Business Cycle

We haven’t quite reached the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, but we are getting close. It’s been nearly six months since the longest day of 2022 passed us. We don’t fret when the days begin shortening, nor trot out world-ending conspiracies once the nights become longer than the days immediately following the autumnal equinox. But why not?

Growing up I had many friends with musical talents. As an adult I partnered up with a musician to start Atlas. Those who were not around when Atlas was on Carnelian missed guitar jam sessions with J R.

Trends never move in straight lines. This is certainly observable in markets. Styles experience the same phenomenon. Perhaps the kernel of a trend is revealed at a fashion show, but it takes the greater population a little time to embrace the new look. A similar pattern is emerging for the globe as it tries trending back to something more normal from the depths of the pandem

Every six weeks the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meets to discuss monetary policies and to make any changes to it which they deem necessary.  Their latest two-day meeting ended last Wednesday with the 12-person committee unanimously voting to raise the overnight lending rate banks charge each other by 0.75 percentage points; the range for this type of loan now stands at 3.75 - 4.0

There are many sticking points in the American economy these days.  Inflation comes to mind.  So does our Federal Reserve.  Or what about the growth rate of the economy?  It’s not quite molasses-like just yet, but the pace of output is gaining viscosity.

Copper is an important base metal in the global economy.  It’s one of the most ductile materials the earth provides, making it perfect for wiring because it is an efficient conductor of electricity.

Our economy is hardly flying on one engine, but the international radio distress signal seems appropriate.  Why?  May is right around the corner, and the Federal Reserve will likely begin tightening its monetary policy during the period.  On Wednesday, the central bank unveiled its plan to shrink their balance sheet.

Resort towns are known for their boom-and-bust cycles.  When financial crises materialize, ownership of second and third properties are the first to be sacrificed by people impacted in the downturn.  One resort town in Southern California, however, managed to escape the up portion of these cycles, pretty much falling from a peak in the 1960s.  Salton Sea was once a destination fo

Humans and our ancestors have used tools for millions of years.  They started with rudimentary instruments made of rocks (hence the stone age moniker).  Suddenly, around 12,000 years ago, humans began to harness copper.  Since then, we and this utilitarian metal have maintained a longstanding relationship.  It was the first metal worked by our ancestors and is still an impor