Month: September 2018

Wall Street’s Toxic Chem Labs At It Again—CLOs Double From 2008 to $548 Billion

by

via Bloomberg: Some of the world’s wealthiest clans have been throwing their money into an esoteric piece of financial engineering that has Wall Street in its thrall. They’re called collateralized loan obligations, and they transform riskier company loans into bonds of varying risk and reward. Buyers have included affiliates of the Pritzker family, Bill and … Read more

Tokyo admits 1st death from Fukushima radiation exposure

by

The Japanese authorities have acknowledged for the first time that a man died from cancer resulting from acute radiation poisoning at the Fukushima nuclear plant that went into meltdown following an earthquake back in 2011. A Japanese man in his 50s, who previously worked at the crippled Fukushima power plant, has recently died of a … Read more

Bloomberg: Tech Titans Plot New Zealand Escape

by

by SP Bloomberg carried the following article about wealthy US “tech titans” plotting bolt holes in New Zealand to escape the Zombie Apocalypse. “If you’re the sort of person that says ‘I’m going to have an alternative plan when Armageddon strikes,’ then you would pick the farthest location and the safest environment — and that equals … Read more

Everything has gotten so complex that adjustments and reforms simply aren’t going to work. It might be time for a new system.

by

via thezman: Anyone who has been through a change in software platforms for their company knows that it starts out as a lot of fun, but then turns into drudgery. Initially, thoughts of all the new stuff and better programs makes it feel like Christmas. Then the reality of going through every single business process of … Read more

Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund is getting stricter on the companies it invests in. It said that it expects businesses to “manage the challenges and opportunities related to sustainable uses of the ocean.”

by

via cnbc: Businesses should integrate ocean sustainability into strategy, according to Norges Bank Investment Management. Firms should also disclose how ocean sustainability forms part of their strategies, policies and commitments. Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund has said that it expects businesses to “manage the challenges and opportunities related to sustainable uses of the ocean.” … Read more

“Pensions Are a Promise,” But Math Drinks Their Milkshake

by

via illinoispolicy: According to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service, Illinois’ unfunded pension liabilities equaled 601 percent of state revenues in 2017, a U.S. record. Illinois’ pension debt has set a new record to which no state should aspire. Credit ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service released a report Aug. 27 comparing unfunded pension liabilities across all U.S. … Read more

Morning Note: ADP Big Miss, U.S. Weighing More Tariffs, EM Stocks Down for 7th Day, Cryptocurrency Turmoil Deepens…

by

ADP Big Miss pic.twitter.com/7DeJzHz5Tb — Alastair (@StockBoardAsset) September 6, 2018 https://twitter.com/FerroTV/status/1037634872632860677 The Social Media Bubble Is About To Pop $FB $TWTR $SNAP pic.twitter.com/5bw5DDySH2 — Alastair (@StockBoardAsset) September 6, 2018 Default fears mount for "BATS" as emerging-market rout deepens. #Turkey’s implied default odds climb to highest since 2008. Substantial default risk in #Argentina as well. https://t.co/Mw555cIwur … Read more

National Association of Police Organizations calls for boycott of Nike over Kaepernick campaign

by

by DCG Race profiteer Colin Kaepernick has an endorsement deal with Nike. It has caused A LOT of debate. The former NFL player is featured in Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign in an ad with the statement, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” According to NBC: “Kaepernick already had a deal with Nike that … Read more

Voters in Mid-Term Elections Report Watching Their Ballots Mysteriously Switch to Other Candidate

by

via thefreethoughtproject: Savannah, GA — A rather shocking, but not surprising report this week out of Georgia reveals the unsettling state of America’s election and voting system. Voters in Georgia are now reporting that after they confirm their votes, they watch on the screen as their ballots mysteriously switch to the opposite candidate. Later this month, … Read more

Construction spending, Trade

by

by WARREN MOSLER Highlights A solid rise in residential spending offset a mixed showing for non-housing components and made for a 0.1 percent July rise in overall construction spending to barely come within Econoday’s consensus range. Residential spending rose 0.6 percent but July’s gain was entirely centered in home improvements which jumped 2.1 percent to offset … Read more

Analyzing The Latest Euro Trends

by

by Dana Lyons Several key equity trendline tests are underway across the European region. The past few editions of our #TrendlineWednesday feature on Twitter have not exactly been the most intriguing we’ve ever posted. In fact, it has been a challenge at times recently to even find enough candidates to publish the feature. This week, however, is a … Read more

China’s tentacles over America via espionage & funding of D.C. think tanks, university institutes, and retired US military

by

by Dr. Eowyn While the Democrats and MSM continue to obsess and rant about the alleged Trump-Russian collusion, for which not a shred of credible evidence has been unearthed after more than a year of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, America is oblivious to the real foreign threat — China. For all its market reforms since … Read more

China Offers $60 Billion to Africa With ‘No Strings Attached’

by

via dw: Beijing has promised to invest tens of billions in infrastructure projects across Africa. Both Chinese and African leaders have rejected claims that Beijing is trying to build a “new colonialism.” Chinese President Xi Jinping (above, with Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed) pledged $60 billion (roughly €52 billion) in aid to African leaders during a major summit … Read more

The murder rate in London has tripled in the last eight months

by

via neonnettle: Retired d senior Scotland Yard officer and former advisor to the Mayor of London says Sadiq Khan has “coherent strategy” to fight crimes in London.The murder rate in London has tripled in the last eight months as knife attacks and shootings soar to an unprecedented level, yet Khan remains complacent about the soaring violent … Read more

China-Double Topping At 2007 highs?

by

by Kimble Charting CLICK ON CHART TO ENLARGE Did the Hang Seng Index just create a “Double Top” at the same price it peaked in 2007? Let’s investigate! This chart looks at the Hang Seng Index on a weekly basis over the past 15-years. As you can see it peaked in 2007 and then proceeded to lose over two-thirds of its … Read more