thependulumswings

Friends 10 years ago today (actually March 9th 2009) in the midst of the great financial crisis, stocks finally bottomed after a more than 50% drop in a year and a half. At that moment it was the second more than 50% drop in the stock market in less than 10 years. I had been through the crash of October […]

Last week seemed to have been filled with a bit more rancor than most.  So much so that we wrote this. After a week of too much misdirected, failed, or ill-advised passion we decided to end it on a somewhat lighter note that allows us to forget for a bit all of the above.  Sports.  …

Another Mardi Gras has come and gone. Many kings of their parades were praised and glasses toasted.  It’s quite the production.  So, too, were quite the productions of a few blockbuster King Kong movies.   But, there was only one King Kong Bundy.  And, he was a production unto himself. Christopher Alan Pallies (born in 1957) …

Friends Stocks continue to lose a little bit of luster as we move into March. Today’s ADP private payroll number was about as expected and estimates are for Friday’s government non-farm payroll number to show about 180,000 new jobs were created in February. But, stocks seem to be experiencing a modest buyers strike at the moment. Volatility is still somewhat […]

With less than one day to go till the Lenten Season begins, BBR asked Antonio Cromartie to take in the sights, sounds, and decadence of NOLA on Mardi Gras Day and give us a look at it though his eyes.  Predictably, and unfortunately, ole Antonio headed head first into the merriment and hasn’t reported back …

As the BBR staff descended yesterday on the city of New Orleans for a little Mardi Gras fun today, we couldn’t help but think of Antonio Cromartie.  Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday.  Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday in the Catholic religion.  Ash Wednesday officially kicks of the Lenten Season, or Lent. Lent is …

As a gloomy February gave way late last week to a gloomy early March, $21 trillion in US debt and climbing gave way to $22 trillion in US debt and climbing.  But who is counting?  Talking about grey skies and cold temperatures is about as sexy as talking about debt.  It depresses one we suppose. …

Another work week and another calendar month is in the books.

In the last seven days passion has come to the fore.  Robert Kraft news kicked it off as we learned of his passion for massages (cheap ones at that) and women of the Asian persuasion.  President Trump (who loves the ladies quite a bit as well) was passionate in his attempt to get North Korea …

Friends This morning’s GDP release was quite a pleasant surprise. With most analysts expecting a number south of 2% for the 4th quarter of 2018, it was a bit of a stunner that we saw 2.6% growth in the quarter. Even more surprising was how business investment contributed to the strong number, as did consumer spending. Along with that surprisingly […]