The Wall Street Journal – At Last! Banks Rev Up Lending U.S. banks posted their biggest quarterly increase in lending in four years, offering reason for optimism that the economic rebound is picking up steam. The lending expansion—detailed in the industry’s latest report card from a top regulator—is good news for the U.S. economy at… Continue reading U.S. Bank Lending Rises
Bloomberg.com – Exclusive: U.S. conducting criminal Libor probe The Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe into whether the world’s biggest banks manipulated a global benchmark rate that is at the heart of a wide range of loans and derivatives, from trillions of dollars of mortgages and bonds to interest rate swaps, a person familiar… Continue reading LIE-BOR
<Click on chart for larger image> Reuters.com – Analysis: New central bank cash glut risks “monetary anarchy” The scale of money printing in the West has become so massive that the world may fall prey to “monetary anarchy,” with traces of bubbles appearing everywhere. At least that’s what some critics see in the latest round… Continue reading QE World
<Click on chart for larger image> Smart Money – Main Street’s $100 Billion Stock-Market Blunder While we’ve seen a stock-market boom that has made plenty of people rich, much of Main Street America has missed out. Instead of buying, they’ve been selling. The few moments when they’ve steeled themselves and turned buyers have been, on… Continue reading Retail Investors
MarketWatch.com – Any second thoughts about 2014, Mr. Bernanke? Wall Street will be listening closely to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke over the next two days for any signs of distancing himself from the central bank’s pledge to keep rates at ultra-low levels for up to three years.Bernanke is testifying Wednesday in front of the… Continue reading Bernanke Speaks Today
<Click on chart for larger image> MarketWatch.com – Straight talk about the housing market Economists, policy makers and consumers continue to seize upon any sign that the housing market is rebounding. A common refrain from pundits is that a recovery may be seen in the next “one to two years.” Unfortunately, based on the data,… Continue reading Home Prices Are At Their Post-Crisis Lows
<Click on chart for larger image> The Financial Times – Oil fears hit US inflation expectations Fears that higher oil prices could dent prospects for US economic recovery have put a brake on expectations of rising inflation following a sharp run-up this year. Long-term inflation expectations as measured by the “break-even rate” – the difference… Continue reading Oil Prices And Long-Term Inflation Expectations
<Click on chart for larger image> The Wall Street Journal – Money-Market Funds Aren’t What You Think The Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly finishing a proposal to increase regulation on money-market funds, the $2.7 trillion industry that provides corporations with an important short-term funding source and individuals and institutions with an alternative to traditional… Continue reading Money Market Funds
Bloomberg.com – Goldman Traders Lost Money on 17 Days in Q4 Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), the Wall Street bank that generated 60 percent of its revenue from trading last year, recorded losses from that business on 17 days in the fourth quarter, down from 21 days in the prior period. The firm’s traders lost… Continue reading Traders At Goldman Lose Money On Some Days
<Click on chart for larger image> The Wall Street Journal – Romney Regains Momentum Mitt Romney won primary elections in Michigan and Arizona on Tuesday, reasserting his dominance in a Republican presidential nominating race and holding off a challenge from a surging Rick Santorum. The win in Michigan was particularly important for Mr. Romney. A… Continue reading Romney Wins Michigan, Arizona
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The Wall Street Journal – Focus Turns Now to Greek CDS Payouts An unidentified market participant has asked a committee of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association to rule on whether the passage of legislation approving collective-action clauses for Greek debt should trigger payouts on credit-default swaps tied to Greek sovereign bonds. The move comes… Continue reading Greece Downgrade To Default … But For Only Two Weeks?