Legal, Economic & Regulatory Affairs News by GLG Council Members

Thsi WSJ article simply and clearly lays out the three key factors behind the current "housing crisis:"  financial engineering by Wall Street that increased risk, unconscionable enabling by rating agencies, and asleep-at-the-switch regulators.

Saudi Arabia is presently the worlds largest producer of oil with excess production capabilities. The country is arguably the leader of OPEC and the Saudi's have become masters of Petroleum Politics. Is there anything that says they have to increase production in order to meet demand?  If you were running the Saudi government and sitting on a finite resource that generates the vast majority...

Secretary Negroponte's statements suggest a more aggressive U.S. policy favoring biotechnology as one way of addressing global food inflation. The policy recognizes the necessity of widespread acceptance of the technology. Will the presidential candidates agree?

.- It´s not a legal matter: it's a life or death matter. .- The person who wears a Z-Shield truly believes it will protect his life, as well as the operation planners. .- US officials and troops believe the equipment provided by the Government is the best.

With increased focus on the need for safer produce, industry will be forced to invest more in safety technology. The environment is ripe with opportunities.

Consumers prefer payday credit to bounced check "protection" offered by banks and credit unions.  Borrowing from payday lenders does not show up on traditional credit reports.  Profits of payday lenders are in-line with other financial intermediaries.

Payday lenders complete first steps needed to begin referendum. Payday lending group hires prominent spokeswoman.

Product liability exposure of new materials makers can be severe, especially with fatal consequences of failures Internal memos re product problems can shoot company in the foot; prudent firms have a plan for controlling open-ended speculative memos in an instant-message environment Major PR and govt. contract risk of "getting it wrong" with new materials under expected stressful conditions makes...

Many banks will no longer be able to deny huge losses on their portfolios of loans to residential and other developers.  Recognition and realization of these losses will seriously damage the financial strength of many banks, particularly smaller ones.  Expect increasing bank failures.

Mofaz's statement is about the price of oil, Russian-Israeli and Russian-Iranian relations more than anything else. The connection to the imminent downfall of the current Israeli government and competition for leadership within the Kadima party is secondary.