New Year’s resolutions for US housing market - December 25, 2007 23:08

As 2007 comes to an end, many investors, home owners, and creditors in the US are hoping for a strong turnaround in housing and mortgages for 2008.  While there are still opportunities for the markets to extend their slumps into the New Year, there are some signs of hope and some reasons to believe the […]

Mortgage rates hold historic lows as foreclosures fall in November - December 21, 2007 11:24

According to Bankrate.com surveys, conventional 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage loan rates remain near all time lows since average rate data was first collected (1985).  This week’s average 30-year fixed loan rate is 5.8%, virtually steady from last week, while the popular refinance loan, the 15-year fixed rate dropped three basis points from the prior […]

Credit Default Swaps – An Example In Real Time - December 20, 2007 9:43

In that almost mystical way in which co-incidence happens, a real time occurrence of the risks I outlined in A Beginners Guide To Credit Default Swaps has appeared. With excellent timing S&P downgraded the rating of ACA Capital Holdings Inc to CCC or, as it is known, junk. Whilst not a happy occurrence, it does […]

Oil still threatens $100, US government passes new fuel efficiency standards - December 19, 2007 9:58

An announcement this morning that Turkish soldiers went into northern Iraq to go after Kurdish rebels sparked a rise of nearly $2.00 in crude oil trade this morning (December 18), a 1.9% gain.  Crude oil has fallen back slightly after approaching $100 per barrel during November.

A Beginners Guide To Credit Default Swaps - December 18, 2007 9:34

We hear and see the alphabet of the derivatives world thrown around with gay abandon, like so much confetti at the Brides third (and definitely for the last time, she insists) wedding. Often the word “bond” is thrown into the mix, just to spice up the play, not unlike the bridesmaids, who at 2 and […]

Some economists concerned US dollar on verge of major collapse - December 14, 2007 22:45

As the US dollar hovers below its record lows against the major European currencies and many other world currencies, some economists and foreign exchange market professionals have expressed concern that the dollar may be on the brink of a major collapse. 

Term Auction Facility - December 13, 2007 9:53

With credit markets extremely tight due to the continuing unavailability of short term commercial paper (CP), The Federal Reserve, The Bank of Japan, The Bank of England, The European Central Bank, The Bank of Canada and The Swiss National Bank have decided to experiment with the monetary system.

Interest Rates Effect US Economy, Consumers - December 12, 2007 9:52

Following today’s Federal Reserve interest rate cut, many are wondering if the United States Central Bank has moved too quickly to reduce the benchmark interest rate that it charges to banks.  Others were hoping for an even more dramatic move of a half-point reduction instead of the quarter-point decrease.

Pensioned off? - December 11, 2007 16:16

There I was, keyboard and mouse at the ready, a hot mug of coffee carefully placed in the thoughtfully supplied cup holder on my Dell.