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The Used Goods Question Retail sales in several countries like Germany, Japan and Switzerland continue to fall or they remain steady for years. In the United States they have strongly risen recently. We should remind readers, that used goods sold via Ebay or similar, are not contained in this statistics. Still they create economic value for the purchases. By mentality, Swiss, Germans or Japanese pay more attention so...

The consumer price index (CPI) remained unchanged in December 2017 compared with the previous month, reaching 100.8 points (December 2015=100). Inflation was 0.8% compared with the same month of the previous year. Average annual inflation reached 0.5% in 2017. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Switzerland Consumer Price Index (CPI) YoY, Dec 2017(see more posts on Switzerland Consumer Price...

The investment climate is being shaped by two powerful forces. First is the very accommodative policy stance. This includes the United States, where despite delivering the fifth rate hike in the cycle, adjusted by headline CPI, remains negative. The balance sheet has begun being reduced, financial conditions in the US are easier now than a year ago. The ECB’s bond purchase program, which has been cut in half to 30 bln...

Stock Markets EM FX was mostly firmer last week, but ended on a mixed note Friday.  Best performers on the week for COP, MXN, and BRL while the worst were ARS, PHP, and CNY.  We continue to warn investors against blindly buying into this broad-based EM rally, as we believe divergences will once again assert themselves in the coming weeks. Stock Markets Emerging Markets, January 03 Source: economist.com - Click...

- Click to enlarge Germany does not have a government, though the election was more than three months ago.  Spain, Portugal, and Ireland have minority governments.  Austria is the first government since the financial crisis to include the populist right.  The EU is trying to press the Visegrad group of central European countries to conform to the values of Western European members.  And yet it is Italian politics...

– Palladium prices surge to new record high over $1,100/oz today – Palladium surges past record nominal price seen in 2001 after 55% surge in 2017– Best-performing precious metal and commodity of 2017 is palladium – Palladium prices top platinum prices for first time in 16 years– Strong Chinese car demand and switch from diesel to petrol cars sees demand surge– Supply crunch as six year supply deficit & 2017...

Our earlier articles on bitcoin discuss the crypto asset as a currency and a commodity. Both papers focused on the consequences of bitcoin’s defining feature: the asymptotic supply limit of 21 million coins. This gives it an unusual juxtaposition of demand uncertainty and supply certainty (as well as inelasticity). As a currency, it gives rise to a tension between its use as a store of value and as medium of exchange....

The Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee (TBAC) was established a long time ago in the maelstrom of World War II budgetary as well as wartime conflagration. That made sense. To fight all over the world, the government required creative help in figuring out how to sell an amount of bonds it hadn’t needed (in proportional terms) since the Civil War. A twenty-person committee made up of money dealer bank professionals...

It’s A Wonderful Life Is A Wonderful Lesson To Hold Gold Outside of The Banking System – Christmas film serves as reminder that savings are not guaranteed protection by banks – Savers are today more exposed to banking risks than ever before – Gold and silver investment reduce exposure to counterparty risks seen in financial system – Basket of Christmas goods has climbed since 2016 thanks to 11% climb in gold price...

Unlocked boxes: Swiss banking secrecy is not what it used to be. (Keystone) - Click to enlarge Switzerland’s highest court has ruled against the transfer of details of third parties such as bank employees or solicitors in cases of information handovers involving tax dodgers. Wednesday’s ruling by the Federal Court upheld an earlier decision in a case brought by a US expat in Switzerland who disputed the...