Balancing Inflation and Growth Part 5 of 13

September 18th, 2009

Balancing Inflation and Growth Part 5 of 13

Some argue it is the slowing economy. Even if you foresee the most likely U.S. scenario as a period of flat growth for a few quarters, followed later in the year by a return to potential growth of about 3 percent, one cannot help but worry about whether the so-called tail risk commodity trading companies the odds of the worst-case scenario on the growth distribution curve unfoldingis getting fatter as the inventory of unsold homes continues to swell, consumers sense of wealth and businesses confidence erodes, and the solicitous bankers that used to court them become more coy.

Yet, the worst-case scenario remains very much a tail risk. As Chairman Bernanke noted in testimony before Congress last week, the nonfinancial sector has held up reasonably well and continues to expand. Employment growth is weakening and consumer confidence is sagging, but inventories and other indicators remain constructive. You can see evidence of this in the fourth quarters corporate performance. Thomson Financial reported last week that own 22 percent for the 462 S&P 500 companies that have so far released their numbers for the quarter. But strip out the financial institutions, and earnings were up 12 percent, and 62 percent of those 462 companies reported earnings that topped analysts expectations. In all, that is not bad when you consider the beating the financials have taken and how stocks of housing and housing-related companies have been pummeled.

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Balancing Inflation and Growth Part 1 of 13

September 17th, 2009

Balancing Inflation and Growth Part 1 of 13

It is an honor to speak here in London to the Society of Business Economists at the suggestion of my much-admired friend, Charlie Bean at the Bank of England. Charlie is on the advisory board of the Dallas Feds Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute, and we are most grateful for his platform trading insight and, not unimportantly, his wit.

I am on my way to a conference in Paris to learn commodity trading, where I have been invited by the Banque de France to comment on a paper by another of our institutes esteemed advisors, Harvard professor Ken Rogoff. I hope my French hosts will forgive me for bringing up my favorite of all of Shakespeares histories this evening, Henry V, as I recall one of the more pleasant moments during my tenure on the Federal Open Market Committee. During our last meeting with Alan Greenspan as chairman, some of us took advantage of the moment to ham it up and work a farewell salute into our otherwise somber interventions. I chose to adapt Henrys speech to the troops at Agincourt. Affecting my best Kenneth Branagh imitation, I mangled the words of the Bard: We few, we happy few, we band of bankers, and so on, concluding with the observation that other economists now abedit was morning when we metshall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their policy prescriptions cheap while any speaks that served in Alan Greenspans days.

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Balancing Inflation and Growth Part 13 of 13

September 15th, 2009

Balancing Inflation and Growth Part 13 of 13

To some, this may appear a Hobsons choice. I dont see it that way. Our obligation is to prevent inflation in order to sustain long-term employment growth and commodity trading company. I believe that the best way to cut through the treacherous economic waves that are upon us and keep our ship steaming forward is to stick to our purpose.

That about says it all for tonight. Let me bring this back to London. Recently, the New York Times ran a delightful article on your search for a motto or commodity quotes that captures the essence of Britain. My favorite was Nemo me impune lacessit, which loosely translatedaccording to my Texas Latinmeans Never sit on a thistle. Tonight I may have taken the risk of sitting on the thistle of opprobrium of those of you who wished to hear a more felicitous speech. But Charlie Beans advice was to just tell em what you think. That is what I have done, and I thank you for allowing me to do so.
In the time that remains this evening, I would be happy to take questions and, in true central banking fashion, do my level best to avoid answering them.

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