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Treasury Yield Curve Steepens to Record Level

The Treasury yield curve, which measures the rate difference between shorter and longer term Treasury securities reached its steepest this morning. A steep yield curve is usually a sign of an economic recovery and an increase in inflation.

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Jon Stewart Rant on Bank Bonuses

Jon Stewart on the Daily Show said what many of us are thinking: what is wrong with these banks awarding themselves billions right after nearly collapsing the economy. He points out the hubris of the bankers to be giving themselves billions... Read →

Banks Shot Themslves in the Foot - Obama Proposes New Regulation

In the face of record profits and record bonuses, the banks have become the easiest target in the Nation. President Obama is going after them, knowing that it is the one issue the Republicans can't block him on.

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Pew Research - President Obama Disapproval Linked to Unemployment

How does the current unemployment rate impact the President's approval ratings? Quite a bit in President Obama's case according to the Pew Research Center for People and the Press. According to the research, President Obama's... Read →

US Consumers Are Changing Their Behavior: From Big Spender to Big Saver

The giant insurance and financial services company, Allianz, released a survey today which shows that consumers are savings more of their money, raising the savings rate. The report predicts the savings rate could go as high at... Read →

'Housing Recovery'? Strategic Defaults Tell a Different Story

Let us all get one thing straight, this is an investment-led recovery. Asset prices have rallied strongly from their March 09 lows and corporations have done a phenomenal job of quickly cutting costs and returning to profitability. The... Read →

Why the Budget Deficit Projections Are So Worrying

The budget deficit is bad and according to the latest budget projections only going to get worse. While revenue is expected to remain relatively flat, spending is going to skyrocket due to spending on entitlement programs. The graph below... Read →

Inflation Tame Despite Record Borrowing - CPI for January 0.20%

So far, although the government has been printing money, inflation as measured by the CPI remains very tame. It rose only .20% in January and almost all of that rise was due to energy costs. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy... Read →

Dividends Beating Bond Yields by Most in 15 Years

Dividends yields are beating bond yields by the most in 15 years, as low stock prices and cash rich companies help to boost yield. Bloomberg is reporting that: "The last time the number of S&P 500 companies paying dividends... Read →

Mark Haines, CNBC Anchor, Dies Unexpectedly

Mark Haines, the gruff, jocular CNBC anchor died unexpectedly in his sleep last night.

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Social Lender Prosper Raises $17.2 Million; Should You Be Investing?

Prosper, a site that connects credit-worthy borrowers with investors today announced that it has raised $17.2 million. Is social lending for you and can earn the 10% plus returns advertised on the site?

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Microsoft Dividend at 3%; Good Place to Park Cash?

Microsoft announced today that it was boosting its dividend by 20 cents per share, or 25%. Its new dividend will be 80 cents per share, payable quarterly.

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Extreme Fear in S&P 500 Option Skew

The public often uses the VIX as the standard measure of “fear” in the overall market. I prefer to look at option skew instead. Skew tells the investor how much out-of-the money puts are being bid up versus out-of-the money... Read →

Greenspan - Financial Crisis By Far Worst in History

Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said today that the current financial crisis is 'by far' the worst in history. Speaking at the Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, he said that... Read →

Buffett Says US Housing Will Recover in 2011

Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor who also owns a home building company predicted that the housing market would recover in 2011. “Within a year or so, residential housing problems should largely be behind us,” Buffett... Read →