The recent news in the Bitcoin world is China's building attempt to regulate and oversee its use to a point where it is rendered nearly useless for Chinese consumers. They've realized that they can't truly kill it per se, but they can regulate the exchanges to a point where they can effectively stymie ts attractiveness. Bitcoin, whether one considers it sound money or not, is a challenge to the established system monopolized by central banks everywhere. The War on Cash narrative fits in with the reality that central banks and governing authorities feel a need to address the lack of control...
The Fed Does Nothing
2017 is off with a drab whisper as the FOMC, as expected, kept the Fed Funds rate target unchanged at .5-.75%. Further, there was no mention of the alleged three 2017 hikes, which “experts” might consider as to be dovish move. The Press Release was optimistic about the economy and cited a strengthening labor market, economic expansion, and consumer sentiment. Perhaps they haven't seen the delicate fourth quarter GDP numbers? One of the themes of 2017 is the issue of the Fed Balance Sheet and whether the Fed is going to be talking up some sort of effort toward shrinking it. On this front, we...