Reuters Columnists

14:23 November 20th, 2009

Finding a positive in negative yields

Banks and other investors like money-market funds are making a cool and calculated decision to grab super-safe securities to gussy up balance sheets and put idle cash to work before the end of the year. With the Fed holding overnight rates close to zero, don’t be surprised to see these yields flirt with negative territory again. Read more

14:01 November 20th, 2009

Fed audit throws a monkey wrench

By: James Pethokoukis

The Fed audit bill makes it a bit harder to pass financial regulatory reform next year. There are jagged policy disagreements between Frank and Dodd, as well as between Dodd and Richard Shelby, the ranking GOP member on his committee. The Fed audit amendment doesn't make agreement any easier. Read more

16:17 November 19th, 2009

Washington's next anti-Wall St wave

By: James Pethokoukis

Wall Street is hardly getting any more popular with Main Street. The Goldman Sachs Apology Tour is evidence of that. And there are a mid-term elections in less than a year. Republican candidates will probably do well as high unemployment continues to drive voter anger at incumbents. And those new Republicans are likely to be infused with the ethos of the Tea Party movement: anti-TARP, anti-Fed, anti-bailouts and anti-Wall Street. Read more

14:53 November 18th, 2009

The Fed is sending gold higher

By: Rolfe Winkler

Is gold going to $6,300? Dylan Grice, an analyst with Societe Generale, says it's possible, given the decline in central bank credibility. But investors need to keep one thing in mind: Gold is merely a vehicle to protect the purchasing power of money. Read more | Comments (12)

11:37 November 18th, 2009

M&S makes smart buy from Morrisons

By: Neil Collins

The market's reaction to the defection of Marc Bolland from William Morrison to Marks & Spencer looks the right one. Morrisons has a fresh headache, and may not have internal talent of sufficient quality to plug the gap quickly. Meanwhile, Bolland's record should give him the confidence to deal with the egos at M&S. Read more

More Columns

James Pethokoukis

Political Risk

Goldman Sachs forecasts nightmare 2010 economic scenario for Dems Comments (5)

Nov 20

Trust me, these are not the kind of numbers that the White House and congressional Democrats want to see. Read more

The Fed's 'crystal meth' monetary policy | Comments (1)

6 healthcare taxes that violate Obama's tax pledge | Comments (3)

More James Pethokoukis

Felix Salmon

sailing the rough rude sea

Annals of news-burying, Overstock edition Comments (1)

Nov 22

Friday was the Financial Follies -- which means that most of New York's financial journalists descended on the Marriott Marquis for the evening. The joke going around was that Friday afternoon would be a great day to bury bad news, a la Jo Moore, on the grounds that even fewer people would be around to cover it than would normally be working on a Friday after the markets close.

Counterparties | Comments (4)

How to fund the MTA | Comments (4)

More Felix Salmon