Baidu

Earlier today, the Chinese Internet (yes, it is its own category) experienced a glitch in the matrix. Whether this is due to further potential confusion over the fate of Bo Xilai (and/or any rumors of a concurrent/past/future military coup), or just overall confusion as to what is actually happening in the country, or simply mere censorship gone uber-wild is unclear. As the WSJ explains it, "At around 11 a.m. local time Thursday, China’s Internet suddenly began behaving very strangely. People inside China reported being unable to access some Chinese web sites like Sina’s Corp’s portals as well as popular foreign web sites not normally blocked by China’s firewall. Simultaneously, Internet users outside China, including in Hong Kong, reported difficulties accessing key Chinese sites, like search engine Baidu and the website of the People’s Bank of China." And while we have no idea of what is going on behind the scenes, we are fairly confident what isn't. Such as the country growing at a 9% as has been wildly speculated all day in what some suggest is a leak of Chinese official data. For a glimpse of what is going on, we went to get some local color such as this message board posting at CND.org. Is this the full story? Of course not. But neither are the endless lies peddled by the PBOC and the CCP. Our advice: keep the below in mind while reading any economic data coming out of the country Ministry of Truth and Bureau of Propaganda in the coming weeks and months. Because if today's Internet glitch is any indication, things behind the scenes are truly starting to heat up.

While we’re not bubbling over with optimism, we believe the New Year will be anything but boring. 

In light of the fact that Goldman Sachs actively trades against its clients, it is now high time for the U.S. federal prosecutors probe into Goldman’s trading practice of Baidu IPOs as well.

First RIM, and now Baidu. BIDU stock is plunging after hours, down over 14% at last check after the company announced revenues will be between 1.19 billion yuan ($174 million) and 1.23 billion yuan. Consensus was 1.36 billion yuan. How a Chinese company, in the middle of the greatest bubble reincarnation, supported by an economy that is a reverse feedback loop, can miss, is shocking and is sure to put the recent tech rally in perspective. In the meantime, as a reminder of how collectivist groupthink is cultivated and encouraged by the mighty ones on 85 Broad, we have attached the most recent BIDU report from Goldman Sachs, which is still on the firm's Conviction Buy List.

Much has been said about Goldman Sachs by articles like the one Mr. Matt Taibbi wrote and published by Rolling Stone on July 2, 2009 - “Inside the Great American Bubble Machine”. But most have not heard about Goldman Sachs involvement in the initial public offering (IPO) of Baidu (BIDU) and the subsequent BIDU share price movements back in 2005 and 2006.