Archive - Apr 2009 - Story

Nothing like purchasing a major investment bank on the verge of bankruptcy with no due diligence (actually Ken Lewis would beg to differ). The Fed has reported a loss of 28% on its commercial mortgage loans and 38% on residential mortgage loans as a result of its participation in Maiden Lane, the Bear Stearns bail out vehicle.

Nothing like purchasing a major investment bank on the verge of bankruptcy with no due diligence (actually Ken Lewis would beg to differ). The Fed has reported a loss of 28% on its commercial mortgage loans and 38% on residential mortgage loans as a result of its participation in Maiden Lane, the Bear Stearns bail out vehicle.

S&P is out with a report which basically says car scrappage will be the new black... At least for autos. From a report just released, S&P sees a 13.6 million SAAR... in 2011!

Global Downturn In Auto And Truck Industries To Continue Through 2009, Reports Say

Well, this just gets deeper and deeper. Before we proceed with the rest of the article, it's important to note that there currently isn't really a significant amount of room for copper to fall. However, as we dig through the details an inconsistent picture emerges.

Well, this just gets deeper and deeper. Before we proceed with the rest of the article, it's important to note that there currently isn't really a significant amount of room for copper to fall. However, as we dig through the details an inconsistent picture emerges.

Continuing the educational series of trading circuit breakers, today I present the data on when Goldman Sachs may finally be prohibited from mass funnelling in and out of the NYSE program market. The answer is: Never.

On November 7, 2007 the NYSE removed the trading curb limitation for violent market moves.

This is getting surreal. Goldman principal program trading is now well over 5x compared to its customer and agency trades and a 150 million share pick up compared to last week. For yet another week, Goldman's principal trading represents more than half of all NYSE member firm principal transactions.

The people demand Cuomo and an end of market manipulation.

This is getting surreal. Goldman principal program trading is now well over 5x compared to its customer and agency trades and a 150 million share pick up compared to last week. For yet another week, Goldman's principal trading represents more than half of all NYSE member firm principal transactions.

The people demand Cuomo and an end of market manipulation.

This is getting surreal. Goldman principal program trading is now well over 5x compared to its customer and agency trades and a 150 million share pick up compared to last week. For yet another week, Goldman's principal trading represents more than half of all NYSE member firm principal transactions.

The people demand Cuomo and an end of market manipulation.

While the vicious love quadrangle (no pun intended Mr. Rattner) of Bernanke, Geithner, Lewis and Vikram pound the table on just how well lubricated the credit markets have become, the truth is that aside from ultra high quality Investment Grade names and TLPG-backed financial issuance, the credit market is for all practical purposes still in critical condition and about to be carted off to the morgue. The fact is that YTD issuance in the riskier HY and loan markets (see chart below) stands at a meager $22 billion - the lowest level in recent history.

While the vicious love quadrangle (no pun intended Mr. Rattner) of Bernanke, Geithner, Lewis and Vikram pound the table on just how well lubricated the credit markets have become, the truth is that aside from ultra high quality Investment Grade names and TLPG-backed financial issuance, the credit market is for all practical purposes still in critical condition and about to be carted off to the morgue. The fact is that YTD issuance in the riskier HY and loan markets (see chart below) stands at a meager $22 billion - the lowest level in recent history.

While the vicious love quadrangle (no pun intended Mr. Rattner) of Bernanke, Geithner, Lewis and Vikram pound the table on just how well lubricated the credit markets have become, the truth is that aside from ultra high quality Investment Grade names and TLPG-backed financial issuance, the credit market is for all practical purposes still in critical condition and about to be carted off to the morgue. The fact is that YTD issuance in the riskier HY and loan markets (see chart below) stands at a meager $22 billion - the lowest level in recent history.

It is no secret that the administration, and especially Barney Frank, has made public enemy number one out of the rating agencies (and particularly Moody's), mostly in line with populist rhetoric and scapegoating. Of course, when the rating agencies satisfied a role that helped housing prices go higher, keep people happier and officials like Barney Frank in office longer, all was good. When things turn sour, the Franks of the world know to keep the attention away from Washington.

It is no secret that the administration, and especially Barney Frank, has made public enemy number one out of the rating agencies (and particularly Moody's), mostly in line with populist rhetoric and scapegoating. Of course, when the rating agencies satisfied a role that helped housing prices go higher, keep people happier and officials like Barney Frank in office longer, all was good. When things turn sour, the Franks of the world know to keep the attention away from Washington.