dixie

JPMorgan and the Concentration of Risk

It appears there are approximately 6 guerilla banks operating in the country. These monster banks have big appetites. It appears that the Federal Government plans to satisfy their hunger by throwing them most of the mid-size and smaller banks as food.

A few years downstream our country will truly be a "planet of apes."

Worrying About Large-Deposit Bank Runs

Right on, Felix. Cesar's response is grossly misleading.

JPM picked up $176 billion of home mortages and many billions of deposits for under $2 billion. So they write-off $31 billion. They will still have $145 billion of mortages. Any banker would lick their chops at this deal. And they get a big tax accounting loss as an added bonus.

JPM is still poping the champagne corks. They looked at (cased the joint like a thief) WM books a few weeks ago. Then, the FDIC conspired ( ala Hugo Chavez style) with JPM to seize the stockholder and bond holder's GOLD in order to "inject liquidity" into a mega bank in order to shore up financial markets. Win-win for JPM and FDIC. Lose-lose for stockholders and bond holders. Conveniently, WM'S senior management and directors were caught offguard by"surprise." Sure they were.

Our government steals just like Hugo Chavez does and with the same result - unjust enrichment without compensation.

An Absence of Leadership

The political show of the present week demonstrates what pathetic clowns we have as, "leaders."

The next 4 years will seem like an eternity. Yes, we are in for one long nightmare. Best investment in the market may be brewers and distillers. Better yet, skip the stock and just buy the product.

5 Failures of SEC Chairman Cox

I recall the weekend that Bear Stearns was unraveling, Chairman Cox chose not to participate, instead being preoccupied with a family social engagement. It was apparent then that he would be playing the fiddle whilst Wall Street burned.

We're Still a Long Way from a Real Banking Crisis

The facts speak for themselves. The author has limited his comments to FDIC insured banks. Despite what many Seeking Alpha naysayers may emotionally feel, many of these banks are still profitable, albeit less so than a year or two ago.

Their are many solid, oversold banks in this sector if you take time to look. Accurate article.

Yes, Financial Companies Can Be Analyzed

Good article. Basic research reveals that banks vary widely in size, utilize different operational models and service different geographical areas. Even in the recession, their relative performance varies greatly. This is an opportune time to separate the winners from the losers.
We are all familiar with Wall Street show horses. Take time to discover the Main Street work horses.

RBC Analyst: 300 Banks Could Fail [Housing Tracker]

RBC ANALYST: "300 BANKS ARE LIKELY TO FAIL" HAS NO MORE RELEVANCE THAN SAYING 8200 BANKS WILL LIKELY SURVIVE.

WHAT A THOUGHTLESS STATEMENT. WHERE IS THE PROOF?

The End of Broadcast TV Nears

The birth of TV had many great and upbeat family shows which were reflective of society of that era.

The forerunner of Jerry Springer was Queen for a Day.

As is so apparent the dumbing down of society has arrived with TV playing a leading role. Mickel98's above post scores a bulls eye. What America needs to be competitive in today's world market is not provided by NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, or FOX.

At least we have TCM for entertainment!

Barron's Goes Bullish on Banks, Again

There are many small regional and community banks that are trading at a fraction of book. Some have taken small losses and others have had their earnings trimmed.
However, as the economy begins to stabilize in 2009 and the growth in NPA's fades, earnings will again accrue. These "main street banks" understand the local commercial customer better than their "wall street" counterparts.
Stock valuations in this sector may well increase 50% to 100% within the next 2 years. Discover the babies that have been tossed out with the proverbial bath water.

Spotting Banks In Danger

Just who are these bank analysts that say 150 out of 7,500 banks will fail within 18 months? That's 2% . . . yawn. Do these represent the largest 2%, smallest 2%? Such figures are merely meaningless guesses.

If one assumes that these statistics may be somewhat correct, then it should not require much diligence to spot the 98% "safe" banks. Even using a dart board to separate the loosers from the pack, I would be correct 98% of the time.

Can the SEC Really 'Quell Rumors'?

Kinabalu is on-target. Weston's subsequent 7/4/08 SA article on CRZ is another good point.

He did not initially come clean and disclose his short positions. Such an article should firstly be viewed as self-serving irrespective of the acuracy of the contents.

Your follow-up comment, "the statement is not false if you believe it" implies that delusional thinking is OK. Really, some things are black and white. Facts don't change just because someone decides to believe otherwise.

Banking on Bailouts: How Many IndyMacs Are Out There?

I disagree with your premise that there must be a correlation between a.) the downward movement of stock price and b.) weak fundamentals and loan policies which lead to bank failures. This is a big leap to make.

Many of the small community and regional banks I follow in the SE and SW have strong fundamentals but their stock prices have been driven down by the massive write-offs experienced, not by them, but by much larger banks with familiar names. "Guilt by association," i.e just having the name,"bank" in their suffix has been sufficient to drive down share value. The sector is skewed. Babies have been tossed out with the bath water.

Crystal River’s Q2 Write-Downs Could Bankrupt the Company

Interesting that today, July 13th, SEC's Christopher Cox, said they are launching investigations into false rumors launched by short sellers in order to manipulate share price. The many complaints sent last week may have started the ball rolling in the direction of Seeking Alpha and "our friend" Weston.

Crystal River’s Q2 Write-Downs Could Bankrupt the Company

The editors of SA state that publication will be denied "to prevent stock manipulation."
SA was careless in publishing Mr. Weston's piece on July 4th when he so clearly stated that he would profit if the stock fell in value.
Objectivity is usally lost, or at least should be suspect, when financial self-interest is present.

Crystal River’s Q2 Write-Downs Could Bankrupt the Company

Greg,

So as to avoid some of the heat you have generated, you quickly posted a few minutes ago that CRZ would soon be excluded from 2 of the Russell Indexes and that will account for future near term selling.

Sorry, you are a week late. The exclusion from these indexes was effective Friday, June 27th. So any sell-off resulting from that has already occurred.

You seemingly will write anything to achieve the result you want. My gift to you - take a course in ETHICS.