Sorry to state the obvious but 2020 has been a tumultuous year. Between covid-19 and U.S. politics — and the politics of covid — interest rates have returned to the zero lower bound after the second-quarter disaster. The FEDERAL RESERVE has declared that it’s on hold until the wages and jobs lost to the most vulnerable have been recovered.
Notes From Underground: A Tumultuous Year
December 1, 2020Notes From Underground: November Podcast
November 24, 2020Wishing all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for all my blessings in my life and for the engagement with my readers in these tumultuous times. Enjoy the podcast I recorded with Anthony Cruedele as we consider investment themes going forward.
Thankfully, Yra
Notes From Underground: Yra and Gary Talk Deflation
November 6, 2020On Wednesday, I had a long discussion over Zoom with the eminent Gary Shilling, courtesy of FRA. There is much we agree on but as my readers are aware, my view on a coming deflationary spiral is measured as a low probability outcome of the current financial and economic situation. If deflation were to take hold it would be deemed a major failure of FEDERAL RESERVE policy aided and abetted by 535 fools on Capitol Hill. Before getting to the PODCAST, I offer up this advice on this week of major macro-economic importance (and NO, NOT THE U.S. ELECTION). There were three central bank meetings this week: The Reserve Bank of Australia; the Bank of England; and the Fed.
Notes From Undergound: Marc Faber, Wow
October 13, 2020It is a pleasure to have sat down with the paradigm of global macro, Dr. Marc Faber. We, alongside Richard Bonugli, talked commodities, currencies and bond markets. Enjoy the podcast and make it a double of your favorite libation. No, it’s not doom and gloom. It’s insights into the current global financial situation presented with potential investment opportunities.
But first, let’s review a few things:
Notes From Underground: Too Little Is Worse Than Too Much
October 6, 2020Following Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech Tuesday at the National Association for Business Economics, the media (financial and mainstream) ran with the idea that Powell would rather have the government err on the side of TOO MUCH STIMULUS instead of failing to provide the needed boost to an economy that’s beginning to stall after a robust third quarter.
Notes From Underground: Narcissism Has Consequences
October 1, 2020On Friday, there’s a new dose of unemployment data. While these blog posts have been infrequent, my view remains the same: The Federal Open Market Committee may be keen on promoting inflation while returning to the pre-Covid employment levels, but no amount of robust jobs growth will move the FEDERAL RESERVE off its current policy of lower for longer.
In regards to the year-end data, I want to know: If unemployment is below 9% while the annualized inflation levels were to rise to 6%, would the FED raise rates? If your answer is no then you agree that the data outcomes are benign. At this juncture much more concerned with the next phase of fiscal stimulus and the DOLLAR.
Notes From Underground: Waiting for Godot, or Waiting for Jerome?
September 15, 2020President Donald Trump has had his issues with his own hand-picked Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. At one point there were even discussions about Trump attempting to demote the chairman if not “firing” him for failure to keep interest rates low enough to finance the massive budget deficits. The Covid pandemic, coupled with 2019’s Powell pivot, seems to have satisfied the President’s lust for negative REAL YIELDS as Powell is no longer the object of Twitter derision. Read the rest of this entry »
Notes From Underground: Venturing Into the Global Morass
August 25, 2020As we get back up to speed, here is another FRA podcast, with Barry Ritholz, David Rosenberg and myself. Enjoy the discussion as we prepare for the the coming volatility of the election season. Pandemics, recessions, elections, oh my.
Notes From Underground: A Long, Long Time Ago
August 23, 2020We are back. This is the first blog post after a 10-week break. It has been a nice hiatus from writing as we took some time to reflect and respect the sanctity of motherhood.
I’m linking to an FRA PODCAST hosted by Richard Bonugli taped on Thursday featuring Barry Ritholtz, David Rosenberg and myself. This will be a solid starting point for NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND as it picks up where we left off on June 12: LONG EUROS, LONG GOLD and looking for some vigor in the commodity markets.
Notes From Underground: A Podcast for the Road
June 10, 2020There were no surprises from the FEDERAL RESERVE on Wednesday. There was no discussion of yield curve control but there was plenty of confirmation about the FED‘s concern surrounding the damage done to the lowest on the employment ladder.
