Business

Submitted by EconomicPrism.com's MN Gordon (annotated by Acting-Man.com's Pater Tenebrarum),

Fudging Numbers

It all seems so systematic, arranged, and orderly.  Sixty seconds make a minute, 60 minutes make an hour, 24 hours make a day, and one day equals one complete rotation of the planet earth. Roughly every 30 days the moon orbits the earth – which is one month.  Then every 12 months the earth orbits the sun – which is one year. So far so good…right?

Oldish German calendar.

We have previously documented how, with the fourth quarter earnings season almost completed, Q4 EPS are poised to drop by 3.3% Y/Y, making this the third consecutive quarter of declining year over year earnings, in other words an earnings recession and a half.

Three days ago in “Canary, Meet Coal Mine: These Are The Tranches Where The CLO 2.0 Meltdown Begins,” we revealed precisely where the rot is starting to show in the CLO market which, you’re reminded, is starting to unravel amid a string of downgrades in HY energy and a general aversion to junk as the US heads into a default cycle.

Submitted by Chris via CapitalistExploits.at,

Have you ever wondered who these people are? The people who decide how much capital should cost, how much credit and cash should be issued. You know, the twits who dream up QE, ZIRP and NIRP.

Where do they come from? Who pays their wages? Where do they get these hair-brained ideas? Are they on medication?

Sadly we probably know most of the answers...

Earlier today Berkshire Hathaway released its 2015 annual report, which among other things includes Buffett's traditional annual observations and insights. Buffett brushes past last year’s disappointing stock performance, muses on the future of America while taking a swipe at Donald Trump, dwells on Berkshire’s ties to Brazilian PE firm 3G, talks about Berkshire’s big 2015 deal, defends manufactured-housing unit Clayton Homes, bashes inequality and capitalists (just not the crony kind), and concludes with a summary of the biggest risks facing America.