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Thoughts From The Divide: Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold

BY JON WEBB
Now that the “giant global margin call” appears to have run its course, global equity markets were free to celebrate successfully navigating the potential banana skin that was US inflation data (both CPI and PPI). Inflation is tamed (at least till next month) with only the irritating exception of the shelter components (again!) and those pesky insurance premiums. Turns out that inflation has a long tail: higher auto prices beget higher insurance premiums, and that’s without considering the impact of recent hail storms. That said perhaps we should count our blessings. Both headline CPI and PPI beat (i.e., were lower than) the consensus by 0.1%, which led some economists to point to a core PCE deflator figure below the Fed’s 2% target: good enough for stocks to start celebrating a September rate cut. Read more →

MI2 Partners: Thoughts From The Divide: Move Fast and Break Things

BY JON WEBB
We suspect many of our readers may have a passing familiarity with the work of Olivia Rodrigo. That’s not because we are popular with her fan base, but rather because we suspect many of our readers may live in close proximity to teenage girls. That’s certainly the case for TFTD, and yours truly was struck by how well the talented Ms. Rodrigo seemed to understand the problems of both pubescent girls dealing with first love, and senior WH officials as they deal with the collateral damage associated with their policies. Read more →

Thoughts From The Divide: The Undead

BY JON WEBB
“Why is it people got so incensed about the reason why inflation might be happening?” Happy Halloween! Tis the season for ghouls, gremlins and zombies, so perhaps we should not be so surprised that even President Biden has gained a taste for flesh! (Though it’s not the first time?) We kid of course, but one might be forgiven for suspecting “Irish Alzheimer’s”, given the latest “garbage” gaffe/misstep. Of course, Trump is not one to miss an opportunity. This comes at an inopportune time as the election heats up with various election-related stories battling for headlines. Voter fraud! Early voting shenanigans! Election market manipulation! Some might joke that POTUS himself would be hard to pick out among the ranks of the undead (we would never stoop so low …), but the more intriguing zombie speculation is the election. It wouldn’t be the first time the lawyers have found ways to keep the monster alive. This got us thinking about the economic issues which just refuse to give up the ghost and have yet to be settled: “undead” topics that just won’t die! Read more →
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