Archive - 2012 - Blog entry
December 27th
Abenomics and other Drivers of Holiday Markets
Submitted by Marc To Market on 12/27/2012 06:56 -0500The main feature in the foreign exchange market continues to be the yen’s weakness. This weakness, based on expectations that the new Japanese government will succeed in driving the dollar to JPY90 with a combination of more aggressive monetary and fiscal policy (“Abenomics), is offering support to the other currencies. The yen sales are a combination of momentum and carry strategies. There are two other forces in the market as well. First, the market is anticipating a further reduction in tail risks in Europe. Of course the large moves away from the abyss this year are clearly the doing of the ECB with its long-term repos and offer of (conditional) outright purchases.
Tokyo Almost As Irradiated As Fukushima
Submitted by George Washington on 12/27/2012 01:07 -0500And American Sailors Sue Tepco for Lying about Fukushima
December 26th
Where The Heck Was The “Festive Spirit?"
Submitted by testosteronepit on 12/26/2012 18:47 -0500When the magic of Christmas, boiled down to just one number, got ugly.
Which Way Wednesday - Cliffmas Is Upon Us
Submitted by ilene on 12/26/2012 17:04 -0500As a start, identify the trends.
As Gold ATMs Get More Popular, Is Gold Still "Still Worth It"
Submitted by Reggie Middleton on 12/26/2012 10:58 -0500You can now get gold ingots at ATMs, and physcially trade physical gold through brokerage accounts, but is it too little too late? Let's look browse through the facts...
What's Up Dock?
Submitted by Marc To Market on 12/26/2012 09:19 -0500
Labor disputes at ports on both US coasts could disrupt trade in the new year and skew high frequency employment data. In could produce shortages of some consumer goods. The resulting higher prices could filter through into measured inflation.
The proximate cause of the disputes differ, but at its heart is a push by the employers to boost competitiveness through forcing changes in labor practices.
In 15 ports from Massachusetts to Texas, including the New York and New Jersey, the employers' union association, the U.S. Marine Alliance, seeks to cap the "container royalty", which are payments made to workers based on the weight of container cargo. The dock workers, represented by the International Longshoreman Association, are resisting. The workers also insist on maintaining the eight-hour a day (of pay guarantee).
December 25th
It’s Potlatch Season—The Celebration Of All Things Material
Submitted by Econophile on 12/25/2012 17:11 -0500Is gift giving during Christmas and Hanukkah a wasteful practice by which we just crave status from friends and family? Is it a harmless, even joyful, practice to bestow goodwill and joy on the ones we love? Is it a giant commercial venture by which retailers encourage us to part with dollars in an orgy of gift giving by folks who ought to be guarding their earnings rather than spending? Is it a necessary part of our economy that drives production and wealth? Is it a religious act? Or is it a joyous celebration of the material, which, when you think about it, is a celebration of life.
Christmas Cheer
Submitted by Bruce Krasting on 12/25/2012 10:34 -0500Gravity took hold, and ass over teakettle she went.
MeRRY ZeRo HeDGe CHRiSTMaS!
Submitted by williambanzai7 on 12/25/2012 09:54 -0500On a long enough timeline, the number of presents under the tree drops to zero...
The Passion of Monti: A Christmas Story
Submitted by Marc To Market on 12/25/2012 07:59 -0500
The political dysfunction of the world's largest economy is epic. Even though Mr. Market is not forcing the US hand, the political class is intent on shooting itself in the foot. Yet the uncertainty over next year's marginal tax rates has not impacted the hiring process as the average monthly non-farm payroll growth has not diminished. Nor have investment plans been adversely impacted. Non-defense durable goods orders, excluding aircraft, a useful proxy for capital investment, rose 2.7% in November after posting a 3.2% increase in October.
Italy is not as fortunate. Its economy is contracting. Mr Market is likely to be less patient. Although Italy's net debt issuance in 2013 appears less than in 2012, there is little room for error.
Monti was looked upon as the savior of Italy after Berlusconi had undermined its gravitas on the world stage with his antics that are unbecoming of a man of his stature. Yet Monti took his role too seriously and not seriously enough.
December 24th
MERSy Christmas Everyone!
Submitted by 4closureFraud on 12/24/2012 21:47 -0500In the end, it was the banksters they chose, and thanks to your government, you got hosed.
To Honor Our Veterans Please Boycott Delta Airlines
Submitted by rcwhalen on 12/24/2012 11:36 -0500If you share our sense of outrage at the way wounded veterans are treated by Delta Airlines and other commercial carriers, then please get involved. Merry Christmas
It’s Not a “Fiscal Cliff” … It’s the Descent Into Lawlessness
Submitted by George Washington on 12/24/2012 10:58 -0500- AIG
- Barack Obama
- Cato Institute
- Central Banks
- Corruption
- Credit Default Swaps
- default
- Estonia
- Federal Reserve
- Federal Reserve Bank
- Foreign Policy magazine
- Global Economy
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Insider Trading
- International Monetary Fund
- Ireland
- Joseph Stiglitz
- Marc Faber
- Martial Law
- Middle East
- national security
- New York Times
- Niall Ferguson
- Prudential
- Quantitative Easing
- Rating Agencies
- Recession
- recovery
- Sovereign Debt
- TARP
- TARP.Bailout
- Treasury Department
- Unemployment
- Washington D.C.
- World Bank
It’s Not a Tax or Spending Problem … It’s a Devolution Into Lawlessness
A SuBPRiMe CHRiSTMaS CaRoL (2012)
Submitted by williambanzai7 on 12/24/2012 00:07 -0500The Christmas Eve classic rinsed, lathered, washed and repeated...just like the real world.
December 23rd
“Trench Warfare” And “Civil War” Over Confiscatory Taxes In France
Submitted by testosteronepit on 12/23/2012 18:34 -0500It’s getting hot: “unprecedented waves” of people are bailing out — not just the super-wealthy











