Sense on Cents

Turn That Screw a Little Tighter

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 10th, 2009 6:30 PM |

The screwing that Americans have taken on the development and marketing of the scam known as Auction Rate Preferred Securities (ARPS) continues. I have written at length on how the regulatory body, FINRA, actually owned $650 million in these screw securities at calendar year end 2006. I have persistently questioned how a regulatory body could possibly own a security which was knowingly mismarketed. Was FINRA negligent, complicit, or both? Did FINRA liquidate its position prior to the market imploding on all other owners? While many institutional owners of ARPS have been made whole, many retail clients are still left holding the bag.

Well, the screw that is ARPS just got turned another notch tighter. It turns out that the issuers of ARPS (municipalities, hospitals, colleges and universities, et al) are contractually obligated to pay an ongoing underwriting fee to the Wall Street banks despite the fact that these regularly scheduled auctions no longer occur. Read the rest »

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We’ve Seen This Movie Before

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 10th, 2009 2:37 PM |

The stock markets are having a very robust, broad based rally today. All major market averages are up almost 5% or better. Gold is down approximately 3%. Foreign stock markets also had significant rallies. Can we put this pain behind us? Is it finally over?

In dealing with markets and the economy, it is never over. The critical, mental acuity in dealing with the markets and economy is understanding the dynamics at work and the associated risks. Along with a host of other goals, I firmly hope that my work here at Sense on Cents is able to help people understand those dynamics and the accompanying risks. It is a process, but I will keep after it and I hope you find it enlightening and informative. If so, please comment and share Sense on Cents with your friends. (In fact, you can share this piece, and any other piece here at S o C by using the “ShareThis” link underneath the title line of each story). Let’s assess today’s market action. Read the rest »

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The Truth May Hurt…

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 10th, 2009 11:19 AM |

I very much appreciate reading material written by people whom I perceive as having no agenda. I have tried to bring people like this (including Ray Dalio, Paul Keating, Bob Rodriguez, Steve Rehm, Kevin Doyle, Vaclav Klaus, and many others) to Sense on Cents because I firmly believe we all become more educated and informed in the process. Please let me know if and when you perceive me, any of the pieces to which I link, or radio guests on NQR’s Sense on Cents as not dealing totally in the truth. Constructive criticism is always appreciated and will make for a better site.

Along with the aformentioned, I have also previously remarked on my high regard for John Mauldin, one of our Economic All-Stars. John himself possesses an insightful global perspective and has a circle of friends and confidantes that are simply off the charts.

In John’s weekly Outside the Box, he shares with us the perceptions of Michael E. Lewitt. Mr. Lewitt writes at length on topics we have covered here previously, but his level of detail and thoughtful analysis are well worth the read.

Topics covered include: Read the rest »

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Let’s Listen to Sheila Bair

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 10th, 2009 5:50 AM |

I thoroughly respect Sheila Bair (see my list of Economic All-Stars in the left sidebar). Our Head of the FDIC has been an honest broker each and every time I have heard her speak. I looked forward to her interview with Paul Gigot of The Wall Street Journal.

Ms. Bair addresses the finer points of the Obama Foreclosure Mitigation Plan which is targeted at helping 9 million homeowners stay in their homes. Specifically she touches on:

1. how this program will not reward bad behavior;
2. how it can be viewed as helping people who have managed their finances appropriately;
3. expectations of redefaults given her experience with the failed institution Indymac.

As I initially mentioned, I believe Sheila Bair is an honest broker in an impossible position. Her seeming lack of enthusiasm does not strike me as not believing in the benefits of this program, but rather a subtle acceptance that this program can only go so far. Additionally, this type of program will have plenty of unintended consequences. Will people who are currently paying their mortgages on schedule start to become delinquent on their mortgages in order to gain the benefits of this program?

I think Ms. Bair will make the best of a bad situation. That said, no program will be totally effective. I am fully supportive of programs that will assist Americans, but don’t be fooled to think that we will get 100% return on all dollars spent.

Let’s go to the video . . .

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Keystone Kops

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 9th, 2009 5:40 PM |

On the heels of the Bernie Madoff fiasco, there was massive pressure on the gross incompetence displayed by the SEC. Not unlike a police department that is under fire, the SEC needed a high profile case to gain a measure of vindication. Enter Allen Stanford and Stanford Financial. keystone-kops1

I am not here to defend Allen Stanford nor any of the activities that transpired in his offshore bank located in Antigua. However, the SEC also froze the assets of all clients housed in Stanford Financial’s brokerage operation based in Houston. Unlike Bernie Madoff, who did not employ a custodian, the bulk of Stanford Financial’s assets were housed at Pershing Financial, one of the largest custodians in the business. While the concerns revolving around Stanford are in the Caribbean, the SEC’s act of freezing ALL customer accounts has been the death of this brokerage entity. Hundreds of legitimate jobs have been eliminated. Thousands of customers have faced unnecessary and undue financial hardships since February 17th as a result. Read the rest »

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How Wall Street Bought Washington

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 9th, 2009 3:35 PM |

A great American and loyal reader (thanks FL) shared a report recently produced by not-for-profits Essential Information and The Consumer Education Foundation. This report, Sold Out: How Wall Street and Washington Betrayed America, has gotten little to no attention in the general media. What a shame. I find of particular interest the fact that a number of the currently discussed regulatory changes are directly addressing the points highlighted in this report. I personally view these proposed regulatory changes as substantiating this report and adding credibility to its effort. For the naysayers in the audience, I would ask you to review the report and reconsider your assessment.

I was struck a month ago by the incriminating statements put forth by Senator Chuck Hagel and CIA head Leon Panetta, which I highlighted on February 16th in Legalized Bribery. Those statements bluntly indict our massive system of lobbying, political fundraising, and the quality of those running for elected office! In light of that article, I am more and more convinced that our elected officials have turned their offices into massive for profit machines at the expense of our public well being.

I commend the authors of this report, Roger Weissman and James Donahue, for taking the time and making the extensive effort to expose the truth. The full report, 231 pages in length, spares no detail. In studying it, I found the information and analysis riveting. Let me try to summarize it for you. Read the rest »

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Keating Undresses Geithner

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 9th, 2009 12:37 PM |

One of the few countries in the world to escape the worst of this economic tsunami is Australia. I introduced you to former Australian Prime Minister and Treasurer Paul Keating on February 18th in my piece entitled A Fresh and Honest Perspective. Keating was brutally honest in the video clip (thank you SR for providing it!!) included in that article .

I love an honest man!!

Former Australian Prime Minister and Treasurer Paul Keating

Well, Mr. Keating has spoken again and I am listening to him very closely as I strongly believe I am more educated and informed as a result. Our domestic officials and media outlets should take heed.

In an article published in this past Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald, Obama’s Economic Saviour Savaged as Keating Let’s Rip. Keating offers a piercing review of then Treasury Officer Geithner’s structuring of an IMF led rescue plan of the Southeast Asian crisis in 1997-98. For those unaware, many countries in SE Asia had massive infusions of foreign capital in the form of debt to facilitate infrastructure development. Geithner and then IMF Chief Michael Camdessus structured a plan that injected $200 billion dollars in the form of IMF loans to refloat the economy. Keating maintains that Geithner and Camdessus totally misdiagnosed the problem and in turn the solution. Read the rest »

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No Justice!! No Confidence!!

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 9th, 2009 10:38 AM |

All indications point to a plea deal this week with Bernie Madoff. In my opinion, Bernie Madoff seems to have been treated with kid gloves to this point. House arrest for a purported crime of this magnitude defies logic. One can only assume the government

Bernie Madoff

utilized this approach, even after Bernie shipped jewels and assets overseas, as they were trying to extract as much information as possible. This week’s news will give the public the first hint as to what kind of information the government has extracted.

My father was an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, MA and has often made the point that white collar crime never received the degree of justice it deserved. The crime that Bernie and team propagated not only directly impacted his investors but also massively impacted the public at large. How is that? Bernie’s Ponzi scheme, perpetrated over such an extended period of time, has caused a crisis of confidence in our markets, our regulatory system, and ultimately our country.

It defies logic that this Ponzi scheme was not executed without enormous cooperation and involvement by a number of individuals both inside and outside the Madoff organization. There is no doubt in my mind that many of those individuals have information, that if revealed, can and will be extremely embarrassing for some high profile people within our regulatory bodies and our government. Read the rest »

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Tonight’s No Quarter Radio Show Postponed to Next Week

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 8th, 2009 3:46 PM |

LD is unfortunately under the weather and will not be able to broadcast his regularly scheduled Sunday night show on No Quarter Radio.

Join us next week for the debut of No Quarter Radio’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle. Same great show, brand new name!

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Czech This Out

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 8th, 2009 12:54 PM |

I find the comments by President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus to be particularly insightful. For someone who spent close to the first 50 years of his life in a government-controlled state, he strongly embraces and promotes free market principles. In these challenging times, his perspective provides a degree of balance, and I, for one, find it refreshing.

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