Sense on Cents

The road to hell is paved with positive carry.

Those in financial circles likely know that the above quote is a colloquialism used to highlight that excessive leverage can generate cash flow, that is the positive carry, but that ultimately unless properly and prudently unwound the leverage itself can lead to financial armageddon. We have witnessed this scenario time and again.

Wall Street specifically and our economy at large are continuing to lick their wounds and attempting to recapitalize from the “road to hell” we experienced beginning in 2008. While the financial system as a whole deleverages, Ben Bernanke and his minions within the Federal Reserve have leveraged up in an attempt to ‘ease the pain’. Just yesterday, Fed officials highlighted that they would continue to leverage up if need be.

In the process, I believe they will simply be moving further down that road to you know where.  (more…)