Director | July 29, 2010
We’re just musing today over economic events of the last couple of weeks. There is some good economic news. European banks mostly passed their stress tests, so Europe is feeling more confident in its short-term credit flows. The euro is bouncing up against the dollar. Many big corporations reported high profits, so the stock market […]
Director | July 11, 2010
The Afghanistan scandal: Nita Lowey (D) figures out that the war in Afghanistan is corrupt, proposes withholding funding. Nancy Pelosi also figures it out: “I was just there for Mother’s Day, in Afghanistan, that weekend, and traveled into the country even more remotely than Kandahar,” Pelosi said in an interview in her office. “And the […]
Director | June 15, 2010
First, some good news. Geert Wilders’ New Right PPV party wins 24 seats in Netherlands election. The New Right is taking shape in Europe. But very slowly. Not fast enough to make a difference. Taleb warns of debt “spreading like cancer.” Debt default is the big cloud hanging over the markets and the world economy. […]
Director | May 21, 2010
“Those who follow obsolete paradigms become victims.” We’d like to move on to other topics, but Europe’s crisis has our attention. We could hope that Europe is on the verge of splitting apart and rediscovering nationalism, but this optimism is premature. Instead we are looking for forces of alignment and conflict within Europe, and trying […]
Director | May 13, 2010
It’s hard to keep up with the news because there is so much of it in the Era of Constant Crisis. You will be overwhelmed by the news if your orientation is not right. That’s where we come in. Now, briefly around the crisis zone, just to give you the right orientation. We’re stretched too […]
Director | May 5, 2010
The Chinese government is trying to pop its real estate bubble. Faber predicts China market decline. Commodities “feel heavy.” Australian commodity stocks decline, then rebound. China’s real estate may mark down 20 percent. Prices have increased 20 percent in one year. 60 percent of China’s economy is devoted to construction. Removing China’s commodity bid makes […]
Director | May 3, 2010
Goldman has been charged with fraud in a civil suit and is currently under Justice Department investigation. At the same time, the Dodd financial regulation bill is coming before Congress. Many financial commentators seem to think it’s OK for Goldman to bundle fraudulent mortgages together as long as there is a customer. But the naked […]
