Geithner is generally well regarded on Wall Street in his handling of the banking crisis. He’s been the point man for both the Fed’s Ben Bernanke and Bush Treasury man Paulson in their various rescue efforts to deal with the ongoing credit crisis.    Read More

Everyone on Wall Street and in the stock market remains highly fearful of banks and the credit crunch, which of course extends to the mortgage-credit and foreclosure problem. Fear is certainly trumping some very attractive fundamental valuations that may turn out to be a once-in-a-generation buying opportunity for stocks.    Read More

After getting creamed yesterday, stocks opened down a couple hundred points this morning in what has become a truly dismal bear-market recession scenario. There were more bad numbers this morning on leading economic indicators that are sinking, a terrible manufacturing report from the Philly Fed index, and a big spike up in jobless claims.   Read More

What follows below is a transcript of my interview last night with FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair. She's the most important woman in the country right now. Ms. Bair wants more federal help on foreclosures and mortgage modification.   Read More

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has called for a pause in the financing request for the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), halting it at $350 billion. (The original request was for $700 billion.)    Read More

President George W. Bush came out fighting for free markets with a strong and stirring defense of American capitalism on the eve of the G20 World Economic Conference. Stocks soared 550 points Thursday as Bush’s luncheon speech was played live on all the major cable networks.   Read More

Remember that huge congressional swing-out two months ago over the Treasury’s request for $700 billion to purchase at auction a bunch of toxic assets that no one wanted to buy?    Read More

Many Wall Street analysts are forecasting a steep 3 to 4 percent Q4 contraction. But they are not factoring in the roughly $200 billion dollar drop in consumer energy expenses that is accruing from the collapse in oil and gasoline prices.    Read More

President-elect Obama gave a news conference today after meeting with his economic-advisor transition team. Wall Street was hoping to hear a Treasury-secretary designate and an Obama decision not to raise investor taxes next year (meaning capital gains). Unfortunately, neither announcement was made.    Read More

On the day after the election, stocks plunged nearly 500 points. It could be signaling an early end to the Obama honeymoon.   Read More