> I have been patiently waiting for months.

> I smell something positive in the air :))

> On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> - Show quoted text -

> its up like 15 cents in 2 days......

> On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

> - Show quoted text -

> its up like 15 cents in 2 days......

> On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> > - Show quoted text -

> Still under 1.67 50 day MA. The only go thing is that it is trading
> above 1.44 200 MA. That is little bullish
> If we could close in the 1.50s today may by Friday ETFC be back  above
> 50 MA and then take off like a rocket. Yes, No, or ?

> On Nov 4, 9:20 am, Garandhero <garandh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > its up like 15 cents in 2 days......

> > On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

> - Show quoted text -

> The short interest is still pretty high. This really worries me.

> On Nov 4, 10:52 am, t <dal...@cox.net> wrote:

> > Still under 1.67 50 day MA. The only go thing is that it is trading
> > above 1.44 200 MA. That is little bullish
> > If we could close in the 1.50s today may by Friday ETFC be back  above
> > 50 MA and then take off like a rocket. Yes, No, or ?

> > On Nov 4, 9:20 am, Garandhero <garandh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > its up like 15 cents in 2 days......

> > > On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > > > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

> > - Show quoted text -

> I smell something positive in the air :))

> On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > I have been patiently waiting for months.

> if it's green it's green (though wished it stayed about that 1.50
> mark)..2 days in a row...odds of it dropping on friday? probably
> pretty high :(

> On Nov 4, 8:57 am, niche168 <hinkyimp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > The short interest is still pretty high. This really worries me.

> > On Nov 4, 10:52 am, t <dal...@cox.net> wrote:

> > > Still under 1.67 50 day MA. The only go thing is that it is trading
> > > above 1.44 200 MA. That is little bullish
> > > If we could close in the 1.50s today may by Friday ETFC be back  above
> > > 50 MA and then take off like a rocket. Yes, No, or ?

> > > On Nov 4, 9:20 am, Garandhero <garandh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > its up like 15 cents in 2 days......

> > > > On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > > > > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

> > > - Show quoted text -

> Wes - give me educated guesses why you think there's something in the
> wind.  Not being critical - being constructively critical - assess the
> parts .... Game a possible scenario.  I'll start - buyout has been a
> goal all along but first Citadel had to recoup as much of its
> investment as possible, while their Kensington and other major hedge
> funds healed.  First indication that ETFC was considering a merger -
> ETFC hires Karl A. Roessner from Clifford Chance as new General
> Counsel.  Karl is familiar w/ ETFC, having represented the company and
> his specialty is mergers and acquisitions (he likely worked on the
> sale of some of ETFCs assets in Canada).

> Fill the gap - AMTD sees more needed to be done to ETFCs balance sheet
> before it makes an offer/ETFC and other analysts see substantial
> stabilization and cash on the balance sheet - how close are both
> camps? Some say the flight from traditional broker/client
> relationships to self-directed banking/brokerages has plateaued and
> others say the trend is just gaining steam (glass half empty/half full
> scenario - I always say "f@ck the glass b/c it only leaves you 2
> choices and doesn't show you what's really around the curve").

> Citadel states that it will take different investment approaches going
> forward - it will not pursue ETFC-type of investments in the future (a
> change in strategic planning for Citadel - KG has always said he'd
> like to find a vehicle to take Citadel public, perhaps he's taken ETFC
> out of that spot and now near term wants to focus more on finding ways
> to increase $$$ .... In other words, he'll hold a stake in ETFC, even
> be privy and play a role in the ETFC finance committee decisions, but
> now its about maximizing $$$ not control).

> Wild card - it's not just SCHW and AMTD in the race - what new shapes,
> stripes and forms will the jolly giant new bank holding companies take
> - JPM, WFC, BAC, GS, MS, etc. (Don't you just hate those JPM black and
> white commercials where there's the hipster dufus taking his Chase
> card and acting all spastic holding a four leaf clover over his card,
> making a wish, etc. b/c he wants his next purchase free on JPM?  You
> all realize that's just JPM brainwashing you to spend so you can be
> rewarded with a free cup of coffee .... My larger point is that these
> large banks are already gaming to show you how "cool" they are and I
> wouldn't discount them buying up ETFC to say - look what you can do on
> your IPhone now through JPM!!!!! It's soooo cool.).

> Are we closer to a merger - possibly - the gap or differences in
> opinions to me seem fewer and fewer.  Plus, we have still heard
> nothing about a new CEO. (You remove your TARP app, analysts agree the
> company is stabilizing, you have Counsel who specializes in mergers
> and acqs, you have the largest investor talking about new strategic
> plans different from investment strategies in ETFC, you have a trend
> favoring online brokers or a rush of clients plateauing (so you need
> to buy more market share like think or swim ....).  IMHO, we're closer
> but is it tomorrow that we find an offer on the table or after the new
> year.

> Opinions?

> On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > I have been patiently waiting for months.

> I feel  that it will be in November and if not  then next year.

> On Nov 4, 10:06 am, capn <l...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > Wes - give me educated guesses why you think there's something in the
> > wind.  Not being critical - being constructively critical - assess the
> > parts .... Game a possible scenario.  I'll start - buyout has been a
> > goal all along but first Citadel had to recoup as much of its
> > investment as possible, while their Kensington and other major hedge
> > funds healed.  First indication that ETFC was considering a merger -
> > ETFC hires Karl A. Roessner from Clifford Chance as new General
> > Counsel.  Karl is familiar w/ ETFC, having represented the company and
> > his specialty is mergers and acquisitions (he likely worked on the
> > sale of some of ETFCs assets in Canada).

> > Fill the gap - AMTD sees more needed to be done to ETFCs balance sheet
> > before it makes an offer/ETFC and other analysts see substantial
> > stabilization and cash on the balance sheet - how close are both
> > camps? Some say the flight from traditional broker/client
> > relationships to self-directed banking/brokerages has plateaued and
> > others say the trend is just gaining steam (glass half empty/half full
> > scenario - I always say "f@ck the glass b/c it only leaves you 2
> > choices and doesn't show you what's really around the curve").

> > Citadel states that it will take different investment approaches going
> > forward - it will not pursue ETFC-type of investments in the future (a
> > change in strategic planning for Citadel - KG has always said he'd
> > like to find a vehicle to take Citadel public, perhaps he's taken ETFC
> > out of that spot and now near term wants to focus more on finding ways
> > to increase $$$ .... In other words, he'll hold a stake in ETFC, even
> > be privy and play a role in the ETFC finance committee decisions, but
> > now its about maximizing $$$ not control).

> > Wild card - it's not just SCHW and AMTD in the race - what new shapes,
> > stripes and forms will the jolly giant new bank holding companies take
> > - JPM, WFC, BAC, GS, MS, etc. (Don't you just hate those JPM black and
> > white commercials where there's the hipster dufus taking his Chase
> > card and acting all spastic holding a four leaf clover over his card,
> > making a wish, etc. b/c he wants his next purchase free on JPM?  You
> > all realize that's just JPM brainwashing you to spend so you can be
> > rewarded with a free cup of coffee .... My larger point is that these
> > large banks are already gaming to show you how "cool" they are and I
> > wouldn't discount them buying up ETFC to say - look what you can do on
> > your IPhone now through JPM!!!!! It's soooo cool.).

> > Are we closer to a merger - possibly - the gap or differences in
> > opinions to me seem fewer and fewer.  Plus, we have still heard
> > nothing about a new CEO. (You remove your TARP app, analysts agree the
> > company is stabilizing, you have Counsel who specializes in mergers
> > and acqs, you have the largest investor talking about new strategic
> > plans different from investment strategies in ETFC, you have a trend
> > favoring online brokers or a rush of clients plateauing (so you need
> > to buy more market share like think or swim ....).  IMHO, we're closer
> > but is it tomorrow that we find an offer on the table or after the new
> > year.

> > Opinions?

> > On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > I have been patiently waiting for months.

> I feel  that it will be in November and if not  then next year.

> On Nov 4, 10:06 am, capn <l...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > Wes - give me educated guesses why you think there's something in the
> > wind.  Not being critical - being constructively critical - assess the
> > parts .... Game a possible scenario.  I'll start - buyout has been a
> > goal all along but first Citadel had to recoup as much of its
> > investment as possible, while their Kensington and other major hedge
> > funds healed.  First indication that ETFC was considering a merger -
> > ETFC hires Karl A. Roessner from Clifford Chance as new General
> > Counsel.  Karl is familiar w/ ETFC, having represented the company and
> > his specialty is mergers and acquisitions (he likely worked on the
> > sale of some of ETFCs assets in Canada).

> > Fill the gap - AMTD sees more needed to be done to ETFCs balance sheet
> > before it makes an offer/ETFC and other analysts see substantial
> > stabilization and cash on the balance sheet - how close are both
> > camps? Some say the flight from traditional broker/client
> > relationships to self-directed banking/brokerages has plateaued and
> > others say the trend is just gaining steam (glass half empty/half full
> > scenario - I always say "f@ck the glass b/c it only leaves you 2
> > choices and doesn't show you what's really around the curve").

> > Citadel states that it will take different investment approaches going
> > forward - it will not pursue ETFC-type of investments in the future (a
> > change in strategic planning for Citadel - KG has always said he'd
> > like to find a vehicle to take Citadel public, perhaps he's taken ETFC
> > out of that spot and now near term wants to focus more on finding ways
> > to increase $$$ .... In other words, he'll hold a stake in ETFC, even
> > be privy and play a role in the ETFC finance committee decisions, but
> > now its about maximizing $$$ not control).

> > Wild card - it's not just SCHW and AMTD in the race - what new shapes,
> > stripes and forms will the jolly giant new bank holding companies take
> > - JPM, WFC, BAC, GS, MS, etc. (Don't you just hate those JPM black and
> > white commercials where there's the hipster dufus taking his Chase
> > card and acting all spastic holding a four leaf clover over his card,
> > making a wish, etc. b/c he wants his next purchase free on JPM?  You
> > all realize that's just JPM brainwashing you to spend so you can be
> > rewarded with a free cup of coffee .... My larger point is that these
> > large banks are already gaming to show you how "cool" they are and I
> > wouldn't discount them buying up ETFC to say - look what you can do on
> > your IPhone now through JPM!!!!! It's soooo cool.).

> > Are we closer to a merger - possibly - the gap or differences in
> > opinions to me seem fewer and fewer.  Plus, we have still heard
> > nothing about a new CEO. (You remove your TARP app, analysts agree the
> > company is stabilizing, you have Counsel who specializes in mergers
> > and acqs, you have the largest investor talking about new strategic
> > plans different from investment strategies in ETFC, you have a trend
> > favoring online brokers or a rush of clients plateauing (so you need
> > to buy more market share like think or swim ....).  IMHO, we're closer
> > but is it tomorrow that we find an offer on the table or after the new
> > year.

> > Opinions?

> > On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> - Show quoted text -

> Capn - I'm an engineer so I say the glass is just twice as big as it
> needs to be. :)

> On Nov 4, 11:52 am, t <dal...@cox.net> wrote:

> > I feel  that it will be in November and if not  then next year.

> > On Nov 4, 10:06 am, capn <l...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > > Wes - give me educated guesses why you think there's something in the
> > > wind.  Not being critical - being constructively critical - assess the
> > > parts .... Game a possible scenario.  I'll start - buyout has been a
> > > goal all along but first Citadel had to recoup as much of its
> > > investment as possible, while their Kensington and other major hedge
> > > funds healed.  First indication that ETFC was considering a merger -
> > > ETFC hires Karl A. Roessner from Clifford Chance as new General
> > > Counsel.  Karl is familiar w/ ETFC, having represented the company and
> > > his specialty is mergers and acquisitions (he likely worked on the
> > > sale of some of ETFCs assets in Canada).

> > > Fill the gap - AMTD sees more needed to be done to ETFCs balance sheet
> > > before it makes an offer/ETFC and other analysts see substantial
> > > stabilization and cash on the balance sheet - how close are both
> > > camps? Some say the flight from traditional broker/client
> > > relationships to self-directed banking/brokerages has plateaued and
> > > others say the trend is just gaining steam (glass half empty/half full
> > > scenario - I always say "f@ck the glass b/c it only leaves you 2
> > > choices and doesn't show you what's really around the curve").

> > > Citadel states that it will take different investment approaches going
> > > forward - it will not pursue ETFC-type of investments in the future (a
> > > change in strategic planning for Citadel - KG has always said he'd
> > > like to find a vehicle to take Citadel public, perhaps he's taken ETFC
> > > out of that spot and now near term wants to focus more on finding ways
> > > to increase $$$ .... In other words, he'll hold a stake in ETFC, even
> > > be privy and play a role in the ETFC finance committee decisions, but
> > > now its about maximizing $$$ not control).

> > > Wild card - it's not just SCHW and AMTD in the race - what new shapes,
> > > stripes and forms will the jolly giant new bank holding companies take
> > > - JPM, WFC, BAC, GS, MS, etc. (Don't you just hate those JPM black and
> > > white commercials where there's the hipster dufus taking his Chase
> > > card and acting all spastic holding a four leaf clover over his card,
> > > making a wish, etc. b/c he wants his next purchase free on JPM?  You
> > > all realize that's just JPM brainwashing you to spend so you can be
> > > rewarded with a free cup of coffee .... My larger point is that these
> > > large banks are already gaming to show you how "cool" they are and I
> > > wouldn't discount them buying up ETFC to say - look what you can do on
> > > your IPhone now through JPM!!!!! It's soooo cool.).

> > > Are we closer to a merger - possibly - the gap or differences in
> > > opinions to me seem fewer and fewer.  Plus, we have still heard
> > > nothing about a new CEO. (You remove your TARP app, analysts agree the
> > > company is stabilizing, you have Counsel who specializes in mergers
> > > and acqs, you have the largest investor talking about new strategic
> > > plans different from investment strategies in ETFC, you have a trend
> > > favoring online brokers or a rush of clients plateauing (so you need
> > > to buy more market share like think or swim ....).  IMHO, we're closer
> > > but is it tomorrow that we find an offer on the table or after the new
> > > year.

> > > Opinions?

> > > On Nov 4, 11:06 am, wes sliwowski <downtr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > I smell something positive in the air :))

> > > > On Nov 4, 10:09 am, hinkyimport <hanklee.zh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > > > I have been patiently waiting for months.- Hide quoted text -

> > - Show quoted text -