Tag Archives: U.S.

Unemployment rate by major worker group – BLS

Posted on March 14, 2013 by

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for whites (6.8 percent) declined in February while the rates for adult men (7.1 percent), adult women (7.0 percent), teenagers (25.1 percent), blacks (13.8 percent), and Hispanics (9.6 percent) showed little or … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stratfor: China’s Expanding Maritime Claims

Posted on January 22, 2013 by

This is really good stuff and what we see as the biggest swan risk of 2013 “China is using its presence to make a case in any future international mediation that possession is nine- tenths of the law and China … Continue reading →

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

Unemployment Rates of Selected OECD Countries

Posted on October 3, 2012 by

Nice chart from the BLS. (click here if chart is not observable)

Posted in Employment | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Punk real earnings in the U.S.

Posted on September 19, 2012 by

The BLS reports, Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.7 percent from July to August, seasonally adjusted. This decline resulted from unchanged average hourly earnings combined with a 0.6-percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Employment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Global PMI At Three-Year Low

Posted on July 2, 2012 by

Markit reported the JP Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI fell to 48.9, the fasted rate of contraction since May 2009.  Led by weak growth in the U.S. rates of decline accelerated in China, Brazil, and Vietnam.  Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, PMIs | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OECD leading indicators point to diverging economic activity

Posted on June 11, 2012 by

The OECD reported today, Composite leading indicators (CLIs), designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend continue to point to divergence between economies. The CLIs for Japan, the United States and Russia continue to signal improvements in … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, BRICs, China, Emerging Markets | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shorts Send Out Mayday As ISM Surprises

Posted on May 1, 2012 by

Wow! Check out the market reaction to the ISM this morning.  Many were caught off guard and even shorting just minutes before the number expecting a weaker print on the back of the weaker regional PMIs.   We were surprised, but, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Equities, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Fiscal Health of Nations: General Govt Balance

Posted on April 17, 2012 by

The IMF is out with their Fiscal Monitor today.  Great stats.  Here is a comparison of the fiscal health of the world’s economies. Contrast Norway and Saudi (both oil exporters) with, say,  the U.S. and Japan.  Italy doesn’t look so … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Budget Deficit, Economics, Eurozone Sovereign Spreads, Fiscal Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nonlinear Thinking: Modern Manufacturing

Posted on March 10, 2011 by

A must view video of the Volkswagen ultra modern/high tech manufacturing plant in Dresden, Germany.   We’re sensing the birth of a “manufacturing renaissance” in the U.S. and it may end up looking similar to this.   Hat tip to … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonlinear Thinking, Video | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Saudi stocks flop, gold rocks as US weighs action in Libya

Posted on March 1, 2011 by

Debka reports the U.S. naval and air fleet is repositioning around Libya for potential “hit-and-run” raids to cripple Qadaffi’s air capability.  This isn’t new news, but we’re wondering out loud if the Saudis have been consulted and are on board. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Commodities, Crude Oil, Geopolitical, Global Stock Performance, Gold, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment