You should notice a simpler, cleaner look that is easier to navigate. It will also optimize the view for the device and browser you are using. In the near future, expect changes to several of our products starting with Charts of the Week, the Commitments of Traders Update, and our Conference Calls. The new formats… Continue reading Welcome To Our New Website
The National – Global economic recovery gaining momentum, says IMF The global economic recovery is gaining momentum as businesses ramp up production, although policymakers must guard against imposing new trade barriers, Ms Lagarde said. “The good news is that, after six years of disappointing growth, the world economy is gaining momentum as a cyclical recovery holds out… Continue reading Mapping Improvement in Global Economic Data
The Wall Street Journal – Looming Threat of U.S. Government Shutdown Drives Options Bets Volatility watchers are circling a new date on their calendars: April 28. That is when the U.S. government’s current funding ends. American lawmakers need to pass a new spending bill by then or they risk triggering a partial government shutdown.… Continue reading The Options Market Prices The Risk Of Government Shutdown
CNBC – The market is sending clear signs that economic optimism is flagging The spread between the yields on 2-year and 10-year Treasurys on Tuesday fell to its lowest since the November election. The spread between the yields on benchmark 2-year Treasurys and 10-year Treasurys is traditionally used to gauge market expectations about the economy. Longer-term… Continue reading U.S. Yield Curve Ripe to Steepen?
CNBC – Bear markets are started by these two things, and the US could be headed for both of them Trump administration’s saber rattling could lead to serious consequences. The Fed is certainly on the path of raising rates. Wall Street appears to be dancing past these danger signs without so much as a passing thought.… Continue reading War & Rising Rates Are A Bad Combination For The Markets
The Wall Street Journal – Forget France, Italy Could Be Markets’ Big Risk Italy’s weak growth, troubled banks and sky-high public debt may cause investors a bigger headache than the French presidential election Investors’ next political test is the French election, but many are zeroing in on a different European risk for global markets: Italy. French… Continue reading Italian Yields
The Brookings Institution – Ben Bernanke: How big a problem is the zero lower bound on interest rates? How big a problem is the ZLB likely to be in the future? A paper at the recent Brookings Papers on Economic Activity conference, by Federal Reserve Board economists Michael Kiley and John Roberts—of which I was… Continue reading Bernanke Chimes In On The Zero Lower Bound
Reuters – Trump won’t rule out second Yellen term, signaling drift to the mainstream President Donald Trump signaled on Wednesday he could be moving closer to the mainstream on monetary policy, saying he had not ruled out reappointment of Janet Yellen to a new four-year term as Fed chair as he considers his choices for the… Continue reading Is Yellen Staying?!
The Wall Street Journal – Indexes Beat Stock Pickers Even Over 15 Years New data show that 82% of all U.S. funds trailed their respective benchmarks over 15 years Most actively managed U.S. stock funds were beaten by their market benchmarks over the past decade and a half, a record of underperformance that helps explain… Continue reading Active Managers Can’t Beat Their Benchmarks
The Wall Street Journal – Trump Says Dollar ‘Getting Too Strong,’ Won’t Label China a Currency Manipulator President leaves open possibility of renominating Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen “I think our dollar is getting too strong, and partially that’s my fault because people have confidence in me. But that’s hurting—that will hurt ultimately,” he added. “Look, there’s… Continue reading Trump Talks About A Strong Dollar
Business Insider – Fed officials haven’t stopped holding private meetings even after a criminal probe into leaks On March 23, Federal Reserve vice chair Stanley Fischer was the keynote speaker at a Brookings Institution dinner in Washington, DC. There, he gave prepared remarks on regulatory policy and the Fed’s response to the financial crisis and… Continue reading Private Meetings With Fed Officials
The New York Times – Robert E. Rubin: Don’t Politicize the Federal Reserve I was in the room when President Bill Clinton decided to reappoint Alan Greenspan, a lifelong Republican originally appointed by Ronald Reagan, as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. A political adviser urged Mr. Clinton to choose an administration ally, but that… Continue reading Federal Reserve Independence