The Nikkei re-opened after yesterday’s public holiday but again was sold from the open. The key banks suffered yet more liquidations eventually closing Mitsubishi UFJ -2.3%, SMFG -4.1%, Mizuho -3.7% and the main Nobel House (Nomura) was down 9.2%. Exporters also suffered Toyota, Nissan and Sharp all down between 6 and 10%. The Nikkei closed […]

QUESTION: Marty; as you know I have worked on the bond desk and am now looking to get out and retire. You are so right. The 10 year is the old 30 year and nobody buys the 10 year with any expectation of holding it for 10 years. The debt has been sold only because of […]

The Nikkei was again under pressure with the Index closing down 2.4% with financial leading the pack. Shares in Mitsui, SMFG and Mitsubishi UFJ were all down between 4 and 7% on the day. Investors and the street all voicing concerns about the potential profitability given the BOJ’s vision of negative interest rates and the surge […]

QUESTION: Marty, you know which bank I am at. You also know the Fed has been going around warning banks that their models are wrong and they will not see a flight to quality being the 30 year bonds. Yet Yellen seems to also say she does not believe in inevitable cycles. They are saying […]

QUESTION: Dear Marty, No one EVER asks about the consequences of emerging market debt in the global economy. Ms. Yellen stated today they are aware of out interconnectedness and are taking measures to control the fall out. Really? Can they? When will we start to see the bond market implosion in Europe? Your thoughts about this? […]

Rumors between dealers that Chinese authorities could be about to introduce new incentives to boost property prices saw the Shanghai Index rally 2.3% in today’s trading. The Hang Seng closed marginally firmer also (+0.5%) but only a smidgeon in comparison. The Nikkei did not benefit from a weekly close above the 20k level and so […]

COMMENT: If the Fed is so smart and understands the problem with low/negative interest rates, then why didn’t it hike rates in September?  Better yet, why didn’t they raise rates YEARS ago?  The Fed has kept rates near zero for seven years but now suddenly realizes that this is a problem? I am surprised that you […]

QUESTION: In your Nov. 15 blog you said about the Fed “ I do not think in its present form it should be owned by banks collecting 6%. I would advocate a public float as is the case in Switzerland. Can you explain what that means, and how that works. Thank you I sincerely hope you continue […]

Asia, and China in particular, put in a stellar performance today, eventually closing up over 4%. Rumors pushing the market that the PBoC is pursuing a tighter relationship between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and also that President Xi Jinping said the country’s economic growth rate will not be less than 6.5% in the next five years […]

A weak session for Equities in Asia (Nikkei -2.7%), Europe (DAX -1.97%) and the US (DOW -0.5%)had Fund Managers searching for both answers and safe-havens. One market that benefited was the Bond Market with US Treasuries and Bunds both pushing yields back lower. The US 10yr managed a break below the 2.10% yield to a daily […]