It’s the end of the summer and apparently this is usually the best time to update blog designs and stuff. So here ya go! I tend to like this one a bit better than the old one. Looks a bit cleaner and much easier to maintain. Anywho, I do apologize for not being around much but there’s just too much **** going on at the moment. If it doesn’t involve my PhD, it’s essentially gone to the back burner. I’ll try and squeeze in a post or two by the end of the weekend, I swear!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Before He Trades – By TTM
It’s late but I received an email with a YouTube link. Freaking hilarious! Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
FOMC Leaves Rates Unchanged
The FOMC leaves rates unchanged today as most investors expected. Couple of things to note include current levels of inflation and the continued weakness of the credit markets. In short, the Fed could not do anything without shattering one thing or another. Here’s a link to the release.
The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 2 percent.
Economic activity expanded in the second quarter, partly reflecting growth in consumer spending and exports. However, labor markets have softened further and financial markets remain under considerable stress. Tight credit conditions, the ongoing housing contraction, and elevated energy prices are likely to weigh on economic growth over the next few quarters. Over time, the substantial easing of monetary policy, combined with ongoing measures to foster market liquidity, should help to promote moderate economic growth.
Inflation has been high, spurred by the earlier increases in the prices of energy and some other commodities, and some indicators of inflation expectations have been elevated. The Committee expects inflation to moderate later this year and next year, but the inflation outlook remains highly uncertain.
Although downside risks to growth remain, the upside risks to inflation are also of significant concern to the Committee. The Committee will continue to monitor economic and financial developments and will act as needed to promote sustainable economic growth and price stability.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; Timothy F. Geithner, Vice Chairman; Elizabeth A. Duke; Donald L. Kohn; Randall S. Kroszner; Frederic S. Mishkin; Sandra Pianalto; Charles I. Plosser; Gary H. Stern; and Kevin M. Warsh. Voting against was Richard W. Fisher, who preferred an increase in the target for the federal funds rate at this meeting