I can't get behind a plan that forced private companies to make the gov't a partner when they actually do not need it. Remember, this is just weeks after the gov't had said that injecting capital directly into banks would appear to be a sign of "failure."  

From the WSJ: 

 During the discussion, the most animated response came from Wells Fargo (WFC) Chairman Richard Kovacevich, say people present. Why was this necessary? he asked. Why did the government need to buy stakes in these banks?

Morgan Stanley (MS) Chief Executive John Mack, whose company was among the most vulnerable in the group to the swirling financial crisis, quickly signed.

F2Q09 Earnings Call

October 9, 2008 10:00 am ET

Material Sciences Corporation (MSC)

F1Q09 Earnings Call

For traders with a more short-term time horizon, we have compiled a list of the S&P 1500 stocks that have the largest intraday high-low ranges (based on the average percent spread between the intraday high and low over the last fifty days). We then grouped the stocks based on whether they have a rising or falling 50-day moving average. Stocks highlighted in gray are new to the list this month.

Even though the market hit its recent lows 50 trading days ago, the majority of stocks in our list of most volatile stocks still have declining 50-day moving averages (10 rising, 40 falling). Two names of note on the list of most volatile stocks with rising 50-day averages are Fannie (FNM) and Freddie (FRE). Not only is it surprising that these stocks that were once considered 'safe' are now among the most volatile stocks in the market, but both have been in steady downtrends for a number of quarters, so the fact that their short-term moving averages are rising could (we stress could) indicate that things are looking up for these names.

With the current metals bull run, we forget that these types of runs can move into other areas connected to the commodity. Sometimes the groups that surround these areas have much more to gain than the commodity itself as their underdeveloped infrastructure can be much worse than the sector everyone is talking about.

Coal is a great example, with respect to Appalachia. This is important because coking coal is needed to fabricate steel and more importantly low sulfur high BTU coal can now be used for the same purpose. Companies like Alpha Natural (ANR) and CONSOL Energy (CNX) look to grow massively and that is all hooked to the steel trade.

Material Sciences Corp. (MSC)

F3Q08 Earnings Call

January 9, 2008, 10:00 am ET