Real Economic Slowdown: Consumption & Unemployment (w/ Ed Harrison and Ash Bennington)

TL;DR

Real Vision Daily Briefing discusses the new normal in markets and the economy, including topics such as consumer spending, European Central Bank policy, Tesla's stock split, and the US dollar. They also delve into the concept of the Phillips Curve and the Federal Reserve's shift in policy towards average inflation targeting.

Transcript

it's friday august 28 2020 just after market close in new york this is the real vision daily briefing i'm ash bennington joined shortly by ed harrison but first real vision editorial team's newest member haley draznin welcome to the real vision daily briefing hilly thanks so much for having me on the daily briefing ash i'm super excited to be part ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍💼 Walmart's potential partnership with Microsoft for TikTok highlights the importance of technology and social media platforms for businesses.
• 🛀 Consumer spending has shown some gains in July, but declining consumer confidence and the loss of unemployment benefits present uncertainties for the coming months.
• 🎯 The Federal Reserve's shift towards average inflation targeting reflects a change in their approach and the challenge of balancing economic stability with inflation control.

Questions & Answers

Q: Will the US dollar maintain its status as the world's reserve currency?

While central banks are deflating fiat currencies globally, the US dollar is expected to remain the world's reserve currency due to its dominance in global trade and financial systems.

Q: What are the prospects for Bitcoin and gold?

The guest expresses a bullish outlook on Bitcoin, considering it as a digital version of gold. However, gold is still seen as an old-school inflation hedge that may lose market share to Bitcoin in the short term.

Q: What are the expectations for US equity markets?

The outlook for US equity markets is positive, with limited options for investors to allocate capital in a low-interest-rate environment.

Q: What book is the guest currently reading?

The guest is reading "The Blue Sweater" by Jacqueline Novogratz, which tells the story of her journey as a social entrepreneur and her experiences in launching a microfinance bank in Rwanda.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Real Vision welcomes new member Haley Draznin and discusses her focus on Walmart's potential partnership with Microsoft for TikTok, consumer spending, European Central Bank policy, and Tesla's stock split.

• Ed Harrison shares a personal story about a gas leak in his apartment, leading to a discussion on the new normal and the market's reaction to the current economic situation.

• They explore the concept of the Phillips Curve and how it relates to the Fed's approach to inflation targeting and the economy.