"The Fed has the authority to buy foreign government debt," said Ben Bernanke in 2002. "Potentially, this class of asset offers huge scope for Fed operations." With the ECB's hands apparently tied as the eurozone crisis threatens to spiral out of control, has the time come for the Chairman to step in? "The Fed needs to buy up every single European bond owned by every single American financial institution for cash," says Brad DeLong. [View news story]
its the only way to save the big banks from failing like MF Global
Also heavily exposed to Italian sovereign debt: Likely GE, writes Bruce Krasting, who breaks down the financing of a typical government infrastructure project and is left with the conclusion the company likely owns plenty of Italy's paper. High interest rates squeezing business, possible haircuts on debt, and GE's leveraged balance sheet could make for an ugly mix. [View news story]
Wells Fargo (WFC) sues JPMorgan (JPM), seeking to force the bank to buy back more than 800 punk mortgages it sold. "The loans have been plagued by an alarming rate of defaults and foreclosures." It appears the maxim about Piranhas in a tank not eating each other isn't true. [View news story]
US banks are still lending in risky markets -for example Australia. House prices are slowly falling there and unemployment is increasing. The average price in Darwin or Sydney is over $500,000. That is maybe 1.5 million to pay back, seems alot for the average borrower.
The NY Fed's Bill Dudley takes down a notch his expectations for U.S. growth, realizing there was more to the H1 slowdown than temporary factors like high oil prices and the Japan earthquake. Dudley is a key supporter, even architect of the Fed's QE, and his words may offer a window into the thinking of the Chairman. [View news story]
A few days ago The Prime Minister of New Zealand said the US will have growth without inflation. What do you think?
S&P, which said earlier this month that state and local governments could retain AAA ratings even after it cut the U.S. to AA+, now says reductions in federal spending could lead to downgrades of municipal bonds. Ratings changes would come based on “differing levels of reliance on federal funding, and varying management capabilities." [View news story]
Americans didn't pay their mortgages, and got away with it. Now faced with a bigger bill they cry foul.
What went wrong with the global recovery that was widely expected as recently as six months ago? FT's Gavyn Davies blames the surprising extent of government belt-tightening in the short-term while failing to address long-term sustainability problems - "precisely the wrong way around" - and given the political mood in the U.S. and Europe, it's not likely to change. [View news story]
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank is asking the Fed to extend its examination of Capital One's (COF) purchase of ING Direct so Congress can hold hearings on the matter. “This proposed purchase would create the fifth-largest bank in the United States,” says Frank. “For this reason alone, care should be taken to thoroughly examine the impact of this purchase." COF -0.1% AH. [View news story]
our banks are sub-prime lending all over the world Happy with that? going to bail them out again?
Dumb Political Talk Plus Bad News: Negative for the Market [View article]
maybe the rest of the world wants the US downgraded because they don't want to lend the US $$ to give to the rich Americans. who won't pay them back as Bachman etc have pledged them no tax rise Everyone overseas pays more taxes and higher prices
"The Fed has the authority to buy foreign government debt," said Ben Bernanke in 2002. "Potentially, this class of asset offers huge scope for Fed operations." With the ECB's hands apparently tied as the eurozone crisis threatens to spiral out of control, has the time come for the Chairman to step in? "The Fed needs to buy up every single European bond owned by every single American financial institution for cash," says Brad DeLong. [View news story]
Also heavily exposed to Italian sovereign debt: Likely GE, writes Bruce Krasting, who breaks down the financing of a typical government infrastructure project and is left with the conclusion the company likely owns plenty of Italy's paper. High interest rates squeezing business, possible haircuts on debt, and GE's leveraged balance sheet could make for an ugly mix. [View news story]
Wells Fargo (WFC) sues JPMorgan (JPM), seeking to force the bank to buy back more than 800 punk mortgages it sold. "The loans have been plagued by an alarming rate of defaults and foreclosures." It appears the maxim about Piranhas in a tank not eating each other isn't true. [View news story]
The average price in Darwin or Sydney is over $500,000. That is maybe 1.5 million to pay back, seems alot for the average borrower.
Housing Insight From Home Builders [View article]
also got a big handout from Dems
welfare beneficiaries
7 Smart Ways Obama Can Start Fixing the Job Market Now [View article]
a reputation is easily lost and hard to regain
sorry
Was Wells Fargo Joking When It Said Gold Is in a Bubble? [View article]
BHO
who will vote for obama?
Matt Taibbi vs. the SEC [View article]
what can we do?
maybe buy a copy of Rolling stone and give it to someone
or buy them a subscription
Economists Refuse to Recognize the New Great Depression [View article]
Steve Keen in Australia
Roubini
and other commentators in the US
The NY Fed's Bill Dudley takes down a notch his expectations for U.S. growth, realizing there was more to the H1 slowdown than temporary factors like high oil prices and the Japan earthquake. Dudley is a key supporter, even architect of the Fed's QE, and his words may offer a window into the thinking of the Chairman. [View news story]
What do you think?
S&P, which said earlier this month that state and local governments could retain AAA ratings even after it cut the U.S. to AA+, now says reductions in federal spending could lead to downgrades of municipal bonds. Ratings changes would come based on “differing levels of reliance on federal funding, and varying management capabilities." [View news story]
Now faced with a bigger bill they cry foul.
What went wrong with the global recovery that was widely expected as recently as six months ago? FT's Gavyn Davies blames the surprising extent of government belt-tightening in the short-term while failing to address long-term sustainability problems - "precisely the wrong way around" - and given the political mood in the U.S. and Europe, it's not likely to change. [View news story]
by whom?
In 2008 we experienced the failure of Lehman, AIG and the GSEs. Today we are witnessing sovereign nations on the brink of failure. In 2008 there was the palpable fear of bank runs. Today, it's a potential for currency runs. In 2008 there were government bailouts. Today there are central bank bailouts. But... this time everything's different, right? [View news story]
other countries have more people working and use about 1/2 as much energy
maybe the US is just consuming
Would It Really Matter If China Stopped Buying U.S. Bonds? [View article]
real analysis
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank is asking the Fed to extend its examination of Capital One's (COF) purchase of ING Direct so Congress can hold hearings on the matter. “This proposed purchase would create the fifth-largest bank in the United States,” says Frank. “For this reason alone, care should be taken to thoroughly examine the impact of this purchase." COF -0.1% AH. [View news story]
Happy with that?
going to bail them out again?
Dumb Political Talk Plus Bad News: Negative for the Market [View article]
who won't pay them back as Bachman etc have pledged them no tax rise
Everyone overseas pays more taxes and higher prices