rogersails's Comments rogersails's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/272896/comments UBS ponders a "Buffett bubble" in shares of rail stocks, which have risen 10-14% since Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) agreed to acquire Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI). Noting boom-and-bust cycles have followed other Buffett rail moves, UBS warns of a "risk of industry underperformance between now and year end if some of this Buffett-inspired enthusiasm for the group begins to wane." UNP -2.6%. CSX -1.4%. NSC -1%. http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/37128?source=feed#comment-775900 775900 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:02:02 -0500 Monetizing the Debt: Blogosphere Responds http://seekingalpha.com/article/155150-monetizing-the-debt-blogosphere-responds?source=feed#comment-623735 623735 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:07:50 -0400 At the Atlanta Fed's Macroblog, David Altig says either we're going to continue making history (the bad way), or recovery forecasts are way too downbeat. He has a chart for historical comparison. (via) http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/28863?source=feed#comment-602708 602708 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:10:00 -0400 David Rosenberg's takeaway from the Meredith rally: "The fact that the equity market could rally this much based on one analyst's commentary is testament to the view of how badly investors want to believe that the recession and credit crunch are behind us and that unbridled prosperity lies ahead." http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/27893?source=feed#comment-587620 587620 SOMEONE was on the losing side of those profitable trades. I wouldn't want to be the companies reporting those losing trades AND losses in real estate. ]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:36:34 -0400 SOMEONE was on the losing side of those profitable trades. I wouldn't want to be the companies reporting those losing trades AND losses in real estate. ]]> What Happened to the PPIP? http://seekingalpha.com/article/147931-what-happened-to-the-ppip?source=feed#comment-581110 581110 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:37:23 -0400 What Happened to the PPIP? http://seekingalpha.com/article/147931-what-happened-to-the-ppip?source=feed#comment-580961 580961 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:05:51 -0400 The Fed's in wait-and-see mode, says Chicago branch president Charles Evans, adding he expects continued downward price pressure: "We could see some declines in core inflation." http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/27531?source=feed#comment-579259 579259 Let me guess... 3 months closer ?????]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:25:51 -0400 Let me guess... 3 months closer ?????]]> A trio of economists says the much-touted housing-wealth effect - the impact that home value has on consumer spending - is widely misunderstood. It's not about feeling less wealthy, or even the downfall of home-as-ATM, but rather that home-price changes are a proxy for people's income expectations. http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/27311?source=feed#comment-575722 575722 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:07:15 -0400 Wal-Mart and Offering Employees 'Strategic' Healthcare http://seekingalpha.com/article/146803-wal-mart-and-offering-employees-strategic-healthcare?source=feed#comment-573187 573187
Somethin' to think about.]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:37:54 -0400
Somethin' to think about.]]> Dennis Kneale Takes on Zero Hedge...And Fails http://seekingalpha.com/article/146542-dennis-kneale-takes-on-zero-hedge-and-fails?source=feed#comment-570601 570601 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:58:29 -0400 'Preventing Systemic Collapse': Bernanke's Ace-in-the-Hole http://seekingalpha.com/article/145517-preventing-systemic-collapse-bernanke-s-ace-in-the-hole?source=feed#comment-563508 563508 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:23:06 -0400 Inflation's Green Shoots http://seekingalpha.com/article/143340-inflation-s-green-shoots?source=feed#comment-547996 547996 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:47:08 -0400 Could an Eliot Spitzer comeback really happen? (Vanity Fair) http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/25882?source=feed#comment-545408 545408 ]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:09:03 -0400 ]]> Could an Eliot Spitzer comeback really happen? (Vanity Fair) http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/25882?source=feed#comment-544677 544677 Cut off his Viagra prescription and put him in charge of the SEC. ]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:48:02 -0400 Cut off his Viagra prescription and put him in charge of the SEC. ]]> A massive and methodical study of financial media's success in anticipating - and warning us about - the impending disaster. The bottom line? "The business press did everything but take on the institutions that brought down the financial system." http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/25564?source=feed#comment-536081 536081 Oh - and post crash, being able to say "I told you so" doesn't win you many friends either. But I did sell my grossly overpriced Northern California house in Jan 06. Heh Heh.]]> Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:35:05 -0400 Oh - and post crash, being able to say "I told you so" doesn't win you many friends either. But I did sell my grossly overpriced Northern California house in Jan 06. Heh Heh.]]> Debt Tsunami Not a Serious Threat http://seekingalpha.com/article/141600-debt-tsunami-not-a-serious-threat?source=feed#comment-533545 533545 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:25:29 -0400 A Major Shift: FDIC Sells Bank to Private Equity Players http://seekingalpha.com/article/139381-a-major-shift-fdic-sells-bank-to-private-equity-players?source=feed#comment-516218 516218 Sun, 24 May 2009 14:08:34 -0400 A group of 400 executives from state-owned and private Chinese firms will arrive in the U.S. and Canada next month, to hunt for cheap distressed assets. The group is expected to look at the auto, petrochemical, energy, metal, media, furniture and consumer goods sectors. http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/23778?source=feed#comment-494315 494315 Thu, 07 May 2009 14:51:18 -0400 The Problems of Financial Illiteracy http://seekingalpha.com/article/134163-the-problems-of-financial-illiteracy?source=feed#comment-483907 483907 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:59:10 -0400 Housing: The Ship Is Turning http://seekingalpha.com/article/133530-housing-the-ship-is-turning?source=feed#comment-480631 480631 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:49:36 -0400 Are the Banks Telling Us the Truth? http://seekingalpha.com/article/130712-are-the-banks-telling-us-the-truth?source=feed#comment-461866 461866 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:15:39 -0400 Why It's Better to Bail Out Borrowers than Banks http://seekingalpha.com/article/130459-why-it-s-better-to-bail-out-borrowers-than-banks?source=feed#comment-459949 459949 I've wondered if granting bailout money for banks involved an "understanding" that the banks would pass a piece of the money to borrowers in the form of mortgage workouts - with or without being compelled by the feds to do so. Is there any data comparing "bailout money" in vs "workout money" out at various banks ? Bailout money has been publicly well document. Workout money reports have been scattered and anecdotal.
If banks are passing some of the bailout funds through to borrowers, a lot of us would feel better about the current state of affairs. If the bailout funds wind up in the banks pockets while borrowers are still squirming on the hook, our darkest cynicism will have been validated.]]> Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:47:45 -0400 I've wondered if granting bailout money for banks involved an "understanding" that the banks would pass a piece of the money to borrowers in the form of mortgage workouts - with or without being compelled by the feds to do so. Is there any data comparing "bailout money" in vs "workout money" out at various banks ? Bailout money has been publicly well document. Workout money reports have been scattered and anecdotal.
If banks are passing some of the bailout funds through to borrowers, a lot of us would feel better about the current state of affairs. If the bailout funds wind up in the banks pockets while borrowers are still squirming on the hook, our darkest cynicism will have been validated.]]> So How Good Was Housing Data in March? http://seekingalpha.com/article/129660-so-how-good-was-housing-data-in-march?source=feed#comment-453397 453397 Hard to see this as a positive. It represents a massive government subsidy on top of government suppressed interest rates, both of which are probably unsustainable. Without such subsidies, and rates returning to market norms, or worse, historical stagflation levels, the numbers would be truly horrific.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:12:00 -0400 Hard to see this as a positive. It represents a massive government subsidy on top of government suppressed interest rates, both of which are probably unsustainable. Without such subsidies, and rates returning to market norms, or worse, historical stagflation levels, the numbers would be truly horrific.

]]> Geithner's exec-ousting comments may be just in time. TARP watchdog Elizabeth Warren is set to issue a damning report calling for the removal of top execs at AIG (AIG), Citigroup (C) and other firms, and saying shareholders should be 'wiped out.' http://seekingalpha.com/news/market_currents/post/21257?source=feed#comment-453351 453351 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:47:01 -0400 3 Great Debates We Currently Face http://seekingalpha.com/article/128386-3-great-debates-we-currently-face?source=feed#comment-444597 444597 A. "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you."
B "I'm from the bank, and I'm here to help you."
Hmmm.....times change.]]> Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:23:32 -0400 A. "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you."
B "I'm from the bank, and I'm here to help you."
Hmmm.....times change.]]> International Valuation Standards: The Only Viable Alternative to Mark-to-Market http://seekingalpha.com/article/126325-international-valuation-standards-the-only-viable-alternative-to-mark-to-market?source=feed#comment-429280 429280 Now I know how to get rich. I'll just ask gurus applying IVF what the real market value is, and If higher than the current market, I'll buy, then sell when the asset returns to it's real value. Since these guys know the real value, they will buy too. These gurus of real value should become very popular indeed. Of course, if the IVF gurus have any credibility, everyone will do the same, and the market value will converge on the real value.
It seems to me there are already plenty of sharp people with money willing to arbitrage discrepancies between market and true value. Would the IVF gurus really be better then them ?
I'll go along with IVF if it's practitioners are required to invest a portion of their net worth, buying at market, in the asset they are valuing (if guru value is greater than market value). Otherwise, I'll trust the market.
]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:50:13 -0400 Now I know how to get rich. I'll just ask gurus applying IVF what the real market value is, and If higher than the current market, I'll buy, then sell when the asset returns to it's real value. Since these guys know the real value, they will buy too. These gurus of real value should become very popular indeed. Of course, if the IVF gurus have any credibility, everyone will do the same, and the market value will converge on the real value.
It seems to me there are already plenty of sharp people with money willing to arbitrage discrepancies between market and true value. Would the IVF gurus really be better then them ?
I'll go along with IVF if it's practitioners are required to invest a portion of their net worth, buying at market, in the asset they are valuing (if guru value is greater than market value). Otherwise, I'll trust the market.
]]> How to Not Pay the AIG Bonuses http://seekingalpha.com/article/126230-how-to-not-pay-the-aig-bonuses?source=feed#comment-428148 428148
A. Contribution (or lack of)
B. Salary

Just fire em all. What do their contracts say about that ? ]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:39:47 -0400
A. Contribution (or lack of)
B. Salary

Just fire em all. What do their contracts say about that ? ]]> AIG Bonuses Draw Abundant Anger http://seekingalpha.com/article/126217-aig-bonuses-draw-abundant-anger?source=feed#comment-428024 428024
A. Contribution (or lack of)
B. Salary

Just fire em all. What do their contracts say about that ?]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:24:12 -0400
A. Contribution (or lack of)
B. Salary

Just fire em all. What do their contracts say about that ?]]> Household Debt: The 'Prisoner's Dilemma' http://seekingalpha.com/article/125813-household-debt-the-prisoner-s-dilemma?source=feed#comment-424826 424826 As a continuation of this analysis, I would love to see data on the distribution of these household average numbers. If everyone fits the average, things don't look too bad. ]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:12:23 -0400 As a continuation of this analysis, I would love to see data on the distribution of these household average numbers. If everyone fits the average, things don't look too bad. ]]> Banks Return TARP Funds to Avoid Choking on Attached Strings http://seekingalpha.com/article/125630-banks-return-tarp-funds-to-avoid-choking-on-attached-strings?source=feed#comment-423487 423487 Banks: "we need money or its the end of the world".
Feds: "Here's the money. Now stop paying bonuses"
Banks: "Never mind"]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:47:56 -0400 Banks: "we need money or its the end of the world".
Feds: "Here's the money. Now stop paying bonuses"
Banks: "Never mind"]]>