Summary Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said he won’t seek a second term. Korea’s parliament voted 234-56 to impeach President Park. Czech National Bank raised the possibility of negative rates to help manage the currency. A Brazilian Supreme Court justice removed Senate chief Renan Calheiros from his post, but was later overturned by the full court. Brazil central bank signaled a possibly quicker easing...
Read More »Global Warm-Ongering: What Happens If Trump Takes US Out Of Paris Agreement?
Submitted by Michael Shedlock via MishTalk.com, For all the shock, horror, and aghast of global warm-ongers, comes a startling revelation: It’s Irrelevant if US Pulls Out of Paris Accord. Donald Trump has sent his clearest message yet about his plans for reshaping US policy on global warming by choosing a chief environmental regulator who has questioned the science of climate change. But leading experts say the...
Read More »FX Daily, December 09: Euro Chopped Lower before Stabilizing
Swiss Franc EUR/CHF - Euro Swiss Franc, December 09(see more posts on EUR/CHF, ) Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The euro has stabilized after extending yesterday’s ECB-driven losses. The euro’s drop yesterday was the largest since the UK referendum to leave the EU. Ahead of the weekend, there may be some room for additional corrective upticks, but they will likely be limited, with the $1.0650...
Read More »Great Graphic: Another Look at the Reproduction Problem
In order for a society to be sustained social relations have to be reproduced. Yet now neither the middle class nor capital are able to reproduce themselves. This may be the single greatest challenge our society faces. David Leonhardt of the New York Times reminds us that the phrase “American Dream” was born during the Depression. A popular book in 1931 that introduced the concept defined it as “that dream of a land...
Read More »Uncertainty prevails everywhere, says Draghi, but apparently investors don’t mind
According to European Central Bank President Mario Draghi “uncertainty prevails everywhere” but apparently investors don’t mind. Market participants shrugged off last weekends “no” to constitutional reform in Italy and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to push European indices to 12 month highs this week. The Swiss Market Index followed European markets higher. The German DAX and France’s CAC...
Read More »Swiss EU immigration – unfortunately there is no plan B, says president in interview
Switzerland’s plan to solve an immigration dilemma with the European Union could avoid being held up by another referendum if it gets strong support in parliament next week, according to Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann.[embedded content] A clear result in a final vote on Dec. 16 with the Swiss People’s Party, or SVP, in the minority could make it “delicate” for the group to push for another plebiscite, he said...
Read More »How Trump Can Bring Outside-the-Box Thinking to Bear on the Fed
The Fed operates in secret, creates inflation, and bails out Wall Street. - Click to enlarge President-elect Donald Trump will soon have the opportunity to put his stamp on the Federal Reserve. And that is making the elite body of central bankers nervous. On the campaign trail, Trump harangued Fed chair Janet Yellen for pumping up financial markets with cheap money – accusing the Obama appointee of being politically...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Focus Shifts toward Europe
Summary: US developments have driven the dollar rally and bond market decline over the past three weeks. Attention shifts to European politics and the ECB meeting. Bank of Canada and the Reserve Bank of Australia meet but are unlikely to change policy. United States There were significant moves in interest rates and currencies last month. The drama was primarily spurred by the solidification of expectations...
Read More »Italian Euro Exit: Why it Might Come in some Years and Why it Will Help the Euro Zone and Italy
Update December 2016: Italians rejected the referendum that seeks to increase power of the prime minister and reduce power of the two chambers parliament. Prime minister Renzi has promised to resign. This opens the door for new elections, in which the anti-euro parties Movimento 5 stelle (5 star movement) and Lega Nord (Northern League) may strengthen. ————————————————————————————— Update December 2013: Bear in mind...
Read More »The War On Cash Is Happening Faster Than We Could Have Imagined
Submitted by Simon Black via SovereignMan.com, It’s happening faster than we could have ever imagined. Every time we turn around, it seems, there’s another major assault in the War on Cash. India is the most notable recent example– the embarrassing debacle a few weeks ago in which the government, overnight, “demonetized” its two largest denominations of cash, leaving an entire nation in chaos. But there have been...
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