Much ink has been spilled over Greece's financial woes. And if you've followed the headlines, you might think Greek lightning was burning Athens to the ground. While it's true that Greece's finances have been woefully mismanaged (it has the second highest Debt/GDP ratio in the world), in absolute terms things may not be as … Continue reading Greek Lightning Strikes
Category: europe
Following the Brexit Signs
Yesterday the United Kingdom made history by delivering a surprise vote to leave the European Union. Though the odds were close, market pricing was tilted towards a "Bremain" vote -- so "Brexit" was an unexpected outcome. Markets reacted commensurately today, European equity markets were down more than 7% and the Sterling down more than … Continue reading Following the Brexit Signs
Big Trouble in Little Athens, Revisted
It's been over five years since Greece's current financial crisis started making public headlines. Since then Greece has received more than 240 billion Euros of bailout loans from the ECB, the IMF, and the EU (aka the "Troika"). That figure doesn't include the "phantom" aid that Greece also received in the form of the debt … Continue reading Big Trouble in Little Athens, Revisted
Looking Abroad
With about every major US equity index making new highs, many investors are nervous about US stocks. I don't know if there's an impending stock market crash, but regardless at BCM we favor foreign developed market equities for the time being. Here are a few reasons why. Western Europe appears to be trailing the US … Continue reading Looking Abroad
Wheat in Euroland
Over the past year, there's no doubt that Europe has dominated the headlines of the world's financial news - and for good reason too. With one country after another falling victim to the "bond vigilantes," the Eurozone's very existence is being called into question. As investors small and large look for an exit, anything that smells of the region is … Continue reading Wheat in Euroland