What a Life: Bill Gates Sells $160 Million in Stock
Monday, February 9, 2009 | Tycoon StaffRating:
For all the analysts and pundits in the financial media, there is still no better judge of a company's health and future prospects than the owners and executives of those companies themselves, along with major institutional shareholders.
That's why insider buying and selling is a critical piece of data that is monitored by people who invest for a living.
As part of our continuing effort here at The Tycoon Report to level the playing field between individual investors and the fat cats on Wall Street, we're keeping you informed -- on a daily basis and at no cost whatsoever -- of the most significant insider buying and selling.
Below is a weekly re-cap of the past week's activity of important insider buys and sells. We publish this re-cap every Monday, and it can be accessed in your email issues or on the Tycoon Report website.
Very important note: While these Monday re-caps are available on the Tycoon Report website, if you want the most timely information we provide on insider buying and selling you've got to be sure and read the email issues that we send each weekday morning.
That's why insider buying and selling is a critical piece of data that is monitored by people who invest for a living.
As part of our continuing effort here at The Tycoon Report to level the playing field between individual investors and the fat cats on Wall Street, we're keeping you informed -- on a daily basis and at no cost whatsoever -- of the most significant insider buying and selling.
Below is a weekly re-cap of the past week's activity of important insider buys and sells. We publish this re-cap every Monday, and it can be accessed in your email issues or on the Tycoon Report website.
Very important note: While these Monday re-caps are available on the Tycoon Report website, if you want the most timely information we provide on insider buying and selling you've got to be sure and read the email issues that we send each weekday morning.
BUYS
Calpine Corp. (CPN)
Harbinger Capital Partners has BOUGHT more than $9.3 million in CPN stock.
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Flagstar Bancorp Inc. (FBC)
CEO Mark Hammond and Chairman Thomas Hammond have each BOUGHT $2 million in FBC stock.
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Bank Of America Corp. (BAC)
Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lewis has BOUGHT nearly $1 million in BAC stock.
View Details
SELLS
Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NITE)
Chairman and CEO Thomas Joyce has SOLD nearly $6 million worth of NITE stock.
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Ugi Corp. (UGI)
Chairman and CEO Lon Greenberg has SOLD more than $1.5 million in UGI stock.
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Google Inc. (GOOG)
Senior VP David Drummond has SOLD more than $4.3 million in GOOG stock.
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EMC Corp. (EMC)
Storage Division President David Donatelli has SOLD just under $2 million worth of EMC stock.
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NVR Inc. (NVR)
Chairman Dwight Schar has SOLD more than $32.5 million worth of NVR stock.
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Devry Inc. (DV)
CEO Daniel Hamburger has SOLD $2.3 million in DV stock.
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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
So far in February, Bill Gates has SOLD more than $160 million worth of MSFT stock.
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Calpine Corp. (CPN)
Harbinger Capital Partners has BOUGHT more than $9.3 million in CPN stock.
View Details
Flagstar Bancorp Inc. (FBC)
CEO Mark Hammond and Chairman Thomas Hammond have each BOUGHT $2 million in FBC stock.
View Details
Bank Of America Corp. (BAC)
Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lewis has BOUGHT nearly $1 million in BAC stock.
View Details
SELLS
Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NITE)
Chairman and CEO Thomas Joyce has SOLD nearly $6 million worth of NITE stock.
View Details
Ugi Corp. (UGI)
Chairman and CEO Lon Greenberg has SOLD more than $1.5 million in UGI stock.
View Details
Google Inc. (GOOG)
Senior VP David Drummond has SOLD more than $4.3 million in GOOG stock.
View Details
EMC Corp. (EMC)
Storage Division President David Donatelli has SOLD just under $2 million worth of EMC stock.
View Details
NVR Inc. (NVR)
Chairman Dwight Schar has SOLD more than $32.5 million worth of NVR stock.
View Details
Devry Inc. (DV)
CEO Daniel Hamburger has SOLD $2.3 million in DV stock.
View Details
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
So far in February, Bill Gates has SOLD more than $160 million worth of MSFT stock.
View Details
Economic Calendar for the Week of February 09 - February 13
Thursday, February 12
08:30 Retail Sales
Release Details
* Importance (A-F): This release merits an A-.
* Source: The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.
* Release Time: 8:30 ET around the 13th of the month (data for one month prior).
* Raw Data Available At: http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/advtable.html.
The retail sales report is a measure of the total receipts of retail stores. The changes in retail sales are widely followed as the most timely indicator of broad consumer spending patterns. Retail sales are often viewed ex-autos, as auto sales can move sharply from month-to-month. It is also important to keep an eye on the gas and food components, where changes in sales are often a result of price changes rather than shifting consumer demand.
Retail sales can be quite volatile and the advance reports are subject to rather large revisions. Retail sales do not include spending on services, which makes up over half of total consumption. Total personal consumption is not available until the personal income and consumption reports are released, typically two weeks after retail sales.
Big Picture
* Retail sales have fallen dramatically starting in September. That was when the financial markets fell apart and the news became apocalyptic. Auto sales have also collapsed as the news of potential auto company bankruptcies dominated headlines. Retail sales are likely to remain weak for quite a while given the current trends in employment, and the negative wealth impact for depressed prices for homes and stocks.
Friday, February 13
09:55 University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index
Release Details
* Importance (A-F): This release merits a B-.
* Source: The University of Michigan.
* Release Time: Preliminary: 10:00 ET on the second Friday of the month (data for current month); Final: 10:00 ET on the fourth Friday of the month (data for current month).
The Michigan index is almost identical to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence index, though there are two monthly releases, a preliminary and final reading. Like the Conference Board index, it has two subindexes - expectations and current conditions. The expectations index is a component of the Conference Board's Leading Indicators index.
Big Picture
* Sentiment readings are a reflection of a variety of events rather than an accurate tool for forecasting consumer spending. Gas prices and political events can have an outsized impact on sentiment. In general, these data are of very little economic value. Sentiment has been low all year despite rising consumer spending. This broken clock will now happen to reflect the correct time. The consumer will be pulling back.
