Media Mentions

Reuters

But while the rating services argue that they are merely offering opinion, they are involved in a lot more, said Joseph Mason, an associate professor of finance at Drexel University in Philadelphia. He said they work directly with underwriters to determine the size of each tranche, or group of debt, and are active in the entire structuring of CDOs to achieve a rating target. "The rating companies view is we offer an editorial opinion," Mr. Mason said. "That's clearly not the case. Rating companies are involved in financial engineering."

Advertising Age

A study reports that CMOs have no impact on sales. Pravin Nath, a professor of marketing at the LeBow College of Business, admits the study is limited because it focuses on financial-performance metrics, such as sales growth and profitability, and not brand equity, and both were quick to offer caveats to the conclusion.

6ABC

Stanley Kligman, instructor of marketing at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, talks about the hype surrounding Apple, Inc.'s new iPhone.

Philadelphia Inquirer

Drexel University marketing professor Lawrence Duke noted that Apple aired commercials for the iPhone showing only 11 of the screen's icons, leaving the use for the 12th - since identified as a link to YouTube Inc. - a mystery. "They sort of manufacture the buzz," he said. "They put the information out there, but not all of it."

Philadelphia Inquirer

Drexel University marketing professor Lawrence Duke noted that Apple aired commercials for the iPhone showing only 11 of the screen's icons, leaving the use for the 12th - since identified as a link to YouTube Inc. - a mystery. "They sort of manufacture the buzz," he said. "They put the information out there, but not all of it."

Bloomberg.com

When the collateral in residential mortgage bonds is impaired, nothing will undo the losses,&#39;&#39; says <strong>Joseph R. Mason, associate professor of finance at Drexel University</strong> in Philadelphia. It's a static pool of investments, a brain-dead trust.''

RightSideAdvisors.com

The gist of Joseph Mason’s comments, Drexel University professor of finance is that the losses in the collateral of a structured finance – can’t come back. Foreclosed homes are often sold at a discount, and thus booked.

Los Angeles Times

"We know that these holdings are not unique to Bear Stearns," said Drexel University professor Joseph R. Mason, co-author of a recent study warning of dangers in securities backed by home loans to high-risk borrowers. "It would be hard to find a Wall Street firm that hasn't created similar funds."

Financial Post

"We know now that we really don't fully understand default risk in subprime bonds," said Joe Mason.

CNBC

Joe Mason, associate professor of finance, discusses whether the subprime crisis will spillover to other segments of the U.S. economy.

CNBC

Analysis of whether we've reached the tip of the housing iceberg, with Diana Olick, CNBC real estate reporter; Alex Barron, JMP Securities sr. housing analyst; Joseph Mason, Drexel University professor of finance and CNBC's Melissa Lee

Bloomberg

Joseph Mason, a finance professor at Philadelphia's Drexel University and a former economist at the U.S. Treasury Department, says the ratings are undermined by the disclaimers. I laugh about Moody&#39;s and S&amp;P disclaimers,&#39;&#39; he says. The ratings giveth and the disclaimer takes it away. Once you're through with the disclaimers, you're left with very little new information.''

Business Week

Calculations in the structured-finance arena factor in multiple borrowers, highly technical statistical models, and the arcane legal rules governing such deals. "Risk is getting mixed up, and the ratings agencies can't keep track of it," says Drexel University associate professor Joseph R. Mason.

WBBM Chicago Radio

"This is not just a subprime problem. This is a problem in markets that fund all bank loans right now," said Dr. Joseph Mason, associate professor of finance at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business.

DS News

Dr. Joe Mason speaks with Default Servicing News about economic conditions in the housing market.

MSN Finance

Joseph Mason, an associate professor of finance at Drexel University, argues that in the age of increasingly complex derivatives, debt rating agencies often actively work with debt underwriters to ensure that the different pieces, called tranches, of the offering are crafted to earn the necessary credit quality ratings to appeal to investors with different appetites for risk.

National Association of Federal Credit Unions

Joe Mason, from the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, said there is a role for prepayment penalties—that of investor security—and instead suggested more financial education. Michael Decker, of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, said many problems have been corrected and that most of the subprime market is working reasonably well.

Mortgage meltdown hits Bear Stearns

Joseph Mason teaches finance at Drexel University. He says this isn't just a Wall Street problem. Your 401k or pension fund may be invested in similar mortgage-related securities.

Bloomberg.com

"The problem is not what we see happening, but what we don't see,'' said Joseph Mason, associate professor of finance at Drexel University in Philadelphia and co-author of an 84-page study this year on the CDO market. "We don't know the price of these assets. We don't know which banks are exposed to this sector. These conditions are the classic conditions for financial crises across history.''

Los Angeles Times

Anxiety intensified Friday about the toll the sub-prime mortgage meltdown is taking on the financial industry at large, as Bear Stearns Cos. pledged to lend $3.2 billion to rescue a hedge fund battered by rising defaults on home loans. The jitters sent stocks tumbling across the board. “We know that these holdings are not unique to Bear Stearns,” said Drexel University professor Joseph R. Mason, co-author of a recent study warning of dangers in securities backed by home loans to high-risk borrowers. “It would be hard to find a Wall Street firm that hasn’t created similar funds.”

The Epoch Times

Dr. Frank Xie knows something about the role the Chinese consular officials play in Chinese student associations. Now a professor at the College of Business of Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Xie once served as Vice President of Chinese Student and Scholars Association of Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the first Chief Executive of the American Midwest Chinese Student and Scholars Solidarity Union, representing Chinese student groups from 40 universities in 11 states in the Midwest United States

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

On June 7, Sandra Urdaneta Hartmann, along with colleagues Dr. Mary K. Howett and Dr. John W. Kreider, won Drexel University's 2007 Business Plan Competition for their ongoing work in developing a common ingredient in personal-care products — sodium dodecyl sulfate — into a new spermicide and microbicide for women to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and HPV.

CN8's Money Matters Today

Live from the Pearlstein Business Learning Center, CN8's Money Matters Today  featured Drexel University LeBow College of Business's Basic Training for Business. Guest speakers Lissette Rodriguez, licensed cosmetologist at Trish McEvoy at Saks Fifth Avenue, and Thomas Gibboney, education trainer at Kiehl's Since 1851, explained the do's and dont's of "Putting Your Best Face Forward" for men and women. Rodriguez demonstrated on volunteers how women can best apply make-up when changing from a office atmosphere to an evening business/social event. She also offered quick hair styling tips. Gibboney demonstrated to men the proper way to shave and suggest products men can use to maintain healthy skin.

CN8's Money Matters Today

Mary Caraccioli, multi Emmy Award-winning TV journalist and host and executive producer of "Money Matters Today," will discuss "Hits and Misses: How Business Reacts to Media Firestorms" at the Third Annual Drexel Women in Business Networking Tea. At the helm of "Money Matters Today," Caraccioli offers viewers straightforward answers to their money questions. As CN8's director of business and consumer news, she directs CN8's coverage of news from the financial world offering exclusive economic and industry breaking special reports. She is currently a candidate for a Master's in Business Administration degree at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, while finishing her thesis for a Master's degree in International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania.

CN8's Money Matters Today

CN8’s Money Matters Today featured Wayne Gattinella ‘76, CEO of WebMD. Gattinella discussed how WebMD has established its presence as the leading provider of health information services and its future plans for sustained growth with new innovations. Gattinella was appointed CEO of WebMD in April 2005, after joining the company in 2001 as president of WebMD Health. He has helped establish WebMD as the most recognized and trusted brand of health information for consumers and physicians. Under his direction, WebMD has also become the leader in providing private health and benefits portals for Fortune 500 companies and the country’s largest health plans. He recently spoke to the Drexel University community on March 8 as part of the Industry Perspectives series.

The Washington Times

Wall Street would buy just about any loan for the yield, regardless of risk. Drexel University finance professor Joseph Mason said: "The mortgage market for the past few years has been playing a massive game of hot potato."

The Market Traders

That is also the view of Joshua Rosner, a managing director at Graham & Fisher & Co., and Joseph Mason, associate professor of finance at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business. The two published a paper last week, "How Resilient Are Mortgage- Backed Securities to Collateralized Debt Obligation Market Disruptions?" analyzing CDOs.

seekingalpha.co

That is also the view of Joshua Rosner, a managing director at Graham & Fisher & Co., and Joseph Mason, associate professor of finance at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business. The two published a paper last week, "How Resilient Are Mortgage- Backed Securities to Collateralized Debt Obligation Market Disruptions?" analyzing CDOs.

Salon.com

No hyperlink is provided for the equally excellent paper by Joseph R. Mason and Joshua Rosner that marshals the most complete set of reasons I've yet seen for why we should be increasingly worried: "How Resilient Are Mortgage Backed Securities to Collateralized Debt Obligation Market Disruptions?"

Mortgage Servicing News

Dresdner Kleinwort is unhappy about the prospect of CDOs based on US home equity loans being repriced. Joseph Mason and Joshua Rosner are even more unhappy, and at far greater length.