On Sentiments, Expectations, and the Vitality of Institutions: The Role of Gold
In the commentary we published two weeks ago, we described Mr. Market as an entity that from time-to-time suffers from a manic-depressive syndrome. Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that the stock market sentiment was approaching manic level by late January, as shown...
Weekly Market Update
Global Market News Global Equities Down Global equities were down on the week. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones lost 0.24% and 0.54%, respectively, while the Nasdaq decreased 0.53%. The US 10-year Treasury note continued its decline to close Friday at 4.49%. The price of...
Geopolitics & the Day After
This week's newsletter examines major geopolitical realignments, from Russia’s Arctic ambitions and Trump’s controversial Gaza proposal to the strategic maneuvers of middle powers and escalating tensions over China. In geoeconomics, we examine Trump’s aggressive trade...
The Wooden Nickel: DeepSink
The Wooden Nickel is a collection of roughly a handful of recent topics that have caught our attention. Here you’ll find current, open-ended thoughts. We wish to use this piece as a way to think out loud in public rather than formal proclamations or projections. Eight...
Weekly Market Update
Global Market News Global Equities Down Global equities were down on the week amid volatility, primarily in tech stocks, fueled by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's unveiling of its AI model that costs 95% less to develop than others (see details below). The S&P...
Geopolitics & the Day After
This week's newsletter explores the unraveling of international law in geopolitics, as major powers increasingly disregard legal norms, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to China’s actions in the South China Sea. In geoeconomics, we analyze the volatility in global...
Mr. Market Meets Mr. Tamerlane at Potsdam’s AI
All of us who directly or indirectly (through a pension plan) are involvedin investing have a partner called Mr. Market. Mr. Market is the allegory that Benjamin Graham created to explain the investment world’s moods. Mr. Tamerlane is the phenomenon who became a...
Weekly Market Update
Global Market News Global Equities Make Gains Global equities made gains this week. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 rose 2.15% and 1.74%, respectively, while the Nasdaq gained 1.65%. The US 10-year Treasury note was relatively unchanged on the week, closing Friday at...
Regional Market Watch
European Markets Corporate and Business News German investor morale fell more than expected in January. The ZEW economic research institute reported that the economic sentiment index dropped to 10.3 points from 15.7 points in December. German exporters expect a 2.7%...
Geopolitics & the Day After
This week’s newsletter delves into Europe’s escalating security dilemma and the growing risk of great power conflict as the global order unravels, with rising tensions shaping the geopolitical landscape. Turning to geoeconomics, we analyze the volatility in global...
