Article: U.S. Futures Gain, Bond Rally Pauses as Fed Eyed: Markets Wrap

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U.S. Futures Gain, Bond Rally Pauses as Fed Eyed: Markets Wrap

Cecile Gutscher and Joanna Ossinger, 14 June 2021

U.S. equity futures and stocks posted modest gains Monday as investors prepared for a key Federal Reserve meeting later in the week. The rally in bond markets lost steam.

S&P 500 futures signaled the gauge was poised to add to Friday’s fresh record. An advance in European equities was led by shares in energy firms. The Treasury 10-year yield rose to 1.46% after hitting three-month lows on Thursday amid the biggest weekly slide since December. French and German government bond peers also reversed course with yields turning higher. Continue reading “Article: U.S. Futures Gain, Bond Rally Pauses as Fed Eyed: Markets Wrap”

Article: Wall Street Warned by U.S. Regulators to Speed Up Libor Exit

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Wall Street Warned by U.S. Regulators to Speed Up Libor Exit

Jesse Hamilton, Alex Harris, and Christopher Condon, 11 June 2021

Wall Street banks must speed up their efforts to stop using Libor, regulators said Friday, issuing one of their sternest warnings yet about abandoning the scandal-plagued benchmark.

From Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, watchdogs made clear during a meeting of the Financial Stability Oversight Council that time is running out. The admonishment — coming from the heads of all of the U.S.’s most powerful financial agencies — marked a remarkably high-profile push to light a fire under banks including Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Continue reading “Article: Wall Street Warned by U.S. Regulators to Speed Up Libor Exit”

Article: SILVER EATS DOUBT FOR BREAKFAST

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SILVER EATS DOUBT FOR BREAKFAST

Korbinian Koller, 07 May 2021

Gaining certainty about a clear picture of the future is getting more complex by the minute. Data arrives of never-seen occurrences that make it seemingly impossible to know how everything will pan out. President Biden demands higher taxation of the rich and a minimum wage of US$15. News about Silver market manipulation introduces fear into this market sector. Janet Yellen spoke of inflation. Many are talking about a possible hyperinflation. Others however are pointing towards the “Japanization” of America. On top, a recent New York Times headline reads: “Reaching herd immunity is unlikely in the U.S.”. All this noise is creating more confusion and pressure instead of clarity. The good news is: You do not need to know how the future unfolds to preserve your wealth. And Silver eats doubt for breakfast. Continue reading “Article: SILVER EATS DOUBT FOR BREAKFAST”

Article: Can the US Economy Withstand a $3 Trillion Cash Injection?

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Can the US Economy Withstand a $3 Trillion Cash Injection?

Tim Fries, 12 April 2021

It is not often noted that the U.S. Treasury too injects the economy with cash flow, on top of various stimulus packages. With a precarious economic balance such as it is, excess liquidity may yet be another trigger to make inflation worse.

Controlled Demolition of the Economy
At this point, it’s safe to say this decade began with a string of anomalies colossal in scope. Novel, harsh lockdowns were introduced for a fast-spreading, largely unknown virus. This led to historic wealth transfer from workers to corporate conglomerates close to $4 trillion, not to be confused with the other historic wealth transfer from boomers to millennials. Continue reading “Article: Can the US Economy Withstand a $3 Trillion Cash Injection?”

Article: US cautions China-backed Port City could turn into money-laundering haven

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US cautions China-backed Port City could turn into money-laundering haven

The Island Online, 12 April 2021

(ANI) US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Alaina Teplitz on Saturday warned Sri Lanka of unintended consequences of ‘nefarious actors’ who may try to misuse a China-backed Colombo Port City’s easy business rules as a permissive money laundering haven amid concerns of tax leaks.

Sri Lanka has unveiled draft legislation for a Colombo Port City Commission which allows for sweeping tax breaks, tax-free salaries and to be an offshore financial centre. Continue reading “Article: US cautions China-backed Port City could turn into money-laundering haven”

Article: Yellen Plans to Spare China From Currency Manipulator Label

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Yellen Plans to Spare China From Currency Manipulator Label

Saleha Mohsin, 12 April 2021

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will decline to name China as a currency manipulator in her first semiannual foreign-exchange report, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that allows the U.S. to sidestep a fresh clash with Beijing.

The report, which is not yet finalized, is due on Thursday, although it is unclear when the department will release it. During the Trump era, the Treasury Department was accused of politicizing the report after it abruptly designated China a manipulator in mid-2019 outside its usual release schedule, only to lift the label five months later to win concessions in a trade deal. Continue reading “Article: Yellen Plans to Spare China From Currency Manipulator Label”

Article: Japan ensures G20 pledge vs ‘disorderly’ moves as FX language tweaked, sources say

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Japan ensures G20 pledge vs ‘disorderly’ moves as FX language tweaked, sources say

Tetsushi Kajimoto, 09 April 2021

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan made sure that language warning against excess currency market volatility remained in place when G20 finance leaders made a rare tweak to their message on exchange-rate moves, said officials with knowledge of the deliberations.

In the first communique compiled since U.S. President Joe Biden took office, finance leaders of the Group of 20 major economies called for the need for currency moves to reflect “underlying” economic fundamentals. Continue reading “Article: Japan ensures G20 pledge vs ‘disorderly’ moves as FX language tweaked, sources say”

Article: Bitcoin Shows Us That Not All Volatilities Are Created Equal

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Bitcoin Shows Us That Not All Volatilities Are Created Equal

Enrique Dans, 09 April 2021

For many people, the main obstacle to using cryptocurrencies is that they are volatile; their value fluctuates sharply across time depending on, apparently, many different factors. To put the issue in context, the original paper on bitcoin was published in late 2008 and the first transaction in early 2009: since then, its value in dollars or euros has risen by more than 15,000%.

In contrast, over the same period of time, the parity between the dollar and the euro, has varied by a few percentage points up or down. No surprise therefore that bitcoin is seen as highly volatile and unsuitable for transactions, and at best, a store of value, subject to the systemic risk that arises every time the authorities or a government make decisions that could affect it. China talks of banning bitcoin mining and its price falls. Elon Musk uses part of Tesla’s reserves to buy bitcoin? Bitcoin rises.

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Article: INSIGHT: U.S. cryptocurrency regulatory path appears long and complex

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Todd Ehret, 06 April 2021

Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, and essentially all digital assets have surged in price recently amid surging interest by the public, investors of all types, and the financial industry. Despite a steadily growing acceptance and anticipation of a crypto-friendly regulatory environment under the new administration in Washington, the future regulatory framework for digital assets is complex and uncertain. Continue reading “Article: INSIGHT: U.S. cryptocurrency regulatory path appears long and complex”

Article: Five ways Biden could crack down on dirty money and financial secrecy

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Five ways Biden could crack down on dirty money and financial secrecy

Brenda Medina, 01 April 2021

Early rhetoric from the Biden administration has encouraged anti-corruption advocates that the new president’s tenure in the White House may mark a turning point in the fight against dirty money and tax haven abuse — two overlapping problems made worse by a veil of secrecy that shields vast sums of money from tax collectors and law enforcement authorities.

“We will crack down on tax havens and illicit financing that contribute to income inequality, fund terrorism, and generate pernicious foreign influence,” the administration’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, released last month, says, identifying the fight against global corruption as a top security priority. The strategy mirrors promises Joe Biden made during his candidacy.

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Article: SNB Threw $118 Billion at FX Campaign as U.S. Alarm Bells Rang

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SNB Threw $118 Billion at FX Campaign as U.S. Alarm Bells Rang

Catherine Bosley, 22 March 2021

The Swiss National Bank spent 110 billion francs ($118 billion) on interventions in 2020, evidence of heightened market activism that risks fueling more tension with the U.S.

The tally is the highest since 2012 and indicates officials purchased currency worth 9 billion francs in the fourth quarter, when the U.S. Treasury branded Switzerland a currency manipulator. Such eye-watering sums won’t escape the attention of President Joe Biden’s new administration in Washington, which doesn’t appear to be breaking with the stance of its predecessor.n Continue reading “Article: SNB Threw $118 Billion at FX Campaign as U.S. Alarm Bells Rang”

Article: Ignoring years of silver price manipulation, Orwellian CFTC now goes after Reddit Apes

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Ignoring years of silver price manipulation, Orwellian CFTC now goes after Reddit Apes

Ronan Manly, Bullion Star, 04 March 2021

On Monday 1 March, an article in Bloomberg Law by CFTC connected lawyers from law firm Clifford Chance revealed that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is reportedly investigating retail silver trader activity in the silver price and that the US Department of Justice looks set to investigate as well.

Before looking at this shocker of an Orwellian development, it’s helpful to provide some context on the CFTC’s track behavior in this area and to show how hypocritical such a development would be. Continue reading “Article: Ignoring years of silver price manipulation, Orwellian CFTC now goes after Reddit Apes”

Article: Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton Will Become Apollo’s “Lead Independent Director”

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Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton Will Become Apollo’s “Lead Independent Director”

As if the establishment ignoring Janet Yellen’s clear ties to Citadel wasn’t enough to help you lose faith in the Wall Street swamp this year, we’ll do you one better. Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton has officially been hired by Apollo Global Management, just weeks after stepping down as SEC chair.

Apollo is, of course, the firm whose CEO, Leon Black, was found to have paid child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein $158 million.

Continue reading “Article: Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton Will Become Apollo’s “Lead Independent Director””

Article: Hedge funds risk Biden-Era closing of money-laundering loophole

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Author: Kevin Lamarque / Feb 5, 2021

The US has intensified its crackdown on dirty money in recent years, requiring banks, brokerages and mutual funds to monitor clients and report suspicious activity. But investment advisers overseeing trillions of dollars in private equity and hedge funds are exempt from such rules.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/hedge-funds-risk-biden-era-closing-of-money-laundering-loophole-101612530413966.html

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