Data Show US Economy is Improving

Good day. The dollar continued to benefit from the troubles in Europe yesterday, adding to its weekly gains. The dollar index, which tracks the major currencies versus the U.S. dollar, is up 1.86% in the past five days as investors seek the shelter of the U.S. Treasury market.

I was talking to Mike last night, preparing for this morning’s Pfennig, and we agreed that all of this dollar buying is starting to look a bit overdone. At some point, the markets will figure they have “priced in” the Greek exit and will again start to trade on fundamentals.

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Data Show US Economy is Improving

Good day. The dollar continued to benefit from the troubles in Europe yesterday, adding to its weekly gains. The dollar index, which tracks the major currencies versus the U.S. dollar, is up 1.86% in the past five days as investors seek the shelter of the U.S. Treasury market.

I was talking to Mike last night, preparing for this morning’s Pfennig, and we agreed that all of this dollar buying is starting to look a bit overdone. At some point, the markets will figure they have “priced in” the Greek exit and will again start to trade on fundamentals.

[Read more...]

Economic Recovery Education

Feelings…
Whoa whoa whoa…feelings…

— Morris Albert

Our plane got delayed. This left us in a small waiting room for longer than we wanted to be there. The two large TV screens were inescapable.

Who watches this stuff? Poor schmucks.

[Read more...]

Economic Recovery Education

Feelings…
Whoa whoa whoa…feelings…

— Morris Albert

Our plane got delayed. This left us in a small waiting room for longer than we wanted to be there. The two large TV screens were inescapable.

Who watches this stuff? Poor schmucks.

[Read more...]

Economic Recovery Education

Feelings…
Whoa whoa whoa…feelings…

— Morris Albert

Our plane got delayed. This left us in a small waiting room for longer than we wanted to be there. The two large TV screens were inescapable.

Who watches this stuff? Poor schmucks.

[Read more...]

How to Invest With a Declining US Dollar

Yesterday, we got a glimpse.

Yes, dear reader, we were on our way to Sea Island. We looked across the bridge at another island — Jekyll Island. You know Jekyll Island, don’t you? It’s where the monster was created…

A group of the nation’s richest, biggest, and most powerful bankers got together there — in secret — in November, 1910. They figured it was time to put in place a system that would make it a little easier for them to make money. Instead of competing head to head, without any backstop to protect them when things got rough, they decided to set up a central bank.

[Read more...]

How to Invest With a Declining US Dollar

Yesterday, we got a glimpse.

Yes, dear reader, we were on our way to Sea Island. We looked across the bridge at another island — Jekyll Island. You know Jekyll Island, don’t you? It’s where the monster was created…

A group of the nation’s richest, biggest, and most powerful bankers got together there — in secret — in November, 1910. They figured it was time to put in place a system that would make it a little easier for them to make money. Instead of competing head to head, without any backstop to protect them when things got rough, they decided to set up a central bank.

[Read more...]

Spain Enters its Second Recession in Three Years

Friday’s price action in the currencies was all about tight ranges, but if there was any bias, it was to sell dollars, especially after it was announced that the first print (they’ll be revisions coming) of first-quarter US GDP was 2.2%, down from the fourth-quarter’s 3% clip.

We edge ever so slightly to the other side of the storm from the “eye” and data print after data print show that. Shoot, Rudy, the “experts” had forecast slippage, so they see what’s happening too. Unfortunately for their reputations, they forecast first-quarter GDP at 2.5%, but it printed at 2.2%, even worse slippage than the “experts” saw happening.

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Risky Investments in a Market Full of Conmen

Dow up more than 100 points yesterday. Gold up $18.

Google…Apple…what more do you need to know?

“Blah, blah, blah…don’t you feel you’re wasting your time?”

Our friend was being sympathetic. She gave us a look of pity, tightly controlling her face muscles; as if it might slide into contempt at any moment. After spending so much time with rocks, dirt, cement…cattle, grapes…doing such real things, we admitted that writing about economics and finance seemed a little light. As if there is nothing real there.

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