Weekly Market Update
Market Action U.S. GDP expanded at a surprising 2.9% during Q3 according to economic data released Friday. The news led to a selloff in the bond market and a stronger dollar on the stronger likelihood of tighter monetary policy. European economies also reported better...
Trapped in the Noise of the Market: Rates and Momentum
Markets are looking for an opportunity to break free from the noise of going sideways. It could be that the recently announced deals in mergers and acquisitions could become the cornerstone for such a break. On Monday the S&P 500 came close to 2150 and temporarily...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action Markets in the U.S. were largely flat on the week as Earnings season begins to gather momentum. Financials were among the best sectors thanks to strong earnings posted by banks. Saudi Arabia raised over $17 Billion in the largest bond sale ever by an...
Credit Impulse and Currency Outlook: Kafka’s Clamence Ponders on Currencies’ Trajectory
This year marks the 60th anniversary since Kafka published his least understood philosophical novel titled “The Fall”. The novel is a series of monologues by its main character (Clamence). Clamence’s words echo a dark masterpiece of a person who has fallen from grace....
Weekly Market Update
Market Action The British Pound continue its slide this past week. At one point dropped below $1.20. The fact that the British government may be preparing for a hard exit – which the Financial Times estimate could cost her between £20-40 billion – seems to be main...
Hyperkinesis and Financial Ecology: The EU and a Lesson from the Kudzu Weed
The markets seem to be suffering from hyperkinetic activity generated from too much kudzu collateralization, securitization, credit overextension, and central banking intervention. This has resulted in impulsivity across credit markets and the result is a form of...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action The IMF's Global Financial Stability Report indicates that the one of the biggest dangers now is bank profits. Comex gold dropped significantly on Wednesday. Barrick, Freeport-McMoRan, and Goldcorp all reported bad news that day. Deutsche Bank might have...
Complacency, Deflationary Bulls, and Inflationary Bears: Japanification in an Era when the Enemy of my Enemy is Still my Enemy
Lack of foresight is not a tactical mistake. It is a dangerous strategic error whose price is paid mainly by innocents over a long period of time. In April 1917, the government of Germany found an “ally” in the person of Vladimir Lenin. Lenin wanted to overthrow the...
Monthly Barometer’s Forward-Looking Monthly Review: An Interdisciplinary View of our Complex Global Economy
September 2016 More and more, decision-makers and market participants are coming to the realization that ultra-low interest rates reflect profound structural issues – most notably global ageing, falling productivity rates and rising inequalities – as much as...
The Markets and the Search for a Refiner’s Fire: Staring in the Mirror
In chapter 19 of the Odyssey, Homer writes about Penelope’s encounter with a mysterious guest. “Falsehoods all, but he gave his falsehoods all the ring of truth. As she listened on, her tears flowed and soaked her cheeks as the heavy snow melts down from the high...
