Economics/Geekonomics

MUST READ: Facebook and Stock Prices

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Unless you’re an econogeek like me you probably aren’t interested in the intracacies of the stock market, and even then some arcana may make your eyes glaze over.  I reccomend checking out this nice summary of why Facebook’s stock price is problematic.  It’s a grand example of how the price plunge affects the company and the issues it faces – oh and that the price will probably remain low because many activities the company may do BECAUSE of it’s issues can end up driving it down/keeping it low.

At this point we’re probably going to see all sorts of hang-wringing by “experts” who by and large, proved to be idiots, but really when you read the article you can see how counting on a high stock price was bad, and you know that we here have been pretty cynical about it.  So, no none of this should be a surprise.

Personally I hope Facebook and Zynga get people to be a lot more cautious about stock, stock options, and IPOs.  Then again it seems there’s less starry-eyed goodwill than the hideous dot-bomb era, so there is that.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/

Executive Shuffles In Techworld?

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We know yahoo has a new CEO, who I’m guessing wouldn’t take the job if she didn’t have a plan.

Netflix has a new CMO.

THQ has a new VP of Production.

I’m smelling a lot of executive shuffling right now.  OK actually I’m seeing it since news doesn’t smell like much of anything, but you get the idea.

Now all these companies have had their ups and downs, even Netflix (which causes their own problems).  But three big changes at three companies in this short time . . . makes me think that they (and probably others) are gearing up for big things, or hopeful big things.  You don’t make some of these changes without planning to MAKE changes.

So this is your friendly progeek’s nudge to keep an eye on these companies and see wht happens – and to look for other exeuctive shuffles.  If this is a trend, we may be seeing a lot of changes in tech . . . which, come to think of it, I’m expecting.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Geekonomics

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Well I’m up early, had to call people for Father’s Day, and of course, check in on the economic news.

First, the Greek elections are happening – again – and this pretty much determines the fate of the country, the Euro, and the world economy.  A BBC roundup is here.

I’m not exactly enthused about the chances for this to work out – my suspicion is that everyone involved wants to keep kicking this can down the road until there’s some kind of soft landing or until the rest of the world economy picks up.  No one wants to be the one holding the bag when/if things melt down, so I’m not seeing a lot of political courage here.

Barry Ritholz has a delayed column on the housing market, and he’s got some interesting analysis.  In general the housing market seems to be depressed for awhile – he says 3-5 years, I’m betting in some areas as high as 10.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach for professional and potentially professional geeks, fans, and otaku. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/