FLASH: French police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who threw projectiles and set bins on fire in Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux on Saturday, as the 14th straight weekend of “yellow vest” protests took a violent turn Saturday afternoon. The failed socialist EU experiment under siege French far-right leader Marine Le Pen feels she is […]
The Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said again Wednesday the US economy remains in a “good place” and has proved resilient so far to shocks like the British decision to leave the European Union. “The US economy is now in a good place,” with low unemployment and inflation near the Fed’s 2% target, Chairman Powell […]
$DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX President Trump will enjoy the backdrop of a solid economy as he delivers his 2nd State of the Union address Tuesday evening. The President will point to the latest signs of US economic strength: Friday’s jobs report showed that employers added the most jobs in January in nearly a year. […]
Monday, President Trump summoned Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to the White House for dinner to discuss recent economic developments and the overall outlook. The Fed is being tight lipped about the ongoing monetary policy discussions with President Trump. Chairman Powell’s comments were “consistent with his remarks at his press conference of last week,” the Fed […]
President Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union speech. His topic is “choosing greatness.” White House officials say President Trump is not expected to dwell on the 15 February deadline for a budget deal for The Wall. Instead, President Trump is expected to strike a unifying tone and focus on areas of […]
US treasury traders are bracing for heightened volatility next week as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell ushers in a new era of press conferences after every meeting, while the US and China meet again for trade talks. The FOMC is expected to keep interest rates unchanged following the 9 hikes since Y 2015. But investors see […]
UK PM Theresa May unveiled her BREXIT Plan Monday, and it looks a lot like Plan A. Mr.s May launched a mission to resuscitate her rejected EU divorce deal, setting out plans to get it approved by Parliament after securing changes from the EU to a contentious Irish border measure. Mrs. May’s opponents expressed incredulity. […]
Friday, White House senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow said that the United States and China were making progress on trade negotiations but reaching a deal would take time. “We have made some progress with China in the deputy’s meeting in Beijing,” he said in a TV interview. “We are making progress in negotiating on the grandest […]
$DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX INDUSTRY WATCH Strong: Industrials, Materials, Financials, Consumer Discretionary Weak: Utilities, Real Estate China’s willingness to eliminate the US trade imbalance. According to a report Friday, China made an offer during trade negotiations earlier this month to boost the amount of US imports, such that the trade balance with the US would be […]
The US financial markets have had the time conger the very strong US jobs report, as well as signs of progress in the China-US trade talks. But, despite the positive news, investors and traders believe the Fed will stop hiking interest rates this year and will cut them in both Ys 2020 and 2021. The difference […]
$DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX The S&P 500 gained 3.4% Friday, as Fed Chairman Powell signaled patience and flexibility on rates in light of stronger-than-expected jobs data. The DJIA (+3.3%), the NAS Comp (+4.3%), and the Russell 2000 (+3.8%) also marked strong gains to finish the week + 1.6%, 2.3%, and 3.2%, respectively. All 11 […]
2019 Will Bring Volatility, But No Recession, UBS Said in its year end report The year will bring increased volatility but no recession, UBS predicts in its “2019 Year Ahead” outlook report. Because of that, investors should stay invested and look for opportunities that the uncertain market will provide, the financial firm advised. On balance, […]
Fed Chairman Powell not listening, he is being reprieved a the enemy of the US economy and the equity markets. President Donald Trump expressed confidence in the Fed, and its Chairman, Jerome Powell, following reports that he has discussed firing his central bank chief, though the President complained again that interest rates have been rising […]
$SPY, $WFC, $CS Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) cut estimates for stocks next year on concern the Fed is making policy mistakes that will dampen US economic growth. Chris Harvey, head of equity strategy at the bank, cut his year-end target for the S&P 500 Index to 2,665 from 3,079. While the new forecast represents a 10% […]
Expect a Rise in Gold’s Price on Fed’s Dovish Stance on Rate Hikes $XAU, $GLD Gold may be set up to rally as speculation mounts that the Fed will hit the pause button on interest rate hikes in Y 2019. After lift-off in late Y 2015 followed by a rise a year later, the Fed […]
“Growth ‘Cracks’ Will Shape Fed Funds Rate Debate” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX For the past 2 years we have seen the Fed move ahead with steady rate increases in an economy that has done better than many had expected, boosted by government spending, tax cuts, and global growth. The easy part may be over, […]
The US is ‘Years away from a recession” Many economists, pundits, and talking heads are forecasting that the US is close to entering a recession. The recession could come inY 2020, but some argue it could start as early as next year. While there are a number of signs that point to that conclusion, a […]
Diving Crude Oil Prices Will Dampen Inflation $USO, $OIL, $UGA Crude Oil prices dove 7% Tuesday, and we can expect a reaction from OPEC when they meet on 6 December Shayne and I see more Southside risk for Crude Oil prices, at least until the OPEC meeting where fundamentals supply/demand issues will be on Top of […]
Looking for a Major Bottom in Gold $GLD, $USD Shayne and I do not believe that the weakness in Gold and gold mining stocks is over, the outlook is that another Southside leg getting underway. Should that happen, we are positioned to profit from it. Long-term investors, traders, and speculators should be aware of the […]
President Trump’s Economic Policy Makes Sense “It is Winning!” Larry Kudlow, The Trump Economy’s Strength Is Not a ‘Sugar High’“The economy is booming. We’re in a boom”, the head of the National Economic Council that advises President Donald Trump. The Democrats’ move further left to oppose President Donald Trump and the “booming economy” will be […]
More Tariffs in Store for China if President Trump’s Meeting with President Xi Fails in November $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX The United States is preparing to announce tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports by early December if talks next month between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping fail to ease the trade dispute. The […]
Philly Fed Survey: Trump Trade Disputes Barely Slows Manufacturers’ Investment Plans US Manufacturers in the northeast are largely shrugging off global trade disputes and plan to boost investments next year thanks to tax cuts, according to a Federal Reserve survey. More than 64% of business respondents in the Philadelphia Fed district said tariff and trade […]
Fed’s Current Monetary Policy Raise the Risks of Recession President Trump has criticized recent Fed rate increases, arguing that they threatened economic growth. The Fed’s current monetary policy path would raise the risks of recession in an economy where recent, unexpectedly strong growth may start to taper anyway, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said […]
President Trump is Not Demanding a Monetary Policy Change at the Fed Wednesday, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said that US President Trump was not demanding a policy change at the Fed. President Trump heaped more criticism on the Fed Tuesday, calling rising US interest rates his “biggest threat.” The Trump Administration official said […]
China’s Q-3 GDP Growth Lowest Since the ‘Great Recession’ An official survey confirmed that manufacturers were coming under stress. At this week’s end, global investors and policy makers will likely be given a cold hard reminder of the costs of the US-China trade dispute, with a Reuters poll predicting that China’s Q-3 growth will slow […]
US Economy Experiencing “Extraordinary Times”, Outlook Strong Tuesday, US Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday that he sees no need to drop the central bank’s current gradual approach to raising interest rates. Chairman Powell said the combination of steady, low inflation and very low unemployment shows the country is going through “extraordinary times.” The Fed […]
Expect the Fed to Predict Slower Growth, No Recession Ahead Investors have been worried about the potential for a US recession by Y 2020, this week the Fed policy makers are likely to project this 9-year-old expansion will last for a few more years. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) participants at the close of a […]
“Iran’s Government Will Be Overthrown” Saturday, US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said that US sanctions on Iran are leading to economic pain that could lead to a “successful revolution,” contrasting with administration comments that regime change in Tehran is not US policy. “I don’t know when we’re going to overthrow them,” said […]
Secretary Pompeo: “US Iran Policy ‘Straightforward’” Stop being a world sponsor of Terror. US President Donald Trump’s policy on Iran is and has been ‘straightforward’ all along, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday: Stop being a world sponsor of terror. “We have made it clear that regime change is not President Trump’s policy,” Secretary […]
President Trump’s Tariff Policy to Have Little Inflation Effects $BAC US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that President Donald Trump’s new China tariffs will increase prices but “nobody is going to actually notice.” Secretary Ross said in a TV interview that the tariffs will be “spread across thousands and thousands of products” and “nobody is […]
John Kerry ‘Actively Undermining’ US Policy on Iran Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is unloading on his Obama-era predecessor John Kerry for “actively undermining” US policy on Iran by meeting several times recently with the Iranian foreign minister, who was his main interlocutor in the Iran nuclear deal negotiations. Friday, in blunt and caustic language, […]
Fed Moving to Avert a Recession Due to Falling Unemployment Fed officials tout 10 yrs of falling unemployment as among their major victories in fighting the economic crisis of Y’s 2007 to 2009. Now they are starting to worry they have been too successful. When unemployment falls as low as it is currently, Boston Fed […]
Trade Disputes Poses Little Danger to the Thriving US Economy $GS Goldman Sachs declares President Donald Trump’s economy is growing at a pace of 3.5%, or 2X its estimated potential. Goldman chief economist said the trade war poses little danger to the thriving economy He predicts the Fed will hike interest rates 6 more times […]
Robust Economy All Because of President Trump, Not Mr. Obama It was recently reported that in Q-2 of this year, the economy grew at more than a 4% rate. And it appears the growth rate is accelerating this Quarter as well. At the end of October, the Commerce Department will likely report that the economy […]
US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall Unexpectedly The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting that a strong economy is helping the labor market weather ongoing trade tensions between the United States along with a host of other countries. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted […]
US Trade Dust-up Causes Rift in Chinese Leadership A growing trade dispute with the US is reported to be causing rifts within China’s Communist Party, with some critics saying that an overly nationalistic Chinese stance may have hardened the US position. President Xi Jinping still has a firm grip on power, but an unusual surge […]
WS-J: California Democrats Prioritize Green Policies Over Fire Prevention The huge wildfires in California are a reckoning for the state’s Democratic lawmakers who have repeatedly chosen to please the green lobby over fire prevention, the WS-J wrote in an editorial. Instead of being outraged at President Donald Trump for calling them out on it, California lawmakers should instead […]
Saudi Arabia’s King Pushes for Peace in the Middle East Saudi Arabia has reassured Arab allies it will not endorse any Middle East peace plan that fails to address Jerusalem’s status or refugees’ right of return, easing their concerns that the Kingdom might back a nascent US deal which aligns with Israel on Key issues. […]
President Trump’s Foreign Policy, “So Far, So Good” Thursday, Senator Tim Scott (R:SC) characterized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy chops as “so far, so good.” In an afternoon TV interview the South Carolina Republican insisted that “we have to have confidence in the President of the United States when he says what he says.” “The […]
The Market is Content with Long-term Treasury Yields The 2-year US Treasury yield rose Tuesday to its highest level in almost 10 years, with the yield curve at its flattest in nearly 11 years, as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s upbeat remarks on the economy supported traders’ view of more rate hikes. Chairman Powell, in testimony […]
The Humanitarian Hoax of Illegal Immigrant Family Separation at the US Border $GOOG, $FB, $TWTR Opening Comment: “If the humanitarian hoax of illegal immigrant family separation at the border is successful then leftist Democrats will have duped America into blaming President Trump for the abusive policies of Bill Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama.” The Humanitarian […]
President Trump: “We Will Not Rest Until Our Border Is Secure” Friday, US President Donald Trump hammered the nation’s “weak” immigration laws, telling families of people who died at the hands of illegal immigrants that “our 1st duty, and our highest loyalty, is to the citizens of the United States.” “We will not rest until […]
President Trump “Halted America’s Downward Spiral” It is distasteful to return to my exchange with my esteemed NRO colleague Jonah Goldberg about the column he wrote several weeks ago likening President Trump’s reference to the implantation of FBI informers in his campaign as “Spygate” to McCarthyism. He replied on June 6, citing some of what I had written, […]
Trump Vs Trudeau: Strong USD = Pain for All Canadians $USDCAD The Canadian Dollar (CAD) aka ‘Loonie’ slumped Monday on continuing trade issues between Canada and the US, and there is noting to keep the Loonie from extending its fall. USDCAD, +0.0539% was among the worst performers Monday following the G-7 Summit that saw US President Donald […]
The Next 5 Years Dow Jones Industrial Average or the Barron’s Gold Mining Index? $DIA, $GLD, $SLV The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) closed the week with its BEV plot under -5% for the 1st time since early March. No small thing for the Bulls, seeing the Dow’s BEV plot rising towards its BEV Zero […]
This US Economic Recovery is “Far from over” $JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon does not see any reason the 9-year economic recovery will end any time soon. “We’re probably in the 6th inning,” Mr. Dimon said Friday at an investor conference in New York. “It’s very possible you’re going to see […]
Some Summer Fun Activities can Invalidate Your Life Insurance Whether your children are out of school or you just want a break from work, the Summer is a popular time for vacations in sunny destinations, such as Hawaii and Florida. But if you are the type of person who regularly likes to spice up travel […]
German Firms Aligning With US on Iran Nuclear Exit, Macron in the Cold $VLKAY, $SIEGY, $BASFY, $EADSY Just a bit ago US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell faced backlash for a tweet calling on German companies to cut ties with Iran, a new report says the nation’s countries are starting to cut ties after President Trump announced […]
US Senate to say No to Legal Marijuana US Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R;KY) just says No A House committee advances a VA medical marijuana bill Pennsylvania’s Governor and Attorney General are not ok with a Philadelphia safe injection site US Marijuana Policy Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is ‘down’ with Hemp, not with MaryJane […]
US Economy: Not to Hot, Not to Cold, Just Right The US with steady growth, low unemployment and tame inflation, the nation is experiencing a “Goldilocks” economy: Not too hot. Not too cold. But just right. That from a Top Fed official Friday, who suggested that the unemployment rate could fall further to 3.5% with […]
Moody’s Rates US Credit “Top Notch” at Aaa $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX This week Moody’s said that it has maintained the United States’ top-notch “Aaa” credit rating, saying the country’s “exceptional” economic strength would counterbalance lower fiscal strength. The ratings agency also kept its stable outlook on the United States and said it expects Washington to resolve […]
President Trump Turns On ‘The War on Weed’ President Trump goes all states’ rights on Jeff Sessions when it comes to marijuana policy The US Attorney General now finds himself out of step with our President President Trump last week signaled a dramatic turnaround in administration marijuana policy, telling Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner that […]
Larry Kudlow Does Not See Major WH Economic Staff Changes US President Donald Trump’s incoming National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow has asked the staff assembled by outgoing chief Gary Cohn to stay with him. “It’s a terrific staff, and I’ve asked everyone to stay on,” Mr, Kudlow told reporters Trusday. “I’ve met with all […]
People are asking: “Has this market topped.” $DIA, $GLD, $SLV Since February 8th when the Dow Jones broke below its -10% BEV line in the chart below, it’s been building a pennant formation. I don’t know how significant it will be when the BEV plot breaks above or below the pennant, as technical analysis in today’s […]
Rex Tillerson Undercut President Trump, Got Sacked President Trump sacked Rex Tillerson on Twitter Rex Tillerson got Fired as Secretary of State because he undercut US President Donald Trump on his dealing with NKorea, the national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC) said. “Rex Tillerson, as much as we thank him for his service, […]
Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Barron’s Gold Mining Index $DIA, $GLD A 98 Year Examination Looking at the market at the close last week, apparently the “policy makers” have once again gotten a handle on the financial markets. In the Dow Jones BEV chart below it did correct 10%; but only for one day, […]
President Trump Wants Just One Voice on Foreign Policy US President Donald Trump gave Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the gate because he wants the United States speaking with “a singular voice” in its foreign policy, Marc Lotter, a national spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief, Tuesday. “He’s moving forward,” Mr. Lotter said. “We are at a very […]
China Can ‘Open Up’ More, We Expect it Will People’s Bank of China (PBoC) Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, 70 anni, said market access reforms should be accelerated and that the world’s 2nd-largest economy “ can be bolder in opening up.” Policy makers are now focused on achieving “quality” growth, rather than the pace of expansion, which […]
US Drug Policy Update US President Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions, the US Attorney General announced a new front in the war on opioids Attorney General Sessions announces a task force that will target opioid manufacturers and distributors. And this week, President Trump convened a White House summit on opioid epidemic in the US Marijuana […]
Americans’ Economic Expectations Soar Americans’ outlook for the US economy improved in February to the 2nd-highest mark since March 2002, indicating lower taxes are resonating, the Consumer Comfort Index showed Wednesday. Highlights of Consumer Comfort for the Week Ended 18 February Monthly gauge of economic expectations climbed to 54.5 from 52.5 in January Weekly comfort index was little changed […]
Marijuana Friendly US Senator from Colorado Eases Up On DOJ Colorado Republican US Senator will stop blocking nominees for some Justice Department jobs over concerns about the marijuana industry, saying Thursday that federal officials have shown good faith in recent conversations on the department’s marijuana policy. Last month, Senator Cory Gardner used his power to […]
Monetary Policy is the Engine-of-Inflation $DIA, $GLD, $SLV Just 2 Friday’s ago, on January 26th The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) made its latest BEV Zero, new all-time high. Then 9 trading days later on Thursday February 8th it broke below its BEV -10% line in a dramatic fashion. The BEV plot seen below begins at […]
President Trump’s DOJ, FBI Purge Is Now Policy Recent events in Washington, DC have signaled that the GOP’s policy is purge the DOJ and FBI of all of it Hussein Obama-era left over bad actors. President Trump like it or not has the Constitutional authority to replace the FBI Director for any reason. But, the […]
The US is Winning Currency War to Weaken Dollar $DXY, $USD, $EUR, $GBP, $CHF, $JPY, $CNY The US is winning a “cold currency war” as it seeks to weaken the USD The Buck’s nearly 12% dive since the start of Y 2017 is being fueled by fiscal and monetary policies as well as rhetoric intended […]
Dick Durbin is Intentionally Trying to Scuttle DACA Talks “DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military,” President Trump Tweeted Sunday. “I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong […]
President Trump’s Tough Immigration Talk Targeted Corrupt Countries Last Thursday, US President Donald Trump was not talking about race when he talked tough and strong on immigration, he was referring to corruption, mass starvation and human rights abuses in the designated countries. And everyone in that closed session WH meeting knows that. “It had nothing […]
The Trump Bull Market Charges Into 2018, DJIA Breaks 25,000 $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The macro indicators are telling investors that world economies are doing really well under President Trump’s MAGA policies. Thursday, the DJIA broke above the 25,000 for the 1st time, and other major US indexes posted new records, driven by strong US […]
FOMC Sees Future Interest Rate Hikes Guided by Inflation December FOMC Minutes suggest more rate hikes coming Fed policymakers showed worry over the fate of currently low inflation and saw recent tax changes as providing a boost to consumer spending, according to the minutes of the FOMC’s last policy meeting on 12-13 December released Wednesday. […]
US Growth is Expected to Stay Above the Forecast Rate $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX Econ 101: no inflation no growth. Investors have been underestimating the importance of US economic growth for Fed policy, and giving too much relative emphasis to inflation and wage data that have tended to disappoint expectations, If it starts looking more […]
China says, “We are rising, accept it.” Tuesday, the Chinese government criticized US President Donald Trump’s decision to label Beijing a strategic rival and called on Washington to “abandon a Cold War mentality” and accept China’s rise. President Trump’s decision reflects a “victory of hardliners” in his administration, the official news agency said. It warned […]
President Trump is Right, “America First” President Donald Trump is right to take an America First approach to foreign policy, former Senator Joe Lieberman said in a TV interview During an appearance Senator Lieberman was asked about President Trump’s national security speech Monday that outlined America’s strategy moving forward. “It’s America First, which frankly it always […]
Bear Market Volatility, 200 Day Count in this Bull Market $DIA, $VXX, $GLD Anything I say this week may appear foolish this Friday. Unless something big happens, this is my last article for 2017. I plan to submit my next for the weekend of January 13-14. I do not expect my readers will be missing […]
US Attorney General Sessions Signals Change in Marijuana Policy USAG Sessions signals changes in federal marijuana enforcement policy Senator Elizabeth Warren challenges Trump’s HHS nominee on medical marijuana and opioids, Attorney General Sessions is making news on both the Marijuana and the Opioid fronts. Marijuana Policy Sessions Hints at Changes in Federal Marijuana Enforcement. At […]
FLASH: DOJ May Enforce Marijuana Laws in States Where Legal The US Justice Department (DOJ) may reverse course from The Hussein Obama Era and toughen enforcement of federal laws against marijuana possession, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said late Wednesday. “We are looking very hard on that right now,” USAG Sessions told reporters. “We had a […]
Mulvaney Leads CFPB, Shredding More Hussein Obama Policy Tuesday, a US district court denied a motion for a TRO (temporary restraining order) to prevent President Donald Trump from naming an interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A lawsuit requesting the temporary restraining order was filed by Leandra English, an Hussein Obama-era appointee and […]
The Purge in Saudi Arabia Explained “It is the most volatile period in Saudi history in over a half-century.” Mohammed bin Salman, 32 anni, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is rounding up the opposition — specifically, the opposition inside his own royal family. At the weekend, Saudi police arrested an astonishing 11 Princes, along […]
Trump’s Fed Chairman Nominee ‘Good News’ for Gold Investors $GLD, $SLV, $USD President Donald Trump’s selection for the next Chairman of the Fed’s Board of Governors will not alter policy much, and could be good news for Gold investors. Trump’s selection of current Fed Governor Jerome “Jay” Powell follows months of public speculation about the […]
Clintons Tied to Scandals, as Triple Deus Ex Machina Descends Upon Washington It is delicious to see, even more suddenly and completely than anyone had anticipated, the breakdown of the steamroller media smear of Donald Trump. A trinitarian deus ex machina descended. Trinitarian: belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. Deus Ex Machina: the central interface […]
US Stock Market: Growing, Growing, Growing… $DIA, $GLD, $SLV Last week the Dow Jones (DJIA) closed at new all-time highs for each trading session, with Friday’s being the 70th (options expiry) all-time high since last November’s Presidential election. And this week 1 of 3 session up so far for 71. That is 71 of the 240 […]
President Trump Reverses US Policy on Iran Friday as expected, US President Donald Trump chose not to re-certify that Tehran is complying with the deal in a Key reversal of US policy. President Trump made the announcement in a speech that detailed a more confrontational approach to Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs […]
Christopher Columbus “Hate” is an Assault on America’s Legacy Happy Columbus Day, otherwise known as just another day when ignorant political-correctness police besmirch and defame another of history’s greats for not being perfect, Bill O’Reilly wrote in a column Monday. “True, Columbus instituted slavery on the island of Hispaniola circa 1500, and for that, the […]
US President Trump Poised to Change Fed Leadership + $GLD,$SLV, $PPLT, $USD Every US President gets the chance to influence Fed policy through nominations to the central bank’s Board of Governors. But, most often, that chance is limited to a small number of nominations, 3 max, including a nomination for Chairperson. But President Trump is […]
Face It People, The Trump Economic Boom Is Here $DIA (DJIA) Have you noticed, that through the mist of Russia, James Comey, Charlottesville and now 2 monster hurricanes, that the US economy is booming faster than it has since the late Clinton years, well have you? This is undeniable. In the last year of The […]
Yellen and Draghi Open Jackson Hole Symposium Friday $USD, $DXY, $EUR The Jackson Hole Symposium is this week’s most anticipated event, in part due to a severe lack of other newsworthy market stories but also because two very important central bankers are scheduled to appear. The Fed and the ECB are not only 2 of […]
Beijing Has “New Rules” for Outbound Investment China has codified its rules on overseas investments, making explicit its campaign against irrational acquisitions of assets in industries ranging from real estate to hotels and entertainment. The authorities set out 3 categories: Banned, Restricted and Encouraged (see the lists below) Beijing has outlawed investments in gambling and sex […]
There is Little Fear in World Stock Markets Now $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The stock markets do not fear NKorea, and they do not fear the extreme left’s attack on US President Donald Trump Risk assets across the globe, despite high valuations, have recovered nicely from a sell-off triggered by concerns about a NKorean nuclear […]
Fed Does Not, Need Not Raise Interest Rates Anytime Soon The Federal Reserve can leave interest rates where they are for now because inflation is not likely to rise much even if the US job market continues to improve, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said Monday. “The current level of the policy rate is […]
Weakening USD is Positive for Gold & Silver $GLD, $USD, $SLV The US Dollar (.DXY) Index has been moving lower, retreating 9% in 5 months, from 102 in March to its current 93.39. Not surprisingly, Gold has risen almost 10% in USD terms during this frame. Earlier this year many participant expected USD to continue its […]
FOMC “Reducing Debt Holdings to Start ‘Relatively’ Soon” Fed officials said they would begin running off their $4.5-T balance sheet “relatively soon” and left their benchmark policy rate unchanged as they assess progress toward their inflation goal. The start of balance-sheet normalization is another policy Milestone in an economic recovery now in its 9th year. […]
‘Draining the Swamp’, President Trump to Revamp State President Donald Trump has plans to revamp the State Department “My suspicion is that within the White House, particularly amongst the nationalist faction… that this seems to actually be a concerted effort to diminish the role of the State Department in U.S. foreign policy and hamper its […]
Fed Chairwoman Gets Investors Attention Again $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX The focus Thursday was Fed Chairwoman Yellen’s testimony before the US Congress as the market posted another record close. Wednesday’s testimony confirmed this year’s next rate hike/s and QE policy tightening process that the market expected, but the discussions about the longer-term Neutral rate of […]
Fed’s Plan to Cut Bond Holdings Could Be “Very Disruptive” $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX JPMorgan Chase & Co’s (NYSEJPM) Chairman, Jamie Dimon, said Tuesday that the unwinding of Fed’s bond-buying programs is an unprecedented challenge that may be more disruptive than people think. “We’ve never have had QE like this before, we’ve never had unwinding […]
US Entering Period of Stagflation Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan warns that America is entering a “very tough” period of stagflation as it emerges from economic stagnation. “As the inflationary pressures which now seem to be building, we’ve just been through a long period of stagnation, we’re moving now toward what we used to call […]
FOMC Mins Indicate Worry About Loose Policy Risks $DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX A divided FOMC did not reach agreement in June on the timing of when to begin shrinking its massive balance sheet, according to minutes of the meeting. “Several preferred to announce a start to the process within a couple of months,” the minutes […]
US Skirts Chinas “One China” Policy And Sells to Taiwan A bipartisan group of senators urged President Donald Trump on Friday to move ahead on delayed arms sales to Taiwan amid congressional concern the White House is ready to curry favor with Beijing at Taipei’s expense. Four Republicans and four Democrats wrote a letter to […]
President Trump Continues to Shred & Bury Mr. Hussein Obama’s Legacy The fact is that Trump has given Netanyahu support as he has walked away from the failed policy paradigm of the Obama years. It may very well be that this week was the week that Israel and the US put to rest former president […]
Medical Marijuana Update Despite everything, Attorney General Sessions has medical marijuana on his mind, Florida lawmakers approve a no-smoking medical marijuana implementation bill, Vermont’s governor signs a medical marijuana expansion bill, and more. National Monday, it was reported that Attorney General Sessions asked Congress to let him go after medical marijuana. Attorney General Sessions sent […]
President Trump Tightens Rules on Americans Traveling to Cuba and More Friday, expect US President Donald Trump to tighten rules on Americans traveling to Cuba and significantly restrict US companies from doing business with Cuban enterprises controlled by the military. President Trump will lay out his new Cuba policy in a speech in Miami that […]
Mark Lundeen: Gold and Silver Vs Stocks and Bonds $GLD, $SLV,$DIA, $GOVT Last week ended with a new all-time high for the DJIA. Keep in mind I am still a Big Bear on the stock market, but there’s no need to begin the depression any sooner than is necessary. Still, I have to be honest […]
Drug Overdoses in the US at All Time-highs Drug overdoses are at an all time high, drug war US Senators want to return to harsh mandatory sentencing. Fatal drug overdoses totaled nearly 60,000 last year, the New York Times reports Marijuana Policy Connecticut House Debates Legalization, But There is No Vote. The House debated the […]