Tag Archives: finance

On Becoming Argentina

Today’s Drudge Report headline, with George Washington staring from a dollar bill under the headline “NATL DEBT $37 TRILLION” and accusations of falsified inflation data, encapsulates the growing perception that America’s fiscal and political trajectory is veering toward Banana Republic … Continue reading

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The Big Mac Index: My Global Currency Reality Check

As an international economist earlier in my career, I long appreciated The Economist‘s Big Mac Index, a deceptively simple yet revealing tool for assessing purchasing power parity (PPP) and currency under or overvaluation. In the Economist’s latest iteration, the Index … Continue reading

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Global Risk Monitor: Week in Review – June 27

Last week’s market tone reflected a convergence of stabilizing macro forces: easing geopolitical tensions, falling oil prices, and growing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. But beneath these surface-level catalysts lies a far more powerful narrative: the AI revolution. AI … Continue reading

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Global Risk Montior: Week in Review – June 13

This week presented a paradox that seasoned portfolio and hedge fund managers will recognize immediately: risk is rising, but price action remains oddly composed. With geopolitical tensions escalating in the Middle East, oil surging, and inflation data surprising to the … Continue reading

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Yachts and Tent Cities: How Globalization Helped Fuel Wealth and Backlash

The juxtaposition is stark. As Bloomberg reports Wall Street is pouring billions into marinas for ever-larger yachts, the BBC reminds us that U.S. homelessness reached a record high in 2024. Winners and Losers of Free Trade This contrast, in part, … Continue reading

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Global Macro Monitor: Weekly Update – June 6

The S&P 500 closed at 6000.4 on Friday, marking a significant psychological level with a 1.5% weekly gain. The strong performance was primarily driven by a short-covering bid, which reflects some big players are way offside, in our opinion.  The … Continue reading

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Global Risk Monitor: Weekly Update – May 30

Global markets ended the month of May on relatively firm footing, with equity indexes rebounding modestly, inflation easing slightly, and consumer confidence stabilizing. However, beneath this surface calm lies a deeper undercurrent of concern—a growing alarm over sovereign debt and … Continue reading

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Fiscal Scorecard: How COVID Torched the Budget

When President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, he inherited a relatively stable fiscal environment. The federal budget deficit stood at approximately $581 billion, or 3.05% of GDP—a level widely regarded as sustainable by historical standards. Ironically, that same … Continue reading

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Global Risk Monitor: Weekly Update – May 16

Financial markets continued to rebound this week, buoyed by temporary trade de-escalations and looser financial conditions. However, beneath the surface of this rally lies a landscape of historically elevated valuations and persistent uncertainty. Market participants should temper optimism, as the … Continue reading

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Global PMI: Growth at 17-month Low

Key Takeaways: Global economic growth slowed in April 2025, with the Composite PMI falling to 50.8—its lowest in 17 months and below the long-term average. Service sector expansion weakened significantly, while manufacturing remained tepid with only slight growth in consumer … Continue reading

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