Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013 Hitchhiker's VUE

General Information and Analysis

I ran out of energy yesterday after taking classes mid-morning.  I did not cover investment areas to try, and I believe I will go back on my promise about that. 

I talked to Dr. Shiller yesterday about the part I wrote about Japan.  He pointed out that the USA is not Japan, and that it is nowhere near as in debt as Japan.  I pointed out, that while it is true the USA has some advantages, there are similarities to the two country’s attempts at competing globally.  What is different, in my opinion, is the USA’s focus on Socialism since the Obama Administration took over.  Another difference is aging demographics.  There are similarities in that both countries have an aging (aged) population.  There are differences in that USA for whatever reason is encouraging illegal immigration, and then turning them legal, keeping the low paying wage earners young. Of course, the USA is paying the price of that in unemployment of the legal US citizen that is young.

Tomorrow I will publish the last essay in Zeb’s Blog.  It is not popular, and those that wanted me to start it up again, have not visited with any regularity. 

I have no understanding how to market a blog.  At one time, I published a blog that European’s flocked to. I was working in Europe (part time London, part time Stuttgart) building computer algorithms for bond trading. I would follow my life and pressures in that world.  That seemed to be interesting for many readers, but it was not interesting (apparently) to US readers.

I then started up Zeb’s blog last year.  Last year I focused on morning news with some focus on currencies.  I had absolutely zero followers, nor did it ever grow. 

When I started this up again, I shared with you my view of the major countries I follow through their currencies.  It is a lot of work, and there is no reward (monetary or otherwise).


So it is over, and I will soon remove it completely.   

China


HSBC manufacturing report for China saw a decline in manufacturing for the first time in 4 months; from 50.9 to 50.4.  China has two reports: HSBC and the Chinese Government report.  You can find lots of analysis (and facts) on Bloomberg.

In China, there is no way that I know of to find accurate information on any government reporting.  HSBC is considered to be non-bias, but the reader would best be served, I think, by taking the HSBC and the Chinese report and averaging the reports. 

With China, one can never tell with confidence what numbers are accurate and what fake data they have used to distort comparisons.  We have some insight that the Manufacturing Report from HSBC is in conflict with China’s non-manufacturing purchase manager’s index.  However, the non-manufacturing PMI will be influenced in November by direct intervention by the government to slow growth in infrastructure building.  (Of course, as I pointed out previously, the Chinese business people are not slowing building down, and that presents a conundrum.  A conundrum that could be taken care of by free-market as stated by the new reforms from the Communist Party Plenum. 

Overall, it would appear the Chinese economy is increasing momentum.  These signs are very likely to increase confidence in the Communist Party (not the military) in tackling reforms. 

Growth momentum should continue, with the government shifting to verbal statements to tone down pro-growth rhetoric.  However, do not look for significant tightening of monetary policy as the new leaders (XI and Li) need a stable growing economy to consolidate their power base. 

Folks, the demise of the Chinese growth machine has been grossly exaggerated.  It is growing, and while China has many many challenges ahead (as everyone does), at this point in history (right now), they have managed their economy way better than every other country since the start of the century.  The absolute worse management has been the USA, but that horrible (my opinion) management started with Bush Administration; not the Obama Administration.   


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