henarl

Credit Default Swaps: Why I've Changed Sides

As to the idiocy of the rating agencies, the real idiots are those who accept the validity of their ratings. The agencies are simply greedy and corrupt. not stupid.

Bernanke 'Puzzled' by Collapse of Bond Bubble

TBT is not just for day trading. If you bought TBT in December in the 30s and still hold it, you're looking pretty good.
As to Bernanke and the Fed ---- Arrrggghhh!

Auto Bankruptcies: Consequences of Political Interests

Political expediency will always trump an idealistic concept like the "rule of law". Obama is simply paying back the UAW for their support in the last election and paying forward for their support in the next one. He could'nt care less about the future availability and cost of capital. Politics as usual - so much for "change".

GM Bankruptcy: Who Stands to Gain

A big percentage of American car buyers is now so pissed off at GM and the UAW over this bailout/phony bankruptcy that they will need to change their name if they expect to be selling cars here in the U.S.A.
Something Japanese or German sounding ought to work.

'What's Good for GM Is Good for America' Just Isn't True

A big percentage of American car buyers is now so pissed off at GM and the UAW over this bailout/phony bankruptcy that they will need to change their name if they expect to be selling cars here in the U.S.A.
Something Japanese or German sounding ought to work.

Mapping the GM Fallout

The next GM Cadillac dealer lives down the street. He already has an inventory of the new Cad Obamas in his back yard. He must have known this was coming as he's been stocking up for years now.

Whither New Car Sales?

Well, one reason to trade in your old SUV on a new smaller car will occur when the price of gas gets back up to 4 or 5 dollars per gallon or more. People will then stop thinking of that as a "downgrade".
This will probably happen at about the same time that they realize they can no longer afford that suburban 3500 sq.ft. mcmansion and have to settle for a 1500 sq.ft. condo or apartment. Lifestyles are going to change!

The Man Behind the GM Solution

Leftfield wrote:
" We vote lawyers to office, allow them to make everything in life a legal decision - Cant we do better?"

Apparently not - the Pres. and first lady are lawyers and that's what America voted for.

Why Is California in Economic Trouble?

California is now faced with a huge fiscal problem of their own making with nothing but painful solutions available.
Because of this, Californians are also faced with big financial problems in the future but they have a much less painful solution: Leave!
I left 32 years ago and have been glad ever since, but I'm especially glad now.

California and Florida Housing Outlook: More Hope for Recovery in 2010

Foreclosures will continue to fall behind deliquencies. Early on, a delinquency would be likely to lead to a foreclosure but now lenders have a much larger inventory of real estate owned, which they are having a hard time selling, and are faced with the choice of taking back a home and leaving it vacant or adjusting the mortgage and allowing the owner to stay in the home with reduced payments. An occupied house will not lose value as rapidly as a vacant house which is subject to vandalism, and even a vastly reduced mortgage payment is better than none. Look for more delinquency and less foreclosures.

Funds Hold General Motors to the Bitter End

So don't buy index funds!

Let the Financial Scapegoat Go

It wasn't the underlying businesses of Enron, AIG, Lehman, Morgan Stanley, Citi, B of A, etc. that were faulty, rather it was the grossly overpaid mathematical wunderkind with their esoteric computer programs that even they obviously did not understand, and their insane derivitives of derivatives and naked CDSs, who brought these companies down. We need a reasonably conservative financial system that doesn't take enormous risks with the whole damn world's economy and isn't being run by a bunch of untested child prodigies.

Is There Any Limit to Bank Arrogance?

Andrew, you wrote: "And we'll still be stupid enough to let it go on."

Exactly how do you propose that the average citizen stops it from "going on"? Thru the ballot box when we are only allowed to vote for a pre-chosen candidate from one of the two equally corrupt major parties or perhaps an independent who has zero chance because he doesn't have the party machine and money behind him? Or maybe joining a feel good protest rally that will be totally ignored by the political power elite? Or perhaps you will grab your hunting rifle and march on DC to overpower the military establishment and establish a new better govt.?
Face it dude - the average middle class American is SCREWED!

Is There Any Limit to Bank Arrogance?

As long as there are more lobbyists than politicians in DC the corruption will continue. Problem is; the people who are in a position to change the system are the ones who are benefiting from this corruption. Short of becoming one of the corrupters or the corrupted, there's not much hope for the average American.

The Next Shoe to Drop: Muni Bonds

Buying ANY bonds right now, from Treasuries on down, is like visiting the casino. Better to invest in a bigger mattress for your money.