Financials Push Stocks Lower; Investors Shrug at Beige Book – October 21, 2009

Investors Stage a Late Selloff

Stocks retreated for a second day as banking, retail and technology shares led the session lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 92.12 points to finish the day off at 9,949.36. Broader stock indicators also fell into negative territory. The bank sector suffered on reports that the Obama administration will announce pay cuts for executives at financial firms that received big checks from the government. News that influential banking analyst Richard X. Bove of Rochdale Securities reportedly downgraded Wells Fargo (WFC) to sell from neutral also impacted the market. The release of the Federal Reserve’s Beige book didn’t peak investors’ interest much, despite the report showing modest gains. In other news, U.S. light crude oil for December delivery rose $2.25 to settle at $81.37 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The euro jumped to a 14-month high against the dollar. Treasury prices rallied, lowering the yield on the 10-year note to 3.41% from 3.34%.

Word on the Street

The release of the Federal Reserve’s Beige book offered up some more positive news about the economy. Small and scattered improvements are taking place in the economy throughout the country. The report showed modest gains in all 12 district banks.

Fed’s Beige Book from Oct. 21

Galleon Group is shutting down all its hedge funds, company founder Raj Rajaratnam told employees and investors in a letter Wednesday. According to the letter, Galleon is currently exploring various alternatives for the business.

How Strong Is The Evidence in the Galleon Insider-Trading Case?

Will Galleon Case Become SEC v. Rakoff Part II?

The European Commission isn’t ready to sign off on the Oracle and Sun deal. The EU is disappointed with Oracle Corp.’s (ORCL) cooperation in the commission’s antitrust probe into the technology company’s planned $7.4 billion takeover of Sun Microsystems Inc. (JAVA)

Sun Cutting Another 3000 Jobs Over 12 Months

Some more help is on the way for small businesses. President Barack Obama announced new measures to open up credit, including capital injections for community banks to spur lending. Are Obama’s small-business lending proposals also about health care?

State unemployment figures are still on the rise. US employment opportunities remain bleak as September’s regional and state unemployment rates climbed in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Video — Unemployment Data: Highlights

Earnings Central

Wells Fargo & Co (WFC) raked in $3.2 billion in the latest quarter, nearly double what it made just a year ago. The company was able to get a big boost by outsized revenue from underwriting mortgages.

How’s Wells Fargo faring with its big acquisition of Wachovia last year?

Morgan Stanley (MS) was praised by investors for finally returning to profitability. The company’s third-quarter results improved as income from its investment banking operations offset losses in commercial real estate.

Video — Morgan Stanley Conference Call

Boeing (BA) posted a larger-than-expected quarterly loss on costs related to its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner program. The aircraft producer reaffirmed that it is on track to fly the airline this year, but we all know how this story will end.

Yahoo (YHOO) announced third quarter earnings today, showing net income more than tripling to $186 million. Profits may be heading up, but the number of people employed by the company is heading in the opposite direction.

The Earnings Season Racket

Other Juicy Tidbits

How Wall Street Will Kill the Recovery — Wall Street is taking much of its federal money and using it to again speculate in the oil market. That’s bad for everybody.

Like it or not, here comes more stimulus

What the insurance industry got right.

Why We Had to Bail Out GM and Chrysler — The man who led the effort gives an inside look at the bankruptcies that shook America

Madoff shared cell with drug dealer, spy and mob boss.