Analysis Topic: Interest Rates and the Bond Market
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Fed and US Dollar Credibility at Stake Due to Financial Crises and Surging Inflation / Interest-Rates / Inflation
By: Money_and_Markets
Jack Crooks writes: For the currency markets I follow, and every other financial market right now, inflation is the buzz word. Each and every new report of rising prices releases new concern — whether the threat is revealed in Brazil, the United States, Europe or even your local grocery store.
No one likes forking over more cash this month than they did last month ... for anything. But this inconvenient fact is being increasingly realized across the world.
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Saturday, June 21, 2008
Fed Emergency Liquidity Flood Not Bourn Out by the Facts / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Paul_L_Kasriel
We constantly hear from the talking heads that the Fed's recent policy actions are creating mammoth amounts of financial liquidity. But have these talking heads bothered to look at the data? If they did, they would have to change their tune.
Let's start with the raw material of financial liquidity created by the Fed - the size of its balance sheet. Chart 1 shows that the year-over-year growth in the total assets of the Federal Reserve System was up 3.85% in the week ended June 18.
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Friday, June 20, 2008
Failed States 2008: Mexico and California / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Jim_Willie_CB
WHAT UP WITH THE MEXICAN PESO ??At the same time the US Federal Reserve relaxed its rules, expanded it Lending Facilities, and rescued big US bank balance sheets with massive swaps of USTreasury Bonds for impaired private mortgage bonds, the Mexican Peso rose. See the March timeframe. It rose above the 93.5 critical resistance. The target on the rectangular range swing is roughly 4 points, a rise to reach 97.5, which has occurred. With deep trouble south of the border in economic fundamentals, one would expect the MexPeso to falter. Three theories will be offered, each very likely, somewhat laced together. Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, June 20, 2008
Central Banks Buying Securitized Debt to Save Banks from Collapse / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Adrian_Ash
"...Ninety-five per cent of the credit created by UK banks in May went to buying back loans that they'd already sold to other investors..."
BANKS LOOK to lend money. Investors want to get rich. The Pope's been known to attend Mass.
Sounds simple, right? Once you've chosen your wool, just stick to your knitting.
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Friday, June 20, 2008
Fed Uses Self Created Credit Crisis to Grab Power / Interest-Rates / Market Regulation
By: Peter_Schiff
Throughout history, governments have always used crises to justify blatant power grabs. Often the crisis subsides, but the expanded government powers remain. In America this week, the tendency came into sharp focus. Congress signaled that it is preparing to perpetuate the Bush Administration's domestic wiretapping program, and has even abandoned the pretense that warrantless surveillance be confined to terrorism. Similarly, even though our financial crisis has yet to reach full flower, Treasury Secretary Paulson announced plans to give the Federal Reserve new and explicit powers to oversee and regulate the financial services industry. However, a sober look at his plan reveals that it is tantamount to giving the fox complete autonomy to guard the henhouse. Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Bernanke's Interest Rate Headache / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
By: Alex_Wallenwein
The Euro vs Dollar Currency War is back on the front burner. For years, it used to be a cold war, but now it's hot again – and Bernie can't take the heat; it gives him headaches.
Poor Bernie.
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Thursday, June 19, 2008
More Power for the Fed as the Central Bank Cooks the Books / Interest-Rates / Central Banks
By: Mike_Shedlock
Mercury news is reporting Administration calls for giving Fed more powers . Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the government must move quickly to give the Federal Reserve more powers to regulate the financial system. Paulson said today that the central bank's powers should be expanded in the wake of the near collapse earlier this year of Bear Stearns, the giant Wall Street investment firm.
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
How to Drive Commodity Prices Even Higher / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
By: Tim_Iacono
Let's see, the last two rising asset classes didn't really transform into bubbles until the Fed started raising interest rates - I'm warming up to the idea of a higher Fed funds rate.Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Treasury Market Takes a Pounding, Dropping to New Lows for 2008 / Interest-Rates / US Bonds
By: Levente_Mady
The Treasury market dropped to new lows for 2008 last week. The drumbeat of inflation concerns just became a little louder not only in the USA but also internationally. Oil and its surrogates keep trucking up to new highs and corn is certainly keeping pace with them. Central Banks are talking tough but until I actually see the Fed raise rates, I remain a skeptic as to how much they are really willing to do in order to reign in the runaway commodity inflation. Although I fully believe in peak oil, I also figure that the ongoing slowdown in the global economy coupled with surprising progress in the alternative energy space will eventually reign in the present energy price problems.Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Central Banks Clash Over Monetary Policy / Interest-Rates / Money Supply
By: Mike_Shedlock
Food and energy prices are soaring everywhere. Eurozone inflation is a record 3.7% Inflation in the eurozone has a climbed to a record level amid higher food and fuel costs, official figures show. The annual rate of inflation in the 15 state zone hit 3.7% in May, according to the Eurostat statistical office.
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Monday, June 16, 2008
Credit Crisis Not Over, as Banks Hoard Cash / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Mike_Shedlock
In contrast to Bernanke's foolish comment "risk of substantial downturn has faded" (see Things That Have Not Yet Happened ) the Bank of England sees things differently.Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Credit Crisis Crushing UK Banks / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Many commentators in the mainstream have in recent weeks begun voicing the opinion that the credit crisis may be over or the worst of the crisis is behind us -
Jim Reid, a credit strategist at Deutsche Bank, said: "This is a further sign that the actual credit crisis is easing. Anything that is not complete seizure is encouraging." on news of the HBOS £500 mortgage securitisation deal.
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Sunday, June 15, 2008
Bernanke's Strategy of Re-flation to Ignite Economic Growth / Interest-Rates / US Bonds
By: Mick_Phoenix
Welcome to the Weekly Report. Let me take you on a journey to explain what Ben Bernanke said and why he said it. We look at yields, what they are telling us and why we should listen. Finally we show evidence that the carry trade is crumbling. You will require a hot beverage, peace and quiet and probably a light snack. Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Central Bankers Finally Tightening the Interest Rate Screws on Inflation / Interest-Rates / Inflation
By: Money_and_Markets
Mike Larson writes: Believe it or not, it's finally happening. It's dawning on Federal Reserve policymakers ... and on many other global central bankers from Canada to Asia to Europe ... and beyond. The "it" they're starting to accept?
It's time for tighter monetary policy.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
ECB Calls Bernanke’s Bluff on Defending the US Dollar / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates
By: Gary_Dorsch
A new member of the British Parliament once solicited the advice of Benjamin Disraeli, the nineteenth century British prime minister, on whether he should speak up on a controversial issue. “Do you have anything to say that has not already been said?” Disraeli asked him. “No,” the man conceded. “I just want the people whom I represent, and the members of Parliament to know that I participated in the debate.” Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Standard & Poor's Cuts Ratings on 65 classes of Alt-A Securities / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Mike_Shedlock
In a completely expected move (at least in this corner) is yet another S&P downgrade in Alt-A mortgage backed securities .June 11, 2008-Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today lowered its ratings on 65 classes from 19 residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) transactions backed by U.S. Alternative-A (Alt-A) mortgage loan collateral issued in 2006.
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Thursday, June 12, 2008
LIBOR Leading Indicator for End of the Credit Crisis and Banking Fiasco / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Keith_Fitz-Gerald
How will we know the credit crisis and banking fiasco are truly over?
We won't.
But there's a damn good indicator that will show us the way - the London Interbank Offer Rate , usually referred to as LIBOR.
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Thursday, June 12, 2008
Bernanke Declares Worst of Credit Crisis is Over Before Tsunami Wave Hits / Interest-Rates / Credit Crisis 2008
By: Mike_Shedlock
I have been staring in amusement at Bernanke's latest proclamation: Danger of downturn appears to have faded . Despite a recent spike in the nation's unemployment rate, the danger that the economy has fallen into a "substantial downturn" appears to have waned, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday.
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
US Treasury Curve Steepening Bet Blows Sky High / Interest-Rates / US Bonds
By: Mike_Shedlock
Treasury spreads between the 2 year treasury and the 30 year long bond exploded today. This in and of itself is not unusual. However, the way that it happened today was indeed very unusual.Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, June 09, 2008
ECB Signals Hawkish Tone on European Interest Rates as Inflation Soar / Interest-Rates / Euro-Zone
By: Victoria_Marklew
As expected, the European Central Bank (ECB) left its refi rate at 4.0% again last Thursday. What was not expected was the hawkish tone of the subsequent statement and the press briefing from President Trichet. He noted that the Governing Council had a "deep discussion" (trans: "fierce debate"?) and remains "in a state of heightened alertness." Some members apparently wanted a rate hike this month but the consensus was to hold. The President then noted that the Council may decide to make "a small hike" at the July 3 meeting in order to anchor inflation expectations. Read full article... Read full article...