Category Archives: Finance

China Innovates: A New Way to Lie with Numbers

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Roger

The Wall Street Journal has just run an article about the latest data manipulation coming out of China. China is experiencing strong currency outflows.   This is a combination of “hot money” from outside China, which came into the country to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, General Culture, Policy, Politics | Leave a comment

Turn Away Now [1]

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Roger

I just watched the most recent Republican debate and, contrary to the fairly neutral coverage that it has received, I think that Trump got mauled.  It is a preview of what is going to happen if he gets into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, General Culture, Politics | 4 Comments

The Statist Mindset and Other Short Takes

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Roger

I just read an article in BloombergView yesterday by Cass Sunstein, who is a law professor at Harvard.  It was a roundup of a number of books published last year on “behavioral economics” (which is an absurd descriptor, since all … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Politics | 2 Comments

More Silly-Con Valley

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Roger

The Wall Street Journal had an article this past week entitled “Tech’s Hometown Bank.”  This has convinced me that Silicon Valley has replaced Wall Street as the new epicentre of financial malfeasance and conflict of interest. The article is about … Continue reading →

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Tesla

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Roger

I occasionally like to short[1] stocks for fun and profit.  One of my recent shorts is Tesla[2],  the maker of electric vehicles (“EV”) and energy storage systems.  This one gives me particular pleasure because it is a great opportunity to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Politics | 10 Comments

Big Ideas From the Democratic Debate…NOT!

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Roger

I have not finished watching the Democratic debate but I saw enough to prompt a little metaphorical and literal regurgitation.[1] Martin O’Malley Let’s warm up with Martin O’Malley. It is pretty clear from the debate that O’Malley thinks that he … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Politics | 2 Comments

Access (Should Be) Denied

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Roger

The Wall Street Journal has recently run a lengthy, front-page article entitled “How Some Investors Get Special Access to Companies.”  This is the type of article that should make the blood boil. The article describes private meetings between large investors … Continue reading →

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The Fed Decision

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Roger

After moving house and taking a two-week break in Canada and New England, there is a lot of catching up to do.  Let’s start with today’s post, the length of which I apologize for in advance. The Fed Decision Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, General Culture, Policy, Politics | 2 Comments

Some Short Takes

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Roger

Greece What would a posting be without some comments about Greece? Here are some quick ones. One of the interesting dynamics in Greece is the continued attachment of the Greek population to the Euro. All the polls show 60-70% majorities … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Policy | 10 Comments

The China Syndrome

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Roger

I am sure that you have all been watching the meltdown in the Chinese stock markets.  I posted a blog (in the China Ad Nauseam section) on May 6 about the Chinese stock market, finishing up with the statement that … Continue reading →

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