Filed under: Major movement, Rants and raves, Goldman Sachs Group (GS), Lockheed Martin (LMT), TXU Corp (TXU), Bargain stocks, Chasing Value, First Data (FDC)
Whenever I hear some market pundit who sounds like they’ve got all of the answers behind the current crisis in the world’s financial markets, the classic Frank Zappa line “Look here brother, who you jivin’ with your cozmic debris” echos in my head. Zappa’s point that people should avoid simple answers to complicated questions is especially relevant today..
The world’s major central banks today added more than $137 billion into the banking system, keeping today’s loss in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to 31.14 points following a turbulent trading session. This seems like a temporary, albeit expensive, Band-Aid on a very large wound. The bad news is far from over.
For example, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s (NYSE: GS) Alpha Fund may be the next hedge fund to implode. So far this year, it has dropped 26%, according to Bloomberg News. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) points out that many hedge funds will see increased redemptions during August. Bloomberg also reported that many of the big buyout deals that have been announced over the past few months including TXU Corp. (NYSE: TXU) and First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) will have to be renegotiated.
Are there bargains to be had? Of course, markets act on irrational fear and irrational exuberance. But be careful, sometimes stocks are cheap for very good reason, such as exposure to subprime mortgage securities. It will pay to be selective in your bargain hunting.
Some investors also might want to consider shifting some of their assets into more conservative investments such as municipal bonds, utility stocks such as Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC) and defense companies such as Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT).
Don’t overdo it, though. Over time, the market will right itself.
Meanwhile, people need to take a deep breath and exhale.
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