Adventures In Finance: A Real Vision Podcast

Senior editor Ash Bennington is joined by Mike "Mish" Shedlock of TheStreet.com to discuss gold and the looming fiscal cliff. Shedlock analyzes the purported "short squeeze" on gold, shining a light on the various players in the future as well as physical markets for gold during its ascendant rally. Bennington and Shedlock then analyze the dysfunction in Washington and gyrating asset markets through the lens of expiring unemployment benefits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor, Ash Bennington, joins managing editor, Ed Harrison, to reckon with the idea of whether a COVID-19 vaccine will be the “medical bailout” everyone is staking their hopes on. Ash and Ed give an overview of where many major nations are currently in their battle against the pandemic and consider if this new normal is truly sustainable in the long-term. They also discuss the continued move toward a virtual world, how this is an omen of absolute collapse in certain industries, and how the pandemic has become a politically charged subject in the midst of a US election cycle. In the intro, Nick Correa shares some of the data from the Household Pulse Survey, revealing the ways fiscal stimulus has made up a portion of aggregate spending for American consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The neoliberal model of free trade, open borders, and liberalized capital flows is under assault. Traditional economic models with rational agents and efficient markets don't accord with reality, and people are starting to notice. Even recent advances in behavioral economics have failed to capture this disconnect. Mark Blyth, William R. Rhodes Professor of International Economics at Brown University, and Eric Lonergan, macro hedge fund manager at M&G Investments, explore and seek to resolve these conflicts in their new book, "Angrynomics." Blyth and Lonergan examine how the outsourcing of economic management to grey-suited bureaucrats is fomenting a populist backlash that is redrawing political battle lines and molding the destiny of different asset classes in ways few fully grasp. They analyze the recent largesse of central banks as a sort of asymmetric put-option which rewards those who hold assets and punishes those who don't. Blyth and Lonergan also explore potential solutions, which include dual interest

David Andolfatto, economist and senior vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, joins Pedro da Costa, senior reporter at Market News International, to give a peek behind the curtain into the Fed’s monetary policy at this unique market juncture. Andolfatto analyzes the most recent economic data and estimates that we are headed towards a "W-shaped" recovery. He then describes the remaining tools the Fed still has at its disposal. Da Costa and Andolfatto also analyze the pandemic as an accelerant of secular trends, such as working from home and rapid adoption of technology, as well of the lasting impacts of this acceleration. They also explore helicopter money, the commoditization of consumer loans, as well as the looming threat of inflation. Sponsor Link - Keep Coming Back : http://keepcomingbackpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor Ash Bennington hosts Real Vision favorite Mike Green of Logica Capital Advisors. Mike Green gives a strategic update on the markets, and, through the lens of his renowned critique of passive investing, analyzes flow data on ETFs and mutual funds to conclude that the markets could be due for some turmoil in the coming months. Green and Bennington also discuss today’s interview with Green and Rob Arnott, one of the world’s leading quantitative investors. Green also shares his views on "volmaggedon" and the similarities between short-vol and bonds. In the intro, Jack reviews recent FAANG earnings and gives a preview of Jason Buck’s three-part “Ahead of the Curve,” a deep-dive into volatility featuring interviews with Chris Cole, Jerry Haworth, and Bastian Bolesta. Sponsor Link - Keep Coming Back : http://keepcomingbackpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing editor, Ed Harrison, hosts Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex, to discuss currency markets, the dollar’s reserve status, and the world’s loosening grip on the goal of economic efficiency. Chandler and Harrison parse how a seemingly weaker US recovery is expressing itself through currency markets. Chandler also shares his thoughts on why the dollar losing reserve status and the loss of US hegemony are not as compelling by appealing to the dollar’s cyclical trends. Finally, they discuss how nations are reducing their dependency on economic efficiency as the end all, be all, what that looks like, and how the pandemic is catalyzing these trends. In the intro, Nick Correa reviews the latest GDP numbers for the U.S. economy and what implications it has over the next few months. Sponsor Link - Keep Coming Back : http://keepcomingbackpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing editor, Ed Harrison, and senior editor, Ash Bennington, come together to discuss the Fed in light of the FOMC’s announcement today. Ed and Ash drive home how the Fed, at this time, is the dominant agent in these markets and how investor’s feelings regarding Fed action can interfere with one’s ability to make money. Because of the Fed’s mandate, Ed and Ash discuss why they are “the only game in town” and how it’s led them to respond to the crisis with unprecedented force. They then consider the weight of the arguments concerning the dollar losing reserve currency status and examine the implications of the Fed’s latest announcement. In the intro, Nick Correa covers what’s happening in gold markets and whether the rally is “overhyped” as well as Santander’s and Barclays’ earnings announcements. Sponsor Link - Keep Coming Back : http://keepcomingbackpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor, Ash Bennington, joins Max Wiethe to cover the types of U.S. stimulus that have been implemented so far, the battle happening in Congress, and the crypto space. Ash and Max do a deep-dive into the types of monetary policy the Fed can implement and the alphabet soup of facilities they have set up to respond to the crisis. They also discuss at length what the current negotiations could mean for the 2020 elections, how the robustness of the recovery is what matters at this stage, and how the dysfunction of Congress is on display. Finally, they talk about gold breaking its all-time highs, bitcoin nearing $11,000, and the long-term view of the crypto space. In the intro, Nick Correa talks about the newly-unveiled proposal from the Republicans for fiscal stimulus and the sources of tension as Congress races toward passing a relief bill. Sponsor Link - Keep Coming Back : http://keepcomingbackpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor, Ash Bennington, hosts managing editor, Ed Harrison, to break down the recent price action in gold and bitcoin, and to analyze the health of the U.S. economy as COVID-19 continues to spread. Ash and Ed also consider how the dollar continues to weaken and where rates are headed, as well as speculate on what the next iteration of US fiscal policy will shape up to be. In the intro, Jack Farley takes a look at the plumbing of the gold market. Sponsor Link - Keep Coming Back : http://keepcomingbackpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In many ways, China is at the center of the public health and economic crisis that has gripped the entire world for most of 2020, but recently more focus has been placed on the U.S. and Europe. George Magnus, research associate for the China Centre at Oxford University, helps viewers revert their gaze back towards the global superpower sized elephant in the room. Together with Real Vision's Ed Harrison, Magnus examines the current state of affairs for China from the perspective of the western countries left with a bad taste in their mouths after China's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, but also from the internal perspective of a country looking to restart its growth engine and position itself for a world with fewer allies and a new economy with less reliance on traditional global trade partners. In addition, they examine the health of the Chinese banking system, the return of credit growth in China, and the potential for western sanctions and the outright weaponization of the U.S. dollar.  Learn more about

Brent Johnson, CEO of Santiago Capital, joins Lyn Alden of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy for an in-depth discussion on the fate of the world's most important currency: the U.S. dollar. Johnson gives a strategic update on his "Dollar Milkshake" thesis and explains his bullish long-term view of the dollar, based on the outstanding glut of dollar-denominated debt. Alden considers this analysis and introduces a less bullish view, which she bases on the U.S.'s high trade deficit and negative net international investment position (NIIP). Using many detailed charts, Alden and Johnson compare their ideas and reach something of a synthesis between their two views. The pair also reflect on the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency, and they also explore whether a move to a multipolar currency world is possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor Ash Bennington is joined by editor Max Wiethe to reflect on a week of divergent price action. Ash and Max analyze the extreme rallies in precious metals, with Max describing his macro framework through the lens of his Real Vision Live interview with Greg Weldon. Ash then explores the rapidly approaching fiscal cliff, which leads into a philosophical discussion on financial journalists’ penchant for making uncertain connections between news headlines and moves in asset prices. Max describes his view on the dollar, and Ash and Max close by examining the dislocations between and within different equity indices. In the intro, Jack Farley goes over the latest economic data and explores the recent bid to rescue Brooks Brothers from bankruptcy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing editor, Ed Harrison, joins Real Vision’s Tyler Neville to break down his ideas around secular stagnating markets, demographics, and pensions. Tyler discusses how mega corporations are no longer playing to win, but playing to not lose and how the Fed’s monetary policies, especially in response to the pandemic, entrenches calcified companies, rendering the zombification effect. Ed and Tyler also examine how markets no longer reward innovative ideas with capital, but rather have converted into a debt refinancing mechanism and encourages a rentier market. They wrap their discussion by exploring how lack of funding will push pensions to go risk-on, whether Tesla can be likened to Amazon, and what may be coming to markets next. In the intro, Nick Correa shares the state of Kentucky recently filed lawsuit against Blackstone and KKR and how this highlights the extreme weaknesses and woes of the pensions industry at large. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing editor, Ed Harrison, hosts Jim Bianco of Bianco Research to discuss the Fed and Judy Shelton’s recent nomination, the significance of flows, and his forward look on markets and the economy. Bianco and Harrison first analyze the extreme opposition of Shelton’s nomination as a Fed Governor and consider how the Fed has been a domineering force in supporting markets for the past few months. Bianco then breaks down the types of retail investors and why their influence can prove to be powerful in driving market movements. They end their discussion by talking about the recent rally in gold and silver, and Bianco’s perspective on the bifurcation of markets and the economy, whether stimulus can be effective forever, and the damaged psyche of consumers. In the intro, Nick Correa gives an overview of the status of the US’s new relief bill and how the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program will end sooner than most Americans believe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor Ash Bennington joins managing editor Ed Harrison to talk about how EU leaders have closed in on its landmark recovery deal. Ash and Ed examine how European political dynamics have shifted and why this may not really be Europe’s “Hamiltonian moment.” They look at how federalism has played out in the US, how the EU differs in its makeup, and what existential threats the EU faces should their efforts fail. They wrap up their discussion with the unique threats the EU may face with coronavirus should it boomerang back to Europe. In the intro, Nick Correa covers the EU recovery deal’s details and shares some of the difficulties in reaching a deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor, Ash Bennington, hosts managing editor, Ed Harrison, to analyze the economic news of the day. Ed and Ash examine the recent jobs figures, and Ed describes why he believes the current jobless claims may be significantly underreported. They also discuss gold, and analyze ongoing progress of the EU recovery deal. In the intro, Jack Farley places in context recent movements in the dollar, yen, and euro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real Vision Managing Editor Ed Harrison talks to Richard Koo, Chief Economist at Nomura Research Institute. Koo is famous for his work on balance sheet recessions, a rare type of recession where drastic liquidity injections fail to increase the money supply because they remain trapped in the financial system, as there's no low demand for loans since companies focus on minimizing debt rather than maximizing profits. He and Harrison discuss this framework in detail, and use it to analyze our current economic crisis the world faces. Koo draws a contrast between the traditional balance sheet recession, where a bursting of a debt-financed bubble causes a collapse in asset prices and an emergence of debt overhang, with what he refers to as a "pandemic recession," where an exogenous collapse of economic activity leads to disappearing income and a tightening of financial conditions. Koo and Harrison also discuss the various toolkits available to central banks and fiscal authorities worldwide, and Koo shares what he t

Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Program at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, joins Ash Bennington to explain what the Department of Defense's coronavirus vaccine research project is doing to combat the pandemic. Dr. Modjarrad breaks down the different factors that have culminated to increase the difficulty of creating a vaccine. He shares details on the vaccine that his research group is creating with nanoparticles that bind to the virus itself. Finally, he answers questions like, "how long will vaccine deployment take?", "what effects do mutations have on the success of vaccines?", and "how does one protect themself from COVID-19?" from the perspective of an infectious disease doctor on the inside of the scientific effort to mitigate this deadly pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real Vision CEO Raoul Pal is joined by senior editor Ash Bennington to reflect on weakness in the banking sector and the odd flatness that has characterized the market for the past month. Raoul gives a taste of “Afterhours with Raoul,” in which he goes over how to build a macro framework and size position. Raoul and Ash also explore whether the Fed is suppressing volatility and take a look at CLOs through the lens of the most recent episode of Ahead of the Curve. In the intro, Jack examines Netflix’s plunge and the 30-year mortgage rate reaching an all-time low. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior editor Ash Bennington joins managing editor Ed Harrison to discuss the latest jobless claims numbers and its particular significance this week. They start off by discussing Ed’s latest interview with Robert P. Murphy and Austrian economics. They then distinguish the difference between non-seasonally adjusted data and seasonally adjusted data and why that’s critical to understand the news coverage of this week’s jobless numbers. Ed and Ash end their discussion on Bank of America’s earnings, why several major US banks have had mixed results this week, and what it says about the embedded inequalities in the system. In the intro, Peter Cooper discusses California Resources and why their bankruptcy is a foreshadowing for companies who are in trouble and are tapping into credit markets to carry them through the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices