by Linda Beale crossposted with Ataxingmatter Senate passes HR 4173 finance reform conference report[updated to add information on Geithner’s opposition to Warren 7:12 pm] On a 60-39 vote, the US Senate passed the Dodd-Frank H.R. 4173 financial reform conference report today. While the bill imposes some new restrictions and creates a consumer protection agency, most […]

by Linda Bealecrossposted with Ataxingmatter Tenneco CEO’s Wall St. Journal on “American Capitalism” Gregg Sherrill, the CEO of Tenneco, Inc., seems to think that Capitol Hill and the White House are “bashing” the “entire free enterprise system”–saying that the business world has “taken a pounding on Capitol Hill and at the White House” but except […]

Yves Smith offers several ideas worth considering on the future of Elizabeth Warren and protecting consumers at Elizabeth Warren in Treasury Crosshairs Again.

by Tom aka Rusty Rustbelt BOOMER (LACK OF) BUSINESS ETHICS I recently had lunch with a friend of mine, one of the most sophisticated financial planners in the country. He has an interesting practice, about half wealthy executives and entrepreneurs, and the other half labor union pension plans. He made a huge ton of money […]

While the yield curve is widely followed and recognized as a leading indicator of the economy, another interest rate measure–quality spreads — is not as widely recognized as a leading indicator of the economy. Maybe that is because it is not quite as reliable as the yield spread and has also given false recession signals. […]

by Rebecca Wilder As a global economic slowdown is very likely underway, inflation expectations are being watched closely. David Beckworth comments on inflation expectations in the US using the Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) market (he commented previously on an alternate measure of inflation expectations at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland). He argues that the […]

CBS News reports: Wallace asked Kyl on “Fox News Sunday”: “At a time Republicans are saying that they can’t extend unemployment benefits unless you pay for them, tell me, how are you going to pay that $678 billion to keep those Bush tax cuts for the wealthy?” Responded the Arizona senator: “[Y]ou should never raise […]

Rebecca Wilder and Ian Masters on Radio KPFK Daily Briefing have a conversation on economic policy and social consequences (July 13, about 43 minutes into the show).

Reader benamery 21 comments on US energy consumption from a previous post at Angry Bear on a better picture of what drives energy consumption in China. The NYT article used air conditioning and shopping malls as one metaphor for the good life that the Chinese are striving for, but he would advise caution for those […]