Light at the End of the Tunnel?The Financial Freight Train
It is hard to believe, but for weeks some of the network pundits (with a straight face) have been calling the bottom in the stock market financials. Analysts for Cashin' In on Fox have gone as far as recommending XLF. CNBC has done the same by pounding the table on a basket of financials. At the end of the day, it is important to remember the guests on those shows are SALESMEN who are selling their wares to a weary public.
Cash Call
While some were calling a short-lived dollar bottom, it only takes companies like AIG to report cash problem and off sells the market. (1) This only comes on the heels of the previous quarter's losses. And for investors, the light at the end of the tunnel starts looking more and more like a train that is going to run stock holders into financial ruin! The tremors of AIG will continue to be felt through out the financial world as C was singing a similar tune today! Readers are reminded that BSC and NCC found themselves in a similar situation, and look what happened to investors who were left holding the bag! ABC reported the grief counselors were needed at BSC to help employees cope with the dramatic losses suffered during its recent financial meltdown. (2) Is WB or COF heading down the same path?
Credit Crunch
Interestingly enough consumer saw unleaded gasoline hit $3.75. While UGA appears to be a safe play here, the only question becomes "How much higher can it go?" According to an analyst on CNBC gas could hit $6.00 a gallon next year at this time. The analyst went on to say that Americans will pay it, after all it is all about supply and demand. No doubt he is long on oil. While the analyst is correct, it became apparent that he is ignoring the economic impact on entire segments of the US economy. If gas drags the economy to a slow-down status, then it is light out for any type of recovery in the housing market. Yet Cindy Perman of CNBC believes the consumer will make it through this "rough patch." (3) Most of the people who fill up their own gas tanks may beg to differ! We are reminded that consumer spending is responsible for 2/3 of the U.S. economy. When that money is spent on necessities such as fuel and food, it does not allow a lot of wiggle room for growth areas. Stimulus checks be darned!
Credit Card Companies Clipped
If Europe has been the trend-setter for regulations that eventually hit U.S. shores. V, MA, and DFS may have reason to be concerned. In January, European commission ruled that MA's interchange rates are illegal. (4) Now HR5546 Bill a.k.a. the Credit Card Fair Fee Act appears to be headed to the Senate where it should meet little resistance. (5) There is no doubt that anti-trust fears impacted the volatility of the sector this week. Please see Clayton Act.
Last week's article Big Ben's Credit Card Moves: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly cited www.creditmall.org (6) as an excellent source for credit cards deals. Some of the best rates included 0% APR for 15 months. While the good credit risks justifiably receive the best credit cards, there is now some suggestion that underwriting standards are now tightening on other lines. Furthermore banks are being vilified by some of the "loan shark" type practices which guaranteed that people who were in debt almost certainly stayed in debt. (7) This could well be a case of too little too late, as the government may be poised for additional actions to protect consumers. This would mean a fundamental change in credit card business models. Revenue sources for a number of financials will be tested once again. BAC, COF, AXP, DFS, JPM, C, ADVNA.
Talkin Tribe!
Congratulations to Cliff Lee the first Cleveland Indians pitcher to hit the 6-0 mark since Greg Swindell in 1988. However, I am certain that Swindell had better run support in his starts. More amazing is Lee's .82 ERA! That's just amazing! I am liking Jason Michaels' move to Pittsburgh for cash and a player to be named later. Awesome come from behind win last night against Toronto!
Check Out Intrade...
Selling futures on issues outside the financial world...purely fascinating! Another great opportunity for people to put money where their mouth is!!! (8)
Sources Cited:
1. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080509/wall_street.html
2. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=4476286&page=1
3. http://www.cnbc.com/id/24543379
4. http://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/2008/01/european-commis.html
5. http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h5546/show
6. http://www.creditmall.org
7. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/money/362550_singletary10.html
8.http://www.intrade.com//?request_operation=main&request_type=action&checkHomePage=true
1 comment:
$6 a gallon would be interesting. I posed on itulip that I would keep driving until about $8/gallon I think, although at $6 I would rethink my recent switch to a more split schedule and just work fewer long days. I am long oil just for disclosure through PXJ and COP.
I remember Swindell. He beat Clemens twice at the old stadium while I watched, with Carmello Castillo hitting bombers off of the former future HOFer! Swindell also gave up the longest foul ball ever to my favorite player Rob Deer. Estimates were up to 660 feet! Let's hope Lebron plays a little better so he can gain in stature over MJ.
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