Like many young boys who were raised in the mid-1950s, my initial values were “flag, motherhood, and apple pie” . . . and in that order.  (I was raised to be fiercely patriotic and suspect my military record supports that.)  However, I later learned my three primary values:  love of democracy, love of privacy, and … Continue reading Changing People, Changing Values ?

Worldwide, stock markets are up this morning, on news that the EU agreed on something.  Working late into the night, national leaders of Europe browbeat Angela Merkel into doing something.  My first thought was “thank God, they are not completely useless and can actually do something.” The something is that the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) can … Continue reading Sometimes, anything will do . . .

Today, Americans stand transfixed, waiting for the Supreme Court to determine the fate of ObamaCare.  As it directly impacts as much as one-sixth of our economy, it is a very important decision indeed.  But, note that  it has long-term economic importance. Today, stock markets around the world are transfixed, waiting for tomorrow’s announcement from the … Continue reading Concern vs. Worry

Many Americans get all riled-up when they read about the thousand dollar commode seats, etc. bought by the Federal government.  To me, that always seemed like “chump change” compared to the stupidity of paying people who are living longer . . . to retire sooner.  Or, even worse, to borrow billions from China, so we … Continue reading My Two Cents Worth

It is time-well-spent for me to read the perspectives of other investment advisors, such as Goldman Sachs or Wells Fargo.  Locally, I enjoy reading the perspective of Palladium Registered Investment Advisors, whose newsletter is aptly named Palladium Perspectives. Their summer issue makes the point that the European financial crisis is “the most over-examined debacle in … Continue reading Nitpicking Good Guys

The weight of uncertainty is crushing.  The stock market abhors uncertainty.  I’m surprised it is not at least a  thousand points lower.  It seems spring-loaded to go up, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.  The weight of uncertainty is just too heavy. The Supreme Court will rule this week on one-sixth of the … Continue reading Monday Morning Musings

On Wednesday, the Fed left the world markets with a lollipop instead of a box of chocolates.  The market was hoping for another round of quantitative easing.  This is a way of injecting money into the market, because the Fed then buys either Treasury bonds or mortgage bonds.  These bonds were already in the market. … Continue reading Chubby Checker Was Better

Readers know the only thing I like about Goldman Sachs is their research.  Here is a recap of their latest research analysis, which was released today: 1.  While GDP growth was 1.9% in the first quarter, it will drop to only 1.6% this quarter and average 2.0% the rest of the year.  They stated  that … Continue reading From the Devil’s Lips ??

Have you ever watched a kid’s face when asking him if he wants to go to the candy store?  His eyes get big, and his enthusiasm increases.  He even smiles. That’s the reason the stock market has been rising lately.  While there has been no good news out of Europe, the flow of bad news … Continue reading Begging For Sugar

Congratulations to the voters of Greece!   Yesterday, they voted to accept severe austerity, thus preventing a bearish attack on stock markets worldwide.  Of course, their only alternative to severe austerity was a severe depression . . . a terrible choice between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea! Still. the world is celebrating, not … Continue reading Today’s Battle

This Sunday, the slow-motion train wreck known as Greece makes a momentous decision.  They will go to the polls to elect either a pro-bailout party or an anti-bailout party.  The pro-bailout party or New Democracy will continue the ongoing severe austerity program.  Assuming they win, Europe will continue the bailout program.  The anti-bailout party or … Continue reading A Medium Tension Weekend

It was only twelve years ago — that most investment advisors still believed that bonds, especially U.S. Treasury bonds, were a safe investment. It was only twelve years ago — that the U.S. had a balanced budget (ignoring some off-balance sheet entitlements).  The Berlin wall had recently fallen.  America clearly dominated the world.  Investment advisors … Continue reading A Mere 1.2 Decades

There were two important news reports out of Europe this weekend.  The first one is a report that Merkel is holding serious discussions about a genuine fiscal union, whereby no nation would be permitted to run a budget deficit without consent of a panel of European finance ministers, plus consent of a new pan-European finance … Continue reading Europe Finds A Clue ?

Last Friday, the Dow dropped 275 points, and the world was ending. Today, it was up 286 points, and the world just yawned. Situation normal . . . 

Yesterday, I was asked what the likely outcome of the European debt crisis would look like.  Will the Cavalry save us?  And, how will we recognize the Cavalry when they arrive? Reporters chase politicians . . . because that’s what reporters do.  Politicians think about politics . . . because that’s what politicians do.  It … Continue reading The Face of the Cavalry

Last year, I read a book called Currency Wars:  The Making of the Next Global Crisis by James Rickards.  It was interesting — because it changed my historical perspective of the last century from two World Wars to two Currency Wars instead.  But, in the end, I felt this book was just another ambush from a … Continue reading “Currency Wars”

Some wars never end.  One battle just follows another.  That is the world of the investor, who is in a never-ending battle to manage risk and protect his or her portfolio.  Like all battles, there is fog everywhere, which makes it difficult to see reality.  There is the sudden eruption of loud things requiring immediate … Continue reading The Fog of Battle

The all-important monthly Jobs Report was released this morning, and it was terrible.  While economists were expecting 155 thousand jobs were created in May, we learned it was only 69 thousand instead.  The unemployment rate rose from 8.1% to 8.2%. Dow futures indicate the market will drop about 200 points at the open.  Interest rates … Continue reading One Knee Just Buckled