Stagflation is here
I wish people would stop talking about stagflation. It scares me. What scares me most is that there’s a greater than zero percent chance of it being an unwelcome guest for a good chunk of 2022. The term “stagflation” became popular during the 1970s as an oil price shock rattled the economy. (Sound familiar?) Stagflation…
By Allen Harris
March 14, 2022
Gold is back but for how long?
Commodity prices are flying. Nickel doubled in price in two days. Wheat is up 50% and has experienced trading halts for five straight days. Gold has breached $2,000 an ounce and we all know what has happened to the price of oil. How long can it last? As longtime readers know, I formally recommended commodities…
By Bill Schmick
March 10, 2022
ABCDEFU
“I was into you, but I’m over it now. And I was tryin’ to be nice, but nothing’s getting through, so let me spell it out.” —Gayle (to her ex) and fixed-income experts (to Allen Harris) Before I get into it, they say never bury the lead: There’s an increasing chance that the losses we’ve…
By Allen Harris
March 7, 2022
Do not chase stocks
Commodities are soaring. Interest rates are falling. Stocks can’t get out of their own way. All of this is occurring while the first war in decades continues to rage in Ukraine. Seems to me that any gains in the market averages next week will remain dead cat bounces in this bear market. Yes, I hate…
By Bill Schmick
March 4, 2022
U.S. shale producers can’t rescue us
Oil prices are up 70% since last year. Prices at the pump are well over $4.25/gallon. Everyone from President Biden on down is scrambling to find a way to reduce energy prices. Why, therefore, aren’t we looking at our own domestic oil producers? Unlike Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, which can increase the…
By Bill Schmick
March 24, 2022