2013

I have come across a number of Spanish-language links that I believe collectively add good colour to our understanding about the current economic and political situation in Spain. I am going to use them as a jumping off point for this quick…

Latvia went through a housing bubble and bust that was just as severe as Spain, Ireland, the UK, and the US. The policy response in Latvia was austerity. But was it a success? It depends on who you ask.

As I have been predicting since the beginning of the year, I believe the Republicans will be able to force through some form of austerity before the budget battles in Washington are over this quarter. As the year began, we saw the fiscal…

News links for 27 Jan 2013

Italy's Monte Paschi faces shareholder fury as scandal widens | Reuters "Enraged shareholders of Monte Paschi bank lashed out at its management on Friday as questions grew about central bank oversight of the historic lender following the…

QE is an asset swap. No new net financial assets are introduced into the private sector in contrast to when the government deficit spends and does add new net financial assets. So for it to have all of those seriously beneficial effects…

Samsung released earnings today that showed record profit but they warned that the growth of handset sales was slowing because of increasing competition.

I don't write about jobless claims that much any more because I don't see the claims number as an interesting data point unless there are large shifts to the upside or downside. But since I am now looking for signs of recession, it behoves…

This is another of my ten surprises for 2013. Apple is down 50 points today, well below its shoulder line on a topping head and shoulders pattern. The stock is breaking down. But there is a lot more pain to come. I have been increasingly…

News links for 24 January 2013