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Export Growth Drives GDP!

* GDP grows 3.3%! * But it's a one and done for GDP! * Plenty O' data today... * A Wall Street Journal interview... ** Export Growth Drives GDP! Good day... And a Happy Friday to one and all! A Fantastico Friday in my books because it will be the end of a bad week for yours truly, and the start of a 3-day Labor Day Holiday weekend! YAHOO! Another storm, Gustav, is headed for the Gulf Coast, and maybe Louisiana, which wouldn't be good. So my thoughts are with those in the path of Gustav. Gustav is causing some problems for the price of Oil, this bubblin' crude, black gold, Texas tea, has posted its weekly gain in two months! The rise in Oil prices has lit a fire under Gold, and put pressure on the dollar once again, along with inflation pressures to say the least! The dollar pushed the euro and other currencies lower yesterday after the 2nd QTR GDP surprised on the upside, posting a gain of 3.3% annualized... I told you twice this week that 2nd QTR GDP would be stronger and yesterday, I laid out the scenario that the boost would come from: 1. stimulus checks, and 2. export growth because of the weak dollar....

Published Fri, Aug 08 2008 9:23 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Dollar, China, Gold, Euro, Alan Greenspan, GDP, Eurozone, Renminbi, Hurricane Gustav, Exports

Fannie and Freddie Back In The News...

* Strange trading days... * U.K. Retail Sales surprise.... * Norway's GDP prints strong! * A CDO lesson... ** Fannie and Freddie Back In The News... Good day... And a Tub Thumpin' Thursday to you! Don't know why... I just felt like it should be a Tub Thumpin' Thursday! I hit the wall yesterday, as I went home, and fell asleep at 3 o'clock, and didn't wake up till night time! Watched a few innings of my beloved Cardinals, wanted desperately to stay up and watch the May-Walsh beach volleyball game, but went right back to bed! So... I should be rested, eh? One would think so, but with the treatments I take, they just simply wipe me out! But... Hey! I always said that sleep was the greatest thing... I just get to enjoy more of it, right? OK... Another day of strange trading... As I signed off yesterday, the euro had given up it's previous day's gains, but found some terra firma at 1.47 and then rallied in the afternoon... If you guess right, as I have not done so this week, you can catch a great price to sell, and buy, all in the same day!...

Published Thu, Aug 08 2008 8:09 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Dollar, Brazilian Real, Oil, Gold, Euro, Norway, Retail Sales, Renminbi, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Collateralized Debt Obligation, I.O.U.S.A

Inflation & Jobless Rate Soars!

* Dollar wages war on euro! * Pulling the wool over our eyes... * A Gold discussion... * 4-weeks of selling renminbi... ** Inflation & Jobless Rate Soars! Good day... And a Happy Friday to one and all! It's been 3 weeks since I last started a Friday with that note. I hit every red light this morning on my way to work, which led me to think aloud in the parking lot, that this isn't going to be a Fantastico Friday... And when I turned on the currency screens, after reaching my desk, I could see why I thought those negative thoughts... It's getting ugly... Yesterday, I was busy with my head down working on something, when Chris Gaffney yelled across the trading desk, "Hey, Chuck, what happened to the euro?" I looked up to see the euro had lost 1-cent in a matter of 20 minutes... But that's not the end... This morning, the euro has given up another 1-cent, and now trades with a 1.47 handle. Just what the heck is going on here?...

Published Fri, Aug 08 2008 9:34 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Dollar, Inflation, China, Gold, Jobs, Renminbi

Beware The Thin Markets...

* ADP prints a huge downside surprise! * Euros get past 1.58... * A Perfect Storm? * Gold continues its move higher! ** Beware The Thin Markets... Good day... And a Happy pseudo-Friday to one and all! It is actually Thursday of course, but it's our Friday, as tomorrow is the 4th of July holiday here in the U.S. I think a lot about the Declaration of Independence these days, as I feel there is a faction of people here in the U.S. that would like to tear up the constitution... So, as we come to the day we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence let's stop and remember that it's WE THE PEOPLE that make a difference in this country, certainly not anything that comes out of Washington D.C.! OK, I'm down from my soapbox... This could really be a Tub Thumpin' Thursday as it has the potential to really kick some rear and take names later. Here's what I'm talking about......

Published Thu, Jul 07 2008 8:08 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Dollar, Gold, Euro, European Central Bank, The Fed, Jobs, Renminbi

"Somewhat Receded"?

* Fed leaves rates unchanged... * A dovish tone to the Fed... * Dollar Bulls run for the hills! * Norway raises rates... ** "Somewhat Receded"? Good day... And a Tub Thumpin' Thursday to you! Well... If you are a non-dollar owner, you might want to quickly go to the currency round-up to check on your currency / currencies... The Fed left rates unchanged and were quite dovish in their statement, and the dollar has been sent to the woodshed... Welcome back! Front and Center this morning, we have a currency rally going on, with the euro leading the dogs off the porch to chase the dollar down the street. The single unit has pushed past the 1.57 handle this morning, and the high yielders of Aussie, kiwi, and Brazil are all dancing in the streets because their positive rate differentials are even more in the face of traders now....

Published Thu, Jun 06 2008 10:39 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Dollar, Inflation, Gold, New Zealand, Interest Rates, The Fed, Norway, Renminbi

Dollar's Mini-rally ends...

* Record iron ore price! * Ben Stein in the Pfennig! * Top 11 currency returns... * Mogambo on Gold... ** Dollar's Mini-rally ends... Good day... And a Terrific Tuesday to you! The dollar's mini-rally yesterday stalled overnight, and once again the dollar bulls are having to cover euro shorts they put on. Yes, they NOW believe the Fed will not come through on it's claim to be an inflation fighter, and leave rates unchanged. That will keep the positive yield differential in the euro's favor (well, it would have anyway, but it keeps it unchanged). Remember though, who called out Fed Chairman Big Ben Bernanke when he said early this month that the "falling dollar had caused an unwelcome increase in inflation, and that he was "attentive" to the problem." Hogwash, said I!...

Published Tue, Jun 06 2008 9:15 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Currencies, Dollar, Gold, Ben Bernanke, The Fed, Icelandic Krona, Renminbi, Mogambo, Iron Ore, Ben Stein

The Dollar Swings A Mighty Hammer!

* Hoenig's big fat cat! * Renminbi stalls... * Going out on the limb again... * Stocks get sold on oil price... ...

Published Thu, May 05 2008 10:25 AM by Chuck Butler

Filed under: Dollar, Oil, Gold, Yen, Carry Trade, The Fed, Renminbi, Thomas Hoenig

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