Forbes: Loan Data Shows Exceptional Economic Health, Though HELOCs May Be Cracking

By SIMON CONSTABLE

How bad is the economy?

Not nearly as bad as some are saying, at least according to some key loan metrics. Read more here.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Forbes: Much Crypto Trading On Unregulated Platforms Could Be Phony, New Research Shows

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

If the scandal surrounding the FTX crypto-exchange wasn’t bad enough to scare all-but the crypto diehards to flee, now there’s even more bad news for cryptocurrency investors.

Up to four fifths of crypto trading on unregulated crypto exchanges may be phony, new research shows. Read more here.

Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

Forbes Greece: Ύφεση ακούμε και ύφεση δεν βλέπουμε – μήπως ο Milton Friedman είχε δίκιο;

Του Simon Constable

Φτάνει πια με τη συζήτηση περί ύφεσης. Εδώ και –τουλάχιστον– έξι μήνες πολλοί οικονομολόγοι προβλέπουν μια επικείμενη επιβράδυνση ή κατάρρευση που θα συντρίψει την αμερικανική οικονομία.

Όπως τόσες και τόσες προβλέψεις στα ΜΜΕ, ούτε αυτή έχει εκπληρωθεί. Ούτε κατά διάνοια. Σε άρθρο μου που δημοσίευσα τον περασμένο Ιούνιο ανέφερα ότι υπήρχαν ελάχιστες ενδείξεις για ύφεση – τα σημάδια έδειχνα απλώς επιβράδυνση της ανάπτυξης. 

Εντούτοις, οι εκκλήσεις για "οικονομική λήθη" δεν κόπασαν, μα ακόμα περιμένουμε την ύφεση. 

Αυτή η αστοχία –και άλλες παρόμοιες– αποτελεί μάλλον την αιτία που έκανε τον οικονομολόγο J.K. Galbraith να αποφανθεί: "Η μόνη λειτουργικότητα των οικονομικών προβλέψεων είναι να κάνουν την αστρολογία να δείχνει αξιοσέβαστη". Και όντως η εικόνα της αστρολογίας βελτιώνεται κάθε μέρα. 

Barron's: Copper Is Sliding. Where Inflation Could Send Prices Next Year.

By SIMON  CONSTABLE

Copper prices will probably tumble nearly 20% over the next 12 months as demand cools and supplies stay stable amid a likely economic slowdown, experts say. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see prices edge lower,” says Carlos Sanchez, director of commodities management at New York–based CPM Group. Read more here.

Photo by Ra Dragon on Unsplash

Forbes: Long-Time Gold Bear JC Parets Turns Bullish; $5,000 Possible

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A long-time bear on investing in gold bullion seems to have flip-flopped.

Now he’s bullish, and how! Read more here.

 

Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash

Forbes: Will Federal Reserve Rate Hikes Pull Down Inflation? Probably Not, New Research Shows

By SIMON CONSTABLE

We all know inflation is bad right now. But will the Federal Reserve’s actions have any helpful consequences?

Probably not, new research shows.

“The prevailing view that rate hikes are causative in curbing inflation implies a negative correlation between the two variables,” writes David Ranson, director of research at financial analytics firm HCWE & Co. Read more here.

Federal Reserve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Barron's: Ukraine War Upends Global Commodities Prices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Ouch! The invasion wasn’t expected, and it wasn’t pleasant. But the war between Ukraine and Russia was central to commodities prices this year. The impact of the conflict is still being felt globally.

On Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, following weeks of military buildup dating back to 2021. The move sent shock waves through commodities markets. Read more here.