Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis |
- Retail Investors Shun Speculation and Stuff Money under the Mattress; Is this a Contrary Indicator?
- Ceridian Fuel Index Positive for Third Month but "Too Small to Make Up for Lost Ground Last Six Months"
- EU Iran Oil Embargo Likely Delayed Six Months; Obama Sends Teams of Consultants Worldwide Hoping to "Manage Supply and Demand of Oil"; Phased In Oil Shock
- Greek 1-Year Bond Yield Tops 408 Percent; Hard Default Appears Imminent
- Greece Bank Creditor Group Says Talks ‘Paused for Reflection’; S&P to Cut Some Euro Zone Countries on Friday; Euro Sinks to New Low for the Move
- ECB Says Credit Crunch Averted; Yet ECB Overnight Deposits Again Hit Record High; Skyrocketing ECB Balance Sheet
Retail Investors Shun Speculation and Stuff Money under the Mattress; Is this a Contrary Indicator? Posted: 13 Jan 2012 05:35 PM PST Madeline Schnapp at TrimTabs writes via email ... TrimTabs flow research shows that retail investors are stuffing money into the mattress. So tell me again how all this money printing by the Fed has helped retail investors?Via Press TrimTabs says "Retail Investors Shun Speculation and Stuff Money under the Mattress". Sausalito, CA – January 13, 2012 – TrimTabs Investment Research said today that in the first 11 months of 2011, investors poured eight times more money into checking and savings accounts as they did into stock and bond mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.Money Under the Mattress Video Link if video does not play: Santschi's Daily Edge 1/12/2012: The Real Money Goes under the Mattress Is this a Contrary Indicator? Retail investors are frequently a contrary indicator. Is that the case here or is this simply reality setting in? Another option is boomers out of work via retirement (forced or voluntary) need to tap into their savings to live or to maintain lifestyle. My guess is retiring boomer demographics is clearly in play here, and a combination of related ideas are the driving force behind what TrimTabs reports.
Simply put, retail investors have given up and are not coming back. Some can't because they have no job. Others won't because they have had enough. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List |
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 10:38 AM PST Inquiring minds are digging into the Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Fuel Index for December 2011 report released today. The Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index® (PCI®), issued today by the UCLA Anderson School of Management and Ceridian Corporation, rose 0.2 percent in December following the 0.1 percent increase in November and the 1.1 percent increase in October. Unfortunately, the combined effect of the three consecutive positive months was not enough to offset the weakness of trucking last summer and the PCI in December 2011 is 1.2 percent below its June 2011 level and 0.7 percent below its level a year ago in December 2010.Here is a video with Chief PCI® economist, Ed Leamer, on the December results. 3-Month Ceridian Index Moving Average click on chart for sharper image Ceridian fuel usage is diesel fuel for truckers. For Gasoline usage and petroleum usage in general, please see Year-Over-Year Gasoline and Petroleum Usage Charts; Shares Decline as Chevron Warns of Weaker 4th Quarter Earnings. Ceridian Index vs. Retail Sales That divergence between trucking fuel usage and retail sales is about to resolve to the downside for retail sales. For details, please see Retail Sales Up Scant .1% in December, Core Retail Sales Decline; Chart of Retail Sales Adjusted for Population Growth and Inflation Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List |
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 09:48 AM PST Under pretense of looking for other sources of oil, EU Iran Oil Embargo Over Nuclear Work Said Likely to Be Delayed Six Months A European Union embargo on imports of Iranian (OPCRIRAN) oil will probably be delayed for six months to let countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain find alternative supplies, two EU officials with knowledge of the talks said.Obama's Arrogance Coupled With Economic Idiocy Anone who thinks president Obama can manage the supply and demand of oil is a fool. Sending teams worldwide in an attempt to do that is not only the height of arrogance, it is economic idiocy Phased In Oil Shock Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer. Bloomberg estimates that Iran pumped 3.58 million barrels of crude a day last month. The idea that Iran's oil supply can easily be replaced is pure nonsense. Phasing in an embargo is the same as phasing in higher prices smack in the midst of an already guaranteed monster European recession. Given that US Defense Secretary Admits "Iran Not Trying to Develop Nuclear Weapon" this move by the US and Europe is not only economic suicide, it is an illegal act of war as well. Can China Benefit From Obama's Move? Superficially, the only possible beneficiary to Obama's and the EU's economic warfare is China. For details, please see China Snubs Geithner on Iran Oil; China Gets Cheaper Iran Oil as U.S. Pays Tab for Hormuz Patrols; Retired Admiral Warns "US Policy Benefits the Chinese" However, it's important to understand that Chinese "benefit" is an illusion, in isolation. In aggregate, oil-dependent countries including China cannot conceivably benefit from an oil shock or higher oil prices because global trade will collapse. OPEC exporters may temporarily benefit from higher prices but the expense will be falling usage and a strengthening worldwide recession. If one wonders why Iran may want nuclear weapons, the US and EU have certainly given Iran sufficient reasons. How to Stop the Madness This proposed embargo is economic idiocy as well as an act of war by the US and EU on Iran. Once again I point out that President Obama has continued the inane policies of President Bush. Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney would do the same. If one wishes to end the economic and war-mongering madness, there is only one electable choice: Ron Paul. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List |
Greek 1-Year Bond Yield Tops 408 Percent; Hard Default Appears Imminent Posted: 13 Jan 2012 08:49 AM PST In conjunction with a "Pause for Reflection" and stalled talks by Greece Bank Creditor Group over the benefits of further "voluntary" cuts on Greek debt, yield on 1-year Greek bonds soared over 400%. A hard default appears imminent. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List |
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 08:10 AM PST Less than a day ago ECB president Mario Draghi was bragging "Credit Crunch Averted" noting the Euro's first weekly gain in five-weeks. Unfortunately for Draghi, there was still one day left in the week. Greece Bank Creditor Group Says Talks 'Paused for Reflection' Bloomberg reports Greece Bank Creditor Group Says Talks 'Paused for Reflection' Talks between Greece and its creditor banks were put on hold after negotiations in Athens failed to yield an agreement.European Debt Downgrades Reuters reports S&P to Cut Some Euro Zone Countries on Friday Standard & Poor's is set to downgrade the credit ratings of several euro zone countries later on Friday, but not those of Germany and the Netherlands, a senior euro zone government source said.Euro Sinks to New Low for the Move On some combination of the above news, the Euro reversed strong gains, falling to a new low for the move, down to 1.2627 from a high of 1.2884. That is a very big intraday currency swing of 2.57 cents vs. the US dollar. Euro 15 Minute Chart Creditors "Paused for Reflection, so should Mario Draghi. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List |
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 01:45 AM PST Following a relatively tiny two-day rally in the Euro the ECB blows its horn with a statement Credit Crunch Averted The euro rose, extending its first weekly gain versus the dollar in six weeks, as Italian bonds advanced and after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said policy makers have averted a credit shortage.Draghi's Statement in Perspective After a 5-week decline, some snapback in the Euro is to be expected. The impetus is just as likely to be the action by the ECB to hold interest rates at 1% as anything else. Actually, given extreme bearish sentiment on the Euro, no reason at all is needed for a euro relief rally. For a look at sentiment including charts of record-high short interest on Euro futures, please see Euro Suffers Longest Losing Streak Since 2010; Record High Speculative Short Positions; Big Specs vs. Currency Movements; Not Timing Devices written January 8. ECB Overnight Deposits Again Hit Record High As for the idea a "credit crunch has been averted", please consider the Wall Street Journal report for January 13 that says ECB Overnight Deposits Again Hit Record High Euro-zone banks' overnight deposits with the European Central Bank hit yet another all-time high Thursday, likely reflecting continued funding pressures in the banking sector as well as the approaching end of the reserve period.European Banks Hoarding Cash European banks aren't lending now, nor will they lend any time soon as discussed in German Economy Contracts in 4th Quarter; Spain's Industrial Output Plunges 7%; UK Trade Deficit Widens; European Banks Wisely Hoard Cash Skyrocketing ECB Balance Sheet The reason for debt rally is not that a credit crunch has been avoided, but rather, the ECB has become the lender of only resort, bloating its balance sheet to record levels. Please consider Swelling ECB Balance Sheet Brings Relief, Poses Risk For Euro The European Central Bank's increasingly swollen balance sheet has helped calm volatile markets, but some believe it could itself become a problem and bring more volatility to the 17-nation currency bloc.European banks are dumping sovereign debt at record levels on the ECB. Germany and France are on the hook. 10-year Italian bonds are down substantially, but the rate is still 6.5% with the ECB the buyer of only resort. Good luck with that policy as Europe heads into a massive recession. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List |
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