BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[When Are We Going to Pay Off the National Debt?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/04/06/when-are-we-going-to-pay-off-the-national-debt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/04/06/when-are-we-going-to-pay-off-the-national-debt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/04/06/when-are-we-going-to-pay-off-the-national-debt/#commentsWith all the talk of the nation's deficit, the federal budget, and a potential government shutdown, I would like to throw a question into the debate: When are we going to pay off the national debt?

We have been borrowing more and more money, and the amount that we have borrowed has grown significantly compared to the total goods and services we make in this country.

I recall a few years ago talking to people who were buying and selling homes. I asked them how they could afford such big, expensive houses. I thought maybe they had rich uncles. But they were just taking out interest-only mortgages and the banks were lending them 95% of the value of the houses or more.

Continue reading When Are We Going to Pay Off the National Debt?

When Are We Going to Pay Off the National Debt? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BudgetCongressdebt clockfeaturedfederal budgetfederal shutdownFederalShutdownNational DebtobamaU.S. debtWed, 06 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chasing Value: Is Congress Indirectly Helping International Paper?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/10/chasing-value-is-congress-indirectly-helping-international-pape/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/10/chasing-value-is-congress-indirectly-helping-international-pape/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/10/chasing-value-is-congress-indirectly-helping-international-pape/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

International Paper logoForgive me but I am still fuming about what is going on in Washington with our money. Money that is disappearing faster and faster. No matter how much our representatives cut taxes and extend benefits, it is meaningless. What is the good of having twice as much money when it is worth only half.

Welcome to Washington D.C. -- home of the Great Pretenders.

We just think that our Capitol sits atop solid ground. I think if you swept away the top soil you would find a giant cardboard box because our leaders are certainly playing the biggest game of three-card Monte of all time.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Is Congress Indirectly Helping International Paper?

Chasing Value: Is Congress Indirectly Helping International Paper? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capital gains taxcardboardChasingValueCongressfeaturedinternational paperinthenewsIPShanty TownsTaxesFri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Serious Money: Washington Compromise Stinks, but Here Are Some Stocks to Look At]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/07/serious-money-washington-compromise-stinks-but-here-are-some-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/07/serious-money-washington-compromise-stinks-but-here-are-some-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/07/serious-money-washington-compromise-stinks-but-here-are-some-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Leave it to our representatives in Washington to make a compromise that ignores most of their previously stated beliefs -- of only a few days ago. This just reinforces again the old joke "How do you know when a politician is lying?..."

Monday the Obama administration and congressional Republicans came to an agreement to extend both unemployment benefits by 13 months, and the Bush-era tax cuts for all by two years. What happened to the Republican and Democratic noise about fiscal responsibility and reducing the debt?

A few days ago Republicans were not going to vote for an extension of the unemployment funding if there was not an associated revenue offset to pay for it. That's gone, so the deficit is going up. The Democrats claimed they would not back an extension of the tax cuts for people that earned over $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for joint returns claiming this would add $900 billion toward debt reduction. That's gone so the deficit is going up.

Continue reading Serious Money: Washington Compromise Stinks, but Here Are Some Stocks to Look At

Serious Money: Washington Compromise Stinks, but Here Are Some Stocks to Look At originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>admArcher Daniels Midlandbush tax cut extensionChasingValueCongressDEDeere and Co.ExxonMobilfeaturedObama AdministrationUnemployment ExtensionXOMTue, 07 Dec 2010 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[GOP's Gain Could Be First Solar's Loss, Warns JPMorgan]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/11/03/gops-gain-could-be-first-solars-loss-warns-jpmorgan/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/11/03/gops-gain-could-be-first-solars-loss-warns-jpmorgan/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/11/03/gops-gain-could-be-first-solars-loss-warns-jpmorgan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

First Solar (FSLR)Now that Republicans have taken control of the House of Representatives, analysts at JPMorgan are taking a look at the election's potential impact on the stock market. In a research note this morning, JPMorgan cited alternative energy issue First Solar (FSLR) as one equity that could be damaged by the GOP's Congressional gains.

"Most of the downside is accounted for by the possibility of fiscally conservative measures, such as budget cuts and the reduction/elimination of certain subsidies," wrote JPMorgan in a note to clients.

Continue reading GOP's Gain Could Be First Solar's Loss, Warns JPMorgan

GOP's Gain Could Be First Solar's Loss, Warns JPMorgan originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analyst ratingsCongresselectionFirst SolarFSLRHouse of Representativesinthenewsinvestor sentimentJPMorganoptionsputsRepublicansshort interestshort sellerstechnical analysisWed, 03 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/27/senate-may-vote-this-week-on-30-billion-community-bank-capital/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/27/senate-may-vote-this-week-on-30-billion-community-bank-capital/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/27/senate-may-vote-this-week-on-30-billion-community-bank-capital/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The only question is -- how soon can the Congress get this deal done?

The potential 'deal' being $30 billion in new capital for community banks, who would then use it as a base to increase lending to small-sized/medium-sized businesses by up to $300 billion -- credit that's urgently needed and may prove to be a pivotal factor concerning the U.S. economic expansion's sustainability.

"If we can help the big banks, then we should certainly be able to help small-business lending," President Barack Obama said June 30, Bloomberg News reported. The Senate may consider the bill as early as this week; the program, called the Small Business Lending Fund, passed the U.S. House last month

Continue reading Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill

Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankscommunity banksCongresscreditinthenewsloansObama administrationsmall businessesTue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Big Oil's $1 Billion Rapid Response Venture: Too Little, Too Late]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/23/xom-cvx-cop-rdsa-rapid-response-venture/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/23/xom-cvx-cop-rdsa-rapid-response-venture/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/23/xom-cvx-cop-rdsa-rapid-response-venture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The new joint-venture formed by Exxon-Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhilips (COP) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) as a rapid response system to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is best characterized as too little, too late.

The companies have initially committed a measly $1 billion to the force. A fund with a starting point of $20 billion-$30 billion would have been more appropriate and practical. The enormity and complexity of the BP's (BP) Deepwater Horizon oil spill demonstrates how quickly a contain-and-cap operation can shoot over $1 billion. Oil fell 56 cents to $78.74 per barrel in Friday morning trading.

Continue reading Big Oil's $1 Billion Rapid Response Venture: Too Little, Too Late

Big Oil's $1 Billion Rapid Response Venture: Too Little, Too Late originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big oilCongressGulf of MexicointhenewsMarine Well Containment Companyoil spillrapid responseFri, 23 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exxon Mobil and Chevron Executives Say BP Spill Unlikely to Repeat]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/15/exxon-mobil-and-chevron-executives-say-bp-spill-unlikely-to-repe/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/15/exxon-mobil-and-chevron-executives-say-bp-spill-unlikely-to-repe/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/15/exxon-mobil-and-chevron-executives-say-bp-spill-unlikely-to-repe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

oil execs before CongressIn the wake of the environmental disaster stemming from the BP (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Congress summoned oil officials to testify over the safety of their offshore drilling.

The oil spill that started back on April 20 when one of BP's offshore drilling platforms exploded continues to leak into the ocean, and could take up to another two months to stop. Following the accident, President Obama imposed a six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling and Congress is now trying to determine the likelihood of another disaster taking place.

Continue reading Exxon Mobil and Chevron Executives Say BP Spill Unlikely to Repeat

Exxon Mobil and Chevron Executives Say BP Spill Unlikely to Repeat originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BPBP oil disasterbp oil spillChevroncongressCVXExxon Mobilfeaturedgulf of mexicoGulf of Mexico oil spillgulf oil spillinthenewsjohn watsonoiloil spillRex TillersontestimonyXOMTue, 15 Jun 2010 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Congress, SEC and Goldman Sachs Failures]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/05/12/congress-sec-and-goldman-sachs-failures-part-1/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/05/12/congress-sec-and-goldman-sachs-failures-part-1/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/05/12/congress-sec-and-goldman-sachs-failures-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Goldman Sachs GS logoThe more I think about the issue of Goldman Sachs (GS) being charged by the SEC for questionable business practices, and hauled in front of Congress for a big show, the more I think it is Congress that is at fault for the whole financial mess and should be answering questions.

It is not that Wall Street had no hand in the entire debacle, but it started with Congress and they magnified the damage by failing to correct their critical mistakes. I will get back to this later, but first I want to discuss the recent hearings and the fact that Goldman Sachs management was actually too easy on Congress.

Continue reading Congress, SEC and Goldman Sachs Failures

Congress, SEC and Goldman Sachs Failures originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdoCDOsCongressfeaturedfinancial reformGoldman SachsGSJohn PaulsonPaulson Co.Securities and Exchange CommissionSheldon LiberWed, 12 May 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comfort Zone Investing: Is Goldman Sachs the Drexel Burnham of Today?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/05/01/comfort-zone-investing-is-goldman-sachs-the-drexel-burnham-of-t/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/05/01/comfort-zone-investing-is-goldman-sachs-the-drexel-burnham-of-t/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/05/01/comfort-zone-investing-is-goldman-sachs-the-drexel-burnham-of-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Goldman Sachs the Drexel Burnham of Today?Goldman Sachs (GS) made a huge mistake: it earned too much money when too many others lost large amounts. While the economic circumstances were somewhat different, this is very reminiscent of when Drexel Burnham Lambert made the error of profiting from deals no one else could have done, and then had the audacity to pay the genius behind the deals, Mike Milken, a great deal of money. Those howls of moral righteousness that brought down Drexel and Milken are echoing in the halls of Goldman Sachs.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Is Goldman Sachs the Drexel Burnham of Today?

Comfort Zone Investing: Is Goldman Sachs the Drexel Burnham of Today? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 May 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CDOsComfort Zone InvestingCongresseconomyfeaturedGoldman SachsMike Milkenmortgage poolsPaulson Co.RecessionshortingTed AllrichSat, 01 May 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Is It Time for Congress to Work Monday-thru-Friday?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/15/is-it-time-for-congress-to-work-monday-thru-friday/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/15/is-it-time-for-congress-to-work-monday-thru-friday/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/15/is-it-time-for-congress-to-work-monday-thru-friday/#commentsFiled under:

True, placing the words Congress and productivity next to one another can seem like a contradiction in terms.

Well, scholar Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute think tank, and as good as it gets regarding the workings of Congress and the public policy process, has an idea that just may make Congress more productive: a five-day work week.

Continue reading Is It Time for Congress to Work Monday-thru-Friday?

Is It Time for Congress to Work Monday-thru-Friday? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CongressproductivityMon, 15 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Should the U.S. Congress Cut Its Pay?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/08/should-the-u-s-congress-cut-its-pay/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/08/should-the-u-s-congress-cut-its-pay/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/08/should-the-u-s-congress-cut-its-pay/#commentsFiled under:

Put this one under the category of 'I'll believe it when I see it.' U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona, has introduced a bill that would not only halt automatic pay increases lawmakers receive, but would also cut their pay by 5% next year, or by $8,700.

The bill would apply to all Representatives and Senators and take effect on January 1, 2011. If the measure is passed, it would be the first time Congressional lawmakers' salaries will have been cut since 1933, during the depths of the Great Depression.

Continue reading Should the U.S. Congress Cut Its Pay?

Should the U.S. Congress Cut Its Pay? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ann kirkpatrickCongressfeaturedrecessionMon, 08 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Health Care Summit Reveals Democratic U.S., Republican U.S.]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/27/health-care-summit-reveals-democratic-u-s-republican-u-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/27/health-care-summit-reveals-democratic-u-s-republican-u-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/27/health-care-summit-reveals-democratic-u-s-republican-u-s/#commentsFiled under:

The low-down regarding Thursday's health care summit? No change to the status quo.

President Barack Obama did a good job moderating the event, and Republican and Democratic leaders engaged in, for the most part, civil discussions, with only a few exchanges degenerating into talking-points rhetoric, but the net result was that little common ground was achieved.

Continue reading Health Care Summit Reveals Democratic U.S., Republican U.S.

Health Care Summit Reveals Democratic U.S., Republican U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Congressdeficit reductionhealth care reformhealth care summitObamareconciliationSat, 27 Feb 2010 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota Accused of Withholding Test Data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/26/toyota-accused-of-withholding-test-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/26/toyota-accused-of-withholding-test-data/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/26/toyota-accused-of-withholding-test-data/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

toyota recall crisisToyota Motor Company (TM) continues to find itself in arguably the biggest crisis in the auto maker's history, and today more accusations were made against the company. The company is back in the news today with accusations that Toyota tried to hide data in lawsuits filed by Toyota drivers injured in crashes.

The accusation came from New York Democrat, Edolphus Towns. Towns stated that the company deliberately shielded some of its design and testing data, and in many instances settled lawsuits in order to avoid turning over the information.

Continue reading Toyota Accused of Withholding Test Data

Toyota Accused of Withholding Test Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>congressEdolphus Townsfeaturedinthenewslawlawsuitslegalrecallscandaltmtoyotatoyota recallFri, 26 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[It Won't Be Easy to Get the Money Out of U.S. Politics]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/22/it-won-t-be-easy-to-get-the-money-out-of-u-s-politics/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/22/it-won-t-be-easy-to-get-the-money-out-of-u-s-politics/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/22/it-won-t-be-easy-to-get-the-money-out-of-u-s-politics/#commentsFiled under: ,

An unease in the nation appears to growing -- particularly among typical Americans -- regarding the influence of money in politics, and among U.S. Representatives and Senators, in particular.

This phenomenon has occurred cyclically in the U.S., and it is unclear whether this firestorm will differ from the rest. Historically, the displeasure runs hot for about a year or so, then the fire dies out.

Further, even less certain is whether these Americans will seek to reconcile the contradiction between the American economic system and the political system (democracy), or even whether most of these Americans will recognize it.

Continue reading It Won't Be Easy to Get the Money Out of U.S. Politics

It Won't Be Easy to Get the Money Out of U.S. Politics originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CongresspoliticswealthMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are You Ready for More U.S. Debt?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/21/are-you-ready-for-more-u-s-debt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/21/are-you-ready-for-more-u-s-debt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/21/are-you-ready-for-more-u-s-debt/#commentsFiled under:

Last month Congress increased the debt limit to $12.4 million and with the U.S. debt clock showing the debt at 12.3 million Congress is going to need to act soon and now the Senate wants to raise the limit $14.3 trillion.

Lets break down the numbers:
14.3 trillion proposed debt limit ($14,300,000,000,000)
308.5 million estimated U.S. population (308,500,000)
$46,353 proposed limit per person
$185,413 per family of four

Continue reading Are You Ready for More U.S. Debt?

Are You Ready for More U.S. Debt? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CongressinthenewsSenatespendingUs debt clockUsDebtClockThu, 21 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[For Democrats, the Only Good News Is It's January, Not November]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/20/for-democrats-the-only-good-news-is-its-january-not-november/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/20/for-democrats-the-only-good-news-is-its-january-not-november/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/20/for-democrats-the-only-good-news-is-its-january-not-november/#commentsFiled under: ,

A few points about the public policy impact of Tuesday's stunning Republican victory in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate election:

You'll hear a great deal of analysis arguing that health care reform, and the bank bail-out, convinced Independents to vote for Republican Scott Brown. To be sure, those two factors (in political science, they're called variables) played a role, as did Democratic candidate Martha Oakley's listless, clumsy campaign, but the biggest factor affecting vote was the Massachusetts' unemployment rate, which is high, as it is across the United States.

Continue reading For Democrats, the Only Good News Is It's January, Not November

For Democrats, the Only Good News Is It's January, Not November originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BrownCongressDemocratsOakleyObamaRepublicansWed, 20 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Straight Ahead: First Key Economic Data Point of the New Year -- December 2009 Jobs Report]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/04/straight-ahead-first-key-economic-data-point-of-the-new-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/04/straight-ahead-first-key-economic-data-point-of-the-new-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/04/straight-ahead-first-key-economic-data-point-of-the-new-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

The new year 2010 wastes no time in offering investors a "data point of consequence" -- the U.S. Labor Department's December 2009 monthly nonfarm payroll report, commonly known as the jobs report, scheduled to be released Friday January 8 at 8:30 a.m. EST.

It's a data point of note because job growth is the key to a sustained U.S. economic recovery and earnings growth: although the economy certainly can grow for a while without net monthly job gains (as it did in 2002), it's hard to envision a scenario in which the expansion continues for two, three, four or more years without job growth. And, by extension, job growth is intrinsic to both household formation, rising corporate revenue and stock prices. A Bloomberg News economists survey expects the U.S. economy to record zero job growth in December 2009, after losing a scant 11,000 jobs in November 2009.

Continue reading Straight Ahead: First Key Economic Data Point of the New Year -- December 2009 Jobs Report

Straight Ahead: First Key Economic Data Point of the New Year -- December 2009 Jobs Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Congressjob growthjobsObamaunemploymentMon, 04 Jan 2010 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Jobs Bill to Greet U.S. Senate at 2010's Start]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/21/jobs-bill-to-greet-u-s-senate-at-2010s-start/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/21/jobs-bill-to-greet-u-s-senate-at-2010s-start/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/21/jobs-bill-to-greet-u-s-senate-at-2010s-start/#commentsFiled under: ,

Assuming that a health care reform bill is passed by the end of this week, the Senate can turn its attention to the next pressing priority for the nation when it returns in January: jobs and the jobs bill.

The U.S. House approved a $154 billion economic aid package by a vote of 217-212 last week, Bloomberg News reported. The package provides money for infrastructure projects, and also extends unemployment benefits and aid to revenue-strapped state governments.

Continue reading Jobs Bill to Greet U.S. Senate at 2010's Start

Jobs Bill to Greet U.S. Senate at 2010's Start originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CongressinthenewsjobsMon, 21 Dec 2009 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[OPEC Is in the Catbird Seat]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/20/opec-is-in-the-catbird-seat/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/20/opec-is-in-the-catbird-seat/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/20/opec-is-in-the-catbird-seat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Let's just say OPEC is in an enviable position.

Come to think of it -- when hasn't OPEC been in an enviable position? OPEC heads into its December meeting next week "in the catbird seat," to cite an old phrase popularized by the late, great Red Barber. OPEC does not have to cut production to keep prices high -- they're already high: oil closed Friday up 40 cents to $73.05 per barrel. The roughly doubling of oil's price in 2009 is the main reason the average U.S. gasoline price for unleaded regular has risen about $1 to $2.60 per gallon this year.

Continue reading OPEC Is in the Catbird Seat

OPEC Is in the Catbird Seat originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Congresseconomic recoveryfuel pricesgasoline pricesoil demandoil pricesOPECrecessionSun, 20 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Congress likely to pass debt ceiling hike before holiday break]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/14/u-s-congress-likely-to-pass-debt-ceiling-hike-before-holiday-br/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/14/u-s-congress-likely-to-pass-debt-ceiling-hike-before-holiday-br/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/14/u-s-congress-likely-to-pass-debt-ceiling-hike-before-holiday-br/#commentsFiled under:

Congress will likely increase the debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion to roughly $14 trillion, before the year-end holiday recess. The House will act first, followed by the Senate.

Congress has to raise the ceiling or the U.S. government will grind to a halt in a few weeks. There's little chance the majority, led by the Democrats, will face any substantive opposition from the minority, the Republicans. The reason? In 1995-96, the Republican-led Congress picked a fight with President Bill Clinton, D-Arkansas, and temporarily shut down the federal government. The result was a public backlash against the Republican Party.

Continue reading U.S. Congress likely to pass debt ceiling hike before holiday break

U.S. Congress likely to pass debt ceiling hike before holiday break originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget deficitcongressdebt ceilingnational debtMon, 14 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST