Monthly Archives: March 2012

China HSBC Flash PMI At 4-Month Low

Posted on March 21, 2012 by macromon

The HSBC Flash China Manufacturing PMI is showing further contraction. Could worries over China slowing, coupled with renewed jitters in Europe, be the catalyst for the long awaited correction in global equities?  That’s how we’re positioned, but recognize it’s a … Continue reading →

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Quote of the Day: Beautiful Credit!

Posted on March 21, 2012 by macromon

‘I wasn’t worth a cent two years ago, and now I owe two millions of dollars.’ –  Mark Twain,  The Gilded Age

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Charlie Rose: China’s Macro Challenges

Posted on March 21, 2012 by macromon

Excellent group discussion on doing business in China and the macro challenges facing the country.  The panel has experience and great perspective, especially Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group,  who has an interesting view on China’s transition to a domestic … Continue reading →

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Debt and the New World Order

Posted on March 21, 2012 by macromon

The IMF does a good job interviewing Phillip Coggan, the columnist for the Economist, on his new book,  Paper Promises: Debt, Money, and the New World Order.  Good stuff! DEBT AND REFORM Debt Can Reshape Current Economic, Political Order—Coggan IMF … Continue reading →

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Charlie Rose: Arminio Fraga In the Greenroom

Posted on March 20, 2012 by macromon

Great short piece – 3:37 minutes — with our friend and former colleague, Arminio Fraga.   He discusses his first job; gives career advice; his career low and high points;  current work;  favorite books; and the greatest challenge facing Brazil.    … Continue reading →

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HBR: The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs

Posted on March 20, 2012 by macromon

Walter Isaacson follows up his biography of Steve Jobs with an “insanely great” piece in the April HBR.   He drills down on the factors that helped to catapult the legendary entrepreneur into an elite league of American business leaders, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Technology, Whales | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Kondratiev Wave: End to 30-year bond market rally

Posted on March 20, 2012 by macromon

Interesting stuff from this morning’s CNBC European Squawk, The updated reading of the work of 1920s Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev shows that interest rates have reached the bottom of a 60-year-long wave, and are bound to go up, Chris Watling … Continue reading →

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Ugly Chart Contest: Safe Haven Swan Diving

Posted on March 19, 2012 by macromon

There’s something happening here What it is ain’t exactly clear…. Everybody look what’s going down – For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield,  circa 1967 The former safe havens – U.S. treasury bonds, gold, and the Japanese yen — have … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, Currency, Dollar, Economics, Gold, Japan | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s Driving U.S. Inflation?

Posted on March 19, 2012 by macromon

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the U.S. increased 2.9 percent in February before seasonal adjustment.  These BLS charts and table illustrate what is driving the increase. (click here is charts and table are not observable)

Posted in Economics, Inflation/Deflation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

China’s Depressed Animal Spirits

Posted on March 19, 2012 by macromon

Here’s a report from Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride in Hong Kong.   We’re trying to diversify our China media sources in response to suggestions from our readers in Asia.   The caption to the video reads, China’s strong consumer base has kept … Continue reading →

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