Blogs

The Treasury Secretary comes to his senses and realizes that when it comes to basic government oversight and industry accountability, if less is more, then none is most.

HFT creates systemic instability and makes market manipulation much easier.

Timmy G. ducked another question on the future of Fannie and Freddie today. Maybe he gave a clue what is brewing while he was ducking.

It can hardly have escaped your notice that a battle of epic proportions, simmering at the fringes for months, was this very week finally joined. Pursuing what can only be termed a "Möbius strip news cycle" strategy, certain "financial news" programs have taken to throwing those pesky "parasitic" bloggers to the proverbial wolves at every opportunity.

Folks, its Freaky Friday today. Lots of economic data coming out of the cupboard in the Eurozone, mostly PMI and Business Climate numbers. UK's preliminary GDP q/q and services index are out as well today, both quite weak; no green shots here folks. Preliminary printing of the UK GDP figures shows biggest Y/Y fall since the series began in 1955, annualised to -5.6% !

If you answered “C) Both of the above”, not only would you be correct, you'd have the logical reasoning skills required to be a decabox pundit on a respected financial news network.

Raspberries as an LEI? What's Lord Maynard Keynes got to do with this? Illegal workers don't count? We have how much effective unemployment?

News highlights from UK and Europe. Data cupboard is full today with various retail sales, current account and confidence numbers coming out of the Eurozone area. British mortgage approvals and retail sales data out today as well!

Must watch clip. Rantings about the Fed and the credit card industry.

Spew of news highlights from the UK and Europe. Lots of things to catch-up on today. GDP forecasts coming out of Eastern Europe, minutes from the Bank of England. I will be covering currencies, German and UK debt market news in the future...

Dear Sirs/Madams:

I get it, I really do: You enjoy your secure, mostly laid-back, relatively well-paying job. Insofar as you possess the capacity, experience, and inclination to comprehend the following though, please, enlighten me: Given this fact, don’t you think its in your best interest to get rid of nonsensical, self-defeating policies like the following (from CalPERS)?

"Counterparty creditworthiness, for non-exchange traded Derivatives (Anal_yst: substitute any asset/asset class here), shall be at a minimum of “A3” as defined by Moody’s, “A-” by S&P and “A-“ by Fitch...?"

Ginnie Mae is growing fast. Are they going to assume the roll of the bankrupt Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Is the 'Shadow System' taking a bank holiday? Are the commercial banks really making new loans?

UK and Europe Highlights - 21 July 2009.

The FDIC has been making noises for a couple of months about a dry-run of the PPPIP for Legacy Loans, where Uncle Sam will provide half the equity and and up to 6 turns of seller-financed leverage for Public Private Investment Funds to buy whole loans off failed institutions. Well, the first run is here. Peek under the hood...