Monthly Archives: September 2010

QE2 leaves dry dock

Posted on September 21, 2010 by macromon

By Boston Globe | September 2, 1992 BOSTON — With a thumbs-up from its captain and three cheers from its crew, the patched Queen Elizabeth 2 floated out of a South Boston dry dock yesterday and returned to sea, leaving … Continue reading →

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Medtronic sees deflation in device pricing…Is this so bad?

Posted on September 21, 2010 by macromon

Beaker’s blog observes, The medical device industry is shifting and entering a period of deflation after years of rising prices.   This according to Bill Hawkins, the CEO of Medtronic, who predicts the market prices for medical devices to decline 2 … Continue reading →

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End of Chimerica? China minimum wage to double by 2015

Posted on September 21, 2010 by macromon

The tectonic plates of the global economy are shifting as China attempts to bolster domestic demand through wage increases.  Bloomberg cites a report in the South Morning China Post, China plans to increase its minimum wage by at least 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in China | 5 Comments

Cotton moves over $1 per pound for the first time in 15 years

Posted on September 21, 2010 by macromon

Cotton going parabolic.  Corn flying.  I thought we’re in deflation? Combined with China wage pressures,  the days of the “cheap suit” are over. Buy those Christmas sweaters now and expect a margin squeeze for clothing retailers.   Hope the FOMC … Continue reading →

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QE2 to remain in the FED drydock

Posted on September 20, 2010 by macromon

We expect nada from the Federal Reserve today.   Very little has changed since the August 10 FOMC meeting other than the spike in commodity prices and the level of noise. Members will be hard pressed to find reasons to move, … Continue reading →

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Apple’s breakout lifts U.S. equities. Can the Shanghai follow?

Posted on September 20, 2010 by macromon

Apple pierced its June 21 high of 279.01 closing up almost 3 percent to a new all-time high.  The stock is up 18 percent in 19 trading days and the 14-day RSI is now above 77.  History dictates AAPL should … Continue reading →

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“Yield Panic” in Pensions?

Posted on September 20, 2010 by macromon

The global pension crisis will be one of the major economic/political issues of the next 10 years.   We have seen the politics of pensions manifested on the streets of Greece and France this year. Bloomberg reports that Japan’s Government Pension … Continue reading →

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S&P500 and Shanghai Composite about to recouple?

Posted on September 19, 2010 by macromon

The short-term divergence of the Shanghai Composite and S&P500 is creeping onto our radar as Chinese stocks experienced the largest weekly loss in more than two months.  Fears of credit tightening have pushed the index to the lower end of … Continue reading →

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China Pushes Bordeaux Prices Higher

Posted on September 19, 2010 by macromon

In early July, Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. began advance sales of Château Lafite Rothschild’s 2009 Bordeaux at $18,000 a case. Within four days, the Chicago-based retailer and auction house had sold out. But its supplier’s price had risen, and … Continue reading →

Posted in China | 3 Comments

Corn Closes at $5.1325 bu, Up 58% Since Late June

Posted on September 19, 2010 by macromon

The last leg of the market’s recent climb to 23-month highs has been fueled largely by the U.S. crop. On Sept. 10, the Department of Agriculture projected a yield of 162.5 bushels per acre, versus the 165 bushels estimated a … Continue reading →

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