Crisis in Japan – "I've got a new invention. It's a revolving bowl for tired goldfish."

$GS screenshot on the most important economies for global markets.

U.S. Inventories and Production Levels: Natural Gas & Crude Oil

U.S. Inventories and Production Levels.

Commodities volatility

Social unrest and revolt during the Arab spring led to a restricted N African supply of crude. Japan’s catastrophic quake halted her industrial production lines. These events created unprecedented volatility in the raw commodities industry, the volatility is set to continue through 2012 as more austere fiscal measures are adopted.

Record Month For Bond Holders

Bond managers have recovered record profits in the past month. See attached charts, courtesy of Jpm:

Managing Economic Crises, Don’t Forget the Impact of Natural Disaster

The human cost to natural disasters like the one in Turkey weeks ago include injuries and temporary and permanent disabilities, temporary and permanent displacement of people, increased poverty and disease, and psychological scars. In addition Economic costs, based largely on direct infrastructure or losses of fixed capital and inventory, are also underestimated. Many indirect effectsContinue reading “Managing Economic Crises, Don’t Forget the Impact of Natural Disaster”

Japan & unilateral intervention in FX market.

Japan continues intervening in FX market. “intervened to curb speculative moves against Yen strength; acted in line with G20 and did not intend to distort markets.” – Jun Azumi, Japanese Finance Minister.

S&P Downgrades US To AA+, Outlook Negative :(

One day we’ll tell our grandkids how awesome everything was before the governments decided to bailout the banks and bankrupted themselves.

Commodity price volatility, factors behind their price fluctuations.

Commodity price volatility, is the key to establishing the relationship between different energy products, their price determinants, the reasons behind price fluctuations. Crude oil is a large component of production costs for heating oil and gasoline, and therefore fluctuations in the price of crude oil translate to simmilar fluctuations in heating oil and gasoline prices.Continue reading “Commodity price volatility, factors behind their price fluctuations.”

Change = Disatisfaction x Model x Procedure > Resistance

When people are disatisfied with a reality they try to change what is within their hands.

Damage to iconic Japanese companies:

Toyota: Evacuation of employees at car plants that make braking and suspension systems.The factory in Miyagi, was destroyed. Nissan: 1500 Infiniti automobiles were destroyed at the ports. Sapporo: The beer brewer’s Sendai plant was destroyed. Sony: Plants that manufacture magnetic tapes, blu-ray disks, batteries, and rd offices were severely damaged.