More on the end of the EU


ECB & The Failed QE Stimulus

Stimulate

The central banks are simply trapped. They have bought in bonds under the theory that this will stimulate the economy by injecting cash. But there are several problems with this entire concept. This is an elitist view to say the least for the money injected does not stimulate the economy for it never reaches the consumer. This attempt to stimulate by increasing the money supply assumes that it does not matter who has the money. If we are looking only at the institutional level, then this will not contribute to DEMAND inflation only ASSET inflation by causing share markets to rise in proportion to the decline in currency value.

Negative-Rates

 

The European Central Bank (ECB) then pushes interest rates negative to punish savers and consumers for not spending money that never reaches their pocket. Negative rates promotes hoarding cash outside of banks which in turn then inspires the brilliant idea of eliminating cash to force the objective and end hoarding. But negative rates have been simply a tax on money. The attempt to “manage” the economy from a macro level without considering the capital flow within the system is leading to disaster.

ElasticThen we have the problem that the central banks in attempting QE operations, cannot figure out how to reverse the process. They cannot sell the debt back to the market thereby defeating the original concept of creating elastic money supply. You increase the money supply during a recession to prevent banks being forced to sell assets to meet a panic demand for cash. Transactional banking has altered the classic borrow short lend long operations of banks cancelling out the idea of requiring and elastic money supply. All central banks can do now is allow the bonds they bought to mature and expire. If they attempt to sell the bonds they bought back into the marketplace, they will drive rates higher in a panic.

Draghi-Lagarde

The ECB is now expected to inject “fresh” stimulus into Euroland’s economy come Thursday given Mario Draghi said he and his policymakers would “do what we must” to return inflation from its current level of 0.1% to 2% asap. Draghi now implies that he has failed for unless he takes aggressive action, there is a tremendous risk of a dramatic disappointment in financial markets as QE is revealed as a failure.

The combination of a continued declining recovery and a deflationary atmosphere present a compelling case that the ECB will accelerate it program despite strong opposition from German policymakers and others on the 25-strong committee. Since late October, many officials from Euroland have gathered in Frankfurt to brainstorm just what the central bank could do now to turn things around.

Many can only see that the same course must be extended and pledging to buy about €60bn of bonds a month from March 2015 until September 2016 was not enough as they assumed would create inflation to achieve 2%. This has produced a total buying spree of about €582bn out of a planned €1.1tn. All this did was ease up some credit markets, but bad loans are still the huge problem for banks and raising taxes dampens the BELIEF that there is a viable future to even borrow to expand the economy.

European economic growth remains extremely weak and inflation has failed to pick up as much as the ECB had anticipated BECAUSE they are NOT lowering taxes and that is the ONLY way to reignite DEMAND inflation from the consumer. Increasing the money supply which never reaches their pockets is pointless especially when banks are not interested in lending in the face a serious unperforming loans as taxes and tax enforcement increase. Clearly, the ECB has already changed its tone on the September 2016 deadline.

Draghi Mario

The ECB’s position is to remain in denial arguing that QE is indeed working, but it is just not working fast enough. Without the ability to control taxation, buying bonds and attempting to simply inject capital that cannot reach the consumer becomes a joke. It is more like a medieval doctor who bleeds his patient and assumes when the patient dies it was not the method of bleeding and perhaps he took out too much blood but the fact he did not bleed him soon enough. Inflation by their own measurement has remained under 1% for two years.

3FACESn-of-Inflation

 

There is absolutely no credibility in terms of returning inflation to a 2% target. Obviously, the argument is to bleed the system further by buying even more bonds. The burning question is the very theory of QE being inflationary. The ECB has bought mostly government bonds amounting to slightly less than 75% of all purchases. The balance is composed of repackaged loans as covered bonds or as asset-backed securities.Buying in government debt clearly creates no jobs and it certainly does not expand the economy. Government produces nothing but a drain upon the wealth of a nation that is produced only by the people. The larger the government, the lower the economic growth for you are spending more to sustain government that creating an economy.

The Federal Reserve was established in 1913 with the directive that to stimulate they would buy directly corporate paper – NEVER government. When banks were reluctant to lend, the Fed would buy the corporate paper and that would prevent unemployment. Thanks to World War I, the structure of the Fed was altered and they were directed to buy government bonds. That directive was never reversed. Today, while most central banks have stuck to buying mainly government or quasi government bonds which do not directly stimulate the economy,they have failed to comprehend the significant difference between buying corporate debt issues compared to government. This is a primary misconception of how to manage an economy and holds a large key as to why QE has failed combined with raising taxes and increasing tax enforcement to pay for QE.

3FACESn-of-Deflation

Japan-RE IndexIndeed, if we look at central banks as a whole, the Bank of Japan purchased exchange traded funds and property directly that was in the form of Japan real estate investment trusts,as part of its QE program. However, real estate trusts are a dead asset class. They also produce nothing and represented purely a collapsing asset value. This failed utterly to “stimulate” the economy for it merely relieved others of sure losses.

IntRate-Manipulate

Summers-LarryThe ECB became the first major central bank to follow Larry Summer moving into negative interest rate territory which was really aq tax on money. The ECB cut its deposit rate below zero last year punishing people for saving money when in fact they fear the future and will not spend lacking confidence. We have now seen this policy adopted in Scandinavia and Switzerland. The US Federal Reserve is not following this course and sees that negative rates destabilizes pension funds and the efficient use of capital. The Fed counters this trend warning that its domestic policy objectives cannot be held hostage to international and it sees that interest rates must rise to be “normalized” to prevent a further economic crisis. This clash between policies between the ECB and the Fed are more likely to weaken the euro against the dollar.

Fed Excess Re3s 2015

 

Moreover, I have argued that the Fed should abandon paying 0.25% on excess reserves. Foreign institutions are moving cash to their US branches to simply deposit money at the Fed. This money is  accumulating massively and obviously it is NOT stimulating the economy. The ECB can buy European bonds and the cash is being sent into the dollar and deposited at the Fed. Total deposits at the Fed in excess reserve facility is approaching $3 trillion. This may be creating money which in theory would be inflationary, but if it is simply parked, it has no inflationary impact for the velocity of money in this cash become zero.european_union_flag_perspective_anim_500_clr_4611

Clearly, the ECB cannot stimulate the European economy with QE unless it also lowers taxation and buys private debt directly to stimulate the economy when banks are now simply transactional. Allowing the ECB to buy bonds with lower negative yields while raising taxes is proving to be a lethal policy that is sending capital on every boat to the USA. Currently, the ECB has a ban on buying anything with a yield below minus 0.2%. The ECB somehow must convince markets not only that it can hit its inflation target, but that its policy is even sound. QE is not working and it cannot work under these conditions.More on the end of the EU

ECONOMICS 101


Efficient Market Theory vs. Behavioral Economic Theory

Efficient Theory-2R

QUESTION: Hi,

Thanks for a great blog.
Mr. Armstrong,
I´d like to know your opinion for efficient market hypothesis. Theory states it is impossible to beat the market because market efficiency. I know you disagree with that, but is there any theory which states that markets can´t be efficient? And what’s your opinion of behavioral finance theory?
Thank you,
Kind Regards,
IP
ANSWER: Efficient market theory does not work because markets always overshoot and undershoot. Markets can remain undervalued for decades as was the case for the Dow Jones between 1934 and 1985. Then they play catch-up all of a sudden. Commodities also perform in such a manner others claim are manipulations.
Behavioral economic theory, which many are just now starting to realize, states that markets trade on anticipation, and not necessarily on facts — buy the rumor, sell the news. This is all behavior oriented. We panic not always understanding why, just following the herd. Investing becomes a herd mentality or behavioral economics

The Armstrong Economic Confidence Model (ECM).


Is Russia Subject to the Economic Confidence Model

ECM-Russia 1991

QUESTION: Has the ECM worked to the day in politics outside of the United States as in my home country Russia?

pi_symbol_1600_clr_12661

ANSWER: Absolutely. Putin was elected on March 26th, 2000 (2000.23). That is precisely to the day from the collapse of the USSR on August 19th, 1991 (1991.63). This is a UNIVERSAL frequency. It is not some theory on mine. It is something I bumped into and discovered. It is not restricted to financial markets or any nation. Pi is starting to be discovered in other fields even quantum mechanics. We are just scratching the surface when it comes to understanding how everything truly functions.

ECM Greece

 

The start of the Sovereign Debt Crisis in Greece took place to the day on the ECM as did 911 in New York. This is by no means confined to any country.

flat-earth

Bruno-2Naturally, people will fight against this and they will say it is all coincidence or bullshit. They offer no proof to the contrary, simply an opinion. No different than all those who burned people like Bruno for daring to say the Earth revolved around the Sun or the Earth had to be flat for you could not stand upside down on a ball – it was illogical.

There are always going to be doubters who cannot see the world nor do they accept any change to their rigged way of thinking. A closed mind is always the hallmark of ignorance.

I would watch this blog very closely for the next two years!


USA Losing Sovereignty to World Fiscal Mismanagement

Dollar Burning

The IMF and many economists (domestic and foreign) are now warning that a rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve, no matter when, will spark a major economic crisis in the emerging markets. They see this crisis being ripe for countries with high budget deficits, such as Turkey, as well as commodity-based economies. This includes the oil exporters such as Russia and even Saudi Arabia who has now begun to issue debt.

This is holding the Federal Reserve’s feet to the fire to the point that they are losing control of their own domestic policy objectives as a consequence of the dollar becoming the WORLD’S ONLY RESERVE CURRENCY no matter what the IMF inserts into the SDR. The emerging economies have issued debt worth nearly half that of the USA without the economic strength to back up that debt. True, there is going to be a debt explosion by 2017 and this is not going to look very nice at the end of the day. Clearly, the Fed is being pressured externally to give up its domestic policy objectives to help the debt burden of everyone else. And people keep saying the dollar will go into hyperinflation? Obviously, they do not understand the world economy or that what is taking place is OUTSIDE of the United States. Sorry, the dollar is not quite ready to burn to ashes.

1927-Secret-Banking-g4

The Federal Reserve has called a meeting on Monday. This issue of sovereignty will come to a head. The Fed has called this meeting to perhaps change interest rates. The question becomes for who? The lobbying against the Fed to raise rates has been intense. My recommendation is to eliminate the 0.25% paid to banks on excess reserves and raise rates. We must normalize rates ASAP to prevent a major crisis in Pension Funds of which the average hold 40% in government debt and cannot meet future obligations. But this is the domestic sovereignty issue. Does the Fed lower rates and make the same mistake it did in 1927 to try to save the world which will never reform its debt load?

Fed1927

If the Fed lowers rates, the markets may see this as a CONFIRMATION that the sovereign debt crisis is becoming critical and the capital inflows will then intensify into the USA as it did between 1927-1929. So let’s see if the Fed has learned its lesson or are they stupidly going to try to save the world who will then only expect more of the same in the end.

Taxing money is one of the last desperate steps taken before an economic system collapses.


Post navigation

Taxing Money: The Call to Arms by the IMF

Lagarde-Christine-imf

COMMENT: Dear Martin –

 I have been a follower for some time now and had great pleasure in hearing you speak at the Princeton WEC.  Thank you for so readily sharing your knowledge with those that are willing to listen and learn.
I recall you mentioning that governments will often have a desired policy “floated” through another source, so as to provide the appearance that they are adopting an independently conceived course of action.  I noticed that just yesterday the IMF published Staff Discussion Note SDN/15/22 ( http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=43162 ).  To my reading, this paper advocates further QE by the ECB.  Maybe the most notably questionable comment to be found in the paper is that “governments do tend to take corrective measures in response to an increase in government debt”, as indicated under point 14. I thought you might find this article interesting and foretelling.  If nothing else, it seems to be further confirmation of the predictions provided by Socrates.
Best, WN
REPLY: Europe has become one giant experiment for taxing money, which is popularly called negative interest rates. They meant precisely this when they stated “governments do tend to take corrective measures in response to an increase in government debt.” It is NOT a trend toward hyperinflation, as in revolutionary or defunct governments where they just disavow the prior debt of the previous government. This is the deflationary course which shrinks the economy rather than dealing with the debt. The IMF is advocating taxing money itself, and this will only lead to hoarding and trying to get off the grid.

None of the old rules apply now!


Welcome to the New Age Economy – Even Buffet Cannot Make the Transition

Behind-Models

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong, I diversified my money into a number of hedge funds and I lost on each and every one from gold, commodities, stocks that did not even match the S&P 500 to those who piled into oil. It seems 2015 has been a total wipe out for professionals. It would be great if you restarted your hedge fund. You won hedge fund manager of the year when everyone blew up on Lon-Term Capital Management. What will it take to get you back in the game?

PD

ANSWER: I understand. Sorry, I really do not want to get “back in the game.” It is a personal issue of time and quality of life rather than money. I could not spend it anyway. When you make billions, it becomes monopoly money for punts. It is way too much to alter your life. Go too far and the money owns you.

We are entertaining proposals to set up funds using our models. It is hard because you have to have the discipline to do whatever it says and sometimes its most fantastic calls even made me say, “OMG!” So if it made me question whether it would be right, I knew it would be because the majority must be wrong.

I understand this has been the worst year for professionals since the 2007-2009 crash. Even Warren Buffet’s Berkshire has been unable to match the returns on the S&P 500. Buffet’s traditional investment strategy is not cutting it for this New Age of Economics. Buffet has had a very bad year so far. The flavor of the year was to pour into debt, which has come back to haunt many hedge funds. Overall, this has been the worst year since 2007 for hedge funds. They had their head handed to them on oil stocks to say the least. This has led many to question if hedge funds have simply lost their way. Those funds that piled into commodities and gold have lost billions. One fund lost $830 million on a single Swiss Franc trade.

This is a new era and if you do not comprehend what is going on — even if you are a professional — you will lose everything based upon what is coming. This is not going to be easy for anyone. What lies behind the curtain is far more complex than anyone realizes right now. The next couple of years will see some professionals completely blown out of the water. Traditional models will simply fail.

The EU will be gone before the end of next year.


France Exempting Itself from all EU Rules

hollande-franc3a7ois-2

Do politicians ever really care about society? President Hollande wants to change the French Constitution, but he also wants to extend the state of emergency indefinitely. Why? Is this really about terrorism? Sure, more than 80% of the French are willing to give up civil liberties for security, just as Americans responded after 9/11. That is the problem, for once power is given to government it is never returned. That is just a fact of life.

However, it now turns out that France cannot meet the EU criteria, as was the case for Greece. Therefore, the politicians in power want to extend the state of emergency because that exempts them from all EU economic criteria. Nothing but nothing can ever be just straight up. Increase your security, of course. That’s understandable. But to extend a state of emergency for political purposes seems to be a secret political bonus. The euro is doomed anyhow. This just illustrates that the second largest member is also in the same position as Greece. They are using the siege of Paris as their get out of responsibility card in this game of Monopoly.ill not exist in 12 months

What should be done with the FED


Reforming the Federal Reserve

Federal reserve

QUESTION: In your Nov. 15 blog you said about the Fed “ I do not think in its present form it should be owned by banks collecting 6%. I would advocate a public float as is the case in Switzerland. Can you explain what that means, and how that works. Thank you

 I sincerely hope you continue your blog. I have been trying to get a handle on how the markets work. It really requires a lot of thought until one can feel comfortable.

There is a ring of truth to what you say.

Thank you.

ANSWER: The Fed is far more independent than many portray. Its decisions to raise or lower interest rates are not at the direction of bankers, but its understanding that it must steer a realistic path. Yellen has inherited a nightmare. Raised were lowered and the Fed became trapped, They stopped buying 30 year bonds and moved to mortgage securities. It cannot sell anything it now holds. Yellen realized that the pension funds will go belly up and keeps saying the rates must rise to be “normalized”.

The Fed is far too much influenced by politics. We cannot afford a central bank controlled by politicians. Likewise, bankers should not control the Fed if they no longer retain loans on their books and sell them becoming transactional bankers.

The only solution would be that the Fed is floated publicly so anyone can buy shares. The influence of politicians and bankers must come to an end. Banks should NOT be qualified for any bailout on their trading – PERIOD. If they do not retain loans, they are not entitle to use elastic money. Floating the Fed makes it a private corporation that must report its balance sheet like everyone else. Congress MUST be forbidden to order the Fed to do anything. That has been the problem all along. Stimulation should be returned to buying corporate paper, not hand banks cash and hope they lend it out. Enough is enough.

Who Owns the FED


Fed v Congress v Bankers

FederalReserve-1

QUESTION: Don’t you think it is wrong that the private banks own the institution that administers them.

ANSWER: You have to understand what was intended. It was originally a bailout entity for banks so they had to fund it. That made sense initially, Then with time and circumstances, the Fed has morphed into something that is now some quasi-political-governmental-agency that nobody would have created from the outset.

I do not think the Fed should be owned by the Treasury since then politicians will control it for political purposes. I can hear it now: “Vote for me and I will give free interest on credit cards!” I do not think in its present form it should be owned by banks collecting 6%. I would advocate a public float as is the case in Switzerland.

My point is the politicians keep changing the Fed and relieve themselves of ALL fiscal responsibility for economic booms and busts and blame the Fed, which is wrong, since they are the primary cause of aggravating the business cycle.

I do not advocate conspiracy theories against the Fed or criticism of exclusively the Fed ignoring the role of Congress. To solve the problem we MUST look at the whole. You need a central bank to clear. Bank failures were because of relationship banking where they borrow short-term and lend long-term. Elastic money made sense under the idea you did not have to liquidate loans to repay depositors in a panic. The elastic money would expand during a panic and then contract when over.

Now that banks are doing transactional banking and not holding long-term loans on their books, then they no longer need elastic money or bailouts and should collapse when they screw up. They should be held for CRIMINAL prosecution if they are trading with other people’s money. You cannot have it both ways. If the Fed is to stimulate, then they should buy corporate paper, not government, and then the money is directly injected into the economy whereas currently the banks still refuse to lend money long-term.

The Fed is caught between politicians and bankers. That is not a very nice place to be these days. We will have to REFORM this position after the crash, but eliminating the Fed will create chaos and it will not solve the problem as long as Congress has any power to create debt and the big banks moved to transactional banking abandoning relationship banking.

Near term Market forecast is down


The Dow

DJIND-W 11-13-2015

The Dow is pulling back on schedule. We do not see a breakout to the upside. This should tread water for a bit waiting for everything to align. A closing today below 17785 will signal that this is not ready to breakout and a retest of support is likely. Key support lies down at 16500.

DJFOR-W 11-13-2015