© Perolsson | Dreamstime.com Syngenta AG shares tumbled on concern that China National Chemical Corp.’s $43 billion takeover of the Swiss herbicide and pesticide maker risks regulatory delays in the European Union. ChemChina didn’t submit so-called remedies in the EU’s early-stage review of the deal by the Oct. 21 deadline, the European Commission’s press office said by phone on Monday. Companies often decide to put off...
Read More »Central Bank Austria Claims To Have Audited Gold at BOE. Refuses To Release Audit Report
Submitted by Koos Jansen from BullionStar.com After years of gradually securing its official gold reserves (unwinding leases) the central bank of Austria claims to have completed the audits of its 224 tonnes of gold stored at the BOE. However, it refuses to publish the audit reports and the gold bar list. What could possibly be so sensitive to hide from public eyes? After the Germans had activated a program to...
Read More »Switzerland UBS Consumption Indicator: Confidence despite weakness in retail
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. The UBS Consumption Indicator rose from 1.53 to 1.59 points in September. The positive trend continues and points to further growth in private consumption for the fourth quarter. The driving forces are new...
Read More »Cashless Society – Is The War On Cash Set To Benefit Gold?
Submitted by Jan Skoyles via GoldCore.com, Introduction Cash is the new “barbarous relic” according to many central banks, regulators, and some economists and there is a strong, concerted push for the ‘cashless society’. Developments in recent days and weeks have highlighted the risks posed by the war on cash and the cashless society. The Presidential campaign has been dominated for months and again this week by the...
Read More »FX Daily, October 26: Euro and Yen Extend Recovery
Swiss Franc After touching 1.08, which apparently the “new floor”, the SNB moved the EUR/CHF upwards yesterday and Monday. Today’s EUR recovery against USD, let also the EUR/CHF rise. EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, October 26(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ). - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar’s upside momentum reversed in North America yesterday and has been sold in Asia and Europe. This seems like mostly...
Read More »End Of The Bond Bull – Better Hope Not
It’s been really busy as of late to cover all of the topics I have wanted to address. One topic, in particular, is the bond market and the ongoing concerns of a “bond bubble” due to historically low interest rates in the U.S. and, by direct consequence, historically high bond prices. Bob Bryan, via Business Insider, recently penned the following note: “Bond yields are low. Historically low. Yields on government bonds...
Read More »Introducing Yield Purchasing Power, the Video
The monetary debate seems artificially limited. On one side is Federal Reserve policy based on discretion. On the other is policy based on rules. It’s Keynes vs. Friedman. It’s central planning of our economy based on the reactive whims of wise monetary planners vs. central planning of our economy based on the proactive rules written by … wise monetary planners. On the rules side, there is a sub-debate. Should we have...
Read More »FX Daily, October 25: Dollar Goes Nowhere Quickly
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, October 25 2016(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ). Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge The pound had started the week looking more upbeat against the Swiss Franc but soon came under pressure just before Bank of England Governor Mark Carney met with a House of Lords committee about Brexit. There was a sudden 1% fall in the price of sterling in the minutes prior to the...
Read More »Seven Things I Learned while Looking for Other Things
Summary: Mainland demand for HK shares has dried up this month. EMU growth may accelerate in Q4, while the collective deficit continues to fall. German fertility rate increased last year. Here is to the serendipity of learning: 1. Chinese buying of Hong Kong shares has dried up this month compared with the record equivalent of $8 bln in September. So far this month’s purchases are less than $1 bln. In...
Read More »Seven Things I Learned while Looking for Other Things
Summary: Mainland demand for HK shares has dried up this month. EMU growth may accelerate in Q4, while the collective deficit continues to fall. German fertility rate increased last year. Here is to the serendipity of learning: 1. Chinese buying of Hong Kong shares has dried up this month compared with the record equivalent of $8 bln in September. So far this month’s purchases are less than $1 bln. In...
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