Blog Profile / Zero Hedge

Spot The Odd Continent Out: Total Bank Assets As % Of GDP

There is a reason why in Europe, no matter how much some want to deny it, the Cyprus deposit confiscation "resolution" has become the norm. Quite simply "Europe's economy struggles with too many banks, too much debt and too little growth. Show More Summary

North Korea Launches Three Missiles Into Eastern Sea

Five days ago, when describing the launch of the joint-US, South Korean naval military exercise in the East Sea, we said that "for all his endless posturing, North Korea's Un has done absolutely nothing. And if his inability and unwillingness...Show More Summary

FINANCIAL TERRORISM AND POLITICAL SEX MAP...

CBO - US Economy Set to Soar On Obamacare?

The Congressional Budget Office put conservative economic thinkers on their ass this week. In this Report (pdf), the CBO concluded that the US budget deficit is about to collapse to insignificance. The improvement in the deficit outlook is so large that it has lead liberal thinkers to start calling for more stimulus spending. Show More Summary

Dollar Bull Run

The US dollar posted strong across the board gains. It is being driven by the anticipation of favorable developments in the US, in the form of a possible slowing of the Fed's asset purchases, and less favorable developments abroad. While...Show More Summary

IRS Official In Charge During Tea Party Targeting Now Runs Health Care Office

Submitted by Michael Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg blog, I’d like to say that the following is unbelievable, but it’s not. Unfortunately, it is all too believable. From ABC: The Internal Revenue Service official in charge of the tax-exempt...Show More Summary

The 2013 Terrorism & Political Violence Map

The following map (via AON) measures the risk of political violence to international business in 200 countries and territories, based on three icons indicating the forms of political violence which are likely to be encountered: Terrorism...Show More Summary

The S&P 500 Is Now A Gambler's Paradise With 76.9% Up Days In May So Far

Submitted by Adam Taggart via Peak Prosperity blog, Everyone knows the odds of winning in a casino are worse than 50% (often much worse depending on the game played). So who wouldn't rush to a casino where, instead, the odds were overwhelmingly...Show More Summary

Market Rally Continues Along With QE

There has been a long string of crummy economic data which has largely been ignored (“bad news is good”) by bulls. However, on Friday, bulls jumped on two reports, Leading Indicators and Consumer Sentiment, which released better than expected results (“good news is great”). Show More Summary

Europe's EUR 500 Billion Ticking NPLTime Bomb

Europe's non-performing loan problem is such an issue that there is increasing bluster that the ECB may take this garbage on to its balance sheet since policymakers realize that bad debts and non-performing loans (NPLs) reduce the capacity of banks to lend, hindering the monetary policy transmission mechanism. Show More Summary

Guest Post: The Great "American" Divide

Submitted by Lance Roberts of Street Talk Live blog, I have often spoken of the disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street. While asset prices are inflated by continued interventions of monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, boosting...Show More Summary

How A Last Second Flash Crash Pushed The S&P 500 From 1,667 To 1,666

Those who were closely following the S&P cash in the last seconds before the close, and who were eagerly looking forward to a satanic close of 1,666, were likely disappointed when in the last 5 minutes of trading the cash index ramped from 1,665 and easily crossed in and out of 1,666, with the final print pointing to a mid-1,667 close. Show More Summary

US Senate Shows It Has Its Priorities Straight...

Submitted by Simon Black of Sovereign Man blog, Well, you have to admit one thing - the United States Senate certainly has its priorities straight. Early last week they passed S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act. This bill requires US-based...Show More Summary

Why Bulls Should Fear The "Money On The Sidelines"

Much has been made of equity inflows this week (though we note a significant outflow from high-yield bond funds - just as risk-on in its nature) and once again the money-on-the-sidelines fallacy is hawked at every opportunity. Two critical aspects are important to get past this 'fact' as some positive driver. Show More Summary

The Debt Ceiling Is Back

While many may not recall that the US has been without an official debt ceiling for the past three months, or even that it has a debt target ceiling, the bonus period agreed upon in January to let the nation rake up some $400 billion...Show More Summary

The Week That Was: May 13th- May 17th 2013

Succinctly summarizing the positive and negative news, data, and market events of the week... Positives April retail sales up.1%, although gasoline sales fall hard S&P continues to hit all-time highs as credit plunges Gold shorts atShow More Summary

S&P 1666

Whoever orchestrated the last two hour closing ramp sure has a satanic sense of humor, opting to close the S&P at 1666 or exactly 1000 points above the "generational" low. A late-day desperation to buy-buy-buy, triggered by an avalanche of stops being triggered in the DAX futures market (as it broke all time highs), sent stocks soaring. Show More Summary

Friday Humor: Summing It Up

Since "it just doesn't matter" anymore, we hope that soon financial network TV, plagued by the lowest ratings in a decade for the simple fact that nobody cares anymore what Federal Reserve Capital LP does, will at least invite some funnier guests, such as Bill Murray, to dispense hot stock tips.

Dax Future Triggers Stops, Goes Parablic, Launching Late Day Megaramp

Presented with little comment because frankly everything is now full retard. That is the Dax; This is the Dax on low-volume, mega levitation drugs, at 9pm on a Friday in Germany, when out of nowhere someone goes on a mega buying spree in the Dax futures, and sends global risk assets, and FX pairs, surging. Show More Summary

Latvia Joins Greece In Deflation As EU Inflation Slumps

Inflation slowed in 24 (of 27) EU nations in April to leave the average EU rate at 1.4% (versus 1.9% in March). Greece entered deflation in March for the first time in 45 years and Latvia consumer prices fell 0.4% in April (versus +2.8% a year ago). Show More Summary