Of Dollars, Bonds, Profit and Quantitative Tightening?
Discussion, critique and analysis of the potential impacts on equity, bond, commodity, capital and asset markets regarding the following:
- Last Time Out; Mosquitos; Chinese PMI; Eurozone Real GDP
- Corporate Profits; Cash Flow; USD/EURO; Tech and Small Cap
- Dollars; Bonds; Quantitative Tightening; FOMC Minutia
It is usually a disconnect with the field, bad incoming data or skewed perceptions, that precipitates a tactical or strategic error by detached management and investors. After which many scratch their head and ask, "what in the hell were they thinking?" Usually followed by, "Oh, they weren't...." - Of Oil Bears and WalMart (Mayweather) vs. Amazon (McGregor)Sometimes your the windshield and sometimes your just one of those....
Mosquitos?
Thematic accompaniment for tonight's informative and entertaining journey is the Bard of Barstow's 2nd solo album, following the split of his original band 'Wall of Voodoo' and his 1st solo outing 'The Big Heat'. Is it rock? Is it country? Is it new wave? Is it synth-pop? It's none of those, it's Stan Ridgway.
Stan writes wryly witty story songs, and this is one of my favorite story telling album's of all time, with only one "Dog" out of 10 tracks, highlights include:
#3 the piledriving 'Goin' Southbound' where a criminal boss gives instructions to a new recruit about handling contraband. Don't worry 'bout the police, 'cause they're in on it now.
# 5 'Can't Complain' which is Stan at his most darkly humorous. Two old guys talk and one of them, Burt, catalogues his woes while constantly saying 'all the same, I guess I can't complain'. In the end, Burt gets a music lesson, "keep your eyes peeled to the sky, it could be a brand name".
And #9 'The Last Honest Man' which is arguably my favourite Ridgway song ever. An astute observation on the hypocrisy of executive management, politicians and radio talk show hosts and TV evangelists. Paraphrased from Definitive Ridgway.
IMHO, over the years, Stan's songwriting, lyrics and story telling music have been phenomenal and highly underrated. In the late 80's, Ridgway was set to tour Adelaide, he cancelled because only 200 tickets were sold.
The MSM oft talk's up Dylan, Seeger, Guthrie and Springsteen, and we believe Ridgway has a niche on that list of great musical poets. With regard to observing the sweaty downside of American life, some would say Ridgway's musical storytelling has somewhat of a....
Morbid Fascination?
What Spock might say at the Paris cemetery? And putting a Nattering spin on something not so trivial...
Caixin PMI, Chinese private sector small and mid size, 7 month low in April, May below 50 for the first time in 11 months on increased unemployment.
Confirming Dollar Woes: Big Trouble in Little China... Standard Chartered's Chinese PMI hit a 16 month low. Yet, Chinese RMB had its best week vs King Dollar since 2005. Not wholly unrelated, Japan IP tanked -3.3% lowest read since 2011.
The Nattering One was amused with the MSM spin put on last week's UK inflation.... All that "inflation" is because since Brexit ruminations back in 2015, the sterling has taken a POUNDING by the King (Dollar), pun intended. Along with the post commodities flash crash $25 rebound in oil, this has raised the cost of imported goods to the emerald island, while wages are not keeping up, which you can bank on... Coffee, Crude Tea Or Me?This missive was published as an exclusive to Seeking Alpha. To access the ENTIRE text for FREE on Seeking Alpha, please click here. The Nattering One does not receive remuneration if you register, only satisfaction.
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