FocusEconomics, a consultancy, has recognized The Capital Spectator as one of the “Top Economics & Finance Blogs of 2017.” This is a significant achievement as it places CapitalSpectator.com alongside 100 other prestigious sites. I am familiar with many of the bloggers featured, although some are new to me. Overall, this list serves as a fantastic resource for those interested in economics and finance. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Many experts anticipate a slowdown in US economic growth as the “advance” GDP report for the fourth quarter is set to be released tomorrow. Following a strong surge in Q3, most forecasts suggest output will increase in the low-2% range; this remains largely unchanged from last month’s review and significantly below the robust 3.5% growth witnessed in Q3 (based on the seasonally adjusted annual rate).
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Most investment portfolios consist of a variety of risk factors, including exposures to credit and equity risks. Monitoring and managing these elements is crucial. The traditional method is to assess portfolios through a standard asset allocation framework — such as 60% stocks, 30% bonds, and 10% cash. However, this conventional approach often lacks precision. For a more thorough understanding of the factors influencing your portfolio, adopting a factor-based analysis to decompose risk provides deeper insights.
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In December 2016, economic growth remained robust enough to keep recession risks at bay. Following inconsistent performance in the first half of the year, macroeconomic indicators have shown improvement in recent months, and forecasts suggest a modest acceleration in growth during the first quarter of this year.
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Global markets maintained a narrow trading range last week, as indicated by a selection of exchange-traded products representing the major asset classes. This subdued trading activity concluded the week as of January 20, coinciding with the inauguration of a new US President, with prices remaining nearly unchanged compared to the previous week’s close.
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● Big Agenda: President Trump’s Plan to Save America
By David Horowitz
Summary via publisher (Humanix)
Donald Trump’s election victory in 2016 marked more than just a significant upset; it heralded a substantial political, economic, and social shift expected to reshape both America and the world. David Horowitz, a notable conservative commentator and New York Times bestselling author, outlines a White House strategy aimed at curbing the Democrats’ efforts to undermine America’s core values.
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Today at noon Eastern time, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. He steps into office with an economy that is expanding at a moderate rate, based on the latest data. While some optimists believe that the new administration’s policies could elevate growth rates, skepticism persists due to concerns over potential trade wars stemming from Trump’s economic plans. Nevertheless, it is widely acknowledged that the US economy ended 2016 on a relatively strong note according to various indicators. Although challenges remain, currently there seems to be a favorable backdrop for growth.
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On Wednesday, January 18, the Treasury market’s implied inflation forecast based on 10-year yields reached 2.0% for the first time in more than two years. This development followed an optimistic assessment of the US economy delivered by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, who stated, “The economy is near maximum employment and inflation is moving toward our goal.”
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Can you differentiate between alpha and beta? It may seem straightforward — simply assess an investment portfolio against an appropriate benchmark, and everything becomes clear. Yet, as highlighted in a recent study, understanding risk and return through the lens of time horizon can transform the stark contrast of equity factors into a nuanced landscape.
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What impact would it have had on the global poverty rate if Warren Buffett’s skills for identifying value in corporations had disappeared decades ago? How many families struggling to get by might have been spared if, in 1980, IBM had not given a young Bill Gates the opportunity to create an operating system for their revolutionary idea of producing personal computers aimed at the masses?
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In summary, the recent developments in economic indicators, investment strategies, and market trends highlight the complexities and evolving nature of the financial landscape. Staying informed and leveraging robust analytical tools will be paramount for investors and policymakers alike as they navigate these challenges and opportunities.
