June 25, 2014
For decades now, the U.S. has essentially had to accept the oil prices set by world markets. Starting in 1973 with the OPEC-driven oil shock, the major producers have been foreign countries. If the U.S. wanted the oil, we had to pay the price.
But are things starting to change?
June 24, 2014
Also known as the “fear index,” the VIX tends to stay low when investors are feeling confident and to spike when investors get scared. Technically, it reflects the volatility of the stock market—how much things bounce around—but on a practical level, it tends to mirror recent market performance.
June 20, 2014
Yesterday, June 19, I spoke with Wall Street Journal MoneyBeat's anchor, Paul Vigna, on the keys to avoiding what is being projected as an unsettled second half of 2014 for the U.S. economy.
June 19, 2014
I joined Maria Bartiromo on the set of Fox Business Network’s Opening Bell today, June 19, to discuss the economic impact of the crisis in Iraq.
June 19, 2014
The Federal Reserve’s announcement yesterday that it would continue its current tapering schedule—but that a rise in rates still isn’t imminent—drove markets to the 20th new high of the year.
With rising turmoil in two major oil-producing states, Iraq and Iran, the world faces an increase in oil prices—and the consequent economic damage. Fortunately, the U.S. is much better positioned to ride out the storm than it has been in the past.
June 17, 2014
Is having more information always a good thing? It’s generally hailed as such, but, depending on your perspective, the reality may be more complicated.
In the news today, there are several examples of more data leading to changes that, while painful in the short run, should yield long-term positive results.
I’ll admit to being a bit out of touch with the markets for the past week, but I did note yesterday’s drop, which we can safely attribute to the increase in oil prices as conflict in Iraq escalates. Like many commentators, I’ve been focusing more on risk out of China and Europe, but the Middle East clearly remains a factor.
June 10, 2014
There’s been a fair bit of commentary lately about the apparent housing slowdown. Possible causes include an absence of buyers, the decline of the investor buyer, low credit scores, and declining affordability.
Do any of these anecdotal problems actually exist? And if so, what effect might they have on the housing market?
With no major stories breaking today, let’s discuss a few key themes in the news lately.
