For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 12, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: AIG (AIG), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), TAM (TAM) and Vivo (VIV).

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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

Treasury Releases New TARP Rules

Specifically, the rules limit compensation for senior executives and other highly paid employees at companies receiving TARP funds, including limits on bonus payments (to one-third of total compensation) and curtailment of Golden Parachutes. Further, the bonuses paid to senior executive officers and the next

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Treasury Releases Compensation Rules for TARP FirmsLast evening, the Treasury released new rules for compensation of top executives at the firms that received TARP bailout funds. The rules can be seen here.Specifically, the rules limit compensation for senior executives and other highly paid employees at companies receiving TARP funds, including limits on bonus payments (to one-third of total compensation) and curtailment of Golden Parachutes. Further, the bonuses paid to senior executive officers and the next 20 most highly compensated employees will be subject to a "clawback" provision if the payment was based on materially inaccurate performance criteria.Under the rules, the Treasury appointed Kenneth R. Feinberg as the Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation. Mr. Feinberg will review payments and compensation plans for the executives and the 100 most highly compensated employees of seven TARP recipients that have received exceptional assistance, AIG ...

One of the most surprising outcomes from the government’s “stress test” release comes from a bank that many thought was adequately capitalized to weather further deterioration in the markets.  Among the 9 banks which the government will be forcing to raise new capital to cushion their equity position is Wells Fargo [WFC: 24.87, 0.00 (0.00%)].  Wells Fargo has been one of the few large-cap banks who were extremely conservative during the banking boom.  Now they are being asked to raise an additional $13.7 billion, when management feels their current capital position is fine.

During the banking boom, Wells Fargo avoided tactics used by other banks to raise their bottom line.  Since it was founded in 1852, the bank has proven itself to be one of (if not the most) conservative banking institutions.  It does not like to be classified

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Notes from the Investment Underground Friday, April 17, 2009 Palermo Viejo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Here comes subprime II… 3 toxic time bombs to come… The Richebächer legacy lives on… “Scamonomics” explored… Goldman bites the hand that feeds it… TARP loses 75% of taxpayers’ money… How to get $4,201 in your pocket by June 4… Banks’ top 4 accounting gimmicks… Short squeeze pushes market higher… John O’Neill on government’s deceit… James Dale Davidson: How to grab 19% yields on Treasurys (if you’ve got government connections)…  And more!

*** Rob Parenteau, the editor of the reincarnated Richebächer Letter, warns that we are in for the second wave of these toxic mortgages ahead. The first time subprime mortgages reset at a higher rate was in 2008 and the subsequent flurry of defaults sent banks into a tailspin.

Well, get ready, warns Rob. We still have “Option ARM” and “Alt-A” loan resets

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TheTreasury Department’s new bailout plan would require participation from private investors and would include government guarantees to limit losses. The details remain explained, but skepticism and fears of another crash are running high. For more information, read the following article from Money Morning:

By relying on asset-backed securities, large amounts of leverage and unregulated hedge funds as its key elements, the U.S. Treasury Department’s overhaul of the banking-system bailout plan is essentially relying on some of the same ingredients that caused the financial crisis in the first place.

This time around, someone should take the punch bowl away before the party even gets started. Otherwise, as Yogi Berra once said, it will be “Déjà vu all over again.”

The only difference this time around is that the U.S. Treasury Department is calling the plays.

Backdrop on a bailout

In a press conference Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy …

By relying on asset-backed securities, large amounts of leverage and unregulated hedge funds as its key elements, the U.S. Treasury Department’s overhaul of the banking-system bailout plan is essentially relying on some of the same ingredients that caused the financial crisis in the first place. This time around, someone should take the punch bowl away before the party even gets started. Otherwise, as Yogi Berra once said, it will be “Déjàvu all over again.” The only difference this time around is that the U.S. Treasury Department is calling the plays. Backdrop on a Bailout In a press conference Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner unveiled the long-awaited successor to the Bush administration’s Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).  The reaction was swift. Stocks plunged after the 11 a.m. press conference began when Secretary Geithner introduced a new rescue plan that was light on ...

The markets are deep in negative territory again today and investors are not too happy with Henry Paulson. Is he changing the rules in the middle of the game, or is he merely reacting because the game has changed?

Earlier today, the Secretary of the Treasury stood in front of an audience of Wall Street reporters and gave the country an update on the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) and his team’s efforts to shore up the nation’s economy. What he had to say is taking some investors by surprise.

Most importantly, Paulson noted he would not use the TARP to buy the troubled assets of the nation’s financial institutions (like the name of the program implies). Instead, the Treasury Department will use the hundreds of billions of dollars allocated to it to directly buy stakes, in the form of preferred stock, in troubled companies.

Investors have raised eyebrows, for several reasons. Most

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Congressional negotiators late yesterday (Thursday) reached a tentative agreement on a credit-crisis compromise that gives the Bush administration about a third of the $700 billion it has requested up front, but made sure half that outlay was subject to a congressional veto, published reports state.