Archive - Jun 2009

For a good example of just how worthless of a tool for investors (and useful for persuading follow on offering "participation") the Goldman Sachs Conviction Buy list is, look no further than the recent performance of REIT CBL & Associates, coupled with the recommendations on the stock by Goldman Sachs REIT analyst Jonathan Habermann.

hat tip root

Equity markets may need to be reigned in a little - after the recent drop in mortgage rates and a steepening of the bond curve (thanks to a not insubstantial drop in equities), the S&P target makers may need to adjust the target for equities again. With the S&P running higher for the day, both the 2s10s is steepening and mortgages are starting to run wider. Time to take the market lower to see at what level we get a new equilibrium.

Equity markets may need to be reigned in a little - after the recent drop in mortgage rates and a steepening of the bond curve (thanks to a not insubstantial drop in equities), the S&P target makers may need to adjust the target for equities again. With the S&P running higher for the day, both the 2s10s is steepening and mortgages are starting to run wider. Time to take the market lower to see at what level we get a new equilibrium.

Equity markets may need to be reigned in a little - after the recent drop in mortgage rates and a steepening of the bond curve (thanks to a not insubstantial drop in equities), the S&P target makers may need to adjust the target for equities again. With the S&P running higher for the day, both the 2s10s is steepening and mortgages are starting to run wider. Time to take the market lower to see at what level we get a new equilibrium.

Eddie Bauer, which emerged from bankruptcy as a standalone company in 2005 after former owner Spiegel had filed for chapter 11 protection, has just filed for bankruptcy again, the latest casualty of the real "green shoots free" consumer "spending" landscape.

Clothing retailer Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. filed on Wednesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection, the latest retail casualty of the recession.

The good news:

Currently, 17 of the 124 sovereigns we rate have 'AAA' long-term ratings and stable outlooks. These include close G7 peers, such as Canada, France, and Germany.

We believe the U.S.'s key credit strengths include:

-- A high-income, highly diversified economy, with unusually flexible labor and product markets.

The good news:

Currently, 17 of the 124 sovereigns we rate have 'AAA' long-term ratings and stable outlooks. These include close G7 peers, such as Canada, France, and Germany.

We believe the U.S.'s key credit strengths include:

-- A high-income, highly diversified economy, with unusually flexible labor and product markets.

The good news:

Currently, 17 of the 124 sovereigns we rate have 'AAA' long-term ratings and stable outlooks. These include close G7 peers, such as Canada, France, and Germany.

We believe the U.S.'s key credit strengths include:

-- A high-income, highly diversified economy, with unusually flexible labor and product markets.

Just released, a new and highly relevant Weekly Strategy report out from Albert Edwards of Societe Generale. Not only does Edwards, who was previously vilified then praised for calling the 1997 Asian Bubble, see a significant drop in equities before the end of the year, his main concern is every optimist's greatest green shoot: China.

Just released, a new and highly relevant Weekly Strategy report out from Albert Edwards of Societe Generale. Not only does Edwards, who was previously vilified then praised for calling the 1997 Asian Bubble, see a significant drop in equities before the end of the year, his main concern is every optimist's greatest green shoot: China.

Just released, a new and highly relevant Weekly Strategy report out from Albert Edwards of Societe Generale. Not only does Edwards, who was previously vilified then praised for calling the 1997 Asian Bubble, see a significant drop in equities before the end of the year, his main concern is every optimist's greatest green shoot: China.

Joe Saluzzi of Themis Trading has put together a great synopsis of a High Frequency Trading roundtable held today, called, in traditional HFT egomaniacal fashion, “High Frequency Trading: The New World Order.” Useful insight for many, who have been increasingly inquiring about the topic on Zero Hedge. Joe's conclusions is worth highlighting:

Even as the equity market tries to pretend that it can still see one or two glimmers of hope despite the resignation of even CNBC from using the green shoots term, and tries even harder to be excited at the prospect of Larry Summers soon taking over as Worldwide Regulation Czar, financial company CDS have blown out wider (both on an absolute and relative basis) over the past month. Oddly, Wells Fargo, which is facing million in foreclosed units, is considered less risky even than than the government's "most favored market maker" and Sigma X deobfuscator Goldman Sachs.

Even as the equity market tries to pretend that it can still see one or two glimmers of hope despite the resignation of even CNBC from using the green shoots term, and tries even harder to be excited at the prospect of Larry Summers soon taking over as Worldwide Regulation Czar, financial company CDS have blown out wider (both on an absolute and relative basis) over the past month. Oddly, Wells Fargo, which is facing million in foreclosed units, is considered less risky even than than the government's "most favored market maker" and Sigma X deobfuscator Goldman Sachs.