Tag Archives: Monetary Policy

GIDDY-FRICKIN-UP!

Was it Bernanke’s piece in today’s Washinginton Post that a higher stock market is the economy’s healing balm? This approach eased financial conditions in the past and, so far, looks to be effective again. Stock prices rose and long-term interest … Continue reading

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What the Fed did and why – Ben Bernanke

Ben Bernanke published an Op/Ed piece in today’s Washington Post explaining the FOMC’s action.  Here are the money quotes, The FOMC decided this week that, with unemployment high and inflation very low, further support to the economy is needed. With … Continue reading

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Fed to Face Short Squeeze in New Congress

The Republican takeover of the House and some big gains in the Senate will put the heat on the Fed over its ultra-loose monetary policy.  We wrote about the hard money bias of the new Republican leaders several weeks ago.  … Continue reading

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

“Bernanke… is fundamentally misguided” – Newt Gingrich

We are wondering out loud if a Tea Party/Republican rout with both houses of Congress changing hands could blindside markets with a huge short covering rally in the dollar?  QE2 needs to be large enough to offset the positive dollar … Continue reading

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“All that liquidity ends up not where it is supposed to be…”

Great CNBC interview (click for video) with British historian, Niall Ferguson.  It’s worth the 5 minutes of your time.  We’re amazed how well Ferguson understands the global economy and articulates the risks better than many trained economists.   Money quotes: “There … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, BRICs, China, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Monetary Policy, Policy, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rising Tide (of liquidity) Lifts All Boats

Great chart from Active Trader of the S&P5oo correlation with other markets.  Have you noticed recently that all markets are moving together?  U.S. Treasuries, domestic and foreign stocks, Greek Bonds, EM Debt, commodities, and foreign currencies all in lockstep? This … Continue reading

Posted in Bonds, BRICs, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Equities, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Store of Value Trade

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

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Paradox of Zero Interest Rate Monetary Policy: Loose is Tight

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!

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

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Fed, ECB throwing world into chaos – Stiglitz

These are the headlines from an earlier Reuters report.   Joe Stiglitz is one smart dude (OSD) and was the World Bank’s chief economist during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and 1998 Russian Debt Default.   He says the ultra-loose monetary policy … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, BRICs, China, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments