thannagan

Analyzing the U.S.'s Four Largest Banks

I think you show the same $$ charts for Total Loans and Equity. Probablly not the case.

Analyzing the U.S.'s Four Largest Banks

Unless I'm looking at the numbers incorrectly, the Total Capital chart seems wrong if TC is Equity plus LTD. I can't tell what this means for the ROIC ratio shown. ??

Was Paulson Right?

Paulson acted. The rest of the government, including the Fed was little more than a deer in the headlights. He did more than anyone else to avoid complete collapse. Was it perfect in hindsight? Of course not. Did it work better than any alternative that anyone else thought of at the time? Defintely. Sorry, but he stands out the hero of that time.

Why Congress Is Asking Bernanke Bogus Questions

The only thing keeping BAC and their poor shareholders afloat was the government funding and guarantees. Otherwise they were gone, with or without Merrill. Lewis had slready broken BAC and given up his soul to the government. The government herded Merrill into a safe harbor, housing it in their ward, BAC. Lewis had nothing to say and no leg to stand on in the situation, which he created for himself by his prior decisions and governance.

Of course, Congress and White House are always, and only and all, about politics. It was pretty clear in Bernake's expressions what he would have liked to have responded to the idiots questioning him.

Latest Bank Leverage Stats - Some Still High

From a shareholder safety perspective, I would include the preferred funding to get the tangible equity/tangible assets ratio. The preferred funding, unlike debt, is as reliable a source of funds as the common. This changes the gearing or leverage picture substantially for some on the list.

Government Risk Rises: Credit Markets Face Structural Collapse

R - sorry - try this url:

www.decisionanalyticsb...

Tom

Government Risk Rises: Credit Markets Face Structural Collapse

Rakesh - Thanks for the insights. I like your contantly referring to the risk-adjusted rates as the best reflection of likely (real world) returns on various instruments - and therefore their relative actual value. I think the systemic implications (cascading market imbalances) are largely related to the lack of sufficient risk-based pricing, and net asset values.

I discuss some of these issues realted to bank lending in my blog: decisionanalyticsblog....

Please continue to publish.

Financial Landscape: Writedowns, Losses and Capital Raised

It's also interesting that RBS and Barclays have riased substantially more new capital than the amount of assets they have written down. Does this mean they were just greatly under-capitalized before, or that there's a lot more write-offs on the way.

Is the U.S. Banking System Safe?

Good - thought provoking.

Okay, so, do the hedge funds stay the (recently losing) course, or what? I don't know if they are known for either patience, or individuality. Where do they take their $$$, greed and leverage?

I vote much more for incompetence and group behavior than fraud and lying on the part of bank/regulator/account... "leaders".

Rogue Traders and Economic Capital

Chris - I need to read this again - on paper. I print the ones worth studying. Thanks

The Chicken's Guide to Picking Stocks in 2008

Hey there's 3 of us out of the closet. (And, I believe it's a very big closet.)Thanks.