Category Archives: Politics

Specs Fuel “Bizarro” World of Live Cattle Futures

Posted on January 19, 2011 by macromon

After reaching a high of $112.375 – the highest for a closest-to-expiration contract since CME launched cattle futures in 1964 – February live cattle futures fell today to the equivalent of $108.80 per hundred points. The price hit a previous … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodities, Monetary Policy, Policy, Politics | Tagged , | 4 Comments

The Graying of Calfornia’s Flower Children

Posted on January 9, 2011 by macromon

Well this is a depressing chart and remember California usually leads the nation.    We fear us baby boomers risk eating all the  “seed corn” and leaving nothing for the younger generations to invest in their future, which the quality … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Budget Deficit, Demographics, Muni Market, Policy, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Godspeed, Congresswoman Giffords

Posted on January 9, 2011 by macromon

The Global Macro Monitor prayers go out for your full recovery and for the families of those who suffered such a great loss in today’s tragic and senseless event. We also hope and pray this tragedy will not be lost … Continue reading →

Posted in General Interest, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Did the Russell 2000 predict the better than expected ADP?

Posted on January 5, 2011 by macromon

Did you notice the better than expected ADP employment report this morning.  It was the largest monthly jump ever in this report, with most of the jobs created in small and medium sized businesses? Recall we wrote on January 3rd … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Deficit, Currency, Employment, Fiscal Policy, Muni Bonds, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Betting on a Jobs Recovery, Christie, and Brown….

Posted on January 3, 2011 by macromon

Like others, we can’t help but notice the massive outperformance of small caps in 2010, with the Russell 2000 doubling the performance of the S&P500. The Russell was up over 25 percent in 2010.  Isn’t this only supposed to happen … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Budget Deficit, Economics, Employment, Equities, Fiscal Policy, Muni Bonds, Muni Market, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Confirmation Bias Confirmed!

Posted on January 2, 2011 by macromon

We’re a bit surprised at the response to our post, “If the is Socialism,  call me Comrade.” No, not really.  The title was a bit provocative and the comments about “Joe the Plumber” maybe should have been excluded.   We think … Continue reading →

Posted in Equities, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Outrage Grows Over Public Sector Unions – NY Times

Posted on January 2, 2011 by macromon

We’ve posted how underfunded state and local pensions are going to be a huge economic and political issue in 2011.   Go no further than the New Year’s Day NY Times article, Across the nation, a rising irritation with public … Continue reading →

Posted in Muni Bonds, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

If this is Socialism, call me Comrade

Posted on December 31, 2010 by macromon

No politics or partisanship here, “just the facts ma’am”.  The stock market as measured by the S&P500 is up just about 50 percent since President Obama’s inauguration to today’s close.   Only Eisenhowser comes close, but not even in the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Equities, Politics | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Global Corporate Tax Rates

Posted on December 30, 2010 by macromon

Lots of chatter the President is going to propose  a corporate tax cut in his State of the Union speech.    Corporations hold billions off-shore and maybe it will nudge some of it back into domestic capital expenditures or hiring? … Continue reading →

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

George Will on Coming War Over Public Pensions

Posted on December 26, 2010 by macromon

Be sure to catch George Will’s Washington Post piece on the coming battle in the new Congress over state and local public pensions.   In early December, we posted the report by James Pethokoukis of a secret Republican plan to push … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, Budget Deficit, Fiscal Policy, Muni Bonds, Muni Market, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment