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HomeLegalized Bribery ***UPDATE***
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 18th, 2009 8:55 AM |
(Editor’s Note: This post is an update to the piece Legalized Bribery, which was originally published on 2/16/09)
***Update*** After Bernie Madoff, it appears the next largest, fraudulent investment scheme is centered on an entity known as Stanford Financial. This company has offices in Houston and also operated an offshore bank in the Caribbean. While this story is developing, it is not surprising that the main principal, Allen Stanford, knew how to play the “Legalized Bribery” game I highlighted on February 16th. Who benefitted from his millions in gifts and lobbying? Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Greg Meeks (D-NY), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Pete Sessions (R-TX), former CA governor Gray Davis, and the Democratic Party. Check it out: Texas Businessman Sought Influence in Corridors of Capitol
I will continue to update this story on an ongoing basis. In the meantime, you can access my original piece entitled Legalized Bribery.
Legalized Bribery
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 16th, 2009 6:57 PM |
Quality business relationships are always mutually beneficial. If they are not mutually beneficial, then they will not thrive or perhaps even last at all. A strong business relationship, like any personal relationship, needs a foundation of honesty and
integrity. As in any relationship, there will be plenty of instances in which the parties have disagreements and misunderstandings. If the relationship is strong enough, it can not only endure through these times but often grow stronger as a result of them.
The challenge in any relationship is when one party is conflicted and attempts to serve two masters. These conflicted relationships – whether personal, political, social, or business – must change in order to grow or are doomed to languish and underperform if not die completely. On Wall Street, a business that so grossly prioritizes short term profits versus long term customer relationships will not grow. Perhaps for a period of time the excess profits will be addicting and mesmerize management, but over time that model will not work. Bear Stearns is a classic example of this principle. From having worked there for 7 years in the 90s, I evidenced it firsthand. (more…)
Let’s Question the Bank CEOs
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 11th, 2009 9:27 AM |
This morning at 10am, the CEOs of the major money center banks in our country will be in Washington to face Congressional heat. Watch it LIVE on C-Span3.
These CEOs are easy targets for plenty of reasons. As a precursor to their testimony, I thought it may be helpful to view a 1-minute clip of Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, commenting on the proposed stimulus plan, the state of the banking industry, and the concept of nationalizing the banking industry.
If I were questioning these CEOs, I would want to ask the following:
1. To all the CEOs, how do you justify paying $18+ billion in year end bonuses after having taken more than $150+ billion in government funding?
2. Why shouldn’t Citi be formally nationalized right now given the market’s belief that if positions were marked to market properly that the institution would be insolvent?
3. How do you justify the egregious process of raising rates on credit card lines for consumers who are not delinquent?
One MASSIVE Margin Call
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 10th, 2009 3:46 PM |
In light of the serious economic crisis facing our country and the world today, there is understandably heightened interest and anticipation towards both the proposed Stimulus Plan and the newly designated Financial Stability Plan. Clearly every individual in our country is impacted by this turmoil and we are hopeful that our leaders in both the private and public sectors can display the real leadership necessary to “right the ship.” Let’s provide a concise review of the newly designated Financial Stability Plan proposed today by Secretary Geithner. I’ll then move toward a further review of our economy and what it means for us going forward.
Financial Stability Plan
Secretary Geithner prefaced his remarks by highlighting that this process will “take time to resolve.” He offered that there is plenty of blame to go around to the public and private sectors, including the regulatory and rating agencies. He acknowledged that public distrust has heightened in the process. While he believes the government is being appropriately aggressive with this plan, I do not share that opinion. I commend him for emphatically stating that there will be total transparency in the process, along with strong contingencies for any entities that borrow public funds. All details will be posted on www.financialstability.gov.
While Geithner did lay out the overview of the plan, he did not extensively provide details. The market has sold off 3% in the process. I believe the market also sold off given the realization that this plan is going to take a LONG time to make a real impact. Let’s get to the meat of the plan: (more…)
An $800 Billion Mistake
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 7th, 2009 4:40 PM |
The American populace knows that the primary architects in the formulation of the Stimulus Plan working its way through Congress are Rahm Emanuel, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. This contingent, along with President Obama, have not been bashful in stating they view the November election results as effectively a mandate to change policies emanating from Washington. Against that backdrop, the initially proposed Stimulus Plan was so loaded with pork that the Republicans and the American population at large slammed it as more a promotion of the Democratic agenda than a true stimulus plan.
I will give President Obama credit for formulating a Panel to Advise Obama on Economy. This panel will be known as the White House Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The Board will be headed by former Fed chair Paul Volcker. He will be joined by Jeff Immelt of GE, James Owens of Caterpillar, William Donaldson, former SEC chair, Roger Ferguson Jr. of TIAA-CREF, Richard Trumka of AFL-CIO, Anna Burger of SEIU, and Martin Feldstein, renowned Harvard economist. The group will be guided by Austan Goolsbee, an economic adviser to the White House.
Do you think President Obama and his economic team would listen to Mr. Feldstein or is that a “mere courtesy” having him on the board. Let’s review what Mr. Feldstein said about the Stimulus Plan just last week.
Markopolos vs. SEC: Red Flags All Over The Field
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 6th, 2009 5:30 AM |
The world of professional sports has adapted to the wonders of modern technology over the course of the last ten to fifteen years. Professional hockey and basketball have used video reviews for a while. 
Professional and college football have more recently utilized video reviews to “get the calls right.” Major league baseball only last year accepted the fact that it is a better game when certain key plays are ruled properly. Few if any lovers of the games do not fully appreciate the benefits of this review process. If our country were only so fortunate that the powers that be at the Securities and Exchange Commission had an equal appreciation for a series of red flags requesting a similar review.
On November 7, 2005 Harry Markopolos threw 29 red flags on the field for the purposes of reviewing Bernard Madoff Investment Securities. The fact that the SEC did not more fully investigate given this OVERWHELMING body of evidence leaves any individual of sound mind and body speechless and dumbfounded. The questions that need to be answered are whether “the reviewers in the box along with the referees on the field” at both the SEC and FINRA were in some way conflicted. Did they have a stake in the game being played? Were there other kinds of action going on away from the field of play that need equal review?
The MSM has given Mr. Markopolos’ tireless work and pursuit of the truth in this fraud a less than thorough review. To be perfectly frank, I am shocked and appalled that we have not seen greater focus on this story. I was sent a copy of Mr. Markopolos’ November 7, 2005 Submission to the SEC and reviewed it today. This submisson is a matter of public record. While I could write at length on the evidence presented, I will do my best to summarize and highlight items that may not have received as much public disclosure as others.
Reason for Optimism . . . Not So Fast!
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 5th, 2009 12:53 PM |
Last week I wrote the prospects for the implementation of a “bad” bank (I designated it Bank Transition) seemed to be increasingly likely. My post, Reason For Optimism, highlighted the fact that a Bank Transition would facilitate the clearing of toxic assets from bank balance sheets. In so doing, the “transitioning” process should promote an environment in which banks can feel more comfortable lending to qualified borrowers. An update on this “Bad Bank” concept started to break yesterday. Regrettably, the government and banks can not seem to agree conceptually on the necessary steps to launch this bank.
In lieu of a bad bank, the main initiative now being proposed is the concept of the government “guaranteeing” the losses on these assets from a certain point. I view this approach in a less positive light. I believe strongly that this insurance approach is the equivalent to the Japanese style approach used in their banking crisis of the early 90s. Instead of recognizing losses to a certain point and then transferring them, the insurance approach puts a much greater emphasis on “buying time” to generate revenues as a means of increasing capital within the system.
Buying time strikes me as prolonging the period of lower growth and lessened opportunities.
We will see what comes out of Washington on these topics, but if in fact this is the primary approach for addressing toxic assets, I no longer have that “reason for optimism.”
LD
Will Be Held to Account
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 21st, 2009 8:25 AM |
All eyes were fixed on Washington on Tuesday. Prior to addressing dramatic developments in the world of finance, I would like to make a brief comment about the inauguration of Barack Obama from a historical perspective. I am proud to be an American and revel in seeing the smooth transfer of power. I think back to the stories my Dad shared with me as to how Irish politicians in Boston gained power. In the late 1800s, many job listings in Boston, and I assume other cities as well, included the letters NINA. “No Irish need apply” branded my ancestors as second class citizens. My Irish forefathers had a burning desire to move out of the ghetto. That desire was aided by the general ascent of the Irish to political power in Boston.
While I certainly do not agree with President Obama on a wide array of issues, I do hope President Obama’s ascendancy to the highest office in the land inspires current and future generations of African Americans and others who may have felt disenfranchised. For our country and all her citizens, I wish him well as he undertakes his role.
In the course of his speech this afternoon, President Obama remarked, “those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account–to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day–because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.” I am going to take him up on this.
As I heard this remark, I thought of my desire to pursue further questioning of proposed SEC chair Mary Schapiro. Rest assured, we will push on for the simple reason that our democracy deserves no less. I hope everybody who reads our work will join our efforts and, as necessary, will write or forward material to your respective representatives in Washington. (more…)
