Archive for March, 2008

The Day Ahead: U.S. ISM Report

Monday, March 31st, 2008

In the wake of mixed regional data, the U.S. ISM report to be released Tuesday, will highlight the state of the U.S. national manufacturing sector. The consensus for the ISM report is a reading of 47.5 following February's 48.3 figure. All times EDT Tuesday 7:45 US ICSC Chain Store Sales W/W ...

HUD Secretary to Resign?

Monday, March 31st, 2008

Reuters is reporting that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will announce his resignation Monday morning. Secretary Alphonso Jackson is expected to step down effective April 18. His resignation reportedly comes after accusations that he improperly handled the awarding of federal contracts within the department.

Massive Financial Regulatory Changes Proposed by Paulson

Monday, March 31st, 2008

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will confirm on Monday widely circulating weekend rumors that the Bush Administration is seeking a sweeping overhaul of financial regulatory systems in the country. Read More Now

Senator McCain Vows no Politics with Housing Crisis

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Senator John McCain was the second candidate to outline his solutions to the housing and credit situation. He restated the history leading up to the current situation and placed the blame for the crisis on: Read More Now

Mortgage Rates Lower on CPI, Retail Sales Data

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

Long term mortgage rates fell dramatically during the week ended March 20 according to the Primary Mortgage Market Survey released by Freddie Mac. Activity in the applications area was way up. Volume increased 48.1 percent on a... Read More Now

Home Prices Continue 5-Month Decline According to New Report

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008

The Standard & Poor's S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices (HPI) for January which were released on Tuesday are reporting further bad news on the home value front. The HPI which tracks, in two different indices, 10 and 20 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across the United States, reported that... Read ...

Some Good News Regarding Home Sales Comes in NAR Report

Monday, March 24th, 2008

In what may be the first fluttering of a recovery in the housing market, sales of existing homes last month actually increased from January levels according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR.) NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun said the increase is encouraging. "We're not expecting a notable gain in existing-home ...

Price for Bear Stearns Likely to Rise

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Those investors who insisted on buying or holding on to their Bear Stearns stock, keeping prices at near three times the $2 per share being offered by J.P. Morgan Chase appear to have been on to something. Read More Now

Why is Bear Stearns Trading Higher than the JP Morgan Offer Price?

Friday, March 21st, 2008

If you have checked the trading price of Bear Stearns Company (BSC) stock in the four days since the company was sold to J.P. Morgan Chase for $2 per share in J.P. Morgan stock, you might well wonder why it is trading at more than twice the price J.P. Morgan ...

Sinking Mortgage Company Gets Lifeline from Lenders

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Thornburg Mortgage said that five lenders have agreed to a deal where no further margin calls will be made in return for its compliance with a laundry list of requirements. Thornburg will give the five lenders, Bear Stearns Cos., Citigroup Inc., Credit Suisse Group, Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC ...