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LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion. Who says there’s no Inflation?

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linkedinHere’s yet another example that inflation exists in several pockets of the economy thanks to the reckless monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. From today’s WSJ:

The stock gains of the Obama era are partly a reflection of the resilience of American business in a tough environment, but they may also result in part from the Federal Reserve’s monetary exertions. Perhaps Mr. Hoffman decided this is the time to sell near the top.

It’s clear how government policies are shaping the financing of the LinkedIn deal. As of March 31, Microsoft’s balance sheet held more than $105 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. You would think it would pay cash for LinkedIn.

But the U.S. has the industrialized world’s highest corporate income tax rate and insists on taxing foreign profits when they return to the U.S. So according to Microsoft’s most recent quarterly report, nearly $103 billion of the cash was held “by our foreign subsidiaries and would be subject to material repatriation tax effects.” With the Fed still holding interest rates near zero, Microsoft plans to borrow most or all the cash to complete the purchase.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.

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