Analysis Topic: Interest Rates and the Bond Market
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Can The Fed Stop Quantitative Easing? / Interest-Rates / Quantitative Easing
If the Fed stops QE, confidence in the US dollar would rise. Money would flow into US investments, both supporting the US stock market and helping to finance the large US budget deficit. Gold and silver prices would decline. Negative dollar expectations would be squeezed out of oil and grain prices, although drought, flood, and supply factors would continue to impact grain prices and the administration’s wars can impact oil prices.
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Sunday, June 26, 2011
More Treachery at the Fed? / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
No one expects the Fed to announce a rate-hike at the end of the today's FOMC meeting, but that doesn't mean there won't be a few surprises. The problem is that the recovery has stalled and the Fed can't decide whether we've just hit a "soft patch" or if it's something more serious. If it is more serious, then the Fed will need a contingency plan for kick-starting the economy. So, what's it going to be; another round of Quantitative Easing (QE), rate caps on short-term Treasuries or something else altogether? That's what the financial media will want to know, and only Fed chairman Ben Bernanke knows the answers.
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Sunday, June 26, 2011
Global Debt Crisis Illusions Versus Reality / Interest-Rates / Global Debt Crisis
"Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces." - Sigmund Freud
Our global society needs a reset. The insolvency of Greece or the growing US fiscal imbalance are only symptoms of a much deeper problem. It is easy for market participants to sit behind their red and green charts and point blame at "the Bernank." It is easy for homeowners to forego their mortgage payment to fund the expenses they are "entitled" to. It is easy for the Mortgage Bankers Association to "strategically default," after all it's a "business decision."
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Saturday, June 25, 2011
U.S. Debt Crisis, Proof that 1975 was the year it Began / Interest-Rates / US Debt
Note from the chart below how US public debt began to climb from 1975 onwards. Source: eh.net/encyclopedia/article/noll.publicdebt
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Fed Benefits from Global Economic Fears / Interest-Rates / Central Banks
This week, in the second in a series of less-than-impressive press conferences, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke offered market observers little hope that any additional quantitative easing programs are on the horizon. The Chairman continues to cling to the position that the economy is improving (with the recent "soft patch" attributable to external forces) to the extent that additional Fed support will be unnecessary. Left unsaid was any guidance as to who the Chairman believes will buy the massive amounts of Treasury debt formerly swallowed up by the QE II program?Read full article... Read full article...
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Bernanke - Concern? / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
When Ben Bernanke was appointed the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve in early 2006 I then said he was the person that lost the game of musical chairs. Bernanke has always impressed me as a sincere and honest man who inherited problems not of his own making. I believe he works hard at - as golfer Bobby Jones might have said to him - playing the ball as it lies with little if any complaint. As best I know he is paid something north of U.S.$200,000 per year - hardly a princely sum for someone who holds one of the most important financial jobs in the world. How ridiculous is that when measured against the Wall Street, Bay Street, London City, and corporate executive salaries. One side of that equation is materially wrong - you decide which one.
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Friday, June 24, 2011
Mervyn King's Interest Rate Spread Bet / Interest-Rates / UK Interest Rates
The Bank of England won't raise rates until it knows it won't make a difference…
THE BANK OF ENGLAND is getting more dovish. It seems less inclined than ever to raise interest rates – despite inflation currently running at over twice the target rate.
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Friday, June 24, 2011
Silver, Comex and The War Over Money / Interest-Rates / Global Debt Crisis
Once again, S&P is at it, issuing its monthly threat to the USGovt to fall into compliance or risk its AAA credit rating. On the surface, these warnings have become rather laughable in that the ratings agency feels the need to say something while, in effect, saying nothing. As time has gone by, the idea that the markets would be jittered by an actual ratings cut has become equally absurd. To hear it reported, you’d think the market consisted of a bunch of first graders who need S&P, Moody’s or Fitch to tell them the sky is blue.
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Friday, June 24, 2011
UK Government Bonds, Gilts Rally on Hint of More Q.E. / Interest-Rates / UK Debt
The rally in government bond markets over recent months has been driven by two anxieties:
1.The health of the global economic recovery, and
2.The Euro zone Sovereign debt crisis.
Friday, June 24, 2011
How to Spot Trading Opportunities, 47 Pages of Trading Techniques / Interest-Rates / Learn to Trade
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
U.S. Monetary Policy, A Case of Self-Induced Paralysis? / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
This is a paraphrased title of an essay written in 2000 for the Peterson Institute for International Economics by then Princeton economics professor, Ben Bernanke. In Professor Bernanke's essay, "Japanese Monetary Policy" appeared in the title, not "U.S. Monetary Policy." In the essay, Professor Bernanke makes the case that the Japanese economy's weak real and nominal growth in the 1990s was the result of weak aggregate demand for goods and services, not aggregate supply constraints.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
More Treachery at the Fed? / Interest-Rates / Central Banks
No one expects the Fed to announce a rate-hike at the end of the today's FOMC meeting, but that doesn't mean there won't be a few surprises. The problem is that the recovery has stalled and the Fed can't decide whether we've just hit a "soft patch" or if it's something more serious. If it is more serious, then the Fed will need a contingency plan for kick-starting the economy. So, what's it going to be; another round of Quantitative Easing (QE), rate caps on short-term Treasuries or something else altogether? That's what the financial media will want to know, and only Fed chairman Ben Bernanke knows the answers.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Why Fed QE3 Money Printing is a Done Deal / Interest-Rates / Quantitative Easing
Keith Fitz-Gerald writes: When U.S. central bank policymakers conclude their two-day meeting today (Wednesday), there's really only one question investors want an answer to: What's the U.S. Federal Reserve plan for QE3?
Let me answer that for you: QE3 is a done deal - although Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke & Co. might well give it another name.
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Monday, June 20, 2011
June 21-22 FOMC Meeting - Preview / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
The policy statement of the April 26-27 FOMC meeting mentioned that the "economic recovery is proceeding at a moderate pace and overall conditions in the labor market are improving gradually." This assessment has changed; Chairman Bernanke noted in the June 7, 2011 speech that "U.S. economic growth so far this year looks to have been somewhat slower than expected ... A number of indicators also suggest some loss of momentum in the labor market in recent weeks." The June 22 policy statement is most likely to reflect these developments.
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Monday, June 20, 2011
Fiscal Manipulation, the Intermarriage of News and Economic Policy / Interest-Rates / Quantitative Easing
To Gold Stock Trades Editor Jeb Handwerger, there is an intriguing purpose in the relationship between the national mindset and the intended purposes of economic establishment. "Are we being programmed for QE3?," he ponders in this Gold Report exclusive, ultimately proclaiming, "It's sowing time—not selling time."
While the media is customarily thought to disseminate news, there is a far more intriguing purpose in the role of the relationship between the national mindset and the intended purposes of economic establishment.
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Sunday, June 19, 2011
U.S. Government Gone Wild, Brother Can You Spare a Trillion? / Interest-Rates / US Debt
Our country is on the verge of financial Armageddon! Please forward this to everyone you know. This is the second video produced by Blaise Ingoglia.
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Saturday, June 18, 2011
Could the Eurozone Break Up? / Interest-Rates / Euro-Zone
Is it possible for the Eurozone to break up? It was so inconceivable when they formed it that there is nothing in the treaty that mentions a member leaving or being removed; but now, if we're to be honest with ourselves, we need to think about how that would work. This Friday finds me in Kiev for the first time ever, with my youngest son, Trey; and the small tour we went on last night was fascinating. Since I know not if I will ever get to this fascinating city again, I am going to write a briefer missive than usual, and it will center on my thoughts on Europe, as I have just had the pleasure of the company of a number of very diverse people, talking about the issues. Nouriel Roubini has graciously agreed to allow me use his latest private piece (very powerful analysis here), where he analyzes the question of whether the Eurozone could actually break up, so you will get the usual solid content (OK, maybe a little better), with my notes at the end. And I'll close with some thoughts on Kiev.
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Saturday, June 18, 2011
Emerging Market Central Banks Continue to Tighten Interest Rates / Interest-Rates / Central Banks
The past week in monetary policy saw a range of tightening measures announce by emerging market central banks. Of those that increased interest rates were: Mauritius +25bps to 5.50%, Chile +25bps to 5.25%, India +25bps to 7.50%, and Colombia +25bps to 4.25%. Meanwhile those that reviewed policy but held rates unchanged were: Japan 0.10%, Sri Lanka 7.00%, Morocco 3.25%, Iceland 4.25%, Philippines 4.50%, Switzerland 0.25%, and Botswana 9.50%. Aside from interest rates the People's Bank of China raised its required reserve ratio by another 50 basis points to an average 21.5%, likewise the Philippines central bank raised its reserve requirements by 100 basis points.
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Friday, June 17, 2011
Greek Debt and U.S. Banks Trigger for Next Global Credit Crisis / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2011
Shah Gilani writes: Will a hidden link between the Greek debt situation and the U.S. banking system ignite the next global credit crisis?
The odds of the "next" global credit crisis are increasing with each new day, and with each new revelation. And escalating fears are hitting worldwide stock markets hard.
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Thursday, June 16, 2011
IMF Uses Useless Logic in Throwing More Money at Bankrupt Greece / Interest-Rates / Global Debt Crisis
Inquiring minds are making note of the current state of affairs in Greece. Here is a quick 10-point synopsis.
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