Inflation Archives - Page 10 of 12 - the patient investor %

June 24, 2012

Quantitative easing and the (lack of) responses in bond yields

…When the Fed was performing quantitative easing, treasury yields rose as the economy recovered and inflation expectation rose. On the other hand, treasury yields fall when the Fed was not performing quantitative easing as the period without quantitative easing coincided with the weakening of the economy as well as the deterioration of the Euro Crisis.

10-Year Treasury Yields

via Quantitative easing and the (lack of) responses in bond yields.

Comment:~ Quantitative easing (QE) expands the stock of money in the economy as the government, through its agent the Fed, issues new banknotes (or equivalent deposits) in payment of goods and services. The resulting inflation would drive up yields.

Colin Twiggs

Colin Twiggs is a former investment banker with almost 40 years of experience in financial markets. He co-founded Incredible Charts and writes the popular Trading Diary and Patient Investor newsletters.

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

Focusing on interest rates and financial market liquidity as primary drivers of the economic cycle, he warned of the 2008/2009 and 2020 bear markets well ahead of actual events.
He founded PVT Capital (AFSL No. 546090) in May 2023, which offers investment strategy and advice to wholesale clients.

June 20, 2012

Inflation/Deflation Face-Off: Harry Dent v. James Rickards

At the latest Casey Research conference, Recovery Reality Check, James Rickards, senior managing director of Tanget Capital Partners and author of Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis, debates Harry Dent, founder and president of HS Dent Foundation, on the subject of which is more likely in the near-term economic future, inflation or deflation.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

May 10, 2012

German Adjustment – NYTimes.com

Paul Krugman: Germany believes that its successful adjustment was the result of its own virtue, but in reality it was successful in large part because of an inflationary boom in the rest of Europe.

And here’s the thing: the Germans are now demanding that the European periphery replicate its achievement (and actually surpass it, because the required adjustment is much bigger) without providing a comparably favorable environment — they’re demanding that Spain and others do what they never did, which is deflate their way to competitiveness.

This is a road to disaster.

via German Adjustment – NYTimes.com.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

April 23, 2012

EconoMonitor » Distributional Impacts of Monetary Policy

…Higher than expected inflation will indeed create some winners and losers:

However, the biggest losers are creditors who are almost by definition wealthy, since people owe them money. If a creditor has lent out $100 million at 2 percent interest (e.g. buying a 10-year U.S. or German government bond) and the inflation rate rises from 2 percent to 4 percent, this creditor has lost an amount equal to 100 percent of his expected income or 2 percent of his wealth. This is a far larger loss than any worker could experience as a result of this increase in the inflation rate.

Who would be the winners?

Also, most workers are debtors to some extent. They are likely to have mortgage debt, credit care debt, student loan debt and or car debt. A higher rate of inflation means that they can repay this debt in money that is worth less than the money they borrowed.

via EconoMonitor : EconoMonitor » Distributional Impacts of Monetary Policy.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

April 16, 2012

Europe’s Economic Suicide – NYTimes.com

Paul Krugman: If European leaders really wanted to save the euro they would be looking for an alternative course. And the shape of such an alternative is actually fairly clear. The Continent needs more expansionary monetary policies, in the form of a willingness — an announced willingness — on the part of the European Central Bank to accept somewhat higher inflation; it needs more expansionary fiscal policies, in the form of budgets in Germany that offset austerity in Spain and other troubled nations around the Continent’s periphery, rather than reinforcing it. Even with such policies, the peripheral nations would face years of hard times. But at least there would be some hope of recovery.

What we’re actually seeing, however, is complete inflexibility. In March, European leaders signed a fiscal pact that in effect locks in fiscal austerity as the response to any and all problems. Meanwhile, key officials at the central bank are making a point of emphasizing the bank’s willingness to raise rates at the slightest hint of higher inflation.

via Europe’s Economic Suicide – NYTimes.com.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

March 12, 2012

Ray Dalio on global deleveraging, growth and inflation

Ray Dalio, founder and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, speaks with Matthew Bishop, US business editor and New York bureau chief for The Economist:

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March 1, 2012

Gold falls as Fed gives no signs of new stimulus | Marketscope | Investing | Financial Post

The dollar rebounded after Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, in congressional testimony, gave no signal that the central bank is considering additional measures to spur the economy. He said the inflation outlook is “subdued.” The greenback gained as much as 0.5 percent against a basket of competing currencies.

via Gold falls as Fed gives no signs of new stimulus | Marketscope | Investing | Financial Post.

February 22, 2012

Gold tests $1800/ounce

Spot gold is testing resistance at $1800/ounce on the weekly chart after completing a small flag to signal continuation of the up-trend. Breakout would signal a primary advance to $2100*. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the signal.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + (1800 – 1500 ) = 2100

The US Dollar Index remains weak as inflation expectations rise. Failure of medium-term support at 78.50 would warn of trend weakness, while recovery above 80.00 would indicate trend strength. Target for a breakout above 81.50 would be 85.00*.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 80 + ( 80 – 75 ) = 85

February 8, 2012

Peter Schiff Speaks to James Rickards, Author of Currency Wars | Peter Schiff | Safehaven.com

James Rickards: The dollar is not necessarily on the road to ruin, but that outcome does seem highly likely at the moment. There is still time to pull back from the brink, but it requires a specific set of policies: breaking up big banks, banning derivatives, raising interest rates to make the US a magnet for capital, cutting government spending, eliminating capital gains and corporate income taxes, going to a personal flat tax, and reducing regulation on job-creating businesses. However, the likelihood of these policies being put in place seems remote – so the dollar collapse scenario must be considered.

via Peter Schiff Speaks to James Rickards, Author of Currency Wars | Peter Schiff | Safehaven.com.

January 5, 2012

Overlooked Chart of the Year | Crossing Wall Street

Here’s my entry for Overlooked Chart of the Year. It shows how the S&P 500 (in blue) and the market’s inflation expectations (the 10-year TIPs spread in red) have been waltzing partners for the last four years.

via Overlooked Chart of the Year | Crossing Wall Street.