Government Inefficiency and Wildfires….The Chicken or the Egg?
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have been horrific to witness and even more so to live through. But could they have been avoided? If not avoided, could an effective governmental response mitigated the damage to the error? Was it climate change or government inefficiency which exacerbated an already bad situation? Are there any generational differences of opinion? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the wildfires in California and debate whether it had to be as bad as it has been.
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The Transition to End All Transitions
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
The current transition of power from the Biden Administration to Trump Part 2 has been one for the books. The current president has been issuing pardons and making executive orders like has not been seen in recent memory. For his part, the new president has been acting like he is already in office and appears willing to alienate a good chunk of the world in the process. Are these good things? Are they the new normal? What do they mean for the smooth transition of power in the future? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the increasingly bizarre time...
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Our Predictions for 2025: Part 2
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
As we start 2025, a lot of people want to know what the upcoming year holds for them, the economy and the investment markets. So, what does the crystal ball hold in store for the upcoming year? Will stocks continue to climb? Will the economy continue to add jobs? Will the Republicans be able to govern effectively? There are a lot of questions and even more opinions, but what is the truth? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris go through the second half of Oakworth’s Investment Committee’s predictions for 2025.
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Our Predictions for 2025: Part 1
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
After another strong, if confusing, year in 2024, what can the US economy and financial markets do for an encore? What does the crystal ball hold in store for the upcoming year? Will stocks continue to climb? Will the economy continue to add jobs? Will the Republicans be able to govern effectively? There are a lot of questions and even more opinions. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement, John Norris and special guest Ryan Bernal go through half of Oakworth’s Investment Committee’s predictions for 2025.
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2024 In the Rearview
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
This year has been another wild one in the markets, economy, society and geopolitics. But what have we learned? What was most surprising about events throughout the rest of the world? What changes happened in our domestic society, for good or bad? How strong is the U.S. economy, really? Does anyone tell the truth anymore? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the year that was in 2024, and where they think everything is headed in the upcoming year.
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What If They Threw a Revolution And No One Cared?
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
Over the weekend, Syrian rebels overthrew the Assad dynasty, which had ruled the country for 5 decades. On Monday, the US stock market shrugged, and meaningful news coverage of the event was hard to find. Do American investors simply not care about the rest of the world? After all, there seem to be a lot of global problems and US stocks are at an all-time high. Further, what is it about the Middle East where just about all countries have a powerful king or some other form of strongman or junta calling the shots? Will it ever change? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John...
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Silver & Gold for Christmas? Not So Fast.
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
The global wholesale diamond market has essentially collapsed over the last several years. Publicaly traded jewelry companies have been struggling with softer revenue and earnings. With the exception of perhaps ultra-high end brands, the demand for fine jewelry has essentially stalled. Is this due to the consumer being strapped for cash? Or have consumer preferences changed? After all, the demand for fine china and antique wooden furniture also seems to have waned. Could it be generational preferences or is it purely economic? Has supply outpaced demand? In this week’s Trading Perspectives,...
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Is the Holiday Shopping Going to Be Merry?
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
Last week, Target Corporation announced disappointing sales growth for its 3rd Quarter of 2024. This was just another hint at a broader U.S. consumer slowdown or cooling. While spending forecasts aren’t dire, how much fuel does the average American household have in the tank to propel the upcoming holiday shopping season? Will it be merry and bright for retailers? Or will Santa be leaving coal in their stockings? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the upcoming holiday shopping season, and whether the U.S. consumer can continue to spend money at...
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Crypto Assets are Soaring... Again
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
Though November 20th, Bitcoin has more than doubled in value since the start of 2024. Since the end of 2022, it has more than quintupled. But why? Even the most passionate crypto investors have a difficult time explaining exactly what Bitcoin is in terms the average person can understand. It doesn’t pay dividends or interest. It doesn’t generate revenue or profits. You can’t hold it. Heck, you can’t even see it. So why do certain investors love it as much as they do? This asset class which exists out in the technological ether? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and...
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With the Election Over, Is the USA Still a Good Investment?
Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
Now that the U.S. elections are finally over, investors are looking at their portfolios and wondering if the United States is still worth the risk. Will it still be able to generate attractive rates of growth? Are its institutions still relatively stable? Is its currency still sound? Will the Republicans spoil a good thing? On this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss how the U.S. remains the most attractive investment market for the foreseeable future.
info_outlineTo the outsider, American consumers must be a weird bunch. They will bemoan the cost of something insignificant, like a carton of eggs, while spending obscene amounts of money on concert tickets, sporting events and other types of activities. Undoubtedly, this change in consumer behavior will impact the economy moving forward. However, are the government agencies accurately capturing its impact using methodology they developed for a simpler time? What if our experiences are changing how we look at the economy?
In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the soaring cost of having fun and what it means for the economy on our daily lives.