Topic: International

“What food inflation looks like through the lense”

– December 1, 2010

“The question of China’s artificially low interest rates and currency and its effects on economies will be left for another day. However, we would like to call your attention to the always interesting China Hush pictorial on what 100 yuan (~$15) will b …

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“Totally Standard Hyper-Inflation”

– December 1, 2010

“Sure, buying and selling government debt in the open-market is how central banks control short-term interest rates. That’s why the Fed Funds rate is a target, and the actual outcome in the marketplace is instead known as the Effective Fed Funds. Biddi …

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“The Dance of the Dollar” – Steve Hanke

– November 30, 2010

“The dance of the dollar counts — and it counts a lot. With few exceptions, when the dollar weakens against the euro, commodity prices soar, and when the dollar soars against the euro, commodity prices plunge. Every commodity trader knows the importanc …

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“China, Russia quit dollar”

– November 26, 2010

“China and Russia have decided to renounce the US dollar and resort to using their own currencies for bilateral trade, Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin announced late on Tuesday. Chinese experts said the move reflected clos …

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“Argentina Seeks IMF Help to Start New Inflation Index”

– November 24, 2010

“Argentina’s government, in an unexpected shift toward economic pragmatism, said it was seeking technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund to design a new inflation index that could help restore credibility to official statistics. Econom …

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“Brazil’s Inflation Tops Estimates…”

– November 23, 2010

“Inflation, as measured by the IPCA-15 price index, quickened to 0.86 percent in the month through mid-November from the same period a month earlier, the fastest pace in 9 months, the national statistic agency said today. Economists forecast a 0.72 per …

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“Brazil Economists See Faster Inflation in 2010, 2011”

– November 22, 2010

“Brazilian economists raised their forecast for inflation this year for the tenth consecutive week, as food costs pressure consumer prices further beyond the government’s target. Consumer prices will rise 5.58 percent this year and 5.15 percent in 2011 …

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“Central Bankers Give In, And Discuss the Dollar”

– November 22, 2010

““It’s hard to make a strong case” the Fed’s bond-buying program can now aid the economy through lowering rates, said Stephen Stanley, chief economist with Pierpont Securities. He said that leaves the Fed relying on the “secondary mechanisms” of moneta …

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“Bernanke on Perilous Ground for Fed Chairman” – NPR

– November 20, 2010

“Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is taking some highly unusual steps to counter widespread opposition to his $600 billion plan to jump-start the economy. He’s pressing China to let its currency rise and pushing Congress to pass more stimulus aid. …

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“Bernanke Makes Case to Senators”

– November 18, 2010

“Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the central bank’s plan to buy government bonds during a private gathering with U.S. senators, responding to several days of attacks from Republicans who say the Fed is causing inflation and weakening the …

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“Ireland Crises Could Cause EU Collapse”

– November 16, 2010

“The president of the European Union has warned that the EU could collapse unless the debt crisis that is gripping the region is resolved. Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, raised the stakes ahead of this evening’s showdown talks be …

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“Mahathir Says Currency Trading ‘Silly’, Advocates Return to Peg”

– November 16, 2010

“Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who fought off an attack on the ringgit with capital controls during the Asian financial crisis, said currency trading is “silly” and the world should return to the Bretton Woods System of fixed exchan …

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