The $1 billion “Cash for Clunkers” program was an ideal way for the government to protect its $50 billion investment in GM by stimulating domestic car sales as the industry enters the…
Ford (F) makes better cars than it did last year, or at least there is better demand for them. The “cash for clunkers” program put together by the US government helped sell…
Douglas A. McIntyre Reuters: Banks paid out billions of dollars in bonuses last year while losing money. Reuters: The US closed its car “clunkers” program just as it began as funds ran out. Reuters: Obame…
Chrysler sells very few cars overseas, so it may never recover from the auto industry recession. GM and Ford (F), which have fairly large operations outside the US, should look at VW’s…
Douglas A. McIntyre Reuters: Unemployment is causing further stress in the housing market. Reuters: The Microsoft (MSFT) deal with Yahoo! (YHOO) may have challenges with regulators. Reuters: Sony (SNE) lost money on weakness in its…
Economists debate the impact of the U.S. economic stimulus plan, and if a second round of stimulus is needed. But there’s no doubt that China’s plan is working for us. In the…
Ford (F) will launch ten new models this year. Merrill Lynch says that will bring the age of car company’s product line to an average of 2.4 years. In other words, Ford’s…
Douglas A. McIntyre Reuters: CIT (CIT) may be close to bankruptcy. Reuters: China GDP rose 7.9%. Reuters: Foreclosures hit a record in the first half of 2009. Reuters: Obama pressed Congress on a healthcare bill. Reuters: …
The San Francisco Chronicle recently wrote that only $9.4 billion of the $50 billion earmarked for the state has made it to the treasury. California has to wait for the rest during…
The “best” parts of GM were transferred to a newly created company, owned almost two-thirds by taxpayers, at about 6.30 AM today. The federal government will end up stuffing a total of…
No one knows how to value social media’s dominant players. The real value for Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace is elusive (and less than before). Twitter is one of these businesses which suddenly has…
Consumer Reports, the non-profit advocacy magazine owned by the Consumers Union, may fire 21 editors and product reviewers if its writer’s union does not agree to sacrifice raises. According to the New…
GM’s most valuable assets have finally been sold to a company controlled by the federal government. A judge approved the transaction early today. The “new GM” should be out of bankruptcy court…
There is still some conversation about the federal government restricting short-selling activity in certain stocks. The counterargument to these restrictions is that short selling plays an important role in the valuation of…
Reuters: California declared a financial emergency. Reuters: An SEC attorney raised concern about a Madoff report in 2004. Reuters: Auto parts supplier Lear filed for bankruptcy. Reuters: NYC apartment sales are down…
