Tag Archive: newslettersent
Emerging Markets: What has Changed
Russia’s Finance Ministry announced plans to increase its dollar. purchases in November. Bahrain has reportedly asked its Gulf allies for financial assistance. S&P upgraded Argentina a notch to B+ with stable outlook. Brazil raised BRL6.15 bln ($1.9 bln) by auctioning off the rights to explore 6 of the 8 deep-water oil blocks. Venezuela bowed to the inevitable, announcing that it would have to restructure its debt.
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What the Kennedy Assassination Records Reveal: Uncontrollable Incompetence
One way to interpret the intelligence community's reluctance to let all the Kennedy assassination archives become public is that the archives contain evidence of a "smoking gun": that is, evidence that the intelligence agencies of the United States of America were complicit in the assassination of the President.
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Bonds And Soft Chinese Data
Back in June, China’s federal bond yield curve inverted. Ahead of mid-year bank checks, short-term govvies sold off as longer bonds continued to be bought. It was for some a rotation, for others a reflection of money rates threatening to spiral out of control. On June 19, for example, the 6-month federal security yielded 3.87% compared to a yield of 3.525% for the 10-year.
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The (Economic) Difference Between Stocks and Bonds
Real Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) rose 0.6% in September 2017 above August. That was the largest monthly increase (SAAR) in almost three years. Given that Real PCE declined month-over-month in August, it is reasonable to assume hurricane effects for both. Across the two months, Real PCE rose by a far more modest 0.5% total, or an annual rate of just 3.4%, only slightly greater the prevailing average.
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Agriculture suisse: trop, c’est trop.
Après la place financière, la production d’électricité, le secteur de la santé, des assurances-maladie, voici arrivé le tour de la destruction du secteur agricole. Remarquez la chose est déjà bien emmanchée avec des suicides et des faillites d’agriculteurs harcelés par un Etat qui poursuit l’agenda d’un « marché » financier et non celui des électeurs, quand bien même ceux-ci financent leur salaire …
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FX Daily, November 03: Dollar Firms Ahead of What is Expected to Be Strong US Jobs Data
The US dollar is firm but is not going anywhere quickly. The lack of fresh interest rate support and uncertainty over the US tax proposals, which the Brady, the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee hopes to have a revised version out after the weekend so the committee work can begin on Monday.
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If American Federalism Were Like Swiss Federalism, There Would Be 1,300 States
In a recent interview with Mises Weekends, Claudio Grass examined some of the advantages of the Swiss political system, and how highly decentralized politics can bring with it great economic prosperity, more political stability, and a greater respect for property rights. Since the Swiss political system of federalism is itself partially inspired by 19th-century American federalism, the average American can usually imagine in broad terms what the...
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Why Switzerland Could Save the World and Protect Your Gold
Precious metals advisor Claudio Grass believes Switzerland can serve as an example to rest of world. Switzerland popular for gold storage due to understanding of the risks inherent in fiat money and gold’s value as a store of wealth. International investors opt to store gold in Swiss allocated accounts due to tradition of respecting private property.
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Strong Growth? Q3 GDP Only Shows How Weak 2017 Has Been
Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson also had a long career as a manager after his playing days were done. He once said in that latter capacity that you have to have a short memory as a closer. Simple wisdom where it’s true, all that matters for that style of pitching is the very next out. You can forget about what just happened so as to give your full energy and concentration to the batter at the plate.
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Observations on Wealth-Income Inequality (from Federal Reserve Reports)
There's a profound difference between assets that produce no income and those that produce net income. To those of us nutty enough to pore over dozens of pages of data on wealth and income in the U.S., the Federal Reserve's quarterly Z.1 reports and annual Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) are treasure troves, as are I.R.S. tax and income reports.
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Swiss Consumers continue to expect a positive economic development
Consumer sentiment in Switzerland remains above average. At -2 points, the overall index is virtually unchanged in October compared to the previous quarter (-3 points). Continued optimism regarding economic development and unemployment are supporting the positive outlook in particular, while expectations regarding the financial situation of households remain below average.
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Swiss Retail Sales, September: Stable Nominal and +0.8 percent Real
Turnover in the retail sector remained stable in nominal terms in September 2017 compared with the previous year. Seasonally adjusted, nominal turnover rose by 0.8% compared with the previous month. These are provisional findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
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FX Daily, November 02: Dollar Pulls Back in Asia
We suggested the market was at crossroads. It is still not clear if the dollar's breakout, supported by higher yields is real or simply the fraying of ranges. Asia has pushed the dollar broadly lower. While the greenback finished the North American session above JPY114.00 for the first time since July, the fact that the US 10-year yield could not push back above the 2.40% level, does not help confidence.
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When Health Insurance Works: A Look Inside Switzerland’s Healthcare System
The enigmatic independence of Switzerland is perhaps best demonstrated in the fact that its healthcare system manages to satisfy both free marketers and the statist-socialists in the country. It is a giant social safety net woven by individual responsibility and self-made wealth. Health insurance is almost entirely consumer-based, though there are strict cantonal regulations and some governing federal laws.
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Invest In Gold To Defend Against Bail-ins
Italy’s Veneto banking meltdown destroyed 200,000 savers and 40,000 businesses. EU bail-in rules have wiped out billions for savers and and businesses, with more at risk. Bail-ins are not unique to Italy, all Western savers are at risk of seeing savings disappear. Counterparty-free, physical gold bullion is best defence against bail-ins.
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Where To Invest When (Almost) Everything’s in a Bubble
Many things that are scarce and thus valuable cannot be bought on the global marketplace. Now that almost every asset class is in a bubble, the question of where to invest one's capital has become particularly vexing. The ashes of wealth consumed by the 2008-09 Global Financial Meltdown are still warm, at least to those who never recovered, and so buying assets at nosebleed valuations in the hopes of earning another 5% aren't very compelling to...
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La stratégie de la BNS pénalise toujours le pays et la population
33,7 milliards de francs suisses. Voici le montant du bénéfice, réalisé par la BNS à fin septembre, dont se félicitent nos médias. Le problème est qu’un chiffre sorti de son contexte ne sert à rien. Si votre patron vous augmente de 100 et qu’en parallèle, votre loyer augmente de 200, à la fin de l’année vous êtes en déficit de 100 n’est-ce pas? Dans un ménage, une entreprise ou un Etat, il convient de garder une vision globale.
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FX Daily, November 01: Super 48 Hours
This is it: The next 48 hours will be among the busiest of the year. The Bank of England meets tomorrow, and it not only gives a verdict on interest rates but also provides an update of its economic projections (Quarterly Inflation Report). And, among the innovations, the MPC minutes will be released. Ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting, the market will have the ADP private-sector job estimate.
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Lausanne cancels artist’s appearance over security fears
A book festival in Lausanne has cancelled an invitation to Marsault, a controversial French comic book artist, after the organisers said they received threats from activists.The organisers of the Lausan'noir crime thriller book festivalexternal link say they will not be welcoming the French comic book artist Marsault to their event, which takes place in the Swiss city from October 27-29.
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