Monday and SecondMarket

Happy Monday.  The major U.S. market averages were lower today and the bearishness continues.

The S&P seems to be trading in the same range as Thursday and Friday of last week and many investors are looking for a trend reversal, but are not seeing the appropriate signs as of yet. 

Anyone still bearish financials with FAZ?  I like to use this ETF as a hedge when I’m long and as a means to be short the market in general, through financials.

Today, I was reading Forbes magazine (yes, the actual hard-copy) and came across a very interesting article about a company named SecondMarket, founed by Barry Silbert.  Mr. Silbert is a product of Emory University who put in six years of Restructuring experience at Houlihan Lokey, an advisory focused investment bank.  Second market is predicated on giving professional investors (similar to hedge fund rules) a place to trade various items you won’t find on a traditional market exchange.  These items include, but are not limited to:  private company stock, asset-backed securities, bankruptcy claims, auction-rate securities, CDOs, limited partnership interests, restricted securities, etc.  See the company’s “About” page quoted below.

SecondMarket is the largest centralized marketplace and auction platform for illiquid assets, such as asset-backed securities, auction-rate securities, bankruptcy claims, collateralized debt obligations, limited partnership interests, private company stock, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, restricted securities and block trades in public companies and whole loans. SecondMarket’s online auction platform has over 10,000 participants, including global financial institutions, hedge funds, private equity firms, mutual funds, corporations and other institutional and accredited investors that collectively manage over $1 trillion in assets available for investment.

Our hybrid transaction model harnesses the power of technology and experienced sales and trading professionals to bring a unique, effective solution to creating liquidity in illiquid markets. Our online trading platform not only provides a centralized location to bring buyers and sellers together and provide transparency, but it also enables us to offer a variety of auction formats, including English auctions, Dutch auctions, sealed bid auctions, reverse auctions, and SecondMarket’s patent-pending ManhattanAuctions. Further, our trading platform utilizes a proprietary matching algorithm to pair buyers and sellers. Our advanced technology is enhanced by our teams of specialists that support each market. They provide the high-touch experience necessary to guide and educate buyers and sellers to ensure that trades get done.

SecondMarket facilitates all administrative and settlement support services for executing both private and public transactions involving illiquid assets. We have the expertise to handle even the most complex transactions efficiently. Our team manages the entire process, from pre-sale due diligence through execution and settlement, to ensure regulatory compliance and the most efficient settlement possible.

To download the SecondMarket Overview brochure, click here.

For your viewing pleasure, a few noteworthy item:

These stocks were market movers today:  

S, ATI, ARG, THC, BIG, FCX, FDO, AZO, AN, ABT, CVH, F, AAPL, FTR, CME, PTV, AFL, AES, AMP, IPG

Cramer says there is way too much negativity right now.

Apple vs. Google….again…

“She got legs and she knows how to use them”

Here are some interesting stocks to be watching brought to you by a blog that we frequently peruse.

Facebook privacy issues?  Chill out braaa

Mergers and acquisitions by China have surged to a likely record so far this year as the country’s economy grew strongly and it continued a quest for energy and manufacturing know-how.

Peace out.