AIG/Banks: It’s About Time (Cuomo)

Andrew Cuomo is asking good questions, and as Karl Denninger points out here, at least someone is. – Ilene
AIG/Banks: It’s About Time (Cuomo)
Courtesy of Karl Denninger at The Market Ticker
My God, there is a cop:
March 26 (Bloomberg) — New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo subpoened American International Group Inc.’s credit- default swap data to see [...]

The Other Crime of the Century: 2008’s Short Squeeze in Oil

Stock Jockey refers to 2008’s oil price manipulation swindle as the "other crime of the century," but it was also business as usual on Wall Street. The information in this article and those linked within might make you sick. – Ilene
The Other Crime of the Century: 2008’s Short Squeeze in Oil
Courtesy of StockJockey at 1440 Wall [...]

Kass: SELL! SELL!

Recall a post by Stock Jockey earlier this month called "Kass Digs In While Bears Continue to Feast"?  It started off "Doug Kass is not afraid of the spotlight, and that is what he has at the moment thanks to his high profile calls that it is time to get more constructive on this market… but can [...]

What the IMF Would Tell the United States, If It Could

Here’s an introduction to and excerpt from The Quiet Coup, courtesy of Simon Johnson and James Kwak, at The Baseline Scenario.
What the IMF Would Tell the United States, If It Could

From 1945 until around 1980, the financial sector was one industry among many in the United States. Then something happened.

 
People in finance started making more [...]

Look Before You Buy LEAPS

Condor Options discusses LEAPs, calls, and options in buying options.
Look Before You Buy LEAPS
Courtesy of Condor Options
Long-term Equity Anticipation Securities (LEAPS) are a class of options with expiration dates longer than a year.  Their purpose is to allow investors who would otherwise hold shares of an underlying equity to buy an option instead, and thereby participate [...]

Elliott Wave Update – Possible Count for March 26

Here’s Corey’s latest Elliott Wave Count Update.
Elliott Wave Update – Possible Count for March 26
Courtesy of Corey Rosenbloom at Afraid To Trade
Here’s an update and comments to the possible Elliott Wave Scenario playing out on the S&P 500 – this is just one possible count – a very bullish interpretation – which hints that we’ve bottomed [...]

WSJ: Have We Seen the Last of the Bear Raids?

Andy Kessler explains the "bear-raid extraordinaire."  Read this article, maybe twice. 

WSJ: Have We Seen the Last of the Bear Raids?
Courtesy of Andy Kessler

So is that it? Is the downturn over? After bouncing off of 6500, or more than half its peak value, and with Citigroup briefly breaking $1, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has [...]

Is the worst behind us?

James Hamilton is watching the housing market — as long as prices are falling, concerns about the value of mortgage backed securities and financial instruments constructed from them will persist.
Is the worst behind us?
Courtesy of James Hamilton at Econbrowser
A couple of weeks ago we received the encouraging news that retail sales for both January and [...]

Full Commanding Denial

Jim Kunstler eloquently presents his views on how we will gradually be forced to shift from denial to recognizing real change in our lives. – Ilene
Full Commanding Denial
Courtesy of Clusterfuck Nation by Jim Kunstler

       If central casting called for a poised, straight-talking, and capable-seeming president, it would be hard to come [...]

It Looks Like Citi And Bank Of America Are Already Gaming The System

Why are BofA and C buying up Alt-A and ARM MBS?
It Looks Like Citi And Bank Of America Are Already Gaming The System (C, BAC)
Courtesy of John Carney at ClusterStock
The huge subsidy to banks hidden inside of Tim Geithner’s public-private partnership program may already be leading banks to load up on securities they plan to sell [...]

Geithner’s Arrogance Knows No Bounds

Wondering if there’s a Plan B?  There isn’t and, in Geithner’s mind, there’s no need for one. - Ilene   
Geithner’s Arrogance Knows No Bounds
Courtesy of Mish

Inquiring minds are listening to Geithner explain to Congress how his plan works. Here is a transcript of a conversation between Rep Gresham Barrett and Treasury Secretary Geithner.
Rep Gresham Barrett: "The last question [...]

The Stupid Exuberance Over New Homes Sales

Home sales numbers always go up this time of year, like clockwork.  Compared to this time last year, home sales are down. – Ilene
The Stupid Exuberance Over New Homes Sales
Courtesy of John Carney at ClusterStock

OMG! You guys! The housing market is finally bottoming! Let’s party!
Every year around this time, we expect to get a [...]

Cara’s Commentary & Community Chat

Bill Cara at Cara’s Community discusses the manipulation of gold prices.
Cara’s Commentary & Community Chat
The discussion of the gold market inevitably comes down to whether or not the gold price is manipulated and by whom. GATA’s Bill Murphy has been an effective spokesperson for many people who are outraged that central bankers and the money center [...]

How Taxpayers Can Get Hosed Even When Private Investors Get Rich

Here’s one way in which private investors and banks can make money in the PPIP deals, while taxpayers lose.
How Taxpayers Can Get Hosed Even When Private Investors Get Rich
Courtesy of John Carney at ClusterStock

Tim Geithner keeps saying that investors would share in the downside of any losses in assets purchased through the Public-Private Investment Partnerships.  [...]

Prague’s Franz Kafka International Named World’s Most Alienating Airport

The Onion, America’s Finest News Source, reports on the world’s worst international airport.  H/T to Miss Trade at Trading for the Masses.  

Prague’s Franz Kafka International Named World’s Most Alienating Airport

Prague’s Franz Kafka International Named World’s Most Alienating Airport