Category Archives: China

Chart of the Day: Copper & Rubber

While the world obsesses over the direction the price of oil,  copper and rubber are rolling over.  These are the two to monitor,  in our opinion,  as China Air drops its landing gear.   Dr.  Copper is at key support and … Continue reading

Posted in Chart of the Day, China, Commodities | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Top 5 Issues That Keep Risk Managers Up At Night

Great graphic from the WSJ on the emerging risks that keep risk managers up at night. The results are interesting, Fourteen percent of the 141 respondents to the survey of corporate risk managers and actuaries by the Society of Actuaries, … Continue reading

Posted in Charts, China, Crude Oil, Geopolitical | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

China’s Stamp Bubble

Bubbles everywhere in Asia.   The FT’s beyondbrics blog writes, At an auction in Hong Kong this week, a rare block of four stamps from the Cultural Revolution sold for HK$8,970,000 (US$1.1m) – an all-time record for a Chinese stamp or … Continue reading

Posted in China, Currency, Monetary Policy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Trend Reversal in Apparel Prices?

Good piece in the USA Today about the headwinds the clothing industry is facing and the  expected reversal of the almost 20-year decline in apparel prices. The USA Today/AP reports, Clothing prices have dropped for a decade as tame inflation … Continue reading

Posted in BRICs, Charts, China, Commodities, Economics, Technology | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Factoid of the Day: Yuan Dynasty’s Chao

Here is a little gem from the Gerson Lehrman Group, Many people don’t know this, but China was the first country in the world to use a true fiat paper money currency system during the Yuan Dynasty from 1271-1368. The name … Continue reading

Posted in China, Monetary Policy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Nonlinear Thinking: 3D Printing To Revolutionize Manufacturing

The Economist has a great piece out today on the coming revolution in manufacturing with 3D printing, which could have as a profound impact on the world as the factories once did. It works like this. First you call up … Continue reading

Posted in BRICs, China, General Interest, Japan, Nonlinear Thinking, Technology | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Risk Management: Watch the Hang Seng

You know our schtick by now that we view the Hang Seng Index as the indicator species for global risk appetite and a signal as to whether the Mainland’s economy will land hard or soft.  Since returning from the Lunar … Continue reading

Posted in China, Equities, Monetary Policy | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Real Gas Prices Approaching 1918 Peak

Yes, 1918!  This is one incredible chart from the American Petroleum Institute illustrating the secular decline in real gas prices for the past century with episodes of periodic price spikes, which lasted a decade or so. So what was it … Continue reading

Posted in BRICs, Charts, China, Commodities, Crude Oil, Monetary Policy, Real Estate | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

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

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

Bulls Eat, Bears Eat, and Pigs Go Limit Up!

The hits just keep on coming in the foods.  Futures Magazine reports, Hogs: April futures rallied limit-up on Wednesday. Traders are noting South Korean buyers will cram orders in quickly to get product in under the 60,000 tonne no-tariff limit … Continue reading

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