The Bing Thing

Bing is on and is on the move. And Bing is slowly eating into the market shares of Google in the highly competitive US Search Engine market. What Microsoft missed out on in the early days of the internet age, it is trying to catch up using its Bing Search Engine.

And, its moves are taken note of by Google. It is widely believed that Google's Caffeine Test Search engine is in response to Microsofts's Bing. So, how is Bing different from Google and Yahoo Searches?

While the engines are still being reverse engineered by experts, apparently, Bing provides a lot more visuals in its search results than the traditional Google - in the form of picture results and videos - at the top of the page, with news and blog results relegated lower down or even to the second page. And, Bing seems to be geared up more to selling stuff on-line rather than merely disseminating information to seekers.

Caffeine from Google (that's the code name of an initiative by Google that has seen its top brass put their brains together, evidently to combat the Microsoft offensive in search engine space) seems to be more in line with the Bing effect, with pictures and video results finding their way upwards than the results churned out by the conventional algorithm.

Bing has reportedly been gaining market share month after month from May, with its latest figures standing at 8.9%, at the expense of Yahoo and Google. That's enough to keep Google on its toes.

Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Profits Rise

Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway has reported a 14% increase in its profits for the second Quarter. That may not be news for people accustomed to the Warren Buffet ways of earnings.

The multi-billionnaire investor, the second richest man in the globe next only to Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, according to Forbes, and known for his philonthropic inclinations, made a $1 billion profit on a 10-month old investment in BYD, China, after shares of the car and battery maker quintupled. An icon larger than life, Warren Buffet has three principles to offer to people who want to make it big in the financial markets: 1. Do not lose money; 2. Do not forget Rule One; 3. Don't get into debt.

Mr Buffet does not see the economy getting into over-drive anything soon, but he definitely feels corporate America and the Government's initiatives have been in the right direction, doing what they could in the current decline. So, what are Warren Buffet's secrets to winning in the financial markets? "Using seventh grade math and common sense to analyze a company's underlying economics; buying a business not a stock; ignoring the fluctuations of the stock market; and, most importantly, maintaining a margin of safety."

Masters of the trade always make their works look too simple to be anything spectacular. Nevertheless, their methods are worth incorporating and emulating.

Ford Gains Market Share and Boosts Production

Ford gains Market Share - and has set its production sights higher than what they were last quarter. The struggling icon has shown fresh signs of resilience as it has ignored nay-sayers and has kept its foot on its pedal.

Ford has upped its production forecasts by 10,000 vehicles for the coming quarter to 495,000 and has set its fourth quarter productions targetted at 570,000 units - not a mean achievement for a brand that had taken its eyes off the quality ball in ambitious extravagance a few years back and had lost track. Ford, that lost its sheen then has steadily been on the decline, its fortunes getting only worse with the recession.

Having avoided Federal funding - the only car maker among the Big Three to do so - Ford has capitalised on the "Cash for Clunkers" bonanza and is cashing in on the new excitement on American roads. How far this monetary push will take Ford is a question on everybody's minds. For now, Ford is busy meeting new demand - and wouldn't complain on that either.

Has the Recession Ended?

Alright. So, the official US Umemployment figures are showing signs of improvement in the job market. What was at 9.5% is now at 9.4% – which is good, for an economy desperate for some fresh air.

But is this really an improvement at the heart of hearts? Has the recession ended? Has growth returned yet? Well, these may be questions that would be answered as the economy takes its own course. True, IT companies have fared well this quarter, the chips are up, cars have started moving out of showrooms and further stimuli are ready to be loaded for deployment.

But a marginal decline in joblessness is nothing more than a good sign. What is required is substantial improvement in indicators – and fundamentals. Unemployment at almost 10% is quite a deal. The consumer has to walk into the stores and open up his wallet. The temperature may be back to normal – but the immune system is still not at its best. Let’s give it some more time, shall we?

Geithner Pitches for Increased US Debt Limit

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is at it again – having gotten into financial crisis management mode ever since he tool office, he is setting it up for the US Debt limit to be increased.

The $787 billion package is still in the system pipelines before it could induce some of its desired effects towards economic recovery. The “Cash-for-Clunkers” bonanza to the ailing automobile industry cost an iitial $1 billion and now additional doses are being ramped up to boost auto fortunes.

Clearly, the Obama Administration is not going to stop shot of an all out effort at getting the economy back on track. Further fiscal or monetary stimuli would need hefty borrowings – and Geithner is busy doing the math and pitching his case for Congress approval.

Retailers Smile, but Many a Mile Still to Go

Is this a good time to be in Retail? Well, it seems so from the looks of it. It is widely expected that Retailers in the US would beat expectations as quite a few results announcements are queueing up for the coming quarter.

The likes of Wal Mart Inc, Macy’s and JC Penney could surprise investors – Retailers have been tightening their purse strings hard and fast for the last few months that costs have been pared to a minimum, which should add to the bottom line.

That businesses are improving for the quarter is evident by the stream of good numbers posted at the Wall Street. But how much of them would sustain with consistency and how many more pairs of legs would stroll along the aisles with filled up baskets, depends on the economy, the jobless counts and lack of further systemic jolts, among a host of factors.

GM – Magna – RHJ: Triangular Tale of Twisted Love

The GM Magna story seems to have been on for a long long wile now. The automaker did a good deal by emerging out of the recession in a quick fashion and in a sleak form. Now, it would do a lot of good for GM to stay on course and get its Europe act right.

If GM is in love with RHJ, should it really bow down to German pressure to marry Magna? After all, GM could get Opel back if it goes for RHJ now. Bending to pressure would be an attestation of sell out of business freedom that GM lost with its bankruptcy.

Go for what your inner voice says, GM! Go for RHJ!