Tagesarchiv für den 31.08.2009

Tim Knight

Wanted: A Soaring Dollar

The snare drum you hear in the background is the musical prelude to a big shift in currencies. If, as I anticipate, the EUR/USD starts to tumble (while, naturally, the dollar soars), we'll have everything we need for equities to start falling to pieces.

One of the charts from EWI's Short-Term Update, shown below, tells the story superbly. Notice how the slope (err, not "Slope" slope, but the regular slope), represented by the series of diagonal lines, gets decreasingly steep. This implies to me a tipping point that has either taken place or will take place in the near future.

0831-euro 

I would also add that today is the first day in a while that the big profits that showed up in my account at the opening bell stuck around for the entire day. The only short position I closed was FXP, early in the morning; otherwise, I'm still short virtually across the board.

I'll probably do a post later tonight. I need to - what else? - catch up on my charts.


Brett Steenbarger, Ph.D.

Fewer Stocks Showing 20-Day Strength


Above we see the S&P 500 e-mini futures (ES) on an hourly chart, illustrating the recent choppy, sideways action. If you click on the chart and look at the blue numbers above the volume bars, you'll see how the 20-day new highs (top number) and lows (bottom number) have shifted downward over this period. Indeed, we saw more new 20-day lows than highs today, a sign of deterioration in the broad stock market. This fits with my earlier view of the indicator, suggesting a narrowing base to the bull market.

Note: This indicator tracks all common stocks across the NYSE, NASDAQ, and ASE and is updated each morning before the market open via Twitter; follow here).
.

"Insider selling is 30x insider buying, while corporate stock buybacks are non-existent. Companies are saying they don't want to touch their own stocks."

"I don't know where the money is coming from to keep the markets from not plunging."

One can offer some suggestions.

MIT's David Cesarini sends me the above chart with this note:

Dear Professor Mankiw,

I prepared a graph which I think nicely illustrates the simple point you made in your blogpost on the spurious association between SES and test scores. The graph is attached. The dataset is comprised of a large sample of men born in Sweden between 1955 and 1970 who took an IQ test at conscription, at the age of 18. Income is measured as the biological father's income in the 1970 census.

The red line is the average measured IQ of the non-adoptees, plotted against the biological father's income decile. The blue line shows the same relationship for adoptees and their biological fathers. The patterns are remarkably similar,even though the biological fathers of adoptees did not raise these children.The fact that the biological father's income is almost an equally strong predictor of a child's test scores even when the biological father was not present in the household clearly suggests that most of the association between income and test scores does indeed arise because of omitted variable bias. Of course, an important caveat here is that it is quite likely that non-random assignment of adoptees may explain some of the similarity between the two lines.

I hope you find this useful.

Best wishes,
David Cesarini

Thanks, David.

N.B.: What David has provided us is the complementary graph to the one I proposed in my post. I conjectured that if we graphed adopted kids' test scores against their household income--that is, against their adopted parents' income--the curve would be "a lot flatter" than it is for non-adoptees. David graphs adopted kids' test scores against their biological father's income and finds it is almost as steep as for non-adoptees.

In a May interview with Jane Hamsher and Marcy Wheeler of Firedoglake, The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Chris Dodd notes that information about who the bank recipients of Fed loans is "concerning", and that he would make such a request of the Federal Reserve. "I'll ask" is his summation of the questioning about why nobody besides the Fed is allowed to know where taxpayer capital goes to.

We, in turn, ask Chris Dodd to provide to not only his voters, but to the public in general any and all disclosure he has obtained from the Fed, due to Chairman's Dodd position as a public figure supervising numerous financial affairs, and we hope that his curiosity translates into support for any and all Fed audit initiatives, most specifically HR 1207 and S 604.

Hopefully, in the meantime the Chariman of the Banking Committee will learn the difference between AIG's counterparties and banks that have daily access to the Fed's discount window as well as other Maiden Lane, taxpayer funded conduits.

 

Diana Olick at CNBC has some BofA info: What Banks Are Really Doing With Foreclosures
Bank of America:

  • Foreclosure sales have been abnormally low since we learned of the pending implementation of the administration’s Making Home Affordable program. From that point, we delayed the initiation of foreclosure proceedings and sales for customers that may eligible for a loan modification under MHA. As a result of this policy, our foreclosure sales in recent months have been as little as half the normal pace we experienced before.
    ...
  • Now that Making Home Affordable programs are operational, we do project an increase in foreclosures as we exhaust every available option to qualify customers for modifications and other solutions.
    ...
  • We do not hold foreclosed properties off the market.
  • According to BofA, they are not sitting on REOs (Real Estate Owned) for longer than normal, but they are holding off foreclosing - pending modification attempts. That is basically what the data says too.

    The Q2 FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile showed the banks held $11.5 billion in 1-4 family residential REO at the end of Q2. That is the same level as the last several quarters.

    But what has really changed is the surge in delinquencies - combined with the banks holding off foreclosing. As BofA notes, this will lead to a wave of foreclosures later this year and into 2010, however the size of the wave depends on the success of the modification programs (not looking great so far).
    Eine so starke Zunahme der Treibhausgaskonzentration, wie in den letzten Jahren, ist in den in den Eiskernen gemessenen Werten von 600.000 Jahren nie festgestellt worden (Abb. 07044). Auch war in der mittelalterlichen Wärmeperiode die Temperatur in Mitteleuropa nur etwa 1 °C wärmer als während der vorletzten CLINO-Periode. Bereits bis 2004 sind die Temperaturen jedoch weit stärker gestiegen (Abb. 07286).
    Barry Ritholtz

    The Eternal Economic Seminar

    heh heh –  I am decidely not at one of these things this week:

    >

    econ sem

    >

    via Wiley Miller

    Tyler Durden

    SPY Pump And Dump

    Repeat after me: There is nothing wrong with buying all day, gunning into close, then dumping insane volume after hours... There is nothing wrong... etc

    Molecool

    Manic Monday Rub Down

    It’s good to be back, especially on a sell off day when any meaningful counter rally attempt was met with aggressive selling.

    What was interesting today was the lack in participation - we got that early morning gap and then pretty much nothing for the remainder of the session. I was watching several overlapping entry signals on the geronimo side - which was indicative of various attempts to bang the tape higher but it seemed the bulltarts didn’t have the mojo necessary to close the gap - for now.

    As a general observation - the spikes up appear to be met with large sell block orders - someone apparently keeps unwinding positions. Perhaps someone closer to the pulse perhaps is able to confirm this?

    Program Trading Update:

    evil.rat/ES: -1.75
    evil.rat/NQ: +0.25
    geronimo/ES: +1.25

    That’s all for now - I’ll be in touch later this evening for a quick update.

    Boy, am I looking forward to that one :-)

    Cheers,

    Mole


    After an ~20 million cumulative volume shortfall from average until 4:00pm, volume went green for the day in the first two minutes of After Hours traing. In the meantime the SEC continues to do absolutely nothing.

    Tim Knight

    Adios, August!

    0831-bar

    Bar time is usually reserved for Fridays, but as we give August a swift, painful, permanently debilitating kick in the ass as it runs out the door, I thought I'd let Bo serve up some beverages for the crew. Plus I thought it was Friday, and I have no idea why.


    CalculatedRisk

    August Economic Summary in Graphs

    Here is a collection of real estate and economic graphs for data released in August ...

    Note: Click on graphs for larger image in new window. For more info, click on link below graph to original post.

    ********************
    New Home Sales Monthly Not Seasonally Adjusted New Home Sales in July (NSA)

    The first graph shows monthly new home sales (NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted).

    Note the Red columns for 2009. This is the 3rd lowest sales for July since the Census Bureau started tracking sales in 1963.

    In July 2009, 39 thousand new homes were sold (NSA); the record low was 31 thousand in July 1982; the record high for July was 117 thousand in 2005.

    From: New Home Sales Increase in July

    ********************
    New Home Sales and Recessions New Home Sales in July

    This graph shows shows New Home Sales vs. recessions for the last 45 years.

    "Sales of new one-family houses in July 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 433,000 ...

    This is 9.6 percent (±13.4%) above the revised June rate of 395,000, but is 13.4 percent (±12.9%) below the July 2008 estimate of 500,000."


    From: New Home Sales Increase in July

    ********************
    New Home Months of Supply and Recessions New Home Months of Supply in July

    There were 7.5 months of supply in July - significantly below the all time record of 12.4 months of supply set in January.

    "The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of July was 271,000. This represents a supply of 7.5 months at the current sales rate."

    From: New Home Sales Increase in July

    ********************
    Existing Home Sales Existing Home Sales in July

    This graph shows existing home sales, on a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) basis since 1993.

    Sales in July 2009 (5.24 million SAAR) were 7.2% higher than last month, and were 5.0% lower than July 2008 (4.99 million SAAR).

    From: Existing Home Sales increase in July

    ********************
    Existing Home Inventory Existing Home Inventory July

    This graph shows nationwide inventory for existing homes. According to the NAR, inventory increased to 4.09 million in July. The all time record was 4.57 million homes for sale in July 2008. This is not seasonally adjusted.

    Also, many REOs (bank owned properties) are included in the inventory because they are listed - but not all. Recently there have been stories about a substantial number of unlisted REOs and other shadow inventory - so this inventory number is probably low.

    From: Existing Home Sales increase in July

    ********************
    YoY Change Existing Home Inventory Existing Home Inventory July, Year-over-Year Change

    This graph shows the year-over-year change in existing home inventory.

    If the trend of declining year-over-year inventory levels continues in 2009 that will be a positive for the housing market. Prices will probably continue to fall until the months of supply reaches more normal levels (closer to 6 months compared to the current 9.4 months), and that will take some time. Plus remember the shadow inventory!

    From: More on Existing Home Inventory

    ********************
    Case-Shiller House Prices Indices Case Shiller House Prices for June

    This graph shows the nominal Composite 10 and Composite 20 indices (the Composite 20 was started in January 2000).

    The Composite 10 index is off 32.6% from the peak, and up about 9% (annualized) in June.

    The Composite 20 index is off 31.4% from the peak, and up in June.

    From: Case-Shiller House Price Index Increases in June

    ********************
    Residential NAHB Housing Market Index NAHB Builder Confidence Index in August

    This graph shows the builder confidence index from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

    The housing market index (HMI) increased to 18 in August from 17 in July. The record low was 8 set in January.

    This is still very low - and this is what I've expected - a long period of builder depression.

    From: NAHB: Builder Confidence Slightly Higher in August

    ********************
    AIA Architecture Billing Index Architecture Billings Index for July

    "The Architecture Billings Index rebounded more than 5 points last month to a reading of 43.1, reversing a similar decline in June, according to the American Institute of Architects.

    The index has remained below 50, indicating contraction in demand for design services, since January 2008 ..."

    From: AIA: Architecture Billings Index shows Contraction in July

    ********************
    Total Housing Starts and Single Family Housing Starts Housing Starts in July

    Total housing starts were at 581 thousand (SAAR) in July, off slightly from June, but up sharply over the last three months from the all time record low in April of 479 thousand (the lowest level since the Census Bureau began tracking housing starts in 1959).

    Single-family starts were at 490 thousand (SAAR) in July, up slightly from June; 37 percent above the record low in January and February (357 thousand).

    From: Housing Starts Flat in July

    ********************
    Construction Spending Construction Spending in June

    The first graph shows private residential and nonresidential construction spending since 1993. Note: nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted.

    Residential construction spending increased slightly in June, and nonresidential spending declined a little. From other data (new housing starts), it appears that residential spending has stabilized and might increase in Q3 - however private nonresidential construction will be falling off a cliff.

    From: Construction Spending Increases Slightly in June

    ********************
    Employment Measures and Recessions July Employment Report

    This graph shows the unemployment rate and the year over year change in employment vs. recessions.

    Nonfarm payrolls decreased by 247,000 in July. The economy has lost almost 5.7 million jobs over the last year, and 6.66 million jobs during the 19 consecutive months of job losses.

    The unemployment rate declined slightly to 9.4 percent.

    Year over year employment is strongly negative.

    From: Employment Report: 247K Jobs Lost, 9.4% Unemployment Rate

    ********************
    Percent Job Losses During Recessions July Employment Comparing Recessions

    This graph shows the job losses from the start of the employment recession, in percentage terms (as opposed to the number of jobs lost).

    For the current recession, employment peaked in December 2007, and this recession was a slow starter (in terms of job losses and declines in GDP).

    However job losses have really picked up over the last year, and the current recession is now the 2nd worst recession since WWII in percentage terms (and the 1948 recession recovered very quickly) - and also in terms of the unemployment rate (only early '80s recession was worse).

    From: Employment Report: 247K Jobs Lost, 9.4% Unemployment Rate

    ********************
    Year-over-year change in Retail Sales July Retail Sales

    This graph shows the year-over-year change in nominal and real retail sales since 1993.

    The Census Bureau reported retail sales decreased 0.1% from June to July (seasonally adjusted), and sales are off 8.3% from July 2008 (retail ex food services decreased 9.3%).


    From: Retail Sales Decline Slightly in July

    ********************
    LA Area Port Traffic LA Port Traffic in July

    This graph shows the loaded inbound and outbound traffic at the port of Los Angeles in TEUs (TEUs: 20-foot equivalent units or 20-foot-long cargo container). Although containers tell us nothing about value, container traffic does give us an idea of the volume of goods being exported and imported.

    Inbound traffic was 22.0% below July 2008.

    Outbound traffic was 22.7% below July 2008.

    There had been some recovery in U.S. exports earlier this year (the year-over-year comparison was off 30% from December through February). And this showed up in the in the Q1 and Q2 GDP reports as net exports of goods and services added 2.64% and 1.38% to GDP in Q1 and Q2, respectively.

    From: LA Area Ports: Export Traffic Declines in July

    ********************
    U.S. Trade Exports Imports U.S. Imports and Exports Through June

    This graph shows the monthly U.S. exports and imports in dollars through June 2009.

    Imports were up in June, mostly because of a spike in oil prices. Exports also increased in June. On a year-over-year basis, exports are off 22% and imports are off 31%.

    From: Trade Deficit Increases in June

    ********************
    Capacity Utilization Capacity Utilization in July

    This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is slightly above the record low (the series starts in 1967).

    "Industrial production increased 0.5 percent in July. Aside from a hurricane-related rebound in October 2008, the gain in July marked the first monthly increase since December 2007. ... At 96.0 percent of its 2002 average, total industrial production was 13.1 percent below its level of a year earlier. In July, the capacity utilization rate for total industry edged up to 68.5 percent, a level 12.4 percentage points below its 1972-2008 average."

    From: Industrial Production, Capacity Utilization Increase in July

    ********************
    Restaurant Performance Index Restaurant Performance Index for July

    "The Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 98.1 in July, up 0.3 percent from its June level. However, the RPI still remained below 100 for the 21st consecutive month, which signifies contraction in the index of key industry indicators.
    ...
    In addition to sales declines, restaurant operators reported negative customer traffic levels for the 23rd consecutive month in July."

    From: Restaurants in July: 23rd Consecutive Month of Declining Traffic

    ********************
    Philly Fed State Conincident Map Philly Fed State Conincident Indicators for July

    Here is a map of the three month change in the Philly Fed state coincident indicators. Forty seven states are showing declining three month activity.

    This is what a widespread recession looks like based on the Philly Fed states indexes.

    On a one month basis, activity decreased in 35 states in June, and was unchanged in 8 states.

    From: Philly Fed State Coincident Indicators: Still a Widespread Recession in July

    ********************
    Vehicle Sales Light vehicle sales in July

    This graph shows the historical light vehicle sales (seasonally adjusted annual rate) from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for July (red, light vehicle sales of 11.24 million SAAR from AutoData Corp).

    This is the highest vehicle sales since September 2008 (12.5 million SAAR).

    From: Light Vehicle Sales Over 11 Million (SAAR) in July

    ********************
    Lodging Investment as Percent of GDP Q2: Office, Mall and Lodging Investment

    This graph shows investment in offices, lodging and malls as a percent of GDP.

    The recent boom in lodging investment has been stunning. Lodging investment peaked at 0.32% of GDP in Q2 2008 and has started to decline (0.27% in Q2 2009). There was a small increase in Q2 2009 that is probably related to projects being completed. I expect lodging investment to continue to decline through at least 2010, to perhaps one-third of the peak.

    Investment in multimerchandise shopping structures (malls) peaked in 2007 and has fallen sharply.

    Office investment as a percent of GDP peaked at 0.46% in Q3 2008 and has started to decline sharply. With the office vacancy rate rising sharply, office investment will also probably decline through at least 2010.

    From: Q2: Office, Mall and Lodging Investment

    ********************
    Apartment Tightness Index NMHC Quarterly Apartment Survey

    This graph shows the quarterly Apartment Tightness Index.

    A reading below 50 suggests vacancies are rising. Based on limited historical data, I think this index will lead reported apartment rents by 6 months to 1 year. Or stated another way, rents will probably fall for 6 months to 1 year after this index reaches 50. Right now I expect rents to continue to decline through most of 2010.

    From: Q2 NMHC Quarterly Apartment Survey: Occupancy Continues to Decline, but Pace Slows

    ********************
    non-business bankruptcy filings U.S. Consumer Bankruptcy Filings in July

    This graph shows the non-business bankruptcy filings by quarter.

    Note: Quarterly data from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 2009 based on monthly data from the American Bankruptcy Institute.

    From the American Bankruptcy Institute: Consumer Bankruptcy Filings Reach Highest Monthly Total Since 2005 Bankruptcy Law Overhaul
    U.S. consumer bankruptcy filings reached 126,434 in July, the highest monthly total since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act was implemented in October 2005, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center (NBKRC).
    From: ABI: Personal Bankruptcy Filings up 34.3 Percent compared to July 2008
    ********************
    Commercial Bank Delinquency Rates Delinquency Rates in Q2 2009

    This graph shows the delinquency rates at the commercial banks for residential real estate, commercial real estate and consumer credit cards.

    Commercial real estate delinquencies (7.91%) are rising rapidly, and are at the highest rate since the early '90s (as delinquency rates declined following the S&L crisis).

    Residential real estate (8.84%) and consumer credit card (6.7%) delinquencies are at the highest levels since the Fed started tracking the data (since Q1 '91).

    Although there is credit deterioration everywhere, the rise in these three categories is especially significant. There was also a significant increase in C&I delinquencies (commerical & industrial) and Agricultural loans.

    From: Fed: Delinquency Rates Surged in Q2 2009
    ********************
    Tyler Durden

    F/X Reversal

    Someone just puked up a boatload of Yen to buy pretty much every other F/X pair. And in the process the DXY getting weaker, as the EUR is 57.6% of the DXY while the Yen is just 13.6%. Nothing like buying Euros against Yen, weaken the Dollar and make stocks shoot up.

    In a nutshell this is how you ramp the market: Sell YEN, Buy EUR, weaken DXY and send stocks higher. Nothing more to it.


    Gefunden bei mmnews.de:

    Das Schlimmste kommt noch

    Von Michael Mross

    Sonntag, 30. August 2009

    Interview mit Prof. Wilhelm Hankel über die Auswirkungen der Krise und Perspektiven für die Zukunft. Bestes Szenario: Stagnation für die nächsten 5-10 Jahre. Für viele Menschen steht das Schlimmste aber noch bevor. Krisenbewältigung der Politik „grotesk“. Bankenrettung Wahnsinn. Die privatkapitalistische Gesellschaft auf dem Weg in den Staatssozialismuns.

    Anders als viele Ökonomen und die Massenmedien sieht Prof. Wilhelm Hankel keineswegs das Ende der Krise. Seiner Meinung nach steht für viele Menschen das Schlimmste noch bevor – wegen drohender Massenarbeitslosigkeit .

    Die Krisenbewältigung durch die Politik beurteilt der Wirtschaftsprofessor als „grotesk“: „Nichts anderes als hilflose Verlegenheitsmaßnahmen“. Das wahre Ausmaß des Debakels stehe erst noch an und man könne allenfalls mit einer Stagnation rechnen, welche sich über das kommende Jahrzehnt hinzieht, so Hankel.

    Die Bankenrettung sei fraglich und ineffizient. Der Staat kann nicht für alle Verbindlichkeiten der Banken gerade stehen, deshalb plädiert Hankel für Bank-Pleiten für jene Häuser, die es aus eigener Kraft nicht mehr schaffen. Banken-Rettungen hält er für eine Illusion, weil die Kreditmüllverbindlichkeiten der Institute zu hoch sind – das sei „Wahnsinn“.

    Hankel spricht sich dafür aus, Privatguthaben der Banken staatlich zu garantieren und die Kreditinstitute mit ihrem Giftmüll allein zu lassen. Sollten diese daran zugrunde gehen, müsse die Notenbank das Alltagsgeschäft zeitweise übernehmen.

    Die Politiker seien von den Finanzinstituten betrogen worden, in Hinblick auf mögliche Folgen einer Pleite. Die Institute hätten nur ihren eigenen Vorteil im Blick gehabt, sagt Hankel. Aber richtig sei, dass man schon die Hypo Real Estate hätte bankrott gehen lassen müssen. Dass der Staat hier eingesprungen sei, sei Beweis seiner Inkompetenz, die möglicherweise auch an Korruption grenze.

    Das Handeln der Politiker sei nichts anderes als eine Sterbehilfe für die Freie Marktwirtschaft, urteilt Hankel zu den Folgen der Krisenbewältigung. Es werde die falsche Medizin und die falsche Therapie angewandt. Dies mache den Patienten nicht gesund.

    Am Ende sieht Hankel zwangsläufig eine starke Inflation am Horiziont, möglicherweise auch eine Hyperinflation – auch wenn gegenwärtig die Preise leicht fallen würden.

    Mit Professor Wilhelm Hankel sprach Michael Mross.


    Guttenberg, TSI, Linklaters, Freshfields, Kolja von Bismarck, Lazard und RHJ – der nachfolgende Artikel deckt einmal mehr die Verflechtungen zwischen Politik und Wirtschaft auf… Auch in Bezug auf die weitere Entwicklung bei Opel interessant… ;-)

    Gefunden bei bueso.de:

    26 August, 2009 – 20:17

    True Sale International und kein Ende: Der Fall Linklaters

    Abgesehen von der Frage persönlicher Verwandtschaftsgrade zwischen dem deutschen Wirtschaftsminister und einem der führenden Insolvenzexperten bei Linklaters liegt der eigentliche Skandal bei der „Linklaters“-Affäre darin, daß eben diese Rechtsanwaltsfirma, die vom Wirtschaftsminister mit der Ausarbeitung eines erneuerten deutschen Insolvenzrechtes beaufragt wurde, genau wieder zu den „Partnern “ der berüchtigten TSI (True Sale International Gmbh) gehört. Deren Aktivitäten ermöglichten bekanntlich erst, daß der Kollaps des internationalen Verbriefungsmarktes in Deutschland solch verheerende Folgen haben konnte, u.a. im öffentlichen Bankensektor.

    „ABS (Asset Backed Securities) in Deutschland und TSI – die beiden Begriffe sind eng miteinander verbunden. Die True Sale International GmbH (TSI) entstand 2004 aus einer Initiative von dreizehn Banken in Deutschland zur Förderung des deutschen Verbriefungsmarktes“, so heißt es auf der TSI-Webseite. Dem ist hinzuzufügen – mit bereitwilliger Hilfe der Politik (Stichwort Asmussen). Neben anderen zählt TSI auf seiner Webseite als „Partner“ außer Linklaters die Kanzleien Hengelen Mueller, White und Case, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose, Freshfields, Allan and Overy, Baker and McKenzie und Clifford Chance auf.

    Die britische Großkanzlei Linklaters hat für den Wirtschaftsminister den Enwurf zum „Gesetz zur Ergänzung des Kreditwesengesetzes“ ausgearbeitet. Linklaters stand im vergangenen Jahr an der Spitze der Fusionsberater weltweit und ist eine globale „Rechtsfabrik“ mit 2400 Anwälten, Steuerberatern und Wirtschaftsprüfern mit Niederlassungen in Deutschland. Die Anwälte von Linklaters, an den größten Deals der Geschäftswelt beteiligt gewesen, hätten, so urteilte die SZ kürzlich, nun genug damit zu tun, sich um die Folgen des Übernahmefiebers zu kümmern, in dem sie eifrig mitgemischt haben. U. a. hat Linklaters die Schaeffler KG bei der Übernahme von Continental beraten und war an der Abwicklung des Konkurses von Lehman Brother beteiligt.

    Der Anwalt und Insolvenzspezialist Kolja von Bismarck, der von der (ebenfalls zu den TSI-Partnern gehörenden) britischen Wirtschaftskanzlei Clifford Chance gerade zu Linklaters übergewechselt ist, sitzt im Aufsichtsrat der Adam Opel GmbH ; laut Presseberichten berät Clifford Chance Opel und Linklaters (Frankfurt) die finanzierenden Banken, die an der Opel-Rettung beteiligt sind. Vergessen darf man im Fall Opel allerdings nicht die zentrale, weil internationale Rolle der „feinen Herren von Lazard“, die auf Initiative des Wirtschaftsministers das Treuhand-Modell für Opel ausgearbeitet haben sollen. Daß führende RHJ-Leute ihre frühere Karriere bei Lazard gemacht haben, kann da schon nicht mehr überraschen.

    Aber bleiben wir bei Linklaters: von Bismarck ist befreundet mit Lars Westphal, der bei der Kanzlei Freshfields arbeitet. Diese arbeitete am HRE-Enteignungsgesetz maßgeblich mit und ist ebenfalls ein TSI Partner. Gemeinsam mit Westphal habe von Bismarck mehreren politischen Gremien in Berlin Vorschläge schon Anfang des Jahres Vorschläge zur Reform des Insolvenzrechts unterbreitet, so hieß es kürzlich in der FTD. Dazu schrieb dieselbe Zeitung im Januar, beide hofften auf Umsetzung ihrer Forderung, daß der Insolvenzverwalter in Zukunft von den Gläubigern und nicht von einem Richter bestimmt wird.

    Kolja von Bismarck ist auch Mitglied einer „Gesellschaft für Restrukturierung – TMA Deutschland e. V.“ Die SPD-Bayern zitiert auf ihrer Webseite unter der Überschrift: „Woher kommt die Vorliebe des Ministers für die Wachstumsbranche Insolvenz?“ das erklärte Ziel der TMA: „… in dem Bereich der Unternehmensrestrukturierung und -sanierung sowie der sanierenden Unternehmensinsolvenzen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland unterstützend tätig zu werden und die internationale Zusammenarbeit ihrer Mitglieder sowie deren Fortbildung zu fördern. Im Interesse ihrer Mitglieder beabsichtigt die Gesellschaft, die wirtschaftlichen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen dieses Berufsfeldes zu beeinflussen sowie für eine internationale Harmonisierung nachhaltig einzutreten.“

    Diese letzten Sätze liest man am besten zweimal.

    Fazit:

    Die Einberufung einer Pecora-Kommission ist höchst überfällig – denn diese Interessensvermischungen haben mit der Hinzuziehung „externen Sachverstands“ ja wohl offensichtlich rein gar nichts mehr zu tun.

    Wir brauchen endlich ein wirkliches Konkursverfahren für das gesamte bankrotte Finanzsystem. Das Ziel ist, die Produktion durch staatliche Kreditschöpfung für Projekte wieder anzukurbeln, statt Finanzinteressen zu befriedigen!


    Gefunden bei fr-online.de:

    Sparkassen-Fondsdienstleister

    Deka-Bank streicht jede zehnte Stelle

    Frankfurt a.M. Die Deka-Bank streicht zur Kostensenkung bis 2011 konzernweit jede zehnte Stelle. Nach dem Gewinneinbruch im vergangenen Jahr will der Sparkassen-Fondsdienstleister mit einem Sparprogramm die Kosten bis 2011 um rund 186 Millionen Euro drücken. Dabei fallen von 3355 Stellen 350 weg.

    Der Abbau werde sozialverträglich und ohne betriebsbedingte Kündigungen ablaufen, teilte Deka in Frankfurt mit. Auch die Ausgaben für IT, Marketing und Vertrieb werden gekürzt. Um sich in der Finanzkrise besser zu positionieren, will Deka die Qualität verbessern und Prozesse im Haus effizienter machen.

    Im ersten Halbjahr hat sich Deka auch dank der Erholung der Märkte gut geschlagen. Das wirtschaftliche Ergebnis – die Kennzahl, die Erträge minus Aufwendungen abbildet – stieg im Vergleich zum Vorjahreszeitraum um knapp 67 Prozent auf 142,2 Millionen Euro. „Deka fährt damit in wirtschaftlich stabilem Fahrwasser“, sagte Vorstandschef Franz Waas laut Mitteilung.

    Eine Prognose für 2009 wagte Waas wegen der konjunkturellen Unsicherheit und der nach wie vor schwierigen Lage an den Finanzmärkten nicht. „Wir haben noch vier Monate vor uns und niemand weiss, was noch alles passieren wird“, sagte Waas in einem Interview der Sparkassen-Zeitung. „Trotzdem bin ich aber insgesamt durchaus positiv gestimmt.“

    Belastet wurde das Ergebnis in den ersten sechs Monaten durch Abschreibungen von 32 Millionen Euro. Da Deka im zweiten Halbjahr eine Insolvenzwelle und den Ausfall von Krediten fürchtet, stellte die Bank – wie viele andere auch – 219 Millionen Euro als Risikovorsorge bereit. Im Vorjahreszeitraum waren es erst 0,5 Millionen Euro gewesen. Rund die Hälfte des Betrags betraf Engagements gegenüber isländischen Banken. In der Finanzkrise waren die großen Banken Islands zusammengebrochen.

    Die Finanzkrise hält der Deka-Chef für weitgehend ausgestanden. „Ich würde sagen, das Schlimmste haben wir hinter uns, aber wahrscheinlich noch nicht alles“, sagte Waas in dem Interview.

    Größter Ertragsbringer war das Provisionsergebnis mit 419,6 Millionen Euro. Das Zinsergebnis verdoppelte sich nahezu von 127 auf knapp 236 Millionen Euro. Die Bank habe viel Liquidität aufgebaut und dieses Geld zu hohen Margen angelegt, sagte Waas zur Begründung.

    Dank guter Ergebnisse bei der Vermögensverwaltung und dem Ausbau des Geschäfts mit eigenen und fremden Fonds stieg das Finanzergebnis auf 150 Millionen Euro. Im ersten Halbjahr 2008 hatte hier noch ein Minus von 123 Millionen Euro gestanden. (dpa)

    Earlier today we noted how Chinese ADRs have been steadily outperforming their mainland peers on a year to date basis. Following the rout in mainland shares overnight, the trend of ADR outperformance appears to be continuing. Even though the Shanghai Composite was down 6.74% overnight, our basket of Chinese ADRs was only down half that with a relatively modest loss...


    Tyler Durden

    TICK Violently Directionless

    It would appear an attempt at some upside breakout was promptly stifled, after 2 million SPY shares were eagerly absorbed, although not without 5 cent bid-ask spreads on a few occasions. Still, there are 55 minutes until After Hours.


    Just for the record…

    Gefunden bei sueddeutsche.de:

    SachsenLB-Rettung verfassungswidrig

    „Schallende Ohrfeige“

    28.08.2009, 17:45

    Von Christiane Kohl

    Beim Notverkauf der SachsenLB hat die sächsische Regierung gegen die Verfassung verstoßen. Besonders brisant: Die Vorwürfe treffen direkt Ministerpräsident Tillich.

    Wochenlang plätscherte der sächsische Landtagswahlkampf ohne Höhen und Tiefen vor sich hin. Einen Tag vor dem Urnengang lieferte jetzt das sächsische Verfassungsgericht ein hochbrisantes Wahlkampfthema: Die Richter entschieden, dass die sächsische Landesregierung im Zusammenhang mit dem Notverkauf ihrer einstigen Landesbank SachsenLB im Dezember 2007 gegen die Verfassung des Freistaats verstoßen habe.

    Unter dem damaligen Regierungschef Georg Milbradt (CDU) hatte die Landesregierung seinerzeit eine Bürgschaft von 2,75 Milliarden Euro ausgereicht, ohne das Parlament ausreichend zu beteiligen, wie das Gericht jetzt feststellte. Damit, so die Richter, seien die Kontrollrechte des Landtags verletzt worden. Besonders unangenehm an dem Urteil: Es trifft direkt den heutigen Regierungschef Stanislaw Tillich (CDU), der damals der verantwortliche Finanzminister war.

    Im Sommer 2007 war die SachsenLB in die Krise geraten. Spekulationen einer Dubliner Tochter mit allzu risikobehafteten Wertpapier-Fonds und sogenannten „Derivaten“ hatten das Geldhaus an den Rand der Insolvenz gebracht. Praktisch über Nacht musste ein starker Partner gefunden werden, unter dessen Schutzschirm die angeschlagene SachsenLB schlüpfen konnte. Er fand sich in der Baden-Württembergischen Landesbank LBBW.

    Noch im August übernahm die LBBW einen Großteil der finanziellen Risiken der SachsenLB, die auf 18 Milliarden Euro taxiert wurden. Monate später handelte die sächsische Landesregierung bei der Bankenaufsicht Bafin einen Vertrag mit der LBBW aus. Demnach hatte Sachsen mit einer Bürgschaft von 2,75 Milliarden Euro für erwartete Ausfälle aufzukommen, alle weiteren Risiken übernahmen die Baden-Württemberger.

    „Untergrabung des Budgetrechts“

    Eine immense Summe für den kleinen Freistaat. Doch Regierungschef Milbradt sah es seinerzeit nicht für notwendig an, sie mittels eines Nachtragshaushaltes vom Parlament absegnen zu lassen. Entsprechend brachte Milbradt den Vorgang lediglich vor den Haushalts- und Finanzausschuss des Landtages, und dies auch erst eine Woche, nachdem die Verabredung mit der LBBW bereits unterzeichnet worden war. Am folgenden Tag, es war der 20. Dezember, gab der damalige Finanzminister Stanislaw Tillich in einer Sondersitzung des Landtages eine Regierungserklärung ab, in dessen Folge das Parlament den Verkauf wie auch die Bürgschaft in einem Entschließungsantrag billigte.

    Diese Vorgehensweise hat das Gericht jetzt für verfassungswidrig erklärt. Denn zur Wahrung der Rechte des Parlaments hätte die Regierung statt eines nachträglichen Entschließungsantrags nach dem Urteil der Richter einen Nachtragshaushalt vorlegen müssen. Aber auch schon vor dem Notverkauf der Bank hätte nach Meinung des Gerichts der Landtag eingeschaltet werden müssen, zum Beispiel, als der damalige Finanzminister Horst Metz eigenmächtig die Kreditlinie der SachsenLB erhöht hatte.

    Der Richterspruch ist auf eine Klage der Grünen hin ergangen. Entsprechend wertete deren Fraktionschefin im Landtag, Antje Hermenau, das Urteil als „schallende Ohrfeige für die Landesregierung“. Zugleich begrüßte sie, dass es künftig weit schwieriger für die Landesregierung werde, mit Finanzrisiken behaftete Alleingänge zu unternehmen. Kritik an der Landesregierung äußerte auch die Linkspartei, die erklärte, der seinerzeitige Finanzminister habe sich der „Untergrabung des Budgetrechts des Landtags“ schuldig gemacht – gemeint ist Tillich, der im Herbst 2007 zum Finanzminister berufen wurde. Was die tatsächlichen Finanzrisiken betrifft, kam Sachsen noch relativ gut weg durch den Vertrag mit der LBBW: Seit Ausbruch der Finanzkrise stehen andernorts weit höhere Bürgschaftssummen im Raum.

    (SZ vom 29.08.2009/tob)

    Tim Knight

    Commodities Will Lead the Way Down

    0831-crx


    Tyler Durden

    Sideways Market Monday Edition

    Traders may be back from vacation but all are still drinking Iced Caramel Macchiatos, as everyone knows no real trading is done before After Hours anymore. In the meantime SPY is locked between the VWAP and Thursday's close.

    I just wanted to add some color to my recent post regarding why the NYSE TRIN indicator might be broken

    Reader Brian adds a very interesting perspective, indicating that he’s watched TRIN and C side by side and has seen a very strong correlation. When C flips from up to down (or vice versa), there is a corresponding huge move in TRIN. This could only be the case if a stock like C comprised a large share of total NYSE volume, which indeed seems to be the case, as noted by The Big Picture blog.

    Above I took C, FNM, and FRE and expressed their *composite* volumes (e.g., the volumes transacted across all exchanges) as a fraction of NYSE volume. What we see is that, early in 2007, those three stocks accounted for only 1-3% of NYSE volume. During the financial crisis of late 2008 and again as the market was bottoming in early 2009, that ratio skyrocked to well over 50%.

    Recently, however, the volume in these three stocks has hit astronomical levels relative to total NYSE trading, as all three have made phenomenal percentage gains during August. Indeed, the composite volume of these three stocks alone has recently doubled total NYSE volume. If we look at just the NYSE trading of these firms, they are accounting for about 40% of NYSE volume. It is not surprising that Brian would notice TRIN flipping up and down as these stocks change direction.

    Again, the question is what all this means. There is no way that mom and pop trader and investor are involved in any meaningful way in generating these kind of daily trading volumes. Nor are proprietary trading shops capable of generating volumes that exceed those of the entire New York Stock Exchange. While I have no doubt that the algorithmic trade close to the market is participating in this movement, the directionality of the involvement suggests that large financial institutions are systematically buying the beaten-up shares of the poster children for TARP: C, FNM, FRE, AIG, and the like.

    It is worth noting in this regard that other major (healthy) financial firms, such as GS and JPM, have seen no such surge in their volume or their trading prices.

    My best guess? We’re seeing a massive infusion of capital into very troubled financial institutions, no doubt aided by short covering and the participation of program traders and proprietary daytrading firms. Where is the capital coming from? Why has it poured in so suddenly (the really large infusions began in early August)? Why is it coming in at such a pace that it is dominating NYSE volume? Zero Hedge rightly wonders why this hasn’t triggered alarms at the exchange. And why is it happening with only the weakest financial institutions?

    If you were the government and you saw that these institutions were on the verge of a major fail, with billions of taxpayer dollars at risk, I’m not sure you’d announce that to the world. Nor, at this point politically, could you ask for yet another bailout package. But you would only pour money into those stocks at a frantic pace (capable of detection) if you perceived a dire need for the capital.

    I’m not inclined toward conspiracy theories, but it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which this is not a (frighteningly necessary) coordinated capital infusion, with taxpayer dollars ultimately at work in financial markets.
    .

    Here comes the populist revolt.

     

    hat tip Stephen



    With China (FXI; top chart) well off its early August highs, note the relative weakness of Basic Materials companies today and on a one-week basis per the excellent FinViz site. If growth in China is slowing down, demand for raw materials should weaken--and that puts a drag on a sector has been a leader since the March stock market lows.
    .
    Karl Denninger

    Congress: Where Are The Subpoenas?

    Watch the above - six minutes and worth every bit of it.

    From that interview (specifically, at 3:20 in):

    1. Paulson told this person (who is writing a biography, apparently) that he intended to use the TARP money to inject into the banks and not buy toxic assets a full ten days before he testified before Congress.
    2. He then testified before Congress to exactly the opposite.

    This is about as clear an allegation of perjury (which, by the way, we've heard before - remember Kashkari making essentially the same allegation in his Congressional testimony?) as I've seen.

    Now the questions:

    1. When will Congress hold Henry Paulson to account for what clearly looks to be a violation of the law, in that he appears to have sworn falsely before Congress.
    2. Who else knew of and assisted in this intentional deception?  Specifically, were Geithner and/or Bernanke involved?
    3. It has been alleged that Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman's CEO, was also told in advance.  If so that is material non-public information and any trading that Goldman conducted based on that information is potentially unlawful. 

    This sort of outrage with the people's money must not stand.

    We do not (allegedly) live in an aristocracy.  We learned this weekend that one of Senator Kennedy's most-common "joke topics" was Chappaquiddick - the sort of joke a KING would tell about a peasant being trampled to death by his steed - and now this, with Paulson being alleged to have perjured himself, with intent and malice aforethought, in front of Congress.

    NO MAN MAY STAND ABOVE THE LAW AND WHILE KENNEDY IS NOW SLEEPING WITH SNAKES AND THEREFORE BEING JUDGED BY GOD, HENRY PAULSON MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT BY CONGRESS FOR THIS OUTRAGEOUS ACT OF DECEPTION, ALONG WITH ALL OTHERS INVOLVED.

    Paul Hickey

    Most Overbought ETFs

    Investors who expect a market pullback and want to find potential short candidates could start with a list of the most overbought ETFs at the moment. Below is a list of key ETFs that are trading the furthest above their 50-day moving averages. As shown, the insurance ETF (KIE) is the furthest above its 50-day at 17.89%, followed by banking...


    Paul Hickey

    First of the Month Returns

    Given the extensive coverage, most people are aware of how September is typically the weakest month of the year for equities, but does the market typically start out the month on a weak note? We looked at the average return of the S&P 500 on the first trading day of the month for the last 20 years, and divided the...


    Molecool

    Slowly Catching Up

    1:36pm EDT: I’m slowly starting to catch up with my reading and my charts - trying to get back into the groove. Meanwhile equities seem to be in the process of picking a direction at this point:

    We are basically in the middle of nowhere right now. The channel I drew is more or less hypothetical - not a lot of touch points. Participation on the Zero Lite is basically non-existent. This is the kind of tape that is either getting ready for a sell off - or the boys are slowly building positions for yet another rally up. Really tough to say right now and we are not anywhere close to picking a direction. Which is fine - as I keep drilling into your tiny rodent brains - the short term gyrations do not matter at this point and there will be plenty of head fakes before we fall off the cliff. Whatever the bulltarts throw your way - use it.

    My game plan at this point remains the same - I am using every spike up as another ’sell the rip’ opportunity. Volatility is low right now - Mr. VIX is hovering around the 26 mark and thus bestowing us with low option premiums. You will not see low volatility like that again for at least a year - perhaps even two - mark my words.

    In my mind the risk here is not lower but higher volatility and remember that the premium on your puts (and calls) can increase significantly without the underlying moving even one single tick when vega starts popping higher.

    In short - this is shopping season for the bears.

    2:04pm EDT: Seems like equities are not the only ones locked in a trading range:

    Annamall keeps reporting on the ole’ buck and she’s right that the Dollar ’should’ move inverse to equities and that a rally here would favor the bears. However, as I pointed out on several occasions - do not take correlations for granted - they do have a tendency to detach or at least suspend for periods of time.

    Right now the action in currencies are comparatively muted - I really need to see the buck break out here in a pretty short order (i.e. in the next few days) otherwise we could see one last slide to the downside, similarly to what we got beginning of July.

    3:08pm EDT: As you know I have been following the NYSE New Highs New Lows chart intently:

    I wanted to figure out when we registered such high readings the very last time. And - yes, you guessed it - the last time we did was at the very height of the market in early October 2007. So, you need to ask yourself - after a six month 58% rally in equities - what are the odds we are going to exceed October 2007 readings on this chart (for an extended amount of time)?

    3:13pm EDT: Tyler over at ZH just commented on the stilfed break out attempt at the beginning of the hour - check it out.

    3:45pm EDT: I just updated my BAA-TYX spread chart:

    We actually dropped in the last week by a little again - which worries me. As I said - we might have to sit through some pain before this thing breaks for good.

    Many thanks again to Hui, Kevin, and Graham for keeping me updated on the latest BAA feed.



    After a high-volume decline early in the morning, note how the market has since slowed down and drifted into a range just above the lows from 8/27. When we see relatively high volume (i.e., volume that is above average for that particular time of day) turn into relatively low volume (volume that is subnormal), it suggests that institutional traders have largely withdrawn from the marketplace. That leaves the market to the relative control of short-term market makers, including algorithmic programs operating close to the market. That can give the market trendless choppy action that is difficult to trade.

    It is not unusual to see large traders stand back from the market the day before an important economic release or event, such as a Fed announcement. In this case, traders are looking ahead to the ISM release tomorrow morning. There is a wide range of expectations for the number, ranging from slightly below 50 (economy contracting) to nicely above 50 (economy expanding). Not wanting to get run over by a number outside of consensus, it's not surprising that money managers pull in their horns ahead of the release.

    When that happens, we can generally anticipate an active trade after the event or release, as money managers jump back into the market and respond both to the news and how markets are responding to the news.
    .

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