- the number of troubled banks on the FDIC watch list rose to 117 in Q2, up from 90 in Q1 and from 76 in Q4 2007. The FDIC never discloses the specific names of the institutions on this list, only lists their number and the amount of assets that are troubled.
- $78.3B in assets listed as troubled in Q2, up from $26.3B in Q1. Even though the amount of troubled assets tripled, about half of those assets were from the failed IndyMac bank, and the relatively small amount on the list would still indicate that no major banks are currently on the FDICs troubled list.
- historically, about 13% of troubled banks will eventually fail. Notably, IndyMac was not believed to be on the Q1 list before it failed in early July.
- the FDIC insures a total of about 8,500 banks.

TTN Research Alert sector headlines

• Yesterday 09:49pm
  TTN Analysis: Australia's Big 4 banks pass on the RBA's Dec 100 bps rate cut at varying degrees as their funding situations differ- Despite yesterday's larger than expected 100 bps rate by the RBA more...
  
• Yesterday 02:55am
  Credit Suisse cuts US equities portion of global portfolio to 5% overweight from 11%- Raises emerging market stocks to overweight in 2009 - Remains very underweight on EMEA stocks
  
• Yesterday 01:19am
  (CH) Chinese Govt notes concern over return of unemployed urban laborers returning to the countryside - WSJ- Article notes that as laborers in urban areas find it increasingly difficult to find work, more...
  
• 12/1/2008 08:31pm
  2008 semiconductor equipment sales to reach $30.9B (-28% y/y vs +5.7% in 2007); The equipment market is expected to decline by about 21% y/y in 2009 - SEMI- Wafer processing equipment, the largest more...
  
• 12/1/2008 05:18pm
  The quarterly share rebalance for the S&P 500, 400, 600 and REIT indices will occur at the close of business on Friday 12/19