Bloomberg (March 7)
“A second hit could be coming for China’s economy after its initial shock from the coronavirus…. While China has seen new cases of the virus slow,” growing cases in “the U.S. and Europe…could knock a half percentage point off of China’s gross domestic product for the year as demand for Chinese goods slows.”
Financial Times (September 20)
“Shock and confusion” resulted when overnight repo rates soared to 10%. The Fed was able to calm markets, but the situation is a reminder. “The more that QE (and its partial reversal) reshapes global finance, the greater the risk that the cogs in the machine unexpectedly misfire. That is no reason to panic. But central bank pilots—like investors—are learning on the job. Better hope they stay completely alert.
Tags: 10%, Central banks, Confusion, Fed, Global finance, Misfire, Panic, QE, Repo, Risk, Shock, Unexpected
Wall Street Journal (June 18)
“The boom in U.S. oil production…has become a strategic advantage against authoritarian governments that want to use oil as a weapon. Europe’s weak economy doesn’t have to cope with an oil shock, and the U.S. can squeeze Iran’s exports without damaging the global economy.”
Tags: Authoritarian, Boom, Economy, Exports, Iran, Oil, Production, Shock, Strategic advantage, U.S., Weapon. Europe
Financial Times (February 26)
“Four months after a historic Chinese Communist party congress was expected to answer most questions about Xi Jinping’s second five-year term in office, China’s president has demonstrated that he can still ‘shock and awe’ his political rivals.” The Central Committee’s recommendation to scrap the ten year presidential term limit, almost ensures this protection will be written out of the constitution, further tightening Xi’s powerful grip on China.
Tags: Awe, CCP, China, Constitution, President, Rivals, Shock, Term limit, Xi
Wall Street Journal (January 31)
“Political disruption has its uses but not if it consumes your Presidency in the process.” Donald Trump “seems determined to conduct a shock and awe campaign to fulfill his campaign promises as quickly as possible, while dealing with the consequences later.” Unfortunately, governing effectively “is more complicated than a campaign rally” and the “bonfire over his executive order on refugees shows that government by deliberate disruption can blow up in damaging ways.”
Tags: Awe, Blow up, Consequences, Damaging, Disruption, Executive order, Governing, Government, Presidency, Promises, Rally, Refugees, Shock, Trump
Wall Street Journal (January 16)
“The prediction that 2015 will be a year of currency turmoil is already coming true.” On Thursday, the Swiss National Bank roiled markets when it dropped its currency peg. “This won’t be the last currency shock as the world’s big central banks go their own way in frantic attempts to spur a slowing global economy.”
Tags: Central bank, Currency peg, Economy, Prediction, Shock, SNB, Switzerland, Turmoil
