[retiredguy]

How soon before Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual become "too big too fail?"

Their stocks continue to plummet today.

[Byron100]

I really do hope they decide to just these folks go down the tubes...and when the world doesn't end, perhaps people will catch a clue that we really shouldn't be bailing out failing banks and brokerage firms on the taxpayer's dime.

I tell you, modern-day "economists" are about as dumb and ignorant as those religious nuts back in the Middle Ages...these folks need to be shown the door, and soon.

[Spanktron9]

How soon before Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual become "too big too fail?"Their stocks continue to plummet today.

The decision has already been made. See Bear Stearns, Fannie & Freddie. The illusion of stability must be maintained at all costs. The counterparty risks to the other Major investment banks is true great. JP Morgan did an analysis prior to the collapse of Bear on the pros and cons of letting Bear fall. The decided to step in, not because of value increased by owning Bear, but because they projected market instability and the failure of Lehman's and Merrill within 30 days of Bear. Thus the counterparty risk outweighed the benefits of losing at least 2 major competitors.

[retiredguy]

The government can't simply take over these companies, can it? Don't they have to find a buyer, as was done with Bear Stearns?

[RdSnt]

The "take-over " by JPMorgan is an illusion. The government guaranteed BS debt and lent the majority of the money needed to cover the takeover.

The government can't simply take over these companies, can it? Don't they have to find a buyer, as was done with Bear Stearns?

[heroineworshipper]

Lehman Brothers will become Federal Brothers on Friday night.

[JustaGirl]

I have a question about this. If say WAMU is saved by the government and you have a credit card with them, does your balance suddenly become secured debt vs unsecured since it would now be owned by the fed? Maybe that's how they'll get people to pay off their credit card in the end instead of defaulting. I'm probably giving this too much thought lol.

[emersonbiggins]

Great question, justagirl. I'm assuming that you would get an opt-out notice from the fed before changing the terms of your account, which would certainly apply here (if anywhere). Not sure, though.

[retiredguy]

Looks as if a Bear Stearns type of deal is in the offing for Lehman, er, Fed Brothers.

Is Wa Mu next?

[TreebeardsUncle]

Would be good to see LB and WAMU fail.

However the feds will save their corporate buts to keep the logo-filled plasticopia of inane hyper-entropic suburban glitz around for a few more years.

g