- May 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday further widened its safety net for downtrodden credit markets by making older commercial property loans eligible for an emergency program.
- The move is the Fed's first attempt to use its unlimited lending capacity to try to support markets for "legacy securities," or those that were created months or years ago. Previously, the Fed program supported only new commercial real estate lending.
- If the Fed's efforts to start up commercial real estate lending works, it could begin to help an industry that many analysts believe is on the verge of massive losses. (because that's what the Fed is here to do, help very well off people not take losses - right there in their charter)
- Risk premiums on commercial mortgage-backed securities dropped after the announcement, according to Trepp, a bond data provider that tracks commercial mortgage backed securities. (everything is safe guys! We unloaded even more junk onto the US taxpayer! hip hip hooray!)
Right now shorting REITs is betting against the US taxpayers' money, so it is difficult... even if vacancies increase and rents drop, Uncle Ben will use your money to protect the power players. I am closing SL Green (SLG) here as a short position - I tried one last time to short after the news last week about the legacy asset inclusion but after a short swoon (sell the news) we are already back to a happy place. I'm still adjusting to a central command economy but I'm starting to get the hang of it now - don't short industries that have the biggest lobbyist arms... and withing those industries especially avoid the "too biggest to fail" firms. And please don't forget who this is really helping... you know whose balance sheets a plethora of commerical real estate loans are sitting on? Yep... you guessed it. American financial oligarchs laugh again.
I still have a few small positions in 3 remaining REITs but most likely they will be going as well.
This is not the type of chart I short, in fact its one to get long.... Bernanke stands behind you (with your own money) Another win/win/win for all involved (as long as none of those 3 are a taxpayer) But remember as long as the stock market goes up, everything must be right in the world... especially as we take all risk from those who play in the stock market, and put it on the shoulders of the peasants; many of which have little to no exposure in the stock market. Just assure them everything is ok, these are all good steps and Main Street = Wall Street. If they complain - point to the stock market; I mean the "market always knows" - just ask Alan Greenspan. Working like a charm so far, confidence is up per this morning's survey.
Whatever the era, this magical snake oil still works - year 1400s peasants are really no different from year 2000s peasants.
No position
