Deutsche Bank Recognizes the Depth and Width of "A" Paper Crisis to Come
August 21, 2009
Deutsche Bank on those drowning US homeowners | ftalphaville.ft.com
The depth of the "Alt A" mortgage crisis is coming home to roost. We are likely to see the depreciate creep (or flood as the case may be) is going to hit the areas that the subprime loans barely touched.
Bank stocks will crumble in the coming months
August 14, 2009
Stocks Slip as Banks Pull Back | online.wsj.com
The WSJ article suggests a modest, temporary pullback for banking stocks amidst all the recent glowing reports that the Great Recession is over. It is not over. It is going to get much worse, precisely because of a crisis that is about to erupt for the bankcard industry.
August 11, 2009
Carlisle Companies Rebound With Economy | seekingalpha.com
For so many years (perhaps even decades) the US manufacturing cost of various materials have been more expensive than other countries. Using actual bottom line profit as a metric, Carlisle is returning an offshore operation back to the US.
I hate to say I told you so, but.....
August 11, 2009
About Half Of U.S. Mortgages Seen Underwater By 2011 | www.reuters.com
We have a perfect storm brewing in the housing real estate market. All facts point to a furthur drop in values.
Turmoil at Visa or a hopeful turn in the road?
July 28, 2009
Visa Says Its President Steps Aside | online.wsj.com
The termination of Visa's president reflects the crisis in the bankcard industry. Since its IPO, investors, issuers and merchants been waiting for Visa to lead the industry to new heights. That has not happened. In fact, things have gotten worse. Cardholders, merchants, Congress and states are in rebellion against the industry, which has all but given up on innovation.
Small volume sellers, extremely vulnerable to dysfunction and fraud
July 27, 2009
new ebay program aims to reward good sellers | www.ecnmag.com
eBay is making a progressive move to help its solid but low-volume sellers, by providing incentives to keep feedback numbers high. Both Amazon and eBay provide a facility for buyers to leave feedback on transactions.
Article should be titled: "Fed Moves To Curb Lending Further"
July 24, 2009
Fed moves to curb housing abuses | money.cnn.com
Limiting Compensation on "sub-prime" loans will kill the industry as well as stifle lending even further.
Borat and Bruno - not withstanding - Kazakhstan means business
July 18, 2009
only fools and doping cops would doubt lance armstrong -- fanhouse | jay-mariotti.fanhouse.com
The venerable (arguably a true legend in his own time) Lance Armstrong is placing his long standing career back on the line.And Lance Armstrong's team is Team Astana Cycling Team.
Desperate times, desperate measures
July 18, 2009
American Express halts UK pension payments | business.timesonline.co.uk
The value of due diligence, and buyer beware has never before in financial times been so important. There are definitely two sides to this issue. We are faced with commitments made based upon invalid assumptions of risk management techniques.
Is interchange protection a Custer's last stand for the bankcard industry?
July 16, 2009
JPMorgan's Profit Soars Despite Downturn - NYTimes.com | www.nytimes.com
The article reveals the growing, almost populist attack against bankcard interchange pricing. Heretofore, merchants have challenged the fee via lawyers, lobbyists and trade associations. Now it is trying to enlist cardholders, as if taking advantage of the enormous public distrust of banks and card issuers. The industry appears to be digging it its heels, perhpas reflecting a fear that issuers cannot absord any additional revenue losses without signifigantly and permanently damaging the product, not to mention the bankcard systems. The new CARD Act forces the industy to absorb tens of billions in new costs and restricted revenue streams. Doing the same on interchange could be more than banks can handle.
E-Insurance: When will the insurance industry adopt modern communication tools?
February 14, 2012
ATMs could distribute prepaid Visa cards
January 23, 2012
PayPal can thrive as a standalone company
January 9, 2012
Europe's CO2 Emissions Trading System works, but it can be improved
December 16, 2011
European women wonder why their insurance premiums will increase
December 15, 2011