As to be expected, discussions about the stress tests on the health of the 19 biggest US banks dominated the video airwaves during the past few days, with arguments ranging from whether the tests were necessary to whether they were stressful enough.
For the rest, Warren Buffett held his annual Berkshire shareholders’ jamboree – this year sharing both concern and optimism about the future. And as the nascent stock market rally is looking more tired by the day, the debate intensified on whether this was a “real rally”.
In addition to Buffett and the usual suspects of Tim Geithner and Ben Bernanke, commentators featured on camera in this post include Richard Bernstein, Bill Fleckenstein, Nouriel Roubini, Neel Kashkari, Alan Blinder, Russell Napier, Robin Griffiths and Meb Faber.
The selection kicks off with an item in lighter vein – a song entitled “Zombie Bank”, and concludes with a great vintage animation, dating back to 1948, on the profit motive and the part it has played in the development of the US economy.
YouTube: Zombie Bank
“Musical op-ed piece written and performed by John Forster and Tom Chapin.”
Source: YouTube, April 15, 2009.
CNBC: Buffett speaks
“Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, tells CNBC’s Becky Quick he has both concern and optimism about the future.”
Part 1
Part 2
Source: CNBC, May 4, 2009.
Minyanville: Are stress tests necessary?
“What’s the point of a stress test if the government isn’t going to allow banks to fail? Minyanville’s executive editor, Kevin Depew, debates himself to find the answer.”
Source: Minyanville, May 4, 2009.
CNBC: Dr. Doom – stress tests aren’t stressful enough
“Nouriel Roubini, co-founder & chairman at RGE Monitor, also known as Dr. Doom, doesn’t put a lot of credibility into the US bank stress tests. He tells CNBC’s Martin Soong that the tests aren’t stressful enough. Josh Felman, assistant director from the IMF joins in the discussion.”
Source: CNBC, May 7, 2009.
CNBC: Bernanke’s bank structure
“Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke speaks at the Chicago Fed’s Conference on bank structure and competition.”
Part 1
Part 2
Source: CNBC, May 7, 2009.
