How Technology is Changing Politics Written By: Michelle Haimoff 2008-06-23 22:31:43
When I told a friend I was going to the Personal Democracy Forum she said, “Whoa.”
Personally, and for my net worth, I'm disappointed that Lehman (LEH, LEHPQ - $0.30) didn't get rescued. As an ex-employee and shareholder I would have liked some of the public money Ms. Roberts mentions being thrown around for Lehman. It was the last place I worked and its collapse hit me hard.
Three factors will keep the cash register ringing for investment banks: 1. Demographics of baby-boomers saving for retirement. 2. The cheaper dollar, meaning that foreign firms will be on a shopping spree for U.S. companies, which will help M&A advisory. 3. Mortgage portfolios that have been marked to market. When liquidity retuns to this market, portfolios of mortgages will start to show profits.
It would seem that Wall Street also hasn't forgotten that it is the second most regulated industry in the U.S. (after nucular energy) and that it needs to keep track of where its bread is buttered. Banks are betting that the butter will be spread by a Democrat in 2009.
On the next pullback, which I think is coming once all the shorts are done covering, I'll be looking to buy the investment banks cheap again. Look out for U.S. firms like Goldman Sachs (GS - $179.63), Lehman (LEH - $48.65), Morgan Stanley (MS - $49.67) and Merill Lynch (MER - $46.71) to continue to do well. I own the investment banks directly, but rather than pick individuals, the Exchange traded fund (IAI - $39.43) works well as a proxy.
John Edwards: Politician and Savvy Speculator Written By: David Neubert 2007-05-26 15:03:17 We, at The Panelist, are trying to figure out which politicians to endorse for the upcoming 2008 elections. Luckily we have loads of time to make our decision and, sadly for their supporters, the candidates are starting ridiculously early.
Previous Photo: stevegarfield, Creative Commons, Flickr
Live Gore Written By: Michelle Haimoff 2007-05-25 15:59:20 Last night Al Gore spoke at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. Charlie Rose interviewed him about his new book "The Assault on Reason."
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