It's The Economy Stupid: The Year In Review

You will find below my favorite market analogy from 2011

 

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David Zervos

Global Head of Fixed Income Strategy

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

 

January 28, 2011

Charlie Sheen's dealer and Ben Bernanke

 

It appears that yesterday in Beverly Hills, America’s favorite TV comedian over committed to a late night party session

involving the most traditional of vices. A suitcase full of “punch” was delivered to his door step and the festivities went

into overdrive. While our beloved actor looks to be OK after a 48 hour bender, his story provides a useful reminder of the

consequences of gorging oneself at the punchbowl. It was the Fed Chairman in 50s and 60s, William McChesney Martin,

who famously said “It is the job of the Federal Reserve to take away the punch bowl just as the party gets going”. But

that is NOT the mantra of our modern day Fed. Ben Bernanke, just like Charlie Sheen’s dealer has arrived on everyone’s

door step with suitcase full of “punch”. He is pushing “risk on” - so go ahead make some risky investments and push

your consumption higher. It’s right there for the taking! And Ben am not taking that punch bowl away for a good long

while. We have a lot of partying to do with unemployment at 9.4% and core PCE below 1%. This Fed Chairman will not

let this economy go cold turkey into the 1930s.

 

Ben’s remedy for America’s last visit to the intensive care unit in 2008 is – you guessed it – to get on the juice again!

Much like the rollercoaster life of Charlie Sheen, the American economy is about go into full scale party mode. Ending in

the hospital is a given, but that's a long way off. The permanent damage from these juice binges are stomach pains for

Charlie and inflation for America - of course using the juice has costs! But the alternative of rehab and cold turkey is

simply too painful for either Charlie or America! So put your party hat on and get ready to ride the rollercoaster! It's

going to get crazy!!! Good luck trading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boudin Chaud. Cous Cous Froide. Allons Tigres--Poussez Poussez Poussez

 

John Broussard

Assistant State Treasurer

Chief Investment Officer

State of Louisiana

Department of the Treasury

Ph:  225-342-0013

Fx:  225-342-9721

Email:  jbroussard@treasusry.state.la.us

Street Address:

445 North Blvd, 7^th Floor

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 44154 Capitol Station

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4154

Physical Location:

One City Plaza, 7th Floor

Corner of North Blvd & 4th Street

Exit 1B I-110 Convention Street, Turn Left to get to North Blvd