Business

It all started about three years ago when we first advised readers who were inclined to so gamble, that the only way to win in a rigged, maipulated market, one in which central bankers are now Chief Restructuring Officers and will not allow even a modest correction to asset prices, that the easiest way to generate "alpha" was to go long the most hated names.

Then, in mid-February, just as the market had bottomed and was about to unleash a historic short squeeze, we had a follow up article, in which we explained in very simple terms "how to outperform most hedge funds in 2016."

While it most likely is just the usual Friday (past) midnight trial balloon by the Nikkei, a media outlet that has promptly become the BOJ's mouthpiece (recall a week ago the new owner of the FT reported that Abe would delay his 2017 sales tax increase, only to see the premier backpedal when the reaction in the USDJPY was not quite as desired), moments ago the Japanese publication reported that the Bank of Japan will "likely set aside funds for the first time to prepare for losses on its huge holdings of Japanese government bonds should the central bank end its monetary easing polic

For 20 of the last 21 weeks, US oil rig count has declined as it tracked the lagged oil price lower. That changed today as oil rigs were unchanged week-over-week perfectly syncing with the lagged lows in oil. Total rigs dropped 2 (thanks to gas rigs) to a new record low but even that pace has slowed dramatically. Oil prices are fading modestly on the news...

It seems we nailed it as the inflection point in the lagged oil price marked the inflection point (for now) in oil rig count...

Submitted by Michael Shedlock via MishTalk.com,

New accounting rules show Chicago has understated its pension liabilities by $11.5 billion.

At the end of 2015 the stated liability was $7.1 billion. Today it’s $18.6 billion. That’s a jump in net liabilities of 168%.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has hopes pinned on union concessions and help from the state legislature. Neither is likely.

Out of Money in 10 Years

Bloomberg reports Chicago’s Pension-Fund Troubles Just Became $11.5 Billion Bigger.

Submitted by Daniel Fernandez Mendez via The Mises Institute,