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Topic: Central Banking

  
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Dealing with Reality

The Fed stated in documents released from it closed-door meeting held earlier this month that in its efforts to fuel the recovery it is holding to its bank lending rate at basically zero. It acknowledged that there is the possibility, ...READ»

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Replace Ben Bernanke with Paul Volcker

At first blush, this idea may seem radical, but these are not ordinary times. What are the benefits if President Obama figuratively walks out to the pitcher’s mound, take the ball from Bernanke, and say, “Ben, you threw one hell of a game for eight innings. We can take it from here; the economy is heating up.” Then, Obama turn towards the bullpen forms his hand into the shape of a clam, opens, and closes it twice, to signal for his major league inflation closer – Paul Volcker.READ»

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Replace Ben Bernanke with Paul Volcker

At first blush, this idea may seem radical, but these are not ordinary times. What are the benefits if President Obama figuratively walks out to the pitcher’s mound, take the ball from Bernanke, and say, “Ben, you threw one hell of a game for eight innings. We can take it from here; the economy is heating up.” Then, Obama turn towards the bullpen forms his hand into the shape of a clam, opens, and closes it twice, to signal for his major league inflation closer – Paul Volcker.READ»

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Asset Price Bubbles and Monetary Policy- Robin Trehan

Asset Price Bubbles and Monetary Policy- Robin Trehan Is it possible to create a monetary policy that successfully eliminates asset price bubbles? Some experts feel that this idea is “all hat and no cattle”. It sounds ...READ»

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Asset Price Bubbles and Monetary Policy- Robin Trehan

But these indicators are by no means reliable proof of overvaluation. There are just too many variables involved and the margin for error is simply too big.READ»

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Jackson Hole Symposium

This annual powwow for the world's top economists and central bankers is so hush-hush that the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, its organizer, declined to share the who, when, where, or how. But our sources tell us that ...READ»

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Learning from Lebanon

Today's news is still filled with grim financial statistics from all around the globe. Yet there is one headline that hasn't gotten much attention: Beirut is Booming! Yes, that Beirut!  When you think of Lebanon, your first ...READ»

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You can change the rules but that won’t change the outcome.

Why do we think more legislation will change the way executives behave?READ»

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Gilles Herard Canada

Gilles Herard Jr Time is running out for California residents wanting to take advantage of a $10,000 tax credit. The state set aside $100 million to help home buyers purchasing newly built homes, hoping to jump start the moribund residential-construction market. But only about 20% of the pot is left. "We're less than four months into it, and all the tax credits authorized are gone, or practically gone," said Tim Coyle, a senior VP with the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). The program launched in March and by June 3 nearly $24 million in tax credit certificates had already been issued, according to the state's Franchise Tax Board. That leaves nearly $76 million in credit available - but there are already numerous claims on that money. In fact, if all the submitted applications are approved, only $17.5 million will be left in the fund. And it has a run rate of about $10 million per week. "The program is working better than intended," said Coyle. "It's really pushing people off the fence." Herard Gilles Jr Canada READ»

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The Secret To A Successful Career: Being Tall and Attractive?

n an ideal world, people are hired and promoted because of their abilities, competence, attitudes and interpersonal skills--right? Maybe not.Despite how far we've come in the areas of recruiting, selecting and developing people in organizations, there's evidence that we still judge people based on what some would consider superficial criteria. In fact, there's lots of evidence to show that people have gained success in their careers because they are taller and more attractive. READ»

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PULLING THE TRIGGER(S)

Shawn Baldwin from CMG in ChicagoREAD»

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The Six Best Things on the Web this Week

In case you spent your week "working," here's what you missed online: card-counting iPhones, Mac Mini spy-shots, Depression predictions, and two refreshing arguments against Malcolm Gladwell and intelligent design. Oh, and a sleep-walking dog, to keep things highbrow.READ»

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Investors Take To T-Bonds Amid Uncertainty

"'You still have a yield curve that makes sense,' said Bill Walsh, chief executive of the investment services firm Hennion & Walsh, since the shortest maturity still has the lowest yield. From a historical perspective, however, Walsh said the yield curve was pretty steep as a result of the usual pressures such as supply and demand and the flight to quality--bond markets are considered a safe place to park money."READ»

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Bonds slip as economy shrinks less than forecast

"Consumer spending is about 70 percent of the GDP and this looks like the lowest it has been in two decades, which goes to show that in the fourth quarter we are going into the recession, said Bill Walsh, president of Hennion & Walsh in Parsippany, New Jersey."READ»

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Hennion and Walsh Article: 'Salivating Opportunities' Seen in Tanked Market

"The more the markets are allowed to work things out the better," said Kevin Mahn, Chief Investment Officer at Hennion and Walsh Asset Management Inc., a Parsippany, N.J.-based firm with $300 million under management.READ»

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8 Reasons To Own Gold

8 Reasons To Own GoldREAD»

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Worst Housing Drop Since the Great Depression

30 December 2008 Jose D. Roncal www.financialspeculation.com In the book I co-authored—The Big Gamble: Are You Investing or Speculating—I wrote a chapter during the first quarter of 2008 entitled, The Mother of all Crisis: ...READ»

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Government Claus

Monday, December 22, 2008 Government Claus Monetary and fiscal favors showered Wall Street last week, even though they should have been on the naughty list. In completely unprecedented action, the Federal Reserve dropped their ...READ»

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Thanksgiving Week Roundup: Markets and The Economy

Friday, November 28, 2008 In a shortened week that received absolutely dismal economic news, Washington awoke from its most recent policy slumber and made real progress in the War on Scarcity. President-elect Obama must be ...READ»

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Economic Crisis Transforming the "All or Nothing" Work+Life Mindset

Listen to Cali on Wed 11/19 at 4:00 pm ET talk with Maggie Mistal about Work+Life Fit in a Recession on Sirius Radio's Martha Stewart Network!  "Making a Living with Maggie" inspires, educates and entertains listeners so that they ...READ»

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A Stunning Leadership Vacuum

Since my topic is leadership, it is timely to comment on the goings on in the world of high finance. In addition, my base of operations is none other than Greenwich, CT, an epicenter of the disaster. Greenwich, as many know, is ...READ»

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The Federal Open Market Committee

Do you know who to blame for those crazy-low CD returns? The 10 men and women of the FOMC -- five regional Fed presidents and five Fed governors -- will gather October 28 -- 29 in Washington, D.C., to set monetary policy and consider interest rates. READ»

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Worst Trading Day Since 9/11, Tech Stocks Take Cover

The foundering of several bedrock financial companies helped create a perfect storm today, spurring to one of the worst trading days in nearly a decade. The tech sector didn't escape the catastrophe, but fared more buoyantly than ...READ»

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It's Always the Economy, Stupid

This was Bill Clinton's slogan in 1992, and it's the slogan again today, although no one seems to be using it. No major candidate seems to have anything to say on today's events. What's happening today? Well, Bear ...READ»

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The Great E-pression?

Author Michael Bordo argues that parallels drawn between the 1930s and today are unfounded and should not trigger market panic. Do you agree?READ»