The European Union has sustained a number of crises over the past decade. The financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 and the resulting recession were the first two blows. This was followed by the debt crisis in the ensuing years. The economic slowdown overwhelmed a number of countries, that had been used to heavy government outlays, that had been funded mostly through deficit spending. The next issue that strained the fabric of the Union, was the massive surge in migration to Europe […]
Global Investing Blog
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills January Week 1
The big news for the week is the price level of world stock exchanges. They are now at their highest point since mid-2015. Stronger economic data from China and the United States, is fueling higher global growth and inflation. Little reported, was the release of data by the Institute for International Finance concerning global debt. Government debt rose sharply this past year and debt is now 325% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the world. As a result, global interest rates […]
The Fracturing European Union: Returning Schism Between Eastern and Western Europe
At the beginning of the 21st century, the European Union (EU) was expanding to encompass a much larger share of the continent than had previously been envisioned. The borders of the EU were moved eastward from central Europe to the borders of the former Soviet Union. In fact, three former Soviet Republics, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, collectively known as the Baltic Republics, would become part of the EU as well. The push to the east, began with the reunification of Germany in […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills December Week 5
The big investment news for the week was the end in the upward movement for the indices in the United States. The latest surge caused by the election of Donald Trump has now leveled off and is on a slight reversal. Markets in Asia and Europe had also been at or near new highs. Growth in these exchanges are slowing as well. The other news was the steady uptick in the price of crude on most exchanges. This was in response to […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills December Week 4
The big investment news for the week was the end in the global stock rally, partially caused by the election of Donald Trump in the United States. A number of markets in Asia, Europe and the United States, surpassed a 16 month high, but are now leveling off or beginning a reversal. All four main indices in the United States were at or near new lifetime highs earlier this week. Now they are flat or somewhat heading downward in valuation. The main […]
Landslide Elections In Romania Will Keep Corruption In Power
Despite the economic and political progress Romania has achieved since joining the European Union in 2007, the corruption of the past continues to retard the development of the country. Recent events highlighted this reality. The center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) was able to win 46% of the vote in elections held on December 11th. The problem is the party is being led by Liviu Dragnea,who was convicted of endeavoring to commit electoral fraud just last year. In most other democratic countries being […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills December Week 3
The big new for the week was the agreement among a number of the non-OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Nations) nations to reduce their oil output by 588,000 barrels a day. This was in addition to the 1.2 million cut agreed upon by the 13 member nation OPEC. The other major market event for the week, was the decision by the United States Federal Reserve (Fed) to raise interest rates this week by 0.25%. It is only the second increase since […]
Glut In Global Crude Oil Supplies Likely To Continue
Many analysts and investors are insisting that the glut in global crude oil supplies is coming to an end. Throughout the second half of 2016, speculators drove up prices in anticipation of a production cut promised by OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). The oil cartel’s members pumped 33.87 million barrels a day in November, an increase of 150,000 from the previous month. This was despite their promise to slow output. The amount of oil in storage alone is now near […]
Italy: The Next Domino To Fall?
The resignation this month of Matteo Renzi the Prime Minister of Italy, may have ended the 63rd government in 70 years. His departure was the result of a voter rejection in a referendum, for a series of constitutional reforms. The changes would of enabled him to more easily enact legislation, that he deemed necessary to help the presently stagnate Italian economy. Mr. Renzi joins the ranks of other European leaders, who have found that the electorate is growing increasingly impatient with the […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills December Week 2
The big new for the week was the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy, following the referendum on Sunday. The politically center to left Mr. Renzi had previously stated, that he would resign if the vote for a reform of the Constitution failed in a popular vote. It was rebuffed by 59.6% of the electorate. The presidential election in Austria last Sunday saw a reaffirmation of victory for Alexander Van der Bellen. The former Green candidate had preached moderation and […]