finance charts

This is not just about California. Come Summer 2010, the most severe gaps will be closed via budget cuts or tax increases unless the Federal Government can pull a rabbit out of the hat. Source Policies for Increasing Economic Growth…

Because of changes in the way the unemployment rate is calculated, the figures today are apple to oranges comparisons to the ones quoted for the Great Depression or even the 1970s. Further, changes in the economy (less manufacturing) and…

While this bear market has been difficult, it does not compare to the 1930s as the graphs in this post indicate. And it's time to consider that the 2007-2009 bear market is almost over.

I recently wrote a post about U.S. Treasury securities which have been rising in price as interest rates have come down. In the post, I called the Treasury rise a bubble and I stick by that moniker despite protests from some astute readers.…

One feature that is peculiar to the present downturn is the accumulation of reserves at the U.S. Federal Reserve. I imagine it is no different at other central banks, though I have not seen the data. Let me tell you what this reserve…

Citibank has to be the worst run of the major banks. The result of ridiculous mergers of Citicorp, Travelers, Smith Barney, Salomon Brothers, this unwieldly mess was a disaster that should never have happened. Now, Citigroup has a market…

This chart and the commentary both come from FT Alphaville: A look at the Fed's balance sheet currently will tell you it's very much in the business of supporting liquidity/prices in assets other than Treasuries. The graph below is a…

Source 2008 Political Landscape Map - Washington Post

For the second day in a row we are basking in the glow of an up market (update: or at least we were until the last 12 minutes). Everyone's happy. But, some people are happier than others. And the happiest amongst the bunch are those people…

Of the major currencies, the Japanese Yen has been the strongest in the last few months, while the Australian Dollar has been the weakest. These two currencies have also been the most conspicuous in the Japanese carry trade. That trade is…