WSJ: When People Refer to ‘Fiscal Space,’ What Does It Mean?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Investors may hear economists and market analysts using the term “fiscal space.” Those who are invested, or plan to invest, in countries with high debt levels should know what it means. Read more here.

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Time Magazine: How the Enron Scandal Changed American Business Forever

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It’s the kind of historic anniversary few people really want to remember.

In early December 2001, innovative energy company Enron Corporation, a darling of Wall Street investors with $63.4 billion in assets, went bust. It was the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Some of the corporation’s executives, including the CEO and chief financial officer, went to prison for fraud and other offenses. Shareholders hit the company with a $40 billion lawsuit, and the company’s auditor, Arthur Andersen, ceased doing business after losing many of its clients.

It was also a black mark on the U.S. stock market. At the time, most investors didn’t see the prospect of massive financial fraud as a real risk when buying U.S.-listed stocks. “U.S. markets had long been the gold standard in transparency and compliance,” says Jack Ablin, founding partner at Cresset Capital and a veteran of financial markets. “That was a real one-two punch on credibility. That was a watershed for the U.S. public.” Read more here.

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CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor: Markets look to be higher by year's end

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

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CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor: Omicron in Scotland

  By SIMON CONSTABLE

Listen here.

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Forbes: More Bad News For China’s Sorry Real Estate Market, UBS Says

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

The hits keep on coming for China’s economy.

This time the news is the country’s already beleaguered real estate sector is set for more bad news. Read more here.

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Forbes: Omicron Variant Won’t Stop S&P 500 Hitting New Records, Yardeni Says

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Will the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus be like “deja vu all over again”?

Read more here.

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

Forbes: Whitehouse Drilling Move Could Send Gas Prices Higher

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

It might be time to buy a bicycle.

The Biden Administration just made an announcement that could send gasoline prices higher and keep them elevated for longer. It’s a strange announcement that comes after efforts by the government earlier this week to try to mitigate sky high gas prices. Read more here.

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