Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 23rd, 2010 9:31 PM |
A Bloomberg National Poll of 1002 people over the last three days is quite revealing. (The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%)
Almost across the board, those polled (who were randomly selected) are more negative than positive or even neutral on a variety of key topics. Rather than my adding editorial comments, let’s look at the data:
The Value of Your Investments
A lot better 6%
A little better 25%
Same 22%
A little worse 29%
A lot worse 17%
Not Sure 1%
The Overall U.S. Economy (more…)
Tags: Bloomberg National Poll, Bloomberg poll by Selzer, Don't fight the Fed, investment poll and survey, poll of how American view economy, poll on business, poll on economy, poll on housing, poll on strength of nation, survey by Selzer and Company
Posted in General | 1 Comment »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 23rd, 2010 1:47 PM |
Inflation is dead, right?
If we believe The Wall Street Journal, all we had to do was read yesterday’s edition to learn this fact. The WSJ wrote, Inflation is Dead? Long Live Long-Term Treasurys:
The Treasury Department is selling $118 billion in debt this week, just as Congress tackled a $940 billion health-care bill over the weekend, shining the spotlight on the U.S.’s hefty fiscal commitments.
Budget-deficit and debt levels are forecast to worsen: Total deficits including interest costs are set to remain above $1 trillion in the next decade, according to Barclays Capital. But longer-dated U.S. government debt is as popular as ever, even at the measly 3.689% and 4.580% yields that 10- and 30-year Treasurys are paying, respectively.
That popularity is supported by a single, compelling economic fact: Inflation is dead.
There you go. The WSJ said it, so it must be right. The policy wonks in Washington continually repeat it, so they must be right, too. Or are they? (more…)
Tags: commodities, consumer price index excluding housing, deflation, deflation in housing, deflation in owners rent, fed Funds rate, Fed induced liquidity, food prices, gas prices, Inflation, inflation and deflation, is inflation dead, long term treasurys, oil prices, quantitative easing, raw materials
Posted in deflation, General, Housing Crisis, Inflation | 7 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 23rd, 2010 6:11 AM |
Sifting through all of the pros and cons of healthcare reform, I strongly believe the greatest fear for the majority of Americans is that Uncle Sam will screw up the delivery of healthcare itself. Healthcare is the equivalent of the third rail for Americans. Uncle Sam can go ahead and touch almost every other aspect of our lives, but when it comes to our health and access to our physicians, now that is truly personal.
Can Uncle Sam deliver? I guess it is possible, but regrettably Americans increasingly do not trust the “old man” on this topic. (more…)
Tags: Colossal Risk, do you trust our government, Dr. Never, fear of healthcare, fears of healthcare reform, healthcare, healthcare is the third rail, lack of confidence in government, The Great Society, trust in government, Uncle Sam, Vast Ambition, why doesn't America trust Washington
Posted in General, health care reform, Washington D.C. | 4 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 22nd, 2010 4:24 PM |
Why am I so skeptical that Senator Chris Dodd’s proposed Financial Regulatory Reform (for overachievers in the audience, the link connects to the 89-page proposal) will truly change behaviors on Wall Street? For the very simple reason that I have seen no highlighting of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority within the proposed Financial Regulatory Reform. Strike you as a little odd? It strikes me that the Wall Street lobby is hard at work keeping its self-regulator, that being FINRA, right where they want it.
Against this backdrop, I was pleasantly surprised to see highly regarded Barron’s columnist Jim McTague reference that the proposed reform would promote transparency and accountability of FINRA. (more…)
Tags: accountability of financial regulatory reform, Chris Dodd, Davis Pol Summary of Draft of Restoring American Financial Stability Act ing, Dodd Prepares to Whack Wall Street, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, financial regulatory reform, financial self-regulation, FINRA, FINRA SEC TRACE, GAO, Jim McTague, MSRB, POGO, Report on Oversight of National Securities Associations, SEC oversight of FINRA, self-regulation, transparency of financial regulatory reform, Wall Street, Wall Street lobby, Wall Street-Washington incest
Posted in Christopher Dodd, FINRA, General, regulation | 2 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 22nd, 2010 1:53 PM |
Is our nation trending away from the principles of capitalism which built the foundation upon which we rest? Another healthcare whine? Nope. I am talking about the once proud pillars of capitalism centered on lower Manhattan, otherwise known as Wall Street.
Let me simplify the debate. What is capitalism? Are you willing to accept the definitions provided by my Investing primer, Investopedia?
What Does Capitalism Mean?
An economic system based on a free market, open competition, profit motive and private ownership of the means of production. Capitalism encourages private investment and business, compared to a government-controlled economy. Investors in these private companies (i.e. shareholders) also own the firms and are known as capitalists.
What does the Financial Times have to say about our financial system this morning? (more…)
Tags: banking fees, Bear Stearns, capitalism, competition in banking, conflicts of interest, Few Banks, Financial Times Fat Fees, Goldman Sachs, it is what it is, it isn't what it isn't, lack of financial competition, Lehman Bros, oligopoly, principles of capitalism, tenets of capitalism, UK Office of Fair Trading, Wall Street, what is capitalism
Posted in General, Wall Street | 6 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 22nd, 2010 9:52 AM |
Is the stock market being manipulated?
I can not count the number of times I have been asked that question over the last 9 months. Rather than my offering personal opinions which market pundits may view as sour grapes or worse, I want to revisit a ten-minute segment of my interview last evening with Phil Davis.
The segment runs from 29:45 until 40:00 (audio player provided below). If you do nothing else today, please listen to this dialogue between Phil and myself. Neither of us goes into this conversation with agendas or preconceived notions in an attempt to score points. I will offer an edited version here. I think you will find the information, thoughts, and opinions offered to be enlightening. (more…)
Tags: AIG, asset bubble, asset bubbles, asset securitization, Bank of America, Cisco, Citigroup, Dow components, earnings, equity earnings, equity market overview, GM, government support for the market, is equity market being manipulated, is the market being manipulated, is Wall street a bunch of crooks, manipulation of equity market, manipulation of stock market, market depth, market event, market manipulation, market overview, market volume, Phil Davis, Phil Davis interview on Sense on Cents, Phil Davis interview with Larry Doyle, Phil's Stock World, securitization, Sense on Cents, shadow banking system, Travelers, Wells Fargo, will market go up or down
Posted in Equity Markets, General | 8 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 19th, 2010 7:36 AM |
I have grown accustomed to some truly shocking developments and resulting statements throughout the course of our economic crisis. That said, the statement I read late last night from the soon to depart Chief of Enforcement at FINRA, Susan Merrill, left me absolutely aghast.
As reported by the financial industry newsletter, Investment News, Ms. Merrill said she was,
“especially proud of the actions we brought regarding auction-rate securities….as well as vigorous actions to shut down Ponzi schemers.”
Wow. With that reflective comment on her FINRA tenure, Ms. Merrill must believe people do not read these comments, they have no understanding of their context, or America is simply stupid.
Well, Ms. Merrill, I do read these comments. I do have an understanding of their context. I would like to think I am not stupid, and I welcome sharing my reaction with the American public.
In my opinion, you have some set of balls. (more…)
Tags: Barney Frank, Darrell Issa, FINRA, FINRA 2008 Annual Report, FINRA enforcement chief Susan Merrill, Investment News Susan Merrill, Mary Schapiro, paul Kanjorski, Susan Merrill, Susan Merrill departure, will Susan Merrill talk
Posted in General | 2 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 18th, 2010 2:03 PM |
UPDATE: This episode of NQR’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle has concluded. You can listen to a recording of the episode in its entirety by clicking the play button on the audio player provided below. Once the audio begins, you can advance or rewind to any portion of the episode by clicking at any point along the play bar.
I am thrilled to have Phil Davis join me this coming Sunday evening from 8-9 pm ET on No Quarter Radio’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle. Phil is one of the most widely followed financial market strategists today; he operates the highly visited website, Phil’s Stock World. In addition, Phil is a fellow contributing author at the popular financial website, Seeking Alpha. From Seeking Alpha, we learn more about Phil and why thousands follow his writing and insights:
Philip R. Davis is a founder of Phil’s Stock World (www.philstockworld.com), a stock and options trading site that teaches the art of options trading to newcomers and devises advanced strategies for expert traders. Mr. Davis is a serial entrepreneur, having founded software company Accu-Title, a real estate title insurance software solution, and is also the President of the Delphi Consulting Corp., an M&A consulting firm that helps large and small companies obtain funding and close deals. He was also the founder of Accu-Search, a property data corporation that was sold to DataTrace in 2004 and Personality Plus, a precursor to eHarmony.com. Phil was a former editor of a UMass/Amherst humor magazine and it shows in his writing — which is filled with colorful commentary along with very specific ideas on stock option purchases (Phil rarely holds actual stocks).
Please join me and Phil Davis this Sunday evening for what will assuredly be not only an education, but a riveting and engaging conversation as well. Do a friend a favor and share this with them. They will thank you.
LD
Posted in General | No Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 18th, 2010 10:52 AM |
Will Susan Merrill provide America with a window into the scams perpetrated by Wall Street on the American investing public? Who is Susan Merrill? Let’s navigate.
Those charged with protecting the public interest must be held to an appropriate standard. In order to promote public trust, these organizations and their executives must be held to account. If need be, that accounting should include legal discovery and, if warranted, a subpoena as well.
Susan Merrill, the head of enforcement of Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization, FINRA, is stepping down after having occupied this role for three years. Think she knows some things that the American public would like to know? No doubt.
In fact, in my opinion, Ms. Merrill most likely has a wealth of information that American investors (those she was charged to protect) and the American public at large DESERVE to know. (more…)
Tags: Amerivet Securities v FINRA, auction rate securities cases, Barney Frank, Benchmark Financial vs FINRA, Congressional inquiry into FINRA, Darrell Issa, Davis Polk Wardwell, FINRA, FINRA liquidation of auction-rate securities, FINRA oversight of Lehman Brothers, FINRA should protect investors, FINRA's Susan merrill to Exit as Enforcement Chief, lawsuits against FINRA, Mary Schapiro, merger of NASD and NYSE Regulation, paul Kanjorski, Standard Investment Chartered vs FINRA, Susan Merrill, Susan Merrill quits, Susan Merrill Wall Street Journal March 18 2010, Susan Merrill's career, Thomas Weisel auction rate securities, transparency on Wall Street, Wall Street oversight, WSJ Merrill March 18 2010
Posted in FINRA, General | 9 Comments »
Phil Davis Provides Sense on Cents
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 20th, 2010 9:27 AM |
What better way to prep for my conversation with Phil Davis tomorrow evening on No Quarter Radio’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle than reviewing Phil’s “sense on cents” thoughts today.
There are many reasons why Phil Davis is one of the most widely read and highly regarded trading strategists and market analysts in the country today. Phil’s commentary, Options, and Patience, Expire Today, posted at Seeking Alpha provides insights and perspectives not often found on or off Wall Street.
Phil writes:
Tags: Phil Davis, Phil Davis commentary, Phil Davis voew on markets and economy
Posted in General | No Comments »