Category: government affairs

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Western banks doing business in China tells me there won’t be a kinetic war anytime soon.

A Reuters article posted earlier last week discussed China’s desire to open up its exchange traded funds to Western market makers. The article mentions Citadel, an alternative investment manager, and Jane Street, a trading firm. According to Reuters: “Over the last two years, Chinese authorities have issued more licences (sic) and encouraged the development of … Continue reading Western banks doing business in China tells me there won’t be a kinetic war anytime soon.

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U.S.-Eastern Caribbean interbank news scan as of 11:08 pm AST: USVI concerned about Trump impact on economy.

What we’re reading: U.S. Virgin Islands. VIPSC. Utilities. “The Virgin Islands Public Services Commission is preparing to launch a series of high-stakes investigations into the territory’s public utilities — while warning lawmakers Monday that chronic mismanagement, outdated infrastructure and nonpayment of regulatory assessments are threatening the commission’s ability to carry out its duties.” — St. … Continue reading U.S.-Eastern Caribbean interbank news scan as of 11:08 pm AST: USVI concerned about Trump impact on economy.

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Law, Interbank and Money Markets News Scan: Counseling my clients to get politicians on code.

The Takeaway: Counseling my clients to get politicians on code. Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed HR 1968, a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2025 but at Fiscal Year 2024 levels for most programs. The big hubba baloo in the media is over what appears to be continued weakness … Continue reading Law, Interbank and Money Markets News Scan: Counseling my clients to get politicians on code.

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Currency, Interbank, and Money Market News Scan: Trump’s conservative approach to constitutional power makes him look expansive.

The takeaway The markets and the general public are sliding down the rabbit hole of bewilderment as President Trump’s “will I tariff or will I not” approach to America’s trading partners have introduced more uncertainty to US investors. In some ways, this is the fault of investors themselves. I shed no tears for investors who … Continue reading Currency, Interbank, and Money Market News Scan: Trump’s conservative approach to constitutional power makes him look expansive.

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Currency and money markets news scan: Don’t get triggered by the politics. One man is not the economy.

The Takeaway: Don’t get triggered by the politics. One man is not the economy. No amount of reason is going to quiet the Trump Derangement Syndrome running rampant through the electorate of the United States. I am in the camp that the President does not have a reach extensive enough to put a negative dent … Continue reading Currency and money markets news scan: Don’t get triggered by the politics. One man is not the economy.

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Currency and money markets news scan: Three Fed reference rates see an uptick. China, Japan receive warning about weakening currency.

The takeaway: As Trump seeks to weaken the US currency, he calls out Japan and China for doing likewise. Joseph Adinolfi yesterday wrote for MarketWatch that supporters of President Trump as well as members of the administration would like the President to consider policy that would weaken the US dollar while maintaining the dollar’s status … Continue reading Currency and money markets news scan: Three Fed reference rates see an uptick. China, Japan receive warning about weakening currency.

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Currency and money markets news scan: Positioning ourselves to benefit from a rebuild of Ukraine infrastructure.

The takeaway: Turning the Ukraine-Russia war into a play on infrastructure. Among my general thesis about government is that it plays a role in making a market. In the 1700s and 1800s, the United States was in essence a realtor, selling land to settlers who promised to develop the vast territory of the United States. … Continue reading Currency and money markets news scan: Positioning ourselves to benefit from a rebuild of Ukraine infrastructure.

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Interbank market news scan: The bitcoin bros need to make an argument as to why a bitcoin strategic reserve is constitutional.

Proponents of bitcoin were very excited about the prospects of President Donald Trump creating a bitcoin strategic reserve. This prospect was fueled by support from Senator Cynthia Lummis, Republican of Wyoming, who last year introduced S.4912, the BITCOIN Act of 2024. S.4912 would require the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a “decentralized network of … Continue reading Interbank market news scan: The bitcoin bros need to make an argument as to why a bitcoin strategic reserve is constitutional.

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Interbank market news scan: Did Trump say anything scary to Davos participants? Nothing they have not heard before.

Speaking today via satellite before approximately 3,000 attendees at the World Economic Forum, President Donald Trump provided his agenda for where he wants to take the American and world economies. It was basically a rehash of some of his written executive orders over the last three days. Mr. Trump declared that the election provided him … Continue reading Interbank market news scan: Did Trump say anything scary to Davos participants? Nothing they have not heard before.