Monthly Archives: June 2012

Stratfor: China’s Massive Port Expansion

Posted on June 30, 2012 by

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in China, Geopolitical | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Inside the EU Summit

Posted on June 30, 2012 by

Fascinating piece over at Spiegel Online about what went on at the EU Summit Thursday night and Friday morning.  Not so sure this contributes to the long-term political stability of Europe and is sure to generate local political blowback in … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Euro, Germany, PIIGS | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Next Year We’ll Be Watching America” – Jim Rogers

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Economics, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Weekly Eurozone Watch

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

Key Data Points German 10-year bund 2 bps higher; France 8 bps wider; Spain 5 bps tighter; Portugal 67 wider; Ireland 66 tighter; Greece 131 bps tighter; Spanish and Italian bank stocks 3-10 percent higher; Euro FX up 0.66 percent; … Continue reading →

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Euros Save the Day, But NIKE Takes Nasty Headbutt

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

Was it really that much of a surprise to move the Dow 400 points off yesterday’s low?   Nope. Though we remain concerned about a “terminal” Euro, here’s our commentary from Weekly Eurozone Watch last week, Post Greek election and rumors … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Equities, Euro, Germany, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

EU leaders gather to solve debilitating debt crisis

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Euro, Eurozone Sovereign Spreads, Germany, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

U.S. Unemployment Outliers

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

Interest chart from the BLS showing North Dakota cities with some of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation due to the Bakken Shale boom. In May, five U.S. metropolitan areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, with … Continue reading →

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France Debates a “More Federal Europe”

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

The debate in Europe has finally crystallized into the the one point that matters.   How much sovereignty is each country willing to cede to a German led “Federal Europe.”   The following discussion on France 24 is very enlightening in … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Euro, Germany, Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Failed State Index – Foreign Policy

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

Foreign Policy magazine is out with their annual Failed State Index.  No surprise Somalia, Congo, Sudan, Chad, and Zimbabwe top the list.   Click here for interactive map and data. (click here if chart is not observable)

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Germany, France, Italy and Spain meet ahead of summit

Posted on June 26, 2012 by

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Euro, Eurozone Sovereign Spreads, Germany, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment