Securities Sleuth

Marvell Technology Group (MRVL)

Bermuda-based Marvell Technology Group, Ltd. Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) provides semiconductors of analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing, and embedded microprocessor integrated circuits worldwide.  On October 3, 2006, the Company would be forced to restate its financial statements to correct for the backdating of stock options. From the time that assertions were first made in the press that Marvell's options practices might be questionable to the date of this announcement, Marvell stock sank from over $28 per share to roughly $16 per share.  Investors who purchased Marvell Technology from the beginning of 2005 to October 3, 2006 are affected. 

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trusts

Royalty trusts can provide steady streams of income to investors.  However, if the oil company has problems deliering oil, it can be devastating for investors in a royalty trust.  BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) is a publicly-traded ruyalty trust headquartered in New York.  This August BP disclosed a big problem -- they might have to shut down the Prudhoe Bay pipeline. The market reacted very strongly.  Prior to this disclosed BPT closed on August 4, 2006, are $87.89.  By August 8, 2006, BPT shares closed at $73.61. By September the price had declined to below $70 as a result of continuing troubling disclosures concnerning BP's conduct.  It appears that investors who purchased BPT between March 15, 2006 and August 4, 2006, are affected because they purchased the stock at an artificially high price.