AIG Get Caught By The Auditors - February 14, 2008 9:47

Boy you could here the squeals of pain all the way down Wall St. Getting caught by the auditors is the risk you take when you start playing with exotic instruments and “forget” to let the accountants know things may have changed. PricewaterhouseCoopers applied the pressure, uncovering “material weakness” in the way AIG accounted for […]

US credit markets get huge boost - February 13, 2008 9:32

Tuesday (February 12) was a big day for a couple of credit markets suffering from the year long credit slump.  The mortgage industry, the leading catalyst of the credit trouble, was boosted by a Bush administration announcement that it was working with major mortgage lenders to freeze the foreclosure process for thirty days.  Warren Buffet […]

The Collection Agency – Weekly Report - February 11, 2008 19:35

Evidence from the US Federal Reserve shows lending standards have tightened appreciably in the past 3 months. Although this is lagging information it is of great importance as it shows the level of liquidity available to consumers and business. Whilst it can be risky to extrapolate a forward outlook from past data in this circumstance […]

Inflation concerns may limit Fed rate cuts - February 8, 2008 10:28

The US government and Federal Reserve have responded aggressively to combat recession concerns that stem from ongoing housing and mortgage struggles and new concerns over a tightening service sector and slowing business growth.  The combined 1.25% Fed rate cuts the last week of January, brought the Fed fund rate to 3%.  While it will take […]

Wachovia, IAC and Falling Out Of The Lending Tree - February 7, 2008 9:59

The banks continue to struggle as they attempt to rebuild capital after losses incurred in the credit derivative markets continue to climb. With the Basel 2 regulations now in full flow banks can no longer gloss over such issues and wait for profits to make up a shortfall. Action is required immediately to repair the […]

Oil falls below $89 per barrel encouraging recession fears - February 6, 2008 10:03

Oil futures fell below $89 per barrel Tuesday (February 5) as concerns over recession gripped Wall Street.  Many economists believe that oil saw its peak after a brief stint over $100 early last month.  The major catalyst for Tuesday’s drop was a surprising report that showed the generally strong service sector may be weakening, indicating […]

Automobile Wreckage. It Isn’t Just Ford and GM - February 4, 2008 14:41

Contained, they said. No spillover from the financial collapse, they said. The consumer is resilient and will continue spending, they said. Who are “they” you ask? The politicians, bankers, Fed speakers, analysts, brokers, economists and talking heads on the financial and – of late – mainstream media. All out there telling you its going to […]

From Credit to Money, Part II - February 1, 2008 20:16

WHY DON’T we just do away with all the different currencies of the world, and settle on one single money to buy, sell, invest and light our cigars with? Because as it is, the Babel we live in – where 143 different kinds of currency either change hands or act as a way of measuring […]

Fed cuts funds rate again, bonds worry market - February 1, 2008 10:17

The Fed announced a ½ point rate cut Wednesday afternoon (January 30) to the Fed fund rate, reducing the rate it charges banks to 3%.  This was the second cut in a week following last week’s surprise .75 point cut.  Financial markets had been widely anticipating the ½ point cut and most economists believe the […]