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“Grossly Distorted Product” or “Christmas in July” »

What is the real economy doing? While yesterday’s GDP printed a surprisingly strong 3.5%, are we to take that on face value? If we care to most effectively navigate the economic landscape, we should dig a little deeper.
A full 2.2% of the 3.5% rise was directly correlated to Uncle Sam’s support of the auto and [...]

It’s the Economy, Stupid!! »

The American public is becoming increasingly wise to the ways of Wall Street and Washington.
Many Americans were duped by financial practices and products emanating from Wall Street. Where was Washington? I would assess Washington’s involvement and responses in the following fashion:
1. At worst, Washington was complicit given a wide array of failed public policy [...]

How Will Bank Failures Impact the Economy? »

Will the failure of a small bank in a small community truly impact America? Analysts discount the impact that the expected massive number of bank failures will have on the U.S. economy.
Additionally, analysts also discount the fact that the FDIC fund to cover depositors of failed institutions is close to zero. This fund can be [...]

That Gaping Hole in Our Recovery is Called Jobs! »

There is a gaping hole in our recovery and more and more of Main Street America is falling through it. And that gaping hole is JOBS. Or more accurately, the place where JOBS should be.
The price of U.S. recession is paid in jobs
In the current recession, economists say high unemployment is likely [...]

And This Is Why…Updated »

People are understandably wary about the government handling our health insurance. That would be the CLUNKER program. I trust you have heard about this? If not, here is a short review:

Okay. I can see some wisdom in that. It is great to get these old gas guzzlers off the road, [...]

Let the Credit Card Games Begin! »

“Usurers” is a dirty word. In dark streets, we call them “loan sharks.” Otherwise we call them “credit card companies.” It’s shocking that the interest they can charge along with the other little gouging games they play are legal. But we do have little stones to toss at this Goliath…

Congress pretends to rein in credit card companies with a wink, a nod and probably some nice contributions »

The Senate is getting ready to address the bill that was initially intended but they broke their promise to rein in thieving credit card companies that have taken to arbitrarily punishing good, reliable customers for their own bad management and greed. But don’t expect much So what else is new? from Congress. [...]

Ponies in the Poop Pile: Ten Potential Positive Outcomes of the Economic Meltdown »

An optimist has been defined as one who would, should a ton of crap be dumped on his doorstep, jump right in and rummage through it, convinced that there must be a pony in there somewhere. I tend towards optimism.
So, while not for one second denying that millions of citizens have been [...]

How Would You Like to Earn -5% On Cash Deposits? »

Can you imagine putting money into a bank and agreeing to accept a minus 5% rate of interest? Well, the Federal Reserve believes the appropriate rate of interest for this economy is in fact -5%. The FT reports, “Fed Study Puts Ideal U.S. Interest Rate at -5%.”
The world is awash in a sea of debt. [...]

Now that the damage is done, our President pledges Credit Card reform »

Pretty much everyone you know has already been gouged by credit card companies while the Band Played On.
Congress said nothing, the President said nothing. Nobody stopped every major credit card company in the USA from screwing with everyone’s credit scores by cranking up their interest rates in mid-stream and offering customers no options other than [...]

Grim Unemployment Stats Are Trending Long »

John McLaughlin has disturbing facts on unemployment. From his PBS show:
… Four-point-four million jobs have disappeared since this recession began 15 months ago. That’s about 10,000 job losses every day — an apocalyptic rate. The result was the highest unemployment rate in 25 years, now over 8 percent.
Some economists say the unemployment is a permanent [...]

Calculated Risk: Chula Vista Big Bounce? »

Calculated Risk’s choice California Jim the Realtor posts today a surprising positive indication in Chula Vista, California.

Open Thread + Tune in Sunday Evening to NoQuarter Radio’s “Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle” »

BUMPED DOWN . PROGRAM CONCUDED . LISTEN to ARCHIVED SHOW!
(Editor’s Note: Paulie Abeles is taking Monday night, April 13th, off to be with family.)
Please join me Sunday evening from 8-9 p.m. ET for NoQuarter Radio’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle. What is truly going on in the economy? Where are markets headed? The [...]

In 15 Minutes, Join NoQuarter Radio’s “Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle” »

PROGRAM CONCLUDED . POST BUMPED DOWN . LISTEN to the ARCHIVED SHOW!
(Editor’s Note: Paulie Abeles is taking Monday night, April 13th, off to be with family.)
Join me from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET on NoQuarter Radio for Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle. These are truly historic times in the global economy. Let’s “navigate the [...]

“Beholden to Failed Banksters” »

Any investor or manager with a degree of experience knows that the “first loss is the best loss.” What do I mean by that? Once the market detects a loss or a weakened position, the price for that asset will remain capped unless and until the asset is sold or liquidated. This price action [...]

Elizabeth Warren Top TARP Cop Reading “Goodnight Moon” [UPDATE] »

Editor’s UPDATE: Below the fold, there’s a pithy, explanatory description of what the T.A.R.P. oversight panel (Chair Elizabeth Warren et al.) concluded in its worrisome report on Treasury’s handling (or not) of the economy’s downturn.
John Batchelor: From my blog. Don’t miss Larry Johnson on my show Sunday nights. Watch for NoQuarter’s promo on Sundays.
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Deadly, With No Known Antidote: Obama’s Blowfish Budget »

In “President Obama’s Ambitious Agenda on Crash Course With Fiscal Realities,” Stu Varney, on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom, exposed a ruinous weakness in Obama’s reckless, contraindicated spending spree: Tax revenues are down 25% (!), and April 15th is NOT going to be a lucrative day for the U.S. government. With escalating unemployment, and more and [...]

Krugman: “Things Are Getting Worse More Slowly” »

Of course, if you’re Rosily The Riveted ‘Bot Rachel Maddow, you optimistically title the segment, “Things Are Looking Up?.” Dear readers, please wade through the gushing over Obama’s visit to Iraq to get to Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman; it’s worth it because the economist and NYT columnist covers a lot of territory, including the Treasury [...]

Games of Chance: TALF, PPIP, TARP, FDIC, FASB »

In thinking about the economy, markets, and our banking system, my memory brings me back to my early days in New York. While working my way along 8th Avenue back to my apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, I would happen upon numerous versions of the classic NYC “hustle.” The shell game (also 3 card monte) was [...]

The Junk Game Within the Junk Game »

From the John Batchelor Show blog. Susan’s Note:I can’t state enough how important it is to read this article.
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Pirate Bankers Rising.
Francesco Guerrera, FT, reported to my financial roundtable on the show, Sunday 5, that the bankers are preparing to game the junk assets on their books.  Here is the part of the scheme that [...]