http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info Mutual Funds Discussion Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:44:16 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I thought this was both creative and correct.  Credit Suisse has decided to pay bonuses in a unique currency — toxic assets such as mortgage-backed securities.   This Bloomberg piece spells out the arrangement [emphasis added]: Credit Suisse to use illiquid assets to pay bonuses (Bloomberg, December 18, 2008,  Christine Harper) Credit ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/credit-suisse-pays-toxic-bonuses.html Source: Wall Street Journal Via: Greg Mankiw http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/calculating-retirement.html Hedge funds are having a very difficult year and, as a result, a number are closing or likely to close. This Bloomberg piece [emphasis added] gives a bit of background on tough times in hedge fund land: Third of Hedge Funds Face ‘Wipeout’ After Slump (Bloomberg, December 15, 2008, Tom Cahill) Almost ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/many-hedge-funds-closing.html Given the big drop in energy prices, it is not surprising that the cost of living fell in November.  However, the size of the decrease in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was a bit startling as this release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates [emphasis added]: Consumer Price Index — ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/consumer-prices-tumble.html The title of this post is from an old joke line about Fords.  “You know what Ford stands for,” asked a mechanic I knew many years ago.  “Fix or repair daily,” he replied. Then, he went on with a cackle.  Actually, it’s, “Found on road dead.”  There was another version ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/ford-fixing-and-repairing-daily.html Here we have a tale of two car companies — GM and Toyota.  Last year, both companies sold lots of car and trucks.  In fact, total worldwide sales were almost the same so each company did pretty well. Chart: Fundmasteryblog                  Data: Mises Economics Blog This piece by Ralph Reiland at the Mises ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/gm-toyota-a-tale-of-two-car-companies.html Source: Calculated Risk http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/oil-prices-%e2%80%94-chart-of-the-day.html If you find the title of this post shocking — particularly in view of the current economic situation — you are not alone.  Yet, polls have consistently shown that Americans are generally happy and satisfied with their lives.  And, a very recent poll found that 56% of Americans think their ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/americans-are-content-with-their-personal-finances.html One way to value a publicly-traded company is to compare the total value of its shares to actual cash on the balance sheet.  In boom times, very few stocks would have more cash on hand than the company’s market capitalization, but these aren’t exactly boom times.  This piece from Bloomberg ... http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/are-stocks-cheap.html I thought this was interesting because it indicates that even though mortgage delinquency rates are pretty high now at about 7%, they have been quite high for decades. Source: Calculated Risk http://www.mutualfundsdiscussion.info/mutual-funds-tips/mortgage-delinquency-chart.html