Friday, June 20, 2014

Bewildered markets picks up wrong threads

Thought for the day
“A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.”
-          Niccolo Machiavelli (Italian, 1469-1527)
Word for the day
Scofflaw (n)
A person who flouts the law, especially one who fails to pay fines owed.
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Teaser for the day
Was US war against global terrorism just an extended exercise to enhance homeland security post 9/11?
If yes, in hindsight should Europeans regret joining the war?

Bewildered markets picks up wrong threads

She came, she spoke, and she sent stocks to a new all time high. That is perhaps the simplest summary of what Janet Yellen did yesterday when, as a result of her droning monotone, she managed to put the VIX literally to sleep, which closed at the lowest since 2007 and the resulting surge in the S&P was a fresh record high, because despite the "concerns" Fed member have about record high complacency, all they are doing is adding to it.
And now that apparently the Fed has a market "valuation" department, and Yellen can issue fairness opinions on whether the S&P is overvalued, the only question is whether today, as a follow through to yesterday's "buy everything, preferably on leverage, sincerely - the Fed" ramp, the VIX will drop further. (Zero Hedge)
Yellen brushed aside concerns about quickening inflation, diminishing labor-market slack and asset-price bubbles in a prepared statement and press conference, emphasizing the Federal Open Market Committee’s view that rates are likely to stay low “for a considerable time.” (Bloomberg)
The Federal Reserve continued to reduce its monthly bond-buying program and held interest rates near zero even as it debated persistent conflicting signals in the economy. In addition to continuing the scaleback of its monthly money-printing efforts, the Fed slashed its outlook for full-year economic growth, cutting gross domestic product growth forecast to 2.1 percent to 2.3 percent. (CNBC)
On sidelines:
Argentina threatened to default on its debt on Wednesday when the government called it "impossible" to pay bond service due on June 30, citing a U.S. court decision earlier in the day increased pressure on economically-ailing country.
Remember, Buenos Aires is locked in a 12-year legal fight with creditors who refused to participate in two restructurings that followed Argentina's 2002 default on $100 billion in bonds.
The long impasse in the U.S. courts has kept the country from accessing international capital markets as its economy stagnates, inflation soars and central bank reserves fall. (Reuters)
Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists were locked in fierce fighting in the east of Ukraine on Thursday after rebels rejected a call to lay down their arms in line with a peace plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko, government forces said. (Reuters)
Iraqi government forces battled Sunni rebels for control of the country's biggest refinery on Thursday as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki waited for a U.S. response to an appeal for air strikes to beat back the threat to Baghdad.
If you are wondering why I have chosen to reproduce miscellaneous global reports instead of analyzing the events back home; my clarification is that is what our market is more concerned about with PM Modi preferring to maintain silence and his minister dressed in combat gears, searching for the threads where they can begin their “jobs”.

No comments:

Post a Comment