Word: plan
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...what to do? The only thing observers agree on is that none of the options are savory. Some economists believe we should stick with the current plan, and continue to buy up preferred shares in bank stocks. But a growing number of economists and industry watchers say we need a new direction. Among the ideas being floated are having the government take over the banks that are in the worst shape, creating a "bad" bank that would buy up the mortgage bonds and other assets, or changing accounting rules to protect banks from future loan losses...
What's clear is that Geithner, unlike his predecessor Henry Paulson, does not face a growing chorus of voices calling for a particular plan. Initially, Paulson was reportedly in favor of spending TARP money to buy up troubled assets. But shortly after the bank rescue fund passed Congress, a flood of economists came out against Paulson's plan. Instead, most policy experts advocated a plan to inject capital into the banks by buying preferred shares. The latter strategy would be quicker to implement and would do a better job of stimulating lending. Britain was instituting a similar plan...
These days, however, few people think the capital-purchase plan makes sense. Paul Miller, an analyst at Friedman Billings Ramsey who covers bank stocks, says the problem with it is that the government is buying preferred shares and not common stock. Miller says preferred equity does nothing to help out common shareholders. That's because holders of preferred shares can demand their money back before holders of common stock can. As a result, bank stocks continue to plummet. And no matter how much total capital a bank or any firm has, if its stock goes to zero...
...ones there. That effort will not only focus on relatively new markets in Eastern Europe like Russia and Poland, but also sink roots deeper in West European nations like Italy, Spain and France - generating about 12,000 badly needed new jobs in the process. As part of that expansion plan, McDonald's says it will add about 400 new McCafés to the 800 outlets it already operates in Europe. Viewed from any angle, this kind of spending indicates that Ronald McDonald is feeling bullish about his future in Europe - the dismal global economic slowdown be damned. (See pictures...
...individual's personality or determining what a new year will bring. These predictions aren't just for carnival sideshows or fortune cookies: in many Asian cultures, each year's forecasts are studied carefully for portents relating to business, romantic and family decisions for the coming year. Some Chinese plan births during dragon years to improve their children's fortune. Some people born in "wrong" years have reportedly been excluded from attending weddings and funerals. As for those making plans for 2009, be warned: because the element of fire is lacking from this year's forecast, fortune tellers don't believe...