Banking, finance, and taxes

Why Financial Stocks Will Continue To Fall (FNM)(FRE)(LEH)(MER)(UBS)(WB)

Yesterday, a number of bank and mortgage company stocks began the day up sharply, with Fannie Mae (FNM), Freddie Mac (FRE), and Lehman (LEH) out in front. By the end of the day, most of these shares were in the red, regional bank stock prices has been decimated, and several firms including Merrill Lynch (MER) hit 52-week lows.

All of that is only the beginning of another leg down in the prices of banks, mortgage companies, brokers, and insurance firms.

Yesterday’s early-trading increases in financial share prices, a walk to the end of the rainbow, was interrupted by two things. The first is that it has begun to dawn on investors that all the money coming in to support these ailing banks and brokerage houses will not be free. If the federal government puts $5 billion into Freddie Mac, the dilution could easily cut the company’s share price in half. If Wachovia (WB) has to raise outside money, the effect will be similar.

The larger problem is that the market cannot avoid looking at the fact that the credit crisis is systemic. Shoring up trouble in one spot does not solve the problems in another. Even if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac make it out of the crisis with their skins intact, firms like Lehman and Washington Mutual (WM) may not. Even overseas, banks including UBS (UBS) are in substantial danger of being dismantled or partially taken over by the government.

It may be simplistic, but financial shares are not going to trade up consistently until housing prices begin to rise and oil prices begin to fall. These two factors block the way to the overall health of the global credit system the way that the Colossus of Rhodes blocked the entrance to that ancient island. Oil is inflation, plain and simple. And, housing is recession.

Financial stocks can’t be rescued one at a time. The tide has gone out too far.

Douglas A. McIntryre

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.