Recent Comments
Andrew on Propaganda that stokes fear co… Peter Walker on Watch out, it’s October… steph on A humble power cord hits the… colinlillywhite on Approaching a market top? Tom on A humble power cord hits the…
Tag Archives: delusion
Watch out, it’s October …
No-one seems to understand why, but this time of year is often tumultuous. (Particularly in the financial world. 1929. 1987. 2008.) This year is looking pretty interesting too. So called “geo-political risk” has risen sharply. Gaza and Ukraine have settled down … Continue reading
Posted in debt, financial markets, tough times
Tagged delusion, economic growth, market value, US economy, Wall Street
1 Comment
Are you scared yet?
Our leaders (of both political hues) seem to be on a mission to make us feel scared. It’s a centuries old political ruse: raise popularity and power by appearing to save the populous from what they are scared of. But … Continue reading
Australia’s place in the world
It’s hard to comprehend how fortunate we are to live on this remote island continent, Australia. No-one is inclined to just move in and build “settlements” on our land. No-one can build a tunnel under our border or fire cheap … Continue reading
US GDP downer pushed the market up!
About an hour after my last post, the US Department of Commerce released it’s final revision of data for US GDP for the first quarter of 2014 … a staggering -2.9%. Bloggers, twitterers and columnists went into overdrive: “This is the … Continue reading
Posted in financial markets, risk
Tagged delusion, economic growth, Federal Reserve, market value, US economy, Wall Street
Leave a comment
Approaching a market top?
A weird complacency seems to have settled over Wall Street. Stock prices are at a record. The S&P 500 broad index, currently at 1950, is remorselessly approaching 2000. It’s been climbing with hardly a pause for breath for more than five years. That’s … Continue reading
Posted in debt, financial markets, risk
Tagged bank behaviour, China debt, delusion, Dubai, economic growth, Federal Reserve, unemployment, Wall Street
1 Comment
Historic rivalries, oil and interference … a toxic mix
“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” … Vladimir Lenin It feels like we might be in one of those “weeks” … From this distance the Middle East looks unbelievably complex. Scant few can … Continue reading
China’s corporate delusion
In Hong Kong last week I picked up a copy of the Asian Wall Street Journal and came across a story of complete delusion in the State owned corporate sector. Apparently state owned Zoomlion makes construction equipment, half of it … Continue reading
Olympic games … lost the plot?
There is no better metaphor for the hubris of those in power than the Olympic Games. The vaunted Olympic ideal is was that the best sportspeople in the world come together in fun and fellowship to test their extraordinary skills … Continue reading
Posted in why do people do what they do
Tagged delusion, extravagance, Olympic Games, Sochi
Leave a comment
But I can’t afford it …
We’ve all said it. “That would be great, but I can’t afford it.” That house, that fancy car, that new dress, that exotic holiday, that night out … BUT, in recent decades … … The presence of credit cards in … Continue reading
Beer goggles and holes
Is this the typical (central) bankers view of the mountain of debt in the world? … of the effect of the mountain of newly printed money? … of Wall Street reaching for the sky? “Continuing large-scale asset purchases risks … Continue reading
something 2 ponder 