Ten years ago, China embarked on a major effort to increase its economic power and influence across Asia, Africa, and into Europe. The name of this program came from Xi Jinping, China’s president, when he spoke of building an “economic belt” along the “silk road” that was the land route to China for many centuries […]
CHINA’S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE TEN YEARS AFTER Read More »
The so-called “Soft Landing” term that gets bantered about whenever there is some Federal Reserve monetary policy activity refers to bringing inflation down without harming economic growth. It can be visualized as landing an airplane safely with shifting winds all around it. It’s difficult to land an airplane under those circumstances, but it’s nearly impossible
IS THE U.S. ECONOMY HEADING FOR A SOFT LANDING? Read More »
As we all know, increased inflation has set in on the U.S. economy. Spending habits for consumers will change as purchases are postponed and household sacrifices are made. But what does inflation due to the investment sector of the economy? Higher Interest Rates Inhibit Development: Long-term investing that leads to development is especially impacted by
INFLATION CAN MAKE INVESTING PROBLEMATICAL Read More »
China is recovering from the multi-year lockdowns employed on the population to try to combat covid-19. Western executives that have recently traveled to China to reinstate business ties have said that China’s economy is picking up where it left off, and that an economic boom is just around the corner. But is it really? Chinese
IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME TO INVEST IN CHINA? Read More »
The United States Government is in debt—so deep in debt that it comes to approximately 117% of GDP. For the last fifty years, the annual deficit has averaged about 3.5% of GDP each year. However, the Congressional Budget Office has projected that this metric will rise to about 6.1% a year for the next decade.
WHO FEELS THE BURDEN OF THE NATIONAL DEBT? Read More »
In March, 2022, a few weeks after Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, Western countries began sanctioning the Russian economy. The sanctions were designed to hurt the Russian war machine and provide “severe and lasting economic costs” to the Russian population. A year after the initial impact of the sanctions, the Russian economy has not been crippled,
IS RUSSIA’S WARTIME EFFORT SUSTAINABLE? Read More »
If the politicians are asked this question, the democrats will complain that corporate power and inequality of wealth have geared the economy to benefit and protect the rich. Ask the republicans and they will contend that the entrepreneurial spirit has been stifled and the public debt is completely out of control. What then is the
IS THE U.S. ECONOMY STRONG OR WEAK? Read More »
In the last several weeks a few regional banks in the U.S. have made headlines by facing a financial crisis. What has not yet made headlines are the number of other banks in the system that have major issues. All in all, it appears that the banking system is sound, but to what extent has
THE EXTENT OF THE LATEST BANKING TURMOIL Read More »
Is inflation over? Will interest rates be coming down soon? Some economists reading their stat sheets and perhaps their tea leaves are pointing to future trends that will be bringing inflation in many of the G7 countries under control by the end of the year. However, central bankers have thrown a damp towel over investor
INFLATION AND HIGH INTEREST RATES MAY BE HERE FOR A WHILE Read More »
To fight inflation, the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates in what’s referred to as a tightening cycle. Rates have climbed steadily by 75 basis points (3/4 of 1%) until the most recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting when the tightening was reduced to 50 basis points or a ½ of 1% increase. The
A PARADIGM FOR BUYING CORPORATE BONDS Read More »