CME Group Chief Economist Blu Putnam's series Off The Charts! examines the pertinent economic issues of the day in the United States and across the globe. The podcast series provides a deeper dive into complex topics and frames the issues in a way that can lead to a better understanding of the financial and commodities markets.
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Copper output has been stagnating or declining since 2015, with the pandemic causing mine closures in top producer Chile.
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Do options skews in Treasuries provide any guidance on market trend? We look into whether extreme downside skews signal a buying opportunity.
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Investors in the oil market seem to be more concerned over a market slump than a rally, as reflected in out-of-the-money options skews. Were they right?
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Oil prices have bounced off their recent lows but the implied volatility in options is indicating uncertainty in the market's direction over the long term.
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Outcome of talks for UK's exit from the European Union under Brexit presents a classic case of event risk that could reach a climax in November.
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Large-cap U.S. stocks are much more vulnerable to the fallout from the trade war between the U.S. and China because of their complex global supply chains.
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As crude oil prices top $70 per barrel amid escalating Mideast geopolitical risk premium, will shale producers ramp up output as they lock in prices?
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The Fed faces several key challenges as it charts a new monetary course in the aftermath of the emergency policies put in place during the Bernanke era.
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An index named for China's prime minister seems to provide better insight into its growth than official GDP. What's in store for the world's No. 2 economy.
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From growing U.S. budget deficits to potential trade wars and the end of quantitative easing, several "phase transitions" could fire up market volatility.
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From U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum to the uncertain future of NAFTA and tough Brexit negotiations, trade issues are taking center stage in 2018.
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Bitcoin supply is likely to grow by less than 5% in 2018 as the cryptocurrency edges closer to its production cap and as mining difficulty rises sharply.
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Grain markets are not overly concerned of a La Niña, with options implied volatility near lows, but hedging costs could spike quickly if the weather bites.
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How will central banks' unwinding of quantitative easing, starting with the Federal Reserve, impact financial markets in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
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The lackluster growth in U.S. wages can be attributed, in part, to expectations of low inflation, which has remained subdued for more than two decades.
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The trajectory of oil prices will depend on whether U.S. inventories continue to fall, OPEC members adhere to output cuts, and if U.S. production rises.
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Is China heading toward a recession? It's nascent yield curve is pointing to a possible major slowdown in the world's second-largest economy in mid-2018.
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The Brexit vote in Britain and the presidential election in the United States offer a glimpse into the differing nature of event risk that drives markets.
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Uncertainty and volatility are different risk management concepts. More uncertainty does not necessarily mean more volatile markets, as in the U.S.
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As interest rates in the United States go higher over the next two years, will it trigger a flight to quality into bonds on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean?
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The U.S. economy is a conundrum as it grows moderately at around 2% a year even as the unemployment rate has tumbled to the lowest in 16 years.
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The Federal Reserve's approach to reducing its massive balance sheet is to proceed very slowly so it does not disrupt markets, especially home mortgages.
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The French go to the polls on May 7 to elect a president, and the outcome could determine the future of the EU, impact the euro and affect Brexit talks.
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Among asset managers, many are benchmarked to major equity indexes. Here are four reasons why it can be difficult to consistently outperform these indexes.
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The lack of volatility in gold has seen options prices slump, but is the market about to change course as Congress weighs in on major Trump initiatives?
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The bond yield curve in relation to short-term rates is often a reliable indicator of a recession, and at the moment it is flashing the all-clear sign.
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Janet Yellen's tenure as Fed Chair comes to a close next year, providing the Trump administration the opportunity to leave its imprint on the central bank.
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Copper's blistering rally coincides with the Fed gearing up for multiple rate hikes in 2017. Will higher borrowing costs impact the red metal's performance?
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The weather outlook seems benign for crops like corn and soybeans in the Americas this year but shifts in U.S. trade policies could fuel market volatility.
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Elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany on the heels of the surprise 'Brexit' vote could either strengthen European unity or deepen the divide.
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Can OPEC's latest output cuts keep oil prices afloat? Cost-efficient shale producers in the United States will play a big role in the market's direction.
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With about a year left on the job, will the Fed's Janet Yellen keep with the tradition of handing over a clean slate by shrinking its mighty balance sheet?
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Listen to CME Group Chief Economist Blu Putnam discuss the impact of U.S. tax cuts in stimulating growth in an economy well past the drag of a recess.
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