The HFR Market Neutral index is back down to when we first discussed it. In the meantime, market neutrals have repeatedly tried to leverage up on numerous occasions and failed every single time. With YTD performance of -3.88%, it will likely only get worse from here.

The 50 DMA and 200 DMA are about to collide. What next?

Also, major volume into the last minute of sell off and continuing after close (going from cumulative below average to well above): Merrill and Susqehanna trading 1 million SPY share blocks after close independently.

Developing story: this means that unemployment will either be allowed to reach its true, "unadjusted" levels in the low teens shortly, or will be kept artificially low for 2-3 months, allowing that to be spun as a green shoot by CNBC. Time will tell.

San Francisco Fed providing their 2 cents on classical Keynesian economics as pertains to the efficacy of the $787 billion Obama Stimulus Plan. In summary: "The uncertainty ... remains high. Several economists remain skeptical that fiscal multipliers—whether from spending or taxes—are very large (see, for instance, Barro 2009). Moreover historical relationships may prove much less reliable during this downturn.

June 22, 2009

Dear Friends & Supporters:

June 22, 2009

Dear Friends & Supporters:

With headlines like this, who can argue that the media machine, in full control for the past 3 months, has gotten skewered on its own (lack of) propaganda:

1:00 pm : A lack of upbeat headlines has allowed participants to take control of the session. In turn, losses have been deep and broad-based, leaving stocks to test a major technical hurdle.

With headlines like this, who can argue that the media machine, in full control for the past 3 months, has gotten skewered on its own (lack of) propaganda:

1:00 pm : A lack of upbeat headlines has allowed participants to take control of the session. In turn, losses have been deep and broad-based, leaving stocks to test a major technical hurdle.

US To Trade Gold Reserves For Cash Through Cash4Gold.com

hat tip Steve

Not a single buy-program in da house today.

hat tip permabullish knockout optioned, kilt wearing dude

Not a single buy-program in da house today.

hat tip permabullish knockout optioned, kilt wearing dude

Not a single buy-program in da house today.

hat tip permabullish knockout optioned, kilt wearing dude

No, not with regard to who can put more money into struggling Hell's Angels' favorite company Harley Davidson, or who can launch another failed bond wraparound insurance company... No, we are talking Becky Quick of course, who somehow has a knack for attracting males 2-4 times her own age. In the clip below pay attention to Kit Bond's last words.

The toxic grabfest is ending. This is best seen by the inversion in the secured/unsecured classes. While the loan universe moved 9 bps tighter over last week, the slow HY bus is still trying to load up on those Neiman Marcus bonds, hoping to see this piece of paper get taken out at par. Here's a hint - it won't.

The high/low beta stratification seems to have finally worked out for RIEF, although likely too late as anxious investors have said "basta", and also just in time to watch RIFF get annihilated with a -7.79% absolute (ly disastrous) performance MTD. No surprise all fees there have been waived. At this rate of decline the "Futures" Fund certainly has no future.