Why U.S. Productivity Is Lower Than In Previous Business Cycles?

Why U.S. Productivity Is Lower Than Previous Business Cycles? The real yield is the most important measure of financial tightness. But as the real yield is near zero, artificially low interest rates are then associated with unnecessary debt, zombie firms and lower productivity than previous business cycles. Zombie firms cannot invest, innovate and increase productivity. …

Ray Dalio, Founder and Chairman, Bridgewater Associates

Ray Dalio, Founder and Chairman, Bridgewater Associates In this video at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Ray Dalio discusses his life and career, principles, relationship, conflicts with other nations, increasing wage gap in the U.S. and more. “Just generally as an entrepreneur, you have to think differently in order to be successful. There’s a high…

Why a Low or Negative Equity Risk Premium Coincides with a Temporary Market Peak?

Why a Low or Negative Equity Risk Premium Coincides with a Temporary Market Peak? Because it pushes investors into bonds rather than equities. This was the case in 1973, 1981, 2000, 2007 and 2018 before the market crash. The current equity risk premium is available to our subscribers. Our equity risk premium model has a great 96% correlation with…

Real GDP Increased Moderately Compared to Previous Business Cycles

Real GDP Increased Moderately Compared to Previous Business Cycles Even if we are currently in a late cycle, history helps us to predict the future and this cycle should not end immediately. Each line begins with the peak of the previous business cycle, as determined by the NBER. (Image: Blackrock)

Real Fed Funds Rates Are Very Low Compared to Previous Business Cycles

Real Fed Funds Rate Is Very Low Compared to Previous Business Cycles Today, Real Fed funds rate is very low compared to previous business cycles and well below real GDP. If history helps us to predict the future, then this cycle should not end any time soon. Each line begins with the peak of the…

Why the Stock Market Valuation Matters Before a Recession?

Why the Stock Market Valuation Matters Before a Recession? When the stock market is VERY overvalued before a recession, it tends to be VERY undervalued. Like the swing of a pendulum, or the stretching of a rubber band, sooner or later it comes back very violently. This happened in 1973, 2000 and 2008. The US…

Why the US Stock Market Was Overvalued by 14.2% on Oct. 1, 2018 vs. 7.7% Today?

Why the US Stock Market Was Overvalued by 14.2% on Oct. 1, 2018 vs. 7.7% Today? Because the value of the forecast changes over time (blue dotted line). The US stock market short-term forecast (S&P 500 with dividends reinvested) for the next 12 months is available to our subscribers. This great prediction model is updated daily.…

Greek’s 5-Year Bond Yields Have Fallen Below US 5-year Government Bond Yield

Greek’s 5-Year Bond Yields Have Fallen Below US 5-Year Government Bond Yield Which one would you choose? Greek bonds or US counterparts? This is a great example of financial market madness. Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” That’s true! Greece has spent around half its time in default on its…

How’s the U.S. Economy Doing Now?

How’s the U.S. Economy Doing Now? The real GDP Nowcast relies on soft data such as consumer and business surveys and hard data such as retail sales and industrial production. It forecasts the growth of real GDP. At full employment, GDP returns to the level of potential GDP. If a recession were to occur today,…

Is Trump Right to Criticize Powell?

Is Trump Right to Criticize Powell? We don’t think so, because: – Interest rates are still near zero in real terms and below real GDP – The rise in Fed rates has very few visible negative effects in the USA – And at full employment, GDP returns to the level of potential GDP