The US stock market staged a powerful recovery in the first two months of 2019. This upturn followed promptly on the heels of the Christmas Eve massacre at the end of 2018. We’ve written about the causes of that massacre and can share the discussion with anyone who missed it. Just email me for a…

My friend Chris Whalen was kind enough to use an interview he did with me in his weekly publication on financial and banking issues, The Institutional Risk Analyst. Chris has had a distinguished career, and it was a pleasure to interact with him again.

The economic and political dimensions of Venezuela’s collapse have dominated headlines, but the country is also being undermined by a healthcare crisis that could spread to all of Latin America. The situation in Venezuela demonstrates how failed government and economic collapse can lead to the…

“I think that the overall level of our capital, particularly at the largest firms, is about right. I'm open to evidence that there are problems with that. I don't see U.S. banks having difficulty competing, particularly internationally. They seem to be competing very well. They seem to be…

Last week included several dramatic examples of unexpected geopolitical developments in emerging markets: Two nuclear powers in South Asia, India, and Pakistan, clashed and appeared to be on the brink of full-scale war; and the US-North Korea summit in Hanoi ended badly, with Trump walking out…

Below is a full description and teaching aid. We are making it available to all readers. This thoughtful discussion was prepared by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (Washington based, nonpartisan, civic 501c3). We are supporters of CRFB as they work diligently on a thankless task.…

We thank readers for their serious comments in response to our “Shutdown #7” discussion of regulation. For those who missed it, the link is https://www.cumber.com/shutdown-and-markets-7/.

China stocks surged Monday following Trump’s announcement that he will be delaying US tariffs on China. Prospects for a trade agreement between China and the US are now looking very good. It is evident that both sides need a positive resolution and are willing to compromise. Last year, China’s…

Attention has turned to what extra gems of information might be contained in the release of the FOMC’s January 2019 minutes about the future path of policy. Comments have focused on the Fed’s balance sheet, the consequences of its runoff for financial markets, and what the Fed’s policies might…