Gas prices set new record - April 17, 2008 15:41

The national gas price average climbed to another new record at $3.365 Friday (April 11), according to the Oil Price Information Service.  This was the most recent in a sequence of several weekly record prices.  Oil set a new record high above $112 per gallon earlier in the week, which along with the pending summer […]

Dollar reemerges from the shadows - April 4, 2008 9:08

The US dollar has reemerged for the second time in the last couple weeks.  It seems possible the greenback may be nearing a bottom, or perhaps reached one already, considering the firmness it has maintained in recent weeks.  The currency had been on a perpetual slide since the middle of last year, falling significantly in […]

The Credit Crisis Is Over - April 3, 2008 10:08

Hurrah and huzzah! The credit crisis is over, it’s all sorted, everything is fine and buying opportunities abound.

The interaction of new lending facilities- will yields rise? - April 1, 2008 12:57

The interaction of new lending facilities- will yields rise?

Gold Ticks Higher as European Inflation Soars - March 31, 2008 17:50

THE SPOT PRICE of physical gold bullion gave back half of an early 0.8% gain in London on Monday morning nearing the end of the first quarter almost 12% higher against the US Dollar.

Recession possible, but economists hopeful - March 28, 2008 11:03

The US government confirmed today (March 27) that the gross domestic product grew at a miniscule .6% during the fourth quarter of 2008.  This matched previous analyst forecasts for the October through December quarter.  Many economists will be watching closely during April, as the government issues its estimate for the first quarter 2008 GDP.

Moral Hazard, Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Spiders and Margin requirements - March 27, 2008 9:56

Now if that title doesn’t cause Google bots to have a happy hour I don’t know what will? There is a lot of talk about moral hazard being assumed in the Markets, what with the intervention of the Fed with Bear Stearns, the Bank of England with Northern Rock and the Bundesbank with a whole […]

Existing home sales up, home prices down - March 26, 2008 9:41

The last few weeks have seen some big developments in housing and credit markets, which continue to fight an uphill battle.  The Fed jumped in to assist JPMorgan in its buyout of Bear Stearns, which had been on the verge of bankruptcy.  Markets were inspired initially by the news, but were even more enthused when […]

The Federal – Structured Investment Vehicle – Reserve LLC - March 25, 2008 10:34

So, in the end the Fed decided to copy Enron and become a Special Purpose Vehicle, more commonly known these days as a Structured Investment Vehicle. (SIV) The Fed has granted itself the ability to morph by expanding its short term lending and borrowing facilities to such an extent it is now the market.