Gold set to shine as Washington stumbles “Bet on gold’s diversifying properties rather than political stability” World’s largest asset manager believes Trump and political drama in the U.S. means gold likely to rise Real rates flattening out and rising political instability – Blackrock’s Koesterich “For now my bias would be to stick with gold” – Blackrock U.S. debt ceiling issue to be fractious as bankrupt U.S....
Read More »Currency Risk That Isn’t About Exchange Values (Eurodollar University)
This week the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release updated estimates for Q2 GDP as well as Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) and Personal Incomes for July. Accompanying those latter two accounts is the currently preferred inflation standard for the US economy. The PCE Deflator finally hit 2% and in two consecutive months, after revisions, earlier this year. - Click to enlarge The inability of consumer...
Read More »Petition calls for faster, stricter diesel standards in Switzerland
The growth of diesel-powered cars is stagnating in Switzerland (Keystone) - Click to enlarge Swiss citizens are calling on their government to more quickly require stricter anti-pollution tests for diesel cars. Some 7,200 people submitted a petition to the Federal Chancellery on Tuesday. The petition, also supported by various environmental and consumer lobby groups, asks Swiss Transport Minister Doris Leuthard to...
Read More »Les réserves de la BNS au service des investisseurs étrangers
M Cedric Tille, professeur d’Economie (Cédric tille bns) vient de publier une étude fort intéressante qui gagne à être découverte. Elle cartographie la position économique de la Suisse par rapport au reste du monde. Il démontre à quel point la structure qui compose le moteur économique, financier et monétaire de la Suisse dans ses relations avec l’étranger avait changé en dix ans. Grâce à lui, nous voyons que la BNS se...
Read More »FX Daily, August 30: US Dollar Recovery Extended
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.09% to 1.1427 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, August 30(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar recovery that began in North American yesterday continued to in Asia and Europe. The geopolitical anxiety sparked by North Korea’s missile over Japan subsided. The US response was seen as measured and tempered. North Korea...
Read More »Bi-Weekly Economic Review: Don’t Underestimate Gridlock
The economic reports released since the last update were slightly more upbeat than the previous period. The economic surprises have largely been on the positive side but there were some major disappointments as well. The economy has been doing this for several years now, one part of the economy waxing while another wanes and the overall trajectory not much changed. Indeed, the broad Chicago Fed National Activity index...
Read More »Two Overlooked Takeaways from Draghi at Jackson Hole
The consensus narrative from the Jackson Hole Symposium was the Yellen and Draghi used their speeches to argue against dismantling financial regulation and the drift toward protectionism. Many cast this as a push against US President Trump, but this may be too narrow understanding. Many investors were looking for policy clues, but these were not forthcoming. The December Fed funds futures contract was unchanged,...
Read More »KOF Economic Barometer Falls
In August 2017, the KOF Economic Barometer fell by 3.9 points. It thus more than reversed its previous month’s climb. With a new reading of 104.1, however, it still points to a level clearly above its long-term average. This indicates that in the near future the Swiss economy should continue to grow at above average rates. In August 2017, the KOF Economic Barometer fell from 108.0 in July (revised up from 106.8) by...
Read More »UBS Consumption Indicator: Weaker Swiss Franc Offers a Ray of Hope
The Swiss consumption indicator by UBS shows improvements. The indicator is still distant from the highs in 2012. At the time stronger growth in Emerging Markets and the weaker franc helped the Swiss economy. Private consumption vs. UBS Consumption Indicator UBS consumption indicator printed 1.38 in June, pointing to subdued growth in Swiss private consumption in recent months. Relatively weak growth in...
Read More »FX Daily, August 29: Dollar Losses Accelerate After North Korea Sends Missile over Japan
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.57% to 1.1374 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, August 29(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates A brief period of quiet, which some may have confused with a change in posture, North Korea followed up the weekend’s test of three ballistic missiles with what appears to have been an intermediate missile that flew over Japan. South Korea...
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