JPMorgan sees Profits from Investment Banks as Defaults Rise

For the first time since 2007, JP Morgan Chase & Company has seen profits rise from investment-banking fees. The second-quarter earnings of JPMorgan increased to $2.7 billion or approximately 28 cents per share – an increase over the $2 billion a year earned before.

This increase in revenue from investment-banking has been a tremendous help considering the startlingly high amount of defaults occurring in consumer loans such as mortgages or credit cards. It is estimated at this time by Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon that the credit card business won’t see a profit between this year or 2010, and loss projections have increased for prime and subprime mortgages.

Investment banking has made $1.47 billion in profit which is 4 times the amount of profit earned in last year’s second-quarter. This profit comes from fees in underwriting stocks and bond deals, and fixed-income trading.

“The credit problems, although they have stabilized, we’re still not out of the woods,” said Gerard Cassidy, banking analyst at RBC Capital Markets. “For JPMorgan Chase, the challenge going forward is going to continue to be deterioration of credit.”

Despite this rise in profits, Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon predicted even more losses to occur from consumer loans. JPMorgan has already said that its losses in the credit-card department should be around 10 percent next quarter, dependent upon unemployment rates nation-wide. It’s newly acquired Washington Mutual and the cards issues by it may reach 24 percent loss by the end of the year.

For more information on this issue or further statistics, visit: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a6e9ZjnyvX38

Good time to invest in Real Estate

Yes, real estate has been a very roller coaster-like situation for the past few years. This is due to the fact that real estate prices became so inflated and people took advantage of this through secondary loans and jumbo loans in order to buy houses well above regular market price, or to purchase extracurricular goods, such as cars, RVs, boats, or vacations.

Most of the extra funds taken out on houses were not used to reinvest for a greater gain later, and so when the housing market fell, people started losing their houses.

What does this mean to you? Now is the best time to invest in real estate. Prices are at all-time lows for houses – at levels that haven’t been seen since the 1980s. Bank repos, foreclosures, and regular homes for sale are at the lowest prices most people have seen in a long time!

In addition, interest rates are at an all time low. As of April 2, 2009, interests for a 30 year loan (for loans under $418,000) were at 4.78% – the lowest on record since 1971. Not only are prices lower, but these low interest rates mean that you can get a bigger, better house for much cheaper both in the short run and in the long run!

Don’t let this unprecedented situation pass you by! If you do not already own a house and have the capacity to quality for a loan, do your best to get out there and become a home owner!

Time to Invest in Mutual Funds is Now

Recent turmoil in the market has all of us pretty scared about what to do with our money. Should we invest? Should we save? Should we grab all of our assets and run for the hills?

Now is not the time to be shy. Finally, the market is starting to present some great opportunities for those in the position to take advantage of those opportunities. While most of our “quick fix” investment options are in trouble and not really available at this time, it is time to look at more long term investments.

Sadly, the recent reports have shown that over the past 15 months, Americans have lost over $2 trillion in paper losses through retirement plans, so be very careful in considering increasing or adding new funds. Most people investing in mutual funds are not being nearly as careful as they should be about where their money is going.

Rather than just allowing another company to pick your mutual funds, pick them more carefully! Look at a fund’s fees and expenses, its associated risks, and its historical performance. Look for long-term, stable companies that have been performing well despite the downturn in the market. Look for long-tenured managers and a stable administration.

That’s right! Look at the managers! Do the research before investing a single dime into mutual funds and you are much more likely to show profits and improvements in your investments.

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