- Dec 31, 2019
End of Decade Review: “Requiem of Free Market Capitalism”
By Victor Sperandeo with the Curmudgeon Introduction: The last 10 years (from 2009-2019) of extraordinary gains for the financial markets, with the longest economic “recovery” of all time, seems like the best possible outcome following the great recession of 2008-2009. Yet I believe it has sowed the seeds for a more severe financial crisis that could result in a depression or very high inflation for a prolonged period of time. However, the timing of such a scenario is highly
- Jul 29, 2019
Debt/Deficits: Just the Facts
In the 1950’s actor Jack Webb starred in a TV series called “Dragnet”. Webb played Sergeant Joe Friday, a stoic, poker faced detective, who used the titled expression “Just the Facts”, as he questioned people in his investigations. DEBT/DEFICITS Just the Facts of the debt allows everyone to form their own conclusions on the risk of the US debt or if it matters? Another budget was just passed which allows an increase in spending of $324 billion over 2 years with an unlimited d
- Jan 24, 2019
What is Capitalism?
Capitalism is a political social system based on the recognition and full acknowledgement of individual rights, including the private ownership of the means of production and distribution. These concepts are based on the fundamental principles of natural inalienable rights to live free from physical force, which are found in the original U.S. Constitution and its amendments. Of primary importance to the function of capitalism are liberty and the freedom (from the government)
- Jan 3, 2019
Is the Bear Market in Sight?
In October, I am on record saying that we are in a bear market, as dictated by the 200-day moving Average (MA) indicator. This occurred on 10/23/18, when the S&P closed at 2,753.25, and on the 24th when the Dow Industrial closed at 24,583.42. Critically important, and it is like and night and day, is that this happened when the 200-day MA was “sloping downward”, and the S&P 500 and the Dow Industrial both closed below the MA. The other long term (technical) indicator, that is
- Dec 31, 2018
Analysis of the Markets Recent Activity - Has Debt Hit Its Tipping Point?
Background: A “Runaway Train” Ends The S&P 500 hit it’s all time high on January 26th, and then experienced its first sell-off of any consequence in over a year. Before we look at why it declined, let’s review the background that led to the rally. On August 15th, 2016 the S&P 500 made an intermediate high, and then experienced a correction until bottoming on November 4th, 2016. On November 8th Donald Trump surprised the world and won the Presidential election. From that point