Posted by Larry Doyle on November 28th, 2010 11:15 AM |
What Really Happened…?
The financial and economic turmoil of the last three plus years has brought us stories and developments which are almost unfathomable. In fact, in my opinion there is no doubt that Wall Street and Washington would like to keep certain of these stories and developments buried forever.
Will America ever learn where some of these bones are buried? Will America ever learn of these skeletons in the closet? Will the media charged with pursuing the truth dare dig into these stories?
We are living through a time warp currently. The twists and turns on our economic landscape come at us so quickly. In the process, are we able to recall those turns–that is, certain stories and developments–which were never fully explored and exposed?
What Really Happened….? (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 25th, 2010 6:34 AM |
As I sit here in the early morning hours, I pause and reflect on the past year. I have so much for which to be grateful.
While my wife would not want me to bring attention to her, I am not only exceptionally grateful but extremely fortunate to be married to the most beautiful girl in the world. Thank you my love!! I am also not reticent in stating that Sense on Cents would not be what it is without my beloved’s wisdom and technical support.
To my four beautiful children, I am not typically challenged to express my feelings. I have untold love and admiration for what you have accomplished and more importantly for who you are. We all know your own gratitude should be directed to your mother. (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 24th, 2010 10:44 AM |
***Update: video clip included below
If you’ve got some time this afternoon, please check in to CNBC’s Street Signs at 2:40pm as I will be discussing the recent insider trading probe and the implications it has on our markets.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to grab a video clip of the segment to post later today or tomorrow.
Larry Doyle
Please subscribe to all my work via e-mail, an RSS feed, on Twitter or Facebook.
I have no affiliation or business interest with any entity referenced in this commentary. As President of Greenwich Investment Management, an SEC regulated privately held registered investment adviser, I am merely a proponent of real transparency within our markets so that investor confidence and investor protection can be achieved.
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 23rd, 2010 7:03 AM |
Is there any greater motivation for man than the sense of being disenfranchised?
Throughout history, those who have been disenfranchised have used that reality as the motivation to move mountains…..if not governments. What stokes the fire of those who would take up their cause and speak out on behalf of their people? Not only a sense of injustice but often merely a lack of representation. We witness a growing sense of all these realities in the Republic of Ireland. Why’s that?
The Irish citizenry are increasingly aware that the Irish “bailout” brokered yesterday by the IMF, the European Commission, and European Central Bank is truly a backdoor bailout of international banking institutions on the continent with the costs to be borne by the Irish people. While Ireland’s sitting government may have balked at this bailout, ultimately they caved to the pressure from the powers within the EU. Sinn Fein, the opposition party in Ireland, is speaking out aggressively on behalf of the Irish people who are bearing the cost of bailing out international banks.
The Euro and other related markets overnight are very much aware of the growing opposition within Ireland to the ‘backdoor bank bailout’. Risk premiums are rising across many market segments as a result. Let’s navigate ‘across the pond’ to the Emerald Isle and listen to the leaders of Sinn Fein, including its ‘tough as nails’ President Gerry Adams (the second to speak in this video clip), rail on the sitting Irish government, Fianna Fail, and those within the EU who orchestrated this ‘backdoor bank bailout.’
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 20th, 2010 6:54 AM |
How are regular retail investors supposed to compete?
Why have investors been fleeing our markets in droves?
Well, if the financial earthquake of 2008 did not crush you then perhaps the “Flash Crash” of May 6th left you sufficiently unnerved. Were you able to weather both those upheavals? If so, I congratulate you for your discipline and perspicacity. I would also encourage you not to let your guard down. Why’s that?
The fact is the challenge in navigating our economic landscape is not only addressing the squalls and storms that we can observe on the horizon but also the insidious work of those who would betray the very integrity of our markets. Is this even possible? Let’s navigate. (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 19th, 2010 6:57 AM |
Where are our statesmen?
Where are the individuals who would choose to sacrifice personal gain for our national welfare? I am not talking about mere public policy implementation. I am talking about those who would choose to pursue and embrace the truth while exposing the incestuous Wall Street-Washington relationship that has brought our nation to its knees.
Where is today’s Ferdinand Pecora when we need him? I shudder to think that the great Pecora, who led the investigation of Wall Street practices which brought on the Great Depression, might be rolling over in his grave right now. Why’s that? (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 17th, 2010 7:25 AM |
When I worked at JP Morgan, we had a year end review process that I believe was largely a joke. Why? It lacked integrity and honesty. How so? Individuals largely gamed the system by not being forthright with each other. As a result, the overall assessment of individuals, departments, divisions, and the firm itself were skewed. I recall looking at the composite and average scores and remarking to my boss, “Our people and our firm are NOT this good.”
Mind you, JP Morgan had and still has some real strengths — but it also had some real weaknesses. Excessively bureaucratic would be a good start on the ‘weakness’ list.
I did try to grade myself and others in an honest and constructively critical fashion. Some of my reports would come to me after the fact inquiring about my assessments of them. They would often be concerned. I would respond that I had little interest in ‘gaming the system’ but I had every interest in making them a stronger and more productive employee. My being forthright and honest was “the means,” their improving and becoming more productive was “the ends.”
I raise this topic today because every individual and every organization needs a very healthy dose of constructive criticism. (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 15th, 2010 7:15 AM |
Information is everything!!
A nation of laws will prosper if and only if the adjudication of disputes is handled in a truly robust fashion. This adjudication process should theoretically lead to the drafting and implementation of new legislation if and when necessary. While industry insiders will often lobby to influence this process both in the courts and in our legislative bodies, America needs real statesmen and true heroes who will champion worthy causes and pursue total truth, real transparency, and unbridled integrity.
The media can play a large role in highlighting and exposing injustices if it cares to perform its duties. Regrettably during our economic crisis of the last few years, the media has often largely shown itself to be as much part of the problem as part of the solution. Why do I write on this topic today? For the very simple reason that tens of thousands of our fellow Americans have largely been disowned and disenfranchised by our nation. Really? Unaccustomed hyperbole, LD? I think not. Let’s navigate further.
I have been an ardent supporter of all those in our nation today who continue to be stuck holding auction-rate securities. These people number in the many tens of thousands and their holdings run upwards of $140 BILLION. Ponder that for a second. How is it that with numbers of this magnitude, the hue and cry of the accompanying injustice is not ringing loudly across our nation. It should. (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 13th, 2010 7:01 AM |
Who would not admit that the ability to review plays in athletic contests has made for an overall better product? While continually questioning calls and plays would obviously detract from the pleasure of the game, I think most – if not all – fans truly appreciate the benefit of reviewing critically important plays so the outcome and integrity of the game are not compromised.
Can you imagine if we had the same ability to review the release of economic statistics?
Picture this. A key economic statistic is set to be released at 8:30am. Traders and investors the world over are hanging on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The number is released and commentators immediately hype the ‘headline’. But then, as those very commentators take their cameras to the floors of respective exchanges and trading floors, all of a sudden we witness a number of red flags thrown on the ‘field’ – that is, the trading floor – calling for a further review. In the hope of getting the call right, would our nation and our economy be better off if we allowed just such a process to occur? Why do I ask? (more…)
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 12th, 2010 8:12 AM |
After three years of economic turmoil, why do I believe we are just now entering the second phase of a protracted economic drag here in the United States? While many economists and analysts would like to parse each and every bit of data that comes across the tape—that is what they do for a living—I believe we are better served to focus on the larger waves and currents at play across our global economic landscape. What do I see? A New World Order.
Do not think for a second that this reality does not have real long term implications for our economy and our people. I am not saying that there will not be enormous economic opportunities for individuals and businesses alike, but the skeletons in our American closet can only be hidden so long. Let’s navigate. (more…)
RSS Feed
Twitter
Facebook
Email
Home
Where are our statesmen?
Picture this. A key economic statistic is set to be released at 8:30am. Traders and investors the world over are hanging on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The number is released and commentators immediately hype the ‘headline’. But then, as those very commentators take their cameras to the floors of respective exchanges and trading floors, all of a sudden we witness a number of red flags thrown on the ‘field’ – that is, the trading floor – calling for a further review. In the hope of getting the call right, would our nation and our economy be better off if we allowed just such a process to occur? Why do I ask? (more…)
