Weekly Economic & Market Review
The stock market continued to defy gravity last week in its ongoing attempt to make me look like a fool for trying to predict its movements. We’ve recently moved our portfolios to a neutral risk position from the more aggressive stance we adopted during the great sovereign debt scare of last fall and are contemplating .. read more
Weekly Economic & Market Review
With US economic data still surprisingly strong – although not as surprisingly as it was a few months ago – and Europe about to “solve” the Greek crisis – again – it might seem a curious time to start worrying about the global economy, but I can’t shake the feeling that all isn’t right with .. read more
Is Inflation, a Stagnant Economy, and Lower Standard of Living in Our Future?
Thinking Things Over February 12, 2012 Volume II, Number 6: Is Inflation, a Stagnant Economy, and Lower Standard of Living in Our Future?? By John L. Chapman, Ph.D. Washington, D.C. Despots and democratic majorities are drunk with power. They must reluctantly admit that they are subject to the laws of nature. But they reject the very .. read more
Obama and Bernanke are Not on the Same Page on Our Future
Thinking Things Over January 29, 2012 Volume II, Number 4: Obama and Bernanke are Not on the Same Page on Our Future By John L. Chapman, Ph.D. Washington, D.C. The week just passed witnessed an extraordinary disconnect. Tuesday night President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address, and argued that the economy is “getting .. read more
The Effect of Current Monetary Policy on Asset Prices and Economic Growth
By John L. Chapman, Ph.D. Canton, OH January 6, 2012 Later this month the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee holds the first of eight regularly scheduled meetings to discuss ongoing monetary policy with respect to both short term interest rate and balance sheet targets, as well as how best to support longer term growth. Well into his .. read more
Macro Themes – US Monetary Policy
For our clients and readers, I have linked an article by Jon Hilsenrath, Chief Economics Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. His article presents a good summary of the macro monetary debate occurring in the country. Concerns about the Fed, the financial sector and their, allegedly, dubious relationship with our politicians are already part of the Presidential campaign .. read more
Weekly Economic & Market Review
The consensus view of the recently announced European fiscal deal is that it was a failure and indeed there are a lot of problems with the agreement. First of all, it isn’t really a deal yet. There are still a lot of details to negotiate and it will still need to be approved by the .. read more
Jobless Claims, and Producer & Consumer Price Reports: No Red Flags
By John L. Chapman, Ph.D. Washington, D.C. December 16, 2011 More economic news was released yesterday and today signifying the durability of the current expansion, if not its robustness. We comment here, in seriatim, on producer and consumer prices, and weekly jobless claims. The net of the analysis shows a steady albeit understated expansion, .. read more
