David Sokol No Longer Replacing Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway CEO

David Sokol has been the primary guy in the running, and Warren Buffett's top pick, to replace the Oracle of Omaha as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Well David is no longer available for the position.

Just ask him.

The US Economy Fires Up to End 2010

The GDP growth rose considerably to a annual rate of 3.2% up from the previous 2.6%

The market seems to be doing pretty well and those GDP numbers are pretty solid. Just the same I have some worries.

Cash, Credit, or Cell?

"Hey can you cover me I left my charger at work?"

This is how you will sucker your friend in to paying for your night out in a year or two.

Confused?

Yeah... you, Master Card, Visa, and American Express too.

US Unemployment Checks - Two Million Say Good Bye

Today two million unemployed Americans say goodbye to their unemployment checks.

I have never been good at saying goodbye. For the purposes of this post that really does not matter.

I have never received unemployment benefits. So I will not be one of the two million US citizens who will have to say goodbye to their unemployment checks today.

Looking Back at Cash For Clunkers - Obama Plan

August 2009

Cash for Clunker - Obama Stimulus Program

The phrase "Cash For Clunkers" has been all over the media as of late and for good reason. Cash For Clunkers is thus far the most successful economic stimulus program, this notion is impressive by any measure but is even more impressive when you take in the fact that it makes up less then 1% of the stimulus budget. Not to mention that this figure was increased three fold from the original 1 billion dollar budget to 3 billion which was passed by congress due to the overwhelming success.

Nothing is Hotter Than Potter

I saw the financial figures from the weekend box office results of the new Harry Potter flick. My goodness, does this brand not run out of steam? Apparently not.

Online Retail Sales are Booming

Well business on the Internet has been booming like always. The online retail sales and finance figures for the third quarter of 2010 are in. The figures are very impressive.

Ireland Takes Bailout

If you have followed global finance at all over the last couple of weeks then you have undoubtedly been exposed to the current Irish bailout controversy.

Home is Shrinking - US Homes Shrink by Almost 10 Percent

Is your home shrinking?

Microsoft Fighting The Drug Cartel...... Software Piracy Cartel???

I was just reading the New York Times Sunday money section, and I stumbled on a story that was on a raid in Mexico. Apparently the same organizations that are responsible for drugs and the like have found a new operation to diversify their revenue streams.

They pirate software.

Stabilizing The Housing Market – How America Did It

The mortgage loan and housing crisis created tremendous economic anxiety and directed the American economy towards a black hole of financial hardship.

Though the US economy is not out of the recession or perhaps depression, things have appeared to settle down a bit.

It looks as if the housing market may be stabilizing. This sis a article exploring the steps and actions that were taken to stabilize the US housing market.

Refinancing Consumer Craze - Low Mortgage Interest Rates

Low Mortgage Rates – Low Mortgage Origination –

Sky Rocketing Mortgage Refinance Origination Loans

Low Mortgage Rates Create High Demand for Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage rates are low as they can be. I honestly do not know if we are ever going to see rates this low ever again. Though I should say that statements like that somehow always seem to turn out wrong.

Financial Reform Pushed Through By Democratic Majority and Three Republicans

A New Financial Industry Reform Bill Has Passed

Well 2,100 pages of potential American Policy and Law fixing to keep a tighter watch on the financial industries practices of marketing products to the American Consumer is on its way to Presidents Obama's Desk. Obama is expected to sign.

Goldman Sachs Settles with the SEC - Over Half a Billion Dollars - No Financial Biggie

Goldman Sachs who really caught some heat from the subprime mortgage securities it was selling as securities (imagine that) settled with the SEC for a little more then 500 million dollars.

Snoopy and Charlie Brown Sold Out - 175 Million Peanuts

Charles Schulz the creator of Peanuts and the lovable Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy has managed to make waves across the branding and advertising world despite being dead.

Forgive the blunt language, I love the cartoon classic, I even contribute to the 2 billion a year in retail sales the trade mark and brand pump out on an annual basis (not for me my pops can not get enough of them {teachers}).







The brass tax of the deal boils down to the following:

50 Billion Decisions - Only One Steve Jobs - Apple's Mountain of Cash

Apple and Steve Jobs, their (Founder - CEO - and  Savior) have a problem.

Big Banks Bet and Bank on Trading Profits - BoA and Chase Ride Trading Revenue to Profitability

Both JP Morgan and Chase and Bank of America reported profitable quarters this earnings season go around.

Though Chase has been in better shape over this economic down turn both banks profitable quarters relied on their investment banking activities.

Chase Bank reported 3.3 billion dollars for the first quarters profit. Bank of America came in right behind them with 3.2 billion dollars. 3/4's or 75% of Chase Bank profits came from trading and investment banking activities and 2/3 or about 65% of Bank of Americas profits came from their newly found investment banking operations. This profitable Merrill Lynch deal has beat the overall outside consensus and expectations. Just goes to show you that old Ken Lewis knew and still likely knows what he is talking about.

Economic Growth - GDP 2.2% - Is It Real?

The final numbers are in for the third quarter and the numbers show a 2.2% growth in the Gross Domestic Product, also referred to as GDP. Now this figure can be good or bad news depending on who you talk to.

Citi Bank Scales Back Retail Banking Operations

Citi Bank which is one of the largest financial institutions in the world and in to a little bit of everything and a little bit too much, has announced plans to scale back their retail banking operations and has said it will be reducing the number of branches.

Ben Bernanke to serve another term as the Chairmen of the Federal Reserve

August 2009

President Obama interrupted his vacation this late August to publicly announce that he is appointing Ben Bernanke to serve another term as the Chairmen of the Federal Reserve.