National Journal – Michael Hirsh: How Janet Yellen’s Agenda Could Transform Washington Every Federal Reserve Board chairman comes into office with a secret agenda, a hidden passion. It’s the sort of thing you don’t hear about at the confirmation hearings, and yet it is often this grand passion—suddenly given voice in the world’s bulliest economic… Continue reading Is Yellen A Game-Changer?
The Financial Times – US investors flock to ‘alternative’ bond funds The flow of money into a new class of bond fund that gives managers unprecedented discretion over its trading strategy has surged this year, amid retail investors’ concern over the prospect of rising interest rates. Figures from Morningstar, the mutual fund research company, show… Continue reading “Alternative” Bond Funds
The Standard (HK) – Rising debt, ballooning deficit, and joblessness put Australia on bleak economic path Australia is facing at least four more years of deficits with a A$17 billion (US$15.2 billion) blowout since September elections, according to a mid-year projection by the Tony Abbott administration. Government debt is also forecast to rise. Meanwhile, the… Continue reading Australia’s Bleak Economic Path
The Telegraph (UK) – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Fresh recession risk in France threatens political crisis The threat of recession is a major upset for President François Hollande, who has talked up recovery and confidently declared the crisis over France is on the cusp of a triple-dip recession after a key gauge of manufacturing and services buckled… Continue reading France Recession Risk
Project Syndicate – Germany’s Coming Downgrade On December 5, the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas, a traditional winter holiday that people celebrate by preparing surprises for each other. But this year’s celebration was marred by a surprise that no one wanted: just days before, the credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s stripped the Netherlands of its coveted triple-A… Continue reading A German Downgrade Coming?
CNN Money – Trader turns $1,500 to $1 million in 3 years About three years ago, Tim Grittani decided to begin trading stocks with his life savings of $1,500. Today, the 24-year-old’s portfolio is worth more than $1 million. How did he do it? Not by buying and selling stocks of large and well-known companies… Continue reading Contrarians Take Note
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Comment Jim Bianco and Charles Biderman discussed the economy in part 1 (of 3 parts) above. To view the interview click on the image above. To view any of our recent interviews click here.
Barron’s – Cover: Bullish on 2014 Wall Street strategists expect stocks to rise 10%, boosted by a stronger economy and fatter corporate profits. Bullish on tech, industrials THE 10 STRATEGISTS Barron’s consulted about the outlook for 2014 have year-end targets for the S&P of 1900 to 2100, well above Friday’s close of 1775.32; their mean… Continue reading A Bullish Cover
The Wall Street Journal – Jon Hilsenrath: Tough Question for Fed: Time to Act? Federal Reserve officials face a delicate decision at their policy meeting this week, with stronger economic figures and a Washington budget deal adding fuel to the debate over whether to pull back on their signature bond-buying program. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke… Continue reading Timing The Taper
Bloomberg.com – Simon Johnson: Which Stan Fischer Would Be Fed’s No. 2? Close examination reveals two quite different Stan Fischers, in the sense that at different times in his busy career he has demonstrated diametrically opposed views on the systemic risks posed by large banks. Given the Fed’s newly established leading role as a regulator,… Continue reading Questioning Stan Fischer
The Wall Street Journal – Investors Are Hungry for U.S. Corporate Bonds Bond investors are showing the most confidence in corporate America since the financial crisis, underscoring expectations that the U.S. economy will keep rolling as the Federal Reserve prepares to trim monetary stimulus. Purchasers of corporate debt are demanding the smallest interest-rate premium to… Continue reading Corporate Bond Demand