Stocks Rise to Record Highs Even As Economy Weakens

The bubble grows! Central bankers are nervous and have shown signs that they may engage in quantitative easing again. This is not surprising, given the economic evidence. However, there is also evidence that QE may have run its course, and may not be effective the next time around. Previous central bank presidents indicated that a suppression of 4% or more is needed, but current US Treasury interest rates are only about 2%-2.25%, so another round of QE may be ineffective the next time around.

Crude Oil Goes Ballistic

Tensions between the Saudis and the United States have sent the price of crude oil soaring today.

This situation reminds me of when the Arabs issued an embargo against the US, and gasoline prices in the US soared, and there was a shortage of gasoline in the US for a time. It also lead to a recession in the US. History repeats itself?

The Coming Carnage

Great article. 

Corn Crop Clobbered by Hurricane Michael

Note that until Hurricane Michael, corn had been trending lower for the last few days, but when the hurricane hit, prices leaped! This is one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States in decades.

Dow Crashes 800+ Points!

Ouch!

Longest Bull Market Ever Recorded

This stock market smells more bubbly every day!

Stocks Soar on Good Trade News

Stocks soared today on news that Trump and Juncker reached a good trade deal. The S&P is just a few points below the highs reached in February.

Trade War Threat Sends Commodities Cliff Diving

These charts for corn and crude oil are symbolic of what commodity prices are doing under the threat of a trade war.

Corn Collapses

I was shocked this morning to see that the price of corn had dropped 10 cents. That's a huge drop!

Crude Continues to Ramp Up

Gas prices will soon begin to reflect the higher price of crude oil. We have now hit a higher price that the high hit in mid-May.

Climbing Crude Oil

This isn't going to be good for the economy. Crude oil is up five of the past six days.

Crude Oil Climbs Sharply

I was quite shocked at how sharply the price of crude oil climbed Friday. I understand that OPEC was unable to agree on production increases.

Bloomberg: "Equities in Denial"

Bloomberg writer Richard Breslow this morning expressed a rather sanguine assessment of the current equity markets, despite price strength.

Fed Has Barely Begun to Reduce Its Balance Sheet

I was stunned when I saw this chart. After all that we've been told that the Federal Reserve has reduced its balance sheet and begun to normalize, this chart shows that it hasn't happened.

Plunging Corn

I'm looking forward to being able to take advantage of this drop in the price of corn.

The Smart Money Is Running for the Exits

One of the signs of a maturing bubble that is showing froth and may be about to burst is that the really big money of professional investors runs for the exits. They see trouble ahead, and they quietly exit the markets so as to preserve their capital when the market collapses.

Crude Oil Peaks -- for Now!

On May 24, the Russians and Saudis announced that they would soon increase oil production. Since then, the price of crude oil has reversed, and the price has declined significantly. And we have seen a more recent decline in the price of gasoline. 

Unemployment at 3.8%, But Adults Not In Labor Force Hits Record High

Once again, I find it interesting that the BLS announced that unemployment had reached an 18-year low of 3.8%. But at the same time, the BLS announced on the same day that the number of American adults not in the labor force hit a new all-time record high of 95.9 million! That's the highest in American history! Ouch!

Shiller PE at High Levels

Crude Oil Going Sky High

Crude oil price rocketed more than $2 per barrel today. And this evening, it was up another 55 cents just minutes ago. We must prepare for even higher gasoline prices. Ouch!