financial weather watch

The Fed: Asleep at the Switch

Fed’s Williams foresees up to five rate hikes this year. Is he clueless?

Many of the economic departments of the regional Federal Reserve banks conduct outstanding research on the economy. At Runnymede, I rely on them heavily for my prognostication on the economy as well as the stock market. The pity is the bosses at the Fed must not read their own research. Is it possible that the Chicago Fed's National Activity Index (CFNAI) is not part of the “data” that the Central bank is so “dependent” upon? CFNAI has missed expectations 9 of last 11 months and has been below 0 (contraction) for 8 months last year. In November the index missed expectations once again, tumbling to its lowest reading since May.

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Will Kamikaze Kuroda crash the global financial markets?

Near the end of World War II, the Japanese conducted Kamikaze or suicide attacks, designed to destroy warships more effectively than was possible with conventional attacks, against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign. About 3,800 kamikaze pilots died, and fortunately, only a small percentage of kamikaze attacks managed to hit American ships.

Is the Kamikaze behavior alive and well in the 21st century in Japan?

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We’re Not Too Sure About Janet Yellen’s Economic Forecast

The #Fed has NEVER correctly forecast a recession.

 — Jim Rickards December 16, 2015

 

The Fed announced that it would increase its benchmark rate by one quarter of a percentage point. The major beneficiaries will be the banks and brokers, not people on Main Street. Runnymede believes the US and world economies will weaken in the quarters ahead. Our view is supported by Jim Rogers, a top investor, and Sam Zell, a real estate tycoon.

The Fed has a very different opinion. Who will be right?

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Is the Fed rate hike a big mistake?

The FOMC is set to meet on December 15-16 and the market is finally buying the rhetoric that a rate lift off will begin this month. While Fed chair Janet Yellen has been hinting at a potential rate increase for much of the year, the financial markets are now pricing in the reality. Economists can argue whether it is the right or wrong decision, but the fact remains that the Fed is now highly likely to raise rates for the first time since June 2006. As you can see the 90 day T-bill rate is moving up sharply in anticipation.

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S&P 500 earnings are getting worse, not better

Two months ago, I wrote that the S&P earnings will suffer its first annual decline since 2008. The silver lining was that 2016 estimates still looked ok. However with the new year now drawing near, even those estimates are falling. For the first time, 1st quarter estimates are showing a year-over-year decline. Furthermore earnings for both 2015 and 2016 continue to contract.

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