Morning Journal-Debt matters

Economics
This Week’s Data

Other

Greg Mankiw on taxes (medium):
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/four-keys-to-a-better-tax-system-economic-view.html?_r=1

More shenanigans between the administration and the banks (medium):
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/01/obama-to-give-banks-mortgage-get-out-of-jail-almost-free-card-pressures-state-attorneys-generals-to-capitulate.html

A more in depth look at the Baltic Dry Index (medium):
http://www.investmentpostcards.com/2012/01/23/baltic-dry-index-%E2%80%93-sell-off-overdone/

Debt matters....or does it (short and a must read):
http://pragcap.com/debt-matters

An in depth look at current debt levels (medium):
http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/guest/Shedlock-120123-Debt-and-Deleveraging-Five-Pronged-Solution.php

Bank lending is still growing (short):
http://scottgrannis.blogspot.com/2012/01/bank-lending-still-accelerating.html

Politics

Domestic

Mickey Kaus debates with himself over ‘recess’ appointments (medium):
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/21/kausfiles-averts-constitutional-crisis/

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

More earnings per share reports:

Reported Expected

Johnson and Johnson $1.13 $1.09
Verizon .52 .53
Kimberly Clark 1.28 1.26
McDonalds 1.33 1.30

Steve Cook received his education in investments from Harvard, where he earned an MBA, New York University, where he did post graduate work in economics and financial analysis and the CFA Institute, where he earned the Chartered Financial Analysts designation in 1973. His 40 years of investment experience includes institutional portfolio management at Scudder, Stevens and Clark and Bear Stearns. Steve's goal at Strategic Stock Investments is to help other investors build wealth and benefit from the investing lessons he learned the hard way.