Key Metric LIBOR OIS Signals Major Credit Concerns – Widening of the spread between LIBOR OIS (overnight index swap) rate raises concerns – Spread jumped to 9 year widest spread, rising to 54.6bps, most since May 2009. – Libor recently moved to over 2% for first time since 2008 – Wider spread usually associated with heightened credit concerns Editor: Mark O’Byrne Major credit concerns are back as one of the key U.S....
Read More »Incrementum’s New Cryptocurrency Research Report
Another Highly Useful Report As we noted on occasion of the release of the first Incrementum Crypto Research Report, the report would become a regular feature. Our friends at Incrementum have just recently released the second edition, which you can download further below (if you missed the first report, see Cryptonite 2; scroll to the end of the article for the download link). BTC Hourly, 16 - 23 March 2018(see more...
Read More »Swiss central bank records huge profits after franc slide
The Swiss central bank confirmed a record CHF54 billion overall profit in 2017 (Keystone) - Click to enlarge The Swiss National Bank (SNB) was less active on the foreign exchange markets last year, acquiring CHF48.2 billion ($50.8 billion) in foreign currency to weaken the franc. On Thursday, the central bank nonetheless confirmed massive profits on currency holdings in 2017. In 2017, the SNB purchased...
Read More »FX Daily, March 22: Dollar Trades Off
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.37% to 1.167 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, March 22(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar has not recovered from the judgment that yesterday’s that Fed was not as hawkish as many had anticipated. There was no indication that officials thought they were behind the curve or prepared to accelerate the pace of hikes....
Read More »Geneva’s mega apartment project now underway – 1,000 apartments and 2,500 jobs
Last week, work started on a project to construct 1,000 apartments in Geneva. The project known as the Quartier de l’Etang will unfold over an 11 hectare site in Vernier, not far from Geneva airport. The video above shows the commencement ceremony and a computer animation of the completed project. The man behind it, Claude Berda, is a French-Swiss billionaire who started out selling jeans in the corridors of Dauphine...
Read More »Why the World’s Central Banks hold Gold – In their Own Words
Collectively, the central bank sector claims to hold the world’s largest above ground gold bar stockpile, some 33,800 tonnes of gold bars. Individually within this group, some central banks claim to be the top holders of gold bullion in the world, with individual holdings in the thousands of tonnes range. This worldwide central bank group, also known as the official sector, spans central banks (such as the Deutsche...
Read More »Solutions Only Arise Outside the Status Quo
Solutions are only possible outside these ossified, self-serving centralized hierarchies. Correspondent Dan F. asked me to reprint some posts on solutions to the systemic problems I’ve outlined for years, most recently in How Much Longer Can We Get Away With It? and Checking In on the Four Intersecting Cycles. I appreciate the request, because it’s all too easy to dwell on what’s broken rather than on the difficult task...
Read More »US Stock Market – The Flight to Fantasy
Divergences Continue to Send Warning Signals The chart formation built in the course of the early February sell-off and subsequent rebound continues to look ominous, so we are closely watching the proceedings. There are now numerous new divergences in place that clearly represent a major warning signal for the stock market. For example, here is a chart comparing the SPX to the NDX (Nasdaq 100 Index) and the broad-based...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: The Fed and More
The most significant event in the coming week is the first FOMC meeting under the Chair Powell. At ECB President Draghi’s first meeting he cut interest rates. He cuts rates at his second meeting as well, underwinding the two hikes the ECB approved under Trichet. At BOJ Governor Kuroda’s first meeting, an aggressive monetary policy was announced that was notable not only in its size, but also in the range of assets to be...
Read More »Emerging Markets: What Changed
Summary Hong Kong may impose a tax on unsold apartments as an effort to increase supply and cool off the housing market. Bank of Israel’s MPC had a split vote last month for the first time in three years. South Africa President Ramaphosa said the ANC wants Julius Malema of the opposition EFF to rejoin the party. Former South Africa President Zuma will face trial on 16 criminal charges. Stock Markets In the EM equity...
Read More »