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HomeSense on Cents Calls on US Supreme Court to Hear Standard Chartered v. FINRA
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 6th, 2011 9:09 AM |
I first started writing about Wall Street’s not-for-profit self regulatory organization, aka the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in early 2009.
In late 2009, I first referenced Standard Chartered v. FINRA, the case in which the plaintiff alleges that FINRA and its senior executives — including current SEC Chair Mary Schapiro — lied both verbally and in writing in the merger which formed FINRA.
Why would Mary and her friends lie? (more…)
Is Jon Corzine “Too Big to Be Indicted”? Part III
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 22nd, 2011 4:29 PM |
This commentary runs a little long, but I exhort you to read it in its entirety as it captures the sentiments of readers who are extremely close to or actually “in the MF arena.” Their messages are filled with real pain and anguish which is not found in the media. This is reality. I hope you will want to share this post with your friends. LD
As if $600 million in missing customer funds were not enough, recent news emanating from the debacle that defines the bankruptcy of MF Global puts the estimated misappropriation of customer funds at a cool $1.2 billion. Yes, billion with a B!
Those involved in the markets would easily ascertain that those manning the MF Global ship redirected these customer funds in an attempt to save the ship as it was going down. The customers themselves remain in a state of shock and bewilderment as to how this reality might ever have come to pass.
Meanwhile, the outrage in America burns while the lack of trust and confidence in the markets, the market makers, and those charged with protecting investors grows stronger by the day.
You don’t believe me? Read on and chew on these messages I recently received from people “in the arena”: (more…)
Is Jon Corzine “Too Big To Be Indicted”? Part II
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 7th, 2011 7:01 PM |
I thank all those who took the time to share with me their concerns about the seeming violation of customer accounts at the now bankrupt firm MF Global.
Without the sense and belief in the safety and integrity of deposits and assets, I firmly believe customers would pull their funds and investments from any and all institutions in a heartbeat. Runs on the bank would clearly lead to a severe economic decline.
The fact that MF Global seems to have violated the sanctity of its customer assets has justifiably shocked many on Wall Street. Anybody with a bank or brokerage account at any institution should be equally shocked and concerned. Why? (more…)
E*Trade “Heard Us” and Pays Off $100 Million ARS
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 25th, 2011 7:35 PM |
Let there be no doubt that public pressure appropriately applied can bring real results in the midst of little courage displayed by far too many in the world of financial regulation. How so?
The North American Securities Adminstrators Association recently announced a settlement with E*Trade Securities LLC in which that financial institution will return approximately $100 million to firm clients who have had their funds frozen in ARS—those supposed cash surrogate money market alternative investments—since February 2008.
This settlement is better than any other settlement I have witnessed over the last three years. The specifics include: (more…)
Forbes’ Emily Lambert Slams FINRA
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 21st, 2011 7:00 AM |
“Justice is truth in action.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli
Regular readers are very aware of my strong concerns about the lack of transparency emanating from Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). Having first written about FINRA in January 2009, I have highlighted my concerns extensively over the better part of the last three years. (To reference my writing, go here, Sense on Cents/FINRA).
For a period of time, I thought I was shouting into the darkness regarding FINRA. I still maintain that FINRA specifically and Wall Street regulation as a whole remain great unknowns to an overwhelming percentage of our population including those involved in the markets. To this end, I am heartened when broadly distributed public periodicals address concerns I have held about FINRA for the last few years.
The widely respected financial magazine Forbes weighs in on FINRA just yesterday. (more…)
Let’s Merge the Tea Party and OWS: Part II
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 18th, 2011 5:11 PM |
Should the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street try to join forces under the auspices that they have much more in common from a macro standpoint than what may differentiate them from a micro standpoint?
I would love to see these movements join together. I think a merger of these forces could lead to the third party our country so badly needs.
Comments left on my post yesterday, Let’s Merge the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, covered a wide scope of thoughts and opinions. I appreciated the range of views and personal experience with OWS shared by readers. I understand that a merged entity would certainly not fit easily into any sort of politically defined group as we have come to expect.
Isn’t that the point? Haven’t we allowed ourselves to be defined by the media and the political establishment? Isn’t it time that those who aspire for an unfiltered access to the truth turn the tables on the power bases in Washington, New York, and elsewhere? (more…)
‘Occupy Wall Street’ Should ‘Occupy Washington’
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 7th, 2011 11:53 AM |
Is Wall Street the center of all the problems in America?
Many of those involved in the “Occupy Wall Street’ demonstrations may think so.
I strongly believe that they are wrong.
Those with a keen ‘sense on cents‘ understand that Wall Street does embody part of our national problems. They also appreciate that the stench that overhangs Wall Street is consistent with an incestuous and far stronger odor emanating from Washington. (more…)
Navigate Accordingly Until Sense on Cents Returns
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 16th, 2011 10:20 AM |
With a number of items on my calendar over the next few weeks, I am taking a sabbatical from Sense on Cents for the balance of the month.
While I may not be providing regular commentary, I hope you may want to avail yourself of some of the fabulous resources which I have collated here.
These links are integral to our efforts to help people ‘navigate the economic landscape’. The links include the following: (more…)
Unemployment Report August 5, 2011: Discouraging
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 5th, 2011 9:13 AM |
The big exhale you may have just heard emanating from Washington follows a slightly better than expected unemployment report this morning.
I am happy to hear that the report is slightly better than expected and will address the particulars momentarily. I caution people not to make too much of this report, though. Why?
While the report may have exceeded expectations, let’s not lose sight of the fact that the expectations were not all that high at the outset.
Additionally, this report is backward looking. What have we seen and heard from a wide array of companies recently? Indications of further layoffs.
Those with a measure of ‘sense on cents‘ do not take reports on face value. Let’s dig a little deeper. (more…)
ECRI Had Forecasted GDP Weakness
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 29th, 2011 9:14 AM |
While economists up and down Wall Street express real surprise at the GDP reports this morning, regular readers of this blog hopefully recall the siren sounded by the Economic Cycle Research Institute in mid-May.
I highlighted the ECRI’s warning at that time in writing, ECRI Forecasting Global Economic Slowdown,
The ECRI clearly has a strong pedigree. More importantly the ECRI is not compromised by an existing relationship with a global investment bank or another entity looking to sell financial products. Against that backdrop, the crowd at the ECRI sees storm clouds on the horizon. Just yesterday IBD released a report covering ECRI’s forecast entitled Cruel Summer?>>>>>>>> (more…)
