The Zeitgeist – 4.2.2019

Every morning, we run The Narrative Machine on the past 24 hours worth of financial media to find the most on-narrative (i.e. interconnected and central) stories in financial media. It’s not a list of best articles or articles we think are most interesting … often far from it.

But for whatever reason these are articles that are representative of some sort of chord that has been struck in Narrative-world.


Veggie Grill Expanding Despite The Scarcity of People Who Are Vegetarians And Vegans [Forbes]

The snippy tone of this interview is exactly as implied by the article title: what kind of an idiot are you to launch a veggie-only casual dining chain when only x% of people are vegetarian?

The answer, of course, is exactly what the co-founder says here. They’re not selling to vegetarians or vegans, they’re selling to people who want to FEEL like vegetarians or vegans.

Love it.

In the immortal words of Maya Angelou … people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Or in our business, people will never forget what you did for their personal account.


German Factory Slump Leaves Euro Area as Global Economic Laggard [Bloomberg]

And this is why Draghi and the ECB will do MOAR. Gotta get the Euro to USD parity …

We are smack in the middle of the Silver Age of the Central Banker, with Bronze just around the corner.


Larry Kudlow has a point in calling for an immediate Fed rate cut, strategist says [CNBC]

Friends don’t let friends reify the yield curve.

Yeah, it’s a $10 word. It means that the yield curve is not a thing in itself. Seriously, it’s not. Stop treating it like it is. You look like an idiot.


Let’s Not Stress About the Next U.S. Recession [Bloomberg]

It’ll be about this big.

Honest to god, I was sure this was an April Fool’s prank. But no.


Bitcoin Surges as Cryptocurrency Market Suddenly Springs to Life [Bloomberg]

Meanwhile, the idea for his next script slowly forms for Jordan Peele.


Comments

  1. No need to reify unless it starts to ramify.

  2. As always, good stuff.

    Two quick ones - why the heck isn’t the euro already weaker versus the dollar with interest-rate and growth differentials where they already are?

    And, two, the only reason I know “reification” is because you used it a long time ago in “Ghost in the Machine” and I looked it up then (hey, I’m a product of a public school education from first grade to college degree). I love its Marxist roots. Despite being an ardent anti-collectivist and believing Marx was very wrong about most things, I acknowledge that he could still make his wrong ideas sound very right and smart - he was a talented writer and polemicist.

Continue the discussion at the Epsilon Theory Forum

Participants

Avatar for bhunt Avatar for Mkahn22 Avatar for rwgood

The Daily Zeitgeist

ET Zeitgeist: Raccoons Never Sleep

By Ben Hunt | May 28, 2021 | 5 Comments

Lemonade (LMND) isn’t just an insurance company. No, no … they’re an AI Company! ™.

Plus Chamath is up to his old tricks.

I hate raccoons.

Inflation as Ad Campaign

By Ben Hunt | May 24, 2021 | 0 Comments

An ET Pack member sent me this. Anyone else come across ads that directly call out inflation expectations? Would love to collect more screenshots like…

Many People Are Saying … Bitcoin is Art

By Ben Hunt | May 24, 2021 | 0 Comments

The Bitcoin Is Art thesis that I put out back in 2015 (The Effete Rebellion of Bitcoin) and recently put forward again (In Praise of…

The Zeitgeist – April 19, 2021

By Ben Hunt | April 19, 2021 | 6 Comments

Here’s what we’re reading and working on this week at Epsilon Theory.

Hot and Cold

By Rusty Guinn | March 23, 2021 | 26 Comments

Most of us are under the impression that a protracted conflict within China will increase national unity. Not this time.

A Change in the Water

By Ben Hunt | March 3, 2021 | 3 Comments

Increasingly, the common knowledge of our investment world – what everyone knows that everyone knows – is that inflation is a problem and you should be focused on it.

DISCLOSURES
This commentary is being provided to you as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. The opinions expressed in these materials represent the personal views of the author(s). It is not investment research or a research recommendation, as it does not constitute substantive research or analysis. Any action that you take as a result of information contained in this document is ultimately your responsibility. Epsilon Theory will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information. Consult your investment advisor before making any investment decisions. It must be noted, that no one can accurately predict the future of the market with certainty or guarantee future investment performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Statements in this communication are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are as of the date of this publication. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, and there is no guarantee that any predictions will come to pass. The views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. Epsilon Theory disclaims any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. This information is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities. This commentary has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Epsilon Theory recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives.