RSS Feed
Twitter
Facebook
Email
HomeThe Federal Reserve Comes Clean
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 10th, 2011 5:47 AM |
Many market participants rip apart Fed statements within seconds of release looking for key words or phrases to decipher the path of future Fed policy.
Often reading a Fed statement is like reading a Tarot card as the ‘great and all powerful Fed’ provides sufficient obfuscation in order to cover a whole slew of bases.
Yesterday’s Federal Reserve statement struck me as far different from those in the past as it left very little to interpretation. (more…)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 3rd, 2011 9:17 AM |
As we inch our way along the economic landscape we witness more comparisons to the economic malaise of The Great Depression. I take no pleasure in writing on these topics and of these comparisons but they are a simple and regrettably a largely unspoken reality.
You do not need to read Sense on Cents to be aware that our wages and incomes are not keeping pace with the cost of living. You do need to read economic blogs, though, because the reality of our income situation and the impact on real consumer spending habits is often left untouched by major media outlets.
Although Ben Bernanke would define the current inflationary and economic trends as transitory, perhaps he should try to explain that to the couple that is struggling to keep their head above water. Where do we see growing evidence of these struggles. Let’s dive inside The 9 Places Where Inflation Is Crushing Us to learn the following startling statistic…, (more…)
Dollar Devaluation, Stagflation, and How “You’re Getting Screwed”
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 29th, 2011 8:12 AM |
“Remain calm, all is well!!”
Such would seem to be the message put forth this morning by The Wall Street Journal’s lead headline, Officials Unfazed by Dollar Slide,
In recent days, the nation’s top two economic policy makers—Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner—have publicly expressed their desire for a strong dollar. But there is little indication of a change in policy from either the Fed or Treasury—or in underlying economic conditions—that would alter the currency’s downward course.
When thinking of Bernanke and Geithner, who do you think of first, Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy? I am more in the former camp. “Hey, Abbbbbotttttt!!” (more…)
Is Capitalism Dead?
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 11th, 2011 8:20 AM |
While Uncle Sam in the persons of Ben Bernanke, Tim Geithner et al may promote the fact that our capital markets currently are a reflection of a rebound in capitalism, they would be wrong.
Our markets and the Wall Street banks that dominate them no more embody the true tenets of capitalism than the incestuous nature of the Wall Street-Washington relationship truly represents the best interests of the American public. As The New York Times highlighted this weekend, Banks Are Off the Hook Again,
Americans know that banks have mistreated borrowers in many ways in foreclosure cases. Among other things, they habitually filed false court documents. There were investigations. We’ve been waiting for federal and state regulators to crack down. (more…)
Fiddling While the United States Burns
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 8th, 2011 7:45 AM |
Ben Bernanke’s grand economic experiment of quantitative easing is nothing more than a policy of implementing negative real interest rates. That policy may provide support to puff the markets but it also promotes a very real transfer of wealth and income. The simple fact is quantitative easing and negative real interest rates as a formal monetary policy are neither practical nor sustainable over the long haul.
What do I view as a very real and dangerous consequence of Bernanke’s policy? I am of the strong opinion that Bernanke has created a facade behind which many in Washington and around the country continue to “fiddle while the United States burns.” We evidence this fiddling reality in the midst of the petulant and pathetic budget debate ongoing in Washington. While our leaders nitpick over pennies in order to ‘keep the lights on’, the destructive structural deficit our nation faces casts a very long shadow across our nation’s entire landscape. I firmly believe that many politicians have little true appreciation for that reality. (more…)
Will There Be a QE3?
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 28th, 2011 7:56 AM |
Is there really any doubt that virtually all our markets, especially commodities and with the exception of real estate, have been propped higher as a direct or indirect result of the Federal Reserve’s policy of quantitative easing? I have no doubt.
The question remains outstanding just how far the Fed, in concert with its banking friends on Wall Street, has gone and will go to further manipulate our markets. That question may never be fully answered. What a shame! For those who believe a preponderance of truth, transparency, and integrity are the cornerstones for long term fiscal health and financial well being our markets remain a decidedly challenging arena.
In light of this reality and with the end of QE2 on the horizon this June, where do we go from here? A reader posed that very question the other day. (more…)
Oscar Winner Charles Ferguson Rips Wall Street and Washington
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 28th, 2011 5:28 AM |
Charles Ferguson
“Forgive me, I must start by pointing out that three years after our horrific financial crisis caused by financial fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail, and that’s wrong.”
With those words last evening, Charles Ferguson, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary for his film Inside Job, did a lot more than merely begin an acceptance speech. Ferguson touched the third rail and made a political statement. But did he really? Really? Not in my opinion. Ferguson spoke the truth.
When did the mere voicing of the truth become political? Perhaps in America 2011 those who speak the truth actually stand out because we hear so little of the prized virtue. That reality is a sad commentary on our society.
I commend Ferguson. Backstage he had even more to say. (more…)
Connecting the Dots: Our Dollar Continues Multi-Year Decline as Both Political Parties Are “On the Take”
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 15th, 2011 8:55 AM |
In the course of my regular early morning reading (thank you to the regular readers who feed me these resources), I came across some fabulous work.
1. The Dallas Federal Reserve puts forth an enlightening piece entitled Global Economic Conditions. The 43 page treatise covers a wealth of information but my attention was grabbed primarily by the graph highlighting the continued decline in the core rate of inflation on page 11, and the ~20% decline in the value of our U.S. dollar over the last decade versus other major currencies on page 38.
While skyrocketing food and energy costs globally will likely continue to foment civil unrest in selected nations, Fed chair Bernanke is assuredly singularly focused on that continued decline in the core rate of inflation. How will he respond? Many individuals whom I respect believe Bernanke will continue to flood our economy with more and more dollars via quantitative easing. What does that portend for the value of our greenback? It ain’t good. What do others think of our Federal Reserve and fiscal fiascos? Let’s navigate further. (more…)
Will States, such as California, File Chapter 9?
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 3rd, 2010 6:38 AM |
Are those large waves roiling the world of municipal finance–and centered on California–to be feared?
Are they an indication of an oncoming tsunami? Or are they to be discounted and taken as just another “Hey, dude, don’t worry. Surf’s up!!”
Well, perhaps those less concerned about what is just ‘off the coast’ may care to ‘break out their boards’ but prudence dictates we take a harder look at what is causing the recent waves in the world of municipal finance. These factors include: (more…)
The Credibility of the Federal Reserve
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 16th, 2010 7:12 AM |
The Federal Reserve is arguably the most powerful institution in the world. Additionally, it is one of the least understood.
In the midst of the ongoing financial experiment known as quantitative easing are we supposed to blindly trust the abilities of our central bankers within the Fed, especially Fed chair Ben Bernanke? I know of no institution, especially with the size and scope of the Fed, that has so much power in one man’s hands and simultaneously so little transparency and accountability.
Yet, despite that lack of transparency and accountability, at this very point in time our nation’s future largely rests in the hands of one Ben Bernanke and his control of the Federal Reserve. Should we have reason for concern? We should. (more…)
