Unemployment Dips to 9.7 Percent

The widely anticipated February Unemployment Report covering the month of January was just released. Let’s dive right in and take a look at the numbers . . . I. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE August: 9.4% September: 9.7% October: 9.8% November: 10.2%…revised to 10.1% December: 10% January: 10% – February Consensus Expectation: 10.1% - February Actual: 9.7% Comments:... Read »

Who’s Killing Financial Reform?

Senator Chris Dodd, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, scolded Wall Street representatives at a hearing Thursday for sending “an army of lobbyists whose only mission is to kill the common-sense financial reforms” needed by the public. “The fact is,” Dodd said, “I am frustrated, and so are the American people.” He charged that... Read »

Fed Watch: Devil’s Advocate

Tim Duy| 

Commentators, including myself, have been critical of a Federal Reserve policy stance that appears to place uncertain inflation concerns ahead of a very real unemployment problem. Playing devil’s advocate, one can argue that Federal Reserve members are showing remarkable patience in keeping interest rates at rock bottom levels. Even more remarkable... Read »

Great Powers Rise and Fall

The Daily Reckoning|Feb 8, 2010, 4:35 PM| 

Perhaps because we are a young country, Americans tend not to pay much attention... Read »

After-Hours Earnings (Feb. 8)

editor|Feb 8, 2010, 3:06 PM| 

» Look for the following companies to release earnings After the Close today –... Read »

Latest News

  • 3:57 PM Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said Monday that he supports the appointment of John Thain as chief executive of lender CIT Group . Icahn Associate... Read » Comment! 
  • 3:48 PM Bank of America (BAC) raised its earnings forecast for the S&P 500 Index on Monday, citing better-than-expected performance from some sectors in 2... Read » Comment! 

The Eurozne: Deja Vu Argentina 2001 & Other Thoughts

David Beckworth|Feb 8, 2010, 2:05 PM| 2

The sovereign debt problems in the Eurozone periphery and the implications of this development for the future of the currency union attracted a lot of attention over the weekend. Here is the New York Times on the problems... Read »

Greenspan: U-Shaped Recovery

Larry Doyle|Feb 8, 2010, 11:53 AM| 

Alan Greenspan certainly is not viewed in the same light now as he was during a large part of his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve. That said, when the former Fed chair speaks, people do listen. What is he saying... Read »

Is BBCT the New VAT?

Bruce Bartlett|Feb 8, 2010, 11:42 AM| 

Anyone who reads the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page knows that it hates the value-added tax. I don’t mean hate the way it hates liberals, government regulators and the capital gains tax. No, the Journal... Read »

Enter the Exit Strategy

James Picerno|Feb 8, 2010, 10:24 AM| 

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will be chatting up the central bank’s exit strategy later this week when he testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on February 10. To say that there are political and economic... Read »

When Will Our Economy Return to Normal?

Larry Doyle|Feb 8, 2010, 9:26 AM| 

The question most asked in economic circles is, “How and when will our economy return to normal?” My response is always, “What is normal?” I find it most impactful to explain to people looking to gain a greater understanding... Read »

Pre-Market Stock Upgrades/Downgrades Feb 8, 2010

editor|Feb 8, 2010, 8:57 AM| 

Here is a list of this morning’s company upgrades, downgrades, and coverage initiations by brokerage firms with roughly 30 minutes until the opening bell. Analyst Upgrades: Accuray (ARAY) upgraded to Buy from Hold at... Read »

Pre-Market Earnings (Feb. 8)

editor|Feb 8, 2010, 6:59 AM| 

» Look for the following companies to report earnings Before the Market Opens tomorrow morning – Monday, February 08: Albany Molecular (AMRI) Healthspring Inc. (HS) American Capital Agency (AGNC) Littelfuse (LFUS) Boardwalk... Read »

CIT Group Names John Thain Chairman and CEO

editor|Feb 7, 2010, 10:04 PM| 

It’s official. After a nearly four-month search for a replacement, former Merrill Lynch chief John A. Thain — whom Bank of America (BAC) ousted shortly after its purchase of Merrill closed in January 2009 —... Read »

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