Bullish Blog

AP - A key House lawmaker wants to make credit rating agencies — widely criticized for failing to give investors adequate warning of the risks in subprime mortgage securities that triggered the financial crisis — collectively liable for inaccuracies.

AP - The watchdog of the Securities and Exchange Commission has recommended a new system for handling the thousands of tips and complaints the agency receives and other changes to prevent another breakdown like the one that allowed Bernard Madoff’s massive fraud to go undetected for 16 years.

Investor’s Business Daily - Investors’ appetite for risk faded in August, as they stuffed a record $42.91 billion into bond funds vs. only $3.86 billion into stock funds.

AP - A surprise drop in consumer confidence tripped up investors Tuesday, a day after a round of corporate takeovers set off a steep market rally. Stocks fell after the Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell in September. Economists had been expecting a reading of 57; instead it came in at 53.1.

AP - MADOFF AFTERMATH: To prevent another breakdown like the Bernard Madoff fraud, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s inspector general is recommending a new system for handling the thousands of tips and complaints the agency receives, among other changes.

AP - A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Tuesday:

Reuters - U.S. securities regulators are eyeing new restrictions on the multi-trillion dollar securities lending market used by short-sellers after the credit crisis revealed the industry was “anything but low risk.”

Reuters - After dismissing complaints that might have uncovered Bernard Madoff’s $65 billion fraud, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission must reform how it reviews tips and conducts examinations, the SEC’s internal watchdog said on Tuesday.

AP - A surprise drop in consumer confidence tripped up investors Tuesday, a day after a round of corporate takeovers set off a steep market rally.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprise drop in a gauge of consumer confidence overshadowed signs of stabilization in housing and solid earnings from Walgreen Co .