Google will miss expected earnings numbers tomorrow (IMO). There are two recent “shoot your own foot” actions from Google that may affect their short term performance. Overall, I agree with the changes, but I wouldn’t be swinging into earnings tomorrow.

(1) Google changed the “hit area” of their AdSense ads. Before the entire ad area was clickable. Now just the heading and url are.

There are mixed reports on whether or not this is affecting overall click through rates (CTR) and earnings. On InvestorGeeks, our CTR went from 2-2.25% in September and October to 1.25-1.5% in December and January. Our overall earnings are down 40%.

Most of Google’s revenue comes from their own search page which likely had smaller drops (if at all). But if other sites have had slowdowns like we have, this would eat into Googles earnings growth.

In the long run I think this is a good move, as it will cut down on fraud… eventually leading to more advertisers and higher ad rates. In the shot term, however, folks are taking a hit.

(read on for reason #2)

What are the sales number of iPhones in Germany since November 9….
70,000…
How about France?
70,000 as well…
As I pointed out in an earlier blog entry when people talk about Apple rebounding, I personally feel it is more hope related than actual numbers.

I just wanted to do a nice recap of the donations we made on behalf of InvestorGeeks in 2007. All totaled, we gave a tad over $2000 in 2007. We’re looking to nearly double that in 2008… as long as our traffic and advertising relationships hold up.

2007 InvestorGeeks Donations
- $400 to The Arthritis Foundation for Steve’s Race
- $300 to The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for my cousin Candice’s Run for the Cure
(these below were squeezed in at the end of the year and previously unannounced on the blog here)
- $300 …

In a previous blog entry I commented on how the Fed reacted to an event that might have been a non-event. I commented in that blog entry on how the recent market drop was probably due to the unwinding of a rogue trader at a French bank. It seems that the 7.9 billion of futures was sold by the bank at the beginning of this week causing a massive market upheaval.

Well according to Jim Cramer, yes. I say probably no. Or let me rephrase it, a temporary bottom. I want to show you my indicator for a major index that goes back to the second world war.

As Rick Santelli said the market has Bernanke on the ropes and Bernanke does what the market wants. Well, now the USD has strengthened against the EURO people are starting to strong arm the ECB. Quotes are, “The ECB is behind the curve.”
Well traders, investors, hedge funds get ready for a rude awaking. And more importantly if the market believes they can strong arm the market then we have a perfect storm and it will be bad for the financial sector in America. This is why I am not touching …

On Monday Europe went completely RED… It was a slaughter. Yet one of my orders triggered. I went into Monday 100% cash, but came out of Monday <100% cash. Today another one of my orders would have triggered. It was so close. Oh well c’est la vie. Hopefully another day will cause that order to trigger.

Hey Everyone

Long time no post.

However, I do have an excuse! I am now a married man living in North Carolina. That’s right - I am an immigrant (of the legal variety) fresh from the shores of Australia…

Got this email from a fan. And since none of the current writers are Canadian, I thought I’d throw this out there.
BTW, RSP stands for “Registered Retirement Savings Plan” and seems to be a Canadian 401k. I’m sure a lot of the standard retirement plan advice would apply, but we’re looking for a Canadian perspective.
Hey InvestorGeeks
My name’s Gavin Adamson. I write occasionally for the Globe and Mail
and this time I’m writing a piece about what part online - DIY
investing plays in RSP building.
Not sure if any of you guys have …

Jim Cramer nails it on the head on what the core of the problem of the industry is! Good for him! Finally somebody said it loud enough. Surf to the link, and watch the video, takes about 11 minutes but it is REALLY good…
So why was this not caught earlier? Cramer says five minutes into the discussion.