About Currency Currents

With Currency Currents, you can stay tuned-in to our current global-macro view and our analysis of key investment themes driving currency prices.

We consistently focus on the key asset classes responsible for the flow of global capital -- including equities, fixed income, commodities and, of course, currencies.

Nothing is off limits to us in this free-wheeling look at the markets. Some days you’ll receive ramblings on trading psychology, while other days we may take an academic approach in explaining esoteric economic issues. Ultimately we have one goal in mind: to help you get a handle on the key investment themes driving global capital flow. Because if you know where the money is going, it increases the probability that your position in the market will be a profitable one.

Who is Jack the Pipper?

Currency Currents Author

Jack Crooks is Black Swan Capital LLC, President and Chief Trading Officer.

Jack is founder and president of Black Swan Capital LLC. He has also operated a discretionary money management firm specializing in global stock, bond, and currency asset management for retail clients.  In addition, he was general partner in a firm specializing in currency futures and commodities trading. Neither firm is now in operation.

Prior to entering the investment arena, Jack worked in various corporate finance positions. He has written extensively on the subject of global currencies and international economics.

Latest Posts

April 2009

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Archives

April 2009 Monthly Archive

Amped-Up Consumer = Amped-Up Market!

One of the news headlines above notes the optimism that can be taken from yesterday's worse-than-expected headline report on US Q1 GDP. Enough said, but I'll keep going anyway ...… More…

Swine flu day three!

BLT sandwich lovers everywhere are rejoicing; those lock-limit down in bellies have likely lost their appetites; but it seems, on day three of the swine flu, stock and currency traders have definitely regained theirs. … More…

As charts go, the buck looks better than stocks ...

This is one of those times when we'd like a straight answer; we're likely not going to get one, though ...… More…

Method in QE Madness!

Liquidity is the mother's milk for stocks. Quantitative Easing is providing lots of milk, it seems. … More…

Far from over!

This falls into the category that it ain't over till it's over! … More…

Second-Derivative Optimism; Plus, Euro Climbs a Wall of Worry

In our Currency Strategist newsletter last week I discussed a growing obsession with the second derivative as it pertains to economics. … More…

Hope springs eternal

Japan reported its first annual trade deficit in 28 years. But today's Bloomberg headline regarding the release of recent exports numbers from Japan gave us this:… More…

Emerging Markets to Begin Out-Underperforming

A quick note to start, the US Dollar Index broke above key resistance yesterday like a hot knife through butter. Next target appears to be 8900-9000.… More…

Aussie Deflation?

The Aussie is getting hammered this morning on news producer prices unexpectedly fell 0.4% last quarter; consensus estimates were a 0.6% gain. … More…

Hodgepodge

CB's whacking Their Currencies Today. The two key central banks in Europe decided to knock their currencies down a few pegs this morning... … More…

Did somebody say "Decouple"?

As the first headline above reveals, China grew at 6.1% in the first quarter. That number is slightly below expectations and it's lower than Q4 2008 (6.8%). … More…

Deflation bite!

The risk appetite trade was progressing nicely until news of US deflation hit the wires. Maybe now those so-called analysts who believe inflation is solely about money will finally see the light. Nahhh....… More…

Partying While We Can on the Dollar's Dime

Feel free to start dusting off those champagne bottles now - it's sounding like we're going to have something to celebrate this coming New Year's Eve. … More…

China lifting emerging markets...

Increasingly it appears China is defying the skeptics (and we have been major skeptics). There is evidence (some may say flimsy but no matter) China's stimulus is working. … More…

Sifting through the smiles, bad news still concerns me ...

There's a steady stream of analysts now taking their chance at calling a bottom for stock markets. … More…

The dollar's Achilles Heel?

If you have been reading our daily missives you probably know that we've dubbed the problems in central and eastern Europe as the Achilles Heel for the euro as these problems can easily be transmitted into big trouble for European banking. … More…

Bad News: In or Not-Yet-In?

What's the story? Is bad news priced into the markets? More specifically, is the crummy potential for first quarter US earnings season priced into markets?… More…

Gold below a key level--dollar chasing or leading...

Now that gold has slipped below seeming near-term chart support at $893; is the next level at 858 in the cards? … More…

G20: Declare victory and party hard!

A new world order has emerged. Well, Mr. Gordon Brown said so! … More…

World Leaders Tell Us What They Think We Want to Hear

Rumors around the G-20 so far seem to be leaning towards positive. No doubt, expectations had been set very low. Not surprising to us, for several reasons. Among them ...… More…

Is trade leading crude and comdols?

A reader sent an email the other day asking us if we could stop being so depressing in Currency Currents. I told him we'd try. … More…

"When I hear somebody sigh, Life is hard. I am always tempted to ask, Compared to what?"
Sydney Harris
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