From the category archives:

central banks

The New Volatility, or Are Stock Markets Affected by Political Influences Reaching A Tipping Point?

January 26, 2010 · 4 comments

in 2010, DJIA, Federal Reserve, Obama Effect, S&P 500, VIX volatility, banks, central banks, earnings, economics, economy, market reports, market trends, news and updates, politics, recession, special dates, stocks

State of the (Economic) Union 2010: is political news now a leading indicator of stock markets?
I can’t remember where I read it recently, perhaps even in the End of Influence, but the consensus among some who know more about it than I do is that stock markets, and most notably the U.S. stock market in [...]

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The End of Influence: What Happens When Other Countries Have the Money

January 25, 2010 · 5 comments

in Asia, China, G20, Latin America, US economy, capitalism, central banks, economics, economy, emerging markets, foreign investment, future, international economy, politics, preparedness, protectionism, reviews, wealth transfer, world order

As soon as I saw this title on the bookshelf, it caught my eye.  Since I’ve been trying to curb my spending, I just skimmed it and put it back.  Well, I returned a week later and decided to buy it after skimming it again.
I’m not finished with the book yet (although it’s just a [...]

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Market Jitters: Are We About to See the End of the Risk Rally and Bear Market Bubble?

January 20, 2010 · 13 comments

in 2010, Federal Reserve, US economy, bull market, central banks, economy, exchange rates, financial planning, forex, hedging, inflation, interest rates, international economy, market crash, market reports, market timing, recession, risk

Highest ever one-month inflation rise in the UK for December, fiscal imbalances in Greece, weakened macro-economics in Germany, a Canadian housing market bubble, higher than 50% gains in the commodity currencies since last March (2009), and the return of hubris and risk-taking in the U.S. investment banks… what do these all have in common?
Is it [...]

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Biggest Foreign Buyers of U.S. Debt

January 4, 2010 · 5 comments

in China, Federal Reserve, GDP, US Treasury, US debt, US dollar, central banks, currencies, debt, deficits, hyperinflation, interest rates, international economy, money supply, wealth transfer, world reserve currency

Aside from American financial institutions and the Fed (the buyer of last resort), the largest buyers of US Treasuries and notes are all Asian countries.  You can probably guess which ones.
#1 – China
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China, more than anyone, is probably most concerned with the value of the US dollar and the stability of their US dollar investments.  [...]

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When the Fed Is Expected to Raise Interest Rates

December 23, 2009 · 0 comments

in Federal Reserve, US dollar, US economy, central banks, financial planning, government, inflation, interest rates, money supply, stimulus

With long-term U.S. bond yields rising and much of the recovery seemingly in place, analysts are increasingly wondering when the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) will begin to implement its quantitative easing exit strategy and start raising interest rates.
Currently the Fed baseline interest rate fluctuates between zero (0) and 0.25%and has done so since late [...]

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Why You’re Wrong If You Think Gold at $2000/oz Is Unlikely… or Worse, Just a Bubble

November 27, 2009 · 8 comments

in US Treasury, US dollar, central banks, commodities, currencies, foreign investment, forex, gold, hyperinflation, inflation, international economy, mining, precious metals, resources, wealth protection, world reserve currency

A gold tsunami is at our doorstep.  It’s not about a bubble, trade or even a wall of fear.  It might be partly some of each of those things, but that’s because it’s much, much bigger than each of those things.  And I’m no gold bug – nor do I keep a cabin hideaway full [...]

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UK Pound Sterling Near 24 Year Low Against Canadian Dollar

October 24, 2009 · 2 comments

in Canadian dollar, UK, central banks, currencies, international economy, pound

Just last week, the UK pound sterling (GBP) hit a 24-year low against the Canadian Dollar when it also hit five-year lows in UK inflation.  The pound is currently weakening again as a result of the latest Bank of England reports on lower than expected Q3 GDP growth, which actually contracted 0.4%.
Ashraf Laidi, CMC Markets [...]

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