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Capitalist Pigs

Capitalist Pigs is Chris Butler's radio show heard every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. on KCMO Talk Radio 710.  Don't live in Kansas City?  Don't wake up on Satrudays until noon?  Not a problem.  Check out the archived shows.  You can also access charts and other reference material referred to in the show on this page.  Capitalist Pigs Podcast is completely different from the show.  This is a weekly broadcast recorded every Friday that covers the business cycle in detail.  It's a geekier version of the radio show.  You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or subscribe on the podcast tab below.

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A Little Dose of Reality

Posted on 01.28.2012

A couple  of economic releases this week bring the over-excited analysts back to earth.  Ben Bernanke hates retirees.  His FOMC meeting Q&A session should be upsetting to anyone living on a fixed income.  He wants to keep interest rates low *and* create a inflation - a lose-lose scenario for reitrees, widows and orphans.  But his policy is a game changer and needs to be heeded.

Reference Materials

  • Business Cycle
  • Global Leading Indicators
  • JOC ECRI Industrial Material Price Index
  • CRB Spot Prices
January

A Little Dose of Reality

Posted on 01.28.2012

A couple  of economic releases this week bring the over-excited analysts back to earth.  Ben Bernanke hates retirees.  His FOMC meeting Q&A session should be upsetting to anyone living on a fixed income.  He wants to kee

We are Reaching an Inflection Point

Posted on 01.21.2012

Two words: quantitative easing.  It explains all of the abnormal market behavior over the last three weeks.  The Fed prints money by buying bonds in the market.  That money goes into every risk asset there is, including stocks.&n

Debt Dissonance

Posted on 01.14.2012

S&P downgraded just about every European country's debt rating.  Except Germany, of course.  However, nobody outside of Rome seems to care much.  The US decoupling from Europe continued this week.  Debt decoupling fr

Too Many Bulls - Bears are Facing Extinction

Posted on 01.07.2012

Every last ounce of fear and panic has finally been wrung out of risky markets.  Is that a good thing or not?  On Friday, we learned our employment situation here in the US is well on the way to self-reinforcing prosperity.  Shou

December

Strange Year End for Markets

Posted on 12.31.2011

For 3 weeks the old (and rational) relationships between various markets have broken down.  Why?  We'll offer some explanations.  Chris explains how to interpret the lastest leading economic indicators.  Also, European b

Santa Clause Comes to Wall Street

Posted on 12.24.2011

There is a new European Fix in and risk markets everywhere loved it.  Will it work?  We'll talk about it.  Mainly good economic data came out this week but what was bad was terrible.  Could we still have a risk of recess

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Posted on 12.17.2011

It was a strange week.  We had contradictory data coming from volatility levels, manufacturing data, and jobless claims.  What does it all mean?  Oddly, it means Christmas is coming.

The End of the European Circus?

Posted on 12.10.2011

The markets held their collective breath as the EU summit came to a close on December 9.  But was anything resolved?  What can investors do?  We get into this and more on this week's show.

The World's Been Saved!!!!

Posted on 12.03.2011

The Dow surged 490 points on Wednesday!  The S&P 500 had its best week since March of 2009!  Surely Europe must have cured itself of its debt disease, right?  Well, no, not really.  We'll talk about this week's E

November

Worst Thanksgiving Week for Stocks Since the Disco Era

Posted on 11.26.2011

With the S&P 500 down almost 5% this week, it is the worst Thanksgiving week for stocks since Donna Summer and the Bee Gees ruled the Top 40.  Europe as a whole is almost assuredly already in a recession.  Will they drag the US do

The US European Problem

Posted on 11.19.2011

More of the same.  US markets were primarily driven by European headlines.  We will look at the state of the European economy and talk about how the US has diverged from that continent.  US data looks better.  But commoditie

Europe is Back!

Posted on 11.12.2011

Europe is Saved!  Europe is Saved!  Really?  Well, no, not really.  What Europe did do this week is settle a couple of political questions.  Nothing was done to eliminate debt or increase European economic growth. 

More Europe; More Economic Slowing

Posted on 11.05.2011

More confusing news from Europe.  More evidence that the Euro countries are already in a recession.  Scary comments from the Fed that the market just loved.  All this equals a bad week for risky assets - but a good week for Treas

October

European "Fix" Creates Bullish Fervor Globally

Posted on 10.29.2011

Thursday's market action was the best so far in this rally as the European summit eliminated all market fear.  Should we trust this rally?  What did Europe do and will it work?  Will market attention now shift back to our own

A Time to Review

Posted on 10.22.2011

In this show, Chris explains why he tracks the things he does and how his firm makes investment decisions.

What Can We Do with this Rally?

Posted on 10.15.2011

Stocks were up big this week, for the second week in a row!  Good news, right?  Not so fast.  Let's take a look at (1) Europe, (2) Volume, (3) VIX, (4) LIBOR, (5) Ted Spread, (6) Credit Spread, (7) Economiic Indicators, and (

Our Schizophrenic Markets

Posted on 10.08.2011

US equity markets did two important things last week - one bullish and one bearish.  Which to believe?  Economic data is better than expected, but it is still bad.  We'll also take a look at global risks and talk about whethe

The Trifecta of Fear - China, Europe, and US

Posted on 10.01.2011

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Free Investment Report

This special report answers the questions: (1) whether the US headed for a recession, (2) if so, how deep it is likely to be, and (3) what investors should do about it.