Interest payments: A boon now, bane later?
Debt can be both a boon and a bane. Used properly, it can be a very useful tool – be it to an individual, a business, or a government. Too much of it at the same time can unleash destructive … Continued
Deleveraging — what deleveraging?
The title of the accompanying chart says it all. Despite all the talk behind the ongoing de-leveraging, facts point us to a different reality. Compared to 2007, the outstanding U.S. bond market debt is higher, not lower – $40.4tn in … Continued
ECB action suggests euro-area debt crisis not over yet
The euro so far is trading exactly as expected. ECB President Mario Draghi did not disappoint. Yesterday, the refi rate (main lending rate) was cut to 0.15 percent from 0.25 percent and the deposit rate to negative 0.1 percent from … Continued
Dynamics behind plummeting U.S. home ownership and rental reliance
Sales of new homes are struggling to maintain their earlier momentum. The three-month moving average flat-lined for nearly a year before peaking at 448k (SAAR) in January this year. Those for sale (supply) has been gradually inching up as well … Continued
Bond market is trying to tell us something – part two
In discussing the dynamics behind the U.S. bond market early this week, an important variable got left out. The chart below plots the budget situation of the U.S. government against issuance by the Treasury of notes and bonds. This gives … Continued
Bond market is trying to tell us something
As 2014 began, growth expectations were very high for the U.S. economy. In fact, every year since the recession ended mid-2009, economists’ GDP forecasts have been on the optimistic side, only to be progressively cut back as the year progresses. … Continued
Bond yield/earnings yield ratio lousy metric in present circumstances
One valuation tool equity bulls consistently use to justify current stock valuations – as well as to argue for further multiple expansion – is by comparing bond yield to earnings yield. There is a metric known as ‘bond equity earnings … Continued
QE robbing savers to save spenders
The phrase quantitative easing elicits diverse reaction. For some, QE was what saved the U.S. economy post 2007/2008 crisis and boosted both housing and stocks. For others, all it did was create this huge asset inflation, and further widen the … Continued
Path of least resistance for euro is down
The euro has been in an incessant rally mode since July 2012, and particularly since July 2013. This has surprised a lot of observers as this has come in the face of what in ordinary circumstances could/should have resulted in … Continued
Doubting the ‘dry powder remains, to push stocks higher’ theory
One of the common themes that we so often hear is that there is a lot of dry powder still left to push stocks higher. Bulls have been steadfast in holding on to their gains. Yes, there were sell-offs in … Continued