The Fed cut its discount rate by 75 basis points, even when the street predicted a 100% chance of a full 100 point cut.

Whats more important though is that Goldman Sachs (GS: chart, web, Y!) and Lehman Brothers (LEH: chart, web, Y!) both reported smaller than expected profit declines, easing fears that the liquidity crisis that sank Bear Stearns (BSC: chart, web, Y!) could spread to other investment banks. While normally I don’t view a “smaller than expected decline” report as overly bullish, I do believe it helps isolate the …

Jim Cramer is losing credibility… hand over fist!

Final word? Sorry. Yeah, that about sums it up.

It has become clearly evident that the Fed works weekends.

Last night the Fed announced an emergency quarter point discount rate cut to 3.25%, and on top of that, offered to lend money to a longer list of firms than ever before.

The rare weekend move came as J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM: chart, web, Y!) sealed a deal to buy Bear Stearns (BSC: chart, web, Y!) for just $2 a share backed by up to $30 billion borrowed from the Fed. The Fed board gave its approval to that unique funding arrangement, which guarantees JP Morgan against …

A few events to remember for next week:

Goldman Sachs reports earnings - March 18th, 8:30am
Goldman Sachs finished out 2007 in good shape with shares exceeding analysts predictions. However, Goldman’s true isolation from mortgage backed securities will be revealed in earnings for the next several quarters. With the bail out of Bear Stearns, I’m sure the street will be on pins and needles to see how well Goldman is fairing in this volatile market place.

Federal Open Market Committee meeting - March 18th, 9:00am .
Traders in interest rate futures have a 3/4% cut in the fed funds rate in mind and increasing evidence that the U.S. economy may be …

I just got my 2007 taxes back from the accountant. It’s bad. It’s really bad.

All in all, my 2007 tax obligation, including preparation fees, comes to just under $5,000 (of that the preparation costs were only $800 including the oil companies preparation costs).

I talked with the accountant last week, and after digging up my file, he told me the bottom line. After I scooped my jaw up off the floor, my next statement went something like this: “well, um, is there any way to lower that number?”.

After receiving my tax packet in the mail, it turns out there was a way to lower the number: by a …

I was watching Chris Matthews’ show this morning, and he was pinging both a republican and a democrat about how the government was handling the latest downturn in the economy. I didn’t catch the republicans response, but I did note that the democrat took to lambasting President Bush, saying that the President didn’t understand the full effect of these economic problems, and went on to criticize him for trying to sugar coat the economic problems we’re facing today in the finance markets.

My first reaction was in agreement. How could the President stand there and tell me that everything is rosy!? I’m outraged!

Then, my cup of coffee kicked …

If you’ve never read an annual report from Berkshire Hathaway, it’s rather interesting. As compared to many other company reports, it’s a little more succinct and easy to read. Mr. Buffett pulls no punches and doesn’t really sugar coat much.

Read the 2007 Annual Report Here

It seems Bear Stearns (BSC: chart, web, Y!) is in a bit of a pickle. At one point today they were staring their largest one-day percentage drop since the October 1987 stock market crash in the face. Why? Exposure to mortgage securities.

The stock fell 7.4% to $57 but traded as low as $50.48, representing a decline of more than 16%. The last time the Wall Street firm’s shares had a bigger one-day percentage loss than that was Oct. 19, 1987.

They’re also worried about margin calls on mortgage-backed securities, most notably …

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS: chart, web, Y!) is in the business of providing investment banking, and investment management services, primarily to corporations and financial institutions.

Goldman has been one of the few big investment banking and financial services firms that has actually held up well through the the fallout of the credit crisis and the housing slump. It’s low involvement in small residential mortgages and favorable short trades among the rest of the sector has worked in its favor.

The black sheep mentality compared to the rest of the sector has held the stock …

Big Ben opened his big mouth again today, and it seems his outlook on the economy is getting a bit more bearish each time his voice hits the airwaves.

Testifying today at the Senate Banking Committee, he said he now expects “sluggish growth” in the economy but predicted a “somewhat stronger pace” later in the year. He went on to attribute his stronger pace forecast to rate cuts and fiscal stimulus.

He threw in the caveat that housing and labor markets could deteriorate more than anticipated, emphasizing that “downside risks to growth remain.”

It seems that Bernanke is drawing criticism from Washington from both Republicans and Democrats, arguing that the recent efforts …