We discuss the latest developments from recent central bank meetings and key drivers behind the recent strength in U.S. equity markets.

An analysis and commentary on the financial markets.

The Bank of Japan has decided to maintain its current monetary policy, keeping the short-term interest rate at -0.1% and leaving yield curve control parameters unchanged.

Tesla not so magnificent after all.

​​​​​​​Effective immediately and in a move that smacks of panic, the Federal Reserve has shut down the arbitrage from the Bank Term Funding Program (the regional bank bailout) banks have been taking advantage of since November.

Despite rising markets, it seems as if all is well beneath the surface.

AI and recession concerns place pressure on tech companies.

Gold bearishness has flared considerably during recent weeks’ selloff. But that’s merely been a mild pullback, neither big nor sharp.

Wall Street ran out of steam during Friday's trading, with the S&P 500 finishing just below breakeven, snapping a six-day win streak and a handful of record closes.

The Chinese stock market and currency have both plummeted in value over the past several months. But gold prices have hit record highs in terms of the Chinese yuan.

BHP is using its healthy balance sheet both to buy smaller miners and to build organically, but the company has kept to well-traveled paths.

Fourth-quarter GDP and consumer spending were both stronger than expected. Yet some analysts moved up the pace of Fed rate hikes. I went the other way, and so did the market.

WTI tips back to $78.00, up over 7.5% in 2024.

Snap stock has already doubled over the past four months.

On the back of yesterday’s GDP release (discussed by Jim), real personal consumption continues to rise.

July 23 saw a break of this platform with TLT falling to a low of $82.42, but note the volume and very narrow spread down candles confirming heavy buying in the move lower before the V-shaped reversal on October 23.

Nominally income rose 0.3% in December. Nominal spending rose 0.7%.

Blue chip stocks have increased their dividends for over a decade and can be counted on to maintain their payouts during a recession.

Many central banks do target short-term interest rates. However, they do not do so on the basis of structural models of R-star.

Dividends provide a steady return stream. Set and forget dividends stocks for risk-averse investors.