Monthly Archives: January 2011

Ag Prices Catch-up to Farm Values

Posted on January 31, 2011 by macromon

Here’s an interesting chart showing cropland values versus the CRB foodstuffs index.  Note how farm values were caught up in the 2004-08 real estate bubble,  increasing 58 percent while foodstuffs as measured by the CRB were up only 15 percent.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodities, Food Prices | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What Worked In January

Posted on January 31, 2011 by macromon

A couple of cool heat maps to illustrate what worked in January.   The ETF map shows the U.S. outpaced the emerging markets with energy and select tech leading the way.  Europe bounced big with Spain’s country ETF, EWP, up 14 … Continue reading →

Posted in Equities | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

China blocks the word “Egypt” on Twitter-like sites

Posted on January 30, 2011 by macromon

This is one reason why we believe the Renminbi will never be a serious contender as a reserve currency.   Full liberalization of the capital account results in a loss of independence and control and it’s hard to see the … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Currency, Egypt, Geopolitical | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Elbaradei urges Mubarak to step down

Posted on January 30, 2011 by macromon

The Egyptian Revolt now has a face, Mohamed Mustafa ElBarade, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and winner of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.    This would be a very positive development if he becomes the … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Geopolitical, Policy, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Egypt: Revolt or Revolution? – Fareed Zakaria

Posted on January 30, 2011 by macromon

Here is Fareed’s take on Egypt.

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Egypt, Geopolitical, Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Week in Review: Egypt Rocked, Iran Next?

Posted on January 30, 2011 by macromon

We don’t have much to say about this week’s performance other than the main equity indices in the U.S. and some in Europe made post crisis new highs before being hit on the political plague coming out of Egypt.   Interesting … Continue reading →

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How Poor is Egypt Relative to MidEast & North Africa?

Posted on January 29, 2011 by macromon

(click here if not observable)

Posted in Economics, Geopolitical | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Weekend Read

Posted on January 29, 2011 by macromon

Money Quote of the Week: On China: “Real estate is the dragon head that drives industry, design, construction, steel and cement companies along”…Lending is not a problem. Banks need to lend money out and the top 10 property developers will … Continue reading →

Posted in The Weekend Read | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Major Factor Driving Political Instability

Posted on January 28, 2011 by macromon

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;  Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world – W.B.  Yeats Here’s a report from India’s NDTV on the “hyperinflation” in food prices in some countries, which already is and could further destabilize regimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Commodities, Currency, Economics, Food Prices, Video | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Macro Picture Going into the Weekend

Posted on January 28, 2011 by macromon

(Click here if not observable)

Posted in Geopolitical, Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment