I wanted to lead off with AIG and I hope that you had the opportunity to follow along last night when we made the following comment:
" AIG is now in focus and I will take the course of action that I should have taken with Lehman. AIG should be shorted as you see in my STOCKTRACKER PORTFOLIO because they also need cash and the Fed is in no position to lend it out. AIG is considered to big to fail but if I am JP Morgan and Citigroup why should we post $75Billion dollars by ourselves to pay for their mistakes. Even more importantly, AIG's ratings were downgraded tonight and that raises more implications where AIG has to come up with cash really quickly to pay contractual obligations that arise from ratings decreases."
Folks to emphasize the speed at which things are changing, I wanted to point that I learned about these latest developments last night after 545pm central and traded AIG during the aftermarket hours once I got home from work... and sold short AIG for $4.87. Between then and the opening of the market this morning we gained over 50%-80% in less than roughly 14 hours on timely information because the stock dropped to levels between $1.60 - $3.00. Jim Cramer has reminded us that BEARS AND BULLS MAKE MONEY...and PIGS get SLAUGHTERED, so I (bought to cover) the shares for a profit. AIG like most stocks then began to trade on rumors that it could get the funds it needed and moved up quickly to levels between $3.60-$4.40s. Well knowing the information that we obtained last night, all private equity firms had stepped away from the table and AIG was standing by itself unless it received help from the Fed. So I decided for the second time in less than 24 hours to short AIG... AGAIN I think the stock will fall because of the following:
1. There is not enough time for a buyout or AIG to sell assets - which would cause the stock to rise
2. Private companies have walked away and we know they will not fund the $75 Billion - which would have caused the stock to rise
3. The Fed has promised not to provide any more funding - which could cause the stock to rise
It appears our thinking was correct b/c NY Governor Patterson came out on CNBC urging that AIG needing additional capital quickly (Pt. 1), private equity walked away which brought the Fed back to the table (Pt. 2), and because AIG needs so much money and is considered too big to fail...the Fed WILL provide $85 Billion but they are requiring almost complete control of the company to ensure that all $85 Billion and more is returned to the Fed (Pt. 3) Well all these reasons point to the share price plunging because all scenarios leave the stockholders screwed. This stock may be trading below $1 tomorrow.
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Morgan Stanley Breaking News
The street seems to have moved it sights to Morgan Stanley. Is there a RUN ON ALL BANKS!!! Late night reports say that MS is seriously considering whether the firm should remain solo or seek a merger with some large bank out there. There is alot of concern out there as the stock continues to swing back and forth. However, it appears that MS is watching all of this closely and does not want to make the same mistake that Lehman Brothers made.
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