Swedish Youth Riots Enter Third Day
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 11:32
Sparked by the police shooting of a machete-wielding 69 year-old man, traditionally calm-and-collected Sweden is suffering amid its third night of riots. It seems underlying tensions from high youth unemployment and rising nationalism against the nation's large immigrant population have been catalyzed by this seemingly unrelated event. As the Daily Mail notes, immigrant ghettos have been created where unemployment is high and there are few opportunities for residents with left-leaning commenters adding that the riots represented a 'gigantic failure' of government policies, which had underpinned the rise of ghettos in the suburbs - "We have failed to give many of the people in the suburbs a hope for the future." An anti-immigrant party, the Sweden Democrats, has risen to third in polls ahead of a general election due next year, reflecting unease about immigrants among many voters. What is driving this tension? After decades of practicing the 'Swedish model' of generous welfare benefits, the country has been reducing the role of the state since the 1990s, spurring the fastest growth in inequality of any advanced OECD economy. Given Sweden's 24.7% youth unemployment, we wonder just what will happen to the 60% of unemployed youths in Greece and Spain when school lets out this summer?
- Comments: 400
- Reads: 22,971
Microsoft To Hire Thousands... In China
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 11:09Perhaps the best answer to the question posed to Bernanke moments ago whether US unemployment is structural or cyclical comes courtesy of Microsoft, which announced earlier that it was set to hire "several thousand" workers. Sadly, the catch is that the hires will be in China.
- Comments: 94
- Reads: 7,316
Euphoria Cracks As Ben Drops Hint Of Tapering After All
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 10:42
MOAR Orderly... oops... Bernanke: "Fed could reduce bond purchases in the next few meetings if data supports it" and perhaps most disturbing is that reality is finally seeping into the corner offices of the Marriner Eccles building when Bernanke says that concerns about "frothiness" and "bubbles" has increased? Was it the sub-5% yield in high yield that tipped them off?
- Comments: 98
- Reads: 15,650
Market Reacts As Bernanke Promises "MOAR"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 10:15
'Orderly'...
- Comments: 62
- Reads: 12,206
"No Tapering" - Bernanke's 'State Of The Economy' Testimony - Live Webcast
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 09:56
Update: Bubbles Bernanke slams any hopes for tapering goodbye, as long predicted: PREMATURE TIGHTENING RISKS SLOWING OR ENDING RECOVERY
Bernanke's quarterly hearing with the Joint Economic Committee this morning will be today's must-see event (with FOMC minutes a close second). It seems the equity market has no fears but many in the high-yield market are anxious for the words 'frothy', 'taper', 'bubble', 'clueless', and 'I plead da fif'. While Bernanke's words will be the most important, these hearings typically include their fair share of ironic ignorant 'humor' from the politicians who sit in awe of the most powerful man in the world and his CTRL+P prowess.
- Comments: 170
- Reads: 15,317
Five Decades Of Asset Bubbles: Which One Is Next?
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 09:47
Or maybe this is a trick question, and the answer for the "New Normal", when all central banks are coordinating on reflating the biggest asset bubble of all time, is "all of them"...
- Comments: 73
- Reads: 24,330
Watch The IRS' Lois Lerner Plead The Fifth - Live Webcast
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 09:34
As we noted yesterday, the IRS' head of exempt organizations who started the whole IRS targeting scandal, is testifying this morning and is expected to plead the Fifth. One wonders why, if as the IRS claims, there was no illegal or illicit activity involved. Watch her plead "da Fif" live here...
- Comments: 171
- Reads: 11,876
Global Risk Appetite At 2006 Levels - Nears 'Euphoria'
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 09:03
Global risk appetite surged to 4.53 (5 being 'euphoria'), its highest level since the euphoria event of 2006, and up from 1.76 one month ago according to Credit Suisse. Other risk appetite indices, as well as market anecdotes, confirm the “almost euphoric” environment. US credit risk appetite has charged higher and is now at 3.22. Furthermore, as they note, the current risk rally has several unusual features. First, it clearly lacks the usual support of strong global growth momentum. Global IP momentum (as we noted here) is almost always above its long-term average when risk appetite hits euphoria, but currently is below 5%, which is somewhat sluggish. Second, the current near-euphoria is strongly driven by one asset class: Japanese equities. The bottom-line, they conclude, is that the current risk-loving environment is related much more to recent policy innovations than growth data. And confirming this 'euphoria' Investors Intelligence notes that newsletter writers classified as bulls rose to 55.2% from 54.2% with readings of ~55% "suggestive of a trading top," last seen in Oct. 2007. No surprise there but with markets statistically 'euphoric' caution seems warranted at least...
- Comments: 29
- Reads: 7,907
Target Misses, Good Weather Blamed
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 08:48A week ago it was the better than expected weather's fault for the big Wal-Mart miss. Today, it is the turn of that other retail bellwether, Target, to blame sunny days. From the release: "Target’s first quarter earnings were below expectations as a result of softer-than-expected sales, particularly in apparel and other seasonal and weather-sensitive categories,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. “While we are disappointed in our first quarter performance, we remain confident in our strategy, and we continue to invest in initiatives, including Canada, our digital channels and CityTarget, that will drive Target’s long-term growth."
- Comments: 56
- Reads: 4,088
Ben Bernanke Crushes Hedge Funds: Average Hedgie Underperforming S&P by 65% In 2013
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 08:10
For all those curious why all real money managers (and not those who spend 18 hours a day on the modern day Yahoo Finance known as Twitter, "trading" with monopoly money while selling $29.95 newsletters) are furious at what Bernanke and company are doing as shown in the most recent Ira Sohn conference, we present the chart below from Goldman which confirms what most have already known: the Federal Reserve has made hedge funds a thing of the past, whose investors are sure to keep underperforming the S&P until the moment when it all goes tumbling down.
- Comments: 42
- Reads: 11,279
Only In America: Anthony Weiner Announces NYC Mayor Candidacy On YouTube
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 07:39
We would have been perfectly happy to report this as Humpday Humor, but unfortunately, and only in America, can a disgraced former Congressman, the very appropriately named Anothony Weiner, announce his candidacy for NYC Mayor via YouTube in all too serious news.
- Comments: 171
- Reads: 7,542
Frontrunning: May 22
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 07:29- Apple Bonds Stick Buyers With $280.6 Million Loss as Rates Climb (BBG)
- Iceland Freezes EU Plans as New Government Shuns Euro Crisis (BBG)
- "Transparent Fed" - Ben Bernanke meets privately with Darrell Issa (Politico)
- Bank of Japan vows market steps to curb bond turbulence (Reuters) holds policy (FT)
- Stockholm riots spread in third night of unrest (FT)
- Dudley Says Decision on Taper Will Require 3-4 Months (BBG)
- Senate panel passes immigration bill; Obama praises move (Reuters)
- Italy to outline youth jobs plan as government struggles (Reuters)
- Apple CEO Tim Cook, Lawmakers Square Off Over Taxes (WSJ)
- Google Joins Apple Avoiding Taxes With Stateless Income (BBG)
- Sony Board Discussing Loeb’s Entertainment IPO Proposal (BBG)
- Vote Strengthens Dimon's Grip (WSJ), Dimon performance well choreographed (FT)
- Comments: 9
- Reads: 2,468
It's Central Banker Appreciation Day
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/22/2013 - 06:56Today is one on those rare days in which everyone stops pretending fundamentals matter, and admits every market uptick is purely a function of what side of the bed Bernanke wakes up on, how loudly Kuroda sneezes, or how much coffee Mark Carney has had before lunch, but more importantly: that all "risk" is in the hands of a few good central-planners. Following last night's uneventful Bank of Japan meeting, in which Kuroda announced no changes to the "full speed ahead" policy of inflation or bust(ed bank sector following soaring JGB yields) and which pushed the Nikkei225 to surge above the DJIA closing at 15,627, today it is Bernanke's turn not once but twice, when he first takes the chair in the Joint Economic Committee's "Economic Outlook" hearing at 10 am, followed by the May 1 minutes release at 2pm (which may or may not have been previously leaked like last month). As a reminder, Politico reported last night that Ben Bernanke had previously met in secret with Darrell Issa and other lawmakers "to discuss the central bank’s efforts to stimulate the economy and how it could exit this strategy in the future, according to people who attended the meeting." And since we know how important transparency is to Bernanke and the Congress, "Participants in the meeting declined to disclose specifically what Bernanke told lawmakers beyond saying there was discussion about the Fed’s bond buying programs and other issues." But as long as Mr. Issa, the wealthiest man in the House, has his advance marching orders, all is well.
- Comments: 30
- Reads: 4,054
BoJ Ignores Worst April Trade Deficit Ever - Suggests "Economy Has Started Picking Up"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/21/2013 - 23:43
Surging nominal imports and a miss for exports just about sums up perfectly just how the reality of Abenomics is crushing the real economy as the market goes from strength to strength on the hope that recovery is just around the corner. For the 28th month in a row Japan trade deficit has dropped YoY and its 12-month average is now at its worst ever. Energy costs are driving up imports (and adjusted for the devaluation in the JPY, the data is simply horrendous. Of course, there are green shoots - CPI is not deflating as fast as it was... and 'some' inflation expectations are rising (though as we noted here that is simply due to the tax expectations). Contrary to expectations held by some in the bond market, the BOJ did not comment on the sharp fluctuation in JGB yields since April as a result of monetary relaxation - on the basis, we assume, that if they don't mention it, it never happened. The result post a nothing-burger of 'more uncertainty' from the BoJ, the Nikkei keeps screaming higher, JPY rallied then fell back, and JGBs are sliding higher in yield.
- Comments: 30
- Reads: 10,995
Diablo 3: A Case Of Virtual Hyperinflation
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/21/2013 - 22:34
As virtual fantasy worlds go, Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo 3 is particularly foreboding. Within this fairly straightforward gaming framework, virtual “gold” is used as currency for purchasing weapons and repairing battle damage. Over time, virtual gold can be used to purchase ever-more resources for confronting ever-more dangerous foes. But in the last few months, various outposts in that world have borne more in common with real world places like Harare, Zimbabwe in 2007 or Berlin in 1923 than with Dante’s Inferno. A culmination of a series of unanticipated circumstances has over the last few weeks produced a new and unforeseen dimension of hellishness within Diablo 3: hyperinflation. Considering the level of planning that goes into designing and maintaining virtual gaming environments, if a small, straightforward economy generating detailed, timely economic data for its managers can careen so completely aslant in a matter of months, should anyone be surprised when the performance of central banks consistently breeds results which are either ineffective or destabilizing? The Austrian School has long warned of the arrogance and naïveté intrinsic to applying rigid, quantitative measures to the deductive study of human actions and the events of the last week provide a stark reminder of the power and inescapability of the laws of economics.
- Comments: 94
- Reads: 24,811
