Category Archives: Politics

Rare Earth Day 2.0

Posted on October 18, 2010 by macromon

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

Chinese Solar Spanked on US Trade Rep Announcement

Posted on October 15, 2010 by macromon

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

Beijing’s $2.18 Big Mac and $1,400 GOLDen Arches?

Posted on October 14, 2010 by macromon

The Economist updated their Big Mac Index, which measures currency misalignments based on purchasing-power parity.  We just used the Big Mac Index this past weekend in our recent posts,  Rio’s $5.00 Big Macs and Geithner’s Naughty List.   Here is what … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Commodities, Gold, Politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Krugman’s Dangerous Misreading of the Bond Market

Posted on October 14, 2010 by macromon

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

World’s Richest Women Are Chinese

Posted on October 12, 2010 by macromon

The FT published an interesting piece on the world’s richest women, which came as a surprise: The world’s three richest women are Chinese – as are 11 of the top 20 – according to the Hurun List of Self-Made Women … Continue reading →

Posted in China, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Europe’s Ricardian Equivalence vs America’s Keynesianism

Posted on October 11, 2010 by macromon

We thought this to be the most interesting chart of the recently released World Economic Outlook from the IMF.  Japan’s 2011 public sector funding requirement is a stunning 60 percent of GDP, which includes the rollover of maturing debt equivalent … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, BRICs, China, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Monetary Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Geithner’s Naughty List?

Posted on October 10, 2010 by macromon

Look no further than the Economist’s Big Mac Index to understand who is on the Treasury’s Naughty List.  It uses July exchange rates,  so a bit dated as the most recent currency moves are not included. Interestingly,  Japan and Brazil … Continue reading →

Posted in BRICs, China, Commodities, Currency, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Store of Value Trade

Posted on October 8, 2010 by macromon

Commodity prices closed at two year highs.  Bloomberg writes, The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index of 19 raw materials jumped as much as 2.7 percent to 295.17, the highest level since Oct. 15, 2008. Every price advanced. Wheat, soybeans and corn led … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Paradox of Zero Interest Rate Monetary Policy: Loose is Tight

Posted on October 6, 2010 by macromon

Let us take a moment to say we’re thankful for central bankers!  They have an extremely difficult job, make monumental decisions under great pressure and uncertainty, only to be constantly second guessed by a crowd of ignoramuses, including us! Someday … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, BRICs, Credit, Currency, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Japan’s Currency War? Nonsense!

Posted on October 5, 2010 by macromon

Take a look at a 30-year chart of the Yen to see if Japan is trying to weaken its currency in a “beggar thy neighbor” policy.  The Yen has appreciated 50% against the dollar since 2007 and is at an … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodities, Credit, Currency, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment