Repaying TARP for a Return to Gluttony

I challenge you to find an article about the major banks wishing to repay TARP that doesn’t blatantly cite compensation as the banks primary motivation. Here’s a taste from Dealbook (NYT): Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase have said for weeks that they want to repay their share of the $700 billion government bailout…

This is the Remix: TRB vs. Lowe's Companies

Home improvement retailer Lowes (LOW) reported earnings yesterday and whether you want to credit easier comps or operating efficiency, the numbers themselves were better than expected.  The tone of the conference call was more upbeat than what anyone would’ve expected. We’re still gonna have some fun with it. This is the Remix… Operator: Good morning,…

Market Recap: Thank You, India

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL1Nu3qZLdg] The Reformed Broker, AKA Louis Lane, here with today’s Market Recap… OMG…India’s Sensex Index literally exploded overnight, rallying more than 2000 points, or 17.34% in one session. This led to a massive commodity and overseas-exposure rally here in the US with the Dow up around 200 points at the 3:30 look.  Top sectors include…

What is Donald Trump Worth?

The question of what Donald Trump‘s net worth is may be like asking “what’s the meaning of life?“.  The answer is different to everyone and the most interesting part of the question is the search for the answer, not obtaining the answer itself.  Donald Trump’s true net worth, therefore, is unknowable. From the Wall Street…

Hedgies are Human

Joe Nocera tells the story of a hedge fund manager who has decided to return his investors’ funds and pursue a different career path, one that isn’t focused on compensation alone. From the New York Times: Two weeks from now, a seven-year-old hedge fund called Alson Capital Partners will return around $800 million to its…

Hot Links: Lemonade, Eschatology & The Gotti Foreclosure

Hot Links for Weekend Reading Let’s kick it off with something that’s both outrageous and smart, Johnny Debacle goes ape$hit on the business practices of a kid’s corner lemonade stand.  Here’s a taste: This Lemonade Stand was founded on a promise of fresh beverages to keep you cool on a hot day. Instead, management oversees…

In-Flight Reading

I’m traveling today, but here’s a list of what I’ll be reading on the plane (pleasehavewifi, pleasehavewifi…) It’s been awhile since I’ve kept up with the Railroad stocks, but they may get interesting again in the second half of this year.  This gentleman Jack Wx wrote up a breakdown of which railroads do what and…

Market Recap: Thursday Snapback

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEOV5vWfSgI] The Reformed Broker, AKA King of the Delta Blues, here with today’s Market Recap… The insurance names are being watched for signs of market stability (or instability).  These are the new “tells”…at least for now.  Yesterday the insurance sector looked apocalyptic, today, they were jiggy from the open. Here’s the 3 o’clock look at the group: Industry…

Vikings Do It Better

“The strongest man is he who stands alone in the world” – Norwegian Playwright Henrik Ibsen  Fascinating story in the NY Times this morning about how Norway, a nation of less than 5 million people but a relatively huge $68 billion in oil revenue last year, was able to buck the global crisis.  Preservation of…

Goodbye Bill Seidman

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91pCe2jgHU] Bill Seidman passed away yesterday.  Rather than attempt to write up an obit without any new details of the man’s extraordinary career or service to his country, I thought I’d show you how good and sharp he was as a market commentator. The above video shows Bill Seidman doing what he did best…being insightful…