Niels Bohr was a physique Danes to which he was in his honor on behalf of the chemical element "Bohrio" (Bh), a highly unstable isotope which may never see it because its half-life is just 0.44 seconds. But what interests us from this man is this great quote:
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it is about the future."
It is curious that a scientist (one of the few professions in which after much experience can be made reliable prediciones) dares to say what many economists are silent, our inability to know what will happen. But when the forecasts are positive and we creernoslas are more aware that when they are negative, the most obvious example is the current crisis hidden in its gestation both by Governments and by the media as for ourselves. In fact, in this very blog I cortaypega in early January about a pelín pessimistic forecasts for this year that passed without penalty or glory for his catastrophist dye.
But this is not new and not go further in 1999 in the stock market boom of technology companies (the famous bubble. Com), was published the book "Dow 100,000 myth or reality" that you can still buy on Amazon, this is a short summary of what is going.
Many magazine articles and even books tell you that the stock markets by the end of the 90 are in a dangerous bubble. No one can know when will the crash but many people think we're very close to the next big economic curve. Kadlec, chief investment Seligman Advisors has a different point of view: the bad things happen now and forever, but the Dow Jones will reach 100,000 points in 2020. In other words "two decades of growth above average." This represents only a 11.1% annual growth in the share price, which is completely unrealistic.
We can find similar books written that year:
Ya see, as were the predictions for nearly 10 years, the markets were going to go up to infinity and beyond, that looked like an auction ... 30,000, 36,000, 40,000 and 100,000. Let us not forget, we now have the U.S. stock market (Dow) in 8500. (More ...)
Written by Carlos Lopez on November 18, 2008 with 371 comments
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With a little delay I leave with you the comment of the week, this time from the hand deI hyperactive ICG
November 14, 2008, at 9:32.
Well, well ... it is Friday!
We are pleased to reach safe and sound ... one more week.
I say that if these ladronzuelos and high areas do not realize what's really happening ... then I will explain it! Mss. and Messrs. of being up there leading the herd (in which I too am) ... pay attention to what I'm going to say:
The central and basic cause for the slowdown is occurring (wink to Solbes and ZP), crisis, recession, estanflacción, depression ... or as we like to call it, is a simple and easy reason is that ... and ... have gone from Thread! Have skipped the last round of the nut ... at the time of squeezed and enslaved. This is just the reason that the cow no longer gives more milk. We have no milk in the teats ... and we do not have good grass-fed ... and now we are skeletal cows.
It's that simple. Consider:
A) If I collect like my father ... and do not growth. Yes!, Ladies and gentlemen, charging the same thing that my dear father and have spent 20 years. I repeat: the same salary after 20 years ...! Taking into account that I am a thousand times better than him (my father was a pastor and then operator of the assembly line ... does not have an elementary school) ... and I, with EGB, ESO, and Bachelor degree ... and I the same salary ... (how sad, by God!)
B) And if the price of everything has been multiplied by 2, 3, 5 or 10 ... (food, entertainment, restaurants, gasoline, flats, rentals ... and what has not grown ... the CPI has risen at least, that if clothes, cars, ...)
Well ... ... NOT BLOCK THE ACCOUNTS. I left patatero zero in their pockets! Yes, yes ... listen: zero Zapatero! Not one euro. And you wonder: What I have to revive consumption? Well, wait ... because he sat me how to say ... I ask another credit?
Economy and so many masters, many advisers and analistos ... .. what!? Please .... respondanme ... economic elites and rulers of the Spanish comedy farce! for what?
Let's see the rest: whether to "A" less "B" ... what gives? Well, negative numbers, numbers do not mean ... RED? Well I say this in your language: numbers with NEGATIVE GROWTH ... (or numbers slowed).
So I see it:
YEAR 2008: I income 1,200 euros a month (ie "A") ... and it turns out that the concepts of monthly "B" give a whopping 700 euros rent, $ 100 petrol, 100 euros for food, such and such ... ... gives me Yields: -500 euros. I have no NOTHING in their pockets to spend ... on the contrary, the "life" compels me to throw credit card to survive those $ 500 monthly debt.
YEAR 1990: my father entered 200 billion pesetas ( "A") ... and it turns out that this has kept three children, pay floor, car, food ... such and such ... result: still saved money !!!!! Le envelopes!! (eye! And my father has had steady job and fixed his entire working life ... I, however, garbage contracts, agencies and other guarradas ...)
Now they see it more clearly? Eooo ... ... eooo! Lords ruling, employers, entrepreneurs ... ..!!!! eooooo .... where are they? Come accounts? And you know what I see around: the congress and the senate ... .. EMPTY. Our representatives .... those who have to sail through our welfare .... as are pluriempleados and with the 5 billion euros monthly deputy can not come to the end of the month ... because deputies do not work and dedicated to the self-employed or employed person who also have. (Please, a little shame and respect for citizens ... to attend parliament. Claim compulsory attendance of all deputies and senators to all sessions of both houses of parliament).
And so, all I can say that I am as Spanish is what I feel: SHAME! Outrage! IMPOTENCE!
The comment has been slightly censored, you have the original here.
Greetings and who are very good weekend ... I do what I'm feeling, I assure you everyone.
Written by Carlos Lopez on November 16, 2008 with 42 comments
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Personal comment.
On Friday the markets seemed to launch a feeling of strength: General Motors touched historic lows and reported that without government help would go into bankruptcy and unemployment in the U.S. grew in two months in more than half a million people and yet the stock market rose. However, if one takes into account that since 1896 he had never lost the Dow Jones in the three days of a presidential election, which the lower SP on Wednesday and Thursday together is the biggest in two days since 1987 and that the rebound technician, was lowered after so much with little volume, and could give an explanation and feared it was an exception to the trend weekly. The large package of measures the Chinese government at the weekend ($ 600 billion is the fifth of GDP, "it will be another and a few cartridges) extended this positive feeling in Asia and Europe on Monday morning With the exception of Ibex. There are over the joys until the afternoon of Thursday in USA.
The bank Santander on Oct. 28, at the mouth of its CEO Alfredo Saez, refused to need more capital. On November 10 announced an expansion. In these few days has been convinced of the impossibility of selling the Bank of Venezuela, the assets in ABN shares, Cepsa, which manages the funds and insurance, at the price demanded. In short, you have bought unsold before and now has been found with a liquidity problem ... (safe somewhere caught in a mortgage-bridge that sounds something) and the expansion is costing him all shareholders in market capitalization million euros. And serve to illustrate what is happening with the economy and that makes this crisis unique: no matter how much lower interest rates, including the Euribor, if that cheaper finance is not paid and if there is interest in using this possible liquidity to invest. Until Santander wants to sell assets and unable to do so raises the liquidity of its shareholders or tries to tap new. Santander can do that but, how many companies can do the same, how much they will get lower financing rates?
I attached two charts USA, with shaded on the cycles of recession, one is the unemployment rate in the U.S. and its forecast to reach 8%
This is another of the ISM manufacturing index:
In Spain the situation is similar, we have known in the past economic data and much worse if we do if the figures do not even bank bad debt is still worrisome (http://www.economistas.tv/la-morosidad-oficial-no- is-so /) As can be seen in other economic cycles figures have been more hopeless, it could be a cyclical crisis and give more reason for the optimists who think they can get out of it in months. But it is necessary to recover the credit market, without that status data will continue to deteriorate and, as we have seen this week, the suspensions of payments that began in financial, went to banks and then to insurance companies, will reach shops and industrial companies.
And that perception is reversing in the economy and stock markets, the beneficial impact of lower interest rates. If we add to this the fact that I commented on the need to sell assets as they lose value to dispose of cash, accounts for the balance of the week. The best quality of the bag-your-liquidity is now one of the biggest obstacles to the upward trend because it is one of the few markets to resort to if you need cash, even at the level of citizens is easier to sell shares even though much is lost to try to sell some other property. As positive aspects of this bad stock market week, two factors: the low volume on downhill (although it can mean that we are still far from the capitulation of course also of the soil) and the finding by the Telecoms sector as a refuge-of-date valid. Now we have to have faith in the famous meeting this weekend but particularly in the aspect stock market got more faith in the possible manipulation of the bullish effect by next Friday 21 to the expiration of some futures (which is the Ibex) and options almost all indices. In fact, statistically the next week is a pretty favorable to the stock exchanges.
Finally, it is very remarkable, despite a rebound from yesterday evening, the lower crude (although the effect of the weakness of € and other causes less understandable its effect on the price of a liter of fuel is less noticeable) of gas natural and generally of all raw materials. This is no longer seen as something positive on the stock exchanges because it's getting a lot of problems in economies where there are a lot of money invested ... the prime example is Russia. You may see manipulative maneuvers to prevent the oil-icon of all raw materials-stop-down and personally I hope to make a speculative-operation in a possible rebound in oil prices and gold. (More ...)
Droblo written by the November 14, 2008 with 337 reviews
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Since he is no longer the "gold standard" and a ticket does not represent anything physical but simply faith in its issuer has formalized the old adage that says that the basis of the economy is confidence. As long as there is confidence the economy may go well although there are points "dark". Why? Because if consumers and businesses and banks believe in a good future, spend, invest and lend and this will generate well-paid jobs so the virtuous circle will continue to operate and will continue to spend, invest and banks to finance projects future.
For that confidence is not lost speeches by political and economic decision usually mostly reassuring because if you lose falling economic growth and are entering a vicious circle: consumers do not spend, businesses earn less and reduce their investment and the banks get the credit because bad debt increases. And the order may be reversed as is happening with the current crisis: the banks reduce credit before the outbreak of the housing bubble and late payment by bad investments, get the credit to businesses and consumers, scared by all this, spending less and therefore less to buy companies that reduce their profits and, ultimately, generate unemployment. Besides the problem in society that this generates, it is clear that if unemployment rises and companies and banks earn less income are also lower because of the administration are charged less tax at a time that should increase social spending.
All this is very basic, nothing original but there is one factor that can undermine the confidence that usually goes unnoticed: the veracity of official data. And because they are not certain or not, but by the manner of calculating them. And it would take pages to explain how such data in the USA is distorted industrial orders each month with the orders of governmental machinery of war or the handling of the Department of Labor with the monthly employment data ... there are many examples. However, one of the most striking to me is the calculation of the CPI.
Take the example of Spain, whose CPI in 2007 was 4.2%, which should mean that average prices rose by 4.2% but it is clear that a TV-for example, do not shop every week or even every year But the milk (which went up 31%) is almost daily, or the pan (+14%) and fuels (+16.2%). Some say that the perception of these costs-to-be everyday makes us believe that inflation is higher than it is but I think that is the weighting system which is not fair.
How is it possible that if housing prices went up by 30% annual inflation was only 3% if half of the household budget goes to pay the house itself? Let us go further: In the mid-20, share prices in the U.S. grew an average of 3.5 times in five years, but the prices of consumer goods did not vary significantly. Should we conclude that there was no inflation? Why? Why exclude the rates of inflation, for no reason, financial assets? If low interest rates we had in Spain in recent years had flow, rather than mortgage credit, to consumer credit, the CPI would have been fired (instead of housing prices) and it would have suffered Official inflation.
The current base weights of 2001 and are adjusted each year minimally. The latest data available are these:
| Groups | CPI base 2001 Weights 2002 | CPI base 2001 Weights 2003 | CPI base 2001 Weights 2004-2005 | CPI base 2001 Weights 2006 |
| 01. Food and soft drinks | 21.86 | 21.93 | 22.60 | 22.28 |
| 02. Alcoholic drinks and snuff | 3.22 | 3.18 | 3.17 | 3.07 |
| 03. Clothing and footwear | 9.93 | 9.90 | 9.73 | 9.25 |
| 04. Housing | 11.03 | 10.68 | 10.69 | 10.71 |
| | | | |
| 05. Tableware | 6.36 | 6.41 | 6.41 | 6.17 |
| 06. Medicine | 2.81 | 2.75 | 2.68 | 2.72 |
| 07. Shipping | 15.58 | 15.32 | 14.40 | 14.91 |
| 08. Communications | 2.57 | 2.73 | 2.99 | 3.28 |
| | | | |
| 09. Leisure and culture | 6.73 | 6.83 | 6.76 | 6.78 |
| 10. Teaching | 1.74 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.68 |
| 11. Hotels, cafes and restaurants | 11.27 | 11.18 | 11.23 | 11.45 |
| 12. Other goods and services | 6.91 | 7.39 | 7.39 | 7.72 |
| | | | |
| TOTAL | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
With these data you can see that inflation affects the poorest who are based consumption especially in the first paragraph.
Now that every reader will see if this table is in line with their usual costs and check that this calculation very similar in all the countries around us, is very subjective ... Of course, while we believe the data and return to the issue of confidence - Everything will be fine and accept that our salaries and pensions go up each year, the official CPI and so we think that we do not lose purchasing power.
At this official website you can calculate the CPI has risen far from the official dates (data from 1961):
PD - Still others are doing worse, look at the figures of the country most inflationary in the world:
Summary: press
Droblo written by the November 13, 2008 with 428 comments
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The other day I read that the American figure that the state is being spent on trying to resolve the financial crisis is already 2.7 billion dollars, and that in a country that already, even before all this and much needed money. He also knew the number of jobs: 524 thousand new unemployed in two months. And I began to search for information on the actual state of U.S. finances. Let a couple of numbers and put all the zeros, that more than a trillion translates as billions and trillions when we lees and I had to document only on American websites:
- A day on November 11 at 09.14, the debt is U.S. $ 10.635.794.969.002, an amount that is increasing second to second, and in fact there is a ticking clock that will (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki / National_Debt_Clock) and discussed here not long ago that going from 9 billion to 10 had to fix it. Currently 500.000.000.000 is increasing each month since October, a figure of growth that is expected to be sharply reduced because it is what they grew on average annually since 2003. In September the U.S. government expanded, very appropriately, the limit of indebtedness from 10.6 trillion to 11.3 but everything points that will run short in 2009

- The estimated GDP-American 2007 is 13,800,000,000,000, then the current debt is around 75% of GDP and it seems to get worse closer to 90% only by increasing the debt if we have to account that GDP may actually be reduced if there is recession, this could be even worse. They are not the all-time highs as can be seen in figure but let's remember that it was exceeded 100% due to World War II:
However, many countries are worse off and for years (from among the "big" Japan is close to 200%, in Europe and Italy, Belgium and Greece around 100%) the big problem is that this is only the debt State that is a fraction of the total debt of banks, families and American companies estimate is about 50,000,000,000,000, almost 5 times more than the public and more than 3 times the entire GDP. In Spain, where we have this sense of indebtedness total private debt is double the GDP. (More ...)
Droblo written by the November 11, 2008 with 243 comments
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Personal comment.
After the miracle that was expected (and confirmed) this week, which is called a black and Hussein Obama becomes president of the USA (another miracle is that she does), I received news of aid from our government the mortgage and I thought if there were any other one this week and the government would have done if we are from here when called for direct aid to the people. But I am afraid that has not happened: the government first decided to deny the crisis and support the banking industry after a series of measures hardly justifiable to the alleged strength of our financial sector. Now they have submitted results boxes and banks and profits have continued to be astronomical (if they are not means that aid has not been a change of transparency, still missing that no entity in Spain this loss when there are solutions in other countries more solid than ours) decide to "help" directly to individual mortgaged helping them go through this slump. But once again become a more aid for banks to the public. I think in the forum has already been felt all the opinions on this subject and I must also say that very acutely so I just want to emphasize again that the prevailing idea is something like: "We are in the worst of the crisis, guaranteed deposits until 2010 and helped the mortgaged two years and then with the revival that will fix everything is "What will happen if those unemployed after a two-year moratorium can not find work? For this reason there is no response.
Of course it is desirable that all this is a bad streak but most cyclical of time this seems far removed from reality. The numbers continue to decline week to week and what is valued as improvement may simply be adjustments after a very sharp. Fixed in this original graphic where we can see how it appears the trend for banks to borrow from the Federal Reserve is changing, but if we compare with other periods in which there is not even needed to resort to the EDF, it is easy to appreciate the level of banking crisis of the USA and alejadísimo that this is settled:
I do not see any signal that enables believe that this crisis will last only a few months. E insist not to confuse the bag (which may well bounce for a few weeks as he was bouncing a few days) with the real economy. The macro data are disastrous, unreservedly and hope that the lowering of rates might change, whether justified or not-only be realized within several months, and that if this drives the rebate credit. If not, only reduce the benefits of saving without encouraging the activity to the investor. And the worst thing is that the states are running out of room for maneuver as in Spain itself has acknowledged Solbes (http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/Solbes/dice/habra/recursos/afrontar/crisis/elpepueco / 20081105elpepieco_6/Tes)
Turning to the bag, the idea of "This is a pothole, a historic opportunity to buy, but months back in the upward path" is being installed. And yet this week (except in Europe, from Thursday to Thursday-closed flat, with some better rates and other worse) has come to a negative balance. And that if we look at the percentage rise since we have been minimal, is notable because the descent was very sharp. And was the upward trend in November and the maximum rise (Tuesday) after a day of low volatility (Monday). But neither with the help of central banks has been with the resistance led by commenting two weeks ago and is still stuck in a dangerous area. The Dax rose well above 5000 but has been unable to keep them in the SP and the arrival in 1000 has been the perfect excuse to very aggressive sales. The Dow and the Ibex nor have approached the 10 mil ...
The fear is still there as we saw on Wednesday because although statistically markets operate best on the day following the victory of a Republican than a Democrat the truth is that it should have been positive that the forecasts were met and there were no surprises, however these As of last week to buy the rumor and sell the news is becoming a habit and this caused a deep bearish movement. As I commented last week, while there are rises in quiet but there are a lot of threat falls hurry to sell. And he has returned to fulfill. However, I detect many voices that speak of buying in the fall of the year-end rally is possible .... I remain neutral and to envy to keep clear at these levels because I keep seeing danger to both sides. Today it is known the figure of unemployed last month and is feared to be disastrous, most of -200 thousand. As a curious statistic you remember that it was not a bad figure since March 2003, just the month in which he died the previous bearish trend and started the bull that ended in the fall of 2007.
And with regard to the Euribor, a point: that is truly novel now has one year deposits in financial institutions and which are due before 2010 and thus are guaranteed by the state, giving a return similar to the cost of a mortgage. It seems to me that an abnormality was corrected when 2009 arrives and there is much need for liquidity in the face of squaring balance at the end of the year. The Euribor rate comparing to a year with the intervention to 14 days of the ECB should better compare the returns offered by your bank for a year and what you pay for mortgages at that same bank and verify that the differential is not so much . Not to defend the banks with this, just describe a reality, the battle to capture a liability is so great that the differential between what it receives a customer with money and what they should pay that money for a mortgage is minimal. One consolation: yesterday in U.S. rates were at 1% and libor to 12 months to 2.84 (a 184% more), here had to 3.25 and the Euribor to 12 months to 4.70 (a 44.62% increase). But much remains could be even worse ...
(more ...)
Written by Droblo on November 7, 2008 with 295 reviews
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