Under My Thumb

Under My Thumb Fed meetings usually focus on the change in current interest rates, but this week the focus was on 2024. Current rates were left unchanged, but the Fed doubled down on the ‘higher (rates) for longer’ theme. Chair Powell repeated at least a dozen times that the Fed will “proceed carefully” from here, […]
READ POST

Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them

Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them The topic here is hydrocarbons. Oil prices are creating the latest market conundrum. West Texas Intermediate is approaching the $90 level and is up double digits over the last couple of weeks. One might think that is bullish for the economy (better economy = more demand = […]
READ POST

EV’s Running Out of Customers? We’ve Seen This Movie Before!

EV’s Running Out of Customers? We’ve Seen This Movie Before! The title this week was prompted by a headline on Business Insider ”EVs are running out of customers — and some dealers don’t want them anymore”. Not long ago, this headline seemed unfathomable. The move toward green tech seemed unstoppable, and EV demand seemed insatiable, […]
READ POST

No Surprises

No Surprises The Fed meeting in Jackson Hole continues as this is written, but Chair Powell’s comments on Friday morning, the ‘highlight’ of the confab, were no surprise. Chair Powell reiterated that the inflation target is 2%, not 3% as some on Wall St. have speculated, and with rates at or near restrictive territory, any […]
READ POST

China Syndrome

The China Syndrome The economic news out of China is going from bad to worse. The world continues to bet on massive government stimulus, but it never seems to happen. Could a melt-down be coming? (For you non-movie buffs, China Syndrome is a 1979 movie about a nuclear meltdown, that amazingly was released a mere […]
READ POST

Shot Across the Bow

Shot Across the Bow In his 2021 annual letter to investors, Buffett stated “In its brief 232 years of existence … there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America. Despite some severe interruptions, our country’s economic progress has been breathtaking. Our unwavering conclusion: Never bet against America.” Of course, he will be […]
READ POST

Promised Land

Promised Land It was quiet, too quiet. The lead up to this week’s Fed interest rate announcement was downright boring. After months and months of agita every time the Fed got together to talk about interest rates, this time there was little doubt about what would happen or what the Fed would say. The assumption […]
READ POST