Shimmers

Fitch warns of downgrades to come for regional and smaller banks, who aren't able to manage the risk from commercial real estate losses as well as big banks. The firm estimates a potential CRE loan loss rate of 11-24% at its rated companies.

"aren't able to manage the risk from commercial real estate losses as well as big banks. " you mean, aren't able to raise money at as low a cost as the big banks w out the implicit govt guarantee ?

Just in time for the holidays, the Fed clamps down on gift cards, proposing a prohibition on excessive dormancy/inactivity fees, and pushing expiration dates to five years.

Sometimes I think that these news flashes are not real and intended solely for my entertainment....it would be hilarious if it weren't so sad.

After a slow start, Treasury's Making Home Affordable program hits 650,000 loan modifications, up from 500K in late September. “The program is having a pronounced impact in areas particularly hard hit by the housing crisis," Treasury's Barr says.

While it sounds pleasant to help struggling homeowners, I believe our country will not recover until people are living in homes that they can afford. These programs need to stop and we need to face the truth.

Better than Expected Initial Jobless Claims

economix.blogs.nytimes.../

Better than Expected Initial Jobless Claims

Improving? They are getting worse at a very fast, albeit slightly slower, pace.

Senators reportedly reach a compromise to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit through the end of April - and beyond those buying their first house.

I think purchasing TBF will be a lot more effective than voting

Senators reportedly reach a compromise to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit through the end of April - and beyond those buying their first house.

How do we get them to stop doing stuff like this?

What Can Stop This Market Rally?

Why is inflation bad for equities?

It's Getting Harder to Be a Housing Bear

It's getting harder....but be patient. "Cure rates have declined from an average of 45% during 2000-2006 to the currently level of 6.6%."

Dennis Gartman's River Crescent May Not Be as Peaceful as It Sounds

Gartman has been extremely successful with almost every currency bet in 2009.

The New Bull Market Fallacy

Your statement is thought provoking : "This is remarkably high and shows a ludicrous deal of risk aversion, as it implies investors are willing to pay $145 for $1 of reported earnings."

You could also make the case that it shows a ludicrous deal of risk-taking. Why chase that dollar and buy stocks at such a high p/e unless you are playing macro factors or market technicals

At Economix, breaking down the GDP components shows that it's a little hasty to congratulate the stimulus for contributing to the good (or less bad) news.

This article makes no sense. It states that the government's contribution is trivial, but presents facts that prove the opposite. The government contributed +1.2% annualized to the -1.0% GDP figure.

More than 126,000 new consumer bankruptcy cases were filed in July - up 34% year/year and the most since October 2005, when Congress enacted bankruptcy reform making the process more difficult.

kinda like a green shoot

Has the Housing Market Hit Bottom?

good article, thanks.

Banks Kick Commercial Real Estate Loans Down the Road

Thanks Mark, good article. People need to be living in homes that they can afford for the downward spiral to end.