Counter-Party Risk   Last week (2nd of February, 2018) ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) published the results of its second EU wide stress test for CCP’s (Central “Clearing” Counterparties). These tests are conducted under EMIR (European Markets Infrastructure Regulations) and were first published back in April 2016. There are sixteen CCP’s currently under this […]

It is no secret that I have no respect for George Soros and that is aside from the fact that we would often be on opposite sides of the market. I never saw Soros as a great trader. Even the reputation that he broke the Bank of England was nonsense. The “Club” was all on […]

The mood was a little down this afternoon, that Asian equity markets could not produce more enthusiasm than we saw today. With all core markets opening on a positive note, following the late US rally, it was less than encouraging that they could maintain that theme. Shanghai was the first market to turn down after […]

The Nikkei closes 4.75% lower, the Hang Seng is down 5.1%, ASX and Shanghai both around 3.3% and the VIX trading with a 50 handle! Anyone short vol. (and the rumour is there are a few) will be panic buying and chasing the market. Gold at best only added $10 from yesterdays close but we […]

A busy day all round today from the Nikkei down another 2.5%, DOW futures 350 lower ahead of its open, rates rising, Jerome Powell taking office, Draghi to speak, Germany political uncertainty, BITCOIN losing another 8% now at 7,500 and the Bank of England to meet later in the week. Asia’s weakness is much of […]

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; I use to listen to the Goldbug analysts but they never change. Now the pitch is you have to protect your wealth from stock and bond market crash. They say that with the current equity bull market among the longest on record and the beginning of a bond bear market, once again they […]

  Well, Superbowl 52 is here and it promises to be the coldest one ever – no doubt caused by Global Warming.  Since Superbowls began in 1967, we are setting a new record. My daughter told many people at the conference how I had just flown back from Europe and she was in the hospital just […]

  It was expected to be a crazy fun-filled week and today has confirmed wild status! The Nikkei ended the session down 1% and saw the currency lose 1%. Guess they didn’t really have a direction provider having seen Wall Street whipsaw 200 points in either direction. The nerves are definitely being felt now, which […]

QUESTION: Powell is from the Carlyle Group which people say you advised. Do you know Powell? What do you think of his agenda? Will you be advising him? PD ANSWER: No, I never met Jerome Powell. Our contacts with the Carlyle Group I am not at liberty to confirm or deny with regard to any […]

You could probably say that Asia is being ked less and less by US markets as they increase in volatility. It’s not unusual the past few days to see 400 point swings in the DOW! So, what do you follow – the last thirty minutes of trading? The Nikkei opened better and just went from […]