybe you can
help me. I was stationed in Thailand for one year in 1965 and 1966, of
which I spent 10 months of this time at Pattaya Beach taking care of an
Air Force Recreation Center. I lived there and enjoyed one of the best
times of my life. The AF Recreation area was rented from the Patpong
family (a street in Bangkok was named after him). I wondered if any of his
family would remember me and might contact me, my name is Dan Roe. I was
Staff Sergeant in the AF at that time. My Email is [email protected]. I know
I am asking a lot, but I would appreciate any help you could give me.
When I was there, the only tourist eating
establishments in Pattaya were the Nipa Lodge, Nipa Hut and Barbo’s
Beach House. I almost forgot, there was the American JUSMAG Cafe. There
was also a tree in the middle of the street toward the south end of Beach
Road. There were also a few Thai cafes that I enjoyed.
I arrived on the beach for the 1st time in May l965 and
thought that I had arrived in Heaven. I got assigned to work at the beach
in August l965 and lived there until I was reassigned to the US in April
l966. I hope to come back in three to four years. I have retired from the
US Air Force, but I then went back to work. I plan on retiring again in
approx. one year. I am sure I will be completely amazed at what Pattaya is
like now. But I am sure I will enjoy it just as much, as this time I will
be able to show my wife the actual place rather than in all of the
pictures I took. I also have a menu from the Smarnmit-Restaurant. It was
located approx. half way between Bangkok and Pattaya in Cholburi. Please,
if someone has time, I would appreciate some information.
Thank You,
Dan Roe
[email protected]
Pattaya Bar Hoppin’
Map
Dear Sir,
My husband and I visited your wonderful city for the
first time in 1998 and we only recently returned again.
On this occasion we picked up a brochure which read
"Pattaya Bar Hopping Guide". Inside we found a very easy to read
map and decided to check out a few of the so-called "no-hassle couple
bars". These were indicated by green dots (numbered) on the map.
It was wonderful. We went to Rosie O’Gradys and had a
nice meal and then went into the Hopf House, saw a show at Malibu and
finished a late night at Bamboo.
We used the map again the following night and once more
had a lovely time.
Of course my husband wanted to look in the go-go bars,
so we used the map yet again and looked into Pattaya Land.
I will be taking a few copies of this map back to
Scotland with me and showing my friends.
The guide map certainly made our second trip to Pattaya
a more memorable experience.
Yours Faithfully
Deborah McDonald
Editor’s note: "The Pattaya Bar Hopping
Map", created by Mr. Thomas Keating, may be picked up for FREE at BJ’s
Restaurant & Guesthouse located on North Pattaya Beach Road next door
to Henry J. Bean’s. BJ says, "Drop on by! Oh yes, in case anyone is
wondering, BJ’s Bar is still alive and well on the premises, can you dig
it?"
In the interests of
accuracy
Editor;
In the interests of accuracy, the burned body of ‘G.Pleither’
referred to in your last issue is actually believed to be of Gary
Fletcher, from Scotland, who was reported missing to the Tayside Police
because he did not return home for Christmas. For some reason this enquiry
started as a murder enquiry and now appears to have been dismissed as a
‘suicide’.
Rumours emanating from Pattaya and the Pattaya Mail
suggest that he attempted suicide several times in the past and/or was a
heavy drinker. I have no knowledge of Mr. Fletcher’s previous history -
but have been unable to confirm these rumours. However, Pattaya police do
not have an unblemished record in solving the mysteries of deaths of
farangs in the resort and the late Mr. Fletcher’s daughter describes her
father as happy go lucky and a very light drinker. They are anxious for
any information about Gary Fletcher prior to his ‘death’
(identification has not yet been confirmed). This information if requested
can be treated anonymously. If anyone has any information they can contact
the nearest consular official, the Pattaya Mail, and/or send to me at >[email protected]<
Yours Sincerely,
Andrew Drummond
Looking for soccer
challengers
Editor;
I represent a team of ex-pat soccer players who work on
the Eastern Seaboard. We are interested in playing in the ex-pat Bangkok
league or even forming an ex-pat league in this area.
If anyone has any information about the ex-pat league
in Bangkok or knows of any other people who are interested in forming an
ex-pat league in this area, you can e-mail me at [email protected] or
telephone (038) 231-931, mobile 01 344 9478.
Best regards,
Marc Gingell
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted
by Boonsiri Suansuk.
|
Letters published
in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website. |
It is
noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers
for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their
own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and,
whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those
signed. |
|