In the fall I am giving a class at a conference that is an introduction to financial engineering for software developers. I have talked to my clients, and talked to people at the IB I work at. Yet all of their answers results in what could be called statistical insignificance. So I thought, why not...

The question is if Fanny and Freddie is the right action at the right time or if it is socialism? Many like to say hey this is an act of the USSR or what have you. Let me give the perspective of a non-American. Though let me give you the perspective of somebody who likes America, has American...

Before I continue, look at the following image which represents my political leanings (courtesy of www.politicalcompass.org). I have repeatedly taken this test and it always comes out to the same thing: Slightly right, quite a bit libertarian. So my political views being what they are why is...

I get a magazine called Stocks. In last week's stock magazine there was a short article on the investing habits of 2,300 private people worth a total 60 million USD. This study was commissioned by Barclays Wealth. What was interesting in this study is that the people willing to take on the most...

Ok what to do with Russia? It seems that there is a new power struggle yes? Between the West and Russia, yes? Well, not so quick. My brother who works in Russia and keeps me up to date with the events within the land has a different story. Essentially what is happening in Georgia is very similar to...

Fastmoney and many on CNBC say, "oh look how bad things are in Germany and how we are doing better. And how bad things will get in Europe" Ok, folks let me explain something to you... Germans are pessimistic! You can't compare Anglo-Saxon numbers with Germanic numbers. They are two separate issues....

"Debit cards are making us more resilient in this recession...  oh wait..  let me take that back..."

CNBC did an entire 3 hour expose on Buffett and I.O.U.USA. Well I don't agree with everything. Two of his points that stuck with me are as follows: - When the tide goes out you will see who is swimming naked, and it seems Wallstreet was a nudist beach. - If you apply for a mortgage using the old...

Oil is up over 5 dollars, and why is that? It's Russia! It's Fay and its potential to hit something! Oh it's the rebels in Nigeria that are being rebellious! WHATEVER!!! Want to know why oil is up? It's because Goldman said the following: > LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote,...

I have two points in this blog entry; analysts that annoy me, and fund managers have capitulated. First on the topic on analysts. Merrill Lynch today said Fiat will have problems. Based on what? > Merrill Lynch downgraded Turin, Italy-based Fiat to ``buy'' rating earlier this year, according to the...