[Hickel:] Karl Marx's key error is the idea that capitalism develops according to laws, that these laws are described by the tendency of the profit rate to drop, and that in the long run the system must collapse. This hypothesis has proven to be wrong, because capitalism has repeatedly found new ways of dealing with its crises. Through this inevitability of capitalism, Marx underestimates the need for political shaping. ... Marx fundamentally underestimated the nature of liberal democracy, he didn't comprehend liberal democracy. Concepts such as tolerance, civil rights and liberties, parlamentarianism - all these categories went totally unrecognised by Marx, and that had fatal consequences. |
After a nice rally, investors are just taking a little bit of money off the table. |
Already the futures markets are pricing in another rate hike and talk about a 5.0-plus fed funds rate is making the rounds. The currently inverted yield curve may also be a signal to the Fed that the economic growth of the past couple of years may be waning and any added tightening may be like kicking a good man while he is down. |
are supportive of higher stock prices. |
But that's more of a short-term phenomenon than anything worth paying a lot of attention to, ... it's going to come down to better economic numbers. |
But whether the market is going to have the staying power beyond today, I think we will be able to determine that toward the close, |
Few companies are pounding the table and saying things are terrific so there's not the wild enthusiasm you would expect with a good earnings season, |
Greenspan is not going to wake up in June of next year and say 'I should have really raised rates more aggressively.' His legacy of price stability is pretty secure so I don't think the last six months of his tenure will destroy it for him. |
I don't expect to see a sharp movement in stocks -- it will be a gradual erosion over time. |
I don't see inflation as a big deal in the classic sense. There are no wage pressures and no cost overruns. We're seeing inflation mainly in the price of gas and other commodities, |
I know people are focusing in on the dollar, but if we take a look at last week's strong action, our view at least, is that the underlying economy does not warrant it. |
If you look at how the markets have been trading the last few days, we're seeing a much broader decline. We're not seeing a leader that can carry the day. It's not limited to a few stocks anymore. Disappointment is broadening out during this earnings cycle. |
If you look at the difference between [the producer price index] and CPI, the numbers have been in favor of PPI. What that means is that corporations are still struggling to pass through price hikes. We should see margin pressures on corporations through the rest of the year. |
If you look at the difference between PPI and CPI, the numbers have been in favor of PPI. What that means is that corporations are still struggling to pass through price hikes. We should see margin pressures on corporations through the rest of the year. |
Investors are chasing commodity prices. Until we fall even lower, though, we're still in a trading range. We'll be very focused on inflation for the rest of the week. Economic numbers are coming a little weaker lately, adding to why the market is reacting poorly. |