I'm in the UK. Anyone know what time GMT Bush's address will take place as I'd like to watch it on sky news or similar, thanks
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Investors cast a shocking vote of no confidence in the future of U.S. automakers Thursday.
After dropping sharply early in the day, GM (GM, Fortune 500) stock closed down 31% to $4.76 a share, while Ford (F, Fortune 500) fell nearly 22% to $2.08. A flurry of bad news was to blame, of which the latest was a declaration by ratings agency Standard & Poor's that it was putting GM and Ford on credit watch negative "because of the rapidly weakening state of most global auto markets" and weak capital market conditions.
The stock selloff effectively puts both companies on death watch, and it's easy to see why. The ratings warnings followed a new report by Global Insight that shows U.S. auto sales hitting recession levels this year - and then sinking lower in 2009.
"We won't get back to where we were in 2006 until 2013," said George Magliano, director of forecasting for North America for Global Insight. The economic forecasting and consulting firm based outside Boston is forecasting sales of 13.8 million units this year and only 13.4 million in 2009, compared with 16.1 million last year.
Originally posted by citizenc
reply to post by BlackOps719
I am in Europe right now, watching the carnage unfold, and being reported straight-faced as if nothing... most listings at around -9% while waiting for Wall Street to open, and to see what Bush has to say...
My guess is that, since this is a planned demolition, they will NOT close trading today, to allow the bleeding until there is no more...
I'll have some wine as I watch history unfold, and kiss my work good-bye...
Originally posted by citizenc
reply to post by BlackOps719
The demolition campaign has also a very strong psychological base. Most of what is happening is due to the fact that "they" accurately predicted that by shooting a few rounds of live ammo in the face of investors around the world, panic would ensue, and the "herd mentality" would take care of the rest... stampede on the way...
So I think that Bush's poker face will state that, "since the situation is so serious... bla bla bla" some general ambiguous statement to do nothing to control the fear-jerk reaction in the market, and let the blood fest continue...
"Let them eat the cake..."
[edit on 10-10-2008 by citizenc]