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• Wall Street Rallies in Response to Fed’s Latest Credit Crisis Plan - 19 March 2009

Wall Street responded positively to the announcement by the Federal Reserve that it plans to buy another $750 billion in mortgage-backed securities and $300 billion in long-term U.S. treasuries over the next six months in a renewed effort to get credit flowing again. The plan was revealed following the latest meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed’s policymaking committee that determines interest rates. While the news was not totally unexpected, due to the fact that the Fed had previously stated it may consider following this course, stocks nonetheless turned higher on the strength of the announcement. The Dow picked up by 1.2 percent on Wednesday, with both the S&P and Nasdaq gaining more than two percent.

• New $800 Billion Bailout Initiative Aimed At Main Street Gives Investors New Hope - 26 November 2008

While many U.S. stock market players may have faced Tuesday with trepidation, thinking it unlikely that markets would experience gains for a third day in a row, the announcement by the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve that $800 billion will be injected into the struggling U.S. economy resulted in the session ending with most major indexes reflecting slight increases. The Dow Jones industrial average closed 0.4 percent up and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed 0.7 percent, however, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.5 percent. The Dow may have gained 12.3 percent over the past three sessions, but remains down 36.1 percent for 2008.

• Yield Curve : Investment and Economic Indicator - 10 November 2008

In his book The Strategic Bond Investor, author and bond-market strategist, Tony Crescenzi, notes that a yield curve is “the closest thing the bond market has to a crystal ball”. That being the case, it is a good idea to understand what a yield curve is and how it can assist in investment decisions. A yield curve is a line representing the interest rates (cost of borrowing), at any given time, of bonds with equal credit quality, but different maturity rates. A yield curve is also referred to more formally as the term structure of interest rates.

• Corporate Results Drag Market Down, World Financial Crisis Summit May Restore Hope - 23 October 2008

While U.S. credit markets seem to be loosening up a little, investors have no respite from anxiety as the trickle of third quarter corporate results currently being released seems to be turning into a torrent of bad news. Fears of the country entering into a deep recession cannot be put to rest, especially in light of the fact that many corporate companies are trimming their fourth quarter earnings forecasts, indicating expectations of a bumpy road ahead. All major U.S. indexes dropped by more than 4 percent on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones industrial average ending the trading day with a loss of 514 points, or 5.69 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index dropped by 6.10 percent and the Nasdaq composite index fell by 4.77 percent.

• Air of Pessimism Likely to Persist Despite Approval of Revised $700 Billion Bailout - 6 October 2008

Following almost two weeks of intense debate, the revised $700 billion financial sector bailout plan was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, with President George W. Bush signing the bill into law on Friday. With unanswered questions regarding the implementation of the plan and many questioning its potential effectiveness, analysts are doubtful that the plan’s approval will lift the cloud of pessimism hanging over the stock markets, at least in the short term.

• Financial Sector Concerns Start Off Trading Week on a Negative Note - 26 August 2008

The week started off with light trading on the U.S. stock markets as concerns over the state of the financial sector in general were exacerbated by the fact that American International Group (AIG) fell to a thirteen year low. Persistent credit worries and apprehension with regard to global economic growth are also believed to have had a negative affect on trading, with major indexes losing around two percent and the Dow average falling by close to 250 points.

• Look Before You Leap into Credit - 26 may 2008

This is a companion piece. It relates to another article we have uploaded. You need not read this one unless you have seen “Use the Weak Dollar to Negotiate Better Trade Terms”.

• Use the Weak Dollar to Negotiate Better Trade Terms - 23 may 2008

The falling dollar spares no one. The average daily shopping list contains loads of products and services with imported content. Some of us travel abroad every year. Perhaps you have a fondness for things made in other countries. The dollar is an instrument of global trade. China and the Middle East have enormous stashes of dollars. The Fed adds to the mayhem. Crashing interest rates tempt people to borrow more. Much of this money goes into buying stocks and commodities from our adversaries. The dollar is set to keep falling, at least as long as the Bush administration stays put. What can you do?

• Financial Planning for Food, Fiber, and Fuel Bills - 19 may 2008

Iran says $115 for a barrel of crude oil is not enough. We cannot blame him for dairy product inflation. You are plain lucky if the costs of eggs and milk does not worry you. Cheap credit from the Fed helps traders hoard scarce farm produce. Most countries have made credit expensive. It is a standard way to reign in rising prices. Washington is a Super Power. It has offered Wall Street a string of credit concessions. Small buys have not benefited. What should you do?

• Essential Checks under Your Stock Hood - 15 may 2008

The months ahead could be like stock car racing. You have to drive a regular assembly-line model. The competition is fierce. Better use the pit stop to look under the hood.

• Shed no Tears for Missing the Great Credit Card Stock IPO - 25 March 2008

You have to read a post by one of our forum members to understand the drift for this post: Paulson and Greenspan

• Better Than Your Stimulus Check - 17 March 2008

President Bush has reiterated that stimulus will be in the mail before May 2008 is over. This was during last week’s address to the Economic Club of New York. Please prepare your shopping plans because national consumer sentiment needs your boost. Visit the following link on our web site for investment ideas for your check: Invest your Stimulus Check in the Right Stock for Lasting Pleasure

• Turn the Mortgage and Credit Crisis to Your Advantage - 3 March 2008

We tend to ignore the human side of the mortgage crisis. Interest rate changes will help reduce bank losses. What can it do to a person who is no longer credit worthy? The wealthy can make small talk about losses made by financial institutions. Who will shed tears for victims of foreclosures?

• Lead Your Bank from Sub-Prime Greed to Meeting All Your Credit Needs - 28 February 2008

You need to be a trained sculptor, or an art critic, to appreciate the frail figure at Dupont Circle, Massachusetts Avenue & 21st, in our capital. However his writings of nearly 100 years ago continue to inspire Obama today, as much as they have Dr. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela in the past.

• A Fitting Financial Planning Reply to Sub-Prime Rogues (Part 2) - 4 February 2008

A Fitting Financial Planning Reply to Sub-Prime Rogues (Part 1)

The political structures of democratic functioning, and the financial interests of major stock market operators are closely aligned. Networks serve as mutual customer satisfaction rings. The sub-prime phenomenon of 2007 must be seen in the light of the fact that the wealthy, the privileged, and those who part of the customer-service provider network, have not lost their homes. Woe betides the bank executive who would dare sell a sub-prime scam to a connected person!