For over the past year, the stocks of big banks have rallied significantly. Lower loan losses, a stabilization of the real estate market and a settlement with the government over shortcomings in foreclosure proceedings have all contributed to a growing conviction by investors that the worst is over for the banking industry. Here’s a look […]
Bank Stocks Were 2012’s Best Investment – Now What?
December 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Bank stocks had few friends during 2011 during which time financial stocks plunged by over 18%, even as the S&P 500 eked out a slim total return of 2.1%. As financial stocks dropped last year to levels at which they were selling well below book value in many cases, buyers came back in force. During […]
Citigroup’s CEO Walks Off With A Quarter $Billion – Shareholders Down 89%
October 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
After being ousted by a proactive board of directors on Tuesday, Citigroup’s former chief executive Vikram Pandit is unlikely to suffer a decline in his standard of living. As CEO of Citigroup, a $1.9 trillion asset global banking giant, Mr. Pandit was paid a relatively modest base salary of $1.67 million during 2011. During 2009 […]
Why Banks Will Continue To Blow Up
July 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Although there were a multitude of factors involved in the banking collapse of 2008, many analysts believe that the repeal of Glass-Steagall was one of the major triggers. No less an authority than Sandy Weill, former Citigroup CEO, joined the chorus of voices last week in calling for the reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act. Would […]
Ridiculous Divergence Between Bank CEO Pay And Shareholder Returns
June 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The wide divergence between bank CEO compensation and shareholder returns is an embarrassment to the capitalist notion of linkage between performance and pay. Shareholders of banking stocks have seen the value of their investments pulverized over the past four years as the banking industry struggles to recover from the lending excesses of previous years. Shareholders […]
Credit Ratings of 15 Global Banks Cut In Largest Downgrades Since 2007
June 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
In the most sweeping credit downgrades since 2007, Moody’s Investor Service lowered the credit ratings of fifteen global banks, including the five largest banks in the United States. The scope of the credit downgrades left many wondering if we are entering a new phase of the global financial meltdown that started in 2008. Despite trillions […]
What Big Bank Stock Has The Largest Price Gain In 2012?
March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
After getting pounded during 2011, bank stocks have soared this year, especially after the Federal Reserve completed its “stress tests” and said that almost every big bank could survive “extremely adverse” economic conditions. During 2011 bank stock shareholders experienced the biggest price declines since the financial panic of 2008. As worries mounted over both the […]
Big Bank CEOs Take Home Massive Paychecks As Savers and Shareholders Get Crushed
March 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Right or wrong, most consumers have an overwhelmingly negative opinion about big banks. According to a survey by Research and Markets, 86% of social media comments about U.S. and European banks are negative. The negative perception of big banks by the public has become so pervasive that most bank executives probably just ignore it at […]
Global Financial System Faces Worldwide Bank Runs and Failures, Citigroup’s $300 Billion Problem
October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Three years after the height of the financial crisis, the issue of impaired assets on bank balance sheets remains a major risk to the health of the banking system. Regulators have allowed banks to avoid taking losses on impaired assets by not requiring mark to market accounting. The extent of overvaluation on bank loans can […]
Downward Spiral Of Bank Stocks Is Predicting An Economic Crisis
June 22, 2011 By 3 Comments
After rallying last fall, many of the big bank stocks have seen substantial declines from the beginning of the year. Growing fears about the health of the banking industry are discussed in the latest Economics and Mortgage Market Analysis issued by Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae cites a very weak housing market and an economic slowdown […]