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China Landing Natural Gas Deals as Prices Plummet

With large purchases of iron ore, copper and oil, China has been taking full advantage of depressed commodities prices and excess production capacity. Now, the Red Dragon is making its presence felt in the natural gas market – landing two blockbuster deals in the past two weeks. The first was an unprecedented $41 billion liquefied […]

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China Curbs Bank Lending but Vows to Keep Liquidity High

Beijing continued a delicate balancing act yesterday (Wednesday), vowing to keep stoking its economy with funding from its $787 billion stimulus program even as it implements new controls on bank lending. After spending three days visiting the restive eastern province of Zhejiang, Premier Wen Jiabao argued for maintaining the loose economic policies implemented under the […]

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With Reappointment in the Bag, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke Turns to Face Troublesome New Challenges

For U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, the biggest challenges are still to come. U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday (Tuesday) nominated Bernanke for a second four-year term as chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve. The appointment was mildly controversial and must be approved by the Senate, but lawmakers and investors overwhelmingly approved of the […]

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Is Ben Bernanke's Reappointment Bad News For Investors?

I am now fully used to U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's extraordinary self-regard. However, I have to admit that even I was surprised by last Friday's CBS Marketwatch headline: "We Saved the World From Disaster, Bernanke Says." Although that's an extraordinarily cheeky claim, it seems to have persuaded U.S. President Barack Obama, who yesterday (Tuesday) […]

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Home Sales Will Struggle to Rebound Without Tax Credit Extension

A rise in existing home sales last month shows things are getting better in the U.S. housing market, but the still-dire unemployment situation and the looming possibility of a jobless recovery may halt the rally by the end of the year. That makes the extension of an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers imperative. Existing […]

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In the Race for a U.S. Economic Rebound, Growing Debt and Budget Deficits Remain the Biggest Possible Roadblock

Even as investors get more and more bullish about the outlook for the U.S. economy, the economy’s underlying foundation continues to erode. In a report to be released this week, the Obama administration will boost its 10-year projection for the federal budget deficit to about $9 trillion – an increase of roughly $2 trillion, or […]

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