Real Time Economics (WSJ Blog) – German Central Bank Profits From ECB Bond Buying The Bundesbank has done a lot of complaining about the risks euro zone central banks have taken on to their balance sheets through bond purchases and easier collateral rules on loans. But in the end, it’s making some hefty money off… Continue reading All Is Well For Germany Until The Next Crisis
The Wall Street Journal – End Looming for Paper Certificates Paper stock certificates, already reduced to novelty status in the financial markets, are poised to get even rarer. Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. is seeking to end the issuance of new securities certificates and speed up moves to take older ones out of circulation, it… Continue reading The End Of Stock Certificates?
While scouring the internet for stories to include in today’s Newsclips, we came across the following image. The advertisement placed below the picture happened to be very well placed.
Comment Jim Bianco was on Bloomberg TV discussing gold and the markets early this morning. To view the interview click on the image above. To view any of our recent interviews click here. We also discussed gold in our conference call last week. Bloomberg.com – Bernanke Provokes Mystery Over Fed Stimulus Exit When Ben S.… Continue reading Discussing The Markets
Comment Most market watchers still subscribe to the belief that corporations hold record amounts of cash on their balance sheets just waiting to unleash into the economy. In March 2012 we pointed out how the Federal Reserve revised away nearly half a trillion dollars from corporate balances sheets. One of the more popular headlines from… Continue reading The Myth Of Cash On The Sidelines Remains A Myth
<Click on chart for larger image> Bloomberg.com – Household Worth in U.S. Rises by $1.17 Trillion on Housing Household wealth in the U.S. climbed in the fourth quarter to the highest level in five years, propelled by a gain in home prices that is helping repair family finances. Net worth for households and non-profit groups… Continue reading Household Net Worth Rises
<Click on chart for larger image> Barron’s – New Highs in the Dow — and Complacency The slump in the VIX and gold are dual signs of investors’ lack of fear. Buy an umbrella while the sun shines. Even though gold has been stuck in a trading range since hitting its high around $1800 an… Continue reading VIX At Six Year Low
The Wall Street Journal – Brent Barrels to Prominence The West Texas Intermediate oil contract, the signpost for U.S. oil prices, used to rule global crude markets. Now, the futures contract, commonly known as WTI, is close to losing its dominance to Brent, the European benchmark based on the price of North Sea crude. In… Continue reading Brent vs WTI
The Financial Times – Funding for Lending ‘put on steroids’ The Funding for Lending Scheme is expected to be extended and “put on steroids”, in an admission from the coalition that its flagship credit creation programme is failing small businesses. George Osborne and senior Liberal Democrats want to see the scheme, unveiled by the Treasury… Continue reading Lending In The UK
The Financial Times – High vaultage Central banks have become crucial but controversial participants in currency markets Traders of Japan’s currency became unusually fond of the Tokyo night air last year. Long after their colleagues had gone home, the traders left the grand investment houses that dominate the skyline of the Marunouchi financial district and… Continue reading Currency Wars
The Chicago Tribune – James Bianco: Why people don’t trust the stock market “Where are the satellite trucks?” asked CNBC’s man-on-the-NYSE-floor Bob Pisani last week. Pisani noted that when the technology stock bubble was in full bloom in early 2000, it was common to see the corner of Broad and Wall streets jammed with satellite… Continue reading Distrust In The Markets