Author: John E. Charalambakis

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 24, 2012 |

European Shocks and Strategic Disintegration Part IV: Useful Idiots in the Land of Ds

I love dogmas (our first D). I know that in politically correct terms, dogma is an antiquated term that should die. However, dogmas are like the oxygen. You may not […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 14, 2012 |

On Bank Losses, Hedging, Fiat Currencies, and Risks: The Role of Anchors

Last Thursday evening, JP Morgan Chase admitted to losses of at least $2 billion on a $100 billion derivatives bet, baptized as hedging. As time goes by, the actual losses […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 8, 2012 |

Useful Idiots No More: Political Hubris and Economic Realities

The results of the elections held in Greece last Sunday may well have sent a powerful signal to politicians and policy makers worldwide, that has yet to be discussed by […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: April 25, 2012 |

Resources’ Nationalization in the Midst of Disintegration: A Paradigm Shift?

From last weekend’s IMF meetings we learned that its “firepower” had increased substantially by over $400 billion to be used as needed in light of the deteriorating situation in Europe. […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: April 18, 2012 |

Strategic Disintegration Part III: A Hexagon of Forces and the Trajectory of the Euro

The figure below shows the six forces which we believe are at work in determining the trajectory of the Euro in the foreseeable future. The analysis below discusses the six […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: April 12, 2012 |

The Migration of Delusion and the Epidemic of Irrationality

The markets were rattled in the last few days. Let’s review what the conventional wisdom underwrote as the main causes (we use the plural causes, since the explanation was changing […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: April 5, 2012 |

The Unbearable Lightness of Complacency: The Voyage for Returns in the Midst of Strategic Disintegration

The risks in the global economy remain due to Europe’s problems in the banking and fiscal spheres as well as due to the hundreds of trillions of dollars in toxic […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: March 25, 2012 |

A Tale of Two Doors: Energy, the Dollar, and the ECB

A friend was telling me lately that it seems that there are two kinds of people: Those who chose the door that leads to paradise and those who choose the […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: March 19, 2012 |

Signs of Controlled Disintegration: The Market for Debt, Financial Stability & Prospects for Growth

It has long been our position that the debt market should be viewed as a market for third-party liabilities. Its growth advances leverage and brings with it diminishing returns since […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: March 14, 2012 |

From the Cacophony of the Fall to the Rhapsody of the Spring: Sovereigns, Risks, and Returns

We just want to erase from our memories the happenings of last fall, when the markets were dropping nervously while searching for signs of life. The swap lines announced by […]