Articles written by Gary Brode - Benzinga

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week: The Everybody Shut Up Issue

The Federal Reserve completed its May meeting and kept rates unchanged. So, why did the market rise? The Bank of Japan intervened to save the yen twice to no effect before getting bailed out by the Fed taper and a weak employment report. Irresponsible people in Washington are saying insane things. DKI’s solution: Everybody stop talking!

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week: The Stagflation Issue

We saw a weak and overstated GDP print combined with a higher inflation metric. The conclusion is that absent government spending, we’re heading for stagflation. One problem: government spending is destroying value. Mish Shedlock warns that we can’t vote our way out of the problem.

Monthly Depth Report: The Blind Leading The Confused

One of the best experiences I’ve had in my investment career was being partner and co portfolio manager with Raji Khabbaz. He’s a fantastic stock-picker and the two of us spent the better part of a decade discussing and debating investment ideas.

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week: The Halving Issue

This was an exciting week for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) holders and hodlers as the fourth-ever halving took place on Friday. The American consumer got back to work spending ever more on goods and services. Some of that was inflation and some was more consumption.

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week - The Inflation And Oil Issue

This was a big week for connected events. The increase in the CPI was a surprise to the disinflation crowd that’s been screaming for lower interest rates for almost two years. Higher CPI leads to higher for longer interest rates which pushes up the dollar against the yen.

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week - The Shockwave Takeover Issue

The Shockwave offer that DKI predicted in December happened this week with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)agreeing to pay $335 per share in cash. DKI subscribers celebrated! The PMI came in hot. Don’t want to read the details? The conclusion is “higher for longer”.

March CPI Is 3.2%

Today, we got the March Consumer Price Index (CPI) report which showed an overall increase of 3.5% unadjusted in the last year and 0.4% vs last month. That’s above last month’s 3.2% and expectations of 3.4%. The 0.4% monthly increase annualizes to 4.9%. The Core CPI which excludes food and energy was up 3.8% for the last year and up .4% from last month.

5 Things to Know in Investing This Week

The Shockwave Issue

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week - The Economic Humor Issue

This was a big week for people who follow macroeconomic news. The Federal Reserve kept rates and the dot plot unchanged, but the press release was carefully worded to be opaque. We’ll explain why.

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week - The Stagflation And Doom Issue

This wasn’t a good week for the “pivot” people and asset gatherers who have been begging the Federal Reserve for lower rates. We got a higher-than-expected CPI and PPI. Making things worse, the short-term monthly numbers have started to accelerate meaning the disinflation story might be dead for now.

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week - The Powell Just Hit The Panic Button Issue

This week, Jerome Powell spoke to Congress and was more dovish than he’s been in years. He’s gone from channeling former Fed Chairman, Volker, who crushed inflation with interest rates approaching 20% to sounding like Volker’s predecessor, Arthur Burns, who reduced interest rates before getting inflation under control.

February CPI Is 3.2%

Weekly Points – The Everyone Is Wrong And Should Admit It Issue

Weekly Points – 5 Things To Know In Investing This Week

The Opposite Day Issue This week, economic data decided to pull a George Costanza and do the opposite of everything it has been doing. DKI has highlighted the trend of inconsistent data in recent months, and this week, many of those inconsistent trends reversed. Confusing? Don’t worry, we’ll explain.

Weekly Points – 5 Things To Know In Investing This Week

The Silly People Saying Silly Things Issue

January CPI Is 3.1%

5 Things To Know In Investing This Week

The Surprise Higher For Longer Issue

Weekly Points – 5 Things To Know In Investing This Week

The Super-Duper Inconsistent Data Issue

4Q '23 GDP Is Excellent – Sort Of… Analysis Of Yesterday's GDP Report By Deep Knowledge Investing

The first estimate of 4Q GDP came out this morning. Growth of 3.3% was well above expectations of 2%. As usual, we’ll go through a couple of adjustments. DKI adjusts for change in private inventories because it reflects inventory stocking or de-stocking as opposed to actual economic activity. 4Q inventory additions were only .07% which is negligible.

December CPI Is 3.4%