Bloomberg: Geithner Says Default Damage May Be ‘Irrevocable’

Related News: Bonds · Economy · Currencies · U.S.
Geithner Says Default Damage May Be ‘Irrevocable’
By Ian Katz and Daniel Enoch - May 15, 2011 2:44 AM GMT+0900

Timothy
Geithner,
U.S. treasury
secretary

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said a default arising from failing to raise the debt limit could cause “irrevocable damage” to the economy, risk a “double-dip” recession and increase unemployment.

MarketWatch: Home prices won’t bottom until next year: Zillow

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
May 13, 2011, 4:28 p.m. EDT
Home prices won’t bottom until next year: Zillow

By MarketWatch

The first quarter proved rough on home prices, as U.S. home values fell 3% from the fourth quarter — the biggest quarterly decline since 2008, Zillow.com reported this week.

Reuters: Jim Rogers says may short U.S. Treasuries, later today

Jim Rogers says may short U.S. Treasuries, later today

By Edward McAllister
NEW YORK | Tue May 10, 2011 7:18pm EDT

(Reuters) - Influential investment veteran Jim Rogers said on Tuesday he plans to short U.S. Treasuries, maybe as soon as later in the day, as he expects the end of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program to pressure government bonds.

Bloomberg: Commodities Trading Is Banking’s New Battleground: Commentary Matthew Lynn

Related News: Bloomberg, Economy, Africa, Australia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Opinion, Emerging Markets, Energy Markets, Finance, Commodities
Commodities Trading Is Banking’s New Battleground: Commentary Matthew Lynn
By Matthew Lynn - May 10, 2011 8:00 AM GMT+0900
Bloomberg Opinion

Forget bonuses. Don’t worry about bailouts. That’s all history. The battleground that matters most for the banking and finance industry right now is the profits it is making from commodities trading.

Bloomberg: Hedge Funds Rose 1.4% in April to Highest in Almost Three Years

Related News: Funds
Hedge Funds Rose 1.4% in April to Highest in Almost Three Years
By Kelly Bit - May 6, 2011 2:05 AM GMT+0900

Hedge funds climbed 1.4 percent in April to the highest level in almost three years as stock markets rallied amid rising earnings and the Federal Reserve renewed its pledge to stimulate growth with low interest rates.

Bloomberg: Europe Producer-Price Inflation Unexpectedly Accelerates on Jump in Energy

Related News: Europe · Economy · Retail
Europe Producer-Price Inflation Unexpectedly Accelerates on Jump in Energy
By Jones Hayden - May 3, 2011 6:20 PM GMT+0900

European producer-price inflation unexpectedly accelerated to the fastest in 2 1/2 years in March, adding to concerns that surging energy costs will feed through to consumers and prompt the European Central Bank to raise interest rates further.

PIMCO: The Caine Mutiny (Part 2)

The Caine Mutiny (Part 2)

- Low policy rates and the increasing negative real yields that they engender as inflation accelerates represent an immediate threat to investment portfolios.
- Bond prices don’t necessarily have to go down for savers to get skunked during a process of “debt liquidation.”
- PIMCO advocates a renewed vigilance, stressing bond market “safe spread” alternatives available globally, including developing/emerging market debt at higher yields denominated in non-dollar currencies.

Bloomberg: U.S. Manufacturing Grows at Faster Pace Than Estimated, Leading Recovery

Related News: Economy · U.S. · Municipal Bonds
U.S. Manufacturing Grows at Faster Pace Than Estimated, Leading Recovery
By Bob Willis - May 3, 2011 5:24 AM GMT+0900

Manufacturing expanded faster than forecast in April, driven by gains in exports and inventories that are keeping the industry at the forefront of the U.S. economic expansion.

WSJ: Hybrid Securities Feed Yield Hunger

THE VIEW FROM HONG KONG|MAY 2, 2011
Hybrid Securities Feed Yield Hunger

By PETER STEIN and ALISON TUDOR

Asian businesses have found a way to raise money and boost their creditworthiness without ceding control of the boardroom. In the process, they are feeding investors' hunger for high yields.

Reuters: Buffett remains solid on the American economy

Buffett remains solid on the American economy

By Ben Berkowitz
OMAHA, Nebraska | Sun May 1, 2011 4:29pm EDT

(Reuters) - Warren Buffett does not spend his time making stock research recommendations, but he is sure of one thing -- America should have a "strong buy" slapped on it.