Merrill

In his first note released in the post Sakwa world, Craig Schmidt continues to attempt to restore confidence in retail REITs. It would, after all, seem prudent to bang clients' heads into their desks until they see the light at the end of the tunnel (oncoming bullet train?) at a time when the only cash, and equity value, REITs can create is by raising expensive, dilutive equity in order to repay the cheapest form of capital (that of secured loans previously held by Mr. Schmidt uber parent, Bank of America).

With any predictive quality the equity market might have had long dead and buried, the only somewhat sane place left for investors looking at even a modicum of rationality is the CDS market. And something there is afoot, at least when looking at the Merrill - BofA decompression trade, which over the past few days is getting back to levels last seen when Lewis was discussing splitting investment from commercial banking. The outcome of tomorrow's shareholder meeting is getting more and more interesting: judging by CDS levels, one could ask if someone knows something?

With any predictive quality the equity market might have had long dead and buried, the only somewhat sane place left for investors looking at even a modicum of rationality is the CDS market. And something there is afoot, at least when looking at the Merrill - BofA decompression trade, which over the past few days is getting back to levels last seen when Lewis was discussing splitting investment from commercial banking. The outcome of tomorrow's shareholder meeting is getting more and more interesting: judging by CDS levels, one could ask if someone knows something?

Hey Regency, this is what happens when you don't tap ML as lead underwriter: you get the expected headline "Improving Balance Sheet" but no accompanying Upgrade or target price increase (in a note just released by Merrill Lynch/Bank of America which was somehow not a lead underwriter on this particular offering).

Hey Regency, this is what happens when you don't tap ML as lead underwriter: you get the expected headline "Improving Balance Sheet" but no accompanying Upgrade or target price increase (in a note just released by Merrill Lynch/Bank of America which was somehow not a lead underwriter on this particular offering).

Hey Regency, this is what happens when you don't tap ML as lead underwriter: you get the expected headline "Improving Balance Sheet" but no accompanying Upgrade or target price increase (in a note just released by Merrill Lynch/Bank of America which was somehow not a lead underwriter on this particular offering).

In a report released yesterday, it is somewhat gratifying that Merrill Lynch analyst Mary Ann Bartels agrees with Zero Hedge conclusions about possible near-term market volatility events as a result of quant fund deleveraging.

Estimated quant HF market exposure falling sharply

Judge Bernard Fried took one hard look at Ken Lewis' inane "bonuses are trade secrets" argument and had a laughter induced hernia. Look for some seriously good real estate deals in Manhattan in the next few weeks. Bloomerg has more.

We are surprised to have missed this the first time around.

Um, if the story met all those criteria Ken would be out of a job by 6 pm today... Regardless, we look forward to hearing his story too and providing "objective perspective."

Um, if the story met all those criteria Ken would be out of a job by 6 pm today... Regardless, we look forward to hearing his story too and providing "objective perspective."

It is pretty fascinating that Merrill which ranks horribly in both increasing writedowns and change in leverage over the past 5 years has the highest compensation as % of operating profit (when this was positive). Merrill is the only firm that paid out over 100% of its operating profit to its employees over the '03-'08 period (185% to be exact). Even mighty Goldman barely registers on the chart when compared to Merrill on these parameters. Hat tip to Mike Cembalest.

You knew it was coming.

We wrote about what we think the implications for the private jetting industry would be after Falcon-gate, but did not expect this.