Uncategorized
Increases in 401(k) leakage do not bode well for US retirements. Australian house price bubble. The hard facts about coal. Headlines NYT - Venezuela Muzzles Legislature, Moving Closer to One-Man Rule 3/30. It's been a few decades since a Latin American country has regressed into a
Uncategorized
Shale markets to the financial markets – can I get some more money please… Slow housing recovery sapping GDP growth. China’s smartphone users flock to risky investments. Headlines FT - Chile heads for first recession since 2009 3/23. The Chilean economy contracted 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2016
Uncategorized
In the markets, even more so than in life, confidence is key. The American retail apocalypse. China is stirring a hornet’s nest. Headlines FT - S&P 500 posts steepest slide since October 3/21. The S&P 500 index finally broke its 109-day streak of not
Uncategorized
Toronto housing market – heads up, your peak has been called. Sometimes money just needs a home (in a foreign country). First, Happy St. Patrick's Day! Headlines FT - China tries to restrict access to foreign children's books 3/10. Hearts and minds. Bloomberg - Saudi Arabia Says It
Uncategorized
In the UK the economy has grown but wages have declined. Does your bond index have Chinese bonds – it will soon. The Puerto Rican teacher’s pension ponzi scheme (really several US states and cities aren’t far away from a similar situation). Headlines WSJ - Macau Casinos Face Impending Shuffling
Uncategorized
US Baby Boomer generation making peace with less. Lots of US consumers are behind on their car payments. Banks are taking a step back from lending to the apartment market. Headlines FT - Norway plans shake-up of $900bn oil fund 2/16. The sovereign wealth fund of Norway - the largest
Uncategorized
Venezuela having difficulties meeting its oil delivery commitments. REITs backing away from apartments. Chinese companies lending to the tune of $2tn where bankers have pulled back. Headlines FT - Alphabet opts to spell out its stock options 2/9. Google recently let slip that it will be treating stock based pay
Uncategorized
Chinese companies stashing cash ($110bn) in wealth management products. Italian banking sector depending on UniCredit? Headlines FT - Bank of Japan intervenes to buy 10-year JGBs 2/3. Well for now it appears that the Bank of Japan's tolerance for the Japanese 10-year bond is about 0.
Uncategorized
There is a lot of money sloshing around between football (soccer) teams to trade players. Chinese football club worth more than AC Milan? Bad credit – no problem. Headlines FT - Rock-bottom rates squeeze German lenders 2/1. Interest rate sensitive German lenders continue to be squeezed by low-to-negative
Uncategorized
San Francisco becoming a childless city. Now China is making it difficult for banks to move currency overseas. This week's post is going to be short a day - I'll cover it in next weeks' post - as me and my family are in the process of
Uncategorized
China's maritime footprint. Judicial independence in China - don't count on it. Music streaming to the rescue. Headlines NYT – Samsung Heir Faces Arrest on Charges of Bribing South Korea's President 1/15. It appears that no one is 'safe' if the arguably the
Uncategorized
Saudi Arabia looking for savings where it can find them. Headlines FT - Venezuela's president raises minimum wage 50% 1/8. Despite minimum salary raises of 322% since February of 2016, Venezuelan workers now earn about $60 a month on the legal exchange rate or $12 a month at