We saw this week that the US factory sector took a breather in April, from the explosive pace of Feb and March, meaning new orders and shipments grew more slowly. We’re not sure how to explain this yet, or if it is trend.
We saw this week that US housing remains in the tank, and to no one’s surprise.
We saw this week through the Claims release some further improvement in the US employment market.
We saw this week that price pressures are building in the EU and UK and that both central banks are now more likely brake. The EU can handle it (German, French vigor) but the prospect represents a nightmare for the UK.
We saw that the EU continues to experience problems with the periphery, an old story. Today there is speculation of Greece defaulting on their debt. We recall when Russia defaulted on their debt. That was a game changer for markets in the US. This is not.
Finally, we saw today that the Bk of Japan is pleased with the pace of resuscitation and so plans no special support plan. Japan’s Q1 GDP was off 0.9% vs Q4, to no one’s surprise (it captured two weeks of tsunami impact). Days after the crisis we predicted a positive Q3. The Bk of Japan, and now most world observers agree.
Robert Craven
We saw this week that US housing remains in the tank, and to no one’s surprise.
We saw this week through the Claims release some further improvement in the US employment market.
We saw this week that price pressures are building in the EU and UK and that both central banks are now more likely brake. The EU can handle it (German, French vigor) but the prospect represents a nightmare for the UK.
We saw that the EU continues to experience problems with the periphery, an old story. Today there is speculation of Greece defaulting on their debt. We recall when Russia defaulted on their debt. That was a game changer for markets in the US. This is not.
Finally, we saw today that the Bk of Japan is pleased with the pace of resuscitation and so plans no special support plan. Japan’s Q1 GDP was off 0.9% vs Q4, to no one’s surprise (it captured two weeks of tsunami impact). Days after the crisis we predicted a positive Q3. The Bk of Japan, and now most world observers agree.
Robert Craven
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