Tag Archives: Japan

The Fiscal Health of Nations: General Govt Balance

Posted on April 17, 2012 by macromon

The IMF is out with their Fiscal Monitor today.  Great stats.  Here is a comparison of the fiscal health of the world’s economies. Contrast Norway and Saudi (both oil exporters) with, say,  the U.S. and Japan.  Italy doesn’t look so … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Budget Deficit, Economics, Eurozone Sovereign Spreads, Fiscal Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sovereign Debt Holdings By Type of Investor

Posted on April 11, 2012 by macromon

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)  is out with an update of their Global Financial Stability Report, which includes the following graphic of sovereign debt holders of the big three issuers and the Euro area.   The IMF notes, …In the United … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Real Chance of Japan-like Housing Slump – Robert Shiller

Posted on March 27, 2012 by macromon

Robert Shiller, who coined the term “irrational exuberance,” is one of our favorite economists.   He really nails it here on the structural shifts taking place in housing.   We agree there is a generational change going on in the sector where … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

iPad Mania

Posted on March 17, 2012 by macromon

People stand in a line to purchase Apple’s new iPad in front of Apple Store Ginza in Tokyo March 16, 2012. Apple’s new iPad went on a sale in Japan on Friday and more than 450 people waited on the … Continue reading →

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Japan Remembers Earthquake

Posted on March 11, 2012 by macromon

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in General Interest, Japan, Video | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Dollar/Yen Clears Resistance, Next Stop 85.5

Posted on March 9, 2012 by macromon

Dollar/yen cleared the top of the resistance zone, which we identified in our last post.   Note the rocket ship to a 10-month high after retesting the generational low in February. We’re in the process of constructing a Weekly Japan Sustainability … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Dollar, Japan | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Major Holders of Japanese Govt Bonds (JGBs)

Posted on March 7, 2012 by macromon

Note the central bank holdings are increasing significantly . (click here if chart is not observable)

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, Japan | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Why the Yen is swan diving

Posted on March 5, 2012 by macromon

The WSJ does a good explaining what is driving the Yen and seems to agree with us that there is a huge difference between quantitative easing to stimulate the economy versus monetizing bad government debt for which there is no … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Japan, Monetary Policy, Sovereign Debt | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

No Yen for the Yen….

Posted on February 20, 2012 by macromon

We’re sure you’ve noticed the Yen’s swan dive against the U.S. dollar.  Last week’s monetary measures by the Bank of Japan in the global “race to debase” gave it an added kick, The Bank increases the total size of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The New Normal: Resource Poaching

Posted on February 5, 2012 by macromon

Guess we should get used to it. (click here if video is not observable)

Posted in China, Crude Oil, Geopolitical, Japan | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment