Foreshadowing January In the waning days of the current year we turn our focus to the next year. This coming year there will be a lot of activity in January and it is not just due to the “January Effect”. The forward calendar is not that large at around $11 billion....

Post Shutdown Blues It is not a fait accompli at this point in every way, but, the shutdown has now arrived at its inevitable end. The shutdown kept me thinking of a blues song. In cut time I was singing: We’ve got the old shutdown, those old shutdown blues. This is...

School Yard Politics This article is about economics and the markets and I studiously avoid outright politics. However, current developments are just laced with politics. Putting together a budget should be a matter of routine. What we have is a situation that amounts...

Don’t Cry for Me Bailing out Argentina has for some in the financial markets become a long term engagement. Many of us recall the so-called Brady Bonds of the 1990’s that were named after the Treasury Secretary at the time. Existing bonds of Argentina were exchanged...

Coffee Up Productivity Flat You may have taken notice in the coffee aisle at the supermarket that the essential has spiked in price recently. The cup of Joe on the go will be increasing commensurately. The conflicting news is that Starbucks stock is not climbing along...

Most reasonable people are ardent supporters of reducing and eliminating crime and lawlessness. That is why on its face it may make good sense to send in the National Guard to assist the police in the District of Columbia in their effort to reduce crime. According to...

Tariff and Debt Ceiling Deadlines We are a week out from the imposition of the tariffs and for those who have not negotiated their respective levels to a conclusion.  The rates spelled out in delivered letters will govern what shapes the future. The retail sector is...

Implementation Phase Now that the federal budget bill has become law, we turn to the implementation phase. What we have learned in recent days is that the start dates for some of the cuts and adjustments have different start dates. The work requirement for able bodied...

BBB connotation BBB for most of us with links to the financial world means investment grade. It still means just that. But for the next few days leading up to July 4 it will translate to the Big Beautiful Bill. The pressure is on to get the bill passed but there is...