president

So Far Trump Has Called Out 6 Companies: Here's How They've Done

Brittany Lyte — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 10:30:27 +0000

Even before he took over the @POTUS Twitter account, President Trump had long been using the 140-character social media network to settle scores, sound off on critics, initiate attacks, as well as denounce or praise the mechanics of several American businesses. Find out what happened to companies Trump has boosted or blasted. (See also: 6 Ways a Donald Trump Presidency Could Impact Your Wallet)

1. The New York Times

On several occasions, Trump has taken on The New York Times on Twitter, calling the newspaper "so totally wrong," among other things. In one anti-Times Twitter episode, Trump claimed that the newspaper "is losing thousands of subscribers because of their very poor and highly inaccurate coverage of the 'Trump phenomena.'"

So how did The Great Gray Lady fare? In a tweet responding to Trump's claims of falling readership, the newspaper's parent company said that new subscriptions were surging on the heels of Trump's public criticism. As a result, stock in the Times' parent company soared tenfold immediately following Election Day.

2. Boeing

Trump called for the cancellation of a deal with Boeing to develop a new Air Force One. "Cancel order!" he tweeted, calling the situation "totally out of control," citing sky high costs.

In the immediate wake of the incident, nervous investors drove Boeing stock down by selling off shares, but the stock's value ultimately rebounded. Boeing has since engaged in several talks and price negotiations with Trump, and company officials have said that the two parties are close to making a deal on the cost of the new presidential aircraft fleet.

3. L.L. Bean

Linda Bean, granddaughter of L.L. Bean's founder, came under fire in the media when news broke that the thousands of dollars she had donated toward Trump's presidential candidacy were, in fact, illegal. Liberal groups responded by initiating boycotts of the Maine retailer. Then Trump chimed in: "Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean," he said on Twitter.

In an interview on Fox Business Network, Linda Bean said her company experienced an "uptick" in business after Trump's tweet. She did not provide specific numbers.

4. Fiat Chrysler

"It's finally happening," Trump tweeted. "Fiat Chrysler just announced plans to invest $1 BILLION in Michigan and Ohio plants, adding 2,000 jobs." The praise came after Trump criticized automakers for importing vehicles to the U.S. from Mexico. Fiat officials said its decision to make the $1 billion investment praised by Trump had long been in the works, and was not in reaction to criticism by Trump. "It wasn't a pre-emptive strike against a tweet," said Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Nonetheless, Fiat's stock value enjoyed a bump on the heels of the announcement of its investment in Michigan and Ohio, and Trump's subsequent kudos.

5. Carrier

A hallmark of the Trump campaign was keeping American jobs within U.S. borders. For Trump, news that Carrier would export 1,400 jobs from Indiana to Mexico became a symbol of a larger problem. But Trump moved to negotiate with the company, securing a deal in which more than half the jobs said to be headed for Mexico would instead remain in Indiana. As part of the deal, the air conditioning manufacturer received seven million dollars in tax incentives. "Big day on Thursday for Indiana and the great workers of that wonderful state," Trump tweeted. "We will keep our companies and jobs in the U.S. Thanks Carrier."

Carrier benefited from Trump's use of the company's plans to export U.S. jobs to Mexico by becoming the recipient of $7 million in state tax breaks.

6. CNN

"You are fake news," Trump told a CNN reporter at the last news conference before his inauguration, adding, "Your organization is terrible." The remarks by Trump came after CNN reported that intelligence officials had briefed Trump on an unverified document alleging that the Russian government has compiled unflattering and compromising information about him. Trump punctuated his opinion on CNN's reporting of the matter with a tweet: "@CNN is in a total meltdown with their FAKE NEWS because their ratings are tanking since election and their credibility will soon be gone!" CNN responded by saying that it stands by the story.

Despite losing viewers since the election, CNN is up in year-to-date viewership. CNN's Jake Tapper, who contributed reporting to the network's story on the dossier allegedly compiled by Russia, tweeted this: "@TheLeadCNN was #1 in its time slot in the demo Tuesday, thanks for watching folks!!"

This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Could Trump Bring Higher Interest Rates and Inflation? Consider These Money Moves

Tim Lemke — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 12:00:11 +0000

In a matter of weeks, America will have a new President, and people are already speculating as to what a new man in the White House will mean for the economy.

Donald Trump outlined a series of policy proposals on the campaign trail, including some that, according to economists, may impact inflation and interest rates. This comes at a time when the Federal Reserve has been hinting at raising interest rates for a while. So if all of this happens, what should you do with your money? Here are some ideas.

If There's Inflation

Ifd the federal government opens up the fiscal spigot, inflation is sure to follow.

1. Take a Look at Gold

Gold has long been a popular investment for those seeking protection against inflation, especially during times of political and global uncertainty. Prices for gold spiked in the immediate aftermath of Trump's election, but are still quite low from a historical standpoint.

There are several ways to purchase gold. You can buy gold bars or bullion and store it, or purchase shares of companies involved in gold mining. There are also exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the performance of gold or gold-related industries.

2. Get Into TIPS

The U.S. Treasury offers something called Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS. These are pegged to the Consumer Price Index, so when the index rises, the value of the investment rises with it. These are solid, low-risk investments that are perfect for when inflation is a possibility, and they are exempt from state and local income taxes. It's also possible to own TIPS in a retirement fund, via an ETF or mutual fund.

3. Invest in Commodities

In addition to gold, there are other commodities that can be used as a hedge against inflation. Many commodities, including oil, wheat, and even live cattle naturally rise with inflation. If you're unsure of which commodities to buy, consider looking at a fund or ETF that invests in commodities broadly. The PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund [NYSE: DBC]) and the Fidelity Series Commodity Strategy Fund [NYSE: FCSSX] are two examples.

4. Get Real With Real Estate

Real estate is another area that often does well during an inflationary period. There are many ways to obtain real estate, either by purchasing property directly, or by buying shares of real estate investment trusts, or REITs. The caveat here is that if interest rates rise, then the cost of a mortgage to purchase real estate will also go up. So it may be smart to get in now while interest rates are still at historic lows.

If Interest Rates Rise

The Federal Reserve is expected to tick interest rates up a bit soon, while Trump's economic proposals could accelerate that process.

1. Invest in Banks

Banks generally do better when interest rates are higher than they are now. Right now, these companies have a low "net interest margin" — the difference between the interest they earn and the interest they pay out. Higher rates will increase this margin, thus increasing the bank's profitability.

2. Lock in a Fixed Rate

If you have a mortgage with an adjustable rate, now is the time to lock into something more stable, before interest rates rise. Convert your mortgage to a fixed-rate loan now, while interest rates are low. If you don't do this, your rate could adjust upward to a level that you may find unsustainable.

3. Switch to Short-Term Bonds

If interest rates are about to go up, you don't want your money tied up in something that's not paying a high rate. Placing your money in shorter term bonds and bond funds will allow you to remove your money earlier and then reinvest it in something with a higher return once rates rise. Long-term bonds do pay a higher rate than short-term bonds, but you lose flexibility.

4. Bolster Your Cash Holdings

With interest rates at ultralow levels, there hasn't been much incentive to hold on to a lot of cash. But if interest rates rise, you may find it's worth it to have a little more cash on hand, as it will generate some income for you. Stocks and other investments will probably still be more lucrative, but higher interest rates means there won't be as much downside to having more liquid savings, and it may give you more peace of mind.

This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Bush's economic stimulus package; What will you get back?

Paul Michael — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:21:22 +0000

As you’re no doubt aware, President Bush has created an economic stimulus package in the hopes of stalling the impending recession (or if you believe some, depression) that’s on the horizon. It’s not approved yet, but it has already passed its first major hurdle – The House Of Representatives approved the $146 billion dollar deal. Want to know how much you'll get?

The chamber – by an overwhelming majority of 385 to 35 – approved sending tax rebate checks of up to $600 per person and $1,200 per married couple, plus an additional $300 for each child.

The checks could be in the mail as early as May. But what does this mean for you? I mean, that’s some fairly vague information. I hate the words “up to” because if I give you “up to $10” I could in fact give you a dime and not be lying.

I did some digging around the news sites, the BBC, government blogs and so forth and have put together a quick check-list of what you will most likely get back. It’s not concrete as the bill hasn’t been through the entire system yet.

In essence, the stimulus package removes the 10% tax bracket currently in place. Of course, if it were that simple we’d all be a lot happier. There are phase-outs baked into the plan that start deducting from your rebate check. But to be honest, the people that will affect most won’t really care as they’re already earning a very healthy sum of money.

The system works in two stages. First, you figure out just how much you can get back. Then, you calculate the benefit reductions based on salary.

First, let’s see what singles could get back.

Earnings Rebate

$3,000 or less                                A big fat zero.
$3,000 or more, paid no taxes       $300.
$3,000 or more, paid taxes            $600.
Have children?                             $300 per child

Now, the reductions.
It’s fairly simple math. Once you earn over $75,000, your check is reduced by 5% per $1000 above the $75k threshold. After $87k, you get nothing. Here are some rough examples.

Single person earning $50k a year with 2 children = $1200
Single person earning $80k a year with 1 child = $675 ($900 - $225)
Single person earning $90k a year with no children = $0

Couples get the same treatment, only everything is doubled to take into account the two people in the household:

Earnings Rebate

$3,000 or less                                A big fat zero.
$3,000 or more, paid no taxes       $600.
$3,000 or more, paid taxes            $1200.
Have children?                             $300 per child

And the reductions.
Once again, simple math. Once couples earn over $150k, the check is reduced by 5% per $1000 above the $150k threshold. After $174k, you get nothing.

I found these further examples, all based on the 2007 filing period.

A couple with no children, with adjusted gross income of $100,000:
$1,200 couples rebate. A $1,200 rebate.

A couple with income of $145,000, with three children:
$1,200 for the couple, plus $300 for each child. A $2,100 rebate.

A couple with income of $160,000 with two children:
$1,200 for the couple plus $300 per child — BUT would go down by 50 percent (5% for every $1000 over the $150 threshold). A $900 rebate.

A couple with income of $200,000 and four children:
Disqualified, income exceeded $174,000. No rebate.

There are other aspects to the bill that I’m not covering here, including mortgage relief. But there is another important message here. The government wants you to SPEND THIS REBATE.

It’s a stimulus package, and thus they want the money to go straight back into the cash registers of businesses far and wide. The problem I see with that is that in a time of record debt and no savings, how fiscally responsible is it of the government to tell us to spend our rebate? Isn’t over-spending the reason we got into this mess anyway? I’m sure economists out there will set me straight.

Still, there you have it. A touch more clarification, I hope it helps.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Should George W. Bush write for Wisebread?

Paul Michael — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:21:05 +0000

I'm not sure how many of you watch the news or read the news blogs on a daily basis. I know I can't, it's way too depressing to do every day. But when I saw that George W. Bush, our President, claimed he was fiscally responsible I almost snorted tea out of my nose and onto my monitor. Fiscally responsible? Seriously?

In a press conference on Thursday morning (Sept. 20) our ever popular leader had this to say when asked if there was a risk of the United States economy going into recession.

"You need to talk to economists...I think I got a B in Econ 101. I got an A however in keeping taxes low, and being fiscally responsible with the people's money."

Hmmm. First up, I'm fairly sure that George W. Bush got a C in Econ 101 when he was an undergraduate at Yale. I've read that in the usual liberal rags and websites, like this one. Does that mean he was exaggerating in his favor? No, he'd never do that.

I also can't say I'm a great economist either but I do know a thing or two about fiscal responsibility. Regardless of your political affilliations it's hard to deny that George W. Bush has not been been spending our money without prejudice. In fact, you could very easily argue that keeping taxes low IS NOT being fiscally responsible, especially during a war when we need every cent we can get. Where is the responsibility? Where are the sacrifices? In other wars, people were rationed. In this one, Mr. Bush told us to go out shopping after the 9/11 attack.

In my opinion, and the opinion of many others, fiscal responsibility means reducing or eliminating debt, balancing a budget, controlling spending, not borrowing, and well, all that stuff you were taught in Econ 101 (ahem, sorry, couldn't resist).

So I'm not entirely sure what Mr. Bush means. If you go here you can see the US National Debt is enormous. I mean gigantic. It goes up so quickly I can't even put a figure here for you, by the time this is published it will be even bigger. I also recall that we had a surplus at one point, or was that just a big ol' fat dream?

Many people will argue that none of this is Mr. Bush's fault. The war was necessary (I could write a book on against that one), the economy sank due to 9/11, he's doing a great job, and yada yada yada. But whatever you believe can you really say that a President who's sunk this country into enormous debt and reduced the value of the dollar to that of the Canadian dollar (it hasn't been this low in decades) is fiscally responsible?

If so, then I wonder, should George W. Bush write for Wisebread? Maybe he can tell us all what we've been doing wrong. I for one thought I had the right idea, but now I'm thinking of getting 18 credit cards and buying a new Porsche. Screw it, my kids can handle the debt, I just wanna have fun!

Oh, and in case you missed it, here's the clip. You'll notice he stutters on the word "fiscally." Guilty conscience maybe?

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: