Trump’s tariff policy is essentially mercantilism.
If Only FTX could use the Fed's Accounting
Imagine Sam Bankman-Fried, who sits in jail for the bankruptcy of FTX. Unless Bankman-Fried receives a pardon from the President, he is scheduled for a 25-year stay in jail on a fraud conviction. But, it appears FTX creditors will be made whole plus interest.
Comstockery Returns to America
I’m sure you’re thinking this bill has no shot. But, it is Mississippi, and he may get bipartisan support. The deep thinking Democratic senator said, “I am trying to figure out when it is OK for the government to dictate what you do in the privacy of your own home. Apparently, it is when the laws regulate men.”
Private Firefighters: Not Just For The Elite Anymore
Not just Hollywood's elite are hiring private firefighters. Utility companies whose infrastructure requires careful upkeep and major insurers like AIG and Chubb, are calling on the services of private firefighters. Even government jurisdictions needing to supplement their fire departments, or lack thereof.
Rowdy FDIC Signals ex-SVB Execs Should Lawyer UP
A lump of coal for some ex-bankers who will be punished for not being clairvoyant.
Regulate and Pretend
There were over 14,496 FDIC-insured U.S. banks in 1984. As of June 30 2024, the number had decreased to 4,539. Three regulators fighting over fewer than a third of the banks that were operating 40 years ago. Thousands of regulators overseeing bankers pretending bad loans are good. The status quo.
America is not ready for a Javier Milei
Milei, being a student of the Austrian school knew a depression was needed to cleanse the Argentina economy.
Good and Hard
They believe democracy allows them to vote for lower prices and higher wages. Not hardly. Inflationism was put in place long ago, making some people winners and some people losers.
Promises, Promises
It’s unlikely that crony capitalist Musk can do the impossible. After all, he’s made his fortune from big government. He doesn't want to shrink the space program, or stop EV tax credits.
Consumers Upbeat, Bankruptcies and Foreclosures Increase
Despite Joe and Jane Doe’s cheery attitude, ATTOM has issued a report indicating that lenders on commercial properties are beating a path to the courthouse steps. Commercial foreclosures totaled 752 in May of this year and remained elevated in September at 695.
Chinese Authorities to Stop Economic Cleansing
The Chinese economy is experiencing just such a depression and the authorities in command and control China met this weekend and are going to abort the cleanse and aggressively intervene. Bl
Eggs and Nest Eggs
Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning at Charles Schwab, told AARP, “Some may feel the increase for 2025 is low relative to the inflation they feel in their pocketbooks,” Williams says. “Still, it’s a welcome increase that builds on a 5.9 percent increase in payments in 2022, 8.7 percent in 2023 and 3.2 percent this year.”
Guns & Butter is Back
To any economics student, go-go boots and the year 1965 mean Lyndon Banes Johnson’s “Guns and Butter” policy.
Section 2.10: Remonetizing the Treasury’s Gold
In a piece published in mises.org I outline a way Trump could do just such a thing which was outlined by financial analyst Luke Gromen in his conversation with Forex Analytics Dale Pincerts. Pincert worries that Trump (or Harris) would use an Executive branch to devalue the US dollar overnite. He asked Gromen if there is such a mechanism, which was the thrust of my piece, which I reproduce below.
Brown to Snub Miners to Hang with Crypto Bros.
Not being from Nevada, Senate candidate MAGA hopeful Sam Brown has canceled a trip scheduled for Elko this weekend to attend a conference in Nashville promoting gold’s digital competitor, Bitcoin. Brown will participate in a Saturday morning panel at “Bitcoin24”
Wall Street's latest Poison: Leveraged ETFs
Most investors are using these leveraged products as a way to double-down on their investment thesis,” Juctsane Edmondson, head of thematic strategy at TMX VettaFi states the obvious. “That approach amplifies gains when the underlying goes up, but also greater pain when they go down.”
Fed In Full Control: What Could Go Wrong?
After last year’s failures, “one-third of the banks [were] rat[ed] three or worse on a five-point scale for their overall management.” Three or worse? A four or five in management is essentially asleep at the switch at best or incompetent at worst.
Tiger and Joe: Don't Know When to Quit
Tiger responded to Monty by pointing out that as a past champion he’s exempt from qualifying until he’s 60 and has the luxury of making the decision whether to play, unlike Monty who never won the Open and doesn’t have that automatic spot. He would have to qualify. Joe, similarly, has all the delegates to be the Democratic nominee and therefore it’s his decision whether to run or quit.
Repos: The Magic is Back
Monthly bills are now average $739 for a new car and $549 for a used car. Three missed payments and the repo man is summoned. And seizures are easier than ever with “technological advancements such as tracking features and license plate data.”
The Racket That Technology Can't Kill (yet)
“Critics say title insurance is little used and overpriced, with the bulk of the premiums consumers pay going to title agents in the form of a commission.” In my experience it is the escrow officers and sales reps whose commissions take a sizable chunk from policy premiums.