"The recovery in the U.S. state pension system suffered a setback in 2012 as the huge funding shortfall in a large swath of state pensions swelled more than 20 percent, interrupting two years of improvement following the devastation of the financial crisis.
The shortfall in 109 of the nation's state pension plans, which guarantee retirement for millions of public workers such as police, firefighters, and teachers rose to $834.2 billion in 2012, up from $690.3 billion the previous year, according to a new report by Wilshire Consulting, a unit of independent investment management firm Wilshire Associates.
The report highlights the uphill struggle faced by many of the state pension plans nationwide and is a reminder that financially strained state governments will have to make some tough choices in order to make up the shortfall.
It also shows state pension fund managers are continuing to up their exposure to less conventional assets such as real estate, private equity, hedge funds and commodities as they try to boost their returns and diversify away from over exposure to volatile equities."
94% of Corporate pension funds underfunded
http://www.thinkadvisor.com/2013/04/11/94-of-pension-plans-underfunded-wilshire
Chicago debt downgraded
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-06/business/chi-moodys-downgrades-illinois-20130606_1_pension-reform-negative-outlook-ratings-services
Detroit already bankrupt, will the FED now bail out the States? VIVA the recovery!
D
Monday, July 22, 2013
CLARIFY WHY QE WILL NOT, DOES NOT WORK IN THE LONG RUN
"Dr. Richebacher persuasively argued that rising consumer price inflation was the
least problematic inflationary manifestation, as it could be rectified by
determined (Volcker-style) monetary tightening. Presciently, Richebacher viewed
asset inflation and Bubbles as the much more dangerous inflationary strain - too
easily tolerated, accommodated or even propagated.
It’s no coincidence that periods of low consumer price inflation preceded the Great Depression and the bursting of the Japanese Bubble. I would further note that consumer price inflation was relatively contained prior to the bursting of the tech and mortgage finance Bubbles. But to claim this dynamic was caused by tight monetary policy is flawed thinking. It was just the opposite.
I would argue that major monetary inflations, along with attendant investment and asset Bubbles, tend to boost the supply of goods and services. Myriad outlets arise that readily absorb inflated spending levels, working to avail the system of a rapid increase in aggregate consumer prices. Booming asset markets become magnets for inflationary monetary flows, while a boom-time surge in more upscale and luxury spending patterns also works to restrain general price inflation. Moreover, a boom in trade and international flows ensures strong capital investment and an increased supply of inexpensive imports (think China, Asia and technology). "
http://www.prudentbear.com/2013/07/inflationphobia.html#more Doug Noland
The FED has NOT been able to create INFLATION, and the money they create each month goes into RISKY ASSETS, created myriad bubbles more dangerous than before returning NO longer benefits.
SO a FEW MEN determine the fate of everyone, f'ing it all up.....the rich got wealthier, the poor got poorer, all under the leadership of a popular Democrat, imagine the hypocrisy?
D
It’s no coincidence that periods of low consumer price inflation preceded the Great Depression and the bursting of the Japanese Bubble. I would further note that consumer price inflation was relatively contained prior to the bursting of the tech and mortgage finance Bubbles. But to claim this dynamic was caused by tight monetary policy is flawed thinking. It was just the opposite.
I would argue that major monetary inflations, along with attendant investment and asset Bubbles, tend to boost the supply of goods and services. Myriad outlets arise that readily absorb inflated spending levels, working to avail the system of a rapid increase in aggregate consumer prices. Booming asset markets become magnets for inflationary monetary flows, while a boom-time surge in more upscale and luxury spending patterns also works to restrain general price inflation. Moreover, a boom in trade and international flows ensures strong capital investment and an increased supply of inexpensive imports (think China, Asia and technology). "
http://www.prudentbear.com/2013/07/inflationphobia.html#more Doug Noland
The FED has NOT been able to create INFLATION, and the money they create each month goes into RISKY ASSETS, created myriad bubbles more dangerous than before returning NO longer benefits.
SO a FEW MEN determine the fate of everyone, f'ing it all up.....the rich got wealthier, the poor got poorer, all under the leadership of a popular Democrat, imagine the hypocrisy?
D
Friday, July 19, 2013
SPX 500 DIVIDEND YIELD DOES NOT CONFIRM BULL MKT
Does the current 1.9% yield look like this is what you see at beginning of Bull markets?
Exactly, with the new FED engineered stock market, we are witnessing the largest bubble blown in the history of the stock market.
It is my suspicion, when it BLOWS, what follows will also be historic.
D
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Respected Prognosticator Bill Fleckenstein "This will end in disaster"
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/talking-numbers/fleckenstein-fed-policy-end-disaster-100312379.html
Worth a listen......"don't know WHEN, but this will ebnd in disaster"
Worth a listen......"don't know WHEN, but this will ebnd in disaster"
Monday, July 15, 2013
FED LESSONS NOT LEARNED
http://www.prudentbear.com/2013/07/bernankes-comment.html#more
Doug Noland weekly comments
"Significant Fed balance sheet expansions should be temporary and then reversed as soon as possible. The Fed should refrain from non-crisis asset purchases/liquidity injections – and should limit its open-market activity to Treasury bills. The Fed should not accommodate a doubling of mortgage debt in six years. It shouldn’t then accommodate a doubling of federal debt in four. Fed policymaking should not unduly impact system Credit and resource allocation – albeit to housing or, more recently, the federal government.
The Fed should avoid the slippery slope of intervening in the markets in the name of promoting economic growth. Its policies shouldn’t distort market risk perceptions or the pricing of finance. This will only fuel asset inflation, Credit Bubbles and the misallocation of real and financial resources. The Fed should not accommodate persistently large current account deficits. These only promote liquidity excesses and global financial and economic imbalances. The Fed must never set off on an experimental path, but should instead strive toward a stable and conservative rules-based policy regime. "
When I began writing about the financial landscape and markets some 15 years ago, I never envisioned we would arrive at a place like now exists. A place where the FED and other CB'S are in the drivers seat and are leading the LEMMINGS right over the cliff! And they mostly all follow as there is little left as alternative.
A HUGE mispricing of risk exists today, and there is a HUGE disconnect between the markets and REALITY. Don't you know at some point in the future reality will meet head on with perceptions?
5 years into their programs, the FED cannot come off its QE and ZERO rate programs? With stocks at new RECORD HIGHS, the FED cannot signal the end of its easing campaign? The economy cannot survive on its own 2 feet?
With just a mention and a SNIFF of the FED changing its direction, or even SLOWING down its QE program, the market had a VIOLENT reaction and interest rates jumped.
Now, a few calming words, status quo forever, and the VIX which measure volatility and FEAR has fallen back and the market has recouped all its losses.....sounds normal to me.....
What I THINK you have just witnessed is a WARNING SHOT......if you choose to not heed the warning then IMHO you are no more than the gambler at the craps table in a nice run who throws the dice one more time, double or nothing....as with the FED no one can possibly lose but the SAVERS!
WHAT POLICY that encoruages an ALL IN mentality is a good one, will end well? 0% rates doesn't encourage the Government to any fiscal restraint, and doesn't pay deposits a thing.
When "ALL ARE IN", there is nary anyone left to get in, and the opening for the exit door is rarified thin.
Fox news reported over the weekend that Small Business are not encouraged, nor optimistic about the future. For every 3 businesses hiring, 4 are firing. In another sign of pessimism, inventories fell and that will take a bite out of next reading of GDP.
"DON'T FIGHT THE FED", well that works for awhile doesn't it? But I think they tried to signal all good things come to an end, and the market didn't like it one bit. SO it appears it backed off sending signals they might end the ENDLESS MONEY PRINTING SCHEME.
Something about the FED policy in uncharted territory and untried experiements in FED MONETARY AND INT RATE POLICY I find worrisome...maybe it's just me.
D
Doug Noland weekly comments
"Significant Fed balance sheet expansions should be temporary and then reversed as soon as possible. The Fed should refrain from non-crisis asset purchases/liquidity injections – and should limit its open-market activity to Treasury bills. The Fed should not accommodate a doubling of mortgage debt in six years. It shouldn’t then accommodate a doubling of federal debt in four. Fed policymaking should not unduly impact system Credit and resource allocation – albeit to housing or, more recently, the federal government.
The Fed should avoid the slippery slope of intervening in the markets in the name of promoting economic growth. Its policies shouldn’t distort market risk perceptions or the pricing of finance. This will only fuel asset inflation, Credit Bubbles and the misallocation of real and financial resources. The Fed should not accommodate persistently large current account deficits. These only promote liquidity excesses and global financial and economic imbalances. The Fed must never set off on an experimental path, but should instead strive toward a stable and conservative rules-based policy regime. "
When I began writing about the financial landscape and markets some 15 years ago, I never envisioned we would arrive at a place like now exists. A place where the FED and other CB'S are in the drivers seat and are leading the LEMMINGS right over the cliff! And they mostly all follow as there is little left as alternative.
A HUGE mispricing of risk exists today, and there is a HUGE disconnect between the markets and REALITY. Don't you know at some point in the future reality will meet head on with perceptions?
5 years into their programs, the FED cannot come off its QE and ZERO rate programs? With stocks at new RECORD HIGHS, the FED cannot signal the end of its easing campaign? The economy cannot survive on its own 2 feet?
With just a mention and a SNIFF of the FED changing its direction, or even SLOWING down its QE program, the market had a VIOLENT reaction and interest rates jumped.
Now, a few calming words, status quo forever, and the VIX which measure volatility and FEAR has fallen back and the market has recouped all its losses.....sounds normal to me.....
What I THINK you have just witnessed is a WARNING SHOT......if you choose to not heed the warning then IMHO you are no more than the gambler at the craps table in a nice run who throws the dice one more time, double or nothing....as with the FED no one can possibly lose but the SAVERS!
WHAT POLICY that encoruages an ALL IN mentality is a good one, will end well? 0% rates doesn't encourage the Government to any fiscal restraint, and doesn't pay deposits a thing.
When "ALL ARE IN", there is nary anyone left to get in, and the opening for the exit door is rarified thin.
Fox news reported over the weekend that Small Business are not encouraged, nor optimistic about the future. For every 3 businesses hiring, 4 are firing. In another sign of pessimism, inventories fell and that will take a bite out of next reading of GDP.
"DON'T FIGHT THE FED", well that works for awhile doesn't it? But I think they tried to signal all good things come to an end, and the market didn't like it one bit. SO it appears it backed off sending signals they might end the ENDLESS MONEY PRINTING SCHEME.
Something about the FED policy in uncharted territory and untried experiements in FED MONETARY AND INT RATE POLICY I find worrisome...maybe it's just me.
D
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