BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bad news triggers a rally in the bond market]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/03/bad-news-triggers-a-rally-in-the-bond-market/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/03/bad-news-triggers-a-rally-in-the-bond-market/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/03/bad-news-triggers-a-rally-in-the-bond-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Unlike the stock market, the bond market thrives on "bad" news. Why is this? The main reason is the money trail. Investors are quick to move their money from stocks into bonds when something bad happens.

Yesterday we had plenty of bad news. The U.S. job market lost 467,000 jobs, a 26-year high. Now to add fuel to the fire, wages are dropping due to layoffs and shortened work weeks (WSJ subscription required). Fewer people are working, which means less money that consumers have to spend. That signals a slower economy.

Continue reading Bad news triggers a rally in the bond market

Bad news triggers a rally in the bond market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bond marketCaliforniainthenewsTreasury billsunemploymentFri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't paint everything with the jobs brush]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/03/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-paint-everything-with-the-jobs-b/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/03/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-paint-everything-with-the-jobs-b/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/03/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-paint-everything-with-the-jobs-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says there's good in this market -- remember that.

Does unemployment trump everything? Does it trump Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) (Cramer's Take) sales? Does it trump 3G and 4G? How about Chinese orders? How about General Mills' (NYSE: GIS) (Cramer's Take) numbers? Yum!'s (NYSE: YUM) (Cramer's Take) business? Does unemployment trump pending home sales? Or order pick-ups in autos and a subsequent bottom?

That's what you have to ask yourself when you sell. You have to ask yourself whether 40,000 or 60,000 jobs trumps everything good that has happened. You have to ask yourself if the government were to take 100,000 of those people and give them jobs taking care of federal lands and parks or working at the post office or having them go into a conservation corps, whether we would be up and not down.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't paint everything with the jobs brush

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't paint everything with the jobs brush originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAPLAppleeconomic recoveryfeaturedGeneral MillsGISJim CramerstimulusunemploymentYUMYUM BrandsFri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: This market knows something we don't ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-this-market-knows-something-we-dont/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-this-market-knows-something-we-dont/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-this-market-knows-something-we-dont/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the rally here seems too strong for the news and data we're getting.

Just as when Doug Kass says, "Tell me something I don't know," I think this market knows something we don't know, either about a turn in commercial real estate to rival that of residential -- the real estate investment trusts are holding in well -- or a second stimulus plan, a real one that will put more people to work.

The employment numbers aren't good enough to merit this kind of rally, and we know the layoffs for June were preposterously high. We know that the auto build will be slightly better than expected a few months ago, but it's still pathetic and the auto idlings are about to start.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: This market knows something we don't

Cramer on BloggingStocks: This market knows something we don't originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacfcxfeaturedjim cramerJimCramerjpmunpwfcThu, 02 Jul 2009 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Millionaires have lost their optimism about the economy]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/millionaires-have-lost-their-optimism-about-the-economy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/millionaires-have-lost-their-optimism-about-the-economy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/millionaires-have-lost-their-optimism-about-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is there an index that measures millionaires' sentiment and whether they are optimistic or pessimistic? The answer is yes. It is called the Spectrem Millionaire Investor Index.

The next question naturally is: "So what are the millionaires thinking about the economy?" The news is not good. The index fell 18 points to a -20 in June, a record decline since the index was created in 2004. Plus the index fell 17 points in May. A range of -11 to -30 indicates a slightly bearish sentiment. It's likely that millionaires underwent a reality check after a bout of over optimism in May.

Continue reading Millionaires have lost their optimism about the economy

Millionaires have lost their optimism about the economy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewsmarket sentimentmillionaire indexSpectremThu, 02 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures fall ahead of employment data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/before-the-bell-futures-fall-ahead-of-employment-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/before-the-bell-futures-fall-ahead-of-employment-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/02/before-the-bell-futures-fall-ahead-of-employment-data/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

U.S. stock futures were lower Thursday morning, the last day of trading in this shortened week and ahead of the holiday weekend. Investors this morning will turn their attention to the June jobs report for clues on whether the economy can continue to recover.

At 8:30 this morning two jobs report are going to be released. The weekly initial jobless claims report and June nonfarm payroll statistics. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect employers in the U.S. probably cut an additional 365,000 jobs in June. If the data comes out as expected it would be evidence the stimulus plan has helped the labor market. In addition, the unemployment rate likely climbed to 9.6 percent, the highest since 1983. Unemployment is projected to keep rising for the rest of the year. [Update: Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent.]

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures fall ahead of employment data

Before the bell: Futures fall ahead of employment data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Are financial stocks still a buy?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/are-financial-stocks-still-a-buy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/are-financial-stocks-still-a-buy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/are-financial-stocks-still-a-buy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are financial stocks a buy now? Jeffrey Palma, a strategist for UBS says yes. He is recommending a modest "overweight" for this sector. He goes on to say that financials had the biggest gains among 10 industry groups in the MSCI World Index in the second quarter.

Let's be clear here. Mr. Palma is referring to the second quarter. The second quarter is done, finished. The real question is whether or not, going forward, the rally will continue.

Continue reading Are financial stocks still a buy?

Are financial stocks still a buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bank stocksderivativesfinancial sectorJeffrey PalmaWed, 01 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: The post-mark-up could sting industrials ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-post-mark-up-could-sting-industria/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-post-mark-up-could-sting-industria/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-post-mark-up-could-sting-industria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says stock prices may roll back, but techs and financials should be fine.

The pain of the aftermath of mark-ups never goes away. We knew what was in store for us, as the mark-up folks don't like to play on the last day, especially with the newly vigilant Securities and Exchange Commission. I have to believe that this SEC will now become more interested in "the tapes," which would show clients asking brokers to take stocks up as much as they can, something that we know is against the law.

What comes up from mark-up must come down, and the most important "come-downs" should be in the industrials, because we have the least visibility in them. I do not believe the techs have as much to worry about, nor the banks, because both have excellent earnings prospects for the coming quarter. Why sell Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) (Cramer's Take) here? Why sell Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) (Cramer's Take)? And why dump Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) (Cramer's Take) or Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) (Cramer's Take) or JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) (Cramer's Take) when those have the best possibilities of good news ahead? I can see locking in some Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) (Cramer's Take) gains, but that's going to be the best quarter of all.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The post-mark-up could sting industrials

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The post-mark-up could sting industrials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaplbaccvxemrfeaturedgisgshonjim cramerJimCramerjpmmsftoxypcarpepwfcWed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of employment, manufacturing, housing data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/before-the-bell-futures-higher-ahead-of-employment-manufacturi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/before-the-bell-futures-higher-ahead-of-employment-manufacturi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/before-the-bell-futures-higher-ahead-of-employment-manufacturi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

U.S. stock futures were higher Wednesday morning as stocks were ready to start off the third quarter on a positive note. However, several key economic reports are due out this morning, including reports on manufacturing, employment and housing. Recently, manufacturing has shown improvement in other parts of the world.

Stocks finished the second quarter Tuesday on a down note, but that couldn't erase the advances indices made during the quarter with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing the second quarter up 11 percent, the S&P 500 rose 15 percent and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 20 percent.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of employment, manufacturing, housing data

Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of employment, manufacturing, housing data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[ Closing Bell: The great day that could have been... (APOL, BRCM, ELX, GE, GERN, VICL)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/closing-bell-the-great-day-that-could-have-been-apol-brcm/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/closing-bell-the-great-day-that-could-have-been-apol-brcm/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/closing-bell-the-great-day-that-could-have-been-apol-brcm/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This morning's trading was looking solid enough and had enough overseas support with gains in Europe that it seemed as though we were going to have a rock solid end to one of the best performing quarters in years.

The Russell trade and the quarter-end failed to help. A quiet ISM-prelude from Chicago Purchasing Managers was one thing, but a weak consumer confidence took the wind out of the sails of the bulls. The good news is that shares managed to close off their lows, but it still wasn't an up day. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 8,448.06 -81.32 (-0.95%)
S&P 500 919.47 -7.76 (-0.84%)
Nasdaq 1,835.04 -9.02 (-0.49%)

Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades

Continue reading Closing Bell: The great day that could have been... (APOL, BRCM, ELX, GE, GERN, VICL)

Closing Bell: The great day that could have been... (APOL, BRCM, ELX, GE, GERN, VICL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>APOLBRCMELXfeaturedGEGERNVICLTue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Warning: The financial media can be hazardous to your portfolio]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-warning-the-financial-media-can-be-ha/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-warning-the-financial-media-can-be-ha/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-warning-the-financial-media-can-be-ha/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says you'll miss some great opportunities if you blindly believe all the bad news.

You want a rebuke to the "never-ending woes of commercial and residential real estate mortgage bonds"? You get one every day in this market, and today is no different. Look at what is up big today: Genworth (NYSE: GNW) (Cramer's Take), Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC) (Cramer's Take), Wyndham (NYSE: WYN) (Cramer's Take), Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) (Cramer's Take) and Zions (NASDAQ: ZION) (Cramer's Take). Each in its own way needs the residential or commercial real estate markets to be robust to thrive, and if the myriad articles I read about the horrible state of the mortgage bond market and the dim commercial real estate prospects were true, why would you be making money in Wyndham, a gigantic timeshare company? How could Regions and Zions be rallying? They are among the worst of the worst; unless you consider Genworth and Lincoln National, which are supposed to be roadkill because of all of their mortgage bonds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Warning: The financial media can be hazardous to your portfolio

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Warning: The financial media can be hazardous to your portfolio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredgnwjim cramerJimCramerlncmbirfslmwynxlzionTue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of housing, confidence data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/before-the-bell-futures-higher-ahead-of-housing-confidence-dat/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/before-the-bell-futures-higher-ahead-of-housing-confidence-dat/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/before-the-bell-futures-higher-ahead-of-housing-confidence-dat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

U.S. stock futures were higher Tuesday morning, indicating that on the last day of the second quarter and first half of 2009 Wall Street is poised to start on a positive tone. Seems investors were ready to extend the biggest rally stocks have staged in a quarter in about a decade . Investors this morning also await several economic indicators -- including housing and consumer confidence -- due out later this morning, hoping further signs the economy have stabilized are in the cards and a recovery is ahead in the second half of the year.

At 9:00 a.m. EDT, the Conference Board will release the June Consumer Confidence index, which is expected to have risen to 55.3 from 54.9, according to Briefing.com. The housing sector will also be in focus as at the same time the S&P/Case Shiller 20-city home price index for April is expected to show a decline from the year ago period. FInally, at 9:45 a.m., June's Chicago PMI, a regional manufacturing index, is expected to show it rose in June.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of housing, confidence data

Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of housing, confidence data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Bears, we miss you ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/29/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-bears-we-miss-you/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/29/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-bears-we-miss-you/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/29/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-bears-we-miss-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says that to go higher from here, we need some bearish bets that are currently MIA.

We need some doom-and-gloomers to go higher here. I didn't hear any last week and it is worrisome. Without some avowed bears, we could be stalled here until we see some earnings even though seasonally this is a terrific time.

I say that because as I looked for things to talk about on Friday's show, I was hoping to find some stocks where there have been big negative bets made and really couldn't. Natural gas had been thick with bears and those stocks are still going down, but I don't see a lot of bearish bets being made. We had some in retail, but they seem to have dried up since Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) (Cramer's Take). Tech? Boy, I don't see any bears at all going into what should be a remarkably negative period, at least historically.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Bears, we miss you

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Bears, we miss you originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacbbbyfeaturedjim cramerJimCramerwfcMon, 29 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures advance slightly as Madoff sentencing in focus]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/29/before-the-bell-futures-advance-slightly-as-madoff-sentencing-i/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/29/before-the-bell-futures-advance-slightly-as-madoff-sentencing-i/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/29/before-the-bell-futures-advance-slightly-as-madoff-sentencing-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

U.S. stock futures edged higher Monday morning. As investors start taking toll of the first half ending tomorrow, today many will focus on the sentencing of Bernard Madoff for his multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme. Investors will also gear up for several key economic reading coming later in this shortened holiday week.

The Bernard Madoff's sentencing hearing, coming six months after the scandal came to light, will take front stage today. Madoff masterminded a multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme that wiped out fortunes, ruined charities and foundations, and even pushed some investors to commit suicide. His lawyer insists 12 years in prison is enough, while prosecutors demand a 150-year sentence fort he 71-year-old.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures advance slightly as Madoff sentencing in focus

Before the bell: Futures advance slightly as Madoff sentencing in focus originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Real estate turnaround ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/26/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-real-estate-turnaround/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/26/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-real-estate-turnaround/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/26/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-real-estate-turnaround/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the endless worries will prove bogus, and jobs creation could spur a real lift.

Alt-A. Endless bank foreclosures. Commercial real estate. These are the big three worries that will not be killed by data, rigor or common sense, no matter what happens.

Doesn't it occur to anyone that there already should have been a big spike in commercial real estate losses by now? That the decline in the economy has lasted long enough that it should have manifested itself? Doesn't anyone think that there should have been a big commercial real estate bad-debt bump at a Citigroup (NYSE: C) (Cramer's Take) or a JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) (Cramer's Take) or a Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) (Cramer's Take)?

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Real estate turnaround

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Real estate turnaround originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banksccommerical real estateCommericalRealEstatefeaturedforeclosureshcbkjim cramerJimCramerjpmwfcFri, 26 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures lower ahead of data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/26/before-the-bell-futures-lower-ahead-of-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/26/before-the-bell-futures-lower-ahead-of-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/26/before-the-bell-futures-lower-ahead-of-data/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

U.S. stock futures again turned lower Friday morning, indicating Wall Street could start on a down note to finish off a week of choppy trading. While Thursday stocks rallied, they've slumped most of the week, with indices still down on the week. This morning investors await reading on personal income and spending and inflation.

Meanwhile, the dollar declined against other currencies after China's central bank renewed its call for a global currency that would be delinked from any one economy. The banks also said the country's financial institutions face a tougher environment this year.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower ahead of data

Before the bell: Futures lower ahead of data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: More stimulus, please! ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/25/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-more-stimulus-please/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/25/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-more-stimulus-please/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/25/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-more-stimulus-please/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the jobless number shows the folly of thinking we can get through on what we have.

Tough data point, the employment number. Lagging. But when you see it, the number doesn't feel like it's lagging. In fact, it is thesis-busting, as in, "We aren't getting better, let's stop fooling ourselves." It just feels like, "Come on, we know the truth, we need to have a second stimulus plan."

That will be the battleground for the second half of this year: further budget-busting vs. putting more people to work, because we sure aren't doing a great job of putting them to work.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: More stimulus, please!

Cramer on BloggingStocks: More stimulus, please! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baccfeaturedjim cramerJimCramerjobsrecessionstimulusThu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures lower ahead of employment, GDP data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/25/before-the-bell-futures-lower-ahead-of-employment-gdp-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/25/before-the-bell-futures-lower-ahead-of-employment-gdp-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/25/before-the-bell-futures-lower-ahead-of-employment-gdp-data/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

U.S. stock futures edged lower Thursday morning, as markets still looked for direction following the Federal Reserve's statement Wednesday that was somewhat mixed. This morning, investors await jobs and GDP data, as well as Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony over the Bank of America (BAC)-Merrill Lynch deal.

Bernanke will testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Thursday to face questions over his role was in the Bank of America (BAC) purchase of Merrill Lynch. Documents uncovered by The Wall Street Journal indicate he may have been more involved than he admitted, prompting some membersto say that the Fed "engaged in a cover-up.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower ahead of employment, GDP data

Before the bell: Futures lower ahead of employment, GDP data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bernard Madoff is a horse thief: Sentencing set for June 29]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/bernard-madoff-is-a-horse-thief-sentencing-set-for-june-29/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/bernard-madoff-is-a-horse-thief-sentencing-set-for-june-29/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/bernard-madoff-is-a-horse-thief-sentencing-set-for-june-29/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, Bernard Madoff requested leniency through his attorney Ira Sorkin, who suggested a sentence of 12 years would be a sufficient penalty for his client's crime of stealing billions of dollars in one of the greatest frauds in history.

Sentencing by U.S. District Judge Denny Chin is set for Monday June 29, and the eyes of the world will be upon him. So will the eyes of the yet-to-be discovered fraudsters everywhere.

My thoughts on the subject are relatively simple and have little to do with revenge or payback. In cases like this I often remember a very old quote from another time and place.

Continue reading Bernard Madoff is a horse thief: Sentencing set for June 29

Bernard Madoff is a horse thief: Sentencing set for June 29 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bernie madoffBernieMadofffeaturedfraudhedge fund collapsehedge fund managersHedgeFundCollapseHedgeFundManagersJudge Denny ChinJudgeDennyChinMadoffMadoff sentencingMadoffSentencingSheldon LiberSheldonLiberwall streetWallStreetwhite collar crimeWhiteCollarCrimeWed, 24 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Have wheat speculators gone wild?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/have-wheat-speculators-gone-wild/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/have-wheat-speculators-gone-wild/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/24/have-wheat-speculators-gone-wild/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Who is in charge of regulating the wheat futures market? That agency is the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) which oversees trading in the futures markets. One area of regulation is the number of open contracts any one person can have at any given time. The limit is 6,500 contracts.

So then what caused the price of wheat to go wild last year? It seems that the CFTC was complicit in that they gave exemptions for traders to go beyond the 6,500 limit. One trader was allowed to hold 53,000 contracts. Then to make matters worse, six traders ganged up and held 130,000 contracts. According to Bill Tomson, the value of these investments jumped "from an estimated $15 billion dollars in 2003 to around $200 billion by mid 2008.

Continue reading Have wheat speculators gone wild?

Have wheat speculators gone wild? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We will get a little better idea of just what is happening with the real estate market tomorrow when home builder Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) reports its second quarter results.

Headed into tomorrow's earnings announcement, analysts are expecting another loss, but a much smaller loss than the company reported for its first quarter. Last quarter we saw a loss of 98 cents per share. This quarter analysts are predicting a loss of "only" 63 cents per share.

Continue reading Lennar second quarter earnings preview

Lennar second quarter earnings preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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