TFC

Have Moody’s and S&P (and Fitch) Seen the Light (Part 2)?

For generations institutional credit investors have accepted ratings based on agency reputation, which in corporate debt has been mostly justified. In structured product most investors, including the rating agencies were out of their depth in understanding collateral quality. It seems all the checks and balances missed this one, the banks and Govt. watch dogs. Why would the rating agencies be different?

After Some Stumbles, Pfizer Is Now Being Very Smart

Diageo and PM


On Jan 30 07:47 AM dawase wrote:

> DOW and PFE - both stocks I'm long.
>
> Yeah ... it's been a great week or two.
>
> And a $4.5B break-up fee on the deal if PFE pulls out. I guess bankers
> are even more desperate for their fees these days with such a dearth
> of deals. Seems like yet another incompetent management move to me.
>
>
> Anyone have any other suggestions of companies with good yields and
> strong balance sheets that I can get long so management can then
> wreck the equity price for me with their stupidity? Thanks.

Altria Has Been Great, Time to Exit

The master settlement:
Financial Provisions
bullet States will receive over $206 billion over 25 years.
bullet Up-front payments - $12.742 billion.
bullet Annual Payments, beginning April 15, 2000 - $183.177 billion through 2025.
bullet Strategic Contribution Fund, 2008-2017 - $8.61 billion.
bullet National Foundation ($250 million over next 10 years).
bullet Public Education Fund (at least $1.45 billion 2000-2003).
bullet State Enforcement Fund ($50 million, one-time payment).
bullet National Association of Attorneys General ($1.5 billion over next 10 years).
Do we really think the states will support killing this sacred cow especially in this environment?


On Dec 17 08:40 AM grandpafirst wrote:

> Sounds as though Obama's thugs are already setting up their payoffs
> to their campaign contributors - the ambulance chasing legal thugs
> who are going to get handsomely paid by the law suits. These excessive
> fees will pay for their pro-bono defense of the Gitmo terrorists.