ASIA:   The Bank of Japan has removed its 10-year bond yield ceiling of 1%, challenging the long-standing belief in a central bank ‘put.’ This belief, dating back to the days of Alan Greenspan, suggested that central banks like the Federal Reserve would always step in to support falling asset markets with monetary […]

  ASIA:   China’s economy faces instability post-lockdown, with slowed trade and a substantial $9 trillion debt burden. Additionally, there’s a concerning issue with employing young college graduates, as the youth unemployment rate for ages 16 to 24 reached a record 21% in May 2023, compared to the US rate of 7.4% in the same […]

ASIA:   China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged in line with market expectations during the monthly fixing. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) remained at 3.45%, and the five-year LPR was steady at 4.20%. This decision was influenced by economic data indicating a stabilizing economy and a weaker yuan, limiting the need for further […]

  ASIA: China plans to implement a new round of fiscal stimulus to support its economic recovery, utilizing a well-established strategy that relies heavily on debt and state spending. This approach lacks the more profound reforms suggested by a growing number of analysts. Some government advisers propose raising the 2024 budget deficit target beyond the […]

ASIA: The ruling Communist Party of China has expelled Liu Liange, the former chairman of the state-owned Bank of China, from the party due to allegations of illegal activities and bribery. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) accused him of granting loans illegally, causing financial risks, importing prohibited publications, accepting bribes, and enjoying entertainment […]

Our founder, Martin Armstrong, began trading in the mid-1960s. He noticed that it did not matter what the investment was; everything would rally in the heat of a buying panic and then crash in the blink of an eye. His history teacher in high school brought in a black & white movie, The Toast of […]

ASIA:   The US and China have established two working groups to discuss economic and financial matters, as announced on September 22. This decision was made by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng during their meeting in Beijing in July. The economic group will involve collaboration between the US Treasury department […]

ASIA:   The Bank of Japan is expected to maintain extremely low interest rates and reassure markets about continued monetary stimulus, despite global economic concerns linked to China’s situation and U.S. interest rate developments. This policy contrasts with the U.S. and European central banks, which have raised rates to combat inflation. Despite Japan’s inflation exceeding […]

  ASIA:   In August 2023, China’s monthly inflation rate compared to the same month the previous year was 0.1 percent, showing a recent decrease from a peak of 2.8 percent in September 2022. The annual average inflation rate for 2022 in China was 2.0 percent. There are regional variations in inflation rates, with Hebei […]

ASIA:   Influential ruling party lawmaker Hiroshige Seko expressed strong support for maintaining an ultra-loose monetary policy in Japan. This comes in response to recent comments from Japan’s central bank chief, which led to an increase in the yen’s value and bond yields. Seko emphasized that while inflation is rising due to higher raw material […]