Senator McConnell's Dilemma: To Serve Patients or Investors? When evaluating health care investments it is important to analyze the structure of leading drug and medical equipment companies. A close look indeed reveals a derivative driven system in which private equity and hedge funds increase demand for drug payments by purchasing the rights … Continue reading Is Patient Health Being Mortgaged via Derivatives as Homes Were During the Financial Crisis?
Category: World News
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
Note: Also see Lone Star Part II, which has link to youtube video of Grayken's comments before the OIC. Today Oregon PERS investment arm, the Oregon Investment Council, met and awarded more than $1 billion in investment management contracts at its monthly meeting, including approving $600 million for Dallas based Lone Star and another $400 … Continue reading Oregon PERS & Loan Star to Cash In On Foreclosures: John Grayken, Korea Bank, Richard Solomon
During the last 18 months I have made two trips to Russia, the first in August of 2006 and the second in June of 2007, spending a total of 6 weeks there. Now fluent in Russian, it was simply astonishing to note the level of progress Russia made during this brief period. Simple things ranging … Continue reading Putin Likely to Become Gazprom Chairman and Make Russian Ruble Key Global Reserve Currency: Medvedev, Ruble
Here in the United States the two most important proxy firms are Institutional Shareholder Services, which is owned by hedge funds, and Glass Lewis, previously owned by a Shanghai Bank. The recent purchase of Glass Lewis by the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund is a terrific development in the world of corporate governance because it will … Continue reading Ontario Pension Fund Purchases Proxy Firm Glass Lewis