Ukraine Gas Cut Off
Monday, June 16th, 2014Reuters has reported that Russia has cut off gas supplies to Ukraine.
Archive for June, 2014
Reuters has reported that Russia has cut off gas supplies to Ukraine.
June 16 2014 Opening
Monday, June 16th, 2014Prices of Treasury coupon securities have surged in overnight trading as a risk off environment has motivated traders in the overseas session. I will say that I am somewhat confused at the moment and not quite sure exactly what to believe regarding the situation in Iraq. I think it is ...
Hilenrath on Terminal Funds Rate
Sunday, June 15th, 2014Jon Hilsenrath of the WSJ opines that the major topic at the FOMC meeting this week will be the terminal Federal Funds rate. He notes that in the past the conventional wisdom is that policy neutrality would be a funds rate of 4 percent. However, as the consensus has turned ...
CDS on Banks at or Near pre Crisis Levels
Sunday, June 15th, 2014In another manifestation that fear is evaporating from financial markets the FT is reporting that the cost of insuring against the failure of a large bank via CDS is for the most part back to pre crisis levels. Via the FT: Cost of insuring against bank defaults back at pre-crisis levels By Tracy ...
US to Dialogue with Iran On Iraq
Sunday, June 15th, 2014The headline does not contain the news here which is that , if true, the US will begin a dialogue with Iran on the situation in Iraq. Via the WSJ: Photos of Alleged Killings Posted Online as U.S., Iran Near Talks on Cooperation to Counter Insurgents By Jay Solomon, Carol E. Lee and Ali A. Nabhan connect Updated ...
FOMC and GDP Forecasts
Sunday, June 15th, 2014The FOMC meets this week and will take time out to alter its projection on the trajectory of growth for the remainder of 2014. With the cold weather induced weakness in Q1 the forecast for the rest of year will be moved down. Here is an FT story on the ...
Central Banks Plowing into Equities
Sunday, June 15th, 2014Via the FT: June 15, 2014 6:43 pm Central banks shift into shares as low rates hit revenues By Ralph Atkins in LondonAuthor alerts ©Ng Han Guan/APThe People's Bank of China Central banks around the world, including China’s, have shifted decisively into investing in equities as low interest rates have hit their revenues, according to ...
Sunday Afternoon Miscellany
Sunday, June 15th, 2014If one follows Twitter it appears that violence in Iraq and near Baghdad is escalating. There were numerous reports on Twitter that the US is evacuating its embassy in Baghdad. My read is that this is being done out of an excess of caution and if that is the case ...
Iraq Update
Sunday, June 15th, 2014The Iraqi Army has stymied the insurgent blitzkrieg in weekend battles and the rebels have stalled in their drive to take Baghdad.The WSJ story describes the battle and fighting as a stalemate. Via the WSJ: Middle East News Iraqi Military Makes Gains North of Baghdad in Conflict With ISIS U.S. Moves Aircraft Carrier Into ...
Excellent Website
Saturday, June 14th, 2014I just discovered a new website called Long War Journal which chronicles the never ending and tragic violence in the Middle East. This post discusses the battle plan which the ISIS will employ to strangle Baghdad.