Looking at the significance, or not, of a record high in stock market margin debt.
Recent Items
Thursday, October 16, 2025
What Does New High in US Stock Market Margin Debt Portend?
Topics: Credit markets, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Investment outlook
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | No Comments »
Links 10/16/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 25 Comments »
Trump Plans to Use Men With Guns as Part of IRS Campaign Against “Left-Leaning” Groups
Trump, in particular his key deputy Steve Miller, is gearing up to launch his war against political enemies, above all Soros’ Open Society
Topics: Banana republic, Legal, Politics, Ridiculously obvious scams, Social policy, Taxes
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:30 am | 4 Comments »
Winning with Misinformation: New Research Identifies Link Between Endorsing Easily Disproven Claims and Prioritizing Symbolic Strength
A new study probes attitudes that are correlated with receptivity to more extreme misinformation claims.
Topics: Dubious statistics, Guest Post, Media watch, Pandemic, Politics, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 1:30 am | 6 Comments »
Drug Price Wars: What Can Really Tame Big Pharma?
What’s really driving Big Pharma’s price gouging — and why have Federal efforts to rein it in made so little progress?
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 12:21 am | 6 Comments »
Coffee Break: Russell Vought, Stephen Miller, and Eric Trump Trio of the Week
A Trump Trio stood out in news coverage of the administration this week: Russell Vought, Stephen Miller, and Eric Trump.
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nat Wilson Turner at 2:00 pm | 21 Comments »
Financial Institution Leaders Issue More Warnings of Equity Market Froth, Dodgy Debt Bombs
Financial firm heads are making admissions against interest. Further discussion of apparent and potential risks.
Topics: Banking industry, Credit markets, Doomsday scenarios, Dubious statistics, Economic fundamentals, Federal Reserve, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Risk and risk management, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 28 Comments »
Links 10/15/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 124 Comments »
Trump 2.0’s Eurasian Balancing Act Has Failed
Yet more case examples of Trump arrogance and aggression producing failure.
Topics: China, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Garrulous insolence, Globalization, Guest Post, India, Politics, Russia
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:30 am | 41 Comments »
As Trump Sells Peace in West Asia, His ‘Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ in the Caucasus Fails to Live Up to Its Name
As US Zionist plans progress in the Levant, what’s happening at another point in the Iran pressure campaign in the Caucasus?
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Infrastructure, Middle East, Ridiculously obvious scams, Russia
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:00 am | 8 Comments »
Israel, the US, and the New Aerial Imperialism
Israel has used the US, or vice versa, to subdue the neighborhood via aggressive air campaigns. But is that sustainable?
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Guest Post, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 2:12 am | 30 Comments »
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – Rare Earth Elements
The U.S. military relies on rare earth elements across missiles, radars, jet engines, submarine propulsion, and advanced magnets, yet the supply chain is fragile and concentrated abroad. This article explains why REEs matter, their role in a trade war with China, and the cost of substituting domestic production or rare earths and other strategic materials.
Topics: Coffee Break, Guest Post
Posted by Haig Hovaness at 2:00 pm | 44 Comments »
The Huge US Bond Market and the US Dollar Blow Off the “Debasement Trade”
Why the dollar and Treasuries have rallied despite the Liberation Day swoon and “debasement trade” patter.
Topics: Currencies, Economic fundamentals, Globalization, Guest Post, Investment outlook
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 25 Comments »
Links 10/14/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:55 am | 144 Comments »
War in Venezuela Could Be Another Vietnam, Warns Mexican Analyst Fernando Buen Abad
“The breakout of war in Venezuela could be a horror show for the entire continent. “
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nick Corbishley at 6:44 am | 26 Comments »