The Titan has Fallen
Yesterday, was a very sad day for the US and the world. The economic giant Paul Volcker passed away. Paul Volcker by himself saved the economic system four times (with his counsel and famous memo to President John F. Kennedy related to the declining gold reserves in...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action By the end of the week global equities recovered from losses earlier in the week. This was partially due to a very strong US employment report. The strong data also pushed yields 8 basis points higher on the US 10-year Treasury note. A barrel of West...
The Monetary Policy Challenge – Center for Financial Stability
Jacques de Larosière from the Center for Financial Stability (CFS) shares his latest thinking on inflation targets and the unintended consequences from excessively accommodative monetary policy. "This challenge could be defined as follows. If we accept, as central...
Crossroads: At the Intersection of Geopolitics and Geoeconomics
Here is a summary of the most important events that unfolded last month, and which may affect economic, financial and geopolitical issues in the months ahead: North America The U.S. Congress nearly unanimously passed legislation that would annually require the State...
A Bifurcated Reality: At a Hinge of Historical Changes
We are at the hinge of a new era where we are supposed to choose between a reality of tyranny and illiberalism dominated by kleptocrats, and an age of democratic institutional renewal that was the cornerstone of growth and prosperity in the last seventy years. Hannah...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action Compared to last week, global equities are expected to close modestly lower. The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note declined 6 basis points to 1.77% and the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate Crude oil rose $1.25 to $58.40. Volatility...
Could Political Fragmentation Lead to an Economic & Financial Segmentation? What Could the Consequences Be?
Septimius Severus founded the Roman dynasty that carried his name in the year A.D. 193. That year is known as the “year of the five emperors.” The year began after the erratic rule by Emperor Commodus (who was murdered on the last day of the year 192). His successor...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action Amidst the renewed hope for a US-China trade agreement and the receding fears of a recession, major US equity indices are set to close at record highs. The S&P 500 Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite all set record...
The Circus and the Dreams: Paint it Black
Immanuel Kant’s definition of our modern era and of the Age of Enlightenment was that “Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity…The motto of Enlightenment is therefore: Sapere Aude! Have courage to use your own understanding!” However, the...
Weekly Market Update
Market Action The announcement that the United States and China have made progress towards phase one of a trade agreement brought a wave of confidence to the markets. Global equities rallied and the US 10-year Treasury note jumped 22 basis points to 1.93% this week....
