Money defined.
August 19, 2017
Money is defined by its purpose. Money acts as a unit of account (it can be counted), a medium of exchange (it is accepted in trade for goods and services), and a store of value (what it will trade for stays stable). Nothing says that money must be backed by a sovereign promise like the paper currencies we think of as “real” money today (US Dollar, British Pound, Japanese Yen and so forth).
There is an eerie quiet in the market.
August 11, 2017
There is an eerie quiet in the market. Domestic politics in the US continues to flail on healthcare much less being able to start tax reform and faces a possible government shutdown and a debt ceiling. Meanwhile the Federal Reserve is poised to shrink their balance sheet while inflation is subdued.
So far so good
July 28, 2017
So far so good. We are in the midst of second quarter earnings reports in the US and so far good numbers are showing up….
Let’s get to work.
July 20, 2017
Let’s get to work. Friday’s US jobs report showed a gain of 222,000 jobs added in the month of June which was better than…
No fireworks this week.
June 30, 2017
No fireworks this week. As everyone in the US gears up for a holiday weekend, the feel of summer is upon the markets as…
Welcome to the party.
June 23, 2017
Welcome to the party. The big news this week is the addition of just over 200 stocks listed in the Chinese “A share” market (the…
Global central banks are not short on confidence.
June 15, 2017
Global central banks are not short on confidence.
Things can get hung up in a snap
June 09, 2017
Things can get hung up in a snap. That is probably what UK Prime Minister Theresa May is thinking.
Minute by Minute
May 30, 2017
The Federal Reserve released the minutes from their most recent meeting this week. In it was an answer to a question that has lingered over the market for some time – what to do with the $4.5 trillion of securities residing on their balance sheet after years of expansive monetary policy.
Isn’t That a Peach?
May 19, 2017
Well, isn’t that a peach? Impeach. That is the word that has been on the lips of those in Washington D.C. and blasted across media outlets.
It’s Only Temporary
May 05, 2017
It’s only temporary. That’s the opinion of Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen of the poor first quarter GDP growth in the United States.
World Trade Does A U-Turn
April 28, 2017
Perhaps the market sentiment that global trade was going to come to a halt was a bit premature. Many feared that the US would withdraw from all trade arrangements with its major trading partners.
Geopolitics Heat Up
April 17, 2017
Just when President Trump starts to move towards status quo, things start to get hairy.
Republicans Get A Health Check
March 27, 2017
So much of the market’s expectations for “reflation” in the economy is based upon the premise that a White House and Congress dominated by Republicans could work together to quickly pass legislation.
It’s Sheer Madness
March 17, 2017
While there are many things going on around the world (the Dutch election in which the Euro-skeptic party won fewer than expected seats, the dovish read on the Federal Reserve after the expected rate hike, the no-action from the central banks in England, Japan, and Norway, etc), it is time for a little break.
Let There Be No Doubt
March 10, 2017
The upcoming meeting of the Federal Reserve on March 14-15 has been the most telegraphed policy meeting in recent memory.
Don’t Count Out The Fed
February 24, 2017
Don’t count out the Fed. With all the emphasis on the new administration’s fiscal policy, the release of the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes this week came with little fanfare.
The Fed has been Trumped
February 03, 2017
You can tell when the narrative has changed. Rewind to this time last year.
Let’s Get Fis-cal, Fis-cal
January 30, 2017
Perhaps President Trump is listening to the 1981 hit album from Olivia Newton-John Physical this week as he continues to press on the fiscal button.
Trump Stays Center Stage
January 13, 2017
President-elect Trump remains central in decision for businesses and investors alike.
Hoping For A Gift That Keeps Giving
December 23, 2016
It’s a gift. Just a little extra before the start of the New Year.
Men-Ew-Chin
December 01, 2016
In case you were wondering, that is how you pronounce the last name of President-elect’s pick for the U.S. Treasury post.
We Give Thanks For Much
November 28, 2016
We give thanks for much including a parking spot at the mall.
The Greenback Is Rising!
November 21, 2016
The US Dollar is reaching levels last seen at the end of 2002.
It’s a World of Possibility Out There
October 14, 2016
It’s a world of possibility out there. We have to keep both our eyes and our minds open for it.
The Pound Takes a Dive When the Water Level Was Low
October 07, 2016
Liquidity, liquidity everywhere except for the foreign exchange market in Asian trading hours overnight. That might seem like an obscure statement, but it has market moving consequences when combined with computer-driven trading programs.
OPEC Makes A Deal To Make A Deal
September 30, 2016
This week OPEC surprised markets by taking action, supposedly. Reports indicate that a production cap has been set at 32.5mm barrels of production from the cartel responsible for about 40% of global supply.
It’s The End Of QE As We Know It… In Japan.
September 23, 2016
With all the Fed chatter, not much has been said about the communication from the Bank of Japan (BoJ) this week.
The Fed Extends And Pretends
September 21, 2016
Today’s decision puts the U.S. Federal Reserve clearly in the “extend and pretend” camp.
Are We There Yet?
September 16, 2016
The market sits and waits for next week as the Fed meeting approaches. Will they or won’t they?
Is The Kitchen Still Open For Policy Support?
September 09, 2016
Rhetoric continues to indicate that policymakers are trying to serve up economic growth on a plate and convince the markets that the kitchen is still open.
Guessing Games Are Every Economist’s Cup of Tea
September 02, 2016
It seems that guessing games are every economist’s cup of tea these days.
Meet Me In The Middle
August 22, 2016
An analysis released this week by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicated that middle income jobs (those paying between $30,000 and $60,000 per year) are finally being created.
The Bank of England cuts, Europe hovers, and the U.S. gets to work.
August 08, 2016
Is the divergence getting even greater? This week, the Bank of England (BoE) responded as expected with additional support after the Brexit vote in June weakened their economic stability.
We Need A Little More Pep In Our Economic Step!
August 01, 2016
The first release of estimates for second quarter economic growth was made in both the US and Euro-area, both to the disappointing side.
If You Miss A Day, You Can Miss A Lot
July 15, 2016
Every day this week had a top headline that is directly relevant to the market narrative at hand- some positive, some tragic.