ppi

Rant of the Day – Whirlpool fires 5000 Employees

On behalf of citizens: Hey Mr. Obama, We need jobs! Mr. Bernanke you’re not helping either! The first headline I read this morning: Whirlpool to fire 5000 employees. Our economist John L. Chapman has been pleading for less costly regulation since coming aboard back in the summer.  This administration has a central ideology which, in practice, imparts .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

It appears the markets are finally waking up to some of the myriad of worries I’ve been scribbling about for the last few months. Commodities have taken a header over the last two weeks on fears about slowing global growth and the impending end of QE II in June. Stocks have held up better, especially .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

Last week’s economic data continued the recent pattern of the recovery. Manufacturing remains strong, inflation is rising, housing is weak and employment remains a major issue. The economy is continuing to slowly recover but there is no sign of an acceleration that is sorely needed to reduce the unemployment rate. I suspect the next few .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

Well, I think its official now. Everyone is bullish. On CNBC last week, Nouriel Roubini, aka Dr. Doom, the famous bear who allegedly predicted the financial crisis (stopped clocks and all that) pronounced that the bull may carry on for a while more. I think tactically for the next few months equities could rise because .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

President Obama signed the bill last week to extend the Bush tax rates for another two years. About the only people pleased by that fact were the Congress critters who voted for the extension and the occupants of the top tax bracket who were spared the inconvenience of meeting with their tax attorneys and CPAs to find a .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

GM sold shares to the public last week some of which were previously owned by….the public. Anyone lucky or well connected enough to be allocated shares in the IPO was able to book a near 10% profit almost immediately while the less fortunate previous owners – that would be you and me – took a .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

Stock markets rose last week even as the economic data – or at least most of it – continued to deteriorate. The S&P 500 rose roughly 1.5% while the NASDAQ rose over 3%. Foreign markets also generally rose with the hottest markets continuing their winning ways. India rose 4%, Hong Kong 3.3%, Turkey 5.3%, Indonesia .. read more

Weekly Economic and Market Review

Is there a bubble in bond land? That’s become the hot question of the moment with everyone from Jeremy Siegel (yes) to Randall Forsyth at Barrons (no) offering an opinion. I was even quoted in an article this week at CNN Money concerning the present state of the bond market. Goodness knows, if reporters are .. read more