7.3.09

Tech vs Banks

The market capitalization of financial shares in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index has declined by more than 83%, reducing their weighting in the index to less than 9%, compared with an 82% decline in market cap from the 2000 peak in technology to its trough in 2002, according to S&P.
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In certain ways, the sectors cannot be compared. The meltdown in technology had a mild impact on the rest of the economy, and the ensuing recession following the peak in investment activity was a brief, relatively benign one.
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By contrast, the financial sector’s arms are entwined in the entire economy, and many companies have large obligations that they are unable to pay. Because of their importance in the economy, the banking sector’s problems have contributed to a widespread economic slowing, one that adds to their troubles and those of their investors.

http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2009/03/06/the-financial-wreck-surpasses-the-tech-wreck/

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