Every day there is news, but some days the news seems of little interest. Other days, as I flow through my sources, it seems every other bit of news is worthwhile reading. Today was one of those days. I wanted to keep going, but I had to get to this column before the day slipped away.
More than most days, today’s news painted a picture of a world in tremendous flux, an upheaval turning over the old and pushing up the new. From Libya to India, transformation is occurring. Politics, business, and culture are shifting. From the protesters “occupying” Wall St, to the drama unfolding in Europe, norms of how the world does its business are changing. Frankly, I find it both stressful and exciting, much as I might view an earth-changing seismic event.
When major earth movements happen, the stress causes huge and destructive change, but when the violence stops, the landscape is completely different and the ensuing calm allows new systems to evolve. This is the state of the world today, and the market is a reflection of all the turbulence and uncertainty as to what that landscape will look like when the shaking passes. Here is a statistic (which could change soon enough) about global markets that reflects the wild year it has been thus far.
Just four countries are currently in the black this year — Venezuela, Botswana, Jamaica and Ecuador.
When I think about it, it makes sense, and it is not surprising. It makes sense that only four countries are in the black. Those four countries, however, pique my interest. Why have those four survived the shaking Aside from my diverted interest in the above, the principal concern to the world right now is Europe. As I have said, pressure is mounting to get something done. As I have also said, whatever that outcome is, it will be sooner rather than later …
Leaders from India, Brazil, and South Africa urged the world’s rich countries to contain their financial crises and prevent the global economy from slipping into a double dip recession.
November is shaping up to be the month of months for the world, really. It appears Europe has delayed its outcome to November, which means there is still a “whole lot a shakin’ going on …” This will continue to roil the market. Adding energy to that ongoing event will be the “coming out” of the U.S. debt super committee in November. Their directive is to have a “plan” delivered to Congress by November 23. If they actually do that, then the energy level could go even higher as our dysfunctional Congress begins debate on the plan, and then has a vote. Oh yeh, November is shaping up to be quite the month. But, like the seismic metaphor, once November is over, I suspect both Europe and the U.S. will have resolutions of some sort, and the landscape picture at that point will be much clearer. Oh, just one more little thing to add to the rattling …
The United States is set to pass narrowly on Tuesday its toughest measures yet to curtail speculation in commodity markets
Trade in the day – Invest in your life …
