Blog Archives

Investor Who Called Housing Top and Bottom Says It’s Time to Sell

(Bloomberg) — Bond manager Mark Kiesel sold his California home in 2006, when he presciently predicted the housing bubble would pop. He bought again in 2012, after U.S. prices fell more than 30% and found a floor. Now that housing prices are again at historic highs, Kiesel is thinking of selling again. Can he be […]

Analysis: From chips to ships, shortages are making inflation stick | Reuters

Editorial Comment – Hmm, print historically unprecedented amounts of fiat currency then prices rise and stay there…who could have seen this coming? 😉 Soaring gas prices, staff shortages, a lack of ships — price pressures globally may be picking up faster than anticipated, challenging the view that inflation will prove transitory. — Read on www.reuters.com/article/global-markets-inflation/analysis-from-chips-to-ships-shortages-are-making-inflation-stick-idUSL8N2QV1GH

A Depression-Era Idea Gets a New Look: Local Money – Bloomberg

Fans of “complementary currency” are betting that this Depression-era idea for keeping towns alive by printing local money can prove its worth as pandemic relief. Source: A Depression-Era Idea Gets a New Look: Local Money – Bloomberg

America, we have a problem

Money isn’t distributed equally enough in America anymore, and it’s getting worse, faster. Those living on minimum wage are earning 38% less, adjusted for inflation, compared to their counterparts 50 years ago. What gives? — Read on finance.yahoo.com/news/america-we-have-a-problem-115714416.html

Another U.S.-Wide Housing Slump Is Coming

The Corona Virus outbreak is expected to bring hardship to many parts of the economy, including the still overvalued housing sector. Once the virus contagion subsides and economy starts up again, baby boomers are expected to flood the housing market as they try to downsize and extract equity from their homes in order to cover […]

Economic ‘Doom Loops’ Get Harder to Avoid in 2020s

The world’s advanced economies are trying to keep their balance on an unstable platform of high consumption, asset prices and household debt as we enter the 2020s. Any significant shock or increase in volatility could trigger “doom loops” that compromise the economic and financial systems.  — Read on finance.yahoo.com/news/economic-doom-loops-harder-avoid-000035999.html

The World Now Has $13 Trillion of Debt With Below-Zero Yields

The investment world has truly gone mad when it prefers to put money into negative yielding bonds rather than just stuff it under the mattress for a guaranteed zero percent return. This is an ominous sign for the global economy. (Bloomberg) — The universe of negative-yielding bonds grew about $1.2 trillion this week after dovish […]

Regime Change For the Fed — Honest Rates

James Grant was one of three recipients of the 2019 Bradley Prize. Roger Kimball and Judge Janice Rogers Brown were likewise honored. At the May 7 award ceremonies at Washington, the famed editor of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer had this to say: * — Read on www.nysun.com/national/regime-change-for-the-fed-and-honest-rates/90694/

What Happened to America’s Middle-class?

Alissa Quart, author of the new book, Squeezed: Why Our Families Can’t Afford America, suggests that America’s middle class is being wiped out by a cost of living that far outpaces salary increases.   A couple earning nearly $140,000 can’t make ends meet without taking after hours jobs? Tiny starter houses cost $680,000 and up? Highly educated […]

Negative Debt Pile Swells By $1 Trillion as Trade Clouds Gather

Bond investors are looking pretty pessimistic on growth. As the U.S. and China move closer to a trade war and the European Central Bank prolongs stimulative rates, traders are piling into the safety of government debt and enlarging the stock of bonds with below-zero yields. In just six days through — Read on finance.yahoo.com/news/negative-debt-pile-swells-1-121743703.html