Category Archives: On the cover

On the cover

Commodities Update

Energy, Global Economy, On the cover, Sin categoría

Oil is flat and looking at a weak short term trend sliding between $105-110/bbl Brent.

The short term palliative of a deal in Washington to temporarily address the debt ceiling and budget overcame the potential longer-term implications of reports of constructive dialogue between Iran and the global powers in Geneva which has the potential, given the US’ positive reaction, to see sanctions eased. Clearly there is a long way to go to get to something substantive and Iranian exports will not recover quickly but fall in Iranian’s exports has compensated for poor demand growth and strong US production growth.

Continue reading Commodities Update →

The Debt Ceiling … And Why It Matters This Time

Global Economy, On the cover, Sin categoría
Our country is headed toward a ‘fiscal cliff.’ The bad news: We elected a guy whose campaign slogan was ‘Forward’ – Jay LenoSee my intervention on CNBC about the matter here: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000205718 and http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000205434 and on the BBC here. Continue reading The Debt Ceiling … And Why It Matters This Time →

Ten Cannots

Global Economy, On the cover, Sin categoría

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.
And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

William J H Boetcker’s Ten Cannots