What would happen if the the US adopted a formal policy of trying to keep interest rates low? Look to Japan, says @allisonschrager, which now has an economy full of zombie companies (via @opinion) https://t.co/NEz8EU760W ...

Economists have largely abandoned forecasts that the SNB will cut interest rates into negative territory, according to a Bloomberg survey https://t.co/JMuBn0jKb5 ...

Core Viewpoint - Kevin Warsh advocates for a complete overhaul of the Federal Reserve's approach to monetary policy, emphasizing the need for credibility and effective interest rate management, particularly in light of perceived failures under current Chair Jerome Powell [3][5][9]. Group 1: Warsh's Background and Philosophy - Warsh became the youngest Fed governor at age 35, with a strong academic and professional background, but he now believes he overthought monetary policy during his tenure [2]. - A pivotal meeting with former Fed Chair Paul Volcker shaped Warsh's understanding of the central bank's dual responsibilities: setting appropriate interest rates and maintaining credibility [3][4]. Group 2: Critique of the Powell Fed - Warsh criticizes the Powell Fed for failing to manage interest rates effectively, citing a series of policy mistakes that have led to high inflation, with the consumer price index rising at a 2.9% annual rate in August [5][9]. - He argues that the Fed's approach has been overly influenced by external factors, such as supply chains and tariffs, rather than focusing on government spending and money supply as primary inflation drivers [7][11]. Group 3: Proposed Changes to the Fed - Warsh envisions a Fed that reduces its influence over fiscal policy and limits its authority in areas like banking supervision, suggesting that these responsibilities should lie with political agencies [17][21]. - He proposes a significant reduction of the Fed's $6.6 trillion balance sheet and a return to monetarist principles, which emphasize the relationship between money supply and inflation [18][20]. Group 4: Political Context and Future Implications - Warsh's candidacy for Fed Chair is part of a broader conservative movement aiming to reform the central bank, particularly as Powell's term is set to end in May 2026 [8][30]. - Trump's public desire for lower interest rates, potentially by as much as three percentage points, raises concerns about the independence of the Fed and its credibility in managing inflation [29][30].

Precious Metals Market Analysis - Gold is at an all-time high, driven by the acceleration of de-dollarization that began a couple of years ago [1] - Silver just hit a new all-time record high, above $51, and is expected to reach $100 quickly, possibly next year [1] - Gold, now above $4,000, has a shot at $5,000 by the end of the year, potentially reaching $6,000 or higher next year [1] - Wall Street banks are now recommending clients have 10%-20% exposure to gold [1] Factors Driving Gold Demand - Biden's sanctions against Russia served as a wake-up call for countries to seek alternatives to the dollar [1] - Reckless spending by the Trump administration and tariffs accelerated the move away from dollars [1] - China is divesting from US dollars and treasuries, replacing them with gold reserves to establish an independent monetary system [3] - The debasement trade narrative is taking hold as people recognize the Fed's inability to maintain 2% inflation [3] Federal Reserve and Economic Policy - The Fed is cutting interest rates into rising inflation, with potential return to QE to keep long-term interest rates from rising [3] - The Fed is using weakness in the labor market as an excuse to cut rates, which will strengthen inflation, not the labor market [5] - Trump's economic policy receives an "F" grade due to massive government spending and deficits, similar to the Biden economy [10][11] - Trump's tariffs are criticized for being unconstitutional and used as a weapon for political concessions [12] Gold vs Bitcoin - Bitcoin is down about 18% from its peak priced in gold [6] - Gold is considered a safe haven store of value, while Bitcoin is viewed as a highly speculative asset correlated with risk assets like the NASDAQ [6] - A potential switch back from Bitcoin ETFs to gold stocks could create downside risk for Bitcoin [6]

Why is the labor market weakening. Apollo's Torson Sllock, he took a stab at explaining the slow job growth. There are three reasons why job growth is slow.Lower immigration, AI implementation, and fewer government jobs. So the bottom line, he says, is that the weak labor market is not due to weaker labor demand, but rather to weaker labor supply. So this analysis by Torson is very, very important.Pay attention to it. It highlights three major trends that are unlikely to change in the near term. So that sug ...

Market Overview - Bitcoin reached a new all-time high above $126,000, surprising many traders [1] - The rally was unexpected due to previous failures at new highs, where sell-offs occurred [6] - A short squeeze liquidated over $923 million in short positions, fueling the price surge [7] Key Drivers - Spot Bitcoin ETFs were the primary driver, with over $5 billion inflows in the first week of October [8] - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) absorbed nearly $1 billion in a single day [8] - Macro catalysts included US government shutdown and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts [9] On-Chain Analysis - Bitcoin balance on centralized exchanges fell to 283% million BTC, the lowest since June 2019, creating a supply crunch [12] - Approximately 64% of Bitcoin has been held for over a year, indicating long-term holders are not selling [13] - MVRV z-score suggests Bitcoin is not yet in a state of mass euphoria, indicating room for growth [15] Institutional Price Targets - Wall Street consensus average sits around $156,000 for year-end 2025 [18] - Standard Chartered reaffirmed its $200,000 year-end 2025 price target, expecting $20 billion in ETF inflows [19][20] - JP Morgan estimates Bitcoin could climb to $165,000 based on a volatility-adjusted comparison with gold [20] Potential Risks - Macroeconomic risks, particularly a Federal Reserve policy reversal, could derail the rally [25] - High leverage in Bitcoin futures, with over $88 billion in open interest, makes the market vulnerable to liquidations [26] - Geopolitical risks could introduce extreme volatility [27]

Monetary Policy & Economic Data - The Fed is closely monitoring private sector data to compensate for potential government data delays, but acknowledges it may not be fully representative [4][5] - The Fed considers the labor market weakness as a key factor in policy decisions, with concerns about negative job growth [6][7] - The Fed acknowledges the importance of CPI data for assessing inflation, especially regarding colleagues' concerns [10][11] - The Fed views tariff effects as one-off events and focuses more on the labor market when setting policy [12][14] Labor Market Assessment - The labor market is considered weak, with negative job growth and a lack of hiring plans reported anecdotally [6][7][8] - There is no evidence of a tight labor market, with no wage increases or rising vacancies [15][16] Inflation & Tariffs - Tariff effects are seen as one-time price increases, not causing persistent inflation, consistent with central bank's long-standing view [12][13] - Businesses are passing tariffs through to higher-income consumers but not to lower-income consumers [18][19] - There's an estimated 40% pass-through of tariffs to prices, showing a correlation between tariff size and price changes [19] Future Policy Direction - The Fed is leaning towards cutting rates but cautiously, considering the divergence between a weak labor market and strong GDP growth (close to 4%) [20][22] - The Fed prefers a gradual approach to rate cuts (quarter point) to allow for adjustments based on incoming data [23] Private Credit Market - The Fed does not view the private credit market as a significant systemic risk due to the substantial equity positions involved [24][25]

Real Estate Market Analysis - Interest rates decreased for 40 years (1980-2020), lowering cap rates and increasing real estate prices [1] - Immigration increased to offset cap rate driven increase in home prices [1] - Immigration is unlikely to continue, and interest rates are in a multi-decade uptrend [1] - The US has unsustainable debt and deficits, potentially weakening the dollar and US government debt [1] - Higher interest rates are needed to attract buyers for increasing US Treasuries supply [1] - Rising long-term rates increase cap rates, mathematically decreasing real estate prices [1] - Young people cannot afford homes, requiring a significant increase in housing supply to address affordability [1] Investment Implications - Demand for housing is decreasing, while supply is increasing, reversing previous market dynamics [1] - The tailwind from interest rates has become a headwind for real estate investment [1] - Factors that previously made real estate a good investment have reversed [1] - Owning a home may be an emotional decision but a poor financial one [1]

Market Trends - Initial public offerings rebounded in Q3 due to short-term clarity on tariffs and interest rates [1] - Momentum is expected to continue into the next year for IPOs [1]

Core Insights - Gen Z is facing significant financial challenges as they await their share of the $124 trillion Great Wealth Transfer from baby boomers [1] - This year, Gen Z experienced the steepest annual drop in credit scores of any age group since 2020, with an average FICO score decrease of three points to 676, which is 39 points lower than the national average of 715 [2] - The decline in credit scores is indicative of broader issues in the credit market and reflects a generation struggling to achieve financial stability amid high inflation and rising interest rates [3][4] Financial Stability and Credit Market - Gen Z's financial fragility is described as structural rather than cyclical, facing unique challenges such as high inflation, digital credit, and social media-driven consumption pressures [4] - The current downturn in credit scores could have lasting consequences if spending and repayment habits do not improve, potentially leading to a long-term financial 'snowball' effect [4] Implications of Lower Credit Scores - A drop in credit scores can hinder Gen Z's ability to qualify for credit cards or loans, increase borrowing costs, and affect other financial opportunities such as car insurance and apartment applications [5] - This situation may trap young adults in a cycle of debt, limiting their potential to grow financially, including starting businesses or purchasing homes [5]