The Fed’s Recession Probability Model

It happened in 1990. It happened in 2000. It happened in 2008. Each time that the New York Fed’s Recession Probability Model cracked 30%, economic contraction occurred shortly thereafter.      

Don’t Start My Business Up

The Bloomberg U.S. Startups Barometer is a weekly indicator that tracks the well-being of the environment for private tech companies. The index peaked at 1545.32 on June 24, 2019. On February 10, 2020 it fell to 833.74. The Bloomberg Startups Barometer may only be...

Why Main Street Can’t Afford Wall Street

Proof positive that the Fed manipulation of rate policy has done little for the typical American. Workers must put in nearly 130 hours to afford a single share of the S&P 500. Why is that significant? It’s approximately 3x more than it was just 10 years ago. In a...

Feverish Stock Speculation

A near-record stretch of calm has ignited options traders’ desire to buy speculative call options. Over the past 6 weeks, they’ve bought (to open) 70 million more contracts than they’ve sold (to close). According to Sentiment Trader’s data, there has never been...

You’re Gonna Buy That Junk?

This week, the yield on an index of double-B U.S. corporate bonds (junk) hit a record low of 3.47%. The vexatious combination of historically low yields and disturbingly weak credit protection on junk debt is a humongous warning sign.    ...