Calculated Risk (calculatedrisk.blogspot.com) Provides sophisticated, geeky and up-to-the minute links and analysis by two retired financial professionals for finance pros and interested lay people. Can be scathing on mainstream financial media coverage.
The Big Picture (bigpicture.typepad.com) A hugely read blog by New York hedge fund manager Barry Ritholtz, it offers commentary on the markets, housing, energy, digital media and the Fed with a sharp sense of humor.
It offered this mock prospectus last week: "Strategery Capital Management LLC is a unique hedge fund. It is the largest in the world, with expected initial capital of $700 billion. It has a free and unlimited credit line should it need more. It has no fixed mandate, though it is expected to initially focus on mortgage-backed securities. And it is the only fund backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government."
Economist's View (economistsview.typepad.com) A well-edited sampling of economic views by University of Oregon professor Mark Thoma.
blog maverick (blogmaverick.com) It's by Mark Cuban. And if you can't trust a flamboyant, impolitic sports team owner who made his first million at age 32 and his first billion by 39, who can you trust?
From last Wednesday: "Wall Street is not stupid. While spreadsheets define financial risk, contracts define the personal pain of failure. ... Here are a few steps that need to be taken in order to make sure that Pain remains associated with Failure. ... It won't be long until we see the repricing of options in companies whose stocks have tanked. It's another way to pump up executive compensation. In addition to stopping Golden Parachutes, this Bill should prevent repricing of options for execs that participate."
Seeking Alpha (seekingalpha.com) Offers stock market opinion and analysis from blogs, money managers and investment newsletters, not journalists. Its rules forbid opinions on stocks that trade below $1 because they can be more easily manipulated.
And if it all goes to pot, and you have to eke out a living by blogging, there's www.problogger.net: "13 Ways to Promote Your Next Blog Post."
MANY HITS
Percent increase in audience for trading Web sites for week ending Sept. 21, compared with average of previous seven weeks
Vanguard: 99
E*Trade: 26
Fidelity.com: 33
Merrill Lynch: 218
ShareBuilder: 217
Ameritrade: 35
Scottrade: 104
troweprice.com: 80
Source: Nielsen Online
