Marc Chandler - Click to enlarge I was on Bloomberg Television with Joe Wisenthal this afternoon. I explain what I have been suggesting for the past couple of weeks, namely that the Austrian presidential election this weekend is the third point in the populist-nationalist wave, not Italy. The changes in the Senate are opposed by a broad array of forces in Italy, including many very pro-European elements, like former...
Read More »Cool Video: Bloomberg TV-Italy and Austria this Weekend
Marc Chandler - Click to enlarge I was on Bloomberg Television with Joe Wisenthal this afternoon. I explain what I have been suggesting for the past couple of weeks, namely that the Austrian presidential election this weekend is the third point in the populist-nationalist wave, not Italy. The changes in the Senate are opposed by a broad array of forces in Italy, including many very pro-European elements, like former...
Read More »Employment barometer in 3rd quarter 2016: Employment growth slows
Neuchâtel, 29.11.2016 (FSO) – In the 3rd quarter 2016, total employment (number of jobs) rose by 0.3% in comparison with the same quarter a year earlier (-0.1% compared with the previous quarter). In full-time equivalents, employment in the same period remained unchanged. The Swiss economy counted 4,000 more vacancies than in the corresponding quarter of the previous year (+8.1%). The other indicators also showed...
Read More »Emerging Markets: Week Ahead Preview
Stock Markets EM ended last week on a somewhat firmer note, though we note divergences remain in place. For the week, ZAR and KRW performed the best while TRY and BRL were the worst. US jobs data Friday will draw some attention, though a December Fed rate hike is pretty much fully priced in. China reports November PMI readings this week, and should show continued stabilization of the world’s second largest...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Shifting Portfolio Preferences Continue to Drive Capital Markets
Summary: Forces emanating from the US and Europe are driving the capital markets. The moves may be stretched technically, but the market adjustment has further to run as not even two Fed hikes are discounted for next year. European political concerns and an ECB expected to continue its asset purchases have driven German 2-year yields to new record lows. There are powerful moves underway in the capital...
Read More »The Dollar Is Rising – Precious Metals Supply-Demand Report
See the introduction and the video for the terms gold basis, co-basis, backwardation and contango. The Quality of Money “The problem with central banks is that they increase the quantity of money in the same way that the problem with piping sewage into a swimming pool increases the quantity of water.” It’s not really about the quantity, is it? It’s about the quality. We believe that millions of people can see that...
Read More »FX Weekly Preview: Shifting Paradigms and the Market Adjustment
Summary: Perceptions of two trends shape the investment climate: reflation and nationalism. Fed rate hike set for next month, barring significant surprise. Japan’s trade surplus is growing even as imports and exports continue to contract. United States Around the middle of the year, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard revealed his new economic approach. He argued that during economic phases, or...
Read More »BIS: The VIX is Dead, The Dollar is the new “Fear Indicator”
Over the past few years, one of the recurring themes on this website has been an ongoing discussion of how the VIX has lost its predictive value as a market risk indicator. This culminated recently with a note by Russel Clark who explained in clear term why the “VIX is now broken.” Today, in a fascinating note Hyun Song Shin, head of research at the Bank for International Settlements, the “central banks’ central bank”...
Read More »FX Weekly Review, November 14 – November 18: Best Dollar Weeks since Reagan
Swiss Franc Currency Index The weeks after Trump’s election continue to see a weakening of the Swiss Franc, while the dollar index is on a steady rise. Still both the euro and the yen have seen worse performance than the Swiss Franc. The euro is currently under 1.07 CHF. Trade-weighted index Swiss Franc, November 18(see more posts on Swiss Franc Index, ) Source: FT.com - Click to enlarge Swiss Franc Currency Index...
Read More »The Italian Job
Summary: Italy is the epicenter of the next potential populist “shock.” A defeat of the referendum is seen as intensifying the political risk. Renzi has wavered again regarding his political future if the referendum loses. Many investors are closely watching Italy. It is seen as the next flashpoint for the wave of populism after Brexit and Trump’s success. The constitutional referendum will be held on...
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