10/11/15: Keiser Report from Kilkenomics 2016

My interview with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert in Kilkenny :

http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/216140/kilkenomics_where_comedy_meets_economics_constantin_gurdgiev__keiser_report/

Enjoy. (from 3:26 on).

10/11/15: The Miracle Pill of Rent Controls: San Fran

Rent controls are all the rage in Dublin kommentariate classes. But here is some evidence on their effectiveness in that centre of ‘egalitarianism’/‘tech elitism’ of San Fran:

Source: h/t to @ninjaeconomics 

You can see details https://www.sftu.org/rentcontrol/

Controls in San Fran have been a long running feature of the market, so one could have expected for these to at least induce lower volatility in rents. As the chart above shows, that is not the case and volatility - poor-cyclical - remains in place. As per levels of rents, why, San Fran rents are just plain insane.

So, Dublin's rationale for introducing rent controls is: we need more moderate rents to sustain growth of younger, innovation-focused enterprises. In San Fran, of course, rent controls have covered property market that sees younger, innovation-focused enterprises forced to pay 25-33% premia in wages terms to sustain hiring.

Over to the kimmentariate.

10/11/15: Debt and Deleveraging: European Corporates

Debt crises are long running things. Reinhart and Rogoff have said so before and continue to remind us about it often enough to think that by now, everyone would be cognitively aware of this aspect of the modern day economy. But, given the hopping and stomping associated with Europe's latest bout of 'fakecovery', some of our media do still require a reminder: debt crisis are long running things.

Want a picture to go with that? Why, here is a chart from BAML research note on the subject of European corporate deleveraging:

The above, really, says three things:

1. Deleveraging is still the rage: 2015 percentage of European companies continuing to deleverage is 57% - second highest over the entire time span between 2008 and today; 
2. Last time the rate of deleveraging fell was in 2011 and ever since, it continued to rise or stay put;
3. Taken 1 and 2 above, the entire narrative of 'credit-starved' companies in the European space is a bit questionable. As far as demand goes, only 43% of European firms are interested in increasing debt levels today, the second lowest since the start of the Global Financial Crisis.

10/11/15: First Anniversary of Ruble's Free Float

1 year old 'free-float' Ruble to USD and EUR:

It has been pretty breathtaking ride to revaluations and a baptismal by fire. And amazingly non-exciting world of CBR interventions:

9/11/15: Lessons from German reunification for a European Fiscal Union: Sinn

CESIfo's Hans-Werner Sinn has just torn a massive hole in the parasail of European 'federalistas' of French 'harmonise-everything' variety. His summarised view is presented here: http://www.voxeu.org/article/german-reunification-lessons-european-fiscal-union. A longer version is published by CESIfo on November 9th.

Key point in both is that "The fiscal union demanded by Hollande now is an understandable attempt to compensate for the lack of competitiveness of the southern EU countries by resorting to international transfers, but these transfers would cement their lack of competitiveness and drive Europe into permanent stagnation. The travails of German reunification should be a warning against pursuing this course."

In other words, East German experience, per Sinn, suggests that fiscal (tax and transfers) union even with debt mutualisation (aka replacing national debts with federal debt) is not a road to achieving economic convergence across the EU Member States, but a road to human capital and investment transfers from uncompetitive 'South' to competitive 'North'. In effect, dressed up as a social ills salvation, it bears a prospect of sealing tight existent competitive differentials and making 'South' a permanent dependency sub-Union.

Pretty darn tough stance.

7/11/15: U.S. Mint Sales of Gold Coins: October

Total sales of U.S. Mint gold coins came in at 44,500 oz per 94,500 coins sold (including both Eagles and Buffalos). This marked a significant decline in sales y/y, with volume by weight down 49.7% y/y and the number of units sold down 33.7%. Average weight of coin sold was down 24.2% y/y to 0.4709 oz per coin.

As chart above indicates, October fall-off in demand came after the end of 3Q that saw total volume of coding gold sold by the U.S. Mint rising incredible 234% y/y (compared to 3Q 2014) by weight and 305% y/y in terms of number of units sold. 

At a total of 471,000 oz sold over 934,500 units in 3Q 2015, last quarter was the best one since 2Q 2010 in terms of volume by weight sales and the best in history of the series (from 1Q 2006) in terms of number of coins sold.

Not surprisingly, scale fall off in demand in October can be explained by the moderation in demand back to cyclical normal. As shown in the chart above, overall October sales figures came in below the period average for May 2013 through present. However, stripping out three main outlier peaks in demand, the average comes to 49,978 oz - closer to the October reading of 44,500 oz. In historical comparatives, demand for gold coins in October was 38th lowest by total weight and 56th lowest by coins counts for any month from January 2006 though present.

Another point worth making is seasonality. Over 2006-present horizon, October saw significant decline sin demand for gold coins in seven out of 10 years, with insignificant changes m/m recorded in one month. In other words, October tends to be a more bearish month of U.S. Mint coins sales.

Final point worth making is that correlation between demand for U.S. Mint coins (by total oz weight) continued to show negative 12 months correlation with gold price. In October, this correlation stood at -0.58, slightly less in absolute value than in September (-0.59) and below -0.72 correlation in October 2014. Overall, negative correlation remained in every month from April 2014 on, suggesting stable demand interest from investors on foot of gold price declines.

6/11/15: Allergan & Pfizer: More Happiness for OECD Tax Reformists

On foot of couple previous posts relating to Ireland-bound pharma inversions, here is an interesting link to the Bloomberg coverage of the Allergen shenanigans: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-02/a-pharmacist-s-dirty-socks-are-key-to-cutting-pfizer-tax-bill

With a nice chart to accompany:

Couple of links to my previous posts on the topic, covering

• Allergan-Pfizer merger: http://trueeconomics.blogspot.ie/2015/10/301015-none-of-them-harmful-tax.html
• Grifols of Spain re-domiciling accounting and other activities to Ireland: http://trueeconomics.blogspot.ie/2015/10/251015-grifols-and-ghosts-of-oecd.html and http://trueeconomics.blogspot.ie/2015/11/51115-grifols-at-last-in-irish-media.html

“We love your tax compliance theories, OECD!” Signed: Enda.

6/11/15: BRIC Composite PMIs for October: Some Sunny Spells Amidst a Downpour

Having covered 

• BRIC Manufacturing PMIs for October here, and
• BRIC Services PMI here (),

now, let’s take a look at Composite PMIs

India:

India’s composite PMI rose from 51.5 in September to 52.6 in October, indicating stronger growth in private sector activity across the country and the joint-fastest pace of growth since March 2015. Per Markit: “The latest improvement was driven by services, as goods producers saw growth of production wane.” 3mo average though October 2015 stood at 52.2, signalling faster growth in the 3mo average through July (50;9) and an increase in there ate of growth compared to 3mo period through October 2014 (51.2). This marks fourth consecutive month of above 50 reading for India and also a fourth consecutive month of India leading BRIC group in growth terms.

China: 

China Composite PMI signalled some early signs of stabilisation of Chinese business activity in October, posting reading of 49.9, up from September’s 80-month low of 48.0. Nonetheless, the index reading in October was the third lowest since May 2014. On a 3mo average basis, 3mo reading through October 2015 was at poor 48.9, down on 50.9 for the 3mo period through July 2015 and down on 51.9 3mo average through October 2014. October marked a third month in a row of negative growth across the Chinese economy, although relative position of Chinese economy in BRIC rankings did improve from being second worst in July-September to third worst in October.

Russia:

Russian Composite PMI posted a very disappointing reading of 49.0 in October, down from 50.9 in September. On a 3mo average basis. Russian Composite PMI fell from 50.1 reading for the 3mo average through July 2015 to 49.7 for the 3mo period through October. 3mo average through October 2014 was 50.0. Per Markit release: “The Russian service sector returned to contraction territory at the start of the fourth quarter of 2015 as new work stagnated and excess capacity persisted. …In contrast, manufacturing output rose for a second successive month and to the highest degree since

last November. However, growth was insufficient to prevent the composite index slipping to a seven month low of 49.0 (from 50.9 in September).” Thus, in October, Russia moved to the position of second weakest growth in the BRIC group.

Brazil:

Brazil’s Composite PMI remained unchanged at 42.7 in October, staying below 50.0 reading threshold for the eighth month running, “highlighting the longest sequence of continuous decline in Brazilian private sector output since the global financial crisis. Sharp rates of contraction were noted in both the manufacturing and service sectors. …the latest reduction in employee headcounts was the most pronounced since composite data were first available (March 2007).” 3mo average through October stood at abysmally poor 43.4, which is marginally worse than 43.5 3mo average through July 2015 and significantly below the recessionary reading of 49.5 recorded over the 3 months through October 2014.

As chart above indicates, overall Composite Activity Index for BRIC economies as a whole continued to take water with both trend and current reading well below 100.0 marker of zero growth.

Brazil continues to lead BRIC group into recessionary territory in terms of aggregate growth, with Russia now ranked as second lowest growth momentum economy. On a simple average basis, BRIC Services PMI came in at around 49.0 with Manufacturing coming at 48.3, suggesting that overall growth conditions remain weak across the world’s leading EMs. 

6/11/2015: BRIC Services PMIs: Continued Weakness in October

Having covered BRIC Manufacturing PMIs for October here, now, let’s take a look at Services PMIs

India:
Indian Services PMI rose to an eight-month high of 53.2 in October form September reading of 51.3. This marks fourth consecutive month of above 50.0 readings in the sector. 3mo average through October 2015 stood at 52.1, up on 49.4 3mo average reading though July 2015 and up on 50.7 3mo average through October 2014. Per Markit, “activity growth was noted in three of the six surveyed categories… Underpinning growth of services activity was a quicker increase in new business inflows. Incoming new work expanded at a solid pace that was the most pronounced since February.” In summary terms, Indian services performance improved in October, although growth rates singled remain below their historical average of 54.6.

China: 
China Services sector activity rose at a quicker rate in October (52.0) compared to September (50.5) and the fastest rate of expansion since July 2015. Per Markit, however, “…the latest reading was indicative of only a modest rate of growth that was slower than the historical average. Service sector companies saw a further rise in total new business during October. In line with the trend for activity, the rate of new order growth picked up from September’s recent low and was solid overall.” That said, 3mo average reading for the index through October stood at 51.3, which is lower than 3mo average reading of 53.0 for the period through July 2015 and is down on 53.5 3mo average through October 2014. Thus, overall, China’s Services sector has managed to turn around persistent declines in PMI readings over the previous 3 months, but activity levels in October stood well below historical average of 55.2.

Russia:
Russian Services PMI posted a disappointing sub-50 reading in October at 47.8 down from 51.3 in September, basically quashing the hopes of growth momentum reversal. 3mo average through October is now at 49.4, which is worse than 51.3 average for the 3mo period through July 2015 and is identical to the reading for the 3mo period through October 2014. Per Markit release: “Latest data marked the third time in the past five months that a sub-50.0 reading has been recorded, and October’s index level was also the lowest seen since March.” This contrasts the latest reading for Manufacturing PMI that posted an improvement rising to 50.2 in October. However, with Services in a clear contraction territory and Manufacturing statistically indistinguishable from zero growth, the Composite PMI for Russia posted sub-50 reading as well. Again, per Markit: “With the exception of the Communications sector, all services sub-categories recorded a decline in activity during the month. Sub-par performance was linked to a challenging economic environment which had a negative impact on sales, which stagnated at the aggregate service sector level in October. This thereby ended a six-month sequence of new business growth, and there were some reports that the sourcing of capital funds remained tough (although in terms of sector performance Communications was again a notable outlier,
registering a strong increase in new work).”


Brazil:
Brazil Services PMI posted another abysmally poor reading in October at 43.0, up on horrific reading back in September. On a 3mo average basis, 3mo average through October 2015 stood at 43.2, above 40.5 3mo average through July 2015, but down 49.5 recorded for the 3mo period through October 2014. This marks 8th consecutive month of sub-50 readings for the country Services sector and 9th consecutive month of sub-50 readings in Manufacturing activity. Per Markit release: “Panel member reports highlighted frail economic conditions across the country. Incoming new work received by Brazilian service providers continued to decrease in October. Furthermore, the rate of contraction was steep as highlighted by the respective index sliding to a 79-month low.”

Table below summarises main changes:

Chart below shows developing trends:

As shown above, Brazil continues to lead BRIC group into recessionary territory in the Services sectors, with latest moderation in the rate of contraction not sufficient to compensate for activity declines over the period from march 2015 on. Back in Aril 2015, Brazil pushed past Russia as the driver to the BRIC group downside and it remains in this ‘leading’ position. Another disappointing signal came from Russia, where Services PMI singled renewed and relatively sharp pressures to the downside. This single is consistent with the view of the Russian economy as being well outside the bounds of the recovery momentum. In contrast, both India and China posted improvements in the rates of growth in October in the Services sector, although Chinese data is clearly subject to serious questions about its quality.

Overall, however, on a simple average basis, BRIC Services PMI cam in at around 49.0 with Manufacturing coming at 48.3, suggesting that overall growth conditions remain weak across the world’s leading EMs.

5/11/15: Times Higher Education Rankings of Irish Universities: 2016

Times Higher Education rankings of universities are out and the bad news is that Irish universities are doing poorly as a group and more poorly in 2016 rankings than in 2015.

Here is a snapshot of country’s ranked institutions:

And here is the disaster unfolding over time:

So over the last two years of the ‘recovery’: three out of top-ranked 5 Irish universities saw their rankings tank, one saw the ranking static, one saw rankings improve in 2014-2015 table before somewhat deteriorating in 2015-206 table. Three Irish universities are now in the ‘Third Tier’ of global performance, two are in the ‘Second Tier’ and none are in the ‘World Class” group.

Meanwhile, of course, Irish third level education and academic research sustained second largest (in % terms) funding cuts since the start of the Global Financial Crisis amongst all OECD economies.

That is not to say that Irish Universities are doing everything possible to improve their performance. No, sir, we are still stuck in the old mode of past promotions, rewards, hiring and assessment practices. And we are still failing to develop non-tenured faculty and adjunct faculty engagement with rankle activities, including… err… academic research. 

Any surprises, thus? 

5/11/15: Grifols: At Last in Irish Media Spotlight

Two weeks ago I wrote about the tax-linked Spanish pharma Grifols move to Ireland (see link here) at the time when all Irish media was gushing on about jobs and investment, forgetting - conveniently and patently - the pesky issue of Why did a Spanish company decided all of a sudden to relocate major operations and international billing into Ireland?

Well, good to know that with a good week-and-a-half delay, the Irish Times woke up to the problem, covering it (albeit with usual 'diplomatic' caveats) here: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/grifols-move-to-ireland-hits-tax-and-political-buttons-1.2415243.

One important aspect indirectly highlighted by the Irish Times article on the matter is the problem we are having with 'Brand Ireland' - the brand that is now visible across Europe and the U.S., as well as Australia and Canada as being linked with 'beggar thy neighbour' economics.

This strategy for growth is behind our 'stellar out-performance' on fiscal side, as another Irish Times article highlighted here: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/tax-surge-from-multinationals-not-a-one-off-1.2416002. Stay tuned, as I will be covering the matter of 'sustainability' of our revenue and growth side in light of tax inversions and tax-fuelled FDI inflows later this month.

Note: about that 'beggar thy neighbour' economic development model: here is a note highlighting effects of Irish tax policies on the UK current account: http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN0SS00320151103?irpc=932. I disagree with the view that the distortion of national accounts aggregates has little effect on the real economy in the UK. In my opinion, it erodes tax base in the UK and transfers the benefits of MNCs activity accruing to Ireland into cost to British taxpayers. Someone pays for our gains, because tax is a zero-sum, non-value-additive activity.

5/11/15: Euromoney on Irish Sovereign Risk Ratings

Euromoney Country Risk scores for Ireland have been improving significantly in recent months, while some ratings agencies' view of sovereign risks here remain lagging. Euromoney takes a look at the matter here: http://www.euromoney.com/Article/3503504/Category/14091/ChannelPage/8959/Country-risk-Why-Moodys-is-wrong-on-Ireland.html?LS=Twitter