Another disappointing day on Wall Street led investors
to 200 point loss. With no signs of recovery stocks are expected to
continue its decline for a few weeks.
An economic stimulus plan that was endorsed by
President-elect Barack Obama is not likely to be endorsed by
Congress. Many Republicans in the Senate and House have criticized
the stimulus plan as additional burden to taxpayers saying that the
money provided would not allow economy to move ahead quick.
Obama said if Congress does not pass such a measure
this year, it would be at the top of his agenda once he becomes
president. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve said the U.S. economy
fell into recession last spring and will contract sharply this
quarter as more than 200,000 workers per month are added to the
rolls of the unemployed.
Banks are still struggling amid help from government
bailout. Event though there are signs that banks are starting to
lend, job losses in banking sector are increasing. Citigroup Inc. is
cutting another 53,000 jobs in the coming quarters. It plans to
lower expenses by about 20 percent and has reduced its assets by
more than 20 percent.
Bad economic data are pouring into market as investors
battle stocks with sell offs at the end of the trading day. Analysts
still believe that market might be moving even lower, searching for
the bottom and that this volatile market will stay for a while.
Wall Street is looking if bailout money will be used
to provide help for automakers as the Bush administration stated
that the funds from $700 billion package were not provided for
automakers. But rather to use funds from a Department of Energy
program previously approved to develop fuel-efficient vehicles.
During last days of President Bush, the administration
will be using only half of $700 billion package and the other half
would be available to Obama's administration as they would decide
whether and how the funds should be spent.
The U.S. Treasury Department said Monday it had
transferred $33.56 billion to 21 banks as part of a capital infusion
program. In return, Treasury would receive preferred shares of the
banks.
Another bailout may be needed for Insurance Companies
as their losses are piling. Insurance Companies are now in
standstill until government approves their request for bailout
money. The money will come out of $700 billion rescue package.
Life insurers have been hit hard by large investment looses.
The Philadelphia Fed's survey said the U.S. economy
entered a recession in April and that it will last 14 months. It
predicted gross domestic product would shrink by 2.9 percent in the
fourth quarter and the economy would shed an average of 222,400 jobs
per month.
U.S. Consumers are wary of economic problems and
nowadays are leaving plastic at home and dealing with cash. It is
back to basics for many consumers as confidence has declined.
First cut was homes in consumer confidence as it comes
with 30 year commitment or mortgage, than came cars, typically
financed for five years. Now it spreads to goods as retailers are
feeling the pinch.
With the mountain of debt, the delinquency rate on
credit cards rose to 4.9 percent in the second quarter of this year,
according to Federal Reserve data. The percentage of credit card
debt that banks have written off is even higher at 5.47 percent, and
that figure will likely rise in the coming quarters. Deutsche Bank
analysts said charge-offs were up more than 50 percent last month at
six of the 11 credit card issuers that they survey.
Luxury retailers are the ones that are hurt the
most as week sales continue to move even lower.
That is precisely what the U.S. government is trying
to avoid. The Treasury wants to use some of its $700 billion rescue
fund to guarantee consumer lending in the hope that doing so will
get money flowing again. It may not be enough because even those
with plenty of credit appear to be curbing their spending.
The national average price for regular gas was
dropping 1.8 cents to $2.087 a gallon, according to AAA. That
is nearly $1 a gallon below what it was a month ago and nearly $2
below where it was in July when prices peaked at $4.11 per
gallon.