Week-in-Review: Mon: China FDI -17% yoy (property prices fall -1.1% in 64/70 cities; 3rd mthly decline), Moody’s downgrades 4 South African banks, Kurds retake Mosul dam, Ukraine rebels receiving Russian heavy weaponry & armored vehicles, Russia widens Ruble trading band, UK Carney “economy more than halfway to full blown expansion – rate hikes could occur before wage inflation emerges,” Spain Jun exports -1.2% y

Hope all goes well… “I call grande puffy chair!” shrieked Olivia, in a faux French accent, staking her claim. You see, she’s still small enough to curl up like a cat. Her brothers piled in behind. Scanning the hotel room for sleeping space. And with one petite queen reserved for Mara and me, our boys assessed the remaining options, none of which looked good. “I call 2nd bed,” grumbled Jackson. Knowing he’d be spoonin

Hope all goes well… “You can sense it, you’re wrong, you look around, realize you’re not alone – and you can’t wait a second, you just run for your life,” snarled Bulldog, out of breath. Guys who sold vol and bought carry, picked up a few pennies this yr. Breakout traders chased their tails. “Got myself back to flat five times this year,” panted one of the industry’s greatest traders. “Then sink my teeth into some br

Week-in-Review: Mon: China CPI accelerates to 2.3% yoy (still well below 3.5% target), China PPI -0.9% yoy, Israel/Hamas 72hr ceasefire, Iraq nominates new Prime Minister (Maliki defiant), S&P +0.3%; Tue: Japan IP -3.3%, Aussie NAB 11 (prev 8), NATO “Russian invasion of Ukraine likely,” German ZEW Aug investor confidence 2012 lows with current situation index 44.3 (prev 61.8) and expectations index 8.6 (prev 27.1

“Market was looking for an excuse to show some cracks,” said Roadrunner, having somehow sensed this would happen, without knowing why. WHO declared Ebola an international health emergency, Chinese imports shrank 1.6%, Russian troops amassed on Ukraine’s border as Putin banned US & EU food imports, Israel and Hamas resumed fighting. And of course, Obama rejoined Islam’s civil war. “But this is a garden variety sel

Hope all goes well… “Market was looking for an excuse to show some cracks,” said Roadrunner, having somehow sensed this would happen, without knowing why. WHO declared Ebola an international health emergency, Chinese imports shrank 1.6%, Russian troops amassed on Ukraine’s border as Putin banned US & EU food imports, Israel and Hamas resumed fighting. And of course, Obama rejoined Islam’s civil war. “But this is

Hope all goes well… “Did anyone?” asked the CIO, a little too loud, calling late on Saturday. And having known him for many years, through good and bad, up and down, two things were instantly clear; he was asking about money, and had been drinking. So I answered, “No, not really anyone.” He erupted, laughing, a sarcastic, angry laugh, “Not really anyone? Try no one!” And of course he was right. He usually is. So desp

Week-in-Review: Mon: China industrial profits +17.9% yoy (prev +8.9%), Carlos Slim calls for 3-day work-week, IMF “Sterling overvalued,” US accuses Russia of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Dallas Fed index +1.3 to 12.7%, Jun pending home sales -1.1%, Fed’s Fisher editorial “Danger of too loose for too long,” S&P unch; Tue: Japan unemployment rate +0.2 to 3.7% (1st rise in1yr), Japan

“Is it right for you to be angry?” asked the Lord. And Jonah considered the question. Reflecting on his struggle. His defiance, his three days in the whale, his salvation, his journey to Nineveh, and his warning to its inhabitants. Who duly repented, changed their ways, and were shown god’s mercy. So why indeed was the prophet angered by their salvation? “I’m an extremely, extremely persistent person…extremely,” stut

Hope all goes well… “It’s like hearing a great Vegas story,” said the CIO, describing the geopolitical trading triumphs that swirl every time some rouge regime rolls the dice. “Your buddy tells his heroic tale and it just drives you crazy.” You want to claim one all your own. “The $100k win at craps, off to the club, the Cristal, the chaos.” There’s just one problem. “It’s not credible, it really never happens, or ha