Regulator turf wars

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 24, 2009 in Blog | 0 comments For almost a year now I have said that long-lasting recovery can only come from important regulatory changes. We haven’t discussed this important element of future success much lately. Unfortunately, Congress and the public have lost interest in regulatory reforms and to such a degree that the leaders of regulatory agencies almost all made public announcements this morning trying to...
read more

Earnings updates

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 24, 2009 in Blog | 0 comments Happy Friday! I hope that this post finds everyone smiling and doing well. Microsoft has had its worst 12 months ever as a public company. In the most recent quarter sales were down 17%, while net income was down 29%. Sales and profits were supposedly weak across many of its business lines. However, the company predicted that its markets would grow in 2010. These results are disappointing,...
read more

How the Fed plans to exit the bailout fray

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 22, 2009 in Blog | 2 comments A widely read opinion piece written by the Federal Reserve’s Chairman, Ben Bernanke, appeared in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. The piece was entitled, “The Fed’s Exit Strategy.” A summary of the piece follows along with my commentary. Right now many banks are keeping reserve balances at the Federal Reserve itself. The amount of those reserves is approximately $800...
read more

Tons of updates

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 22, 2009 in Blog | 0 comments In an attempt to make the blog more readable, more often I have decided to provide brief updates on business news in a consolidated format. Interspersed will be the big opinion pieces. Hopefully everyone digs it. It should reduce folks having to slog through. ***** Yes, the financial markets have been up 7 days in a row. Yes, numerous earnings reports have been positive. For example…...
read more

Across the board earnings reports are good

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 19, 2009 in Blog | 0 comments Happy Sunday! Though only 11% of major companies have reported their second quarter results, 71% of those reporting have beaten analyst expectations. That 71% compares to the average number of companies beating analyst expectations of 61%. Yes, its true that expectations are very low right now. However, these results are still a good sign that the recession is stalling. Earnings season typically...
read more

Wow from Wal-Mart

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 16, 2009 in Blog | 2 comments Wal-Mart is expected to announce today that all of their suppliers worldwide must calculate and disclose the full environmental costs of making their products. Wal-Mart intends to use that pool of information to create environmental ratings for the products it sells. As shoppers we will then be able to see that ratings information posted right next to the price of the good. It will likely be...
read more

Results from JP Morgan

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Jul 16, 2009 in Blog | 0 comments JP Morgan Chase reported second quarter results. Profits were up 36% from a year earlier and 27% better than the first quarter. Not only that but its “net revenues” were a record. Bank results are interesting to track right now because they are a snapshot of what is happening at the consumer level. Bank results include what is happening in terms of foreclosures, credit card payments,...
read more