Weekly Economic & Market Review
Targeted, timely and temporary. That was the clarion call of the Keynesians during the debate over the stimulus plan enacted at the beginning of President Obama’s current term. Stimulus was reckoned to be most effective when these three principals were embraced. We all know now that timely wasn’t much of a consideration in the structure .. read more
Weekly Economic & Market Review
Is the great bear market of 2011 over? Stocks have risen relentlessly this month culminating with a giant 3% move last Thursday. The plan revealed that day to address the European debt crisis is the most often cited reason for the rally but the resilient performance of the US economy, as evidenced by the GDP .. read more
Weekly Economic and Market Review
Does Ben Bernanke have access to a Bloomberg? I ask that because he is apparently unaware that the dollar index is down for 9 straight days, gold is hitting new highs and silver is approaching cult status. He said at his press conference that a strong and stable dollar was in the best interests of .. read more
Weekly Economic and Market Review
It’s not exactly the Newsweek indicator but anyone with contrarian instincts had to note the cover story of Barron’s this weekend, Bears Beware!, with at least a modicum of concern. The story concerns the magazine’s recent Big Money Poll survey of money managers who it turns out are – surprise! – bullish on stocks. I’m .. read more
Weekly Economic and Market Review
The GDP report last Friday confirmed what all sentient beings outside the immediate DC area already knew – the recession was worse than the official data keepers told us at the time it unfolded. That fits a pattern of cluelessness on the part of policymakers who are preternaturally optimistic and thanks to taxpayer funded salaries, .. read more
As Good As It Gets?
Last Friday’s GDP report showed the US economy growing at a 3.2% pace in the first quarter, companies are reporting great earnings and a deal was finalized over the weekend to bail out Greece. There’s still plenty to worry about – Goldman Sachs under criminal investigation and the Gulf of Mexico on fire are not .. read more
Weekly Economic and Market Review
Considering that large parts of the country were blanketed with snow for a good portion of the first quarter, the 3.2% GDP growth reported Friday doesn’t seem all that bad. Republicans and bears with a vested interest in pessimism will undoubtedly find fault with a recovery that is tepid by historical standards, but with the .. read more
Economic Report: 4th Quarter US GDP Report
Update: GDP Revised Lower According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, US gross domestic product- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States - expanded by 1.3% for all of 2008, the weakest rate of economic growth since 2001. For the latest quarter, GDP fell 3.8%, after a contraction of 0.5% in .. read more
