Is there a risk the Fed has tightened too much? Not with the kind of momentum we're seeing in the economy and not with consumer confidence at record highs. People are wealthier, real incomes are growing, the housing market, while slower, is still super strong and the labor market is still super tight. I don't think the Fed is finished just yet. |
It's not so much GM, but it could have been one of the proverbial straws that broke consumers' backs. All of a sudden people have to pay more for energy, debt service, healthcare, and save more for retirement. |
It's only a matter of time though before the consumer succumbs to weakening housing and higher gas prices, and I think we'll see that by the third quarter. |
Mortgage equity withdrawal (which keys off prices and rates) is going to ebb substantially and pull consumer spending growth down along with it. When it does, the Fed will pause. |
Much of the decline is disappointment among investors who were burnt quite badly in 1999 where they thought things had bottomed, ... You'll have to see some tougher talk from the ECB, more robust economic data from Europe and eventually a rate hike. |
Much of the decline is disappointment among investors who were burnt quite badly in 1999 where they thought things had bottomed. You'll have to see some tougher talk from the ECB, more robust economic data from Europe and eventually a rate hike. |
Our last two fires had smoke detectors, but no batteries, ... We're praying to get the word out (about smoke alarms). |
Over the past several weeks we've moved from pricing in one further move by the Fed to odds favoring two moves. |
People are infatuated with candles, they're using them more than ever, |
That's certainly going to be the critical number. A number indicating employment growth, particularly increases in wages, could prompt the Fed to move by the end of this month. |
The Bank of Japan is taking a little step towards trying some remedies, ... now appears to be more conducive to helping them. |
The big news will be the G-7. If the markets get a sense that there's somebody out there who will do something to prevent the dollar from falling further, I think people will be relieved. |
The Canadian currency is considered a commodity currency. When commodities prices are up, investors tend to have exposure to the currency. |
The construction sector continues to be a contributor to Canadian economic growth, which should make the Bank of Canada feel a bit more comfortable about any forthcoming rate hikes. |
The dollar-yen relationship is still the forefront issue in most people's minds. There's a fear for both stocks and bonds that if the depreciation continues there will be less appeal for U.S. dollar-denominated assets. |