Recently Geithner hinted that the feds were ready to raise interest rates rapidly if inflation reels its ugly head. That was stated to placate the Chinese who are pressing the US to either rein in spending or raise interest rates, otherwise they have no financial incentive to buy US treasuris or hold on to US dollars. Now the banks are sqawking because their golden goose may be pulled. Feds let the banks eliminate mark the market accounting so they can establish any value on the distress properties they own from foreclosed borrowers in such a way to show “profits” thus justify awarding themselves bonuses provided by the US taxpayers. If external events catch up with this bogus profit claims, and the bank implodes, guess what the US taxpayer is left to cover the losses. We will see next week if the Chinese will take lead in buying more US treasuries. PS- the MSM constantly states that China holds up to 800 billion dollar denominated securities. There are commodity experts who noted the amount of gold and other strategic metals China recently disclosed, it is possible that China’s US denominated holdings may be down to 400 billion. Wall Street and MSM are deluded to think the US dollar has time because it will take China years to shed all their dollar holdings. China may have already cut their holdings in half.
Some banks are getting desperate,, I’m in Florida and the house next to me sold for a 55% discount to the high-water mark just 4 months ago ,, yet another neighbor just this week refi’d with their local bank (local bank had original mortgage) at a price within 10% of the high... they couldn’t have gotten a real appraisal anywhere near that.. I’m taking it as a sign that that bank is damn near bankrupt and couldn’t afford any more defaults on the books but they could afford a loan (the occupants can pay the mortgage with the bump in valuation for YEARS).