SNB & CHF

The liberal international order was a screen and a sham. But this does not mean that liberalism is lost. The following longform piece was an essay submitted in May 2022 to the Mont Pelerin Society for the Hayek Essay Contest on the topic of international order. Although rejected, the subject is important and of interest for our readers. An international authority which effectively limits the powers of the state over the individual will be one of the best safeguards...

In 2022, central banks will have purchased the largest amount of gold in recent history. According to the World Gold Council, central bank purchases of gold have reached a level not seen since 1967. The world’s central banks bought 673 metric tons in one month, and in the third quarter, the figure reached 400 metric tons. This is interesting because the flow from central banks since 2020 had been eminently net sales. Why are global central banks adding gold to their...

Pharmaceutical exports in nominal terms increased by 40% since the Ukraine war began. However, export volume increased only slightly. © Keystone / Christian Beutler Swiss exports of pharmaceuticals to Russia, which are not subject to sanctions, reached a 30-year record last year, buoyed by high prices. Roche, Novartis and the other Swiss pharma companies brought in CHF2.1 billion ($2.3 billion) from the export of pharmaceuticals to Russia in 2022. In 2021 the Swiss...

The Treasury's extraordinary measures to avoid breaching the debt ceiling includes winding down its TGA balance with the Fed. The unintended consequence is to raise the level of bank reserves at the same time the Fed is attempting to reduce them (QT). Will this end up restarting "inflation?" Unpacking TGA, QT, and QE with actual evidence, including the Fed's. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysis FOMC May 1997 Meeting Presentation Materials...

Jeff Snider, Headmaster of Eurodollar University, joins the podcast to talk about the perverse complexities of the Eurodollar system. What even is a Eurodollar? Why was the system created? Keith and Jeff discuss the Eurodollar market and then give their hot takes in a hilarious lightning round. We hope you enjoy this insightful, whirlwind of an episode! Follow Jeff and @eurodollaruniversity Earn Interest on Your Gold and Silver with Monetary Metals 🏆 Gold Fixed Income...

The first version of the Swiss constitution was a breakthrough on the road to democratisation. It gave the cantons more autonomy and paved the way for creating one of the greatest democracies in Europe. However, it was far from perfect. It triggered numerous crises and failed to put an end to injustice. This episode is part of the series Swiss democracy hotspots with Claude Longchamp. This series in several parts is tailored for our author: Claude Longchamp’s expertise makes him the...

Jeff Snider, Headmaster of Eurodollar University, joins the podcast to talk about the perverse complexities of the Eurodollar system. What even is a Eurodollar? Why was the system created? Keith and Jeff discuss the Eurodollar market and then give their hot takes in a hilarious lightning round. We hope you enjoy this insightful, whirlwind of an episode! Follow Jeff on Twitter and his website. Connect with Keith Weiner and Monetary Metals on Twitter: @RealKeithWeiner...

Reuters The Swiss National Bank (SNB) will make a loss of CHF132 billion in 2022, and distribution of profits to the confederation and the cantons will be suspended. What does this mean for the stability of the SNB and what would happen if it faces another large loss? The SNB still has money. However, not quite as much as at the beginning of last year. Because of last year’s loss, its equity capital has fallen from CHF198 billion to CHF66 billion. In the event of...

Driven by rising prices, Swiss foreign trade increased significantly in nominal terms in 2022. Although exports rose by 7.2%, they stagnated in price-adjusted terms. Meanwhile, imports grew by 16.8% in nominal terms and edged up slightly in real terms. Trade declined in both directions in the fourth quarter. The year ended with a trade surplus of CHF 43.5 billion. In brief: ⇑ Exports: watches and jewellery set new records ⇑ Exports to Slovenia and Italy soared...

Inflation* in the US is falling rapidly with the CPI rising just 0.9% in the second half of 2022 versus 5.4% in the first six months. Existing home sales are down 14.6% in the last 3 months and 34% over the last year. Housing starts are down 22% and permits are down 30% year-over-year. Orders for durable goods are down 1.2%, exports are down 3.8%, and imports are down 4.3% over the last 3 months. Real disposable income is up 0.8% in the last six months but was down...