Negative Yields, Inflationary Expectations, and Portfolio Allocation: In what Directions is Sisyphus Pushing the Rock?
Just a few days ago the auction for TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protection Securities) produced for the first time ever negative yields. When we take into account that TIPS’ correlation with the conventional inflation measure (CPI) barely exceeds twenty percent, then we...
ΙΣΧΟΜΑΧΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΤΑΘΕΙΑ: CUI BONO?
Πολλά έχουν γραφτεί και ακόμα περισσότερα έχουν ειπωθεί σχετικά με το δίλημμα που έθεσε ο Πρωθυπουργός όσον αφορά το αποτέλεσμα των περιφερειακών εκλογών. Θα ήθελα να ανατρέξουμε κάποιους αιώνες πίσω, μεταξύ 390 και 360 π..Χ. Στον «Οικονομικό» του Ξενοφώντα. Ο...
In the Land of Debt: Foreclosures, Commodities, and Quantitative Easing
The securitization problems seem to be making another comeback in the form of “foreclosuregate”, as the Economist newspaper has labeled its latest phase. Banks seem to be admitting to subpar standards in not just approving loans but also proceeding with foreclosures....
O ΣΙΣΥΦΟΣ, ΟΙ ΑΓΟΡΕΣ, ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΙΣΟΤΙΜΙΕΣ
Ο μύθος του Σίσυφου πρωτοειπώθηκε από τον Όμηρο. Καταδικάστηκε από τους θεούς να κυλά ένα βράχο στην κορυφή ενός βουνού. Η μοίρα της πέτρας ήταν να κατρακυλά πίσω στη βάση του βουνού, και ο Σίσυφος έπρεπε νε ξαναρχίσει πάλι την προσπάθεια από την αρχή. Όταν διαβάζει...
Brand Name Icarus: Lessons Learned?
Today China decided to raise its lending and deposit rates. How could we interpret such a move? In the near future we will draft a commentary on Icarus, but let us recall quickly his story. His father Daedalus prepared him wings to fly, warning him not to fly too...
A Sishyphonian Symphony: Currencies, Fiat Money, Hard Asssets, and the Puzzle of the Sphinx
Have you seen him lately? He is still rolling that stone up to the hill. He is my good friend, Sisyphus. He was condemned to roll the stone up the hill and as he is approaching the summit, the rock will go down the plain again. So, as I am drafting this, I am...
Here we go again.
The second phase of the global economic crisis (fiscal and consequently sovereign debt) is rearing its ugly head again. News broke on Friday that the government of Ireland would stand behind Anglo Irish Bank with liquidity injections. The bailout of this...
Paradise Lost: A Contrarian View Based on Our Most Recent Calls
"The world was all before them where to choose their place of rest and Providence their guide. They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow through Eden took, their solitaire way." John Milton, Book XII (that’s how the poem ends) In the most recent issue of...
Α ΧΑΜΕΝΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΔΕΙΣΟΣ: ΜΙΑ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΕΤΙΚΗ ΜΑΤΙΑ ΜΕ ΒΑΣΗ ΤΙΣ ΠΙΟ ΠΡΟΣΦΑΤΕΣ ΕΠΕΝΔΥΤΙΚΕΣ ΜΑΣ ΠΡΟΤΑΣΕΙΣ
«Ο κόσμος ανοιγόταν όλος ενώπιον τους, τον τόπο αναπαύσεώς τους για να βρουν και η Θεία Πρόνοια οδηγός και σύντροφός τους. Χέρι-χέρι, περιπλανώμενοι, με βήματα αργά διαβαίνοντας απ’ της Εδέμ τον Κήπο κίνησαν για το δρόμο τους μοναχικά» John Milton, Book XII (το τέλος...
The Music of Currencies: Currency Allocations in Times of the Valdai Meetings
A few days ago, Vladimir Putin called his annual gathering of academics, journalists, and other analysts a.k.a. the Valdai meetings, at his vacation home in Sotsji, Russia. The leader of the re-emerging Russia desires to establish her as the ultimate frontier of a new...
