10 Rumors That Are Making the Rounds

Investing
By Doug Kass
RealMoney Silver Contributor
12/4/2007 3:25 PM EST
URL: http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/investing/10392867.html

This blog post originally appeared on RealMoney Silver on Dec. 4 at 2:09 p.m. EST. Every few weeks, I recap 10 tidbits I've picked up from trading desks and other industry sources. These items have not been confirmed, but they either have affected or could affect the stocks mentioned.
1. A publicly held homebuilder will shortly file bankruptcy. (Hint: It currently trades for under $10 per share.)
2. More land deals -- similar to Lennar (LEN) -Morgan Stanley (MS) -- are on the plate.
3. Numerous capital infusions are being planned in the domestic mortgage insurance and origination areas, with acquirors in the real estate and finance areas.
4. Over there, a large bank bailout will be announced by year-end. (I think in Germany, again.)
5. Two large brokerage firms will announce major head-count reductions in the next week.
6. A handful of $1 billion to $5 billion hedge funds have already announced closure at year-end. A major commodities trading firm and several large funds of funds will close. Expect to read about these disclosures over the next 10 days. 7. Several sizable cross-border mergers will be announced by year-end, and one $25 billion-plus deal may be made public by next Monday morning. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts will make a large consumer products acquisition by January's end.
8. Two brokerages will announce a change in strategists' assignments by year-end.
9. Friday's jobs number will be very weak, with a drop of over 50,000 jobs. 10. High-end retail sales have been sluggish.