Author: Alton Drew

I graduated from The Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in economics and political science (1984); a Master of Public Administration (1993); and a Juris Doctor (1999). I am a member of the Maryland Bar and practice political law. You can email me at altondrew@gmail.com.
Posted on

Good economy? Bad economy? In the end, can you make a trade?

During a discussion tonight with friends, the issue came up about whether the Biden administration has created a good economy. One participant decided to put out there for consideration the economic data points often cited by the mainstream media. The participant cited inflation, arguing that inflation has been coming down under the Biden administration, moving … Continue reading Good economy? Bad economy? In the end, can you make a trade?

Posted on

So much for a rate cut as CPI increases 3.2% year over year. Dollar apparently strengthens …

Hopes for a rate cut any time soon appear dashed as the Consumer Price Index increased 0.4% in February and 3.2% over the last 12 months. The dollar apparently strengthened on the news. Here are the new rates, as of 8:30 am today that facing the Atlanta international community. USD/JPY=147.7863 EUR/USD=1.0917 USD/MXN=16.8123 USD/INR=82.7776 Source: x-rates.com … Continue reading So much for a rate cut as CPI increases 3.2% year over year. Dollar apparently strengthens …

Posted on

Dollar weakens after Powell’s testimony to Congress. Was it something he said?

Around 6:31 am yesterday, approximately three and one-half hours prior to Federal Reserve Board chairman Jerome Powell’s testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, the price of the U.S. dollar in terms of the euro, British pound, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar was as follows: USD/EUR=0.9193 USD/GBP=0.7858 USD/JPY=149.7394 USD/CAD=1.3582 … Continue reading Dollar weakens after Powell’s testimony to Congress. Was it something he said?

Posted on

Trump or Biden. Who can best obscure the battle on Mount Olympus?

Last night’s Super Tuesday primary victories for former U.S. president Donald J. Trump and incumbent president Joseph R. Biden were no surprise. So boring were the returns that I was in bed by 8:30 pm. For us mortals, the electorate, the worn-out questions are, “Which of these candidates best represents me?” and “Which of these … Continue reading Trump or Biden. Who can best obscure the battle on Mount Olympus?

Posted on

On the eve of Super Tuesday, Trump gets a major U.S. Supreme Court victory …

It is 10:09 pm EST and the USD/JPY is trading at 150.4809 and the AUD/USD is at 0.6502. Former U.S. president Donald J. Trump got a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court where the court held that the state of Colorado did not have the authority to remove a federal candidate from their primary election … Continue reading On the eve of Super Tuesday, Trump gets a major U.S. Supreme Court victory …

Posted on

It appears that the foreign exchange and bond markets were ready for the PCE report.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis gave the Federal Open Market Committee another reason to sing, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” this morning as the Bureau presented its read on changes in consumer price levels. The Personal Consumption Price Index, the preferred price level barometer of the Federal Reserve System, increased 2.8% between … Continue reading It appears that the foreign exchange and bond markets were ready for the PCE report.

Posted on

Again, foreign exchange and bond yields looked flat today and I wonder if the US really wants lower rates.

The pound-dollar and euro-dollar were flat today, 27 February 2024, with the dollar yen making the biggest move between 9:14 am and 4:15 pm. According to data I obtained from Bloomberg, the GBP/USD increased three pips, from 1.2682 to 1.2685. The EUR/USD decreased four pips, from 1.0848 to 1.0844. The USD/JPY increased 1600 pips moving … Continue reading Again, foreign exchange and bond yields looked flat today and I wonder if the US really wants lower rates.

Posted on

A quiet day yesterday in the United States as foreign exchange markets got ready for Asia to open.

10-year bond yield and currency data from Bloomberg paint a quiet day in those markets. The GBP/USD stayed flat between 9:30 am to 4:15 pm with the rate going from 1.2686 to 1.2684. The EUR/USD was flat as well with ever so slight dollar weakening from 1.0847 to 1.0851 this afternoon. The Japanese yen demonstrated … Continue reading A quiet day yesterday in the United States as foreign exchange markets got ready for Asia to open.