Axel Merk | TalkMarkets | Page 3
President & CIO at Merk Investments
Axel Merk is the President and Chief Investment Officer of Merk Investments, manager of the Merk Funds. Follow @AxelMerk on Twitter. Subscribe to Merk Insights for free at more

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The Federal Reserve
The Fed’s monetary policy has important implications for the bond, stock, and currency markets, and the economic cycle generally.
U.S. Equity Market Video - Wednesday, Sept. 19
The business cycle and financial conditions backdrop continue to look supportive for the equity market.
The Business Cycle
Manufacturing PMIs moved up to a new cycle high and the household delinquency rate dropped to a new cycle low.
U.S. Interest Rates
The Fed seems likely to continue gradually hiking rates given that financial conditions have not started to tighten much and given that the Fed views the neutral policy rate as being around 3.00% (currently the fed funds rate is 2.00%).
Analysis: U.S. Inflation
Updating the chartbook on U.S. inflation.
The U.S. Equity Market Chart Book
A review of the US stock market charts vs. key data parameters.
Business Cycle Chart Review
The unemployment rate ticked lower in the latest jobs report (from 4.0% to 3.9%), with the labor force participation rate stable at 62.9%. The 3s10s yield curve has steepened slightly since last month’s report.
The Federal Reserve: Chart Book - Wednesday, August 1
A review on the update chart book of the Federal Reserve.
Trump Put To Lower Dollar
Has President Trump introduced a Trump Put by lashing out about rising interest rates and calling for a weaker dollar? The market reacted swiftly - and rationally - albeit not the way Trump had intended.
U.S. Equity Market
Financial conditions still look relatively supportive. Also, the normally sloped VIX curve is a positive sign for the S&P 500 to head higher.
Business Cycle: Updating The Charts
History suggests a recession is unlikely to start within the next six months, but...
Flattening Yield Curve Is Good
There's plenty to worry about in the markets, but in the spirit that knowledge is the enemy of ignorance, let's clear up some myths.
This Time Is Different. Really?!
It’s kind of obvious that any strategy that employs leverage can create issues when it is very widely adopted. But what about the other basic premise of the risk parity approach?
Productivity: A Question Of Focus, Health, Politics And Money
In a survey of many investors and investment professionals, there is disagreement about the productivity ideals, but agreement on the need for more clarity.
Buy Or Sell? A Question Of Risk Management
Whether you ride this bull market or stay on the sidelines is not a matter of brilliance, but of risk management. To illustrate, we look at lessons to be learned from the “greatest predictor” of market returns (hint: it isn’t).
Tax Reform: Implications For Gold
Monetary policy affects nominal prices, whereas fiscal policy affects real prices. Printing money might affect the price level, but fiscal policy affects where money gets allocated, and what investments take place.
33 to 48 of 73 Posts