Topic: Central Banking

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Briefing
Five things Ron Paul wants from the Republican National Convention

It looks as if Ron Paul is going to be an active participant in the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Here’s our take on the five things Paul hopes to gain from staying within his party’s tent in 2012.
Hollande's victory: The world ponders a major shift

François Hollande's victory may represent change for not just France, but Europe as a whole.
France presidential elections: the candidates challenging Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is fighting for reelection in the April 22 presidential poll. Here are the top 5 presidential candidates.
A hard landing for China? Six top economists weigh in.

China's economy grew 8.9 percent last quarter, the slowest pace in 2.5 years, and on Monday Premier Wen Jiabao cut the nation's growth target for 2012 to 7.5 percent, an eight-year low. Worries of a Chinese hard landing, defined as a sharp and sudden deceleration in growth, have gained momentum. However, China has been proactive in its efforts to prevent a hard landing. It has fine-tuned its policies to curb inflation, boost domestic consumption, and prevent a housing bubble. The Chinese government intervened heavily from 1989 to 1991 to cool its economy, causing real growth in gross domestic product to plunge to 4.1 percent in 1989, from 11.3 percent the previous year. It stepped in again in 1993. And some argue that this time around it's no different, and that the government knows exactly what it is doing. So we asked six top China analysts whether they saw a hard or soft landing scenario and what we should keep an eye on.
Can the national debt be cut? How Republican candidates' plans compare.

Here's a comparative look at the candidates based on the group's numbers.

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The Daily Reckoning
Facebook IPO: The end of an era

The failure of Facebook's public debut may signal the end of the pie-in-the-sky tech start up, as well as the possibility that the post-crisis recovery rally is screeching to a halt.
Federal Reserve official: If Congress dawdles, economy will fall 3 percent

Congress must sort out a raft of fiscal issues before Jan. 1, or it will cost the US economy dearly, said New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley.
Global News Blog
Amid eurozone turmoil, Germany borrows money for free

Germany sold $5.7 billion of debt today to yield 0 percent, a reflection of how much Europe's largest economy has diverged from its southern neighbors who are paying far more to borrow.
Briefing
Five things Ron Paul wants from the Republican National Convention

It looks as if Ron Paul is going to be an active participant in the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Here’s our take on the five things Paul hopes to gain from staying within his party’s tent in 2012.
OECD concerned that eurozone crisis could threaten world recovery (+video)

The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development said Tuesday the eurozone must get member nations with debt problems under control, so as to not pose problems for a less than robust world economic recovery.
The Reformed Broker
Explaining the bumpy stock market

US stocks are being pushed lower by factors like uncertainly in Europe, and pulled higher by better jobs data and good news on the housing market. It can be hard to see from a day to day perspective.
G8 summit: Euro crisis and possible 'Grexit' overshadow agenda

The G8 leaders hosted by Obama at Camp David have several global issues on their minds: Syria, nuclear proliferation, famine. But the eurozone debt crisis is once again the dominant concern.
Stocks fall amid discouraging economic reports

The Dow fell 156 points to close at 12442 – the index's 11th loss in 12 days – after a pair of discouraging economic reports unnerved investors already worried about a possible exit from the euro by Greece.
JPMorgan Chase trading fiasco: What to do about big banks?

JPMorgan's loss of $2 billion shows that the forces that unleashed the recession remain partially untamed – and that Congress is still struggling to get a handle on the solution.
Briefing
What would a Greek exit from the eurozone look like?

Rumors are rife of a Greek exit from the eurozone. While no country has yet dropped the common currency, there are some indications of what will transpire if Greece does.
Decoder Wire
Could Ron Paul really have an impact on the GOP convention?

The Ron Paul campaign issued a memo outlining its strategy to secure 'the greatest possible impact' on the GOP convention. But its influence may be more symbolic than practical.
JP Morgan loss: Did US regulators know what CEO Jamie Dimon apparently didn't? (+video)

Federal regulators embedded at JP Morgan are supposed to get the reports that CEO Jamie Dimon gets. But in the case of JP Morgan's $2 billion loss, that might not have been much help.
What next for JPMorgan Chase and Jamie Dimon after $2 billion loss

The JPMorgan Chase $2 billion loss again shows why big banks pose a big risk – as seen in the admission of mismanagement by Jamie Dimon. The selfless purpose of a financial system in the economy must override the selfish risks of giantness in banks.
Stocks slide as doubts about Europe simmer

Stocks pitched down Wednesday in the US as borrowing rates climbed for Spain and Italy, a sign that investors are losing confidence in those countries' finances. The Dow lost 97 points to close at 12835 – its sixth consecutive day of losses.
Hollande's victory: The world ponders a major shift

François Hollande's victory may represent change for not just France, but Europe as a whole.
The Daily Reckoning
Will austerity come to the US?

The United States may be headed for the same belt-tightening austerity that has caused an uproar across Europe. Done right, it could actually work.
Stocks tumble on Europe turmoil

Political uncertainty in debt-hobbled Europe spread to financial markets Tuesday and pushed stocks lower in Europe and the United States. The Dow lost 76 points close at 12932 after falling as much as 200 points earlier in the day.
Europe looks for The Avengers

The results of the French and Greek elections signal a popular mood that alien forces – markets, immigrants, trade – need to be defeated. But the reality isn't like The Avengers film.
French president-elect Hollande promises 'kinder, gentler austerity' (+video)

As leader of Europe's No. 2 economy, French President-elect François Hollande has the power to challenge German Chancellor Angela Merkel's austerity doctrine.
Greece heads to the polls – and the political fringes

Today's national elections in Greece could see the end to a two-party monopoly over politics as discontent over the economic crisis generates interest in smaller parties.
French candidate Hollande's projected win could change eurozone's course

French presidential frontrunner Francois Hollande, of the Socialist Party, could prompt major changes to the German-led austerity model, which much of Europe is already rising up against.
The Daily Reckoning
The dollar is in decline. So how to invest it?

The Federal Reserve's role should be to protect the value of the dollar.  But the dollar has been in decline for most of the last century.
Cleveland anarchists' getaway plan: a box full of thumbtacks

Five men were arrested Monday for an alleged conspiracy to blow up a bridge near Cleveland. Their purported discussions about their plans are detailed in a 22-page affidavit.
Stefan Karlsson
The battle of the Pauls: Ron Paul talks economic theory

Ron Paul and economist Paul Krugman debated fiscal theory on Bloomberg TV. Who won?
Le Pen rebuffs Sarkozy, tells supporters to make own choice in French vote Sunday (+video)

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen refused to support President Nicolas Sarkozy in his reelection bid and released her supporters to vote for whomever they wished this Sunday.