May 2008

Yesterday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued its quarterly banking profile, and it showed an increasingly grim picture of the state of regional banks. I have more analysis on which regional banks in particular may be hitting tough times, plus more info on the FDIC data. The FDIC tends not to name banks in its reports. However, the FDIC report is important, because it shows the depth ... read more

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission says it launched a nationwide investigation last December into possible manipulation of the oil-markets. The probe comes during an election year that has the country on high alert over record oil prices, now boomeranging over $130, a price that has doubled in the last year. With voters taking to the roads this summer driving season, expect complaints ... read more

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. report out today on the problems at regional banks is one of the most overlooked yet one of the most important reports on the state of the housing and credit crisis today. It shows the extent to which the housing bubble reached all corners of this country. The numbers continue to be bad. The FDIC says there are now 90 banks on its problem list, up from 76 ... read more

It's one of the hottest momentum stocks in China today. It's China Finance Online (JRJC), a Beijing company that's due out with a profit report today that Wall Street has been anticipating for weeks now, as its American depositary shares soar ever higher in Nasdaq trading in anticipation of yet another rosy earnings outlook. China Finance has been riding the stock mania that's got indices ... read more

Merger talks between United Airlines and US Airways may be cooling off, with both sides reportedly still talking to AMR (AMR) and Continental (CAL). The stalled merger talks in the airline sector should give investors pause. Yes, it's debatable whether yoking together two hurting companies really creates a profitable company. It's worth a shot, given that the prospect of a union-friendly ... read more