Herbalife accused of being a pyramid scheme= 1 Billion Short Attack

Herbalife Ltd. shares soared after documents revealed corporate raider Carl Icahn's huge stake in the Los Angeles-based maker of nutritional foods and supplements.

Shortly after the opening bell on Wall Street, Herbalife shares added $4.72, or 12.3%, to $42.99.

A regulatory filing Thursday showed Icahn has paid $214 million for 14 million Herbalife shares, or 13% of the company.

Icahn previously would not disclose whether he had invested in the company. The storied billionaire investor recently squared off, on live television, with fellow New York hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, chief executive of Pershing Square Capital Management.

On Dec. 20, Ackman accused Herbalife of being a pyramid scheme that defrauds distributors of its products. He announced a $1-billion "short" against the company, a massive bet that its stock will fall.

Herbalife shares plunged after Ackman's presentation. The company launched a public-relations counter-attack and accelerated a share buy-back. With Friday's pop in Herbalife stock, the company's shares were  trading slightly higher than they were before Ackman's presentation.

That raises the possibility of a "short squeeze," a run-up in demand for a stock that could wind up costing investors like Ackman, who have bet the stock will decline.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing said Icahn would discuss with management the possibility of taking Herbalife private or finding new capital.

Icahn believes the company has a "legitimate business model, with favorable long-term opportunities for growth," according to the filing.

Ackman responded to Icahn's stake in a statement Friday:

“We invest based on a careful analysis of the facts. After 18 months of due diligence, we have concluded that it is a certainty that Herbalife is a pyramid scheme.  Our conclusions are unaffected by who is on the other side of the investment.  Our goal was to shine a spotlight on Herbalife.  To the extent that Mr. Icahn is helping achieve this objective, we welcome his involvement.”

Canadian stocks hit a one-week high on Friday,

By Claire Sibonney


TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian stocks hit a one-week high on Friday, led by financial and energy shares, as positive economic data from China, Europe and the United States offset weak domestic numbers and as Manulife Financial Corp (MFC.TO: Quote) rose on reaction to its results.
China's exports and imports surged in January, the country's first hard data of the year showed, pointing to robust domestic demand and a pick-up in the economy.

That more than offset news that Canada's economy unexpectedly shed 21,900 jobs in January, delivering a reality check after months of outsized employment growth, and confirming forecasts of slowing economic expansion.

"I think the next couple of weeks now you'll see the Canadian market react to the specific earnings, more so than the overall economic picture," said John Kinsey, portfolio manager at Caldwell Securities, noting volumes were very light on Friday because of the snowstorm hitting Canada and the U.S. Northeast.

Manulife, which reported a return to quarterly profit on Thursday, was one of the most influential stocks in leading the market higher. The insurer extended the modest gain it made on Thursday after several analysts raised their price targets for the stock. Manulife shares were up 2 percent at C$14.84.
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO: Quote) rose 0.7 percent to C$83.43.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended up 45.31 points, or 0.36 percent, at 12,801.23, after touching 12,823.50, its highest point since January 30. The TSX ended the week up 0.3 percent.

The index was not riding as high as its counterparts on Wall Street, with the Nasdaq at a 12-year closing high and the S&P 500 index at a five-year peak. .N   Continued...

BNK.to Up 2.94% On This News

Recent Trades - Last 10 of 2713

Time ET	Ex	Price	Change	Volume	Buyer	Seller	Markers
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	700	79 CIBC	80 National Bank	KQ
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	100	72 Credit Suisse	80 National Bank	KQ
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	100	1 Anonymous	80 National Bank	KQ
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	600	72 Credit Suisse	80 National Bank	KQ
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	500	1 Anonymous	80 National Bank	KQ
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	300	1 Anonymous	39 Merrill Lynch	KQ
16:00:00	T	3.15	0.09	200	80 National Bank	80 National Bank	KQ
15:59:59	T	3.15	0.09	200	79 CIBC	1 Anonymous	K
15:59:55	T	3.15	0.09	3,000	7 TD Sec	7 TD Sec	K
15:59:40	T	3.16	0.09	12	2 RBC	82 Stifel Nicholas	E

Bankers Climbs On This News: 

http://www.bnkpetroleum.com/en/

Albania throws out offer from Albanian-U.S. Vetro Energy * Vetro failed to pay its 20 percent guarantee * Negotiators to talk to China's Win Business By Benet Koleka TIRANA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Albania has invalidated the winning 850 million euro ($1.1 billion) bid by Vetro Energy to buy its Albpetrol oil company after the Albanian-U.S. firm failed to come up with an initial payment,

 the energy minister said. Minister Edmond Haxhinasto said on national television on Friday that the government had decided to "consider the first offer invalid" after Vetro failed to pay 170 million euros, equal to 20 percent of its bid. Vetro had asked for a postponement but still failed to pay by a second deadline on Dec. 3. The agreed price, equal to about 10 percent of Albania's gross domestic product, would have been a windfall that the Balkan state could have used to help reduce its budget deficit and public debt.

 "This (government's) decision has authorized the group of negotiators to continue evaluating the other offers," Haxhinasto, who serves also as deputy prime minister, told Top Channel. Chinese consortium Win Business, with an offer of 298 million euros, was next in line to talk to Albanian negotiators, followed by Bankers Petroleum of Canada, which offered 106 million euros.

The government has offered to sell all of Albpetrol's above-ground assets, the right to explore and exploit oil and gas for 25 years and licences to build a refinery and transport and distribute gas.

Chinese consortium Win Business, with an offer of 298 million euros, was next in line to talk to Albanian negotiators, followed by Bankers Petroleum of Canada, which offered 106 million euros.

 A source close to Vetro's majority shareholder, Albanian oil businessman Rezart Taci, said the group was "surprised by the decision because we were working to finalise the deal". The decision could not found on the government's website, where such decisions are normally published.

 The government cancelled the deal after waiting on Vetro for two months and as it starts to prepare for parliamentary elections on June 23.

House Positions for C:BNK from 20130208 to 20130208

House	Bought	$Val	Ave	Sold	$Val	Ave	Net	$Net
9 BMO Nesbitt	341,900	1,068,502	3.125	21,717	67,832	3.123	320,183	-1,000,670
27 Dundee	575,300	1,792,197	3.115	426,300	1,320,818	3.098	149,000	-471,379
121 Jennings	85,550	265,020	3.098	0			85,550	-265,020
79 CIBC	250,700	784,998	3.131	185,768	581,109	3.128	64,932	-203,889
90 Barclays	42,900	135,001	3.147	0			42,900	-135,001
53 Morgan Stanley	24,600	77,426	3.147	1,860	5,794	3.115	22,740	-71,632
19 Desjardins	18,000	56,595	3.144	1,400	4,361	3.115	16,600	-52,234
2 RBC	25,167	78,677	3.126	9,500	29,833	3.14	15,667	-48,844
10 FirstEnergy	6,000	18,840	3.14	0			6,000	-18,840
15 UBS	11,700	36,638	3.131	6,400	19,739	3.084	5,300	-16,899
89 Raymond James	6,000	19,020	3.17	2,000	6,260	3.13	4,000	-12,760
99 Jitney	2,000	6,320	3.16	0			2,000	-6,320
37 MacDougall	1,000	3,120	3.12	0			1,000	-3,120
123 Citigroup	852	2,669	3.133	0			852	-2,669
82 Stifel Nicholas	77,397	242,224	3.13	76,566	240,153	3.137	831	-2,071
72 Credit Suisse	700	2,205	3.15	0			700	-2,205
101 Newedge	10,900	34,308	3.148	10,300	32,019	3.109	600	-2,289
48 Laurentian	400	1,228	3.07	0			400	-1,228
57 Interactive	65	201	3.092	0			65	-201
58 Qtrade	50	155	3.10	0			50	-155
14 ITG	46	141	3.065	0			46	-141
59 PI	0			200	615	3.075	-200	615
88 Credential	0			800	2,490	3.113	-800	2,490
81 HSBC	0			1,870	5,803	3.103	-1,870	5,803
33 Canaccord	312,811	975,970	3.12	315,100	983,112	3.12	-2,289	7,142
124 Questrade	8,400	26,351	3.137	13,790	42,610	3.09	-5,390	16,259
80 National Bank	300	944	3.147	22,880	71,103	3.108	-22,580	70,159
39 Merrill Lynch	5,200	16,188	3.113	34,200	105,278	3.078	-29,000	89,090
85 Scotia	3,500	10,887	3.111	34,735	108,187	3.115	-31,235	97,300
7 TD Sec	41,875	131,119	3.131	117,827	369,053	3.132	-75,952	237,934
11 MacQuarie	0			100,000	315,000	3.15	-100,000	315,000
13 Instinet	99,800	308,809	3.094	200,700	627,230	3.125	-100,900	318,421
1 Anonymous	254,700	792,546	3.112	623,900	1,949,900	3.125	-369,200	1,157,354
TOTAL	2,207,813	6,888,299	3.12	2,207,813	6,888,299	3.12	0	0

Close Prices Last 3 Months

Price/volumes not adjusted for restructures

Date	Ex	Sym	Open	High	Low	Close	Chg	Total Vol	#Tr	Bid	Ask		T-TSX		A-Alpha		X-Chi-X		P-Pure		O-Omega		M-TriAct		L-LiquidNet		E-TMX Select
2013-02-08	T	BNK	3.06	3.17	3.06	3.15	0.09	3,070,254	2,713	3.15	3.16		2,207,813		204,641		379,200		224,400		8,400		21,600				24,200
2013-02-07	T	BNK	3.06	3.08	2.98	3.06		1,392,602	2,490	3.05	3.06		968,702		196,600		180,600		9,500		8,700		11,400				17,100
2013-02-06	T	BNK	3.03	3.08	2.95	3.07		1,405,888	2,598	3.06	3.07		818,688		150,800		189,700		57,900		23,000		148,400				17,400
2013-02-05	T	BNK	3.07	3.08	3.04	3.06		674,083	1,806	3.05	3.06		358,615		122,668		152,900		8,000		11,900		5,100				14,900
2013-02-04	T	BNK	3.03	3.08	3.03	3.06	-0.02	685,990	1,415	3.05	3.06		394,844		109,246		130,000		8,600		12,100		13,900				17,300
2013-02-01	T	BNK	3.07	3.10	3.05	3.08	0.01	2,288,993	2,913	3.07	3.08		1,548,534		328,136		339,900		1,323		46,400		11,800				12,900
2013-01-31	T	BNK	3.05	3.07	3.03	3.07	-0.02	1,095,906	2,130	3.06	3.08		687,023		173,383		170,100		3,900		32,500		6,000				23,000
2013-01-30	T	BNK	3.07	3.11	3.06	3.09	0.02	3,077,923	2,956	3.08	3.09		2,135,028		340,226		548,800		11,469		16,600		7,300				18,500
2013-01-29	T	BNK	3.08	3.14	3.02	3.07		1,629,580	3,816	3.06	3.07		1,093,561		231,819		207,200		13,200		10,000		51,300				22,500
2013-01-28	T	BNK	3.08	3.09	3.03	3.08	-0.01	2,460,879	3,144	3.07	3.08		1,507,427		226,452		518,800		61,300		24,500		98,000				24,400
2013-01-25	T	BNK	3.12	3.14	3.06	3.08	-0.03	693,007	2,001	3.07	3.08		398,937		113,270		101,900		4,100		7,900		43,500				23,400
2013-01-24	T	BNK	3.09	3.20	3.08	3.11	0.05	1,757,426	3,991	3.11	3.13		985,488		310,538		228,800		19,400		23,800		75,000		100,000		14,400
2013-01-23	T	BNK	3.03	3.08	2.98	3.06	0.05	902,843	2,399	3.06	3.07		598,128		153,215		105,100		12,000		12,200		6,700				15,500
2013-01-22	T	BNK	3.03	3.07	3.00	3.01		811,942	1,356	3.00	3.01		505,741		95,600		176,401		6,400		11,000		4,400				12,400
2013-01-21	T	BNK	2.91	3.04	2.91	3.01	0.05	647,571	1,648	3.01	3.02		405,771		160,000		55,400		12,200		8,800		1,400				4,000
2013-01-18	T	BNK	2.95	3.03	2.93	2.96	0.01	2,091,778	3,423	2.96	2.97		1,448,440		293,638		248,800		12,200		15,400		62,300				11,000
2013-01-17	T	BNK	2.87	2.96	2.86	2.95	0.09	5,159,553	5,010	2.94	2.96		3,889,120		575,333		570,800		11,300		45,800		25,200				42,000
2013-01-16	T	BNK	2.81	2.89	2.81	2.86	0.05	2,268,427	2,148	2.86	2.87		1,778,094		200,699		139,600		2,234		8,200		100,600				39,000
2013-01-15	T	BNK	2.89	2.94	2.775	2.81	-0.03	1,068,879	2,605	2.80	2.81		719,697		142,482		138,700		15,300		12,200		32,000				8,500
2013-01-14	T	BNK	2.85	2.88	2.83	2.84	-0.01	1,179,754	1,578	2.83	2.85		281,701		96,553		73,200		4,400		13,600		48,200		648,000		14,100
2013-01-11	T	BNK	2.85	2.87	2.78	2.85	-0.02	2,997,120	2,878	2.84	2.85		2,555,748		180,572		174,200		17,600		36,600		17,700				14,700
2013-01-10	T	BNK	2.89	2.95	2.85	2.87	-0.01	1,179,288	2,731	2.86	2.87		684,425		179,663		189,100		11,300		74,300		31,600				8,900
2013-01-09	T	BNK	2.98	3.02	2.87	2.88	-0.11	2,113,027	3,192	2.87	2.88		1,330,330		238,697		447,200		22,600		50,000		200				24,000
2013-01-08	T	BNK	2.99	3.01	2.92	2.99	-0.04	1,706,423	3,025	2.99	3.00		1,147,020		270,703		227,000		12,200		22,900		2,700				23,900
2013-01-07	T	BNK	3.10	3.11	3.00	3.03	-0.10	2,058,835	5,114	3.02	3.03		1,467,602		211,933		258,800		10,300		35,900		53,400				20,900
2013-01-04	T	BNK	3.10	3.14	3.07	3.13	0.03	974,384	3,104	3.12	3.13		438,580		158,104		148,200		41,800		167,800		12,600				7,300
2013-01-03	T	BNK	3.14	3.18	3.09	3.10	-0.06	1,108,423	3,017	3.09	3.10		637,723		180,000		113,000		22,100		97,700		47,100				10,800
2013-01-02	T	BNK	3.21	3.31	3.15	3.16	-0.05	1,498,561	3,031	3.15	3.17		913,272		176,882		183,300		177,107		26,000		1,200				20,800

Krugar Hammers Morning Joe USA Deficet Reduced By Lower Unemplyment

In the debate over fiscal policy, you frequently hear liberals argue: "It's not time to deal with the deficit, we need to fix the economy first and then fix the deficit when the economy is stronger." While this has merit as a political concept, it's actually giving into a false frame that dealing with the deficit and dealing with unemployment are two separate things that you do at different times. Steps you take to improve unemployment are deficit reduction measures ... While the government has done, technically, nothing to address the deficit in the last few years, the deficit is shrinking (relative to GDP) merely because the economy has improved, and more people are going back to work. If unemployment drops to 7 percent, or 6.5 percent, or 6 percent, we'll get quite a bit of deficit reduction then.
www.huffingtonpost.com