Category Archives: Currency

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

All Things Correlated: Stunning Aussie$/S&P 500 Relationship

A good friend in Singapore, who is one smart dude, and former head of Goldman Sachs’ Asia asset management, pointed out the S&P500 trades almost tick for tick with the Euro and the Aussie currencies.    This is reflected in the … Continue reading

Posted in Currency, Equities | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Did the Chinese Drop a Rare Earth Trade Bomb?

Call us paranoid, but what would you conclude from the following headlines: Oct. 15:  U.S. launches trade investigation into China’s green tech sector – Xinhua Oct 19:  China to limit exports of ‘rare earth’ minerals vital to energy tech – … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, BRICs, China, Currency, News, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | 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

“Emerging markets at risk from a gigantic bubble” – FT

In case you missed it,  great FT piece by Peter Tasker of Argus Research about asset bubbles in Japan and China and the role of FX policy.  It’s all about Macro these days, The message is clear. It wasn’t the … Continue reading

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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

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, BRICs, China, Commodities, Currency, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chinese Solar Spanked on US Trade Rep Announcement

Holders of Chinese solar stocks got a little taste of what a trade war could feel like.  Trina Solar fell more than 9 percent as U.S. Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, announced his office has launched an investigation into the Chinese … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, BRICs, China, Currency, Equities, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Krugman’s Dangerous Misreading of the Bond Market

During his Sunday appearance (click for interview) on This Week With Christiane Amanpour, Paul Krugman spoke the words that make us very uncomfortable. Responding to French finance minister Christine Lagarde’s fiscal austerity and Alan Greenspan’s caution about further stimulus, Krugman … Continue reading

Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Equities, Gold, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“All that liquidity ends up not where it is supposed to be…”

Great CNBC interview (click for video) with British historian, Niall Ferguson.  It’s worth the 5 minutes of your time.  We’re amazed how well Ferguson understands the global economy and articulates the risks better than many trained economists.   Money quotes: “There … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, BRICs, China, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Monetary Policy, Policy, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rising Tide (of liquidity) Lifts All Boats

Great chart from Active Trader of the S&P5oo correlation with other markets.  Have you noticed recently that all markets are moving together?  U.S. Treasuries, domestic and foreign stocks, Greek Bonds, EM Debt, commodities, and foreign currencies all in lockstep? This … Continue reading

Posted in Bonds, BRICs, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Equities, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment