US Financial Stability Plan Could Spur Year-end Recovery – Despite the initial negative market reaction, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s  Financial Stability Plan should ultimately boost confidence and may produce a small economic recovery later this year, in Oxford Analytica’s view. – Research Recap
————

TARP 1.0 Didn’t Get Lending Going and TARP 2.0 Won’t Be Much Better – Mark Sunshine – … Set forth are four suggestions for initiatives that will get the non-bank system working again. … – Sunshine Notes Blog
————

One piece in particular of the Treasury’s bank-recovery plan, the so-called “stress test” for banks, is an especially bad idea. Tom Brown explains why at bankstocks.com
————

FHFA SUBMITS REPORT ON HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE TO CONGRESS – has links to reports
————

What is the problem? By Bob Eisenbeis – excellent report – lots of charts – … So is the major concerns are confined to a small group of mega institutions, wouldn’t it make sense to first verify exactly what their problems are and how large the losses are first before establishing blanket programs that distribute hundreds of billions and perhaps even trillions of dollars to banking institutions that may not need the aid and that extend government ownership … – Cumberland Advisors

————

check this out – has calculator – The “I’m F*&#ed!” Number – by Lee Eisenberg  – Gone are your dreams of being rich enough to tell your boss to shove it. These days, it’s all about the nightmare scenario: Not “How much do I want?” But “How little can I live on?” A formula for the new math of your life. – portfolio.com 
————

Fed in Talks to Add Primary Dealers as Sales Rise to Record – By Daniel Kruger – The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is in talks with at least four firms to expand the network of dealers that underwrite government-bond auctions as the U.S. …  MF Global Ltd. and Nomura Securities International Inc …  RBC Capital Markets … Jefferies & Co. … – Bloomberg 
(now I know rates will rise … the number of primary dealers is going up after falling for many years – BC)
————

good primer – Building Your FDIC Strategy – The real opportunity to make money over the next few years will be through the FDIC. I see many of the same opportunities developing that I saw when I was a real estate consultant at KPMG from 1989 to 1997. During that time, I worked as a consultant to the RTC, solvent banks and loan acquirers. -   Strategic Building Market Intelligence™  – John Burns RE Consulting 

————

wow! – Experian to stop selling FICO scores to consumers – By Tiffany Hsu  – The credit bureau will provide the data only to commercial customers such as lenders, potentially putting home buyers at a disadvantage. Scores will still be available from TransUnion and Equifax. – LA Times
————

Details On The Deal – Brian Wingfield and Joshua Zumbrun – Obama’s stimulus is a mixed bag for business – Forbes
————

OCC and OTS Expand Data Collection on Mortgage Performance – … expanding the scope of the mortgage performance data gathered from national banks and thrifts to include additional information on the affordability and sustainability of loan modifications. – announcement and link to report at OCC Website – thanks Marty Rosenblatt

————

Jamie writes to Barney – Frank Releases JP Morgan Chase Letter Announcing Three-Week Foreclosure Moratorium -  Washington, DC – House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) today received a letter from JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announcing a three-week foreclosure moratorium. – thanks Marty Rosenblatt – House.gov 

————

Chart of the Day – How significant is this bear market? It all depends on how you measure. When measured in US dollars, the Dow currently trades 44% off its October 2007 record high. However, when measured with that other world currency (gold), the bear market is much more significant.
————

From Fannie and Freddie, Here Come the Fee Increases – Kenneth R. Harney – It may not be what home buyers, sellers and refinancers want to hear, but they need to know: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are ratcheting up their mandatory fees and toughening credit score and down-payment rules as of April 1. Most major lenders already are pricing in these higher fees, … much more -  Washington Post