Poor retail, rising wholesale prices prompt inflation concerns - August 20, 2008 9:58

July wholesale data shows that inflation concerns are still fresh and should be at the top of the list of current economic concerns. Tuesday’s (August 19) announcement showed wholesale prices climbed 1.2 per cent during July, which was well over the ½ per cent estimates that had been forecasted.

Gold: Cheap as Chips…? - August 18, 2008 18:14

THE SHARP DROP in world gold prices starting in late July knocked the cost of physical metal more than 20% off its record top of mid-March at last week’s low point.

Dollar making move as oil slides farther - August 13, 2008 8:53

The dollar has been making a strong move in recent weeks after holding firm for several months in light of ongoing financial concern. There has been little fanfare surrounding the gradual improvement over time in the greenback thanks largely to continued focus on other aspects of the economy. Credit, housing, retail, and unemployment have been […]

retail sales and historic jobless claims dampen spirits - August 8, 2008 9:22

It seems like every time investor sentiment turns positive and consumers gain hope, something in the way of negative financial news gets in the way. Thursday (August 7), there were a few bits of important economic news that worked together to spoil the day. Retail sales, jobless claims, and disappointing financial sector news all contributed […]

Safe-havens in Troubled Times? - August 6, 2008 11:03

Each day we hear another piece of bad news on the banking front. It was called the sub-prime crisis, then it was the credit crunch; what we have in reality is a full blown banking crisis.

Oil and Fed create perfect equities storm - August 6, 2008 10:58

Oil continued to drive downward Tuesday (August 5) as speculation brought light sweet crude futures to $118 per barrel during the day with a close at $119.17. This was a $2.24 drop in New York trade. Oil has now fallen $28 since its high on July 11, less than one month ago. The record high […]

Oil touches 7-week low - July 30, 2008 9:54

Stocks surged Tuesday, one day after a sell off, thanks largely to oil touching a 7-week low price point. In New York trade, light sweet crude oil futures dropped $2.54 to a close of $122.19. Not only is this a nearly two month low, it brought the recent oil slide to about $25 in just […]

The Paradox of Deleveraging - July 29, 2008 10:43

Back in college, most of us took microeconomics before we took macroeconomics. In fact, at Grinnell College where I went, microeconomics was a prerequisite for macroeconomics. The reason was simple: microeconomics begins with the concepts of supply and demand, an essential starting point for the study of macroeconomics. But you only know you’ve mastered both […]

A Occasional letter From The Collection Agency - July 28, 2008 16:00

It has been a rather busy time for The Collection Agency, picking up assets in lieu of cash. Anyone need a badly treated, surplus to requirements, Bank customer desk or ten? I can do job lots. We start off with an excerpt from The Bernanke Conundrum written on 8th May 08: “You see, For Ben […]