Archive - Sep 14, 2014

Despite promises that inflation is "contained," the dollar ain't quite what it used to be...

While we doubt the pope is much of a trader, based on his latest comments, speaking during a visit to Italy's largest military cemetery, where he was commemorating the centenary of World War I and where he said that a "piecemeal" World War III may have already begun, we assume he too would join the confusion of the BIS and every other carbon-based life form, wondering how it is possible that risk assets are at all time highs which the world is not only teetering on the edge of a new global conflict but may have already in fact entered it. Oh wait, the central banks, never mind.

"After the spell of volatility in early August, the search for yield – a dominant  theme in financial markets since mid-2012 – returned in full force. Volatility fell back to exceptional lows across virtually all asset classes, and risk premia remained  compressed. By fostering risk-taking and the search for yield, accommodative monetary policies thus continued to support elevated asset price valuations and  exceptionally subdued volatility."

For a mass of people so easily terrified by guys in caves funded and armed by our intelligence services and “allies” in the Persian Gulf, the American public talks with such armchair bravado when it comes to launching bombs from drones and sending other people’s children to die. Makes you wonder though, which one is it? Is the American public actually the tough guy soldier it pretends to be when cheering overseas military interventions, or is it really a scared, propagandized, coward hiding in one of our nation’s endless cubicle rows? Unfortunately, based on recent opinion polls demonstrating approval for military action against ISIS, it appears to be the latter. The former is merely a front put on by that terrified, economically insecure, silently suffering automaton.

Forget the Siren calls of the impending end of days and the imminent collapse of civilization.  Here is a non-polemical non-bombastic overview of three key events in the week ahead:  FOMC meeting, TLTRO launch in Europe and the Scottish referendum.  

With polls and surveys showing a slight bias to a "No" vote for Scottish Independence - but realistically too close to call - it appears UK Prime Minister Cameron has once again flip-flopped his strategy to deal with the northern menace. Initially it was one of scaremongery, warning of Scottish safety in light of global terrorism; then Cameron softened his stance proclaiming how "heartbroken" he will be if "our family was ripped apart." Now, just a day later, according to The Sunday Times, Cameron will unveil his latest push tomorrow that "there will be no way back" if they vote for independence, warning that a split from the U.K. will see the two countries go their separate ways forever, with the vote result a "once-and-for-all decision." Media bias is increasingly evident as the establishment unleashes its last minute full court press promising Scots "can have the best of both worlds." if they back the union...

Forget the noise... it's time to back up the truck.