WSJ Links For Thursday

It just dawned on me: I forgot to read the WSJ today. My bad. Let's see what they have to say.

Before we get to the print edition, here's something from one of the WSJ blogs. Which U.S. stock emerged from the financial crisis on top? Starbucks. Shares are up over 400% since 2008.

Wall Street, the epicenter of the crisis back in September 2008, has done even better [than the emerging market]. The total return for the S&P 500 across those five years is about 50%. High dividend paying stocks–remember that reach for yield?–have done even better, returning almost two-thirds.

And which U.S. stock has weathered the post-crisis period best? Looking at S&P 500 members which had a market capitalization of at least $5 billion on September 12, 2008, and which have survived, one stock delivered a total return in excess of 400%, beating gold, palladium and everything else.

Its name? Starbucks. Recession or not, apparently Americans still like to pay up for their coffee.

There's always an argument among investors over dividend vs non-dividend stocks, all things being equal. I used to love high dividend stocks -- until tax time. However, after getting a bit more serious about investing in the past two days, I've given it some more thought. Companies paying high dividends better keep thriving to make those dividend payments.  Just saying.

Now to the print edition. Sorry for the digression. 

Shipping rates soar as China buys more ore: A late-summer push by China to stock up on iron ore has helped push shipping rates to their highest in more than a year, sending a gauge of the global economy soaring. What peak China?

I said this earlier: Apple is looking to Japan, China, not the US in recent iPhone 5C and 5S release. Now, I see the same thing in the WSJ: Apple won't go for broke in China. Rather than go decisively down-market in China, Apple is trying to maintain its industry-leading profitability.

Have you been watching all the deals in the Bakken since June, 2013? Here's part of the reason: companies are acting on rising interest rates. Rising interest rates are pushing corporate executives to not only rethink their borrowing and refinancing strategies, but also to adjust pension contributions and overseas trade. Some may even accelerate plans for deals.

International Paper will close an Alabama paper mill. International Paper plans to close its biggest paper mill, displacing 1,100 workers amid shrinking demand for paper in an increasingly digital world. There was a time when computers actually increased the amount of paper being used because folks thought nothing of hitting the "Print" button to make another copy. However, now that tablets will outsell PCs this year or next for the first time, people are getting away from printing. One can print from a tablet but it's generally not done. At the linked article:

Research firm IDC said Wednesday it expects shipments of tablet computers will hit 84.1 million in this year's fourth quarter, a razor-thin edge over the 83.1 million laptops and desktop computers IDC expects will be sold world-wide in the three-month stretch fueled by the holiday shopping frenzy.

And that was about it.