An exposition today on what the Fed rate cut, market reaction, woo-woo, and time machine research have in common.   Yep.  This is one of those Twilight Zone kind of discussions that sinks down into the part of being human that we mostly don’t visit often.First, though, in addition to our usual daily dose of market … Read More

Just announced by the Federal Reserve: “The fundamentals of the U.S. economy remain strong. However, the coronavirus poses evolving risks to economic activity. In light of these risks and in support of achieving its maximum employment and price stability goals, the Federal Open Market Committee decided today to lower the target range for the federal … Read More

Breaking:   Federal Reserve just poured $120-billion into the repo market.  Light ’em up, markets! Facts and Folly The late Dr. Carl Sagan summed it up best in the book titled “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark.”  Our problem today is we are living in an asylum populated by addicts hooked … Read More

Preliminary data first, so you have data to stand on when we get to the weather-related angle:  Although we could see a “snap-back rally” this week in markets, the longer-term outlook seems to be firming up:  We would not be surprised to see stocks collapse to below 2,000 on the S&P and that infers a … Read More

Regardless of the happy-talk about how COVID-19 will (do this, or that, or  some other thing), there’s a lessor in here about Lawyers, Lefties, Greedsters, and Cowards that warrants in-depth study.  This being Social Studies Sunday…. Ure hit one of his favorite online suppliers this week, looking for a refill of some shop consumables.  1/16th … Read More

There’s a great deal to be learned from reading deeply into adventure novels of current and by-gone eras. For one, it’s a way for young people – especially men – to get to know and think like other men. The good, the bad. So, it was a huge loss this week when one of my … Read More

This morning we consider the problem of how much faster markets seem to be moving now than in the descent into the Great Depression.  If you think that Depressions are a thing of the past, hang on, because that light at the end of the tunnel could be a runaway collapse.  And we’ll consider what … Read More

Breaking Data Two numericals to stir into your morning coffee.  First is the report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis that says incomes were going up nicely in January: “Personal income increased $116.5 billion (0.6 percent) in January according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $101.4 … Read More

This may set your hair on fire, so before delving in this morning, take a good, deep breath and count to 10.  OK, now you may continue.. Down Futures -367: Two big drivers:  First is the number of COVID Cases took a huge leap up in today’s data: You can see what happened and why … Read More

In a word: Yes, maybe…  But that’s where today’s research gets interesting. “Hacking Old Age,”  Part 3, is it? This is the kind of report that “turns my crank” because I don’t have any knowledge to speak of, digging into it, and no predispositions. What does the rational mind (or mine, for that matter) find?Yet, … Read More

Even if you don’t subscribe to our Aggregate Index and other work on our  Peoplenomics subscriber site, here’s a chart that may set your hair on fire: We will have an update tomorrow morning on the PN side.  Do remember, though that a close of our Aggregate down into the zone of (i) up on … Read More

Not by a lot, though, as we shall see:  First, though, the good news. YEAR-OVER-YEAR The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 3.8% annual gain in December, up from 3.5% in the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 2.4%, up … Read More

With the stock market dropping more than 1,000 points (by the Dow) Monday, it’s hard to imagine how things could get worse. Stick around… The problem is in the data – and the data is saying much bad juju is still ahead. Today, we have cases at 80,289 and deaths at 2,704. Let’s plug these … Read More