Transcripts
Erik: Welcome to Part 5 of MacroVoices Eurodollar University with Alhambra Investments CIO Jeffrey Snider. I’m your host, Erik Townsend. There is a slide deck to accompany this podcast and we recommend that you download it before listening, as we’ll be referring to the charts and graphs it contains throughout this program. You’ll find the download link, along with other parts of the series at https://www.macrovoices.com/edu (for Eurodollar University).
Now, you might be wondering how this could be Part 5 in what we’ve described in the past as a four-part series. The original four-part series, produced in 2017, focused on the history of the Eurodollar system before the great financial crisis. In Season 2 of Eurodollar University, produced in 2018, we’re going to analyze how and why the system broke down, beginning on August 9 of 2007, and hasn’t been the same since. Season 2 adds Parts 5, 6, and 7 to what has now become a seven-part series overall.
So, without further ado, let’s bring back Alhambra Investments CIO, Jeffrey Snider.
Erik: Jeff Snider, thanks so much for joining us again for Eurodollar University, Season 2. This is Part 5 in what was originally conceived to be a four-part series. And the reason for that is the original series really was focused on the history of the Eurodollar system up until it broke down in 2007. In Season 2, we’re going to talk about what’s happened since 2007. Thanks so much for being with us and doing this again with us, Jeff.
Erik: Joining me next is Jesse Felder, editor and publisher of The Felder Report, one of the most popular newsletters, as well as the occasional Felder Report podcast, which is also extremely popular with listeners.
Jesse, thanks so much for joining us. I’ve got a lot I want to cover. First of all, listeners, Jesse put a great slide deck together for us. The download link is in your Research Roundup email. We’re going to start with that. Then there is also a blog post to discuss, also linked in your Research Roundup email.
Jesse, let’s start with this chart deck. As I go to Chart 2, I notice that you’re talking about some popular concepts: dot com bubble, housing bubble, and then everything bubble. I love the metaphor. It feels good.
But I want you to be really specific with me. What are you talking about, “everything bubble?” Exactly what do you mean? Because dot-com bubble and housing bubble – everybody knew exactly what that meant.
Why is it an everything bubble? And what is causing there to be a price inflation bubble in so many different asset classes all at once?
Erik: Joining me next on the program is Martin Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Economics.
Martin, I’ve really got to hand it to you. Last time we had you on the program, a little more than a year ago, the S&P was at 2,385.
And, to summarize approximately what you said: You could easily make the argument that we’re already way overvalued on a fundamental basis. But it doesn’t matter. The market could easily double from here.
And, of course, as much as everybody was calling for a crash at that point, your words were proven quite prescient. It was all uphill from there.
Now we’ve had a few hiccups. Are we finally at the point where, maybe, we’re running out of steam? Or do you think that we’re going to get past this correction and continue to move higher?
Erik: Joining me next on the program is David Rosenberg, famously the author of “Breakfast with Dave,” a newsletter that has persisted through, I think, three or four different job changes.
Dave, thanks so much for being with us on the program. Listeners, we’ve got a great slide deck that Dave put together a few months ago. This is dated from March, but it is every bit as relevant today as the day that it was published in March of 2018. You’ll find the download link in your Research Roundup email and I strongly encourage you to download it as we’ll be referring to it throughout this interview.
Dave, the first few slides you’ve got here – you’ve done such a brilliant job as always at getting together some of the smartest people in the industry and quotes from – all kind of on the same theme, which is we should be pretty much coming to an end of this cycle.
But I was particularly caught by Jeremy Grantham’s comment on Slide 3 where he says this thing ought to be over but, on the other hand, as a historian, there’s also the possibility that we’re just going to see a great big blow off or melt-up phase at the end of this bull market. And he’s saying the potential of maybe another 60% surge up before it’s finally over.
So where does that bring us? This was a few months ago. What’s the current update on your outlook on the market? Are we looking at maybe that last hurrah? Or is this cycle finally ending?
Erik: Joining me next on the program is Dr. Pippa Malmgren, the founder of DRPM Group and the author of a new book, which won’t be out until October. We’ll get to that later in the interview.
Pippa, I want to start with the trade wars. China. Obviously, you are well-known as a geopolitical analyst, having served as an advisor to several US presidents. So tell us about your perspective.
Is Donald Trump bluffing with [President] Xi about this trade war stuff? Is this all part of the “art of the deal” stuff? Are we really at the risk that appears to exist of a major trade war breaking out that could cause, as some people think, a meltdown in the stock market?
What’s the real story here? And what are the various actors up to? What’s their real intention?
MACRO VOICES is presented for informational and entertainment purposes only. The information presented in MACRO VOICES should NOT be construed as investment advice. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making important investment decisions. The opinions expressed on MACRO VOICES are those of the participants. MACRO VOICES, its producers, and hosts Erik Townsend and Patrick Ceresna shall NOT be liable for losses resulting from investment decisions based on information or viewpoints presented on MACRO VOICES.
