Category Archives: Monetary Policy

Cartoon of the Day: Fed Prepares QE3

Posted on March 16, 2011 by macromon

Hat tip to Craig “Crack Spread” B.!   (click here if cartoon is not observable)

Posted in Cartoon of the Day, Monetary Policy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

U.S. Macro in Two Simple Charts

Posted on March 11, 2011 by macromon

To understand the U.S. economy go no further than the following two charts.  In 2009 and 2010, public sector borrowing was more than 100 percent of total net domestic credit flows.  Federal government borrowing was 93 percent of these flows.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Credit, Economics, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Policy, Sovereign Debt, State and Local Government | 4 Comments

Euro Fracture: A “Tea Party” Revolt?

Posted on March 9, 2011 by macromon

Much has been written about the growing anger and political strife within the highly indebted European periphery.   The FT reports today about the growing anger and resentment in the countries financing the bailouts, Even among Brussels’ tightly-knit cadre of … Continue reading →

Posted in Euro, Fiscal Policy, Geopolitical, Monetary Policy, PIIGS, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

China’s Stamp Bubble

Posted on March 2, 2011 by macromon

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

Weber’s Exit Highlights Merkel’s Euro Problem – Der Spiegel

Posted on February 15, 2011 by macromon

A must read from Der Spiegel of the inside account of Axel Weber’s resignation. Bundesbank head Axel Weber’s resignation has made one thing clear: The debate about the future of the euro has become intense — and bitter. Indeed, Chancellor … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Currency, Euro, Monetary Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

South Carolina Politico Wants to Create State Currency

Posted on February 13, 2011 by macromon

State Sen. Lee Bright introduced legislation to create a new state currency in the event of a breakdown of the Federal Reserve System.  The Spartanburg Herald Journal reports, The Federal Reserve System has come under ever-increasing strain during the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Deficit, Currency, Fiscal Policy, Gold, Monetary Policy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Factoid of the Day: Yuan Dynasty’s Chao

Posted on February 12, 2011 by macromon

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

Risk Management: Watch the Hang Seng

Posted on February 9, 2011 by macromon

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

Posted on February 8, 2011 by macromon

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

Witness List for Ron Paul’s Fed Hearing

Posted on February 8, 2011 by macromon

Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Ron Paul announced the witnesses for the Subcommittee’s hearing to examine the impact of Federal Reserve policies on job creation and the unemployment rate. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 9th … Continue reading →

Posted in Monetary Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment