Capital Commerce

Evidence That the Credit Crisis May Be Ebbing

By James Pethokoukis

Posted: April 18, 2008

Economist Mike Darda over at MKM Partners sees some light at the end of the tunnel:

The current credit crisis looks to be about as bad as anything we've seen in the last two decades—but not worse. Various measures of financial system risk were far higher during the downturns of the 1970s and 1980s. Market price indicators suggest the Fed is easy, not tight, which means the economy should be in better shape a year from now. Moreover, the Fed's more aggressive discount window policy seems to have created a financial market inflection point around March 18, which we believe will continue to mark the low point for stocks.... The S&P 500 is now 9% above the March low. The two-year Treasury note yield has risen to 2.24% from a low of 1.34% on March 17. These are positive signs that risk aversion is beginning to ebb. While credit strains will be a headwind for some time, we believe there is substantial upside in risk assets such as equities and corporate bonds and significant downside risk in Treasuries.

credit crisis will get worse. why? because

Lenders have raised the required credit score to some areas they are not attainable for some. Example, some of the people with credit scores in the 650 range have had no trouble paying their bills and on time. In addition, some of the people running the score tables dont have a clue about whats going on in the world or work place today. Furthermore, raising the requirements for lending above this score just rids the possibility of buyers coming to the rescue for some of the foreclosures. Now the group of possible buyers becomes smaller and smaller as time goes on. Therefore, the credit crisis will worsen beyond a doubt.

Jeff Hunt of TX @ Apr 30, 2008 16:50:18 PM

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Capital Commerce

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