25 Sep 2009

Posted at 15:18h in The Friday Brief by
The stock market, since early March continues to suggest economic recovery. But this week it took a pause as the S&P 500 declined some 1.8%. Still, the average is 55% above its March 9th lows. With the huge rally, consensus seems to be building that the market is ahead of itself. Some even argue that we are in a sucker’s rally or a bear market trap soon to collapse.

29 May 2009

Posted at 15:40h in The Friday Brief by
As the world recession eases there is much talk of a “new normal,” in the global economy, characterized by heightened government regulation, slower growth, and a shrinking role for the US. Anyone familiar with the history of booms and busts hardly disagrees with the premise, especially given the extensive damage wrought on the worlds’ credit infrastructure, the breakdown of fundamental investor trusts by regulators who increasingly blur the lines between public and private rights, and a consumer who is too tapped-out, over-leveraged, and over-taxed to consume us out of this one.

22 Feb 2008

Posted at 16:32h in The Friday Brief by
Search for the bottom in the housing recession continues, leading indicators are falling, the auction market has dried up, Oil breaks $100, Gold is reaching new highs, and the job market is cooling. Unfortunately there is little evidence to support the thesis that we will miss a recession other than the continued strong momentum in Asia and theMiddle Eastmay pull us out of this dive with the help of lower rates and government stimuli.