Economics

23 December 2014

U.S. GDP Grows 5% on Consumer Spending

U.S. GDP grew at a 5% annual rate in the third quarter as consumers and businesses spent more thanks to lower oil costs and growing confidence in the economy’s future. U.S. GDP grew at a 5% annual rate in the...

23 December 2014

Understanding the Dismal Life in North Korea

For time immemorial, North Korea has been one of the world's most tight-lipped nations in the world. It is one of the last few countries still under communist rule. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) formally established in 1948...

18 December 2014

What Happened to Japan’s Political Opposition?

Last Sunday’s general election in Japan has returned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its ally, the New Komeito, with a two-thirds majority in the lower house of the Diet. That the LDP would get a majority...

18 December 2014

Russia, Juncker’s Investment Scheme and Greece

Russia's woes have not been sufficient to spur a change in behavior from Putin.  His press conference today was strident, blaming the US and EU for undermining Russia.  He blames foreign influences driving down the rouble.  The EU will impose...

17 December 2014

EU and US Trade and Investment Partnership a Second-Best Approach

Like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) is a second-best approach to trade...

17 December 2014

The U.S. FOMC Statement is on Many Minds

The US dollar's recovery that began yesterday continues today.  The euro reached the 50% retracement objective of its slide since mid-October (~$1.2565) and now is more than a full cent lower.  The dollar's slump against the yen ended just above...

16 December 2014

U.S. Industrial Production Surges amid Cheap Energy

Industrial production surged to its highest level since 2010 in November after three solid months of gains.  Industrial production rose 5.2% year-over-year in November and manufacturing rose 4.8% year-over-year, signaling continued confidence in the economy from the industrial sector. Industrial...

15 December 2014

Will the Lima Conference Break the Climate Change Stalemate?

For quarter of a century, global climate change talks have suffered from a stalemate between major advanced nations and large emerging economies. Since Lima’s climate conference could not resolve it, it deferred the divide to Paris 2015.Recently, world’s leading nations...

15 December 2014

Key Global Economic News Help the Dollar and U.S. Equities

As the 24-hour session has progressed, the US dollar and equities have stabilized and turned higher.  Indeed as US traders prepare to return, stocks and the dollars are trading near session highs.  Oil prices are also trading higher.  Core bonds...