Do Markets Believe Central Banks?

22 October 2017 Investors appear convinced that stimulative G-7 monetary policies lie behind the markets’ record-setting performance.  To be sure, that was the case between 2009 and 2015.  During the past three years, however, I believe the impact of monetary policy has been quite neutral, the key driver of markets more recently has shifted from [...]

European Politics: Berlin, Florence & Brexit

26 September 2017 Despite Europe’s recent economic upswing, Germany’s election result provides a stark reminder of the region’s political discontent in the aftermath of the Euro crisis, protracted unemployment, and increasing income inequality.   Following the disappointing elections, can Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron produce the domestic and EU reforms needed to produce European prosperity? [...]