Investing Opinion

Kass: Subprime's Siren Call

 

The CRB RIND Index -- an index of spot raw material prices -- just made a multiyear high last week, while unit labor costs have upticked to levels not seen in years.

In summary, the credit contagion that started with the fungus of subprime lending will hit an already weakened housing market and could spread to other securitized markets. Its impact will be felt broadly and should have a pronounced negative effect on personal consumption, corporate profits and stock prices. It will suck.

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At time of publication, Kass and/or his funds had no positions in stocks mentioned, although holdings can change at any time.

Doug Kass is founder and president of Seabreeze Partners Management, Inc., and the general partner and investment manager of Seabreeze Partners Short LP and Seabreeze Partners Short Offshore Fund, Ltd. Until 1996, he was senior portfolio manager at Omega Advisors, a $4 billion investment partnership. Before that he was executive senior vice president and director of institutional equities of First Albany Corporation and JW Charles/CSG. He also was a General Partner of Glickenhaus & Co., and held various positions with Putnam Management and Kidder, Peabody. Kass received his bachelor's from Alfred University, and received a master's of business administration in finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1972. He co-authored "Citibank: The Ralph Nader Report" with Nader and the Center for the Study of Responsive Law and currently serves as a guest host on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Kass appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email.

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