Oct22019
Gold Bars Stacked on Top of One Hundred Dollar Bills

Paper Wealth, Paper Millionaires, and the Paper Rich

We all know that the financial markets cannot continue to climb indefinitely. Stocks have routinely collapsed throughout history, and bad things have been set in motion by a variety of factors, like speculation, inflation, asset bubbles, bank failures, mass unemployment, and geopolitics.   Market crashes wipe out what’s called “paper wealth,” leaving a wake of decimated “paper millionaires” who, according to Investopedia, are individuals with “a high net worth as a result of the large total market value of the assets he or she owns.”  Many of us with robust pensions or 401(k)s may…

Paper Wealth, Paper Millionaires, and the Paper RichDetails
Sep262019
Arrow Trending Down in Front of German Flag

The Mighty German Engine Is Sputtering—so Goes the Eurozone?

Europe has just posted downright dismal PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) numbers. The Purchasing Managers’ Index is a leading indicator of manufacturing activity and a carefully watched barometer of economic health. The latest PMI flash data that covers 19 countries in the European Union suggests that the eurozone could be moving closer to recession.  A PMI reading above 50 generally suggests an economic expansion, while anything below 50 indicates a contraction. The monthly flash report for September (an advanced indicator) fell from…

The Mighty German Engine Is Sputtering—so Goes the Eurozone?Details
Aug292019
United States Federal Reserve System Seal - Red Faded Currency Background

Has the Fed Lost Its Mojo?

For over a year, the U.S.-China trade war has been daily water cooler talk at every big bank and investment firm from Wall Street to Main Street. And with good reason. It has created uncertainty and volatility—and by many accounts, it has reduced global growth to a crawl. Each new round of tariffs unnerves the…

Has the Fed Lost Its Mojo?Details