Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 08/12/2008
Mike Stathis submits: Shell Game The government and related agencies are responsible for reporting the nation’s economic data. Thus, they’re in the driver’s seat to manipulate this data, while dumping so much of it onto consumers that they can’t possibly analyze what’s really going on. Complete Story »
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 08/12/2008
Mike Stathis submits: I’m not talking about the banks or even the retailers. We all know they will continue to slide. I’m talking about everything else. With no real median wage growth since 1999, and soaring inflation for gas, food and healthcare, it’s obvious consumers have had much less to spend. Not only has that hurt savings rates (including retirement contributions) but it’s also...
Weazl's Revenge (Free subscription) | 08/06/2008
How Washington is Fooling You: Manipulated Employment Data By: Mike_Stathis S hell Game - The government and related agencies are responsible for reporting the nation's economic data. Thus, they're in the driver's seat to manipulate this data, while dumping so much of it onto consumers that they can't possibly analyze what's really going on. Each day, “critical” economic numbers are released...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 08/03/2008
Mike Stathis submits: Anyone who understands the real reasons why the dollar has been getting killed over the past few years should also understand why any rally represents another chance to short it. It's called a bear trap – you know – similar to what we have seen in the US stock market. The fact is the dollar will not only remain weak for some time to come, but there is also SIGNIFICANT...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/29/2008
Mike Stathis submits: In this week's Barron's, Lawrence Strauss interviews Mr. Lee Cooperman, co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Omega Advisors, a $5 billion long-short hedge fund. Mr. Strauss reports that the fund "has returned 16% annually, net of fees, besting the S&P 500 by 5.50 percentage points. During the first half of the year, it was down 4%, compared with a...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/27/2008
Michael Fitzsimmons submits: Before making today's observations, I'd like to point you all to a great Seeking Alpha article written by Mike Stathis . I'm not sure why I was not able to leave a comment on this article, but let me say now: right on Mike! Excellent analysis and commentary. Complete Story »
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/27/2008
Mike Stathis submits: I continue where I left off – discussing just a few of the ways Washington tries to fool us by its misuse and manipulation of data. Washington likes to remind critics that Americans enjoy the highest living standard in the world. As evidence of this, government "experts" discuss statistics such as GDP growth, employment, wealth, income and wage growth, and other...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/27/2008
Mike Stathis submits: For all of you out there who listen to economists and think they know what's going on, hopefully you will begin to realize that the official data you see is nothing but an illusion after you read this multi-part series of articles. And for all of you skeptics and "loyal" republicans, who care only about supporting the current administration, take note - this economic...
SeekingAlpha Energy Stocks (Free subscription) | 07/24/2008
Mike Stathis submits: I have several investment strategies in play to exploit the macroeconomic trends that continue to unfold. Many of these strategies have paid off handsomely – shorting the financials, homebuilders, and mortgage companies – and playing the market trading ranges. While I feel there is still more to be made by shorting the financials, the fact is that shorting strategies...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/24/2008
Mike Stathis submits: With all that's happened with the real estate and banking crisis, the word "bailout" has been plastered throughout the media with little discussion of exactly what a bailout entails. Supplying money to a distressed company does not by itself represent a bailout. It all depends on where the money is coming from, and whether or not a moral hazard has been created....
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/15/2008
Mike Stathis submits: See part I here . Running Out of Options With the recent collapse in share price, both GSEs are going to have a very difficult time raising capital. You won’t find many buyers of the stock after its recent dive. And issuing debt doesn’t seem to be much of an option. The last thing investors want is to buy debt from companies involved in the mortgage mess. Even if...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/15/2008
Mike Stathis submits: Amidst speculation that Freddie (FRE) and its big brother Fannie (FNM) are facing insolvency, U.S. Treasury Saecretary Paulson said the primary focus was supporting Fannie and Freddie "in their current form as they carry out their important mission." Well, the fact of the matter is that “carrying out their mission” is what got them into this mess to begin with....
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/14/2008
Mike Stathis submits: See part I here . Say Hello to the ‘70s Those of you who are familiar with my previous publications know my real estate forecasts remain unchanged since first published in 2006. To reiterate, I’m expecting an average decline from peak prices of 30% (best case scenario) to 35% (worst case scenario), sending home values back to pre-1999 levels. Within the next three...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/14/2008
Mike Stathis submits: On Friday, IndyMac (IMB) joined the long and growing list of bankrupt mortgage companies (Accredited Home Lenders, Novastar Financial, Fremont General and dozens of others) that have been taken down by what has already surpassed mortgage and bank losses of the Savings & Loan Crisis. While Indy marks only the sixth bank failure since the official start of the banking-real...
Seeking Alpha (Free subscription) | 07/13/2008
Mike Stathis submits: I've read and heard countless investors who have been thinking the banks were a "good deal" since the first big market sell off in January 2008. Since then many are down another 60% - some even more. Every month I see new investors looking to pick up a "bargain" in the financials without realizing the only bargains have been short positions. Most investors have...
