by Calculated Risk on 7/10/2009 01:07:00 PM

Yesterday I posted this information with an incorrect email address for Cathy. She can be reached at: stickelc@live.com

CR note: This is from Tanta's sister Cathy. For new readers, to find out about Tanta, please see Tanta: In Memoriam. Also see The Compleat UberNerd for some of her incredible articles. I really enjoy my Mortgage Pig sweatshirt! Thanks to everyone for your support, CR

The Last of the Mortgage Pig Wear

Thank you all for your orders – we raised $3,700 and hopefully you have something unique to help you remember Tanta.

We ended up with some extra completed items and we still have a few “Slap It” and “Holidays” transfers left for T-shirts (“Convexity” is sold out). I’m offering these outside of EBay – no additional charge for shipping in the continental US. Simply send an EMAIL to stickelc@live.com with your request and I’ll send back a confirmation. Then mail a check or money order along with shipping instructions and we’ll get the item out to you. The proceeds will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Again – thanks for your support and all of the kind words.

Cathy Stickelmaier

Completed Items:
Black Full-Zip, Hooded Sweatshirt w/Tanta Vive in Pink & White – Size XL - $40
Men’s White Polo Shirt – Size L - $32
White Long Sleeved T-Shirt with Slap-It Transfer – size L - $18
White Hooded Sweatshirt with Holidays Transfer – Size 2X - $30
White Hooded Sweatshirt with Holidays Transfer – Size XL - $30
(2) Short Sleeved T-Shirt with Holidays Transfer – size S - $15 each
(2) White Hooded Sweatshirt with Slap It Transfer – size L - $30 each

Transfer Items – made to order while transfers last:
White Long Sleeved T-Shirt with Slap It Transfer – Sizes S to 2XL - $18
White Short Sleeved T-Shirt with Slap It Transfer – Sizes S to 2XL - $15
White Long Sleeved T-Shirt with Holidays Transfer – Sizes S to 2XL - $18
White Short Sleeved T-Shirt with Holidays Transfer – Sizes S to 2XL - $15

by Calculated Risk on 7/10/2009 10:54:00 AM

SEC data guy brings us some interesting data on SEC filings with companies expressing: "Substantial Doubt"

Below is a graph that shows the total number of distinct entities filing a 10-K or 10-Q over time. It also shows the number of distinct entities expressing "substantial doubt" for the first time in one of those filings

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

Note: Left scale doesn't start at zero, and the right scale is a 4 quarter average.

These are just initial expressions of "substantial doubt".

On a cumulative basis, a stunning number of filers are expressing concerns (more to come on this). For details, see SEC data guy's post.

by Calculated Risk on 7/10/2009 10:06:00 AM

From MarketWatch: July UMichigan consumer sentiment falls to 64.6

U.S. consumer sentiment fell sharply in early July, according to a survey released Friday by the University of Michigan and Reuters. Sentiment fell to 64.6 from 70.8 in June.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

Consumer sentiment is a coincident indicator - it tells you what you pretty much already know.

And it tells us right now that consumer sentiment is still very weak.

by Calculated Risk on 7/10/2009 08:53:00 AM

Here is the press conference at 9 AM ET:

From the NY Times: With Sale of Its Good Assets, G.M. Tries for a Fresh Start

General Motors completed a major step in its turnaround on Friday and closed the sale of its good assets to a new, government-backed carmaker....

G.M.’s sale of its desirable assets, including brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC, to the new company — now named Vehicle Acquisition Company but soon to be renamed the General Motors Company — is meant to shed decades of buckling liabilities. The federal government will hold nearly 61 percent of the new company ...

The new company will be much smaller, with brands like Saturn, Hummer, Opel and Pontiac in the process of being sold or closed.

That was fast!

by Calculated Risk on 7/10/2009 08:30:00 AM

The Census Bureau reports:

The ... total May exports of $123.3 billion and imports of $149.3 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $26.0 billion, down from $28.8 billion in April, revised. May exports were $1.9 billion more than April exports of $121.4 billion. May imports were $0.9 billion less than April imports of $150.2 billion.

Click on graph for larger image.

The first graph shows the monthly U.S. exports and imports in dollars through May 2009.

Imports declined again in May, but U.S. exports were up slightly. On a year-over-year basis, exports are off 21% and imports are off 31%.

The second graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum, through May.

The blue line is the total deficit, and the black line is the petroleum deficit, and the red line is the trade deficit ex-petroleum products.

Import oil prices increased slightly to $51.21 in May - the third monthly increase in a row. Spot prices have increased since May, so oil prices will rise further for June and July.

It appears the cliff diving for U.S. trade might be over - especially for U.S. exports.