Tag Archives: Featured

In many ways, 2016 has been the year that the world woke up to how far down Krugman’s rabbit hole (trademark) DM central bankers have plunged in a largely futile effort to resuscitate global growth. For whatever reason, Haruhiko Kuroda’s move into NIRP seemed to spark a heretofore unseen level of public debate about the drawbacks of negative rates. Indeed, NIRP became so prevalent in the public consciousness that celebrities began to discuss central bank policy on Twitter. When we say “for...

In many ways, 2016 has been the year that the world woke up to how far down Krugman’s rabbit hole (trademark) DM central bankers have plunged in a largely futile effort to resuscitate global growth. For whatever reason, Haruhiko Kuroda’s move into NIRP seemed to spark a heretofore unseen level of public debate about the drawbacks of negative rates. Indeed, NIRP became so prevalent in the public consciousness that celebrities began to discuss central bank policy on Twitter. When we say “for...

1) Indonesia announced it will allow full foreign ownership in many local industries in an effort to boost foreign investment 2) The Thai military government called a referendum on the new constitution on July 31 3) Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party dropped its backing for candidate Wnorowski to join the MPC 4) The IMF is starting to warn Ukraine 5) Press reports suggest some slippage in Brazil’s fiscal consolidation efforts 6) Mexico’s Finance Minister Videgaray acknowledged...

The internecine pitch battle between ECB President Draghi and the man who may very well be his successor, Bundesbank President Weidmann opened a new front this week.  It is over the future of the 500 euro note.   Practically, every initiative by Draghi has been resisted by the Bundesbank.  Sometimes it puts the Bundesbank at odds with Berlin, like over the Outright Market Transactions (OMT), which has not been operationalized.  Still, after unsuccessfully blocking the program, Weidmann...

The internecine pitch battle between ECB President Draghi and the man who may very well be his successor, Bundesbank President Weidmann opened a new front this week.  It is over the future of the 500 euro note.   Practically, every initiative by Draghi has been resisted by the Bundesbank.  Sometimes it puts the Bundesbank at odds with Berlin, like over the Outright Market Transactions (OMT), which has not been operationalized.  Still, after unsuccessfully blocking the program, Weidmann...

Things are turning increasingly ugly in Venezuela between President Maduro and the opposition MUD. The core political problem after December 2015 elections is the PSUV are now using the courts to neuter any opposition voices that formally hold a legislative majority to start holding the government to account. Right on cue, Mr. Maduro just railed a decree through the Supreme Court (TSJ) giving him total control over budgetary measures, utilize any property, suspect constitutional rights...

Things are turning increasingly ugly in Venezuela between President Maduro and the opposition MUD. The core political problem after December 2015 elections is the PSUV are now using the courts to neuter any opposition voices that formally hold a legislative majority to start holding the government to account. Right on cue, Mr. Maduro just railed a decree through the Supreme Court (TSJ) giving him total control over budgetary measures, utilize any property, suspect constitutional rights...

The US S&P 500 closed above 1950 for the first time since January 6.  Global equity markets are broadly higher in response.  At the same time, ahead of the G20 meeting, the world's second and third-largest economies have signaled additional stimulus will be forthcoming.   In Japan, the Abe government is reportedly considering a front-loaded supplemental budget for the start of the new fiscal year.  The disappointing CPI figures reported earlier today, with headline and core measure...

The US S&P 500 closed above 1950 for the first time since January 6.  Global equity markets are broadly higher in response.  At the same time, ahead of the G20 meeting, the world's second and third-largest economies have signaled additional stimulus will be forthcoming.   In Japan, the Abe government is reportedly considering a front-loaded supplemental budget for the start of the new fiscal year.  The disappointing CPI figures reported earlier today, with headline and core measure...

The G20 finance ministers and central bankers will meet in Shanghai starting tomorrow.   From some quarters, there is a sense of urgency.  The IMF, for example, is likely to cut its world GDP forecast of 3.4% this year.  That forecast is not even two months old.  The tightening of global financial conditions, exemplified by the sharp drop in share prices over the last six weeks is heightening anxiety among policymakers and investors alike.   The IMF has called for a strong national and...