Independent thinking for complex markets and current events
California gas prices average $6.165 per gallon, highest in the US. California’s average gas price reached $6.165 per gallon this morning, the highest in the country. The spike is driven by refinery maintenance and lower supply from the Gulf. Some stations in the Bay Area and Los Angeles are charging over $6.50. Drivers are reporting …
Cracks in the US private credit market are widening: Investors requested a record -$14.0 billion in redemptions from private credit funds in Q1 2026. This is up +146% from -$5.7 billion in Q4 2025 and +278% higher than the -$3.7 billion in the full year 2024. Meanwhile, just… pic.twitter.com/wBJ3bUSW1X — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April …
Insane stuff happening over in China right now https://t.co/iL0uCq5WMU — Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@Noahpinion) January 25, 2026 China’s top general ousted, placed under investigation in latest military purge Gen. Zhang Youxia allegedly committed severe violations of party discipline and state laws China’s top general has been removed and placed under investigation for misconduct in Chinese …
Everyday costs are exploding. Gas is up 94 percent. Electricity is up 78 percent. Fuel is up 49 percent. Hotels are up 38 percent. Rent and food are up 25 percent. Average earnings have fallen 2.8 percent. Citizens are being squeezed from all sides and the economic strain is driving a subtle exodus. This is …
UnitedHealth Group is not just under review. It is under federal criminal investigation, and the scope keeps growing. What started as questions over Medicare Advantage billing has now expanded into OptumRx’s prescription management services and the way the company reimburses physicians. “The investigation is looking at how OptumRx negotiates drug prices and reimburses pharmacies,”reported Bloomberg,noting …
US Treasuries fail to attract demand – Lower confidence in U.S. economy signals alarm! h/t RobertBartus
Eric Adams, New York City’s swaggering, stylish mayor, has never shied away from his ties to people with checkered pasts. He has defended mentoring a Rolls-Royce-driving bishop with a rap sheet, appointing a friend implicated in a past corruption probe as a top aide in his administration, and dining and partying with felons. “I’m perfectly …
While GDP and inflation are critical indicators of economic health, unemployment also plays a significant role in market dynamics. High unemployment can lead to decreased consumer spending, which in turn affects corporate earnings and investor confidence. This can trigger market volatility and spread widening as investors seek safer assets. Q2 2007 & July stock outlook: …
The current state of the market reveals concerning trends, as the Dow struggles to maintain upward momentum, with each rally attempt met by afternoon declines. This pattern, coupled with the VIX’s significantly lower level compared to previous market peaks, suggests a market environment characterized by extreme complacency. Such conditions, reminiscent of periods preceding market crashes, …
Disconnect between Fed 🏛 & S&P 500 pic.twitter.com/V4HEctJ1O8 — Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) April 3, 2024 10 largest stocks trade at P/E of 26x vs. 47x at peak of DotCom pic.twitter.com/9K2BTuGSGm — Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) April 3, 2024 A stark dissonance grips the financial markets as the gap between the Federal Fund Rate and …
The financial outlook in the United States is deeply concerning. The bottom 20% of workers are allocating a staggering 80% of their income to essential goods like food, highlighting the stark inequality. Even those earning $150,000 or more a year are living paycheck to paycheck, relying on credit cards to make ends meet. Excess savings, …
https://twitter.com/leadlagreport/status/1712426706743542265 US corporate bond spreads widen as hopes dim for soft landing Oct 4 (Reuters) – U.S. corporate bond spreads widened on Tuesday and are expected to widen further after the latest jobs data helped confirm many investors’ expectations of higher-for-longer U.S. interest rates and an upcoming economic downturn. High-grade bond spreads jumped two basis …
The contrast between the United States in 1960 and 2023 is quite striking when you look at these key economic figures. Back in 1960, the median family income stood at $5,600, while the median cost of a house was $11,900. These numbers illustrate a very different economic landscape, where incomes were considerably lower compared to …
via Bloomberg: Inflation, higher interest rates and declining real estate values are worsening wealth inequality in Canada, with younger households bearing the brunt of the financial pain. The richest 20% of households controlled 67.8% of net worth in the country in the first quarter, while the bottom groups accounted for 2.7%, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday …