Archive - May 2015 - Story

Markets are not cheap by any measure. If earnings growth continues to wane or interest rates rise, the bull market thesis will collapse as "expectations" collide with "reality." This is not a dire prediction of doom and gloom, nor is it a "bearish" forecast.  It is just a function of how markets work over time. This time is "not different." The only difference will be what triggers the next valuation reversion when it occurs.

Representatives from the European Union recently closed out a summit in Riga to decide the future of EU visa policy with respect to Ukraine. Once again, Ukraine was denied visa-free access to the EU, proving that “European support” for Ukraine against Russia is just hot air and empty promises. There are, however, 19 other countries, which will be joining the EU visa-free list as of July 1, 2015.

In the interests of clarifying what it is that America has become, we offer this...

"The IRS believes that a major cyber breach that allowed criminals to steal the tax returns of more than 100,000 people originated in Russia", CNN says, in what amounts to an escalation of what Washington claims is a cyberwar against a growing list of so-called "cyberadversaries."

WTI Crude hit new 6-week lows at $57.36 after the close as API inventory data showed a build of 1.268 million barrels (after 3 weeks of draws) - dramatically higher than the 5.2mm barrel draw last week. Cushing saw a very small 72k draw.

Genuine economic growth is something you can allow, but you cannot force. If you try to trick your way to it – with phony interest rates, more debt, and cockamamie inflation targets – you will retard the growth, not speed it up. This is obvious, too. But Ms. Yellen is paid not to see it. And in the absence of real growth, the Dow at 18,000 looks vulnerable. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a rolling top take shape... with a sharp break in the fall. But here we leave the vagaries of the market to pay homage to America’s Second Greatest Generation.

If millions of young Americans don't start earning more money, they can't afford to have children, or take care of them properly, and that is the end of us as a nation.

Switzerland is set to open its first Bitcoin bank, multiple sources tell Handelszeitung. Meanwhile, Xapo, the self-appointed "Fort Knox" of the crypto currency world, is relocating from Silicon Valley to Zurich.

“Things always become obvious after the fact” – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”  – Aldous Huxley

Mission Accomplished-er...

“You want to buy a car? There aren’t any. You want to buy an apartment? You can’t afford one. Basic products aren’t available,” he said. “The only refuge that people have is buying dollars, and because of that, the demand doesn’t stop.”

We got a glimpse of just what Yellen has in mind for the next 'monetary transmission mechanism' yesterday, when a mystery drone appeared above the Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids, Michigan and literally rained down money on the people below, leading to what the Mail describes as a "cash-grabbing frenzy."

Another day, another Clinton Foundation related scandal. In the latest expose by International Business Times’ David Sirota, we learn about the explosion in weapons sales to certain nations during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State. Billions of dollars in sales went to autocratic regimes notorious for human rights abuses who donated generously to the Clinton Foundation. Should we be surprised? No. Should we be outraged and disgusted? Absolutely. Of all the Clinton scandals, the following is the most dangerous to peace on earth.