CHAN AKYA

September 2, 2010

"Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to the forest that straight trees are cut down while crooked ones are left standing." - Chanakya (350-275 BC)

For more on the original Chanakya, the inventor of skullduggery, click here.

Running out of road

China, of all countries the best placed to mitigate an asset bubble, appears the most concerned about the impact of government stimulus packages. Elsewhere, the assumptions underlying hopes of better times ahead look all too flawed.

(Sep 28, '09)

Moral hazard is back

There is clearly a class of people who do not face the full force of the law because of who they happen to be. The same stunning level of corruption is also true for banks, bailouts and financial systems. This will be the unsavory legacy of the Lehman Brothers aftermath.

(Sep 18, '09)

The Surreal Symphony

World governments have succeeded in postponing the reckoning for leverage and asset prices, not to mention global real incomes, without any prospects of avoiding a repeat of the very circumstances that led to the current financial crisis. If this were a fairy tale, it would be both surreal and have a nasty ending. It is not, so we are just left to ponder the latter ...

(Sep 11, '09)

We are all Japanese now

The end of capitalism as the system du jour will happen not with a bang but with a whimper. Lower growth, higher debt and more bank failures will feature in the distant future; but for now, many people will celebrate the death of laissez faire and the advent of Japanese capitalism in its place.

(Sep 04, '09)

Prada to Pravda

European luxury brands championed the consumerism of the US and European countries that led to the global financial crisis; that situation is now being replaced by a pseudo-reality straight from the pages of old Soviet newspapers. Now, governments dictate market movements even as they slant news coverage to suit specific requirements. Chan Akya would tell people to buy gold, but perhaps even that will be subject to price manipulation over the near term.

(Aug 28, '09)

BOOKS: Crisis in hindsight

As the storm recedes, at least for a while, from the worst financial crisis since World War II, bookshelves are littered with accounts claiming insight into how and why it happened, if not why so few saw it coming. Whether you opt for the views of PIMCO's Mohamed El-Erian, famed investor George Soros or the insightful but relatively obscure Thomas E Woods - choose with care. Not all are what they seem, as with ex-bond salesman Michael Lewis.

(Aug 14, '09)

Clunkers for cash

The parallels between the bailouts of General Motors and the general US consumer are striking. Leaving the main problem unaddressed and granting special competitive privileges to a select few, the bailouts will end up distorting the automotive industry as well as the general economy.

(Aug 07, '09)

Faith-based investing

Continued gains in the world's stock markets have attracted numerous explanations in harness with poor analytical skills, self-contradicting indicators and a lack of basic math. There is only one reason for rising market values for risk assets - and therein lies the path, once more, to economic ruin.

(Aug 04, '09)

Goldman's Atlas shrug

No sooner than a Wall Street firm had announced bumper earnings than all the communists squirm out of the woodwork to criticize them for "profiteering", whatever that means. It is very much the job of capitalists to make money off the idiocy of communists and socialists, and given the rich pickings across the world, more are likely to follow Goldman Sachs principles than those of communists in government.

(Jul 20, '09)

Krugman best taken in reverse

It stands to reason that the cheerleader-in-chief of the Keynesian brigade should also prove to be the most self-contradicting reverse indicator of true economic direction or workable economic policies. All that said, Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman of the New York Times is the commentator for everyone to peruse and understand; for it is in doing the opposite of whatever he recommends that salvation could arise.

(Jul 13, '09)

Raining on the Blue Fox

The shine has started wearing off the "Green Shoots" story that has propped up stock markets and helped various countries pretend that further developments aren't imminent. As various US states approach different stages of bankruptcy, the time for governments to change policies is dawning.

(Jul 07, '09)

The Jackson factor

Global investors can find in the debt and drugs-fueled tragedy that marked Michael Jackson's final years a parallel to the current goings-on in stock markets. Stimulus funds sourced from government debt are leaking into the stock markets while antidepressants may be helping people ignore rising valuation risks.

(Jun 30, '09)

BRIC plotters stage a farce

The inaugural "BRIC" summit of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China ended in farce, as can only be expected when four disparate economies attempt to cobble together an alliance based on ephemeral rather than sustainable competitive advantages. The motley crew, instead of plotting the downfall of Julius Caesar, merely ended up begging for more, like Oliver Twist.

(Jun 22, '09)

Principal over principle

The very moral fiber of Anglo-Saxon countries appears to have come under threat in response to the ongoing financial crisis. Be it the nationalization of vast swathes of US industry, the expenses scandal in Britain or the attacks on Indian students in Australia, the very ugly side of these societies has been pushed into plain view.

(Jun 08, '09)

Till debt do us part

Getting out from under the weight of debt is a hard business, not the stuff of magic wands some in the financial media seem to want it to be. With some governments adding to the confusion amid both creditors and debtors, today's recession is likely to become a global depression before individuals and capitalists, not least those in China and Brazil, once more take charge of their destiny.

(Jun 01, '09)

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THREAD: Re: does Australia hate Muslims?
Chan Akya
(Aug 18, '10)
Thanks guys. CA
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re: does Australia hate Muslims?
Ian Purdie
(Aug 18, '10)
At the last one (2007) I seem to recall a scandal when the spouse of a Liberal (conservative) MP holding a seat in a region of western Sydney (a region traditionally domi...
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re: does Australia hate Muslims?
MonsoonWind
(Aug 17, '10)
Chan Akya wrote: Can someone enlighten as to their views of whether an undercurrent of resentment against Muslims has been evident or even mentioned in the debates aro...
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re: does Australia hate Muslims?
Chan Akya
(Aug 17, '10)
Can someone enlighten as to their views of whether an undercurrent of resentment against Muslims has been evident or even mentioned in the debates around the Australian el...
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re:Obama's battles in Asia
Chan Akya
(Aug 17, '10)
I have much respect for the work of Yves Smith. Her blog, naked capitalism has been a wonderful source of information and analysis for the past few years. CA
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re:Why Americans hate Muslims
MonsoonWind
(Aug 17, '10)
Ian Purdie wrote: What did you personally do toward helping you team? What team Ian? I am a non-partisan freelance!
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re:Why Americans hate Muslims
Ian Purdie
(Aug 17, '10)
So am I BC; and when it happens I won't be popping any champagne corks! I will, because I've worked my guts out for it and for those who don't like a Gillard win? Wh...
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re:Why Americans hate Muslims
MonsoonWind
(Aug 17, '10)
Basic Channel wrote: PS. Tipping Julia to win. So am I BC; and when it happens I won't be popping any champagne corks!
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re:Why Americans hate Muslims
Basic Channel
(Aug 17, '10)
Haha, I actually used to be very liberal in my views (used to always vote Greens at the few elections I could have) and used to dislike John Howard, which I still do. I...
Read full post/respond
THREAD: Re:Why Americans hate Muslims
Ian Purdie
(Aug 17, '10)
As for visa overstayers, I urge you to make a sharp distinction between these and the illegals. I have personally known several of them over the years - all good people. ...
Read full post/respond

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Login

Running out of road

Moral hazard is back

The Surreal Symphony

We are all Japanese now

Prada to Pravda

BOOKS: Crisis in hindsight

Clunkers for cash

Faith-based investing

Goldman's Atlas shrug

Krugman best taken in reverse

Raining on the Blue Fox

The Jackson factor

BRIC plotters stage a farce

Principal over principle

Till debt do us part

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