Category: Uncategorized

Moodys, et.al. Goes On Strike

The FINREG bill signed into law this week is already creating economic casualties and a complete standstill for new bond issuance.

Andrew Ross Sorkin, from NY Times Discusses Ratings Meltdown on Brian Lehrer show (WNYC)

Here is a good interview with our favorite radio host, Brain Lehrer from WNYC and Andrew Ross Sorkin, columnist and financial reporter for The New York Times as they discuss…

Stale Ratings: Testimony of Moody’s Former Head of Compliance

Its fair to say that when rating agencies recalibrated their muni ratings in Q2 2010 to bring them in-line with other debt types, they did not conduct a credit review….

Casino Muni Bond Defaults Because “The People Got Fed Up”

A federal court actually allowed an American Indian tribe to get out of a $50 million bond it owed to a private investor, raising concerns among other tribal-casino lenders. The…

Harrisburg Bonds May Incinerate Value ( 41473EFH9 )

Buffet says ” when the tide goes out, you get to see who is swimming naked”.

AMBAC Lives Another Day

It seems for now that AMBAC may win its fight to survive, unless a few muni defaults of AMBAC insured bonds bankrupts them. The insurer can at least rely on…

Don’t sweat ratings downgrades on GOs?

In terms of safety, governors and state treasurers argue, GO state debt should be equivalent to Treasury bonds, or at least triple-A-rated corporate bonds. Although states can’t print their own…

Critics Complain of Bond Raters’ Conflicts at US Congress Hearings

Reading thru  Jeffrey R. Kosnett column from Kiplinger  “Beyond bond ratings”, (Oct 7, 2009 )

Moodys Should Disclose When A Ratings Or Rerating Was Given

Would you want to own muni bond  that hasn’t been given a sniff test for 20 years?  Well this is a common concern for muni investors according to  the N.Y. Times  “When…