Latest business and finance news & analysis
TL;DR: Our ham radio fascination with signals so weak feels like your ears will bleed is discussed in depth. But first, a review of the artificial line between “work” and “play” – a worthy contemplation when you get some time to reflect and “choice wisely” on things. Shops Vs. Hobbies Been having one of those … Read More
Not a pretty Friday on Wall Street — and not much prettier in the headlines. When Trump fires a shot across Xi’s bow and Beijing answers it reminds the world how the U.S. “forced Japan’s hand.” Before WWII, traders tended to duck first and think later. Friday was a duck (or ostrich)day. Markets closed the … Read More
TL;DR: Markets look for footing after the Thursday slide. Gold’s holding over $4,000 on futures and Bitcoins wobbling $121,000 to $122,000. Fortunately, we solved a scanner problem and look to steal music from past lives. Yeah…it’s interesting, alright. Just not conventional. Markets: So Far, So Good We laid out the “expected path” of how the balance … Read More
TL;DR: Neocons seem to have pulled the wool over Trump. Don’t hold your breath yet on a Gaza deal. And despite the Prime Big Deal Days, there wasn’t a scanner we liked. Neocons Getting Their War On the surface it’s being soft-pedaled by the press: Trump’s considered green light for Ukraine Tomahawks could ‘push Russia … Read More
We return to the scene of the Fed’s last spectacular error in 2018. Because when we look over the wreckage there, sure looks like the Fed is set up to play the “Evil Twin” of the 2018 holiday debacle. We not only go into the numbers but also sketch out how a return to work … Read More
TL;DR: The price of gold dropped back today, but sprang right back as it seems intent on rising. Could it beat $50K per ounce? We think so. Meanwhile CRE is scrambling and with the home stretch of a new book and great working weather, our focus moves to Peoplenomics…. No Government. So? The Big Stuff of … Read More
TL;DR: Wake up! It’s Monday! OK, now you can go back to bed. Nothing has changed overnight. Market is still reprising Bubble-UP (If you’re old enough to remember.) But a Woo-Woo financial dream has really blown my socks off. Powell On Deck Thurs as GovDown Rolls There. Covered the whole week’s financial snooze for you in … Read More
TL;DR: This week’s ShopTalk: how a messy bench, a junkyard childhood, and a 3-horsepower gas engine explain the fine line between dopamine and deliverables. Then we offer a few “brain sharpeners” to keep handy in the workplace. And we end with a ponder (Prime Big Deals days ahead) if your shop doesn’t need a stool.” … Read More
The market’s gone full carnival again — screens glowing, traders chanting “To the Moon!” while the old pros quietly cinch their parachutes. With Washington shut down, no one really knows what the economy’s doing; the official dashboard is dark, and we’re all watching by the glow of the instruments. This week’s Peoplenomics takes apart the … Read More
TL;DR: Old news nose spotted this one at 10 AUs: 3I/ATLAS is our Lo-Cal Nothing Burger. However, got whacked with EQ Tireds Thursday. GovDown saunters along, and with limited space and money, what’s the best options for Prime next week? Outing Chicken Little Even Elaine and I watched the “half past hysterical” reports on YT … Read More
TL;DR: The D.C. two-step and circular firing squad continues to short-change Wee People. Failing to Deliver – and there’s no “Customer Service Dept.: Job whacking continues lighter, and we look for a low-level business model solution to yardwork. Let’s Run the Numbers: We still don’t see a reason for the Fed’s rate cut – based … Read More
(A Glimpse Inside Peoplenomics: Issue 1217-A) History has a habit of rhyming—sometimes in whispers, sometimes with a bullhorn. In this issue, we look at two rhymes playing out in real time. The first is the rise of socialism: how it surged in the 1920s out of war, inflation, and dislocation, and how it’s back again … Read More
Just out from Case-Shiller/S&P – a Month-over-month decrease: Year-Over-Year The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 1.7% annual gain in July, down from 1.9% the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 2.3%, down from 2.7% the previous month. The 20-City Composite … Read More