Founder & CEO Bond Angle, LLC, Bond Angle, LLC

Vicki Bryan

Founder & CEO Bond Angle, LLC

Bond Angle, LLC

Insightful commentary and analysis on bond markets and market movers, including financial, economic, and industry catalysts and management shenanigans. 

High yield market investment research

Credit

Bloomberg reported that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikola-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29029:1" rel="noopener">Nikola Corp (NKLA US)</a> ex CEO Trevor Milton has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-06/nikola-s-milton-turns-to-lawyers-who-defended-tesla-s-musk?sref=Q1XEaVVD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hired the s</a><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-06/nikola-s-milton-turns-to-lawyers-who-defended-tesla-s-musk?sref=Q1XEaVVD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ame lawyers</a> who defended <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tesla-motors-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20279:1" rel="noopener">Tesla Motors (TSLA US)</a> CEO Elon Musk in his securities fraud conviction in 2018.He might also consider Jay Clayton.Few lawyers have been more helpful to Elon Musk than ex SEC chair Jay Clayton, given his astonishing leniency with Elon over his fake buyout of Tesla which cost investors $20 billion in evaporated market cap.

Bloomberg reported that Nikola Corp (NKLA US) ex CEO Trevor Milton has hired the same lawyers who defended Tesla Motors (TSLA US) CEO Elon Musk in his securities fraud conviction in 2018.He might also consider Jay Clayton.Few lawyers have been more helpful to Elon Musk than ex SEC chair Jay Clayton, given his astonishing leniency with Elon over his fake buyout of Tesla which cost investors $20 billion in evaporated market cap.

Nikola's Milton Just Hired Elon's Lawyers

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tesla-motors-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20279:1" rel="noopener">Tesla Motors (TSLA US)</a> wowed investors last week by beating market estimates with record revenue and it’s first ever legitimate profit generated mostly from its actual operations for the second quarter.Is this sustainable? Unclear. Tesla remained foggy about guidance and CEO Elon Musk warned that the critical chip shortage was a “serious problem” that could impair forward results. Musk also volunteered that Tesla’s pricey FSD option was not a “compelling value” until they “make it work” at some point, so he could justify its current $10,000 price or $199 monthly subscription.In the meantime, however, Tesla’s credit metrics are better than ever now that it’s operations prove they actually can make money.So Tesla may be planning a large bond deal to refinance its expensive 5.3% notes.

Tesla Motors (TSLA US) wowed investors last week by beating market estimates with record revenue and it’s first ever legitimate profit generated mostly from its actual operations for the second quarter.Is this sustainable? Unclear. Tesla remained foggy about guidance and CEO Elon Musk warned that the critical chip shortage was a “serious problem” that could impair forward results. Musk also volunteered that Tesla’s pricey FSD option was not a “compelling value” until they “make it work” at some point, so he could justify its current $10,000 price or $199 monthly subscription.In the meantime, however, Tesla’s credit metrics are better than ever now that it’s operations prove they actually can make money.So Tesla may be planning a large bond deal to refinance its expensive 5.3% notes.

Tesla's Car Business Finally Turned A Profit. Really. Time For A Big Bond Deal

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikola-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29029:1" rel="noopener">Nikola Corp (NKLA US)</a> ousted <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-29/nikola-founder-charged-for-allegedly-misleading-investors?sref=Q1XEaVVD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">founder/CEO Trevor Milton was charged in federal court today with criminal and civil fraud</a> for lying to investors for years about “nearly every aspect of the business” to juice the stock price.This comes just two weeks after <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tesla-motors-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20279:1" rel="noopener">Tesla Motors (TSLA US)</a> CEO Elon Musk defended himself in court over his role in <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-13/musk-keeps-temper-in-check-in-tesla-solarcity-trial-testimony?sref=Q1XEaVVD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing Tesla in 2016 to buy SolarCity</a> for an insupportable $2 billion without revealing its near-bankruptcy distress in order to bail out his relatives who ran it. Tesla already paid $60 million last year to settle the case, but Musk, true to form, stubbornly resists any efforts to hold him accountable for just about anything, no matter the harm.It could cost him $2 billion to refund the purchase price for SolarCity if he loses, and the Tesla shareholders suing have a credible case, but Musk is used to getting off without serious consequences.After all, he has defied courts, federal regulators, police, state and local government authorities for years with little more than a slap on the wrist.But this year things have changed, whether Elon Musk realizes it yet or not.

Nikola Corp (NKLA US) ousted founder/CEO Trevor Milton was charged in federal court today with criminal and civil fraud for lying to investors for years about “nearly every aspect of the business” to juice the stock price.This comes just two weeks after Tesla Motors (TSLA US) CEO Elon Musk defended himself in court over his role in pushing Tesla in 2016 to buy SolarCity for an insupportable $2 billion without revealing its near-bankruptcy distress in order to bail out his relatives who ran it. Tesla already paid $60 million last year to settle the case, but Musk, true to form, stubbornly resists any efforts to hold him accountable for just about anything, no matter the harm.It could cost him $2 billion to refund the purchase price for SolarCity if he loses, and the Tesla shareholders suing have a credible case, but Musk is used to getting off without serious consequences.After all, he has defied courts, federal regulators, police, state and local government authorities for years with little more than a slap on the wrist.But this year things have changed, whether Elon Musk realizes it yet or not.

Nikola's Ex CEO Trevor Milton Arrested for Lying to Investors. Some Ask, "What About Elon?"

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

The reaction of Tesla stock (-2.0%) to a strong earnings beat at 1Q suggests some fatigue in its attempts to maintain its “aspirational” valuations. We would not be surprised if its 10Q revealed poor earnings quality as stringency in accounting is not, in our view, a strong suit of Tesla. What is more interesting in our view is the progress of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and the potential for the vehicle to further shatter misperceptions about Tesla having a technological lead in anything.

The reaction of Tesla stock (-2.0%) to a strong earnings beat at 1Q suggests some fatigue in its attempts to maintain its “aspirational” valuations. We would not be surprised if its 10Q revealed poor earnings quality as stringency in accounting is not, in our view, a strong suit of Tesla. What is more interesting in our view is the progress of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and the potential for the vehicle to further shatter misperceptions about Tesla having a technological lead in anything.

Tesla – Muted Response to Blowout “Earnings”

Bond market data and technology, BondEvalue

BondEvalue

Bond market data and technology

BondEvalue is a Singapore-based Fintech that specializes in bond market data and technology. The company's information services business offers bond market data on hard-currency corporate & sovereign bonds across Asia, Middle East, Europe and the Americas. The data, which includes bond prices, yields, news and analytics, is offered to end investors via interactive Mobile and Web Apps. Investors can sign up for a free trial of the service either via the company's website (https://bondevalue.com) or by downloading the BondEvalue Mobile App (http://onelink.to/wej7jq). BondEvalue is also developing an electronic bond exchange, BondbloX in Singapore that allows investors to trade bonds electronically in smaller sizes (US$1,000 or equivalent). For more information, visit https://www.bondblox.com/

Bond Market Data and Technology

US markets hovered around the highs ahead of the Big Tech earrings. S&amp;P was up 0.2% and Nasdaq nudged higher 0.03% created new closing records. Energy up 2.5% and Materials, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services up ~0.7% pulled the markets higher. Corporate earnings continued as Tesla beat expectations (detailed below) while Lockheed Martin delivered disappointing results. All eyes are now set on the earnings of Apple, Microsoft, Google and Starbucks . Meanwhile, a high level meeting between US and China ended without any material output amid escalated tensions. US 10Y Treasury yields rose 2bp to 1.28%. European stocks were mixed – CAC was up 0.2%, FTSE was flat and DAX was down 0.3%. US IG CDS spreads tightened 0.2bp and HY widened 1.8bp. EU Main and Crossover spreads widened 0.4bp and 3bp respectively. Brazil’s Bovespa was up 0.8%. Saudi TASI and UAE’s DAX were up 0.2% and 0.9% respectively. Asia Pacific stocks edged higher as mainland China stocks gained – the Nikkei, Shanghai and Singapore’s STI were up 0.3-0.5% while HSI was down ~0.7%. Asia ex-Japan CDS spreads were 1.6bp wider.

AVIC Launches € Bond; Macro; Rating Changes; New Issues; Talking Heads; Top Gainers & Losers

United States

Tesla Inc. operates as a multinational automotive and clean energy company. The Company designs and manufactures electric vehicles, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, and related products and services. Tesla owns its sales and service network and sells electric power train components to other automobile manufacturers.

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Tesla (TSLA US)

Nikola's Milton Just Hired Elon's Lawyers

Nikola's Trevor Milton has hired the same lawyers who defended Elon Musk in his securities fraud conviction in 2018. He might also consider ex SEC...

Vicki Bryan

Tesla's Car Business Finally Turned A Profit. Really. Time For A Big Bond Deal

What's next for Tesla bonds after it finally reports record revenue and (gasp) it's first ever legitimate profit could be big. Really big.

Vicki Bryan

Nikola's Ex CEO Trevor Milton Arrested for Lying to Investors. Some Ask, "What About Elon?"

Many of Milton's lies are very different vs tales Tesla CEO Elon Musk has told investors for years. Others seem troublingly similar. With new...

Vicki Bryan

Tesla – Muted Response to Blowout “Earnings”

The reaction of Tesla stock (-2.0%) to a strong earnings beat at 1Q suggests some fatigue in its attempts to maintain its “aspirational” valuations.

Mio Kato

AVIC Launches € Bond; Macro; Rating Changes; New Issues; Talking Heads; Top Gainers & Losers

US markets hovered around the highs ahead of the Big Tech earrings. S&P was up 0.2% and Nasdaq nudged higher 0.03% created new closing records....

BondEvalue

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