The Wall Street Journal – ‘Temporary’ Tax Code Puts Nation in a Lasting Bind Welcome to the world of the temporary tax code. In the late 1990s, there were typically fewer than a dozen tax provisions that had just a limited lease on life and needed to be renewed every year or so. Today there… Continue reading Legislation & The Markets
The Wall Street Journal – Caution With the Cash Is Wise Policy In Europe and in the United States, companies are husbanding their cash. Chief executives appear to have decided that a swash-buckling deal-doer at the helm is not what a business needs as it heads into 2011. Today’s corporate chiefs are much more risk… Continue reading Cash On The Sidelines
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Comment Jim Bianco was on Reuters TV on Friday morning discussing the tax deal and the deficit. To view the interview click on the picture above. To view any of our recent interviews click here. One of the issues discussed was the rise in rates. First, it should not come as a surprise that rates… Continue reading Talking Bonds
Barron’s – RANDALL W. FORSYTH: Defying Critics, Market, FOMC to Stay Course Fed to continue to buy Treasuries even though it’s not producing desired results Another government-run operation not doing too well these days is its manipulation of the government bond market, aka, QE2. In direct contradiction of the Federal Reserve’s stated intent to lower… Continue reading The Federal Reserve Stays The Course
The Wall Street Journal – Tax Deal Set to Pass Senate Supporters Hope Expected Easy Victory Monday Will Build Momentum in House Democrats are predicting that a much-debated tax agreement will clear a crucial hurdle comfortably in the Senate on Monday, with a margin that they hope will add momentum to the deal in the… Continue reading The Tax Deal
BBC News – EU to target private lenders in future bail-outs The EU plans to make private lenders cover the losses of any future eurozone debt crisis, the BBC has learned The decision may significantly raise the future cost of borrowing for over-indebted eurozone governments. It is part of a new permanent scheme – to… Continue reading Europe
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The Wall Street Journal – Commodities’ Paths Diverge For much of this year, prices of basic crops, fuels and industrial metals have moved in sync with one another and in step with the global economic beat. But in recent weeks, markets for commodities ranging from cotton to oil to copper have been driven more by… Continue reading Commodities
Bloomberg.com – Recession Lasting Until 2018 Worth Exploring: William Pesek In an era where forecasts by permabears have gotten ample attention and vindication, few are as disturbing as this: a world recession until 2018. It comes from Eisuke Sakakibara, Japan’s former top currency official. He is known as “Mr. Yen” for his ability to move… Continue reading Differing Views About The World From Bloomberg
Bloomberg.com – Wall Street Sees Record Revenue in Recovery From Bailout Wall Street’s biggest banks, rebounding after a government bailout, are set to complete their best two years in investment banking and trading, buoyed by 2010 results likely to be the second-highest ever. The five largest U.S. firms by investment-banking and trading revenue — Goldman… Continue reading Wall Street
<Click on graphic for larger image> The Wall Street Journal – Downtowns Get a Fresh Lease Suburbs Lose Office Workers to Business Districts, Reversing a Post-War Trend For decades, the suburbs benefited from companies seeking lower rent, less crime and a shorter commute for many workers. But now, office buildings in many city downtowns have… Continue reading Downtown Real Estate Makes A Comeback