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Banks: Just a Shadow of Their Former Selves

Judging the graphics, HBC and JPM have some way to downsize should their relative proportions return to time before the crisis.

Will There Be an Obama Bounce?

I tend to agree the bounce has occurred. PE Obama has said in his speeches that it may take 2 terms of office to solve the crisis, so hope for too much too soon as he paints a not so pretty picture.

They knew it was bad at Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), but the £28B ($41B) loss it now expects in 2008 - much of that from its disastrous acquisition of ABN Amro - shocked even the most jaded, sending shares plunging 65% in London.

Is this the true picture of the financial crisis on banks!?

The iPhone as the Ultimate Study Machine

Yeah, flashcards are very limited. What needs to be improved is video play.

Week in Review: Market Uptrend Broken, Will We Return to November Lows?

Great article. The Obama honeymoon may very short given earnings will be probably be more of the same.

Banks Failing to Reform Risk Management Practices

Despite the financial crisis - why do you assume changes will be made? There is no supervision of the TARP money and looks like the money are used for the banks purposes rather then assisting the economy. Executives are only changing due to public pressure.

Being an ex-anti fraud regional officier for one of the large European insurance company, I know risk management is costs and an obstacle to making deals / trades / business, etc. No body likes rocking the boat! Sweep it under the carpet is the mentality!

"Buying life-insurance stocks at their November lows could go down as one of the best trades in this bear market." (Heard on the Street)

Buying any stock during the November lows would have made money, but who try to catch a falling knife!

Mighty Wal-Mart Takes a Hit

"Looks like the hangover from a terrible 2008 will be with us for a bit."

probably the biggest understatement of 2009!

It's What Apple's Not Doing That Has Analysts Worried

Too much expectations is not a good thing. The launch of the iPhone has been very successful, most Apple and non-apple users willing and available will have already made the change to the iPhone. Available in the sense that most people sign up with carrier which has a contract of 12, 18, 24, etc. months and their contacts have ended.

What is missing is China has just issued its 3G license and the phone companies are ready to launch. China Mobile will sell the iPhone - the next major impact to iPhone sales??

Blaming the Ratings Agencies: Too Convenient

Why are rating agencies needed? Clearly they didn't understand product which they rated. Sad fact is they act as business as usual.

Bleak Outlook for U.S. Banks Through 2009

So what is new? In bleak economy people can't pay their bills hence will default. Lending banks will take the hit either default or repackage the repayment terms. And, we are in a very bleak economy.

Notebooks, Netbooks Merging as Prices Drop

Are the HP and dv2 comparable in terms of performance?

11 New Shorting Opportunities for 2009

Reggie

With all the respect, this is an attempt at cheap advertisement. Why not do the respectable thing and advertise.

Also, you continually say you don't make predictions, so what are saying?? Some stocks are overvalued, there are peaks and troughs, etc. - so what's new??

Markets are down in 2008 and around 20% in October alone - even I got the first "inclination" at the beginning of 2008, but didn't think it would be so bad.

There are probably a lot more short opportunities in 2009 then 11, in fact any stock around the $30/40 in major indexes is fair game. Considering what has happened to the major companies like GE, AIG, GS, GM, F, etc., it would not take much to turn $40 stocks to $10 /20.

Should Executive Pay Indeed Be Capped?

"Saying that these salaries - which were based upon bubble values rather than underlying fundamentals, and which put upward pressure on executive pay generally - provide the correct economic incentives is, it seems to me, hard to defend."

Your final comment says it all. Top executive pay should be based on building sustainable income for the company and not one hit wonders. As another writer wrote, CEO are like captains, but I think they are more like to Admirals and the captains are out in the field acting on the directions given them from the top. Unfortunately, most people in businesses are not independent enough thinkers and follow the heard. Nor can do they have sufficient experience or knowledge to lead very complex and large companies.


An CEO of financial company not involved with the loan derivatives would probably been ousted a few years ago when others were making money for themselves and investors.

Five Apple Predictions for 2009

With so much cash why is it not put to good use?