Blog Archives

Will They Ever

raise rates?? The Fed just announced that it will keep the fed funds rate at 0%. Reasons amount to low inflation, people not working who could which makes the employment picture worse than it seems if one looks at just … Continue reading

Yellen Speaks, Market Listens

Today, March 19, Janet Yellen said she would raise interest rates sometime in 2015. The market heard, and interest rates rose. Rates were described in the media as “leaping”, “surging”, “rising sharply”. This day is a dream come true for … Continue reading

Why Bashing the Banks is Bad for the Economy

Ever since the 2008/9 recession though certainly not for the first time in history, Americans have engaged in vigorous bank bashing, blaming the banks for the recession, and encouraging politicians to fine them, imprison their managers, and constrict their operations … Continue reading

The Other Shoe Drops

Detroit, former motor powerhouse, filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy today. Chapter 9 is a provision of US bankruptcy law that allows municipalities to file; filings have been rare. However, Detroit will be the largest in Ch 9’s history, after Jefferson Co. … Continue reading

U.S. Inflation – Yes or No?

Although the din about rising inflation has diminished since about 2010, we still hear concern from clients now and then, particularly when discussing bond portfolios. Investors worry that committing to longer bonds at current “low” interest rates is a bad … Continue reading