Become an activist shareholder!

I just had to pass this on from this weeek's Schnewsletter:

Anti-capitalists bringing down transnational corporations by playing the stock market? It's true! Activists are using the stock market to help boycotts of your favourite brands - Coke, Starvebucks, McDonalds and Exxon. The idea is that you club together as part of a 'hedge fund' and sell stock in targeted firms 'short'. A hedge fund is basically the very rich clubbing together and 'hedging' their bets by playing a range of different stock market games. One of those games is 'selling short'.

For example, say Coke stock is worth £10 this month, £12 next and £15 in 3 months time. You then sell the stock 'short' for £11 in month two. If you buy enough stock (which is why smaller franchises are targeted) people panic and sell their stock too and the price goes down. Your £10 stock is then worth £9 in three months time, not the planned £15. Coke lose out, big time.

Investment activist Max Keiser says "For every 1,000 new boycotters, I and my group of investors/activists will increase the size of the fund by £5,000. All profits will go the groups/people who are the victims of bad companies."

See www.karmabanque.com for more info...

..and finally...

In an effort to drown out the sounds of screaming civilians in burning buildings, major record labels are doing their bit.

Virgin, EMI and the rest supply all the new CD releases to "our boys at the front" at special discount. Troops can now listen to cheap pop as they go about keeping Iraq "secure", though not, presumably, at the same time. This may explain some recent US losses however. Whoever said war couldn't be fun?

In classic rock-rebel style, however, one group are having none of it. The Super Furry Animals have included an anti-militarist clause in their recent negations with the majors. The clause forbids any of their music to be offered at discount to the Armed Farces. Fans of the Welsh quartet will be pleased to know that the sweet blend of pop and rock they love will not be drifting over the battlefields of a corrupt war. Coalition Forces hinted it will not affect their decision to stay in Iraq."

Go the Super Furry Animals!