money player

One Wall Street, Bear Stearns' offices.

By 1951, Bear Stearns had already managed a considerable amount of assets, with institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals totaling approximately $1 million to $2 million. This is Sin Yiu-man's guess, and it is not supported by data, so it cannot be considered speculation.

Bear Stearns was a private partnership at the time and was not obligated to disclose the size of its assets under management. It could not collect enough information from public channels unless it went to great lengths to dig information out of insiders.

But he had no interest in Bear Stearns and there was no need for him to go to great lengths, since the treatment he received was already a good indication of his interest.

Just now, the account manager from Bear Stearns came downstairs to greet Jacob and escorted him to his personal office, a very new office, suggesting that Jacob had only been there a few days and perhaps had already earned some leadership experience.

“Adam, your stock has been sold. It's worth 8.47 times more, and you've received $423.5 million. Take a look.” Jacob handed a document to Sin Yiu-man.

Xian Yaowen took the document, glanced at it, and put it aside. "Jacob, what do you think of DuPont?"

"DuPont has disclosed many new technologies this year, and the demand for military orders is still expanding. The stock price will rise steadily in the short term."

How much is it now?

"100.71."

What is the minimum margin requirement?

“The Federal Reserve sets it at 50%,” Jacob said with a faint smile.

Sin Yiu-man chuckled and replied, "I don't want to hear about the Federal Reserve, I only want to hear about Bear Stearns."

"25%, interest rate 4%, commission 1%, that's the maximum I can offer."

"Thank you. I want 4 shares of DuPont. Once the stock price breaks through $120, please sell them to me immediately. If it hasn't broken through by the end of the year, please sell them to me as well."

Jacob asked in surprise, "You don't have a positive outlook on DuPont's long-term prospects?"

"DuPont has had it too easy all the time, and it's time for it to stumble."

"What? I don't quite understand."

"You didn't know?" Xian Yaowen asked in surprise.

"Adam, tell me quickly."

“You owe me a favor,” Sin Yiu-man chuckled. “From 1917 to 1919, DuPont invested $50 million to acquire a 23% stake in General Motors, becoming its largest single shareholder.”

In the 1920s, a group of executives, led by Pierre DuPont, directly participated in the management of General Motors, promoting deep cooperation between the two companies.

DuPont, through the board of directors of General Motors, required General Motors to prioritize the purchase of DuPont's coatings, plastics, and synthetic fibers. General Motors accounts for more than 50% of DuPont's automotive materials sales, and other competitors are squeezed out of the supply chain.

Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act prohibits companies from restricting trade through contracts, alliances, or conspiracies; Section 2 prohibits monopolies or attempts to monopolize an industry.

Section 7 of the Clayton Act prohibits companies from materially weakening competition through stock acquisitions.

Do I need to say anything more?

Jacob said sincerely, "Adam, I owe you a great favor."

“OK.” Sin Yiu-man shrugged and continued, “General Motors’ major shareholders are DuPont, the Morgan Group, the Rockefeller family, and Prudential and Metropolitan through pension accounts.”

The UAW (United Auto Workers) has long accused DuPont and General Motors of conspiring to suppress workers' wages, but no one has paid attention to it.

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have published numerous articles criticizing DuPont's control over General Motors, portraying it as a hidden monopoly empire.

Do competitors ostracized by DuPont, such as PPG Industries, harbor resentment towards DuPont?
Will Ford and Chrysler be unhappy that General Motors obtained low-cost new materials, such as nylon and Teflon, through DuPont?

Consumer protection organizations such as NCL, CR, and CFA have criticized DuPont's monopoly for causing inflated car prices, such as the fact that the DuPont nylon used in seats was 15% more expensive than the market price.

Is Pierre Dupont 71 years old this year?
It seems so. In any case, they're getting old, and the power transition within the DuPont family will likely occur within the next couple of years.

Sin Yiu-man clapped his hands. "That's all I have to say. The most important point is for you to think about yourself, otherwise you'll seem too foolish."

Jacob laughed heartily and said, "You've already made things clear. Do I need to think about it? Next year is an election year, and the Democrats will definitely attack the Republicans. DuPont is a perfect target."

"Hmm." Xian Yaowen nodded slightly. "423.5 minus 100.71 leaves 322.79. I want to buy Pfizer stock. How much do you think I can buy?"

Jacob took out a large folder, flipped through it, and said, "Pfizer's total share capital is 1760 million shares, with less than 30% being freely tradable. Because retail investors don't understand the effects of oxytetracycline, their participation is very low. Those who participate in the trading are all professional investors. This year's turnover rate is only 4.3%. If you want a lot, you should go to the pink sheets market to buy them."

What is the current stock price?

"Wait a moment." Jacob pressed the intercom. "Henry, Pfizer stock price."

"1.21, wait, just updated, 1.22."

"Thank you."

Jacob pressed the intercom again, giving Sin Yiu-man a look that said, "You heard me."

“I’m investing 222.79 million to buy Pfizer stock, with a target of 10%. Let me know if you don’t have enough money.”

"Long-term holding?"

"Yes."

"Disclose?"

"Do not."

"Give me two to six months, and I will try my best to buy enough stocks at the lowest cost."

"My requirement is that I must see 10% of the shares within six months. I don't care what you do in the meantime, even if it's arbitrage. So, you two are already preparing for your wedding?"

"Yes, we have already arranged to look at houses on weekends for the next three months."

"suburbs?"

“Let’s buy a bigger one in the suburbs, somewhere closer. I like kids, so we need more rooms.” Jacob’s face shone with a fatherly glow.

"You don't need a high budget. You should trust that you'll be moving soon."

Jacob chuckled and said, "I plan to decorate our first house carefully."

Sin Yiu-man shrugged. "Alright, I'll take care of the kitchen."

"Ha, I'll make a purchase order for you."

“No problem. Use the remaining 100 million to buy IBM stock as soon as possible. I need to take the stock with me for financing.”

"OK."

ten o'clock.

As Sin Yiu-man strolled through Columbia University's campus, he nodded to a Chinese woman walking towards him and said "Good morning." She returned the greeting, and the two passed each other.

After walking a distance, Sin Yiu-man looked back and sighed inwardly, then continued walking forward.

The woman is Mr. Wu Chien-shiung. If he could, he would love to keep her, taking care of all her needs, from food and drink to research. But there are no "ifs." A woman who plays with nuclear energy is not someone he can touch.

A moment later, he spotted Buffett diligently studying among the students sitting on the steps of the Rockefeller Center.

He walked over and sat down next to Buffett.

"Still studying?"

Buffett looked up from his book, turned to look at Sin Yiu-man, and chuckled, "Adam, you're very punctual."

"Hey buddy, I'm your boss, don't talk to me like that."

Should I use a humble tone?

Why not?

“I will invest more money.”

With a light laugh, Sin Yiu-man pulled a check from his inner suit pocket, flicked it with his finger, then spread his hands out, meeting Buffett's gaze. "$5. Now, begin your performance."

Buffett's smile faded, his expression turned serious, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Ladies and gentlemen, today Mr. Buffett will be having a grand..."

"Alright, I know you're imitating Ed Sullivan. Please be yourself."

"Ha!" Buffett laughed loudly, "You watch 'The Sullivan Show' too?"

"Yes, you've already graduated?"

"A month ago."

"What's the plan?"

“I wanted to join Professor Graham’s investment firm, but I was rejected. Damn, Jews first.”

"Ha, I'm a major client of Bear Stearns. Would you like a letter of recommendation?"

"No need, I'm going back to Omaha to work for my dad."

Sin Yiu-man slapped the check into Buffett's hand, saying, "If you lose money, I'll send eight assassins to hunt you down."

Buffett scoffed, "Please increase it to twelve."

"You do not deserve."

"what."

“OK, you country bumpkin from Omaha.” Sin Yiu-man stood up, dusted himself off, and said, “I’ll give you a chance to treat a big shot to dinner. Wait for my call.”

"you?"

Sin Yiu-man tugged at his suit collar. "It's too big. Are you nervous?"

“Yeah, I’m nervous.” Buffett smiled knowingly.

"Don't be nervous, one day you will become a great person like me."

"I am looking forward."

Sin Yiu-man waved and walked down the steps, saying, "Bye-bye."

"The contract hasn't been signed yet," Buffett's voice followed.

Sin Yiu-man turned around and chuckled, "Big shot, you know what I mean when I hire an assassin to take care of you."

"Hahaha."

10:40.

Sin Yiu-man arrived at the foot of the Empire State Building and looked up, trying to find the north side of the 79th floor.

A few years ago, a B-25 Mitchell bomber had a close encounter with the Empire State Building, killing more than a dozen people and destroying 30% of the building's estimated value. Rents plummeted, with a typical 1000-square-foot office costing less than $5500 a year.

The renovated offices on the north side of the 79th floor are even cheaper, costing only $8600 for the first three years, increasing from the fourth year onwards.

The office of the silver sulfide company is located on the north side of the 79th floor.

Unable to discern anything amiss, he entered the building, took the world's fastest elevator, and swiftly arrived at the 79th floor.

Arriving at the entrance of the silver sulfide office, he glanced at the company nameplate and saw traces left by a rag. He took out a handkerchief and wiped it clean.

He then pushed open the office door and entered, where he saw only a handful of people: Arthur Locke, Tommy Davis, William Congerton, as well as lawyer Florence Dix and secretary Erin Ryan.

The silver sulfide department has small offices and meeting rooms, but for ease of communication, everyone works in the large office. If you want some peace and quiet, you can retreat to a small office for a while.

Arthur Locke spotted Sin Yiu-man, but merely waved a greeting before continuing his conversation with Tommy Davis and William Congerton.

Sin Yiu-man stepped forward, leaned against the corner of the desk, and listened to the three people's discussion.

"The Model-200 open-reel tape recorder's recording quality far surpasses that of vinyl records and wire recording, occupying more than 90% of the US professional recording equipment market share. If Ampex makes further technological breakthroughs and develops a tape recorder that ordinary households can use, its valuation will increase by at least several dozen times. Now is a very good time to invest in Ampex."

“Arthur, don’t forget that Ampex’s recording technology comes from AEG. AEG has partnered with BASF to improve the K1 magnetoacoustic recorder, using BASF’s plastic-based magnetic tape, which is more durable than Ampex’s paper-based magnetic tape. I think AEG is a better investment than Ampex.”

“Tommy, AEG is a German company,” Wilhelm Congerton said.

"William, investment knows no borders."

"Tommy, there's not much point in arguing now. You go and gather information on AEG, and I'll gather information on Ampex. Once we have enough information, we can compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two companies."

"I have no opinion."

"That's all for now, meeting adjourned."

“Wait a minute.” Sin Yiu-man clapped his hands at the right moment. “I’ll treat everyone to lunch. We can go to the observation deck or ‘The Palm Too.’ Florence and Eileen, it’s up to you two ladies to decide where to go. There’s no budget limit. Decide quickly and then call to order the dishes that need to be reserved.”

"Yes, boss," Eileen replied happily.

"Coffee, thank you." Xian Yaowen nodded slightly to Eileen, then said to Arthur Locke, "Meeting room, bring pumpkin seeds."

A minute later, Sin Yiu-man was eating Arthur Locke's pumpkin seeds while listening to the other man report on his work.

“We invested $50 in a research and development company, and haven’t seen any returns yet. We also invested $7 in Gerber Scientific Instruments, which gives us a 35% stake, and we should receive several thousand dollars in dividends this year.”

In March, I came into contact with William Moog, who developed an electro-hydraulic servo valve, a device for controlling hydraulic pressure to precisely control actuators. It can be applied to control aircraft ailerons with a precision far exceeding that of mechanical systems, and has a promising market prospect.

Last week, William Moog and I reached an agreement for Silver Sulfide to invest $20 in three installments to jointly establish Moog Corporation, with us holding a 45% stake.

The first phase of $3 has already been invested, but we're having some trouble securing subsequent funding; we don't have much cash left in our accounts.

"Funding is not a problem; I will inject more funds."

"This is great news. I'm in contact with GSI (Geophysical Business) in Dallas, Texas. Their main business used to be seismographs, but their customers have shifted from oil companies to the military, where they manufacture detection equipment for submarines."

The company underwent a major business restructuring this year, with its laboratories and manufacturing divisions registered independently as Texas Instruments. Its core business is shifting towards electronics technology, and it should soon be producing germanium transistors.

"Western Electronics' technology?"

"Yes."

"GSI shouldn't be short of money."

“Research and development is a money pit, and GSI co-founders Cecil Green and Eric Johnson don’t mind having someone share some of the risks with them.”

"So what valuation did the two co-founders give their company?"

"$2000 million."

Is the GSI really worth that much?

“I think $1500 million is a reasonable valuation, but if you want to invest, you have to accept a $500 million premium. We can’t offer GSI anything other than capital.”

"So, we can't just invest as much as we want?"

"Yes, up to $200 million."

Sin Yiu-man chuckled and said, "Two million US dollars is already a difficult amount for me. I should invest it in at least two installments, with the first installment being no more than one million US dollars."

$50 from Ogilvy, $50 from CHK, and $50 from Monkey King, that's $150 million. The $518 million from selling stocks is gone, leaving only $368 million. Xerox and Texas Instruments are both good companies, and he doesn't want to miss out, otherwise he'll be in dire straits again.

"I think there shouldn't be a big problem."

“Okay, I will inject another $150 million into the company as soon as possible. Arthur, if possible, invest in one or two projects that can generate returns quickly. I’m under a lot of pressure.”

"Our investment direction dictates that our investments are impossible..."

"Okay, okay, no need to explain. I know very well that we won't see any returns anytime soon. I just want to hear a word of comfort." Xian Yaowen picked up a handful of pumpkin seeds and threw them into his mouth.

Arthur Locke shrugged, indicating that he was also helpless.

Sin Yiu-man was even more helpless. After deducting another $150 million, he was left with only $118 million. He didn't know if that would be enough for Xerox, and where he would get the remaining $100 million from Texas Instruments.

The $215 million that Carlo Gambino hasn't received yet can't be used for the time being; it needs to be brought back to Hong Kong and go through several roundabout routes before it can be used.

Alas, my words have come true; I've had to prepare for a mortgage loan before I even got my hands on the IBM stock.

Worried about not having enough money, we went up to the observation deck to enjoy a high-altitude lunch and reward the five pioneers.

The properties of silver sulfide dictate that the company's workforce doesn't need to be too large; it's unlikely to exceed single digits even in the next fifty years.

Arthur Locke, Tommy Davis, and William Congerton were all students of George Doriot, and graduated from Harvard; Florence Dix had an undergraduate degree from Stanford and a master's degree from Harvard; Erin Ryan had an undergraduate degree from New York University, but her father was a professor at Harvard.

It can be said that silver sulfide has Harvard blood flowing through its veins, which was intentional on its part, in order to make it easier to absorb/attract Harvard's elites in the future.

Just like how Buffett couldn't get into Graham's investment company simply because Graham was Jewish, he prioritized recruiting Jews, and Jewish elites were happy to flock to his company.

Similarly, once word gets out about Silver Sulfide's success, the best Harvard students will be proud to have joined Silver Sulfide. With future donations and collaborative efforts, Silver Sulfide's name will be deeply ingrained in the Harvard community. When Harvard graduates need funding for startups, Silver Sulfide will be their first thought.

In this way, silver sulfide has secured nearly 20% of America's future business elites.

Stanford, MIT, Wharton, and Columbia could also establish targeted investment firms.

Finished eating.

Sin Yiu-man and Arthur Locke discussed the development strategy for silver sulfide over the next year, roughly stating that they would bet heavily when they were confident and lightly when they were less certain.

Of course, making a large bet requires his approval. He can compare the list of successful investments with the potential of the targets, and by taking into account the butterfly effect, he can more accurately assess the potential of the investment targets.

As for placing small bets, you don't need to bet on the exact company that eventually grows into a behemoth to make a profit. As long as there are others who recognize the value of the investment, even if it ends in bankruptcy, it is still worth investing in. As long as you invest early and don't end up being the last one holding the bag, the myth of making a thousand times the profit can be repeated.

Because at a certain stage, silver sulfide will become an investment trend indicator, and any investment target that uses silver sulfide will naturally be favored by a group of people.

Cedar Tavern, a salon for abstract expressionist painters.

Jackson Pollock, who had already made a name for himself, was acting drunk and disorderly. Willem de Kooning, who was slightly less successful, was also drunk and started spouting nonsense at Jackson Pollock.

At that moment, who could have imagined that one of the two drunkards would one day be making hundreds of millions, while the other would be rolling around in the millions?

Painters should die young so their paintings can be reborn in a better place. Before they die, they should smash their seals to prevent unworthy descendants from using their real seals to stamp fake paintings and colluding with auction houses to ruin their reputation. Their pure white stones will turn into stinking black excrement, and they will not find peace even as ghosts.

Sin Yiu-man's gaze lingered on the two men for a moment, wondering if taking a painting from each of them would cause the mastermind behind the scheme to flip the table and not let him get rich.

We don't know if the person in charge has even been born yet, so we can't come up with a solution. Let Wang Xiamin buy the painting first.

His gaze shifted back to the tabloid, where he carefully read the advertisement for the "High Return Investment Club."

Some people have connections and can profit through insider stock trading or real estate arbitrage. By investing a sum of money to become a member of the club, they can earn a monthly interest rate of 10% to 20%.

I must say, this business has quite potential.

I counted, and there are a total of 7 similar ads. If each one has a betting pool of $50, after deducting the interest already paid out, it shouldn't be a problem to put them together to $200 million. Let's do it?
Just as the idea came to mind, he immediately doubted himself. Wherever he did this kind of business, he would be targeted by local tyrants. It was unlikely that he had no one behind him. He needed people, both legal and illegal. Making a little money by doing one thing was not a big problem, but taking them all down would force them to investigate thoroughly.

Moreover, there's a significant chance that those pulling these kinds of tricks in New York are either Jewish or Italian. The Jews provide "financial advice," while the Italians are responsible for the violent execution—this is the main theme of New York's underworld.

Forget it, we'll still be relying on these two groups for funding in the future, so let's not cause any conflicts over petty gains.

I stopped watching the ads and started looking at the main content. I only looked at one page when Andrej Dudka appeared. He had a bruise on his left cheek and a color difference on the chest of his shirt that looked like it had been washed but hadn't dried yet.

Dudka sat down opposite him and said, "Adam, it's been a long time."

“Long time no see.” Sin Yiu-man pointed at Dudka’s cheek. “A medal or evidence of a crime?”

Dudka brandished his hands a few times, then announced, "The betrothal gifts are here."

"No, it should be pronounced 'Cai Lei Fa Quan.' So, you got beaten up by some kid who plays Cai Li Fo?"

“Not one, but five. Chinatown is in chaos. Those sons of bitches actually dared to attack the police.” Dudka lit a cigarette in frustration.

Xian Yaowen poured a glass of wine and placed it next to Dudka. "Who killed Chen Jisheng?"

"Flying Dragon Hall".

“I know, you already said it yesterday, I was asking who gave the order.”

"On the same day, the branch of Xieshengtang was attacked. 'Double Flower Red Stick' was shot three times but did not die."

Dudeka pronounced the words "Double Flower Red Stick" very clearly; it's unclear whether he says them often or if "Cai Li Fo" was just pretending.

"You mean the Flying Dragon Hall is rebelling?"

“The truth is still unknown, and everyone denies it.” Dudka picked up his glass and took a big gulp. “Adam, I’m in big trouble this time.”

"What trouble?"

“There are only a few days left until next Saturday, if…” Dudka hesitated.

"Andrei, the corruption within the NYPD is no secret. The 14th is the day they collect the money?"

"The second Saturday of every month."

"Perhaps I have a way to solve your problem."

"any solution?"

"Arrange for me to meet with your boss; I want to meet the highest-ranking one."

Dudka hesitated for a moment and said, "The highest-ranking superior I can contact is the deputy director."

"which one?"

The New York Police Department's top leadership team consists of one chief and four deputy chiefs. The first deputy chief is the chief's deputy and has power second only to the chief; the deputy chief of administration is responsible for budget and personnel; the deputy chief of operations is in charge of day-to-day policing; and the deputy chief of intelligence is responsible for combating gangs and espionage.

"Deputy Director of Intelligence James Kennedy."

"This is the perfect season for striped bass fishing. Please ask Mr. Kennedy if he has time for a boat fishing trip." (End of Chapter)