Chinese labor shortages?

Yesterday's article in the FT highlight an interesting point: what happens when Chinese labor is no longer cheap? The article highlighted that with a new manufacturing cycle starting, many firms are having difficulty finding the workers necessary to fill large orders.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , ,

categories General | | datetime February 26, 2010 10:49 am | comments Comments (1)

Connecting the dots 2-25-2010

Or at least trying to keep track of everything... I want to first give you an insight into what I've been reading this morning, then we'll see where it leads us. As many of you know, I'm a believer that excess profits flow through to the real estate sector and have referred to Fred Harrison's book on the subject often (http://www.amazon.com/Boom-Bust-Prices-Banking-Depression/dp/0856832545/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267115867&sr=8-1 - it's a must read).Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

categories Commodities/Futures, Connect The Dots, Real Estate, Strategy/Allocation | | datetime February 25, 2010 12:12 pm | comments Comments (0)

SEC limits short sales

Under-reported and under-reacted-to (is that even a term?), the SEC in a split vote decided to put limits on shorting.
SEC commissioners voted 3-to-2 to curb short sales of a stock after it falls 10% in one day, with the rule requiring short sellers to exceed the highest bid for the remainder of that trading day and the following in short sales of that security. For the full article, click here.
For those interested in efficient markets, price discovery, market mechanisms, etc.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: ,

categories General | | datetime February 24, 2010 2:13 pm | comments Comments (0)

Municipal pressure…continued

Rockefeller Institute report on state tax revenues:
State tax revenues declined by 4.1 percent nationwide during the final quarter of calendar 2009, the fifth consecutive quarter of reduced collections, according to a report issued today by the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The five straight quarters of year-over-year decline in overall tax collections represent a record length of such decreases, the Institute said.
Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , ,

categories Fixed Income/Bonds | | datetime February 23, 2010 11:21 am | comments Comments (0)

Troubled banks stand at 700+

The FDIC came out today with a report highlighting the dangers still present from commercial real estate, and in the process increased the number of distressed banks to 702.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , ,

categories General | | datetime 11:17 am | comments Comments (0)

Technorati post: XDGWCSJSKUZ6

Technorati check: XDGWCSJSKUZ6Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

categories General | | datetime 12:31 am | comments Comments (0)

Obama keeps going on healthcare

The broad strokes are in, but I will withhold judgment until it's all in.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , , ,

categories General, Politics | | datetime February 22, 2010 5:23 pm | comments Comments (0)

The language of trading

Trading is often described in "war" language: "I got killed", "I beat the market maker", win/lose, and I'm sure our readers can think of more colorful examples.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , ,

categories General | | datetime 1:22 pm | comments Comments (0)

The New Rules of War

Writing in this issues Foreign Policy magazine, John Arquilla analyzes what he sees as the future of warfare, and potential pitfalls and opportunities for the US military.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , ,

categories General, Politics | | datetime 1:14 pm | comments Comments (0)

Soros in the FT, Munger in Slate

When some of the biggest investors in the world go so mainstream, you might want to at least listen. Below is the article by George Soros discussing the continuing problems for the euro. After, read Charlie Mungers parable about a country that came to financial ruin.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , ,

categories Currency, Fixed Income/Bonds, General | | datetime 12:51 pm | comments Comments (0)

Conversations have gotten a lot harder

It might be me, but lately it seems that every conversation veers towards healthcare policy, financial bailouts, Bernanke, debt, and stochastic modeling - well, the last part is probably just me. I've been struggling to define, for myself and others, what are the main issues around each topic.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , ,

categories General | | datetime February 20, 2010 2:49 pm | comments Comments (0)

Geopolitics…

Does anyone remember Iran? The oil markets do. They're back pushing $80. At some point, sounds like it might be in the near future, the geopolitics in the area will once again come to the front burner.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: ,

categories Politics | | datetime February 19, 2010 2:32 pm | comments Comments (0)

Fed raises discount rate

Yesterday, after the close, the Fed raised the discount rate from 50 to 75 basis points.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , , , , ,

categories Commodities/Futures, Currency, Fixed Income/Bonds, Strategy/Allocation | | datetime 2:27 pm | comments Comments (0)

What we’re watching unfold…

Warning: This post has nothing new for readers of our newsletter.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

categories Commodities/Futures, Connect The Dots, Currency, Fixed Income/Bonds, Strategy/Allocation | | datetime February 18, 2010 1:36 pm | comments Comments (0)

Watch the 10-Year

Everyone is talking about Plosser discussing selling off the Fed's MBS hoard. It's obviously necessary, but completely unfeasible given a still shaky housing market and no lending. Additionally, it would fly in the face of the Fed's QE campaign.Viewing the remainder of this article requires a Subscription

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

categories Fixed Income/Bonds, Real Estate, Strategy/Allocation | | datetime February 17, 2010 2:33 pm | comments Comments (0)