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Archive for January, 2013

“How Washington Hurts Small Community Banks”

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 31st, 2013 9:52 AM |

The other day I addressed the current David vs Goliath situation in the banking industry and presented The Case for Community Banks. There is no doubt that the crisis that emanated on Wall Street required some real regulatory attention. Regrettably the “one size fits all” regulatory changes embedded in Dodd-Frank is not the answer. Not that people in Washington with little background in markets and the economy might understand that.

Let’s listen to former Inspector General for the TARP, Neil Barofsky, who provides a brief 2-minute dose of ‘sense on cents’ on how Washington has hurt the small community banks in our country. Props to American Banker for this clip.

Larry Doyle

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I have no business interest with any entity referenced in this commentary. The opinions expressed are my own. I am a proponent of real transparency within our markets so that investor confidence and investor protection can be achieved.

US Economy Contracts in 4Q/2012, Let’s Review

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 30th, 2013 9:44 AM |

The positive tone to the equity markets and other risk-based assets may provide a degree of cover to developments within the real economy but it cannot totally negate the fact that our nation’s economy continues to move along with all the speed of a pack mule.

In fact, Uncle Sam just reported that the old warhorse, that is our domestic economy, contracted in the 4th quarter of 2012 by 0.1%. Let’s navigate and take a harder look at what might be weighing us down.  (more…)

How Much Did Crisis Cost Economy? Begins with a T

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 29th, 2013 2:05 PM |

Have you ever wondered what a best guesstimate might be as to how much the 2008 crisis cost our economy? Well, not that many outlets around here may care to highlight this information, so let’s navigate to a Russian site, Rianovosti, at which we can read and learn,

The absence of criminal accountability for a crisis that cost the U.S. economy trillions of dollars in GDP and wiped out billions more in personal wealth amplifies the risk of a similar financial meltdown in the future, according to securities experts and former regulators.

Trillions?? That is a large number even by today’s standards where many in Washington throw the “t-word” around like it is no big deal. Can we get more specific?  (more…)

David vs Goliath: The Case for Community Banks

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 29th, 2013 9:19 AM |

While the mega-banks on Wall Street flex their oligopolistic muscles (price controls, imperfect information, not sharing data), I want to take this opportunity to throw some support to the Davids of the banking world.

Who are these Davids? The community banks. Do you feel like you get a lot of personal touch and proper attention from Goliath? Really? How about from David?

Let’s navigate and review a compellingly detailed analysis recently released by the Dallas Fed.  (more…)

Mark Cuban: Will Your College Go Out of Biz?

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 28th, 2013 12:10 PM |

Last spring as part of a continuing effort to address the Student Loan Crisis here at my blog, I wrote Why So Many Colleges May Fail. That particular commentary went viral in the blogosphere.

Clearly the topic of higher education in general and the funding of higher education specifically is forefront in the minds of many American families. There are many thousands of good reasons for families to be concerned.  (more…)

1 in 5 Trust Our Banks

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 28th, 2013 8:56 AM |

What is the basis of any relationship?

Trust.

How much do you want to engage somebody if you have little to no trust in that individual or institution? Obviously not much. A healthy society is one in which trust is pervasive. The premise and foundation of trust within our relationships allows for the free flow of information, capital, and goods. Everybody benefits.

Regrettably, our nation has an enormous trust deficit currently. Why so? Once violated, trust does not easily or quickly return or regenerate. Although many within positions of leadership in our nation would like to present the rebound in our markets and supposedly within our economy as indicative of a return to a healthy nation, they are FOOLS if they truly believe that. Why so?  (more…)

Weekend Read: “All My Babies’ Mamas . . .”

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 26th, 2013 11:35 AM |

Having addressed the extensive and increasing social costs associated with the explosion of single parent births in America, I welcome sharing a hard hitting commentary written by Lloyd Marcus. Who is Lloyd Marcus?

His childhood began in a Baltimore ghetto. He grew to manhood in the 1960s. He is an artist, singer, production designer and musical producer . . . His parents moved with their five children into a brand-new, high-rise apartment building in the Baltimore projects. Then came their neighbors. Many were drug addicts, alcoholics and criminals. They destroyed the apartment building. “Within one year, it was ruined,” Marcus said. “It taught me a lot about liberalism.

What has Mr. Marcus got to say today?  (more…)

Taibbi: More Dirt on Mack, Samberg, & White

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 25th, 2013 1:07 PM |

While most pundits in New York, Washington, and across America are singing the praises of prospective SEC chair Mary Jo White, more dirt on her intervention on behalf of Morgan Stanley and John Mack is filtering into the marketplace.

Who writes on this topic today? Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi undresses Mack and his sidekick Art Samberg in truly unceremonious fashion in writing,  (more…)

Barclays Libor Scandal: What is Bob Diamond Hiding?

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 25th, 2013 7:25 AM |

To think that scandalous activity of the size and scope involved in the rigging of Libor would be confined to a mere handful of traders and brokers is so ridiculous as to be laughable.

Yet, to this point, every institution connected to this racket would try to have us believe just that. Well, we can disavow that attempt to minimize the fallout of this manipulation at one bank. Which one is that?  (more…)

Mary Jo White: Next SEC Chief’s ‘Skeleton in Closet’

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 24th, 2013 11:09 AM |

News breaks this morning that President Obama will nominate Mary Jo White to be the next head of the SEC.

Who is Ms. White? A highly decorated attorney at the prestigious law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton. I would expect she might win a very easy approval to be our nation’s next top financial cop. Why so?

The spin on the nomination is that she is a former prosecutor and US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and will hold Wall Street accountable. Is that right?

Before we coronate her, I think we may want her to address what I would deem to be a ‘skeleton in her closet.’ Really? Oh yeah!

(more…)






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