Telling

Bypass the Depression and Head Straight for 1907

...and after 1907 the world moved on. Innovations in industry, commerce and society didn't stop. Markets expanded and improved. And reverted. Over and over again... History is fun and certainly must be addressed - and I suppose never say that this time it is different... In time, markets, somewhere, will improve.

Why the Financial Markets Haven't Responded

I rather agree with fat cat - to suggest that leadership - or statesmanship if you will, relative to a your perceived lack thereof has negatively impacted global stock markets because a bailout plan was not an overnight success is somewhat amateur. To suggest that past global regulatory and bsuiness development actions have no meaning on current developments is a bit political - the work out and unwinding of securitzed positions, both debt and investment - "ain't" going to happen in a day or two. Leaders and solutions will emerge in time. Have the courage to allow the process to work.

Sarah Palin: Wall Street's Candidate

Yes - the McCain/Palin administration will be great for America and America, of course after their election will re-stabilize and continue its democratic move forward domestically and throughout the world. Both ticket candidates demonstrate common sense - or unfortunately in our world of politically written and espoused inconveniences, uncommon sense. Vote for smaller and less intrusive right sized Federal government. Vote for the proper use of capital - not the tax penalty grab, take and redirect and finally, consider the acquisition of a made in America hockey puck complete with an embossed Pelosi/Reid characterization.

Where We Should Be Investing: The Paradox of Thrift

A pretty good commentary that is logical. Most "investments," so to speak yet remain in the secondary market - a thoughtful bet on future income derived from an earnings premium noted today. Productivity generated by such investments is of course debatable - and as noted by accon1031 - the handoff of the baton has boomeranged back. Invest in one's self, payoff unecessary debt (an absolute rate of return), and recognize that if one merely offloads responsibility to another device, the responsibility yet remains - a personal observation regarding the absurdity of the delay in FASB rule implementation relative to balance sheet accountability.

ETF Investing Guide: Do You Really Need Help With Asset Allocation?

The article makes sense, broadly. I would correct one thought about "nobody can predict future asset class returns" - it has been my observation that everyone can predict; perhaps nobody might do so connsistently and accuretly. Somewhere in the article "should" should be inserted.l All investors "should" be better at establishing an allocation and re-addressing it accordingly. The allocations broadly noted appear to assume (they may not - I couldn't tell) a traditional US investor in the US market in US dollars.

The world of course is changing both demographically and fiscally and allocations may have to adjust accordingly - which might mean a bit of strategic observation and forward thinking - indeed, opposed to the rear view mirror.

Yes we can, and "should" utilize VaR analysis in our allocation matrices, and re-address risk as guesses become facts. We might also acknowledge that volatility may be an imperfect risk measure...

But overall, a pretty good article...

Separate Abusive Short Sellers from Those Who Play by the Rules

Note the dichotomy of the temp. short regulation: (1) protect certain financials against hostile or predatory shorts and (2) Fed issues subpoenas to various Financial Broker Dealers to review for manipulative stock practices...

What If What Economists Taught Us Is Wrong?

On the other hand, money multiplier magnifies utility only to ultimately establish diminishing returns...

Is Selling Assets Not the Same as "Raising Capital"?

As an observation, it might make more economic sense to spin-off an appropriate interest in Pvt Client to a strategic buyer while preserving the rev. flow from Blackrock and the associated separate retail entity. Blackrock preserves a distribution resource, MER gains a new income investment and cap. markets moves forward with revenue generation with less of a conflict concern. It is the unbundling of an impaired multi-legged stool.

The Lowdown on the New ETF-Based, IQ Alpha Hedge Open-Ended Mutual Fund

Gee, another quasi hedge fund... But concur with the traffic light comment. The light might be representative of 27/1 leverage awaiting either Federal, or State bailout.

130/30: A “Silly Gimmick” or an “Important New Mandate”?

The market is a superb gardener - and will ultimately weed-out inefficiencies. If a 130/30 doesn't cut it, it shall not survive- but some will and I imagine some will serve an investors purpose and need. Shorting ETF's a cop out? Is that the same as an inverse long? An qualititative opinion is but an opinion...