Disclosure: This post is both broad and detailed so that interested analysts and journalists can gather key facts and form their own opinion. Reviewing incredible schemes such as this orchestrated by Robert Mercer and Jim Simons often attract teams of analysts and reporters. This post is original fact checked independent research available free on … Continue reading How Trump Patron Robert Mercer Brilliantly Shifts Assets From The Main Street Economy, Beer Sales, Into What Bloomberg Calls “The Blackest Box in Finance.” Is Mercer indeed, like Trump, under severe financial stress?
Category: Federal Reserve and SEC
President Obama's best chance for turning around the economy is to make sure that Paul Volcker, Federal Reserve Chairman prior to Greenspan, is in charge of needed economic reforms. Although Tim Geitner showed promise when nominated Treasury Secretary, he looked more like Michael (Katrina) Brown than a competent leader in his first press conference. He … Continue reading Obama’s Neglect of Volcker Emperils Economy – Summers and Geitner Stonewall Reforms
This week TD Ameritrade held its annual institutional advisor conference at Cesar's Palace in Las Vegas. CEO Fred Tomczyk, pictured on left below, summarized TD's strong financial position in addition to his belief that money market accounts should be about safety and stability. For this reason, TD has chosen to minimize both duration and credit … Continue reading Karl Rove and General Wesley Clark Debate at TD Ameritrade Institutional Advisor Conferenc
On January 31st I posted a brief video on youtube summarizing a program in which the Oregon Investment Council is lending its securities portfolios, using State Street as an intermediary, to hedge funds and private equity firms so that they may meet the ownership standards required to conduct short selling-- betting on the declines of … Continue reading Public Pensions Fuel Short Selling by Lending Their Security Portfolios to Hedge Funds
On November 18, 2008 I gave a presentation to the local chapter of the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) at the Multnomah Athletic Club here in Portland, Oregon regarding the overall state of the financial markets. The talk focused on how we arrived where we are and what to look for going forward. Also … Continue reading Immediate 6 Step Program to Turn Around Economy Proposed
This week Bloomberg disclosed that Warren Buffett, the man who has called derivatives a weapon of mass destruction, has himself afterall leveraged his fund Berkshire Hathaway by making a $40 billion bet in derivatives. Little known to most investors is that Buffett's primary source of revenue is his 50 insurance companies, including General RE, his … Continue reading Warren Buffett’s Credibility Takes a Big Hit
On Friday President Elect Obama designated Tim Geithner to be the next Treasury Secretary and the stock market rose roughly 5 percent in minutes. Clearly, this was former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker's choice and once again demonstrates Volcker's influence as a beacon of integrity and competence. It also highlights Obama's good judgement by seeking … Continue reading Paul Volcker Makes Treasury Secretary Choice for Obama
One century ago Republican Theodore Roosevelt was elected president and instituted sweeping changes in government, including the establishment of an estate tax and the national park system. What followed was an economic boom that lasted for years. Roosevelt knew the importance of circulating wealth in order to revitalize the economy by investing in key infrastructure, … Continue reading Estate Tax and Tax Equity: Bill Gates Sr. Battles Son Bill Gates Jr. as Grover Norquist and Warren Buffett Weigh In
For several years now I have recommended adding short term Canadian Treasury notes to client portfolios, beginning when the Canadian dollar was roughly 62 cents to the US dollar. The last of these positions mature in 2008, including those that already matured in July and another group set to mature in December. Earlier this year … Continue reading Canadian Dollar – An Underappreciated Currency, What It Might Say About US Stock Market
Today is Columbus day, a day that celebrates Columbus discovering America. Perhaps it is ironic that over the weekend America discovered Europe when it comes to guidance in dealing with our financial crisis. The answer to the crisis is not to have the Treasury purchase vast amounts of worthless securities from troubled banks but rather … Continue reading Europe Blocks Treasury Secretary Paulson From Looting America