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  • Central Banks Diversify Out Of The Dollar!

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies rally VS the dollar...
    * Reasons why the U.S. wants a cheaper dollar...
    * Interest rate differentials...
    * Trade Deficit narrows...

    Good day... And a Marvelous Monday to you! An absolutely awful weekend for our professional sports teams, as the Cardinals, Blues, and Rams all lost! The Cardinals were swept out of the playoffs! UGH! Talk about a downer for yours truly... I sat there, at the game, with my little buddy, and beautiful bride, and saw the writing on the wall early in the game... No life from those redbirds... And so, another baseball season comes to an end here in St. Louis...

    Friday morning, after drying out from Thursday nights drenching, no wait, super soaking at Faurot Field in Columbia, I sat down to breakfast, and read the Pfennig... I noticed that Chris was on a roll about Geithner... I thought that it was a good finish to the things I said about him the previous day! Chris will have the conn on the Pfennig Tuesday through Friday this week......
  • ECB & BOE leave rates unchanged...

    In This Issue..

    * ECB & BOE leave rates unchanged...
    * Trichet makes a mistake in judgment...
    * Asian central banks defend the $..
    * Gold pauses...

    Good day...Had a horrible night here in St. Louis, as every one of our teams let victory slip away. As you all know, Chuck drove to Columbia to watch his MIZZOU Tigers take on one of their arch rivals in a rare Thursday night matchup. The game went well into the night, as it was delayed due to problems with the lights at the stadium, so Chuck probably didn't get home until early this morning. I'll have the con on the Pfennig today, but Chuck will be back in the saddle again on Monday.

    As predicted, both European central banks kept interest rates unchanged. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England kept their benchmark interest rates at record lows in an effort to keep stimulating their economies. Trichet signaled that the ECB has no plans to raise rates in the near future, stating that the current level is 'appropriate' for the current economic environment. 'The recovery is expected to be rather uneven,' Trichet said. 'It will be supported in the short term by temporary factors but will be hampered in the medium term by balance sheet issues at financial and non-financial institutions.'...
  • Patriot Day...

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies have strong rally!
    * Trade Deficit jumps 16.3% in July!
    * HR 1207 Gets a hearing!
    * Gold gets back to $1,000!

    Good day... And a Happy Friday to one and all! Today is Patriot Day in the U.S. and a day that brings back memories of cowardly attacks on our country 8 years ago. I remember the shock and horror on everyone's faces, and that image will remain with me to the grave. I also remember trying to write the Pfennig the 'day after'... It just didn't seem that important of a thing to do, but a reader told me that to keep things as 'normal' as possible was the best thing I could do... So... I wrote...

    OK... The currencies, and this time I mean the majority of them not just euro and yen, added to their gains this week VS the dollar yesterday... The Big Dog, euro, is once again knocking at the door to 1.46... Who's that knocking at the door, Who's that ringing the bell? Do me a favor, open the door, and let 'em in......
  • A Rout On The Dollar!

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies rally strong!
    * China is upset with printing of dollars...
    * The UN talks of a new currency...
    * Unemployment rate rises to 9.7%

    Good day... And a Terrific Tuesday to you! A long Holiday Weekend, that was quite good for yours truly! A great tailgate, a great Missouri Tigers victory, 3 of 4 for the Cardinals, a great end of summer bar-b-que at the Butler House, and a day to recharge the batteries... Really couldn't ask for much more... Yes, the weather could have cooperated a bit better, but, hey, that's nitpicking!

    Well... Last night I was checking the markets to see what was going on, since I had walked away from the desk on Friday afternoon... And much to my surprise, the currencies, led by the euro, seemed to be breaking out of their recent trading ranges. The euro was trading 1.4335, when I checked then... And when I turned on the currency screens here at the office this morning, the euro has stretched that move to the 1.4480 level! WOW! Looks to me as though the deficits that the dollar drags around are not looking to sharp to investors... But then, what took them so long to dump that fashion faux pas? Ahhh, grasshopper... As I've said many times before... The markets will do what they are supposed to do... Just not when... Which means, sometimes you have to wait... And wait... And think that they guy ranting each day in the Pfennig is barking up the wrong tree!...
  • Cash For Clunkers Is A Clunker!

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies trade in a tight range again...
    * U.S. Retail Sales are a clunker!
    * RBA's Stevens is upbeat!
    * Thoughts on Brazil...

    Good day... And a Happy Friday to one and all! The end of the week... It's been a tough week for yours truly, as I've hobble around in pain all week. But, as I recall, I promised 2 years ago that I would not complain about these things in the future... So! I carry on!

    Well... Front and center this morning... The currencies are trading near levels they were when I signed off yesterday morning. They did have a brief rally, after the U.S. Retail Sales data showed some real rot on the 'recover is here' vine... But that rally was snuffed out, as the risk aversion campers came back to the markets......
  • Germany & France Exit The Recession...

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies rally...
    * Eurozone growth unexpectedly stronger!
    * FOMC extends QE...
    * Norges is the first!

    Good day... And a Tub Thumpin' Thursday to you! Well... Turn-around Tuesday came 24 hours later this week! HA! Yes, the currencies came back yesterday, but not with a lot of conviction... You see... Stocks rallied, but that doesn't mean what I talked about yesterday still won't happen... Be careful there!

    The euro has received some additional love this morning, as the Eurozone's economic growth printed better than expected, albeit still negative... But... Germany and France showed growth, which I must say is very unexpected! That means that both Germany and France have exited the recession... Well, that is at least for now! For those of you keeping score at home, Eurozone GDP fell -.1%, which is far better than the -.5% that was expected... Oh! And this is for the 2nd QTR... You would have to think that data like this would be very good for the euro, and from the looks of it, that's exactly what's happening!...
  • $75 Billion In New Treasuries This week...

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies adrift all day yesterday...
    * Data prints begin today with Productivity...
    * Stop to think!
    * Chinese data is impressive...

    Good day... And a Terrific Tuesday to you! Well, no data yesterday left the markets drifting about the open waters. Stocks rebounded, which gave the risk assets a bias to be bought, but for the most part, the day was much like being a drift in the ocean, with no direction or cares!

    That will all change beginning today with the Nonfarm Productivity report for the 2nd QTR... Long time readers know my dislike for this data, as I believe it simply shows that one person works longer hours! The Fed Heads used to be all over this data like a cheap suit, and probably still trip over themselves to see the data when it prints... But to me, it's not what Big Al Greenspan made it out to be......
  • Stuck In A Range...

    In This Issue..

    * A Turn Around Tuesday?
    * BRIC meeting doesn't get covered by the media?
    * Are the Bearer Bonds real or fakes?
    * QTC's get Gov. backing!

    Good day... And a Wonderful Wednesday to you! Remember last week, when I said that we had a 'Turn Around Tuesday?' I came in this morning to find a story that Chris Gaffney had printed off the Bloomie for me... The writer refers to the price action yesterday as 'Turn Around Tuesday!' OK... I for one, don't even begin to believe that I was the originator of a saying like that for the currencies... I just find it interesting, that a week after I make a big deal out Turn Around Tuesday that it is used in a story with much wider distribution than my little old Pfennig!...
  • Who's Foolin' Who?

    In This Issue..

    * Jobs Jamboree gets a lift...
    * The real numbers...
    * The dollar comes back with vengeance!
    * RBNZ to meet this week...

    Good day... And a Marvelous Monday to you! You know the Jobs Jamboree data that printed on Friday, and created some HUGE euphoria among the media types that love to just "read the news" and not actually do the research to report it? Yes... It was a very good number, on the outside... Not that losing 345,000 jobs in a month is a good thing, but it is far better than the near 700,000 jobs lost a couple of months ago.

    So... I've got that to talk about today... And the rebound by the dollar that has taken the euro to the 1.38 handle and looking as if it is going to go lower... And, then finally, I have to get on my soapbox again, because I don't think I want my President calling me names! So, all that and more as we begin this 2nd week of June......
  • OMB Makes New Deficit Forecast...

    In This Issue..

    * The BLS adds jobs...

    * Growing Deficits again...

    * Jim Rogers....

    * A Trade Surplus for Canada...

    Good day... And a Terrific Tuesday to you! Well... I'm here! Lost Wages... No I mean, Las Vegas! It's such a long flight here! UGH! And the plane was packed... Like I said about a month ago, when you take a flight, it sure doesn't seem like people have cut back on spending!

    OK... Well, the currencies took a breather VS the dollar yesterday, and basically traded right around the currency round-up levels most of the day. Overnight, things were pretty quiet too... The markets are trying to figure out which way they are going to go with the dollar... The Deficit is growing, which SHOULD be bad for the dollar, but in recent times, fundamentals get a little hazy at times. So... Let's go to the tape on the Office of Budget Management (OMB)...
  • A Huge Rally Gets Stopped!

    In This Issue..

    * Jobs Jamboree results...
    * A double whack for Treasuries...
    * The loonie is stealth like...
    * Oil on the rise...

    Good day... And a Marvelous Monday to you! I hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day weekend. Friday was absolutely crazy in the markets. The currency screens lit up, the price of Oil was on the rise, and Treasury yields were rising, thus pushing the value of existing bonds downward. An absolutely crazy day, that scared the bejeebers out of the Chinese... So, let's go to the tape to see what's going on here...

    Front and center to talk about this morning, was the Jobs Jamboree... The mass media would have you believe that the recession has ended, and there are no longer any problems with the credit markets, and liquidity, not to mention the sorry state of financial institutions... Why? Because after the previous month's job losses were revised up from 663,000 to 699,000 (nobody cared about that!) the April figures came in at, according to the media, "just" 539,000... YAHOO! Let's have a party, according to what I kept seeing on the TV!...
  • Budget Deficit Triples!

    In This Issue..

    * Currencies rebound
    * Budget Deficit makes up for Trade data...
    * China's currency reserves continue to grow...
    * High yielders are best performers...

    Good day... And a Marvelous Monday to you! And a Happy Easter Monday to those who get the day off! I'm still battling this, whatever it is that I have, which means I spent the weekend in the sick bay... UGH! Oh well, we carry on... But... Talk about short-n-sweet... That's today's Pfennig for sure!

    The lack of volume on Friday didn't yield any wild swings, and the currencies pared their losses from the day before (trade deficit plunges)... This morning, the currencies, led by the euro, are moving higher VS the dollar, but at this point it's baby steps... The bias to sell dollars hangs over the currencies however... It seems to me that it's very much like trying to hold a kid back from ripping open their Christmas presents... It sure seems inevitable, but when is the question... As I used to say in my presentations, imagine if you will a big old Ford rambling down an icy country road, and it begins to spin out of control... You know for sure that you're heading toward that guard rail, and your Ford will make impact with that guard rail, it's just a matter of time.......
  • It's Not My Fault, It Must Be Yours!

    * What's $78 Billion among friends? * Currencies fade with bias to buy Gold... * Could the Carry Trade Unwind be done? * U.S. soccer beats Mexico... ** It's Not My Fault, It Must Be Yours! Good day... And a Thunderin' Thursday to you! Well... Front and center this morning, I'm going to tell you something that will surprise a few and make a few happy. I've had my say on the Bailouts, TARP, Stimulus, and spending. I've beaten them to a pulp, and some readers have expressed their contempt with me carrying on with this beating. So... Unless something cracks, I'll just leave it all as it stands, and go on with life. This all has been too much for my blood pressure to take! I'll report the facts on this stuff, and leave the commentary for people that think they "know better"... For instance, it was reported the other day that the Treasury Dept. has overpaid for stock received from TARP recipients by $78 Billion. You see, for every $100 given in TARP, the Treasury was to receive $100 in stock / assets, but when all the beans are counted, the Treasury is $78 Billion short on stock /assets... But, what the heck, what's $78 Billion among friends?...
  • Geithner's Plan Disappoints...

    * Trade Deficit to narrow further... * Currencies rally, then sell off... * Obama's stimulus loses backers... * Riksbank cuts 100 BPS unexpectedly... ** Geithner's Plan Disappoints... Good day... And a Wonderful Wednesday to you! Well... Tim Geithner didn't experience a Terrific Tuesday, as I had wished for him... And now, it looks as though the shine is coming off the new President as more and more individuals are "not buying" his appeal to the nation to get a stimulus package passed... The currencies rallied and then sold off after Geithner gave the details of his "new and improved" plan... We've got some potential market moving data printing today and more! So... Let's go to the tape!...
  • The Dollar Swings A Mighty Big Hammer!

    * Another dollar rally.... * Rumors in Ireland... * Trade Deficit narrows... * Retail Sales to disappoint? ** The Dollar Swings A Mighty Hammer! Good day... And a Wonderful Wednesday to you! I'm writing from home today, as I will not be in the office on this wonderful Wednesday. Writing from home, or the road, always presents problems for me, as I'm so used to being in the "saddle" at my desk, and having information all around me. But, my little work desk at home has some of those amenities... So, what the heck, quit your grumpiness, and get to writing, Chuck! The dollar ripped through the 1.32 handle of the euro yesterday, like a hot knife goes through butter! There was little to no resistance in that 1.32 handle, and before you could tell one of the many people on the desk here that sneeze all day, God Bless you, we were trading with a 1.31 handle in euros. The talk about a European Central Bank (ECB) rate cut has really ramped up this week, and taken its toll on the single unit. No one is mentioning that even if the ECB cuts 75 BPS this week, they'll still have a an interest rate / yield advantage over the U.S! I guess they'll sort that all out somewhere down the line, eh?...