Le Philosophe

Why ALL the HACK Jobs on Dendreon's New Cancer Drug

It seems like the market is using DNDN as a place to hide on Down days knowing that the stock will pop at the point that the market and the competitors realize that this drug is a fait accomplis. We need this new process to treat cancers. I agree that provenge has the capability of be transcendant in the cancer drug sphere. Its just not there yet, but anyone investing in this company will certainly rejoice in years to come as this is a real wealth maker in process today,

"We're doing half-measures that help the economy limp along without fully recovering, and we're having measures that help the banks survive without really thriving," says Paul Krugman, who is worried about a lost decade. "A second stimulus is becoming clearly urgent."

Einstein said it, I believe it, but back to Krugman. Say what you will about his economic understanding, which is...... let us say, challenged....... He knows how to write provocative articles. That's all it is provocative. I long for the substantive...........but as long as Kruugman has the ablity to ink articles I am afraid you'll have to look elsewhere.

In a large clinical trial, AstraZeneca's (AZN) experimental heart pill Brilinta beats Plavix (marketed by SNY and BMY) at preventing heart attacks and strokes. Plavix was 2008's second biggest drug, with $8.6B in sales. AZN +6.1%. SNY -0.5%. BMY -0.7%.

DNDN is up 10 % so fasr 2day!!!!!! on no news!!!!!!!!!!!!
is any body listening????

Dollar's Purchasing Power Annihilated - The Chart They Don't Want You to See

cheaper and cheaper dollars

Dollar's Purchasing Power Annihilated - The Chart They Don't Want You to See

Tyler,
Lots of discussion. Good post. Poor analysis........ The powers that be have been eroding purchasing power of currencies since the first treasurer or emporer discovered he could make more coin by substituting an alloy for the precious metal involved. What is important is relative purchasing power, but that concept is illusive at best due to the rather etherial measures. We have to settle for the living standard model. On that measure life is much better for the educated and adaptable than the poorly educated and unpliable.

Of course to make this information useful we have to add an action plan, or don't believe in Rosenberg's 13 rules yet? So you see inflation coming like a hurricane or a freight train. Unavoidable you say. Then lets all load up on debt, the government surely has and the political will to stop it will be thwarted by those very powers that created it and debtors will willingly pay with

What Was the Point of the Stress Tests?

It seems that all the angts about the Stress Test was overdone.

Does anyone doubt that Geithner and Bernanake got what they wanted, i.e. greater willingness of investors to buy financials. These stocks and institutions were being picked off one by one - CDS Spreads exploding along with option volatility as the underlying stocks were hammered into pernicious piles of toxic pulp by the shorts.

But now that aggressive short sellers have been thwarted by Zero interest rates and multiple special vehicles to add liquidity to the vulnerable whether they be banks or auto makers, does that means all is well and we can return to he profligate and rapacious ways and means? No? So you see inflation on the horizon, coming like a hurricane, or rather a freight train you say?

Proof you want proof, you say.........Oil is rising eventhough there are tankers floating with no place to go, you say..... Money chasing returns as the market rises without backing and fillling, you say? HMMMMM????

Is the Recession Over?

Absurdity is ubiquitous my friend, like the turgid locquatious foolish advocates of Taurus in the face of Orion. It means nothing.

Looks like another strong open with stress tests (I, II) and nonfarm payrolls now on the record. Yesterday, pre-stress-test jitters got the better of traders; might today be a case of sell the rumor buy the news? Dow +1% to 8471. S&P +1.1% at 917. Nasdaq +0.6%. 30-year Tsy +0.23% to 120-23. Crude +2% to $57.84.

With the gov't continuing to provide free money there is no downside to the banks. An Absence of fear in this case is the same driver as hope. In the presence of hope stocks rise. However there are limitations to the amount of the increase. We just do not know what they are. I sense decorum, priviledge, liquidity, preference, and longevity and factors describing this limitation. In the premarket I see a positive reaction to the Stress test. So GS, BAC, JPM (banks that are preferred) going up and ones that are not (MS) going down. May 08 07:24 AM |Report abuse| Link | Reply 00

Stress Test Results Are Out - Leaks Were Right

With the gov't continuing to provide free money there is no downside to the banks. An Absence of fear in this case is the same driver as hope. In the presence of hope stocks rise. However there are limitations to the amount of the increase. We just do not know what they are. I sense decorum, priviledge, liquidity, preference, and longevity and factors describing this limitation. In the premarket I see a positive reaction to the Stress test. So GS, BAC, JPM (banks that are preferred) going up and ones that are not (MS) going down.

Three great reads for lunchtime: 1) The limit of financial innovation 2) Blame the weak dollar, not Greenspan 3) 'No-risk' insurance at FDIC

The FDIC is setting itself up to be the next AIG.....

Hedge Crude Oil Exposure While You Dance the Contango

Beware of the USO it doesn't behave like spot crude. It obviously has other drivers. However, if you think crude will rise why not buy the oil service sector? For a pairs trade go short HAL and long SLB?

Sheila Bair claims there's no mission creep at the FDIC, because the various programs it's participating in insure the stability of the financial system, which was always its goal. To which Felix Salmon responds: "No, Sheila, the goal of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was always, quite narrowly, to insure deposits..."

I can't believe Sheila Baird went along with the Treasury plan. She's turning the FDIC into another FNMA.

The Modified Uptick Rule Debate

As we all know expectations and conceptual beliefs are sometimes enough to bring assurance to the market so that hope can prevail. Since more investors are long only, hope is normally for an upside move to a given stock or the market overall. That being said, the uptick rule is a convenient tool to bring some hope to the market. I am sure it is only a matter of degree, but with the abounding chatter, the proverbial ponding of the table that these "Uptick Rule Believers" have done the only thing that can happen if it is reinstituted is that the fall in prices will be slowed.

Obviously, the naked short is a greater problem, and that is actually already illegal, but as you've already pointed out, enforcement is the problem. So if the SEC arrests a few seriel abusers things may correct themselves, at least a little.

What is certain is that with the uptick rule absent the decent was faster than otherwise, to whatever degree. The hope is that the forces which exaggerated a move to the downside will also work in reverse.

Veteran investor Bill Bartmann says PPIP is the greatest market opportunity since the S&L crisis. Banks get an unprecedented amnesty to purge bad loans, while investor firms get to bet using house money. Hmm... so who's the loser?

Ask yourself who is talking the most of the risk in the scenario? hmmm.....

Dendreon (DNDN) is up another 13% premarket after Friday's 38% runup - which some analysts say was overdone.

The problem is the VOL on options is in the 300% range, scary isn't it?