Episodes
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
The Fed this past week held off raising interest rates once again. Or did it? Dr. Rasmus explains why the Fed may have paused raising short term rates but it is simultaneously raising long term Fed interest rates (10,30 Treasury bonds). Rasmus explains how the Fed is flooding markets with excess Treasury sales in order to raise funds to cover the US $2T budget deficit, an act driving up long term US Treasury rates. Fed chair Powell faces growing contradictions in monetary policy: higher short term rates destabilize regional banks & real estate markets (commercial & residential), but long term rate hikes undermine Treasury markets. Fed has no alternative, needing to raise more than $1.5T in next 6 months from sale of Treasuries in order to cover the $2T US budget deficit. Contradictions in US fiscal policy (deficits, debt) are thus exacerbating monetary policy & financial markets, Rasmus explains. The ‘spin’ that Fed policy has produced a ‘soft landing’ of the real economy is next debunked. The show concludes with updates on the Ukraine war, how Russian forces are growing in number while Ukraine’s manpower & weapons fade-as Zelensky quarrels with his generals. In Israel’s war on Hamas, Dr. Rasmus argues 4 US aircraft carriers at and en route to the region represent US planning for potential war with Iran, not simply military support for Israel. A point further suggested by resolutions just passed by the US Congress calling for war with Iran