Subscribe: RSS Feed | Twitter | Facebook | Email
Home | Contact Us

Consumer Protection or Big Brother is Watching

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 26th, 2010 11:30 AM |

I am all for financial regulatory reform, but as I wrote the other day I do not trust Washington. I witness further reason not to trust the wizards in Washington after reviewing a gem buried in the Senate’s version of financial regulatory reform.

You likely will not see this in the mainstream media, but thanks to CNS News for reporting Senate Democrats Pass Bill Allowing Government to Collect Addresses, ATM Records of Bank Customers:

Senate Democrats united to pass a financial regulatory bill that allows the government to collect data on any person operating in financial markets at any level, including the collection of personal transaction records from local banks that list customers’ addresses and ATM receipts. Read the rest »


The Muammar Gaddafi of Regulation

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 26th, 2010 9:14 AM |

Does anybody still read Time magazine?

I would expect that Time is likely now relegated to 9th grade Civics classrooms given the depth of reporting embodied in the recent cover article, The New Sheriffs of Wall Street.

If Time would like to be considered a serious publication, they should dig a little deeper prior to reporting this sort of powder puff commentary. Time rightfully does address the fact that Wall Street has been a bastion of male domination. Additionally, they pay proper respect to FDIC Chair Sheila Bair and Tarp watchdog and consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren, but they fall woefully short in their characterization and review of SEC Chair Mary Schapiro.

In this article, Schapiro would clearly like to portray herself as tough as nails on Wall Street while protecting the interests of investors. As Time highlights: Read the rest »


Oil Regulation or ‘Sex, Drugs, and Football’

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 25th, 2010 2:34 PM |

The disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico is enormous and will have an untold impact on our economy and environment. This tragedy could have been avoided. What a shame. There should be hell to pay by those charged with overseeing the oil industry.

Where were the regulators? A statement released just yesterday by the Department of Interior highlights evidence that the regulation of our oil industry in the Gulf has been quite incestuous. What’s a little incest without throwing in a healthy dose of sex, drugs, and football as well. Read the rest »


Why I Do Not Trust Washington

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 25th, 2010 11:47 AM |

People can debate the relative strength of the economy all they want. I firmly believe that from a macro-level, our economy has years to go before it has a real chance to recover. Why years?

1. The banking system overall remains loaded with an excessive amount of delinquent loans. Uncle Sam will continue to siphon money from the American public and deliver it to the banks. In the process, these “earnings” will be utilized to write down the values of loans and securities it holds at inflated levels.

2. Credit will not truly flow until the health of banks, especially the smaller and community based banks, is substantially stronger. Read the rest »


IMF: “Spain’s Economy Needs Far-Reaching and Comprehensive Reforms”

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 25th, 2010 9:00 AM |

Global markets are down 2-3% overnight. What is going on?

From a military standpoint, all eyes are focused on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea’s admission of sinking a South Korean vessel in late March. How will the world respond? Will the U.S. issue some sort of warning shot across the North Korean bow? Will the international community, and especially those who treasure freedom, rally and aggressively denounce the North Korean’s aggression or will we witness what amounts to a ‘kumbaya’ session?

From an economic standpoint, all eyes are focused on the Euro-zone where fiscal pressures remain elevated. Today the focus is Spain. Read the rest »


The Best Sense on Cents: Strongly Recommended

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 24th, 2010 10:25 AM |

Thanks to a loyal Sense on Cents reader for sharing amazing insights and perspectives from some of the best and brightest minds in the world of global finance today.

Like who? Harvard professor Kenneth Rogoff, unparalleled investor Jeremy Grantham, outspoken hedge fund manager Cliff Asness, SEC chair Mary Schapiro (ok, one exception), the extremely private but on Wall Street the extraordinarily highly regarded investor Baupost’s Seth Klarman, internationally renowned Eurasia’s Ian Bremmer, the distinguished Van Hoisington, and noted short seller Jim Chanos.

Their views were put forth at the recently completed CFA Institute annual conference in Boston. There is so much good material here that I beg readers to tag this post and refer to it often. Given the wealth of thoughtful opinion and analyses covering literally every angle of our global economic landscape, one would be hard pressed to digest and process this in one reading. Do yourself the favor, though, and revisit. The wisdom provided here is precious and not commonly found. Read the rest »


Recommended ‘Sense on Cents’ Reading

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 23rd, 2010 9:20 AM |

In the midst of my weekend reading, two articles jumped out at me as providing a wealth of sense on cents:

Legendary Investor Is More Worried Than Ever
by Jason Zweig,
The Wall Street Journal, Intelligent Investor; May 22, 2010

‘100% Protected’ Isn’t as Safe as It Sounds
by Gretchen Morgenson
The New York Times; May 23, 2010

LD


No Quarter Radio’s Sense on Cents Welcomes Back Joe Saluzzi

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 22nd, 2010 10:00 AM |

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.

*********************************

What really happened in the markets on Thursday May 6th? Can regulators truly address the underlying issues that caused the ‘flash crash’ or are our equity exchanges fundamentally and structurally broken?

How can you protect yourself in the face of such unbelievable volatility? Who benefits and who loses in the face of this volatility?

Will circuit breakers proposed by regulators work? Will we witness more days like May 6th?

If you have any interest in our markets and our economy, you will not want to miss my show this Sunday evening from 8-9pm ET as No Quarter Radio’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle Welcomes Back Joe Saluzzi. >>>> Read the rest »


If Andrew Cuomo Is Such a Tough Guy, Then…

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 21st, 2010 1:33 PM |

NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Andrew Cuomo will be exceptionally tough with legislators who do not play ball with him if and when he is governor of New York. How might Cuomo display his toughness? Cuomo’s Message: Dont Cross Me highlights:

As Democrats in Albany prepare to celebrate the kickoff of Andrew Cuomo’s campaign for governor next week, Mr. Cuomo is quietly putting out the word that if he’s elected lawmakers who resist his agenda will be punished. Read the rest »


Sense on Cents Financial Reform

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 21st, 2010 9:05 AM |

In the midst of all the legislative wrangling in Washington and the financial gyrations on Wall Street, what does it all mean for everyday American investors? I am not so sure it means all that much. How much are everyday Americans impacted by proprietary trading, derivatives, merged regulators? Very little actually. I am not writing this to discount the proposed financial regulatory reform coming out of Washington, but I remain underwhelmed that it will truly protect everyday investors from the ways of Wall Street.

To this end, I am happy to propose my own Sense on Cents Financial Reforms which I believe regulators should impose on financial intermediaries (brokers, bankers, money managers, et al). I am not only proposing these reforms here, but I am sharing them today with Washington based financial regulators. In deference to my readers, you’re getting the first look. Feel free to share your thoughts on my proposed reforms, and add others which you believe should be implemented. Read the rest »


« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Larry Doyle

Larry Doyle A Wall Street veteran's views and instincts on the markets, economy, and all things financial.







Recent Posts


ECONOMIC ALL-STARS


Archives