Wal-Mart's (NYSE:WMT) Secret Weapon Back

Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) has always gone back to their secret weapon, or rather, not-so-secret weapon of lowering prices when sales start to slow down, and that's the case again as the giant retailer has announced they're again cutting prices on 10,000 products or more to entice customers back to their stores.

Having said that, there's doubt as whether customers, especially middle-class customers, have in fact been leaving the store because their circumstances have improved, implying they were a temporary phenomenon related to the recession, or they've found prices for a number of items close to Wal-Mart's prices, making a trip to the retail discounter irrelevant.

Wal-Mart claims it's not the abandoning of the stores by middle-class shoppers because conditions have improved, but rather the latter, that food and electronic prices have fallen to the place where competitors can compete closely with them, the reason they're returning to a focus on price as their chief competitive weapon.

The company added they're not going to stop with the cuts on 10,000 items, but plan on expanding that in the months ahead with the help of a number of their suppliers, who they're asking to cut prices as well.

In return, Wal-Mart will spotlight the products on their shelves, which should result in increased sales for their partners.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad Changing the World? Doubtful

Future of Apple iPad

There's no doubt Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the best, if not the best, companies in the world in creating interest and buzz about their latest products, and that's no different with the Apple iPad, which became available to consumers today.

But strip away all the hype and emotion Apple creates, and the iPad isn't that big of a deal, and deals largely with future potential, rather than what is can do today. Of course that's one of the secrets of Apple, they know how to sell potential while making it cool to buy a product of theirs which is more related to status than it is to where the product currently stands as a practical and improved device.

It's really just a version of the iPhone without the calling capabilities included with it.

The price is pretty steep for the iPad, starting at $499. The price will go up for those who want a cellular data connection, which will be made available by the end of April.

Apple's job is to get the device in the hands of consumers and eventually businesses as well, and once they are able to accomplish that (if indeed they can), from there they'll make improvements, listen to feedback and make the adjustments which will make it a long-term success. That's at least the game plan of the company.

The problem of course is whether or not it takes hold, and that's not a certainty be any means, no matter what the hype is.

There are too many negatives with the iPad at this time to make it a ubiquitous device, and I think there will have to be major changes before it will gain scale, if it ever does.

As has been the case with similar devices, it's just hard to convince consumers they need yet another device to run around with when they're on the go, and at home, it's not something you would need to use, as your other computers are there for that purpose.

And the functions of the iPad aren't really any different than what we already have available to us, so why would be pay a minimum of $500 to get what we already can do.

Some complaints about the device are it can't be used with printers, runs one program at a time, no media storage card ports, no Flash video capability and no camera.

We won't know until the hype and drama reside, but the iPad will have a challenge to break out as a tablet computer, where everyone else has failed. At this time I don't see the differentiator that would change that from happening again with it. But it'll be fun and interesting to see if Jobs and Apple can pull it off.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) Taiwan Commercial Property Rising

Citigroup and Taiwan Commercial Property

Citigroup (NYSE:C) said Taiwan commercial property prices could rise as high as 15 percent over the next year, based on the upcoming signing of a trade agreement between the two countries.

According to Citigroup analyst Dave Chiou there are a lot of companies from mainland China who want to set up offices in Taiwan after the deal is signed, which is sure to increase the value of properties in the country.

The agreement mentioned is in regard to what is being called an economic cooperation framework agreement or ECFA, which will lower tariffs between the two countries and generate more investment between them.

Those close to the situation say even after signing the agreement though, it'll be a gradual entry into the country because of the inherent animosity between the two countries.

Uncertainty about the market and regulations in Taiwan could also make it a slow process. But if 15 percent is slow, they could really experience a commercial property bubble over the next several years once the uncertainties are removed.

Dick Bove Upgrades Citigroup (NYSE:C) to Buy

Citigroup upgraded by Bove

Citigroup (NYSE:C) got some more wind in its sales as Rochdale analyst Dick Bove upgraded the stock from neutral to buy.

Interestingly, he viewed the government getting rid of the 7.7 billion shares it owns in Citigroup as the major reason behind his thinking.

Essentially he through out the actual condition of the company and the long term challenges it faces.

But it is understandable concerning Bove's reasoning, as many investors feel as long as the government is wrapped around the neck of Citigroup they'll be held back and not able to take the necessary steps to move forward.

Bove increased his target price for Citigroup from $3.75 to $5.