I got a 1000 shares of Alibaba at the IPO price.
bidask
Posts: 14,017 ✭✭✭✭✭
Not for me.
I gave them to our top 3 clients.
I gave them to our top 3 clients.
I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
0
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Alibaba & 40 Facts
When Alibaba makes its debut on the New York stock market on Friday, it will be the world's biggest initial public offering (IPO).
Here are 40 facts you didn't know:
1. Jack Ma was an English teacher when he started the site from his one-bedroom apartment in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 1998.
2. In its early days, staff would pretend they were not Chinese when sending emails to American customers.
3. It dominates internet retailing in China, where it powers 80% of online commerce.
4. Alibaba is not Ma's first e-commerce venture – he founded China Yellowpages, said to be the first internet company in China.
5. He set up Alibaba with $60,000 borrowed from 18 people.
6. Ma first came across the internet in 1995 during a trip to Seattle. His first search? "Beer".
7. Alibaba's sales for 2014 are estimated at $420bn (£257bn), dwarfing Amazon and eBay which had a combined turnover of $90bn in 2013.
8. It has 300m customers - just short of the entire US population.
9. On a single promotional day in November 2013, Alibaba recorded sales of $5.6bn.
10. Ma is currently estimated to be China's third richest person, with a $10.3bn fortune. The float should catapult him into first place.
11. His shareholding in Alibaba is 8.9%.
12. Ma came up with the name Alibaba in a coffee shop in San Francisco. He pulled his waitress over to ask what she knew about Ali Baba and she replied: "Open Sesame." He says the name reflects how his business opens up opportunities for small businesses to sell their goods.
13. Critics say fake goods appear rife on many Alibaba sites, although the company claims to spend millions rooting them out.
14. It is expected that at least $22bn of shares will be sold on Thursday, in what is expected to be the world's largest IPO.
15. If underwriters exercise an option to sell more shares, Alibaba's market debut will top Agricultural Bank of China Ltd's record $22.1bn listing in 2010.
16. The company will start trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
17. Its shares will trade under the ticker "BABA".
18. New York was chosen for Alibaba's debut after the Hong Kong stock exchange's officials rejected its request to allow a small group of company insiders to nominate the majority of the board.
19. Ma is well known for his flamboyance and has entertained staff singing The Lion King (view the video here, from 1.04).
20. When he needs inspiration, Ma returns to the flat where he started the company.
21. In a letter sent to staff the day that Alibaba filed its IPO prospectus, he said: "We will continue to adhere to the principle of 'customers first, employees second, shareholders third'."
22. The company employs more than 25,000 people.
23. The biggest shopping site under the Alibaba umbrella is Taobao, where 7m merchants sell their wares.
24. After the IPO, power at the e-commerce giant will be concentrated in the hands of a 28-person partnership.
25. The power structure has led to criticism that if an investor were unhappy about the direction of the company, they would have little ability to change it.
26. New York was chosen for the listing in part due to its more relaxed attitude to voting, which will let Ma retain his grip on the company.
27. The corporate structure will allow Ma and other senior staff to nominate more than half of the board members.
28. It is thought Alibaba will target US and European markets after it lists despite low recognition of the brand.
29. A recent US poll found that 88% of respondents had not heard of Alibaba.
30. Ma has always been confident of dominating China and fending off eBay: "eBay may be a shark in the ocean, but I am a crocodile in the Yangtze river. If we fight in the ocean, we lose – but if we fight in the river, we win."
31. Ma is said to be influenced by martial arts and kung fu movies and their principles of upholding righteousness.
32. More than 50% of parcels sent in China are Alibaba parcels.
33. Ma's talent for public-speaking and showmanship hailed from his parents, both past performers in the traditional storytelling art of ping tan.
34. Much of the interest in Alibaba hails from investors eager to exploit China's booming economy.
35. A team from Alibaba visited New York, Boston, Hong Kong and Singapore to drum up investor support.
36. Alibaba's success is built on the huge number of internet users in China, estimated at 600 million.
37. A new frontier for Alibaba is financial services – with its Alipay app which can be used to make payments – from paying taxis or investing in funds.
38. Strong demand for shares raised the price range earlier this week to between $66 and $68 a share, up from the initial $60 to $66.
39. At $68 a share, Alibaba would be valued at around $162.7bn which would make it the biggest float in history. This would make it larger than Amazon, which is valued at around $150bn.
40. Despite his success, Ma once claimed that he has little knowledge about technology, limiting his computer use to surfing the web and emailing.
This article was written by Shane Hickey, for theguardian.com on Thursday 18th September 2014 12.31 Europe/Londonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/09/18/alibaba-and-the-40-facts/
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>41. Ma's hero is Forrest Gump. >>
encouraging.
<< <i>32. More than 50% of parcels sent in China are Alibaba parcels. >>
very encouraging.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
Not that we would be running around voting our shares but does it concern anyone that its really a derivative of the company you own and not the company itself?
<< <i>Not that we would be running around voting our shares but does it concern anyone that its really a derivative of the company you own and not the company itself? >>
Just like all ADR's?
Yes, and no.
<< <i>Not that we would be running around voting our shares but does it concern anyone that its really a derivative of the company you own and not the company itself? >>
If you are a short term holder why would you even give a chit?
<< <i>I wish I could get some shares but I know nothing about the stock market or buying or selling. Anytips on how to buy this stock online directly from my house? Sorry if I sound like an idiot but I never did it before. >>
Open up a Amertrade account or many other discount brokerages you can choose from, and you can buy and sell online
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
<< <i>I wish I could get some shares but I know nothing about the stock market or buying or selling. Anytips on how to buy this stock online directly from my house? Sorry if I sound like an idiot but I never did it before. >>
Nothing personal meant here...but...this in itself is an ominous omen for the market in general and this stock in particular.
JMHO
<< <i>
<< <i>I wish I could get some shares but I know nothing about the stock market or buying or selling. Anytips on how to buy this stock online directly from my house? Sorry if I sound like an idiot but I never did it before. >>
Open up a Amertrade account or many other discount brokerages you can choose from, and you can buy and sell online >>
I like Scottrade online, they may even have an office near you. Fund it with an online transfer from your bank and start shopping. Like anything else, know what you are buying and the limits on when you can sell it (i.e. trading hours, or in the case of an IRA account the settlement date). If it is a non-IRA account (a cash or margin account) make sure you are buying only with your cash in the account. It is easy to make the mistake of buying on margin (borrowing from the broker) if your purchase total exceeds your cash balance. Do not buy on margin unless you know what you are doing.
When looking at what stocks to buy do not overlook trading ETFs. They offer lots of investment possibilities (especially for PMs). Sorta like mutual funds but they trade just like your run of the mill stock.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
I opened my first account (with Scottrade) a couple of weeks ago and I am trying to learn the basics of investing in stocks.
It may take me some time...
One question since you use the same website: How do you cash out with Scottrade, I didn't quite understand from their website info.
Thanks!
<< <i>Thank you, derryb!
I opened my first account (with Scottrade) a couple of weeks ago and I am trying to learn the basics of investing in stocks.
It may take me some time...
One question since you use the same website: How do you cash out with Scottrade, I didn't quite understand from their website info.
Thanks! >>
Never made a withdrawal but I believe it's just a matter of transferring the cash, on-line, to your bank. They may even offer a Scottrade checking account, check it out. Also, you may consider transferring any eligible IRAs or 401K balances to a Scottrade IRA account where you can make the investment decisions. I would look into converting to a Roth instead of rolling over to another regular IRA. In such a case the converted amount becomes taxable (I broke it over two years), but everything in the new roth account grows tax free, never to be taxed again (under current IRA law).
Scottrade has a very good educational library for its account holders.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
I may have more questions down the road...if you don't mind.
<< <i>Thank you, derryb!
I opened my first account (with Scottrade) a couple of weeks ago and I am trying to learn the basics of investing in stocks.
It may take me some time...
One question since you use the same website: How do you cash out with Scottrade, I didn't quite understand from their website info.
Thanks! >>
From your home page go to the my account tab. On the left select transfer funds. You'll probably have to link a bank account and wait for approval. If that doesn't work try the withdrawals option. I have a Fidelity account and it's pretty easy to do there.
As for playing with other people money NO WAY. I have a very large amount of US savings bonds I am getting ready to cash out since they no longer issue physical bonds I want nothing to do with them any longer. I hear people say I need to spread my holdings so I thought to give stocks a try. Would I bet my house? Hell no but I would rish 10/15 percent of my hard assets over time. If I start small and like it I will dig deeper but not to deep. I have an ammount set in my head if I loose it so be it if I make money on it so be it but I will never be in debt to anyone!
<< <i>I will start a scotttrade account to try things out. I will be honest here and say I have never done any of this before. I am half to 1/3 the age of most posters on the forum. I buy what I can hold in my hand. I will have to start rear small until i learn what I am doing >>
Sounds like a Roth IRA might be right up your alley. Since your taxable income will limit your IRA contributions, also consider a regular non-IRA account so that you can have sooner access to all of you future gains. If your employer is giving you a matching contributions on a secure retirement plan, and depending on you investment options with it, stay with it as a primary retirement account.
Golden Rule: buy low, sell high. do not panic and get it backwards.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
The best plan is to save & invest on a regular basis without fail and to have a budget while you build capital. Don't make too many fast moves.
I knew it would happen.
They ring a bell at the top
Another important point is that even when equities turn south, the account holder can sell and sit patiently in cash if he chooses not to "bet" against the market.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
One look at the charts will tell you that, which reminds me, how much longer before USVL splits again. I'm thinking 3 months tops.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
<< <i>BABA IPO could very will be the beginning of a big Wall Street decline. I suspect it was timed for entry at a market top. >>
30 times revenue is a bit out of my range for BABA, even with the huge 44% margin.
Margins tend to quickly shrink from those lofty levels, especially when Western accounting is used on the Chinese books.