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Time is ripe to rethink ratings game
Many institutions and individuals share responsibility for the mortgage crisis and the meltdown that followed: Congress, several successive presidential administrations, top executives at Fannie Mae
For now, no more stimulus
Congress is likely to debate another economic-stimulus package soon after it returns to Washington from campaigning for the election, unless the economy shows signs of turning around.
The fault, dear Brutus, is in ourselves
It is time for politicians of all stripes to stop blaming the financial crisis on "Wall Street greed" and level with the American public.
Crisis + fear = opportunity for advisers
Now is the time for financial planners and investment advisers to demonstrate that they are what they have always claimed to be: trained, capable, cool-headed professionals.
A necessary step forward, with caveats
After turning down the administration’s rescue bill last Monday, then watching the Senate pass its own version Wednesday,…
It’s time for a federal financial services agency
InvestmentNews argued last week that the entire regulatory system for the financial industry needs to be revamped, after an independent commission has thoroughly reviewed the factors that contributed to the mess.
Address financial crisis, calmly
The crisis that has swept the financial markets in the past few months, beginning with the collapse of The Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. of New York and continuing with the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and now the government takeover of American International Group Inc. of New York, makes obvious the need to revamp totally the nation's financial-markets regulation.
Big bailout magnifies risks
The immediate reaction to last week's federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was overwhelmingly positive.
Housing’s continuing crisis
Financial planners and investment advisers are likely to have a hard time calming their clients over the next few months as the mortgage crisis continues to roil the financial markets.
Corporate-tax system needs overhaul
According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, 28% of large U.S. corporations paid no income tax in 2005.
Lessons learned from auction rate securities
Whether done voluntarily, as in the case of Merrill Lynch, or as the result of settlements with regulators, as with Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, UBS and Wachovia, the buy-backs of failed auction rate securities that giant Wall Street firms have agreed to undertake are significant.
Regulation will improve the health of real estate market
The best part of the housing bill signed by President Bush on July 30 was the section that establishes new regulations for mortgage loan originators.
Kudos to Merrill, Lone Star on their deal
Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc's actions last week may well have marked the beginning of the end of the financial crisis that has gripped the economy for more than a year.
Keeping clients calm and focused
Financial planners and investment advisers appear to be earning their fees. A survey by the Washington-based Center…
Fannie and Freddie: Grow up
Not immediately, but at some time in the foreseeable future, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must be either officially nationalized or fully privatized.
SEC’s rumor probe will lead nowhere
After weeks of slumbering on the sidelines, Christopher Cox and the Securities and Exchange Commission have become engaged in the financial crisis that has swept the markets.
Expand the Fed’s role carefully
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech last Tuesday attracted the most attention for new mortgage lending rules, to be detailed this week, and for leaving the Fed's doors open to investment banks until next year.
Customer service: Do you deliver?
While you can’t always guarantee investment, you can guarantee service that will make your clients feel valued.
Congress should tread cautiously on futures
Many analysts have commended Southwest Airlines Co. for hedging its fuel prices years in advance, thus allowing it to remain profitable while the rest of the airline industry fell into or barely avoided bankruptcy.
