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HomeFranklin Raines Must Have Amnesia
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 4th, 2010 1:25 PM |
Former Chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines
Whatever happened to the virtues of taking responsibility and ownership for issues? Why do I hold so many senior executives in our financial industry in disdain? For the very simple reason that I have seen very few of these execs stand up and be counted. All too many of them point the finger elsewhere, use the convenient excuse of ‘the perfect storm,’ or develop a convenient case of amnesia.
Who is a fine examplar of the last category? Former Chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae Franklin Raines who wrote into The Wall Street Journal yesterday on the topic of the demise of our two step-children, Fannie and Freddie. Raines promotes that the downfall of these organizations and the enormous burden they now put on American taxpayers were simply the result of the excessive credit risks taken by Freddie and Fannie from 2005-2007. Raines writes, Poor Credit Judgments Sank Fannie and Freddie:
The facts about the financial collapse of Fannie and Freddie are pretty clear and a matter of public record. (more…)
Investing Uncertainties in the World of Fat Tails
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 3rd, 2010 1:26 PM |
There is little doubt we are living through a period of great uncertainty. There are a wide array of vastly diverging opinions as to what our future economic landscape entails. How often have you felt that people with dramatically disparate outlooks on the market and economy each encompass a number of cogent points? I have felt that sensation numerous times. What is the key variable in each and every opinion and assessment? Timing. When things occur is often more important than what actually occurs.
The expected timing of events leads many to believe that we are living through a period with elevated tail risk, or more succinctly fat tails. In layman’s terms:
What Does Tail Risk Mean? (more…)
What Is FINRA Hiding?
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 3rd, 2010 7:30 AM |
Time and again, Wall Street’s self-regulator FINRA has failed to provide real transparency into its inner workings and operations. Despite FINRA’s intransigence, the pursuit continues. Sense on Cents salutes Lt. Colonel Elton Johnson, Jr., President of Amerivet Securities, for persevering in this admirable effort to provide a window into FINRA.
Johnson appeals to FINRA’s members to compel the regulator to accede to requests for transparency at its upcoming 2010 Annual Meeting. Johnson’s requests have already been rebuffed by FINRA’s board. Why is the board unwilling to open FINRA’s books and records? Johnson’s requests are non-binding. (more…)
“E*Trade, Can You Hear Us Now?”
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 2nd, 2010 1:58 PM |
Keep punchin’!!
These words to live by resonate in my ears. How so? My Dad has ended almost every conversation — and certainly every meaningful conversation — in my close to 50 years with those words of wisdom and encouragement. When times are challenging or I find myself encountering a particular hurdle, the little voice in the back of my head whispers those two little words.
I find myself thinking of my Dad’s motivation when I read of specific cases of financial malfeasance. In fact, I have told many people that I write so often about the travesty surrounding the auction-rate securities debacle because I feel these investors have been largely disenfranchised. I welcome speaking up on their behalf. In the process of speaking up and continuing to punch, I have met some amazing people who continue to keep punching themselves. One particular ARS holder stands out for his own determination. He was integral to the complaint filed by Colorado State Securities Commissioner Fred Joseph against E*Trade. (more…)
Where Is The Market Headed?
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 2nd, 2010 9:59 AM |
In commentary written specifically for Sense on Cents, our friends from Forextraders.com share some fabulous insights and perspectives on the ups and downs of the equity markets.
The Stock Market Is In Limbo—Which Way Will It Go?
An incredibly positive corporate earnings season in July has helped the market to discount immediate fears of a possible double dip recession. The strong corporate earnings reports, however, had to battle Ben Bernanke’s very dovish remarks, as he emphasized the slowing recovery in the U.S. and raised the possibility of Federal Reserve instituting further quantitative easing measures. Those bearish remarks by the Fed President regarding the possible future direction of the U.S. economy did cause equity markets to stall in the 3rd week of July, but now in the final week of the month, equity markets are again taking a shot at the HI’s from the month of June. (more…)
Helen Davis Chaitman Plans to Sue the SEC
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 1st, 2010 11:41 AM |
Does the SEC believe it needs to restrict the public’s access to information in order to gain the favor of those from whom it is requesting the information in the first place (that is banks, hedge funds, and money managers)? Is ‘looking toward the future’ a convenient line of reasoning when, in fact, the SEC is actually more concerned with skeletons from its past? Which skeletons might these be? Can you say Bernie Madoff and Allen Stanford? Is America supposed to take the SEC’s own internal reviews of these frauds as sufficient explanation as to the SEC’s failures on these frauds?
While many in the financial industry have little interest in ever again hearing the name Bernie Madoff, one individual in our nation continues the fight for justice from this massive fraud. To whom do I refer? Helen Davis Chaitman of Becker & Poliakoff.
Some may recall that last November I interviewed Ms. Chaitman, pro bono legal representative for a large number of Madoff investors. She provided riveting insights then and she did not disappoint on a recent interview on Fox Business. Helen is not bashful in highlighting that she plans on suing the SEC for its failings in the Madoff scam.
Is the SEC looking to restrict access to information because of Helen’s pending lawsuit? Let’s listen . . .
Helen is not only speaking up on behalf of Madoff investors, but she is truly standing up on behalf of all American investors. I commend her. No surprize that Helen is a decorated member of the Sense on Cents Hall of Fame!
LD
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