Kondratieff Wave

Why the Threat of Deflation is Real “The Federal Reserve is forging ahead with its balance sheet reduction” I know — inflation has been grabbing all the headlines for a good while now — so you may wonder why the subject of deflation is relevant. First, the definitions of inflation and deflation go beyond commonly… Read more Deflation Threat

Major Fed Myth: Debunked The Fed is reactive in setting rates – not proactive The days of near-zero interest rates are long gone — at least for now. As we look back on 2022, we know that it’s been a year of rising interest rates, and many observers say it’s all due to the Fed.… Read more FED Follows Treasury Rates Again

“Banks are becoming more cautious about lending” And the implications are bigger than just getting a loan Robert Prechter’s Last Chance to Conquer the Crash discusses the psychological aspect of a deflation: When the trend of social mood changes from optimism to pessimism, creditors, debtors, investors, producers and consumers all change their primary orientation from… Read more Tighter Lending Standards for Bank Loans

Why Investors in U.S. Treasuries Face Major Risk Rising rates will be “disastrous” for governments, other debtors and creditors The market for U.S. Treasuries is the biggest bond market in the world, and it appears that potentially big trouble may be afoot. Earlier this month, none other than the U.S. Treasury Secretary herself (Janet Yellen)… Read more Investors in US Treasuries Face Major Risk

Will the “Greatest Depression” Start in Europe? This action by investors resulted in “the highest total since 2014, and probably ever” Many people are familiar with the Great Depression of the early 1930s, but most of them may not know that this economic calamity began in Europe before arriving in the U.S., as a past… Read more Will the Greatest Depression Start in Europe?

Economic “Hurricane”: Here’s a Take on a Bank CEO’s Warning Here’s what reached a nadir as the war in Ukraine broke out On June 1, a CNBC headline said: [Major bank CEO] says ‘brace yourself’ for an economic hurricane caused by the Fed and Ukraine war Yes, the U.S. central bank is engaging in so-called… Read more J.P. Morgan Hurricane Warning

Why the Timing of the Next Economic Slump May Surprise — Big Time “The stock market leads GDP,” not the other way around Do you recall how many government officials, economists or bankers anticipated the severity of the “Great Recession” before late 2007 into 2009? Do you recall even one? If a name doesn’t come… Read more Stock Market is the Leading Indicator

Interest Rates: The Warning That Few Wanted to Heed Here’s an update on this “hugely dangerous bet” Back in mid-2020, a common sentiment toward interest rates was that they would stay historically low for the foreseeable future. Indeed, in July of that year, no less than the Bank of Canada governor said (BNN Bloomberg): ‘Interest… Read more The Reversal in Interest Rates