HBWOW

Is Goldman Sachs the Canary in the Coal Mine, Or Just No Longer Relevant?

Consider the huge treasury stock purchases as of Nov, 2006 were $21B, Nov., 2007 were $30B, and increased the next fiscal year, Nov.2008, to $32B. Why this huge cash flow out of the Net Equity/cash resources of this company? Not surprising they wanted TARP funds but mainly to obtain bank status to get Fed backing and very low borrowing rate. This enabled them to pay back the TARP funds with cheaper money and expand their Fed borrowings versu higher private equity borrowings. What are their long term goals?

CIT Group: Taxpayers' Investment Is Virtually Worthless

Has the government and its many agencies sought to determine the
degree of fraud (pre bankruptcy insider/broder knowledge and sell off of positions, illegal loans, horrendous insider stock option dealings, unearned bonuses paid, etc, etc, etc? ? ? The TARP loan was only a temporary bandaid and time to allow the insiders/brokers to milk more of the cash out of the company. I know SEC, auditors, and other non responsible (make that irresponsible) agencies continue to work for Wall Street and not the stockholders, bond holders, and taxpayers, so there is no surprise with this blowup.

When Is Insider Trading Legal? The Strange Case of Stephen Friedman

On top of this GS story of grand white collar greed, again realize that
GS according to articles has over $40 trillion exposure of derivatives
and total assets of only $20 billion. AND WE THOUGHT THE EQYPTIANS WERE GOOD AT BUILDING PYRAMIDS. The Friedman
deal is but one of the many stones in one of the many GS
pyramids.

Goldman Dissembling: Dark Pools et al

What else can we expect from GS, the nation's largest gambler with derivatives of over $40 trillion and assets of only 120 billion? Talk about a winning "house" advantage. Government support and sky's the limit on betting.

The Next Step in the Bank Implosion Cycle

Of the three banks listed compared to GS and JPM, the broker/bankers, the gamblers at GS and JPM reflect the highest (insanity) ratio of derivatives to total assets. Well Fargo looks like a real piker with the by far lowest ratio of 4.6 times. In any case, how do these "insider" CEO's sleep at night and how did they allow traditional banking practices to turn into high risk gambling casinos, of course with public and government money, not their own. Who reapes the profits and who gets screwed with the losses?? And nobody goes straight to jail??????

What's Good for Goldman Is Good for Everyone?

How can Goldman do poorly as they control SEC, audit firms,
many WH staffers, congressional heads, Fannie and Freddie, and the banks much less the stock market? Best example is to simply follow the AIG story.

With their bonuses, stock options, and employees' profit sharing plans, they have become the "what me worry" economic poster
people.

Geithner to Blame for Outrageous Goldman Bonuses

Who is to blame? Simple, there's Goldman, the company and then
there is ex Goldman, the government. Can we see a detailed report
on GS employees' retirement plans?

Time for Transparency and Accountability from Congress, The Fed and Major Banks

REAL transparency would lead to real investigations, real criminal/fraud charges, resulting in a slap on the hand and no recovery of ill gotten gains from the perpetrators. Then more of the same would continue, all thanks to the BOYZ. CLEAR!!!

Realize that (a few) SEC investigations of perpetrators have resulted in penalties/fine on the corporate, ie the stockholders again lose, instead of recovery from the perpetrators. JUSTICE???

7 Things Goldman Can Do with Its Money Instead of Fat Bonuses

Who says logic and fairness must be applied? Simply consider the company's hoarding for "treasury stock", government connections, and prior stingy bonus practices, and we know what will happen to any
extra cash.

Lehman's Failure: Did Paulson and Bernanke Lie?

Is this confirming that Goldman and alumni are only promoting their
plan and are at the top of this whole "X?O?X@?+#@ situation"?

Capital Constrained: Some Banks Not Paying TARP Dividends

This reflects the careless and insufficient methods the government
used in their approval and granting of TARP monies. Typical of government actions in trying to run the auto industry, AIG, the Post Office, Fannie and Freddie, SEC, IRS, Medicare, and most certainly Congress and ALL other government agencies.

Are Banks As Good as Goldman?

Isn't the real question - Are the banks as bad as Goldman?

Derivatives Datapoint of the Day, OCC Statistics Edition

The banks are insane and unsafe.

Beware the Current Bull Market in Derivatives

THE CROOKS AND MANIPULATORS ARE STILL IN CHARGE.
THE FED, SEC, EXTERNAL AUDITORS AND BANK EXAMINERS
ALL STILL LOOK THE OTHER WAY. WHY IS IT THAT THE FED BUYS THE BAD BETS AND THE BANKS KEEP THE GOOD BETS
AND SHOW SUPER EARNINGS FROM WHICH TO PAY BIG BONUSES. WE ARE DOOMED.

Ending the Off-Balance Sheet Charade

What makes you think these new rules will stop the banks and broker/banks from continuing trades back and forth to achieve the
same results they have been playing before these rules? To correct the problem, the culprits that have created the meltdown/TARP should be removed from the banks/brokers and probably should be in jail for their unlawful actions. When the insiders took banking operations BEYOND regular banking activities, this is where the problems started and such irregular high risk activities (GAMBLING) need to be STOPPED.