Unfriendly deals are becoming increasingly common, Reuters reporter Jessica Hall discusses the tactics used by firms during hostile takeovers.
Hostile takeovers have increased along with overall merger activity
Reuters Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6275W020100308
In this Wall Street Journal Opinion article, Darrell Duffie examines the benefits of financial speculation and the importance of recognizing the difference between speculation and market manipulation.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
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Warren Buffett’s shareholder letters are legendary for their candid outlook on markets and Buffett’s unique perspective on the future of his company.
“Within a year or so, residential housing problems should largely be behind us” -Warren Buffett, Feb. 28th 2010 Image Source: Dominic Rushe, New York
The following is his 2009 address to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, released earlier today.
Fannie Mae suffered losses due to “unemployment and continued defaults from many borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.”
![The government has agreed to absorb unlimited losses for the next three years and up to $400 billion after that. So far, the companies [Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae] have taken a combined $127 billion in Treasury support](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/07/14/business/13fanni.exlarge1.jpg)
The government has agreed to absorb unlimited losses for the next three years and up to $400 billion after that for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Seeking Alpha’s Daryl Montgomery seems to think so.
Recently released employment data does not bode well for the housing market.
WSJ: “U.S. consumer confidence plunged more than 10 points in February, raising concerns about the outlook for consumer spending, according to a report released Tuesday.”
The present situation index, a gauge of consumers' assessment of current economic conditions fell to 19.4, its lowest point in 27 years.
Barclays Capital has created a game to test the average person’s ability to handle stress and think quickly. The game is designed to simulate a fast-paced trading environment, but is not an assessment of any kind, or any indication of future success with Barclays Capital.
Note: Don’t forget to read the “about the game” section to learn how to play
Click the image above to start playing
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According to Seeking Alpha’s “inflation trader,” the Fed’s decision to raise the discount rate will have little effect on inflation.
Here is the effect of hyperinflation…
The outcome of ineffective monetary policy
The Dollar continued to gain strength today as the Fed announced that it would raise the discount rate (not to be confused with the Federal Funds Rate) from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent.
Sources:
Federal Reserve Site (official release)
BB&T’s Opinion
New York’s well-known Duane Reade drugstores, will be acquired by Walgreen Co. for approximately 1.08 Billion USD.
Duane Reade is a popular drugstore in the New York area
The National Debt Clock in New York
Goldman Sachs used the software to execute "sophisticated, high-speed and high-volume trades on various stock and commodities markets."
EU Leaders have pledged to provide financial support to Greece at a summit on Thursday.
(L-R) European Central Bank (ECB) President Jean-Claude Trichet , European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy
Bernanke plans to start "testing" these programs in the spring of 2010
