Three weeks after Barron's reported that a senior administration official -- my guess is it was Hank Paulson -- leaked details of a "rescue" plan for Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) -- Bloomberg News reports that its implementation could be imminent. And in after-hours, shares of both companies are down 20%. If what Barron's reported -- wiping out common shareholders and slashing preferred dividends -- proves prescient, both stocks have further to tumble -- as in all the way to 0.
Bloomberg reports that Paulson met with Ben Bernanke and the CEOs of Fannie and Freddie and the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency which oversees the two. And they have catering set for the entire weekend. I wonder what they are serving? I think PIMCO bond guru Bill Gross knows. He said, "There's probably a 95 percent chance that the moment that something will happen is Sunday or Saturday," according to Bloomberg.
Yesterday Gross called for the government to use $500 billion to bail out the real estate market. As I posted yesterday, this bailout is for the benefit of people like Gross and China's central bank which owns $340 billion worth of Fannie and Freddie mortgage-backed securities. If you happen to be among the holders of their common or preferred stock -- you are going to lose it all. As I suggested this morning, after the market lost 345 points yesterday, the government needed to announce another rescue plan by Sunday night.
And it looks like that's what will happen. Unfortunately, your taxpayer dollars will go to rescue China and poor Bill Gross since "61 percent of Gross's holdings were mortgage-backed securities as of June 30, mostly debt guaranteed by Fannie, Freddie or Ginnie Mae," according to Bloomberg.
Let me repeat -- Bill Gross, who manages $830 billion, has convinced the U.S. Treasury to use your taxpayer dollars to bail him out of his bad investments. And China, which holds $340 billion worth of such securities, will go along for the ride.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-06-2008 @ 12:24AM
Gurbachan said...
The biggest mistake of Corporate America will be to wipe out common shareholder value. Investors and not financial institution are the real markets.
Once people, who are the ultimate investors, lose confidence in the capitalist system, we can kiss good buy to solving the financial crisis, mortgage crisis and the US dollar.
It is amazing how this basic understanding eludes even Alan Greenspan and the presidential candidates. They have this false illusion that the FED's plan may benefit shareholders. In fact, shareholders are the ones that are going to potentially protect the taxpayers from monumental losses.
All I can say is good luck to corporate America if there is even the slightest whiff that the plan would entail common shareholders losing close to everything.
9-06-2008 @ 2:59AM
Ben said...
There's nothing more funny than American's hatred towards China. lol
9-06-2008 @ 4:54AM
Y.Liana said...
It is very pity.
9-06-2008 @ 9:01AM
olsrfbum said...
Spoken like a true share holder.
9-06-2008 @ 9:55AM
CW said...
I want to preface this by stating that I am all for Capitalism (laissez-faire), free trade, and minimal taxes - all with responsible oversight. But I can't imagine why the public is standing by and letting our politicians continually bailout corporate america... It is our politicians that have created this mortgage crisis in the first place - they encouraged or 'loosened' the lending practices, and then stood by and watched various mortgage companies create dubious lending products. Adding insult to injury these same politicians have watched the respective [sic] CEOs (aka clowns) run these government backed companies into the ground - while knocking down excessive salaries. Not only should these companies NOT BE bailed-out, but these CEOs and Board members should be jailed (since they were entrusted with Government backed $$). Unfortunately this is not the first time, just look back at the S&L debacle of the 1980's and its bailout...
But I also wonder if people are seeing how this affects all tax paying citizens and the additional debt we (including our children) will burden... The news constantly plays the T. Boone Pickens add that discusses the largest transfer of wealth because of the dependence on foriegn oil. Again, adding insult to injury, our politicians are adding to that with these bailouts. China holds a good chunk of the Fannie/Freddie securities. When the Government bails-out these companies it will in effect be a transfer of wealth (aka your tax dollars) to China.
And where does the funding come for all of these bailouts and other government spending fisascos? Our taxes is where. Our jack*ss (no pun intended because both parties are complicit) politicians not only raided Social Security but are finding other ways to constantly drain US wealth. Can you imagine how well off S/S and the general financial health of every US citizen would be if our politicians kept their hands out of our wallets and purses? Maybe we need to jail our politicians? lol
I need to stop before I have to go to the doctor's for some nitroglycerin and/or valium. :/ Sorry for the 'soapbox' but it gets frsutrating watching our government make bad decision after bad decision, and throw good money after bad while not making ANY improvment.
9-06-2008 @ 3:27PM
bernie said...
Our government looks at the masses as a bunch a dumb clucks and that we will follow them anywhere,and to think our own government consist of many lawyers who keeps their mouthes shut fearing their gravy train will stop before the fat retirement comes . It seems that if you wear a suit and have a big title ,you can legally steal from anyone. I'm taking a second look at Obama,and watching the drag marks from the casket that Mccain is dragging around.
9-07-2008 @ 11:48AM
dominic said...
Hey.. please someone just put it in black and white for me. Are the common stocks of both companies going to be worthless or not. What is with all the smoking mirrors the past month. If this was the case..these securities should have just been suspended..instead more money will be lost by people buying up the stock thinking it would go up. I can not see how the common will be worth anything after this but maybe I am not getting it.
9-06-2008 @ 4:34PM
Cathy said...
My IRA has Fannie and Freddie. I guess we are looking at a wipe out. I don't mind loosing if I can write it off, but this was an act by an individual representing the government. Illegal in my eyes. Government should mind their own business and let the stock market take its course. If they buy out a Bill Gross, Mutual Fund and China...and let common shareholders die, well Paulson you are crooked. I will never buy a government backed security. In addition, you made Freddie and Fannie take in those mortgages. Its was the song of the day - let everyone have housing. You are using Fannie and Freddie to blame. Their is no guarantee that this will stabalize the market...idiot Paulson. Your guessing again....this is not a message to the market...taxpayer....watch out below...government in action