Category Archives: Commodities

Bank of Japan Outlines Nikkei ETF Purchases

After yesterday’s FOMC action and Ben Bernanke’s Op/Ed in the Washington Post essentially stating the Fed is targeting the stock market, we now get the Bank of Japan’s outline for asset purchases. Next week the BoJ begins buying Nikkei and … Continue reading

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‘Firewall needed’ to prevent cash surge – China Daily

We have written in numerous posts about John Bull’s “Tsunami of Dollars” flooding into the emerging markets.   China Daily writes, China should “set up a firewall” as uncontrolled dollar printing in the United States will drive more liquidity into … Continue reading

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GIDDY-FRICKIN-UP!

Was it Bernanke’s piece in today’s Washinginton Post that a higher stock market is the economy’s healing balm? This approach eased financial conditions in the past and, so far, looks to be effective again. Stock prices rose and long-term interest … Continue reading

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“Bernanke… is fundamentally misguided” – Newt Gingrich

We are wondering out loud if a Tea Party/Republican rout with both houses of Congress changing hands could blindside markets with a huge short covering rally in the dollar?  QE2 needs to be large enough to offset the positive dollar … Continue reading

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Robert Prechter’s 100 Predictions – 7 years later

Here are 100 predictions that Elliot Wave Theorist, Robert Prechter, made in October 2003.  As my econ professor once said, “if you’re going to forecast, forecast a lot and forecast often.” No mention of the rise of Apple or the … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, China, Commodities, Currency, Equities, Geopolitical, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk, Whales | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Rare Earth Day 3.0

The Rare Earths continue to rock today in a down market as the story unfolds.  Germany announced yesterday the rare earth supply shortage is starting to hit their industrial base.  The Chinese canceled a three-way high level meeting with Japan … Continue reading

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US Budget Deficit 9th Largest Economy in the World

After falling to a low of 2.33 percent on October 8th, the 10-day Treasury has sold-off closing today at a yield of 2.64 percent.  The recent high is around 2.83 percent, which we will be watching closely. To get a … Continue reading

Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Equities, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy, Policy | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Rare Earth Stocks Up Big on China Restrictions

China announced further limits on its Rare Earth exports today.  The country controls 97 percent of the world’s supply, which are critical for hi-tech products, including smart phones, hybrid and electric vehicles,  and cruise missiles.   Hard to read if … Continue reading

Posted in China, Commodities, Currency, Geopolitical, Politics, Rare Earth Elements, Sovereign Risk, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Fed creating “grave distortions” – Brazil Central Bank

Brazil is considering additional measures to keep the Real from appreciating  any further.  We like the Economist’s Big Mac Index, which is based on the concept of purchasing-power parity, to get a sense of the over/undervaluation of a currency.  The … Continue reading

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Rare Earth Day 2.0

Take a look at Rare Earth (not the band) today.  Lots of market buzz as Molycorp (MCP) up over 10 percent and Rare Earth Elements (REE) up over 22 percent.  Recall our take on the Rare Earth trade as “gold … Continue reading

Posted in Commodities, Geopolitical, Gold, Politics, Rare Earth Elements, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments