By: John E. Charalambakis | On: December 12, 2011 |
In the last few days the markets tried to breathe a breath of new life and optimism in the midst of developments in the EU and the initiatives taken by […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: December 2, 2011 |
Jean-Philippe Rameau’s compositions stand out as the epitome of Rococo style. His opera “Hippolyte Et Aricie” was the first work to which the term “Baroque” was applied. The opera is […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: November 24, 2011 |
In March 1914, the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) started its operations in the US. Within fifteen years the depression was taking root in the US. Seventy years later, the European […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: November 18, 2011 |
Almost 1600 years ago the first signs of Rome’s demise appeared in the horizon. Around 411 AD the Visigoths under Alaric’s leadership attacked and ravaged the city. Smoking ruins and […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: November 11, 2011 |
Since early July we have posted comments about Italy’s shaky position. In late 2009 the ten-year spread of Greek bonds over the German Bunds was approximately 400 bps. Greek ten-year […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: November 3, 2011 |
As those lines are being drafted, the ECB announced – under its new leadership – a reduction in its interbank lending rate by 25 bps. The EU and the US […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: October 28, 2011 |
We have the feeling that we needed a surgery and we got a counseling session. The “landmark” deal announced in the early morning hours (EU time) yesterday, is full of […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: October 23, 2011 |
An abnormality (exostosis) has been developing in the markets that involves an a priori assumption that the EU will solve its debt and banking problems. On the surface it seems […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: October 17, 2011 |
The late Milton Friedman used to ask his students at the University of Chicago whether money matters. Of course, the classic answer that he was expecting from them was: “Only […]
By: John E. Charalambakis | On: December 21, 2011 |
In the Garden of Credit: Signs of Life and the Prospects for 2012
Liquidity has dried up in Europe. Banks in the greater EU are unable to refinance their unsecured bonds that are approaching maturity. Moody’s cut the credit rating of French banks […]