Relatively Speaking

High-frequency trading, a trading technique that uses computer programs to buy and sell securities for time periods as short as 10 minutes, is apparently the next big thing in the Hedge Fund world and such traders are currently the most sought-after professionals. Traditional day-traders however, dismiss the high-frequency trading as "too speculative" and insist that best returns can be achieved only with "a long-term view on one's trading positions".

Things Are Looking Up

V. Pandit announced today that Citi is having its best quarter since 2007 when it last posted a profit, thus becoming the leading candidate for the 2009 "Seeing the Glass Half-Full" award. The news sparked an enthusiastic 15% pre-trading rally of the company's shares, while analysts are expecting to see new all-time highs before year end 2129.

Who will insure the insurer (AIG) ?

Obviously, just reading the title of this article doesn’t make you feel warm and cuddly but still you have to listen to this guy.

In the same time the AIG PR machine is working overtime in order to convince the government to shell out some more cash, so here’s another interesting memo giving some details in the size of the problem.

Some obviously interesting numbers all around but especially page 17. If you can’t get your head to think in numbers over 12 digits long, just jump over to the conclusion for the happy oxygenated bullet point ending.

Just When You Thought They Had Everything

Perfect gift idea for your recently (or soon to be) laid off banker friends.

Regular Irregularities

In what has now become a normal reporting procedure, Merril issued on Friday its "Regular Irregularities and Discrepancies Report". In an effort to drastically reduce the administrative workload of the Regulatory Authorities, in such a hectic period for them, the Bank has announced that going forward, they will only notify them if and when they discover a trading position without any irregularities and/or discrepancies.

Riiiiiiiiight, now you're talking.

I mean i am not by any means an avid reader of the economist, but when they say things like this, then you gotta sit up and listen. That is if you are not high on something...

Kaaaching

Wow, just wow. Not much to say here but just the title of the article…

One in 8 homeowners late paying or in foreclosure!

U.S. February Job Losses May Have Been Largest in Six Decades

Now move along, nothing to see here.

Heeeeeeere’s Johnny!

We got to vote, and elect our presidents and our governments so that they can fix this mess. That plan didn’t work out so far. So our elected official decided to bring in the big guns.

Now i know that we are not gonna be asked to take part in this exercice, or vote on who gets to help out or something but how about we do it reality TV style, THE BAILOUT KING or something were we get to sms who should own these companies based on their pocket depths, the ability to sing in the bathroom, or a few rounds of corporate style team building games…

Fantasy Football

UEFA, the European football governing body, is considering introducing this coming fall an all new pan-European football competition: the Bailout Cup. A number of major clubs have already confirmed their participation (Manchester United, Newcastle United, Werder Bremen, Anderlecht, and Feyenoord), whereas many more are expected to join by September. The idea has gained such popularity that several countries including Poland and Hungary are prepared to suspend their national leagues to allow their teams to take full benefit of the new Cup. Ford, who is getting ready to terminate its longstanding Champions League sponsorship is among the frontrunners to become the new Cup's Sponsor.

Quote of the Day “”

Ralph Janvey, appointed receiver on the Stanford Ponzi Extravaganza

"There is a liquidity crisis in this company,"

You think?

Cost Cutting

Restaurants are doing their best to cut costs and financially accomodate their clients. In case the recession worsens and further cuts are required, could I suggest droping Japan Airlines and taking advantage of Ryanair's low basic ticket prices, since the extra charged services are not likely to be used?

Investors' Far West

After years of greed-driven "Hedge Fund-Palooza", it was only natural to move to the fear-driven "Ponzi-Palooza". What's next? Tar and feathers for poor old Bernie?