If you look through activist investor hedge fund filings, one of the top fund managers and funds to watch is Bruce Berkowitz of Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C. It is of little surprise that his…
Later this week the nation’s six largest banks will start trotting out second quarter earnings that are expected to be significantly lower than earnings in the first quarter. A portion of those earnings could…
This week’s cast of characters in the UNUSUAL SUSPECTS of stocks to watch does not include any earnings previews. Those earnings have been given a separate calendar posted this morning. Our batch of stocks…
The FDIC closed two more banks on Friday, bring the total for the year to 90. A total of 150 banks will be closed in 2010 based on the current pace. That would be…
Prepaid financial services are coming back, a classic sign of the times that many people will be left with no credit at all or with very little credit for years. Green Dot Corporation (NYSE:…
Meredith Whitney called the first banking and financial implosion right. Then came the year-plus of a huge exponential rally where she stayed mostly very cautious in the sector for banks and large investment banking…
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B) and Warren Buffett are not supposed to be this controversial. In fact, Mr. Buffett would probably tell you he’d rather be boring. Yet, we now have two…
Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE: LM) has had a mixed track record of late. If there is one of several issues that can spook investors, it is the departure of a Chief Financial Officer. Right…
Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE: C) had a surprisingly small reaction today considering that when banks rise it tends to rise even more. Thomson Reuters, via PEHub, reported today that Citi has agreed to sell a…
The Sam’s Club division of Walmart (NYSE:WMT), which primarily does business with small companies, means to do what banks will not. It has started a test program to offer loans of as much as…
We already knew all about the big delistings for Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE). Now the delisting process is heading the way of Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABK). After…
After weeks of downgrades following charges of civil fraud, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) got some good news this morning. Analysts at fellow banker JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised Goldman’s rating from…
Trading in shares of Bank of China Ltd. (OTC: BACHY) was halted on the Hong Kong stock exchange yesterday for no specified reason. Shares did continue to trade on the Shanghai exchange. Presumably the…
The US Treasury, bound and determined to get bank every dime it loaned the banking industry during the credit crisis, will sell more Citigroup (NYSE: C) shares. The bank’s stock actually rose 1% on…
Robert Benmosche, the CEO of American International Group, threatens to quit his job so often that it could be timed by a metronome. He whined when the press criticized him for spending time at…