A Review of the Most Important Global Events in October by Monthly Barometer
The IMF meeting earlier this month was in somber mood. In the words of its managing director, Christine Lagarde, the global economic recovery is “brittle, uneven and beset by risks”. This suggests that the idea that global growth will be structurally low and...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action Stock markets in the U.S. continued their surge over the past five days. An overall good earnings season and economic data pointing to a growing economy and stronger consumer buoyed markets. A surprise expansion of the Bank of Japan’s balance sheet on...
The Tranquility of a Chaotic Disequilibrium: Alexander’s Feast and the Risks of Divorcing Credit from Liquidity
The results of the EU-wide stress tests on banks are out. The EU banks seem to celebrate that all is well. Catastrophe was avoided. The capital that some of them would need to raise seem to be so low that a celebratory tone is raised in the sky. Tranquility needs a...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action The major indices in the U.S. had one of their best weeks in the past two years with the S&P rising over 4% and the Nasdaq over 5%. Positive earnings reported from firms have taken the forefront of markets’ minds from previous concerns about...
Geopolitical Journal: October 23rd
Geopolitical Headlines Ebola Global concerns over the spread of Ebola have accelerated over the past few weeks. Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient diagnosed with the virus in the U.S. passed away and a nurse who treated him was also infected but has been cleared of...
Heretic Views and Heroic Visions: Collateral Pools, Realism, and Marketable Assets
The Age of Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and High Renaissance was followed by the age of Mannerism, known by its artificial qualities. Two of the main characteristics of Mannerism are compositional tension and instability. Do those attributes ring a bell...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action Markets saw wild swings throughout the week without a coherent and comprehensive reason. All major averages in the U.S. ended the week down but rallied late thanks to good economic data and speeches from various Fed governors about possibly extending...
Market Volatility
So what is going on with the recent market volatility? Is there anything to really be concerned about? Well, it would seem that the global markets are tired from so many headlines. Take your pick – European slowing economic growth, Ebola, expectations for rising...
A Prelude to an Upcoming Paradigm Shift: The Torments of the Absurd
Albert Camus wrote in his book The Myth of Sisyphus that “There is a metaphysical honor in enduring the world’s absurdity.” Without a doubt we live in a surreal marketplace which has managed without a monetary anchor to create a major crisis every few years,...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action Equity markets in the major global economies continued their recent dismal performance. Concerns about global growth continue to weigh on markets as the IMF this week lowered growth forecasts for 2014 and 2015. The Dow Jones is now essentially flat for...
