Commentaries

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: October 25, 2015 |

Shifting Cycles and Portfolio Structures: Hand Me Another Brick to Build a Shelter From the Storm

As previously noted from this page, I believe that we are entering into a period where the forces of market risk, volatility, liquidity, and credit risk encompass a cycle whose […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: October 14, 2015 |

Financial Distress: Infatuations and Magnificent Illusions

In his 1984 Shareholder Letter, Warren Buffett wrote: “The corpse is supposed to file the death certificate. Under this ‘honor system’ of mortality, the corpse sometimes gives itself the benefit […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: October 5, 2015 |

The Rolling Pyramid of Historical Financial Crises and the Moral Economic Imperatives: Distinguishing Causes from Symptoms

The Rolling Pyramid of Historical Financial Crises and the Moral Economic Imperatives: Distinguishing Causes from Symptoms We have noted in past commentaries that our global financial system moves from crisis […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: September 28, 2015 |

On the Disruption of the Disruptors: The Redrafting of a New Chapter in Global Developments

In the art of war (in the general spirit of geopolitical and geoeconomic diplomacy) the opponent’s greatest strength happens to be his greatest weakness. Let’s take a look at a […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: September 17, 2015 |

Spreads and the Business Cycle: Opportunities and Risks

The Fed decided earlier today to postpone the increase in short term rates citing global growth and disinflationary concerns. We believe that such concerns are overstated, at least for developed […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: September 9, 2015 |

Market Gyrations and Expectations: The Net Debt Perspective

As we noted in our last commentary (http://stage.blacksummitfg.com/3181), we anticipate some volatility during the next few weeks, but we also expect it to subside and for the market to find […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: August 30, 2015 |

Financial Stress and Expectations: The Story of Developed Markets through the Eyes of Emerging Market Realities

As we reported in our Weekly Market Update over the weekend (http://stage.blacksummitfg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BFG-Weekly-Brief-August-29-2015.pdf), the US and the EU equity markets experienced one of their most volatile weeks. Over the course of […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: August 17, 2015 |

On Deep States and Deep Markets: Medea Meets the Neo-Mamluk State of Global Volatility

In the summer months of 1944 World War II had taken a clear trajectory. The deadliest war period in human history was approaching its end. At that time the US […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: August 10, 2015 |

Recalibrating Investment Strategies: Adapting in an Ever-Changing Landscape

If we took a five-minute helicopter view of the global economic landscape, what would we have observe? Starting from the country of the rising sun, we could say that Japan […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: July 29, 2015 |

Searching in the Shadows of a Restless Credit Cycle: The Street called Geo-Uncertainty

It is an undisputed fact that the over-collateralization of assets (including toxic ones prior to 2008) and the securitization explosion that took place between 2000-2007, created the seeds of the […]