Forbes: New Book Reveals The Tawdry Truth About Redlining And Other Dodgy Lending Practices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It should be clear when it comes to money the playing field of finance has been heavily skewed against many groups, including women, African Americans, Native Americans, and even the indigent white population. Loans to given to some people with ease are frequently denied to otherwise similar folk due to prejudices of the lender.

While most Americans know that "redlining" meant residents of specific neighborhoods wouldn't get loans, there's far more to the appalling history of excluding many groups from participating in mainstream finance. That matters because while money makes the world go around (and it does) anyone treated unfairly will be disadvantaged.

Acclaimed financial historian Robert E. Wright brilliantly tackles the topic with his usual thoroughness in his new book Financial Exclusion: How Competition Can Fix a Broken System. It's published by the American Institute for Economic Research earlier this month. Read more here.

Forbes: Trump's Mexican Tariff Plan Could Make Illegal Immigration Worse

By SIMON CONSTABLE

When you try to fix something the first thing to do is make sure you don't make it worse.

But it looks like President Donald Trump hasn't read that memo with respect to his new move against Mexico. Read more here.

Photo by Emir Saldierna on Unsplash

Korn Ferry: A Prime Minister…or a CEO?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It’s always a weird feeling when the boss gives two-weeks notice. Employees are hoping that the new boss hired has the qualities that make for a successful leader. 

It’s even more unusual when the boss who’s quitting is the UK Prime Minister. Between now and June 7, when Theresa May steps down from the post, members of the ruling Conservative Party are tasked to determine who among an increasing number of potential successors has what it takes to be a successful leader of the country. Read more here.

Forbes: Three Things For Stock Investors To Worry About

By SIMON CONSTABLE

There's trouble brewing in corporate America, and it could hurt your stock holdings.

Here are three things you need to know:

TheStreet: How the Rain-Soaked Midwest Will Crush the Corn Crop and Send Prices Jumping

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Biblical-style flooding in the Midwest is hampering the corn planting season and sending prices for the grain to their highest level in three years. 

And the rally could go further in the autumn by as much as 20% over current levels, analysts say. Read more here.

Forbes: Will The Ghost Of Daimler Haunt Fiat Chrysler's Merger Ambitions?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Not again?

That should be the question following Monday's proposed merger between Italian-U.S. carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's auto manufacturer Renault, best known for its eponymous brand of vehicles. The deal would create a mega-manufacturer of light vehicles with annual sales of almost $200 billion. Read more here.

Featured in "Seeking Alpha"

While fiscal and monetary policies can extend cycles by "pulling forward"future consumption, such actions create an eventual "void" that cannot be filled. In fact, there is mounting evidence the "event horizon" may have been reached as seen through the lens of auto sales.

I recently discussed this point with my friend Simon Constable specifically. He is right. Following the financial crisis, the average age of vehicles on the road had gotten fairly extended, so a replacement cycle became more likely. This replacement cycle was accelerated when the Obama Administration launched the "cash for clunkers" program, which reduced the number of "used" vehicles for sale pushing individuals into new cars.

See full seeking alpha post here.