Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) had their CEOs pushed out by the government this weekend. They will get fat pay packages and can go on to live in massive homes…
According to Reuters, the government takeover of Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) will do little to help the mortgage market short-term. Reuters writes that Lehman (LEH) made a number of…
The evidence that sales at many companies are struggling and that employment will suffer are almost everywhere. Recently, a division of GMAC said it would let 5,000 people go. According to MSNBC,…
In the latest installment of the "Batman" film series, loyal butler Alfred tries to explain the behavior of some of the most depraved criminals. He points out to a befuddled Bruce Wayne…
Nouriel Roubini, the NYU economist, has predicted the US is moving into its worst downturn since the Great Depression. He forecasts that hundreds of banks will fail. But, he is an "independent"…
Shorts sellers suffered from a lack of conviction on the direction of financial stocks in the period that ended July 31. They were clear that betting against tech was no longer a…
Bear Stearns was not the end of it. Institutional investors think at least one more large firm will fail, probably over the next six months. Although those surveyed did not name a…
The safe-house for money center banks closed and locked its doors long ago. The mortgage-related paper crisis rolls on like a mighty river and its latest victim is RBS (RBS). But, victim…
We are seeing a substantial move in shares of Washington Mutual, Inc. (NYSE: WM). British Activist fund Toscafund Asset Management LLP has disclosed in an SEC Filing that it has accumulated a…
Douglas A. McIntyre Regulators may be trying to keep short sellers out of a few financial stocks, but that is not keeping large bets against most other stocks from rising. While some of the shorts…
These are some of the top downgrades or negative analyst calls we are seeing this Wednesday morning in early pre-market hours: ADC Telecom (ADCT) Cut to Neutral at Baird; Cut to Market…
Wall St. cheered what seemed to be withering results from Washington Mutual (WM) and Wachovia (WB). WaMu lost $3.3 billion and reserved $3.7 billion to handle loan losses. Wachovia lost $9 billion…
According to Reutere, Yahoo! (YHOO) profits were down, but the company maintained its full-year forecast. Reuters reports that Wachovia (WB) posted huge write-offs and losses for the last quarter. Reuters writes that…
At the start of the year, many Wall St. analysts and much of the media give the impression that the current financial crisis would pull down all large US banks and brokerages.…
A venti cappuccino costs $4.85 at a New York City Starbucks (SBUX). There may be some tax on that. Starbucks trades at $13.57, so it still has a value well above the…