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Demand elusivity

May 18, 2011 3:36 PM ET
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Special Situations, Currencies, Macro

Seeking Alpha Analyst Since 2010

Black Swan Capital is a currency research firm that offers its global base of retail and institutional Members global market analysis, specializing in foreign exchange. They are dedicated to providing original and timely currency market research for people who understand and appreciate the nuances of investment analysis. Their primary advisory newsletter, Black Swan Forex, is solidly researched and creative ideas reserved for a select few who have the understanding and wherewithal to act. This service does two things: first, it provides serious, detailed macroeconomic research and global market analysis; second, it recommends trading in spot forex, currency futures, key cross-rates and emerging market currencies. The goal is to consistently apply a systematic approach grounded in human nature. Define risk first; minimize conceptual errors; know the probabilities; then pull the trigger. Mr. Jack Crooks, founder of Black Swan Capital, has over 25 years experience in the currency, equity, and futures arena. He is a seasoned investment advisor who has held key positions in brokerage, money management, trading, and research.
Quotable
“Hunger, love, pain, fear are some of those inner forces which rule the individual's instinct for self preservation.”
 
                                                                        Albert Einstein
 
Commentary & Analysis
Demand elusivity.
 
Keynesian economics are known for encouraging government and public sector involvement to help smooth out rough patches in the business cycle. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers and global policy-makers adopted a Keynesian tilt in their responses.
 
As demand dried up and deleveraging ensued, one kneejerk reaction was to shore up global demand through easy money et al. While the following two years showed that policy-makers perhaps succeeded in stabilizing market sentiment and loosening up frozen credit markets, their efforts have not done a whole lot toward the ultimate goal of revitalizing demand. Demand became somewhat elusive.
 
We have seen global manufacturing drive the recovery. The series of charts below reveal some of the picture, at least as it concerns the US:
 
US Institute for Supply Management Index
 
Quotable
“Hunger, love, pain, fear are some of those inner forces which rule the individual's instinct for self preservation.”
 
                                                                        Albert Einstein
 
Commentary & Analysis
Demand elusivity.
 
Keynesian economics are known for encouraging government and public sector involvement to help smooth out rough patches in the business cycle. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers and global policy-makers adopted a Keynesian tilt in their responses.
 
As demand dried up and deleveraging ensued, one kneejerk reaction was to shore up global demand through easy money et al. While the following two years showed that policy-makers perhaps succeeded in stabilizing market sentiment and loosening up frozen credit markets, their efforts have not done a whole lot toward the ultimate goal of revitalizing demand. Demand became somewhat elusive.
 
We have seen global manufacturing drive the recovery. The series of charts below reveal some of the picture, at least as it concerns the US:
 
US Institute for Supply Management Index
 
 
 
Eurozone Purchasing Managers Index
 
 
 
US Exports of Industrial Supplies
 
 
 
But that’s just the first part of the picture. This return of manufacturing and rebuild of inventories has not been met with sufficiently strong demand.
 
ISM Manufacturing Inventories have reached levels not seen in 27 years.
 
 
Sales among Manufacturing Corporations are rebounding, but they still sit well off the pre-financial crisis highs.
 
 
 
The rate of consumer credit growth year-over-year is still in negative territory.
 
 
The rate of growth in revolving consumer installment credit year-over-year is still very much negative, i.e. consumers are not whipping out their credit cards nearly as frequently as they were leading up to 2008.
 
 
 
And finally ...
 
Personal consumption expenditures have bounced back from extreme depths. But how much is that due to larger required outlays for food and gas? What’s in store for personal consumption considering what looks to be a changed attitude toward debt? And what about the unemployment rate?
 
 
 
A lot of the rebounds we’re seeing in the data look good, but they must be sustained. Otherwise, the inflation we’ve seen in asset prices could quickly go out the window, jeopardize the economy and bring back fits of deflation.
 
JR Crooks
Black Swan Capital
Quotable

 

                                                                        Albert Einstein
 
Commentary & Analysis
Demand elusivity.
 
Keynesian economics are known for encouraging government and public sector involvement to help smooth out rough patches in the business cycle. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers and global policy-makers adopted a Keynesian tilt in their responses.
 
As demand dried up and deleveraging ensued, one kneejerk reaction was to shore up global demand through easy money et al. While the following two years showed that policy-makers perhaps succeeded in stabilizing market sentiment and loosening up frozen credit markets, their efforts have not done a whole lot toward the ultimate goal of revitalizing demand. Demand became somewhat elusive.
 
We have seen global manufacturing drive the recovery. The series of charts below reveal some of the picture, at least as it concerns the US:
 
US Institute for Supply Management Index
 
Quotable
“Hunger, love, pain, fear are some of those inner forces which rule the individual's instinct for self preservation.”
 
                                                                        Albert Einstein
 
Commentary & Analysis
Demand elusivity.
 
Keynesian economics are known for encouraging government and public sector involvement to help smooth out rough patches in the business cycle. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers and global policy-makers adopted a Keynesian tilt in their responses.
 
As demand dried up and deleveraging ensued, one kneejerk reaction was to shore up global demand through easy money et al. While the following two years showed that policy-makers perhaps succeeded in stabilizing market sentiment and loosening up frozen credit markets, their efforts have not done a whole lot toward the ultimate goal of revitalizing demand. Demand became somewhat elusive.
 
We have seen global manufacturing drive the recovery. The series of charts below reveal some of the picture, at least as it concerns the US:
 
US Institute for Supply Management Index
 
 
 
Eurozone Purchasing Managers Index
 
 
 
US Exports of Industrial Supplies
 
 
 
But that’s just the first part of the picture. This return of manufacturing and rebuild of inventories has not been met with sufficiently strong demand.
 
ISM Manufacturing Inventories have reached levels not seen in 27 years.
 
 
Sales among Manufacturing Corporations are rebounding, but they still sit well off the pre-financial crisis highs.
 
 
 
The rate of consumer credit growth year-over-year is still in negative territory.
 
 
The rate of growth in revolving consumer installment credit year-over-year is still very much negative, i.e. consumers are not whipping out their credit cards nearly as frequently as they were leading up to 2008.
 
 
 
And finally ...
 
Personal consumption expenditures have bounced back from extreme depths. But how much is that due to larger required outlays for food and gas? What’s in store for personal consumption considering what looks to be a changed attitude toward debt? And what about the unemployment rate?
 
 
 
A lot of the rebounds we’re seeing in the data look good, but they must be sustained. Otherwise, the inflation we’ve seen in asset prices could quickly go out the window, jeopardize the economy and bring back fits of deflation.
 
JR Crooks
Black Swan Capital
 
“Hunger, love, pain, fear are some of those inner forces which rule the individual's instinct for self preservation.”
 
                                                                        Albert Einstein
 
Commentary & Analysis
Demand elusivity.
 
Keynesian economics are known for encouraging government and public sector involvement to help smooth out rough patches in the business cycle. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers and global policy-makers adopted a Keynesian tilt in their responses.
 
As demand dried up and deleveraging ensued, one kneejerk reaction was to shore up global demand through easy money et al. While the following two years showed that policy-makers perhaps succeeded in stabilizing market sentiment and loosening up frozen credit markets, their efforts have not done a whole lot toward the ultimate goal of revitalizing demand. Demand became somewhat elusive.
 
We have seen global manufacturing drive the recovery. The series of charts below reveal some of the picture, at least as it concerns the US:
 
US Institute for Supply Management Index
 
Quotable
“Hunger, love, pain, fear are some of those inner forces which rule the individual's instinct for self preservation.”
 
                                                                        Albert Einstein
 
Commentary & Analysis
Demand elusivity.
 
Keynesian economics are known for encouraging government and public sector involvement to help smooth out rough patches in the business cycle. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers and global policy-makers adopted a Keynesian tilt in their responses.
 
As demand dried up and deleveraging ensued, one kneejerk reaction was to shore up global demand through easy money et al. While the following two years showed that policy-makers perhaps succeeded in stabilizing market sentiment and loosening up frozen credit markets, their efforts have not done a whole lot toward the ultimate goal of revitalizing demand. Demand became somewhat elusive.
 
We have seen global manufacturing drive the recovery. The series of charts below reveal some of the picture, at least as it concerns the US:
 
US Institute for Supply Management Index
 
 
 
Eurozone Purchasing Managers Index
 
 
 
US Exports of Industrial Supplies
 
 
 
But that’s just the first part of the picture. This return of manufacturing and rebuild of inventories has not been met with sufficiently strong demand.
 
ISM Manufacturing Inventories have reached levels not seen in 27 years.
 
 
Sales among Manufacturing Corporations are rebounding, but they still sit well off the pre-financial crisis highs.
 
 
 
The rate of consumer credit growth year-over-year is still in negative territory.
 
 
The rate of growth in revolving consumer installment credit year-over-year is still very much negative, i.e. consumers are not whipping out their credit cards nearly as frequently as they were leading up to 2008.
 
 
 
And finally ...
 
Personal consumption expenditures have bounced back from extreme depths. But how much is that due to larger required outlays for food and gas? What’s in store for personal consumption considering what looks to be a changed attitude toward debt? And what about the unemployment rate?
 
 
 
A lot of the rebounds we’re seeing in the data look good, but they must be sustained. Otherwise, the inflation we’ve seen in asset prices could quickly go out the window, jeopardize the economy and bring back fits of deflation.
 
JR Crooks
Black Swan Capital
 

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