Finesilver writes, “Our current system cheats kids, rips off taxpayers, and sucks the energy and creativity out of teachers.” At the same time, “where I and my colleagues work are places where lawlessness prevails.”
Bank Term Lending Program: Not Likely To Go Away Ever
With $131 billion outstanding in loans to banks and credit unions collateralized by U.S. Treasury and agency debt at par value one would assume the program like most other central bank and government programs would be extended, indefinitely.
Will Parlay Betting Crash the Housing Market?
Whitney’s claim is the housing market is in trouble because 74% of homes are owned by people over 50 and they won’t have anyone to sell to because family formation is dropping because young men are on their phones betting parlays on sporting events instead of..well..forming families, or practicing said formation.
WTF1
But, a guy who is by now an old Vegas wiseman, Donny Osmond, probably has it right about the Grand Prix, "The traffic has been horrendous...But the locals, eventually, are going to embrace this thing completely."
Short Memories in Crypto
“It’s always gonna be this” way, said Zaheer Ebtikar, founder of crypto fund Split Capital. “People can’t help it. [Crypto] is literally the most FOMO [fear of missing out] industry ever.” Ever? Ebtikar wasn’t around for tulipmania.
Banking Stress, What Banking Stress?
A few minutes later Simon Rabinovitch with The Economist, threw this curveball at Powell. “Quick follow up to the question about banking stresses. You talked about how the banking system is resilient. Of course, part of the resilience of the past year stems from the Bank Term Funding Program that you launched in March.
From Going Infinite to Going Away
Maybe all one needs to know is FTX and related firm Alameda Research, valued at $32 billion, did their financials on QuickBooks. The company had no risk officer, no chief financial officer, or head of human resources.
GDP Up, So Are Bankruptcy Filings
For more than a decade interest rates were falling and zombie companies roamed the economy with the benefit of low interest payments. Free money from the government during COVID also provided a shot in the arm for the financially infirm.
The ESG Hustle
Carson Block is the founder of Muddy Waters LLC. His firm is shorting solar firm Sunrun, Inc. (for the second time) as a part of a short theme he calls the “ESG hustle.” When he released his first report on Sunrun, in July 2022, he included in the title that ESG stands for “Everybody Screws the Government.”
Number Go Up
“This Is The story of the greatest financial mania the world has ever seen.” Those are strong words and having done some work studying financial manias and living through one, Faux’s statement may be hyperbole. But, then again, the crypto story may not be over. More booms and busts may follow.
Law and Order, Low Taxes Attract Wealth to Las Vegas
So, the haves are leaving California, leaving behind the have-nots, high taxes, plus high violent and property crime rates.
Arsonist Fireman Perfect for Job at Fed
The Arnold Fire Department announced early Thursday that they suspended 21-year-old firefighter Andrew Bischof his arrest on arson charges in connection to four suspicious fires in the New Kensington and Arnold areas over the weekend.
Janet Yellen Needs to Brush Up on Her ABCT
“I am feeling very good about that prediction,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Bloomberg when asked whether the U.S. would avoid a recession while still containing inflation. Yet, commercial bankruptcies increased nearly 17% in August compared to July, reports Fortune.com, marking the 13th consecutive month that total bankruptcies, including families and individuals, have logged year-over-year increases, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Actor Turned Author Claims Crypto Mess is Capitalism's Fault
McKenzie made the morning show rounds earlier this summer pitching his book. He is an actor who during COVID got hooked on speculating on crypto and other speculative vehicles. Instead of taking his losses like a big boy, he decided crypto and capitalism itself is all a big fraud and decided to write some articles with Mr. Silverman and ultimately the book Easy Money.
Taxpayers Wonder Where the Yellow Went
“I’m actually quite proud of the fact that we did YRC [Yellow’s previous name],” Mnuchin said in 2020. “It saved lots and lots and lots of jobs. I’ve received calls from the company, from truckers, from other people who appreciate this.”
Bank Failure in the Heartland
The deposit insurer estimates the Deposit Insurance Fund will lose $54.2 million by having Dream First Bank, National Association, of Syracuse, Kansas assume all the deposits and enter into a commercial shared-loss agreement with the FDIC on the loans it purchased of the former Heartland Tri-State Bank.
Profiting on Chaos
Patterson weaves together a very readable story of how Taleb and Spitznagel met and the frustrations of selling tail-risk hedging to a Wall Street that held the collective belief of Modern Portfolio Theory, diversification of high and low risk investments in a portfolio provides protection from an unknown market calamity.
Medicare in a Pickle, But Pickleball Will Not Put it Under
it’s plausible that pickleball medical costs are driving 5-10 percent of the unexpected medical cost trend this year.”
Powerball Play Down: Players Too Bored or Too Broke
“There were $152 million in nationwide sales for Saturday’s $829 million jackpot—a 25% decline from the $197 million in sales for another $825 million Powerball drawing on Oct. 29, 2022, according to Lottoreport.com, which tracks sales.”
Hotelier Checking Out
Higher rates have already taken a toll on real estate investors and now hoteliers. Bloomberg reports “Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. expects to return 19 hotels to lenders in cities including Las Vegas and Atlanta.” Hotels brands expected to be returned include Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, and Marriott.