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Consumer Confidence Tumbles To 5-Month Lows As “Hope” Fades

Consumer Confidence Tumbles To 5-Month Lows As “Hope” Fades

But, but, but – low gas prices, high stock prices… everything is awesome. It appears not even the average joe American consumer is fooled by the latest manufactured rally in stock prices as UMich confidence tumbles to 5-month lows (90 vs 92.2 exp) with future expectations “hope” perfectly anti-correlated with the surge in stocks… On the […]
Peak Dollar?

Peak Dollar?

Axel Merk, President & CIO, Merk Investments LLC, pinged me on March 16 with his thoughts regarding “Peak Dollar“. He is not referring to the number of dollars, but rather, the intermediate-term value of the dollar compared to other currencies. Merk’s comments are online at “Dollar Outlook: Peak Dollar?“. Let’s take a look. In guest post format, […]
Chicago Fed Nat’l Activity Index: February 2016 Preview

Chicago Fed Nat’l Activity Index: February 2016 Preview

The three-month average of the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) is expected to tick higher in the February update that’s scheduled for Monday (Mar. 21), based on The Capital Spectator’s average point forecast for several econometric estimates. The average projection for -0.08 reflects a slight improvement over the previous month, which indicates US economic activity […]
Thoughts On Conspiracy Theories Of The Dollar’s Losses

Thoughts On Conspiracy Theories Of The Dollar’s Losses

In our work, we have argued that the dollar is having its third significant rally since the end of Bretton Woods. The first rally was associated with Reagan though it began under Carter and followed 100 bp hike by a new Federal Reserve Chairman (Volcker).   On a real broad trade-weighted basis, the dollar appreciated by more than 50% over the seven […]
Dollar Loses Ground

Dollar Loses Ground

We’ve seen a change in the tone to FX markets this week, with the dollar index moving to new lows for the year, and is now down a cumulative 5% since the start (calculation helped by close at 100.0!). Remember, once again, many started the year with a bullish dollar view, based on the Fed continuing its […]
US Money Supply And Debt – Early Warning Signs Remain Operative

US Money Supply And Debt – Early Warning Signs Remain Operative

Still Slowing Down Year-end distortions have begun to slowly come out of the data, and while broad true US money supply growth remains fairly brisk, it has begun to slow again relative to January’s y/y growth rate, to 7.8% from 8.32%. So far it remains in the sideways channel (indicated by the blue lines below) […]
Why Currency Traders Are So Confused

Why Currency Traders Are So Confused

This morning the WSJ leads with an article that summarizes the prevailing market confusion at the moment, namely that global currencies are soaring, “defying central bankers” despite a flurry of easing around the globe in the past month, all of which have been undone by one Fed dot plot which cut the number of rate hikes forecast […]
Why Are Stocks Moving? Printing Massive Amounts Of Money, Or In The Fed’s Case Refusing To Tighten?

Why Are Stocks Moving? Printing Massive Amounts Of Money, Or In The Fed’s Case Refusing To Tighten?

Why are Stocks Moving? Printing massive amounts of money, or in the Fed’s case refusing to tighten? As obvious as the tech crash in 2000 or the housing bubble… are bells ringing in your ears why stocks are moving. We are trend followers and we all know that stocks rally due to liquidity… we saw […]
USD: The Pain Trade – Morgan Stanley

USD: The Pain Trade – Morgan Stanley

The fallout from the dovish Fed decision continues and some see a long term change to the downside. What’s next? Here is the analysis from Morgan Stanley: Here is their view, courtesy of eFXnews: More short-term USD weakness. “The dovish Fed – discouraging USD bulls – has led to a de-positioning move supporting the once shunned currencies. GBP, […]